Bike ride today to Antipolo, Teresa, met rode with Reymundo Pactao up to Antipolo

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
October 29, 2017

I rode to Antipolo City this morning.  And I met Reymond Pactao from Pag Asa Binangonan Rizal.  He took notice of me as he joined me at Beverly Hills going up Antipolo City.   He recognized my uniform and the bike frame I bought from him -  Bianchi.  At the Antipolo Cathedral church yard, he realized how light the bike is.  If only the wheel set were lighter, then it would even be lighter.

I rode up using heavy gear 39 x 17.  I used to ride this at low gear  39 x 28 or even 32.   But I was sweating hard, even on my face, as I finished the ride.   I returned home via Teresa, Morong,  Cardona and Binangonan

Ang mga Recyclists nakiramay sa mga naulila ni Bayani Ramos, husband ni Simple(s Lugawan)

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
October 28, 2017

The Recyclists came  nearly in full force to condole and pray with the family of the late Bayani Ramos, the husband of Simple (the owner of lugawan) who serve our breakfast for the last 10 years of biking.  He died of cardiac arrest at East Medical Center due to complications from diabetes.  He was 62 (4 years younger than me and 20+ years vs Papa Ric) I used to converse with him because  we have the same affliction.


Biking is a a medicine. It was biking that made me live longer.  Otherwise, I like Mr Bayani would have lost my toes and succumbed too to the complications of diabetes.

   Present this morning were Engr. June, Joel, Boks, Etoy Mariposa, Vhen, Edgar de los Reyes.  Papa Ric Mancao, Jericho Magtibag, Jimmy, Meong  Pres Luis Master E,  and me.

We made our own individual abuloy.  All except me made it round Teresa.  I still had work to do.

Kinumusta si Edgar de los Reyes (7 days); hindi nagkita kita nang pauwi from Tagaytay City Ride

Wheels of Happiness

                                                                   Si Al at Ed
Rizal Philippines
October 27, 2017

Nagpunta at kinumusta ko si Edgar de los Reyes of Cardona Rizal  kahaapon ng umaga galing sa ride sa Morong para kumustahin. Siya at kasama niyang si Al Alegre na nakasama sa pagsalunga sa Tagaytay City ay hindi natin nakatagpo sa Bicutan Lingo ng gabi. (Si Al sumundo sa atin sa Baguio City ride natin early this year) Well I had update Monday morning from Pres Luis that the two overshot the Bicutan intersection and went straight the West Service Road to Villamor Air Base and proceeded to to C5 (or BGC).  It was very dark according to them and because Ed has poor eyesight, found it difficult to ride. Thanks God they arrived at 9:00 pm (some 1 1/2 hours later than us)

Nagpasalamat si Edgar sa aking pagdalaw at concern.  He was about to bike too yesterday when I met him

Parade/caravan of super and sports car last Sunday at Sta Rosa Tagaytay highway

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
October 25, 2017

                                                Parang ganito -  hindi ko nakunan ng pix

While waiting for some of fellow riders to arrive at sari sari store some 2 km from Tagaytay City market,  we were treated to a parade of supercars and sports car;  may be a dozen of them:   Porsche, Lambo, Ferrari, Audi and the least expensive of them Mustang.  Wow.  That could be worth a P100 million worth

"Ilan taon na po kayo Tay? "(How old are you sir) You can still bike this far and hard?

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
October 23, 2017

                                         The author at the center supervising the flat fix. Ha6

                                       Assisting Edgar (7 days) sa pagbomba ng flat


I was asked this question thrice:   by MTB rider in front of PNPA, by a father of a cadet from Guimba Nueva Ecija who visited his son, manager of Silang Jollibee.  They were wondering how come I was with very young riders?

How come I could still bike this far?

And they were surprised that I declared that I am 66.   Still going strong and steady for 66.

