Puning Cave, almost!

I pedaled all the way from Novaliches to Barangay Bayabas, DRT, Bulacan. That's about 45 kilometers one way.

But, I reached up to the river only. I didn't venture going to the cave anymore; as the way after crossing the river is no longer bikeable.

As I turned around to pedal back, a group of bikers was arriving. I just say hi to them and left.

Another ride with Team Kaka

I woke up early today and able to join the ride of Team Kaka.

The ride started from Pangarap, North Caloocan. We attempted to pass Araneta Avenue; but, the guard at the first gate didn't allow us to pass. "It's Saturday and the boss is here", he said. Thus, our guide herded us through a village and circumvented. After negotiating some uphills and passing a single track, we ended up at the middle of Araneta Avenue. I just learned a new way. We managed to pass under the boom of the second gate as there's no guard around.

At the Blessed Sacrament Novitiate

I thought we're going to pass Bricktown. But, instead we took the trail ahead. It's my first time passing this trail. Unfortunately, I fell down once.

To be continued . . .

TweetyPot is back in shape

TweetyPot (my 29er) is up and about again after two weeks.

Fortunately, Gravity Works in Makati City has two available tubes. On my way to the bikeshop, another luck struck. A biking buddy, Dennis Castillo, called up informing that there are four available tubes at JBL. I was glad he did me a favor by reserving the tubes. Thanks Papa Denz.

Now, TweetyPot has five spare tubes. But, two more bike shops have run out of stocks.

I can't ride my TweetyPot

TweetyPot (my 29er) has been out of commission since two weeks ago due to damaged tubes.

First, after pumping the front tire in preparation for a ride, it got suddenly flat. There's no time to fix it, I used AlitePot (my 26er).

When I got back home, I found out that the base of the Presta valve was torn. Thus, I replaced it with my spare tube. The next day, I bought another spare tube.

The following weekend, I noticed the rear tire's flat. The culprit's the same. So, I had to replace it with the new tube. But, while pumping it, it exploded. Darn!

I tried to buy tubes; but, they're out of stocks from well known bike shops I inquired from - Knobbies, All Terra, Bikezilla, Iron Bike, Sabak and Bike Town.

I'm now familiar with the Bulacan-Rizal route

At last, after the ride from SJDM, Bulacan to Rodriguez, Rizal yesterday, I've become familiar with the route already. I've ridden this route for a few times but hadn't able to memorize the route yet.

The ride was organized by YummyNia. The group who rendezvoused at Lagro met the Bulacan group at Tungkong Mangga. Thence, we proceeded to jackhammer trails and bricktown. When the group broke up, most of the riders turned left going to Ygay, Tungko; while, I, with two riders from Marikina City, turned right going to Rodriguez, Rizal.

Meet-up at Lagro

At Tungkong Mangga merging with the Bulakenyos






Bricktown

Thanks YummyNia for the pictures.

Two days of quickie rides

Last Saturday and Sunday, I had limited time to bike. I needed to be home by 1:00 pm and 12:00 noon, respectively. So, I just biked the nearest trails from our place.

Saturday - at Macabud, Rodriguez, Rizal. I was supposed to join a group of bikers going to Angat, Bulacan. Instead, I just sent them off from Neopolitan Oval up to Pangarap Village in North Caloocan only. Thence, I entered the Pangarap Village and into Macabud trails. I got home by 1:30 pm.

Sunday - at Tungko, SDM City, Bulacan. It's about 30 minutes by pedaling from our place. I just pedaled up to a point where I could return back home before 12 noon.

The unfinished business

We were supposed to traverse two basic trails - the Macabud then the Maarat; but, we managed the Macabud trails only and ended up at the Timberland gate only.

Met-up at Caltex Station along Regalado Avenue, Novaliches, Q. C. and rode out at about 6:45 this morning

At the Pangarap Village entrance

Somewhere at the Macabud trails

The muddy Maly-Amid Road going to Shotgun

Shotgun Avenue

Exiting Shotgun Avenue

The business is still unfinished.

Shotgun ride with Paulvana and KBrianne

The ride was cooked at PMTB but the planned route was the Wall, Timberland Heights and Maarat basic trails. I met with riding buddies, Paulvana and KBrianne, at Jolibee Fairview at around 6:00 this morning. Thence, we pedaled all the way to San Mateo, Rizal.

When we reached the intersection to Shotgun, I stopped and asked them if they'd like to try the Shotgun. They've already climbed the Wall but never the Shotgun yet. Hesitant; but, they agreed. He he he . . . They were unsuspecting all along that they'd be shotgunned.

Paulvana and KBrianne

Muddy weekend rides

It was raining for the past days. Consequently, the trails were muddy despite there were no more rains last weekend.

I had been shunning muddy trails, as much as possible, to avoid getting my bikes, clothes and things full of muds.

But, last weekeend, I craved for them. Saturday, I passed by the Macabud trails on my way to San Mateo, Rizal.

While resting somewhere in Macabud

And, on Sunday, I went to Mt. Maarat and passed by the basic trails going to Giant store adn vice versa.

