Climbing the Wall

Climbing the wall in single speed is more fun even with rests and pushes.

Second SS Attack to Timberland

My first SS attack to Timberland last Saturday was with six stops / rests.

This morning, I attacked it again.   But, I've not improved yet.  As in the first, I did it in six stops / rests.  Most stops were made along the hardest segment.  Whew!  My knees were buckling.

I will just try and try again until I succeed!

I join the Manila group in conquering the Wall

This morning, the Manila bikers met and started pedaling at the Kilometer Zero (Rizal Monument in Rizal Park). I and other bikers joined them at the UP Diliman Oval. Thence, the fortified group proceeded to San Mateo, Rizal to conquer the Wall and beyond.

Note: The Wall is the infamous name dubbed to the ascending part of the C-6 road leading to Timberland Heights in Mount Maarat from San Mateo, Rizal

Meeting of bikers at UP Diliman

Rest at Aling Tina’s Eatery before the climb

One of the rest places on the way up

Timberland, conquered finally

At the Mt. Maarat trailhead ready to conquer what lies beyond Timberland

At the Pestano Farm Breakfast Club – everybody's tired and hungry.

My lunch of corned beef and eggs

Back to Timberland and on the way home

I reach and cross The Wall

Finally, I did it. The Wall is the dangerous and the infamous uphill curve along the way to Timberland Heights, San Mateo, Rizal . The curve is so sharp and steep. It's located just after the Columbary of the Divine Shrine.

Yesterday afternoon, I went to San Mateo, Rizal to attempt to reach The Wall. I parked along the road just before the damaged bridge and brought out AlitePot.

I'm glad the repair of the bridge has started and on going. Only pedestrians, bikes, and motorbikes can pass over the makeshift bridge, which is a narrow plywood.

After crossing the bridge, I pedaled up to The Wall. I made it; and, I was elated. I didn't attempt to go further and turned back.




From Aling Tina's Eatery, I made a second and third runs. But, I reached the Columbary only and turned back. On my fourth run, however, I again reached and crossed the wall up to about a hundred meters beyond. I stopped and rested before proceeding. While resting, I saw a biker climbing up in a zigzag direction. When he passed by me, I greeted him and his style. Then, I followed him in the same style. After reaching another hundred meters, I turned back.

To conclude my ride, I made another run, the fifth, up to Columbary and returned back to where I parked my car.

I almost reach The Wall

I was glad the weather yesterday afternoon was already good in Metro Manila despite super typhoon Pepeng's presence in the northern part of the country.

At about 1 pm, I left home in Novaliches, Quezon City and proceeded to San Mateo, Rizal to resume my uphill climb training. Last Sunday, I wasn't able to train due to very heavy traffic in going to the training site. San Mateo was still in chaos then. The San Mateo - Batasan bridge was full of debris and occupied by residents in the area practically blocking the road; hence the very heavy traffic.

I parked my car in a nearby village along Kambal Road - one of the roads leading to Timberland Heights. The other road from Barangay Ampid is still impassable as portion of the road connected to bridge has collapsed. The bridge itself is not damaged.

Thence, I pedaled uphill towards The Wall. As I reached the Columbary, my new mobile phone message alert went off. It's time to rest anyway; so, I stopped and read the message. It's just a joke message from a friend. After a few minutes of rest, I rode AlitePot and pedaled uphill until I reached an elbow. I thought I had enough and decided to turn back.

At home, I checked my progress from the Google Map and learned that I almost reached The Wall.