And a fellow rider Gerry remarked that I was better off with the strugglers (4 of them) who arrived some 30 minutes later than the others climbing the Sta Rosa Highway to Tagaytay

This was the third long and hard ride I had for the last 3 months:   Jariel's Peak, Majayjay.   I thought I am done with biking.  But I am not.  Puwedeig pwedi pa

Peter kept on asking kung may salunga ba sa Tagaytay City ride yesterday, October 22, 2017

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
October 23, 2017

                                  Peter A in his elements


Si Peter Anonuevo panay ang tanong kung may salunga yesterday sa Tagaytay.  Of course there were.  The most challenging one was before PNPA.  The rest of the way it was easy.  It was a 22 km ride all the way from Balibago. Sta Rosa.   It took me nearly one hour from Balibago to PNPA

I was hesitant to ride this, because of many tall stories from other riders.  May heartbreak hill daw (may be that is the long climb up before PNPA)  And Joel said that when they rode it, he had to use his 44 gears (naglakad)

As for me, the frequent SCH practice ride using a road bike helped.   I did not have to use 39 x 32.  All that I used  were 39 x 19 to 23

I did not suffer nor feel any distress as when climbing up Tagaytay via Aguinaldo highway.

Nauna nga ako eh.  Nainip ako waiting for them for at least 30 minutes (some 2 km from the public market)  There were 4 whom we waited for being behind.

The other thing is when you bike in this place, you seem to be transported to another place.  One with nature and with all modern amenities.  Wow

As if you were re in Shang ri la

Kas Luntian in Tagaytay City by Alveo Land

                              Adventist University Entrance

                   Plenty of shade trees, wide 6 lane highway

                               Great landscaping


Casa Luntian by Avida

My pics from other fb post - Tagaytay City ride yesterday October 22, 2017

Wheels of Happiness

October 23, 2017

From fb posts of Al Alegre

                               Mga supervisors sa pag ayos ng
                               flat ni Al after 1:48 lunch at
                               Silang  Jollibee.

                                  Helping Al with his flat

                             Nagsnacks at Petron Daang Hari
                             after sweating it out from Tagaytay
                             city and ascents at Daang Hari

                              Assembly at INC

Merry mix up in ride to Tagaytay today, October 22 2017

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
October 22, 2017

                                                Wesluk, Gerry, Netoy, Meong and Alan

                                                       Ed and Al, we left as soon as they arrived

The Recyclists rode up to Tagaytay City today, leaving Angono by 6:10 and arriving 7:30 in Angono (we were waiting for Ed de los Reyes and Al Alegre who were with Jorgeusbiker and Weng Balubar by 5:00 pm near Bicutan intersection. The two claimed they were just some 100 meters behind near the Condos on the west service road.  (The group waited for them for nearly two hours.  Jeff looked for them but failed to see them.  We attempted to contact them by text and call but no one answered)

On the other hand, the group thought that JB got lost: they waited for him at Highway 2000, at  waiting shed of in front of Camp Bagong Diwa and 711 in Alabang. However, JB lost sight of them upon take off and thinking that the group turned left to Baytown rode in that direction. The leadership failed to inform him that they would pass at MEG instead.

And so thinking he was left behind, he rode faster.  When he looked at his phone, there were 13 calls and  several texts.  He was all ready in Balibago, and the rest were still in San Pedro, some 30 minutes behind

Those who joined were:

Gerry Cataps
Meong
Jess Verchez
Weng Balubar
Angel Balubar
Pres. Wesluk
Gerry Cataps
Jorgeusbiker
Netoy Mariposa
\Ed de los Reyes (7days)
Al Alegre
Jeff Arquiza
Alan Astorga
Peter Anonuevo

14 in all

Master and Joel showed up, but did not join

What was new that Tagaytay climb is now via  Sta Rosa, and descent is via Aguinaldo highway which is much simpler to navigage and faster.

                                        Angel, Jess, Joel, Meong in front of Iglesia

                                              Netoy and Gerry

                                         Gerry and Weluk taking snacks some 2 km to Tagaytay

                                       Some nice looking furniture (and very expensive too)

Preparing for Tagaytay ride - riding up Antenna in San Carlos using a road bike

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
October 19, 2017

Gerry Cataps told me that the group will ride up Tagaytay, this time via Sta Rosa.  Wow that is going to be  tough.  A lot tougher than via Aguinaldo or Greenwoods

And so to prepare mentally for that ride, I rode up Antenna using the Bianchi with 39 x 32 gears.  That is about .37 gear inches. Today, I rode up with the Fuji carbon bike with 34 x 23 gears.  It should have been 25 sprocket but woes of woes,  the bike wont shift to 25.  It was a little bit tough because the ratio was .39.  But I managed to do this twice.

I hope I am ready for that ride this Sunday.  I lack mileage though

Being a biker trains you to really do a lot of repairs yourself

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
October 15, 2017

Being a biker trains you to be a Mr. Handyman.  Kasi if you have everything that goes wrong with your bike to be done by the mechanic, you are in for a lot of abala and expenses.  Sometimes all you need is patience, focus, pair of pliers, allen wrench (hex) and a little understanding of mechanics of the bike.