After the Maarat Trails ride

Both trails were muddy with slippery portions. And, I had hard times negotiating them. Unfortunately, there were slips and falls. To avoid more falls, I just walked and pushed my bikes some of the times.

Hitting the 10,000-kilometer mark

Last night, I bike commuted from my office in Makati to home in Novaliches via Marikina/San Mateo with a distance of about 46 kilometers. And, in the process, I logged my first 10,000 kilometers. I hit the myriad mark in about two years and one month of biking.

It's another milestone in my biking career.

Rainy tour of Bulacan

I was supposed to join a trail ride in Licao-licao this morning. But, it's cancelled due to continuous rains.

At 9:00 AM, it's still drizzling. Nonetheless, I pedaled off towards Bulacan. I'd planned to explore San Rafael, Bulacan. From our home in Novaliches, I took the following routes: Quirino Highway to North Caloocan to San Jose Del Monte City to Norzagaray to Angat to San Rafael, Bulacan. On the way back, I proceeded to Baliuag to Bustos to Angat to Norzagaray to San Jose Del Monte City via Tigbe to North Caloocan to Novaliches.

The ride took me six hours. And, it's another day of fun biking under the rain.

Rainy father's day ride

I was supposed to join a PMTB group in its Sierra Madre loop. I woke up early at 3:30 AM only to find out that it's downpouring. Then, I felt my bed was pulling me back. Zzzzzz . . .

I woke up again at around 7:00 AM. The rain hadn't stopped yet; and it's no intention of stopping because of typhoon "Egay".

At 9:00 AM, I prepared to bike - rain or raining. No destination yet in mind, I just pedaled away and enjoyed the rain. I ended up in one of my favorite biking placeS - in San Mateo. At the crossroads to Shotgun and Timberland, I stopped and contemplated on which one to climb. I decided on the latter.

It's another day of fun biking, which made more fun by the rain.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO ALL FATHERS! AND, HAPPY 150th BIRTHDAY, PEPE!

Two years of biking

Exactly two years ago, I first rode my first bike around the UP Diliman Academic Oval. I just pedaled a few laps. Since then, I've already covered about 9,500 kilometers.

I considered the following as my biking accomplishments so far:

Made 3 century (in miles) rides - 1) Nova to Ternate to Nova: 204 kms.; 2) Nova to Tagaytay to Nova: 180 kms.; and, 3) Nova to Silang, Cavite to Nova: 168 kms.

Climbed non-stop/no dismount - Mt. Maarat via Shotgun, Timberland, and Cabading / Antipolo via Marikina, Pasig, and Teresa / Mt. Samat.

Converted my two bikes to clipless pedals.

I'm glad I'm hooked into it. And, I enjoyed every second of my saddle time - butt soring or not.

There's only one regret - that I didn't start biking much earlier in my life.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO ME!

Wifey buys me another jersey

I have a new jersey. It was bought by wifey when she went shopping at Greenhills Shopping Center last Monday. I first wore this yesterday on my birthday ride in San Mateo, Rizal.

My birthday ride

I woke up early and looked out the window. It's raining; and, I went back to bed.

I woke up again after 2 hours; but, it's still raining. I waited for another hour. It seemed the rain wouldn't stop. So, I decided to push through with my birthday ride despite the rain.

I pedaled all the way to San Mateo and enjoyed my wet birthday ride.

Another fall

I climbed Shotgun this morning and attempted to break my no dismount record at 42.5 minutes.

Approaching the last ascent, I took advantage of the momentum from the descent. I kept on pedaling until the bike slowed down; then I shifted to granny - front gear to the smallest cog. However, the chain overshot and disengaged from the crank. The bike suddenly stopped and I immediately unclipped my left foot, which I usually do; but, lo and behold, the bike leaned to the right. It's too late to unclip my right foot. And, BANG!

Fortunately, I suffered no injury not even a minor scratch. The saddle though of my Marin Alpine 29er was slightly damaged.

I replaced the chain and continued pedaling. And, the attempt was aborted.

My new water bottle

I bought a new water bottle. It's a Camelbak Podium Chill.

Morong to Subic and back to Morong

This morning, from the resort in Morong, Bataan,

I pedaled all the way up to Subic Free Port Zone.

But, up to the Morong gate only.

U-turned

And, took a rest in a bikers pit stop before proceeding back to Morong.

Distance traveled was about 40 kilometers.

Balanga to Morong ride pictures

My family, in two cars, overtook me at the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant. And, these pictures were taken my my daughter, Jaja.

Balanga City to Morong, Bataan

We're back to Bataan again this weekend for another family outing.

Today, we drove from Novaliches to Balanga City and rendezvoused at my sister-in-law's house. From there, I left ahead at 9:30 am and pedaled all the way to Morong, Bataan. It took me three hours, enduring the long uphills and enjoying the long downhills, to reach my destination. My family, in two cars, overtook me somewhere after the gate of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant.

After two hours of ride, I stopped, replenished my water, and a little rest.

When there's uphill,

There's downhill

Finally, I arrived at Phi-Phi Resort

Rehydrate, rehydrate: