All photos from the author / @maiasendsit on Instagram
After almost four months off the bike, I was eager to finally get back on the trails. I hadn’t long known about the downhill scene in Kota Kinabalu, but once I did, I knew I wanted to experience it. A friend who visited Borneo last year, not for biking but for the wildlife, reminded me it’s a place of raw adventure: and for me that meant bikes. So when I planned my trip to explore the ancient rainforests of Sepilok and join a river safari, it felt natural to also check if Kota Kinabalu had downhill or enduro tracks. That’s when I came across a Red Bull article about Bukit Padang, “the grand old dame of trail riding,” which mentioned the Kota Kinabalu Downhill (KKDH) group that maintains and builds its features.
Out of desperation planning something for my last day in KK, while juggling ideas like foraging or hiking nearby hills, I posted in the Borneo Travellers Group on Facebook looking for an MTB tour. Most options online were cross-country or city rides with a two-person minimum. By some miracle, Picie Hamidon, a KKDH rider and owner of Cyclopath Bike Co., saw my post about wanting to ride Bukit Padang. He instantly became the first friend I made in Kota Kinabalu.
In the end, I crammed three days with non-stop activities: exploring the ancient rainforests and rich biodiversity of Sandakan, sipping wine by the coastline and basking in the iconic Tanjung Aru sunset, and riding DH in Bukit Padang.
Linking up with the crew
It was an honor to ride with local legends Picie Hamidon and Mohammed Ibni (Madd) of KKDH, the oldest and most established DH group in the area. They made me feel welcome right away, and they were glad to see a female rider take interest in their home trail. I appreciated their patience and the way they looked out for me. Just like me, they were professionals on a workday who found riding bikes the best way to unwind and reconnect with nature.
And the bike that changed the day
Normally, there’s little room for tweaking rental bikes. I’ve rented some rundown ones in the past where you could really feel the age or sometimes the brakes’ orientation is all you can change. Even though I ride a full 27.5 back home, the 29er was surprisingly easy to maneuver. My friends from KKDH and Cyclopath went the extra mile by setting up the suspension sag and fine-tuning the bike’s settings pre-ride, making sure I felt comfortable and confident on the gnarly lines ahead. The suspension felt plush and the bike was very forgiving. I could tell the brakes were bled and properly engaged.
And because it’s a natural trail, the most efficient “shuttle” to the trailhead was tying a rope from bike to bike. One end to Madd’s e-bike saddle and the other to my bike stem and it worked perfectly.
Bukit Padang, finally
Bukit Padang is shorter than most of the Luzon trails I ride—about 1.4 km—but it’s a progressive DH track where you can either take the flowy jump lines or the technical rocky sections. Of course, I chose the latter and rode them mindfully, not risking injury abroad. (But yes, my friend Picie did ask about my blood type pre-ride, just in case!) I peeked at the jump features and they were ridiculously high-risk, high-reward: endless senders, gaps, and hip jumps that I know would entice many of my hardcore riding friends.
I wouldn’t say there was a single “moment” that defined the ride because it was the entire experience that stuck with me. Maybe the most memorable realization was that I’ve grown a little more fearless. There were certain parts I normally wouldn’t go for, but I tackled them with confidence because I felt safe with the people I was with. It was also the micro-moments, like laughing at the most trivial things on the trail.
Post-ride, done right!
Off the trail, we did what riders do best: eat. A well-earned, authentic Sabahan meal with Picie and Madd capped the day. Back at Cyclopath, I checked out components from good-quality brands and apparel from the Loose Riders Sabah Chapter, since the shop also happens to be their HQ.
There’s a sneaky @maiasendsit sticker somewhere in the shop now, I left it as a small thank-you to a place that made me feel at home.
Same spirit, different island
I hadn’t been on the saddle for around four months (since my first enduro race in my hometown, Capiz), so it was reassuring to feel that I still knew how to ride somehow. I think doing big mountain rides on my last couple of times out before I stopped really helped my confidence with the rock gardens and technical parts of the trail. I had zero expectations other than knowing it wasn’t a beginner trail.
What stood out most was the community spirit tied to Bukit Padang. Just like our local trails, you can tell it’s been loved and maintained by generations of riders. It’s not just a place to ride, but a place where people gather, share stories, and keep the stoke alive.
It’s such a small world after all, and the global MTB community is among the friendliest and you can rely on a mountain biker anywhere in the world.
It was also cool to learn that the KKDH crew has met some members of the Philippine DH national team and I even got to record them giving a shoutout to their Filipino friends. I also found out that during the last 2019 DH race held in Bukit Padang, a Filipino trail builder flew to Kota Kinabalu to help build the gnarly features.
Our cultures do feel very similar: building trails as a community, sharing a meal post-ride, having one usual spot to chow. I could honestly see a Filipino version of Picie and Madd among my MTB friends, and I know that if they ever visit the Philippines, they would also feel at home.
If you’re planning to ride abroad
My biggest advice: reach out to the local riding community instead of just booking a generic tour. Facebook groups, Instagram, or even bike shops are great ways to connect. Locals know their trails better than anyone, and it’s always a richer experience when you ride with people who treat the trail as their second home. Also, come with humility. Don’t expect to dominate the trail. Focus on learning, sharing the stoke, and building friendships along the way.
What started as a last-minute plan for my final day in KK turned into the highlight of the trip. Bukit Padang may be “the grand old dame of trail riding” in Kota Kinabalu, but for me, it was the trail that welcomed me back after months away and reminded me exactly why I ride.