Today:   I fixed the following on my bike:

1.  Tightened the cables for the front and rear derailleur of the Sava MTB and the Bianchi road bike
2.  Removed the grating sound of the rear derailleur of the Bianchi (a little 1/4 turn of the low screw of the RD)
3.  Adjusted the cables of the Sava MTB so that it can shift to the biggest rear sprocket (34)
4.  Put loctite on the crank tensioner bolt so that it wont fall off again (as it has several times)

I also washed the bikes and removed the grime from the chain ring and the sprocket.

In the house I was the handyman, the DIY guy:

1.  I replaced the LED bulb outside the house on the western side;
2.  Replaced the bulb of the lighting fixture inside the house

Bike Ride today, October 15, 2017

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
October 15, 2017


There were a lot of kapadyaks I met today as I went on a ride to Binangonan and Antenna using a road bike (the Bianchi Ultegra):

1.  Armin Zap  -  at Jollibee waiting for other MTBs to arrive.   while the BFP were putting out fire at Angono SaveMore

2.  Jess Verchez -  he passed by us;   he was not riding today.

3  Alan Astorga -   in Tagpos.  He was on MTB and would ride with Gerry Cataps;   I left him at Tagpos

4.  Pablo Tsinelas -  at Antenna.  While I did the antenna using the road bike.  I drew ohs and ahs from the MTB riders because I had high gears.  But I was able to reach the  top.  My lowest gear was 39 x 32.  It was a hard combination

It was the first time I rode a road  bike all the way to Antenna.Only MTBs before

Indeed I perspired a lot today riding up San Carlos Heights Antenna.  My thighs and legs ached and it was a real work out despite the short distance.

Yesterday, I rode up Medalva using the SAVA MTB.  I used 32 x 34 gears.  Since it was raining hard, it was a refreshing ride

Ride to Morong today using FujiCarbon

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
October 8, 2017

I rode to Morong today using a road bike.  The FujiCarbon. I had not used this for the last 2 months and molds and mildew were growing on the tires and other parts  I decided to use the 50 chain ring and the 13 to 15 sprocket even while going up Callahan. (a hard gear set day).   There is a big difference with MTB ride because pedaling is relatively light and was not left very much behind by a fellow road biker aboard a GTS alum bike

As I saw in a bike contest in Lombard, when the gear is harder, all I had to do was stand up

I met Jimmy and Sec Noe and both wore the same windmill uniform.  There was a slight drizzle as I rode home.   Many I think did not ride because there was light rain/shower early in the morning

Dapat talaga lahat ng bikes ginagamit

2x Climb to San Carlos (Antenna) Heights last Wednesday

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
October 8, 2017

I was training officers last week and part of the schedule was physical fitness.  HR brought them to Marian hills on a hike.  I brought my MTB and rode up via Tolentino. I used relatively hard gears going up.   32 x 17 to 19. I had long lay over and could not manage I think climb up by Gate 2.  I was ahead of every body else.  I met them:   a lady and another senior near Sitio Mangga all ready.

Then I went up again riding the bike.   And then when we went down, I rode down to Mangga and  then climbed again meeting them near the last switchback before Mangga.   I rode down again and met them near the first cross.

They walked down  Gate 2,  and rode up and down again as they descended.   As usual, in the afternoon, I was dead tired and had to sleep for two hours

Very fast bike ride by the Big 5 to Tagaytay City today, October 1, 2017

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
October 1, 2017

There was a planned ride to Tagaytay City today as heard from Gerry Cataps:   assembly was supposed to be at 5:45 today at Iglesia.   I asked Vhen last Thursday, and said he was in doubt.

This morning, it was still drizzling at 5:30 am.  I decided not to join

However natuloy pala sila:  5:  Alan, Gerry, Pres Luis, Angel, and Jeff (?)

And they did this in a very quick and fast action:  10 arrival at Tagaytay City, and they even went to Palace in the Sky.

They were able to come back at 2 pm.  Gerry still went somewhere else.

Vhen I saw him at 3:00 am near the Angono bridge, Villamayor Bike store.

Today, I just rode to Morong and went home via Diversion. (after a long time.) and it was challenging again. I struggled at 32 x 25.