Hailing from Kampung Gong Badak in Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, the young siblings began cycling casually, often joining their parents on evening and weekend rides, before moving on to longer-distance outings.
Their father Nik Muhammad Zulkarnain Nik Sin, 41, said his boys began showing serious interest in cycling about a year ago, with their performance having improved after joining the competitive Junior Cycling Malaysia (JCM) race series.
“They initially joined us on rides for fun, on children’s bicycles. Over time, we noticed they could maintain a long-distance pace – they quickly picked up techniques and were brave enough to ride far.
“That’s when I began training them in a more structured fashion each evening,” the father of five told Bernama.
During their first attempt at a JCM race in Negeri Sembilan in July last year, Danish finished second while Faris came in fourth in their respective age categories. After switching to more suitable bikes, their performance improved.
To date, Danish and Faris, who are pupils of Sekolah Kebangsaan Tok Jiring in Kuala Terengganu, have competed in more than eight cycling events. These include several wins in the JCM series this year.
Their growing interest and capabilities have also caught the eye of an international bicycle company, which offered them a one-year contract as brand ambassadors.
Their talent has also caught the attention of the Terengganu sports council, which has placed them in the state squad, despite most athletes being 13 and above.
Zulkarnain, who is a cyclist with the Royal Malaysia Police Terengganu team, said both boys train almost daily, combining cycling on slopes to improve cadence and cycling uphill to develop strength.
“Their daily training covers around 40-50km. When they ride in a larger peloton, they can reach 70-80km in distance with an average speed of around 30kph,” he said.
“I will usually follow them on my motorcycle to monitor them; since they are still young, I need to ensure every ride isn’t just fast but safe,” Zulkarnain added.
In terms of equipment, the boys use adult-specification bikes, including size-44 frames and 53 cranksets, allowing them to maintain high speeds while riding in a peloton.
“Even though the frames are large for their age, I refitted them by lowering the seats and shortening the handlebars, so they are comfortable and don’t tire easily,” Zulkarnain said, noting that children’s bicycles simply cannot match peloton speeds.
Meanwhile, their mother Noornajmi Idayu Mazlan, 40, said her sons’ cycling has not only improved their fitness but also transformed their daily commitments, especially when it comes to time management and their studies.
“This sport has taught them so much. They used to be quite mischievous, but now they are more focused and disciplined,” she said.