From Nov. 20 to 23, my family was in Bohol and Cebu for a 4-day vacation.
I was thinking of bringing my bike but decided against it.
Saturday afternoon, we arrived Panglao, Bohol. After eating our lunch, I walked around and tried to look for a bike to rent. I found one and the owner's willing to lend it but with a warning - the brakes weren't workings. He he . . . There's no bike to rent, I just walked for two hours.
The following day, we toured Bohol.
On our third day, we were in Cebu City. Luckily, the hotel, where we stayed in, has a bike that I used for free (a stationary bike):
Last August 8, I got my new mobile phone – a Blackberry Bold 9700, which replaced my Nokia Communicator E90.
My GE digital camera has already retired; and, I’ve been using my Blackberry phone camera in capturing images during my rides. The phone camera has 3.2 megapixels.
Last Sunday, I climbed Timberland Heights via the Wall with my TweetyPot (Marin Alpine Trail - a 29er) and recorded my time at 24 minutes.
Yesterday morning, riding my AlitePot (KHS Alite 150 - a 26er), I went to San Mateo, Rizal to record the time of my no dismount climb to Shotgun.
From Novaliches, I pedaled all the way to the bike parking along C6 in front of the entrance to Shotgun Avenue.
After resting for a few minutes, I started my slow ascent to Shotgun. From the bike parking, it's about 4.2 up to the trailhead to Mt. Maarat. I reached the trailhead in 47 minutes and 30 seconds with no dismount.
After a few minutes of rest, I went back to my starting point.
Thereat, I contemplated whether to climb Timberland. I decided to. From the same starting point, the gate of Timberland Heights is about 2.2 kilometers. I slowly pedaled and reached the gate in 24 minutes and 30 seconds. It's 30 seconds longer than my climb last Sunday.
A few months back, I learned the art of climbing uphills from an older biker with no or minimal dismounts. When I first applied the trick at Shotgun, it's really effective. It's the first time I climbed Shotgun with no dismount. Thence, I've been climbing Shotgun and Timberland with no dismounts.
The trick is - pedal slowly or very slowly even to the point that your wheels would stop rolling upward. Thence, start building your power, strength, stamina to increase your climb speed.
Before, my best record for climbing Shotgun was with 2 dismounts / rests.
Now, I started recording my climb times to monitor my progress.
I've been climbing Timberland Heights via The Wall non-stop. So, I thought of recording my best time. Last Saturday and Sunday, I climbed the Wall again using TweetyPot. And, my best time is 24 minutes, which I did last Sunday. I'd try to break this record on my next climb.
Starting point (A)is at the bike parking at C6 at the intersection of Shotgun Avenue and finishes at the Timberland gate (B). This is about 2.2 kilometers. Therefore, my speed was 5.5 km/h. I'll also record my best time for my Shotgun climbs, which is about 4.2 kilometers from the same starting point up to the trailhead to Mt. Maarat.
The 17 Cities Bike Tour aka "Araw ng Siklista" is a bike caravan passing each of the 17 cities comprising Metro Manila.
The historic fun ride seeks to mobilize all bike clubs and enthusiasts from each of the 17 cities, to ride as one in pushing for bike-safe & bike-healthy Metropolis.
The caravan will make a brief stop in each of the municipalities to present bikers' petition to the city mayors, and to President Aquino II at the end of the ride in Quezon Memorial Circle. Environmental advocates and other Non-motorized transport stakeholders will join the Cyclists at QMC when the petition is presented to the President.
As a prelude to Nov.7 "Araw ng Siklista", a BIKERS' Forum/Workshop will be held on October 23 (time and venue to be announced later). Ideas and demands drawn during the forum will form the petition to be submitted on Nov. 7. The petition will be circulated in all localities to draw-in signatories who believe and support the clamor for clean air & bike-safe Metro Manila.
Events Schedule: Registration Period: Oct - Nov 6, 2010
Registration is FREE!
*Registration forms can be requested and submitted at cyclingadvocates@yahoo.com For non-internet users, forms will be made available at your favorite bike shops and biker tambayans.
Submit or mail accomplished forms to :Cycad Office - #43 Malingap st. Teachers Village, Quezon City
For Queries you may call:Tel Nos. 926-6544 (ask for Kim)Or Txt: 0999-731-2935 - Roi; 0939-375-0575 - Monchie
Nov. 7 Sunday Event Schedule 5:30 am Assembly at Quezon Memorial Cirle (Fronting QC hall) * QC bikers and clubs will start off at QMC. * Local bikeclubs will merge with the caravan when the starting contingent reaches their city hall. The partner bike club will then take their turn in leading the group till the next city and so on.
6:00 am Ride Start 5:30 pm ETA at QMR Snack stops at 10 am & lunch at 12:00nn and ample water stations with partner LGUs.
