Better by 10 seconds

For my year-end ride, I went to San Mateo, Rizal and climbed Timberland twice.

And, I broke my best time by 10 seconds. My current best time is 21 minutes and 20 seconds. My second climb was clocked at 21 minutes and 40 seconds.

By the way, I'm already using clipless pedals on my Alpine Trail 29er.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL BIKERS!

No more fall

From Dela Paz, Pasig City, I pushed my clipless pedals up to Cabading, Antipolo.

Thence, I climbed Mt. Maarat, passed through the basic trail, and descended via Timberland Heights and The Wall.

And, I didn't suffer a single fall until I get home in Novaliches.

I fall thrice

It's time to test my clipless pedals in the metropolis, where there are tight situations such as traffic and pedestrians.

My route was Novaliches to San Mateo to Marikina to Novaliches. That's about 36 kilometers.

I suffered three silly falls. The first was at the intersection of Mindanao Ave. and Commonwealth Ave. I already crossed the Commonwealth Ave lane going to Novaliches proper but stopped at the center to allow the vehicles crossing the Mindanao Ave.

The second was the intersection of Delos Santos Ave. and Gen. Luna Ave. in San Mateo. The traffic at Delos Santos Ave. was red.

The third was along J. P. Rizal St. somewhere in Nangka Marikina. The jeep I was following stopped to load passengers.

These falls were identical. When I was about to make a full stop, I disengaged my left foot from the pedal then applied the brakes. With the right foot still clipped, I put some weight to the left then planted my left foot. But, somehow the weight shifted to the right and bang!

Luckily, I just sustained minor scratches and bruises. After the third fall, I now unclip both feet when stopping.

My Christmas Ride 2011

Last year, my Christmas Ride was from Balanga to Mt. Samat and back to Balanga, Bataan. This year, it's still in Bataan but in Morong.

From a resort in Morong, Bataan, I biked towards Subic Bay.

I had a limited time to bike - about two hours only. So, after about an hour of biking or about 15 kilometers away, I stopped for a rest and rehydration before turning back.

A kilometer more, I'd reach the SBMA Morong gate.

Now, it's time to go back.

Back at the resort and prepared to leave:

Finally, I go clipless

I was going clipless; but, at some points, I hesitated. With some prods from biking buddies, I finally decided to go on.

I bike commuted from office to home last Wednesday and passed by the local bike shop. I found a pair of clipless pedals and bought it. Its Shimano PD M540 (Malaysian made) with Reflector SM-PD22 attached. It costs P1,800 only.

I also bought a pair of shoes. The brand is X-ion from Germany. The cost is P2,500.

After paying the stuff, there's no turning back.

Yesterday, we went to Morong, Bataan to celebrate the Christmas there. I brought TweetyPot, where I installed the new clipless pedals. If there's opportunity, I'd try using the new pedals and practice cleating and uncleating. There was . . .

At the beach resort, I started the training.

First, at the parking area. I was doing fine. When I tried sudden braking, I disengaged my left foot. But, the bike leaned to the right and fell with me. Ouch! As a result, I got some scratches and my saddle got damaged.

I moved to the grassy playground of the resort.

Practice, practice, practice . . . Then, I tried uncleating the right foot and braked but the bike leaned to left and fell with me again. Same error. Fortunately, no damage done.

After building some confidence, I pedaled out of the resort - on the highway and fireroads.

At the highway, I was about to negotiate a U-turn, a motorcycle suddenly appeared close on my left. I panicked and braked. I was expecting a fall but fortunately my left foot disengaged and I stopped standing. Whew! That was close.

I pedaled back to the resort and practiced some more on the playground.

TweetyPot and the sunset

My savings for bike commuting

I'd like to bike commute from home to work and vice versa everyday. However, there are no bath or shower areas at or near our office. So, I just bike commute home once a week from office to home on my number coding days - Wednesdays. I leave my car overnight at our basement parking and commute via public utility vehicles in going to the office the following morning.

Last night, I again bike commuted from office to home. Then, this morning I took the public transportation in going to the office.

And, my savings:

• Cost of diesel is P35 / liter
• Distance from office to home is about 30 kilometers
• Diesel consumption of my car is 10 liters per kilometers
• Public transpo fare - home to office is P69

Therefore:

P35 x 30 kilometers / 10 liters= P105 x 2 = P210 - 69 = P141

I'm not ready yet for the clipless pedals

Since I started biking last year, I've been using platform pedals. Reading from the biking fora and listening to the clipless bikers stories, I've thought of going clipless too. With prods from bike buddies, who are clipless users, I finally decided to go clipless.

According to About.Com:

Clipless pedals are bicycle pedals that have a special mechanism that attaches you foot to the pedal using a special cleat mounted to the bottom of your shoe. This type of pedal creates a very efficient connection between you and your bike.

Clipless pedals are about the most efficient way to attach your foot to the pedal. The rider steps into the mechanism and can then apply pedaling forces in the upward,downward, forward and rearward directions. To release from the pedal, the rider simply needs to twist their foot.

The term clipless is a bit confusing, since many would describe the mechanism in a clipless pedal as a clip. However, they are known as clipless because they are an alternative to the original toeclip pedals that use straps and a toe cage to hold your foot to the pedal.

Actually, I've started shopping already and found a pair of dual purpose pedals - the one side has platform and and the other side clipless. It's worth about P2,500. A pair of shoes is worth about P2,500 too.

But, with my two recent minor crashes - the first on the road and the second on the trail, I hesitated on pursuing my plan.

