As part of my training, I'm going to do tomorrow the Novaliches to Antipolo to Mt. Maarat to Novaliches loop. This is about 68 kilometers.
My intended route:
Novaliches - Masinag - up to Antipolo via Sumulong Highway - down to Cogeo via Olalia Road - Cabading - up to Mt. Maarat - Timberland - down to C6 - Novaliches.
The distance from Masinag up to Olalia Road via Sumulong Highway is about 7 kilometers; while from Cabading up to Pintong Bocaue 4 kilometers.
If there's extra time, I'd side trip to any of the trails in Mt. Maarat.
I had a hard time climbing Timberland Heights this morning. And, I felt I wasn't in the mood. I stopped and rested five times; and, it took me an hour to reach the gate. While resting, I was thinking whether to push through with my ride to Maarat basic trail then up to Giant and Mount Sinai to see the Merrell Run Event.
Then, someone greeted me. It's Jermaine. When I learned that he and his friends would go to where I was supposed to go, I decided to tag along.
After peeping the Internet while sipping a cup of coffee, I prepared to bike. My planned route: pedal all the way from Novaliches to Timberland to Maarat to Giant & v.v.
I again rode my SS bike. The last time I climbed Timberland, I did it in 5 stops. Now, it's 3 only. More training!
Thence, I proceeded to Maarat basic trail and Giant. However, instead of going to Giant, I turned right to Pestano Breakfast Club. It's now serving buffet breakfast. But, I still preferred the ala carte and ordered Trailblazers Skillet and a cup of coffee.
On my third SS attack to Timberland this morning, I did it in five stops only or less than a stop from my previous 2 attacks.
While cooling off at the Timberland gate, I thought of going farther up to the Clubhouse. Why not, coconut? I reached the Clubhouse, all right, with one stop only.
While resting at the trailhead, I heard beckons coming from the trail. After some thoughts, I heeded. I just traversed the basic trail up to the Araneta gate.
Hearing no more beckons, I pedaled back.
It's the first time I tried my SS on trail; and, I enjoyed the ride. And, it's more enjoyable with the rigid fork. I'd also toyed the idea of trying the green or blue zones but dismissed it. I'd just do it next time with a group.
Sadly, I noticed that a segment of the road from the trailhead has been leveled and most probably would be paved sooner or later. So, let's enjoy the trails while they are still there.
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.
From Aling Tina's Eatery, I attacked Timberland and was able to climb it, all right, but in six stops. First stop was a mandatory stop before the infamous "siko". The second at the "siko"; the third to fifth before the next curve; and, the last after Amiya Raya. I also pedaled standing up; but, my powers were not enough to conquer Timberland on SS non-stop.
The last stop
Suman (rice cake) and Yakult at Marc's View Deck
I'll just attempt again next time with less stops.
I've been climbing Timberland without dismount - from Aling Tina's Eatery up to Timberland Gate. The gears I'm using are 32 x 17 up to curve before the "siko" then 32 x 26 all the way to Timberland.
Today, using my Marin Alpine Trail 29er (TweetyPot) with the same gearings, I climbed Timberland again. This time, I did it with three dismounts. My stopovers: 1) before the "infamous siko"; 2) at the rumble strips after the "siko"; and, 3) after the next curve. This is the hardest segment of the climb.
For the past month, I'd limited my biking on flat grounds only due to an illness. When I got bored, I tested if I could do some climbs. Anyway, I feel better and stronger now.
Last Friday, I tried the Commonwealth Avenue Extension - Form Dory's Restaurant up to Quirino Highway. A piece of cake!. Yesterday, the ride from Aling Tina's Eatery up to the curve before the "siko" was a walk in the park!
And, today, I made my climb as easy as ABC, pedaling slowly and stopping/resting at will, just to reach my goal as if I'm a newbie. Actually, my plan was to make 4 to 5 stopovers. I was so happy I did it in less!
From 21 minutes, it's now 20 minutes and 30 seconds.
I made my new record this morning. I biked out late at 9:00 am and pedaled all the way. I arrived in San Mateo, Rizal an hour later. After a 10-minute rest, I attacked The Wall and broke my record.
Fortunately, the weather was conducive and there were already less bikers going up.
I'm setting another record for myself, i.e., climb Timberland Heights as many as I can in one day. The climb must be no dismount. Rest may be done in between climbs - after or before the climb.
My previous record was two climbs. This morning, I attempted to do more than two climbs but made three climbs only.
This morning, I pedaled from Novaliches and climbed Timberland Heights. Near the gate, I was thinking whether I'd proceed to Maarat trails. I decided not but proceeded towards Rodriguez instead and took the trails of Macabud to Pangarap Village on my way home.
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.
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.
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.
I was on leave yesterday (Wednesday) for some personal important matter. In the afternoon, I found time to bike and went to one of my favorite biking places - San Mateo, Rizal.
I left at around 2:00 pm and pedaled to San Mateo.
Today, I had another duet ride to Timberland Heights. This time, it’s with YummyNia and via Shotgun.
We met at the Neopolitan Business Park at the back of SM Fairview. We waited for sometime hoping other bikers might join us. After 15 minutes, we pedaled all the way to Aling Tina's Eatery. After taking our breakfast of "papaitang kambing", we climbed Shotgun to Maarat trails and pedaled down via Timberland.
After we parted ways, I decided to return and climbed Timberland Heights.
At the Maarat trails, I first experienced the problem with my chain - the lower portion of the chain stuck to the sprocket while pedaling.