Approx. Total Distance: 130.5 kms. Ride Pace: 15-20 kph Route: You can download the route at Cycling Advocates Facebook account or email us at Cyclingadvocates@yahoo.com for a copy.
What you need to have: Helmet, Bike Blinkers, Bike Horn / Bell (optional), water bottle and snacks. The yearning to see bike-safe & bike healthy streets a reality. An open & friendly disposition to act in solidarity for the bikers' cause.
Skill Level: Basic (ability to keep 15-20 kph pace).
Event Attire: All bike clubs will wear their respective club jerseys. All individual bikers can wear their favorite bike get-up and gimmick.
Preparations: Have your bike tuned up a week before the event.Get enough sleep the day before and be early at the assembly area (QMC or your city hall). Present your registration stub so you can be issued an event sticker and banner for the ride.
*All participants get a commemorative certificate of participation at the end of the ride.
Sama-sama para sa karapatan ng siklista sa malinis na hangin at ligtas na padyak sa lansangan!
Let's support this event for a bike-safe and bike-safety community.
After eating my dinner, I put out my laptop and surfed the net. Of course, I logged in first at mountain biking fora and visited other mountain biking websites.
Suddenly, I felt the urge of pedaling. So, I got out, got my bike (TweetyPot), and biked within our village for 30 minutes. I still wanted to pedal more but decided against it.
I've set a new record - doing a century ride. A century ride is 100 miles or 160.9 kilometers.
It was my ride from Novaliches to Silang, Cavite and back to Novaliches with a total of 104. 4 miles or 168 kilometers. I've done it in 10 hours and 30 minutes. With this ride, I also surpassed my first 5,000 kilometers.
My other long distance rides of 100 kilometers and more were:
About month ago, I found out about Ilog Maria, which sells pure honey. From Tagaytay City, we stopped over at Ilog Maria and bought honey. Due to limited supply, we were given 2 containers only of about 125 ml. per container.
My stocks ran out. So, yesterday, I pedaled all the way to Ilog Maria in Silang, Cavite to replenish my stocks.
I left home at 8:30 am.
At UP Diliman to breathe fresher air. At the Philippine Marines Camp in Fort Bonifacio. I was already hungry and had my lunch of fried bangus and adobong sitaw somewhere in Talaba, Bacoor, Cavite. Rest at Dasmarinas, Cavite. Another rest at Dasmarinas, Cavite. At this point, I was thinking of backing out. After some thought, I decided to go on. Finally, I reached Ilog Maria. It's about some 84 kilometers from our place in Novaliches. And, this is my very precious honey. Due to limited supply, Ilog Maria sells one container only of about 125 ml per customer. I was expecting I could buy two containers
My TweetyPot, a built 2010 Marin Alpine Trail 29er, is almost 3 months old only. But, I’m already experiencing problems with her.
I’m just wondering if the parts installed are weak or not compatible. Thus, making my bike a lemon.
First, I noticed the slipping handle bar grips. I had it fixed at Sabak Bike Shop, where I bought it. The mechanic just applied rugby. But, after a month, they’re slipping again
Second, it’s the problem with the chain. I had it fixed by the Sabak mechanic. But, the problem recurred. I try to have it fixed by other mechanics. Again, the problem keeps on recurring.
Third, the saddle was disengaged from its rails due to minor "semplang".
Fourth, when I rode it last Sunday, I heard noises from the front wheel. The culprit was the worn out hub bearings. I had fixed in one of the LBS along the way. So far, it's okay.
Fifth, when the mechanic carried the bike, the rear wheel fell off from the frame. It was re-attached and the bolt tightened.
I have another bike – a built 2009 KHS Alite 150, which is more than a year old. But, I’ve never encountered yet the above problems.
I joined the Team Adventureros ride yesterday (October 16). It was spearheaded by JesterEdquilag.
The route was supposedly Marikina to Cabading, Antipolo to Mt. Maarat to Timberland, San Mateo. But, at Cabading the group agreed to deviate - from Cabading, we passed by Boso-boso and Binayoyo before proceeding to Mt. Maarat. It made the ride longer by about 6 kilometers. The new route has some stretch of trails.
From our place in Novaliches, I pedaled all the way to the meeting place in McDo - Sumulong Highway; then pedaled all the way back home.
The bikers: JesterEdquilag, Jepoy, Kakaiba, EpoyRufinoJr, CaloyPalaboy, Kaniboy, FlyPhotoGuy, MikeOk, and me.
Pictures of the ride on the trails from Boso-boso to Binayoyo: At the Timberland Heights
Unfortunately, on my way out from Maarat basic trails to Timberland Height, I lost control of my bike and crashed. Thanks to the good Samaritans who helped me back on my feet.