I think I've to rebuild my confidence again before converting my platform pedals into clipless.

My second time at Camp Aguinaldo bike trails

I again experienced Camp Aguinaldo Bike Adventure (CABA) Zone for the second time. The first time was 8 months ago.

I drove my daughter this morning to J5 for their Christmas Party. It's about 9:30 AM. I passed CABA Zone and checked if I could use the trails. The operating hours are 6 am to 10 am but could be extended up to 11 am. So, I tried the trails again and completed 3 rounds, which took me about an hour, including rests, to finish

Bike commute from work to home

I wasn't able to bike commute from work to home last Wednesday as I attended the PMTB Christmas Party. So, I did it yesterday.

This is the route I'd taken. Makati Avenue > Paseo de Roxas > Buendia Avenue > Kalayaan Avenue > C5 > FVR Road > Riverbanks > J. Rizal Avenue > Batasan Road > Commonwealth Avenue > Regalado Avenue > Quirino Highway > Zabarte Avenue. The distance is about 36 kilometers.

I attend the PMTB Christmas Party

It's my number coding day, so I left the office in Makati at around 6:30 PM and arrived at the venue at past 7:00 pm. The party hadn't started yet; and, It's still registration time.

I bought two raffle tickets hoping to win one or two of the prizes. A helmet or even a frame would do.

The recycled tickets from last year.

I again met Hiyugo, Diyego, and Tanggero. We first met at the PMTB party last year and we shared a table. Now, we're sharing again a table.

The Team Adventureros - Jester, Jepsky, Skwid, Jugleong, and CaloyPalaboy

The party was a success. I enjoyed it despite I wasn't lucky enough to bring home a prize. I left at past midnight.

PMTB Christmas Party 2010

The party starts at 6:00 pm.

There are lots of prizes to be raffled away. To be able to join in the raffle, an attendee must buy a raffle ticket for P100. The proceeds shall be for the benefit of Redeemer's Home - an orphanage in Antipolo City.

At the PMTB Christmas party last year, I won a shirt, a pair of socks, and Weekend Warrior magazines.

Advance Merry Christmas to all!

Breaking my Shotgun record

I climbed Shotgun yesterday. From my previous best record of 47 minutes and 20 seconds, I did the climb in 42 minutes and 30 seconds or 5 minutes faster.

I was exhilarated with my progress. The good weather contributed a lot. I started the climb at about 8:00 am.

But, problems are already looming in the Shotgun route. As I was pedaling up, I noticed there were more garbage trucks coming up and down. As I neared the top, more flies were riding with me.

My previous records:

• 11/16/10 - 47:20
• 11/6/10 - 47:30

After my Shotgun climb, I also tried breaking my Timberland record but was unsuccessful.

CPB - PMTB Adopt a Family Project

CPB is a group of bikers in PMTB. CPB means Certified Poser Bikers. The group does not ride for fun only but for cause as well. One of its projects is the "Adopt a Family".

Last Sunday, the group rode to Puray, Rodriguez, Rizal and visited its adopted family - the Doroteo family.

The group met up at Chow King, San Mateo, Rizal

In one of the pitstops

The group with the Doroteo family

Ely Santos handing money to Doroteo family to be used for business and/or house repair.

Nice job, CPB; and keep up the good works. God bless you!


Note: Pictures grabbed from CPB - PMTB Adopt a Family Project thread.

I again break my Timberland record

In between my rides last Sunday, I passed by and climbed Timberland Heights. I again broke my record. It's now 21 minutes and 30 seconds or 1 minute better.

My previous records:

• 22:30 - November 29
  
• 26:30 - November 28
• 24:30 - November 6
• 24:00 - October 31

My new saddle

I bought a saddle from a street vendor along the road going to Timberland Height. The brand is Vader and cost P300.00 only, which I haggled from P400.00

It has a red color; so, and I thought of installing it in my red bike. However, I decided to use it in my orange bike.

40 laps at Neopolitan Business Park

I was supposed to join the Reverse Sierra Madre Loop ride today. But, I had a lunch appointment in Makati City, which made my biking time limited. I need to be home before 9:30 am.

Hence, I just decided to bike nearby - at Neopolitan Business Park. And, I did 40 laps. A lap is about 1.1 kilometers. Thus, 40 laps is equivalent to 44 kilometers. To add the distance from home to the park, my total distance was 48 kilometers. Not bad!

TweetyPot after the ride

Google Maps for my Blackberry phone

I just downloaded Google Maps into my Blackberry Bold 9700, which I could use to get directions especially when biking.

My phone has maps but the street map coverage for the Philippines is limited to Metro Manila only and the features are limited compared to Google Maps.

I'm still learning how to use it. Meantime, I have to check with my network provider its charges for using the Google Maps.

Breaking my Timberland record

From my Antipolo ride last November 8, I passed by Timberland heights before going home and tried to beat my record. My time was 26 minutes and 30 seconds or 2 minutes and 30 seconds longer than my best time of 24 minutes. Perhaps, I was just tired to break or just match the record.

But, this morning, I went back to Timberland and broke my record. It's now 22 minutes and 30 seconds or 2 minutes and 30 seconds better.

My previous records:

• 26:30 - November 28
• 24:30 - November 6
• 24:00 - October 31

My ride to Antipolo City via Ortigas Avenue

I've climbed Antipolo City via Sumulong Highway several times and via Teresa once. Yesterday, I did it via Ortigas Avenue.

At the boundary of Cainta and Antipolo

Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Church







Tired feet (the tire and my feet)


My lunch of crispy fried catfish