My Triple SS Bikes

I have two mountain bikes - a 26er and a 29er.  And, both have been converted into Triple SS.   When I bought these bikes, they are built and complete with gears, suspension forks, and front & rear brakes.

What's Triple SS?

• First SS is for Single Speed (no gears)
• Second is for Sans Suspension (rigid)
• Third is for Single Stopper (front brake only)

I first converted my 26er (by the way, it's already a 69er) into rigid and later on into single speed.  I've loved the way how it's ridden; so, I also converted my 29er into rigid and single speed at the same time.

Before I removed my rear brakes, I first experimented and practiced of not using my rear brakes for almost a year.  When I gained the confidence, I ditched them to shave some weight.

My first Triple SS Bike:

KHS Alite 150 26er frame
Deore crank
Niner ring 32T
Shimano SPD
Surly cog 17t
Surly spacers
No singleator
HG73 chain

Mosso M3 fork

Deore hydraulic brake

My second Triple SS Bike:

Marin Alpine Trail 29er frame
XT crank
Niner ring 32T
XT SPD
Surly cog 18t
Surly spacers
Surly singleator
IG51 chain

Mosso M3 fork

SLX hydraulic brake

A SShort Ride in Laiya, Batangas

We celebrated wifey's birthday last July 20 in La Luz Resort in Laiya, San Juan, Batangas.  We stayed there overnight.

As usual, I brought my bike (my SS rigid 69er) with us in case I could find time to bike.  And, there was!

After eating my buffet breakfast the following day, I set out to pedal towards Lobo, Batangas.  But, my daughter reminded me to be back before 11:00 am.  That would be 2 hours only or about 30 kilometers back and forth.  Albeit short, it's better than nothing.

A steep climb right after exiting the La Luz gate greeted me:

Nice view:

Mountains are cut to build roads:

 A long and winding road:

Another uphill:

Turning around:

The route was unforgiving because of many uphills and slippery roads (walked most of them).  And, I just covered about 10 kilometers only in about 2 hours.

Back at the resort, a quick encounter with the sea then packed up:

Damaged Bottom Bracket

I normally test pedal my bike before preparing to leave.   And, I noticed that my 29er was not smooth to pedal.

When I checked, I thought something's wrong with the bottom bracket, which  is a Shimano SM-BB70 and part of the XT crankset I bought second hand and installed more than two years ago.  It hasn't been serviced yet since then.

Meantime, I parked my 29er back and used my 69er for my ride.  That's the beauty of having more than one bike.

When I returned home, I removed the damaged BB and replaced it with my spare BB.

I dismantled it and tried to fix it but unsuccessful.   The bearings has seized up already.

Thus, I need to buy another one as spare.

Ride to Ipo Dam

I biked this morning from our place in Novaliches, Q. C. up to Ipo Dam in Norzagaray, Bulacan.  The distance back and forth is about 54 kilometers.

It's all paved roads.  But, from Bigte, Norzagaray up to Ipo Dam gate is rolling terrain.

Unfortunately, unauthorized persons are not allowed to enter the premises through the main gate.  But, they are allowed to exit.

That's true.  In January of 2012, we biked at the Norzagaray trails and entered Ipo Dam premises through the back door from the river. When the gate guard saw us approaching the main gate, he immediately opened the gate wide.

Solo Biking Up North - Pagudpud

The Pagudpud ride was more challenging because of rolling terrains and beautiful sceneries.

From the resort where we stayed in Saud, I biked and surveyed the nearby resorts first then took off for Patapat Viaduct:

After catching my breath and eating my snacks at the nearby store, I pedaled back towards Timmantang Rock and Bantay Abot Cave.

Before heading back to the resort, I ate one of Ilocanos' favorites - Pinakbet:

 

Solo Biking Up North - Vigan City to Paoay

At about 8:00 this morning, I left Vigan City after eating my breakfast of Sinanglao and Labong.  Laoag City is about 82 kilometers away.

Rest before the arch of San Juan (Lapog), Ilocos Sur - The Buri Capital

Took a view of the Cabugao Beach.  It claimed that it's the Boracay of the North.  The sands are white, all right!  But, it's still a far cry from Boracay.

At 2:30 pm, I was in Paoay, Ilocos Sur, where I rendezvoused with family at Herencia Restaurant - the home of Pinakbet Pizza.

They changed their plan. Instead of staying overnight at Laoag, we'll proceed directly to Pagudpud. So, I loaded my bike on the car.

 

Total distance covered = 69 kilometers mostly on flat roads.
 

Solo Biking up North - The Plans

Yesterday, while thinking of where to bike next, a whim occurred - to bike somewhere up North. Why not but where? Cagayan Valley came into my mind. I could bike from Tuguegarao City to Aparri or Sta. Ana and back. Then, I may try the trails in Penablanca town.

Wifey, upon learning my plan, suggested Pagudpud. I disagreed; but, she prevailed nonetheless. So, I changed my plan - pedal from Pagudpud to any point in Luzon within 3 or 4 hours then back to Pagudpud. That's 6 to 8 hours or 70 to 100 kilometers.

Without much preparation, I and my family left home (from Novaliches) by car late this morning and headed Northwest.

 

At sundown, we're still in Ilocos Sur; and, it's still a long way to go to our destination.  So, we just decided to stopover and stay overnight at Vigan City.

And, I revised my plan.  Instead, I'd start biking from Vigan City up to Laoag City, where we'd stay overnight.  The following day, I'd resume biking to Pagudpud.
At about 7:45 pm, we arrived Vigan City.