Cisanti - Pangalengan: 2019 Year-end Ride

Cisanti – Pangalengan: 2019 Year-end Ride

How did you end year 2019?

Workload, family, and health issue, among others, mean it was impossible for me to participate in #raphafestive500. Still, I feel the need to end the year with at least a century ride. A solo cycling trip to remind myself why I ride…

December 31st, it was misty, cloudy, when I left home at 5.30. After getting myself an onigiri at nearby convenience store, I pedalled my bike southeast, to Ciparay. The plan was to take the Pangalengan-Cisanti loop, the 111 km route that I had ridden back in 2016. Fellow cyclist Yudi Andhika once told me the backward route was better overall. He was right; the road to Ciparay alone showcased rare view of vast ricefield and mountains in the distance. Just then the sun shone through, mist and clouds broke, leaving only parts of them on the mountains—exactly where I was heading. The 26 km climb from Ciparay was even better; though narrower, the long, gentle climb winding across the mountainslope offered better view and far less traffic compared to Banjaran-Pangalengan road. After a slight descend on the last village in Tarumajaya, the road made a short climb across pine forest all the way to the entrance to Situ Cisanti, the spring creek of Citarum River. It’s too bad that bike is not allowed to enter the creek since two years ago…

It was the ride from Cisanti to Pangalengan, however, that was truly soul-fulfilling.

Cisanti-Pangalengan View

The 17 km of hilly, twisty road across tea plantation came with diverse surface; sometimes it was smooth concrete, sometimes it was broken & rocky tarmac, sometimes it was rough gravel, with occasional spots of puddle of mud. The weather seemed to follow suit; while mostly cloudy, sometimes it was windy, sometimes sunshine broke through. Flowing, pedalling, across the vast tea plantation and the fresh air of the mountains was liberating…

By the time I approached Pangalengan at 11 am, I was thinking about adding another 11 km route to Situ Cileunca to the west. Considering the certain forecast of rain past mid day, I decided to stick to the original plan. Descending at full speed, leaning the bike low in every twist and turn, all the way to Banjaran, was a delight in itself. Yes I eventually caught rain just few kilometers away from home. But having the kids welcomed me at the door, and having decent lunch together while watching the rain grew bigger outside the windows, was a perfect finish for a short century-ride day-adventure. It was a perfect day to the end year.

So, how did you end year 2019?

Cycling Trip Stats:

  • Distance: 112.2 km
  • Total Ascent: 1,411 m
  • Max Elevation: 1,657 m asl
  • % Unpaved: 0.6%
  • % Singletrack: 0%
  • % Rideable time: 100%

Gallery:

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