I'd been waiting for the report!  Great job on the race!  It seems like Bintan always throws up some surprises!  Still trying to visualize transition becoming a flood plain! At least you escaped the worst of the heat--it was 37 degrees C at the start last year. Glad you survived the crash intact. I think your transitions were still faster than mine, even with it--I'm just a transition space cadet.  You're right about the bike course--I found it really lonely.  People passed me once in a while, that was it. Very few spectators. I got the feeling that the locals were fairly conservative and I was kind of unacceptable dressed as I was--some villagers were cheering the guys as they passed, but just stared at me.

Now that you've done the course, if you do the race again, I'd recommend spending the extra days (if you took them) in Singapore rather than Bintan--more choice of bike shops, better and cheaper food/accomodation, etc. The Singapore race scene is huge but very locally-oriented--I often have to deal on a case-by-case basis with RD's who expect me to pick up my packet at some mall on Orchard Road a week or two in advance--it's like they never anticipated someone would fly in from elsewhere. That being said, there's a pretty big Malaysian contingent that comes over, by car or plane, for most local races. They're a very friendly crew and I've met many of them, most were doing Bintan, so I'm sure you weren't the only "laowai"!

Gongxi gongxi! Best wishes for speedy recovery from race, crash, etc.

Wow, what an incredible story. Very impressed you've become quite the athlete.

Reading your account makes me want to take a trip to the gym.

I may just settle for softball catch with my eldest daughter though.

David Lane