Lottery ticket seller raring to cycle into history books
MELAKA: A 62-year-old lottery ticket seller is taking up the challenge to compete in the first mega cycling competition here, hoping to create history by winning despite being the oldest participant. Poh Loo Beng signed up for the 60km race category, set to take place on March 25.
Poh said he was ready for a neckand-neck race with younger participants by cycling on his 1943 Britishmade Hercules bicycle.
“For me, age is not a barrier. Probably, I will be the only participant on a vintage bicycle that day.
“I have cycled 400km in a day and made non-stop journeys outstation on an average speed of 80km per hour,” he said after submitting his entry form to the event’s organising committee adviser Chew Chert Fong yesterday.
Poh, a bachelor, said he had attempted to enter the International Cycling Tour De Langkawi last year but was unsuccessful.
He opted for the longest route in the upcoming competition, hoping to complete the race in less than two hours.
“I have cycled continuously from Melaka to Johor Baru and Seremban and returned on the same day using trunk roads,” he said.
Poh, from Kota Laksamana here, is no stranger to the locals as he could be frequently spotted cycling around selling welfare tickets.
The cycling event is organised by Melaka Historic City Council and two non-governmental organisations in a move to make it into the Malaysia Book of Records. They are targeting some 10,000 participants.
Councillor Mohd Jamil Abd Wahab said the race would be flagged off at A Famosa in Banda Hilir here.
“We are confident of achieving the 10,000 target with cooperation from all parties,” he said, adding that road safety workshops and bicycle acrobatic shows would also be held.
For more information, contact 019-916 0538 (Ezmyr) or 016-660 0289 (Willis Tang).