Easter Sunday ride - UP Diliman

Easter Sunday celebrates the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead.

With my Marin Alpine Trail 29er (TweetyPot), I went to UP Diliman this morning.  I hadn't completed yet my first lap of the Academic Oval, my rear wheel got flat.  Holy shit!  It's a brand new tube.  After replacing the damaged tube with an old one, I resumed my ride and tried the forbidden trails.  Then, after negotiating the single tracks at the University Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue, the rear tire got flat again.  Darn!  New and old tubes, they suffered the same fate.  Their Presta valve base were torn.

Flat again!

After replacing the tube with another new one, I decided to cut short my ride; as, I've no more spare tube.  I always carry two (2) spare tubes in my saddle bag when biking.

And, I'm already getting tired of the frequent flats due to torn Presta valve base.

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

Finally, I experience the CABA Zone

My first attempt to ride in Camp Aguinaldo Biker Adventure (CABA) Zone last November went to naught. The trail's closed. It was after the Paquiao - Cotto fight. Probably, the trail keeper's still watching the reruns of the fight. He he he . . .

Yesterday, or five months later, I went there pedal all the way from Novaliches (about 20 kms). I left home at 2:00 pm and arrived after an hour and a half. Yes, it's open.

I planned to make a round only just to experience the trails then pedal all the way back home. After one round, I decided for another round. After a rest, I went back inside the trails.

Ironically, I found it more difficult on my second round. I crashed once at the curve before the ascent to the van and made more stops than my first round. Maybe, I was just tired. I survived anyway and went home happy and satisfied.

Definitely, I'd go back and try the trails again.


Stop over at UP Diliman


The trail head

The trail exit




Another stop over at UP Diliman on my way home.

Novaliches-Santolan, Pasig-Marikina-San Mateo-Novaliches

Yesterday morning, I left at around 6:30 AM. I again braved Commonwealth Avenue. This time, it's the stretch from Mindanao Avenue up to Tandang Sora Avenue, where I turned left.

My first pit stop was at UP Diliman. While resting, I was surprised when a totally stranger biker approached me and called my name. He's Momoy - my blog visitor. And, he recognized my bike. Nice meeting you personally, Momoy!

UP Diliman Sunken Garden

After a 10-minute rest, I proceeded via Katipunan Avenue, Aurora Boulevard, Marcos Highway, and entered Evangelista Street - the way to Barangay Santolan.

Entering Barangay Santolan

Sto. Tomas de Villanueva Parish Church

After visiting my relatives, I traversed and explored Marikina City going to San Mateo, Rizal.

Marikina City Bike Lane

Marikina City Hall

Entering Sto. Nino, San Mateo, Rizal

Fried vegetable lumpia to satisty my hunger

Kambal Extension Road, San Mateo, Rizal
A bottle of beer at Froys Plaze

From San Mateo, I went home via Batasan Road and Commonwealth Avenue.

Change of plan

This afternoon, I'd planned of biking in San Mateo, Rizal. But, I changed my plan. Instead, I went to Camp Aguinaldo to try its bike trail. I arrived at the camp at around 1:30 pm. The gate, however, to the trail's still closed. I waited while listening to the Pacquiao - Cotto after fight.
After 2:00 pm, the gate's still closed; and, I asked around. I was told to check with the G2. I had difficulty in finding it. Finally, after asking for directions, I found it. But, the personnel there was of no help. He told me that the trail is for the Generals only and not open for public; and, the trail is open from Monday to Friday but not aware of the time of operations. I just thanked him and left.

Where would I go? To San Mateo, Rizal or UP Diliman? The latter it was.
I arrived at the campus at 2:45 pm. I started pedaling at 3:00 pm and finished at around 5:45 pm.

Aside from rounding the oval, I ventured the short trails (found new ones) and practiced uphill climbs.

A night ride at UP Diliman

I was supposed to go to San Mateo, Rizal this afternoon to attempt climbing The Wall again and beyond.

However, wifey needed to go to Trinoma to buy some special gift for special event tomorrow. So, Trinoma we went. We're able to leave Trinoma at around 5:30 PM. There's no more time to go to San Mateo; and, I just decided to go to UP Diliman.

It's already dark when we arrived at the parking area. And, I was able to utilize my bike lights for the second time.

I just pedaled around the Academic Oval. I made 12 rounds; then, we went home at around 8:30 PM.

A short ride in UP Diliman

Yesterday, I had a business meeting in one of the government agencies along Visayas Avenue and finished it by 4:00 PM. On my way home, I thought of passing by UPD and bike. That's what a bike addict would do when there's an opportunity to do so.

I arrived at the parking lot at about 4:40 PM. After setting up AlitePot and warming up, I took off at about 5:00 PM.

I made several rounds within the campus and around the academic oval. I found a short trail after the basketball court along Balagtas St. and tried it.

Darkness caught on me and, finally, I used my bike lights. Since I've installed them, it's only the first time that I utilized them.

I concluded my ride at about 6:30 PM and went home.

Pedaling in standing position

I was in UP Diliman from around 10:00 o' clock this morning to around 2:00 o' clock in the afternoon for my Saturday biking. I prefer this period as there are lesser bikers, joggers, walkers, and strollers around the academic oval.

As part of my training for uphill climb, I practiced pedaling in standing position while climbing the steep roads and driveways. At first, it's very difficult and my bike wobbled. But, after some more tries, it became easier.

Places I'd practiced the pedaling while in standing position:

• At the elbow of Juan Luna St.;
• At the short trail at the back of Executive House;
• At the driveways of UP Alumni Engineers Centennial Hall;
• At the newly constructed roads going to UP Institute of Mathematics;
• At the driveway of UP Pagasa Observatory;
• At the driveway of College of Business Administration.
  

Tomorrow, I'd attempt to climb up The Wall and beyond!

Exploring University of the Philippines - Diliman (Part 2)

At 1:00 PM today, I left home to bike. I hadn't decided yet where to go. I was choosing between San Mateo, Rizal and UP Diliman. And, the latter won!

Instead of pedaling around the oval, I again explored the places I wasn't able to explore before. Some places I explored were the:

• Delos Reyes St.
• Velasquez St.
• A. Ma. Regidor St.
• Aguinaldo St.
• M. Viola St.
• G. Bernardo St.
• P. Valenzuela St.
• J. P. Laurel St.
• G. Apacible St.
• Agoncillo St.

I also practiced my uphill climb in Juan Luna St. and in the driveway and parking area of the UP Alumni Engineers Centennial Hall. I also found short trails near the Executive House.

After four hours, I packed up.

Exploring University of the Philippines - Diliman

Typhoon Ondoy was no longer pestering Metro Manila although he's still somewhere in the Philippine area of responsibility. Yesterday, Ondoy flooded and wreaked havoc to most areas in the metropolis and nearby provinces.

There's no more rain this morning; so, I proceeded to San Mateo to continue my training for uphill climb. However, I wasn't able to reach my destination due to heavy traffic along San Mateo Road. After 45 minutes in traffic, I decided to turn back and proceeded to UP Diliman instead. I learned later that the bridge was occupied by the residents in the area restricting the flow of traffic.

In UPD, I normally pedal around the academic oval; but, this time, I didn't. Instead, I explored the inner campus of the university and took this route:

• From the parking of UP School of Economics, I pedaled to E. Ma. Guerrero / Gomburza Streets;
• passed at UP Hotel driveway;
• returned to Gomburza St.;
• turned left to Juan Luna St.;
• turned right to Magsaysay Ave.;
• turned right to the road leading to College of Human Kinetics;
• turned left to Ylanan St. up to the Commonwealth gate and turned back;
• turned right to Magsaysay Ave. up to the Commission of Human Rights entrance;
• turned left and turned left again;
• turned right to E. Jacinto Ave. and went inside the Veterinary Hospital Compound;
• got out and turned right to E. Jacinto Ave. up to the gate at CP Garcia then turned back;
• turned right to Lakandula St.;
• turned right to E. delos Santos St.;
• turned right to Pardo de Tavera up to the gate at CP Garcia then turned back;
• turned right to F. Maramag up to the Executive House then turned back;
• turned right to Pardo de Tavera / Quirino Ave.;
• turned left to Africa St.;
• turned right to the Academic Oval; and,
• finally, turned right to and braked at my starting point.

Biking late in UP Academic Oval

I left the office at 3:00 PM this afternoon for an official business in a government agency located along Visayas Avenue in Quezon City and arrived thereat at 4:00 PM. Fortunatey, I was able to conclude my transaction in about 30 minutes.

It's still early; and, I decided to go to UP to pedal around.

Despite the dusk and darkness caught on me, I was able to make 12 laps or about 27.6 kilometers.