Avoid using your bike in the rain or flooded area; be sure to disassemble and remove grit and rust afterwards

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Went to Mario Toledo to have my expensive RB serviced.   I thought that it was due to for servicing since it has been 5 years since it was built.   

You only need a 10 mm hex to remove the crank assembly (for Campy) But the difficulty was due to it being stuck and a lot of convincing (pounding softly) was needed.  There were lots of mud at the spindle and the left bearing was busted.  

This must have been caused by the 400 km bike to Bicol because the first 2 days was rained out.    

So he advised that the crank bolt must be removed reinstalled periodically or that crank servicing will be made more frequent.

The rear wheel also had slight play.   It turned out that an end cap needed tightening.   

Happy birthday VM, 62nd birthday

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Today is the 62nd birthday of Vice Mayor Jun Vic, former vice mayor of Angono.  He is the youngest brother in the family.  He was responsible for the formation and strengthening of Recyclists.  He supported the long climbs, with logistics and manpower.  

Kaya naka 15 years ang Recyclists.

Enjoy and more blessings for the day.   

Hill climbs abound around town

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This post was wondering why I had to seek other venues for biking and practicing hill climbs as in Tanay Sampaloc or Kay Biang, or Baguio when there is no shortage of hill climbs to explore around town.

This weekend, this post climbed:  Mambog, Bombongan, Crystal East going to Macamot.

Here is a list of hill climbs that you can explore:

1.  Domsa

2.  Kape in the Sky at Hillsdale (at Botong Francisco)

3.  DOMSA

4.  Antenna

5.  Labahan

6.  Quarry Road

7.  Sikatan kape at Pitallo St. Mahabang Parang

8.  Kalawaan

9.  Macamot

10.  Tatala

11.  Kasinay

We can practice a lot here before going far away

Lessened group rides by Recyclists

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The participants to the week end rides of Recyclists has declined.  It is great if we can gather 10 or more.   the group rides has also diminished in number.

Because of the temperature.    The rise in temperature has been brutal, and such have been attributed to death of certain riders

Perhaps the desire of others has diminished.  Many have died and many are growing old.   The financier of the rides, sir VM is very busy with Boy Scouts and his expanding business.  Hence lesser group rides  (or none at all)

Puting Cruz an attraction near diversion road in Cardona

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Sometimes you really have to take the road less taken.   Say in Diversion road.  If you pass along the side of Aurora Casitas, you will see two great resorts and the interior of Mambog.

Just after the ascent on the Morong side, you will come across the  Bayani Reyes arch and see the Puting Cruz which attracts hordes of visitors during Holy Week.  The said road leads to Pedro Reyes which leads to the Holy Rosary Parish Church.  

Age beginning to matter

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For a month, this post did not bike because of persistent pain on the calf.   This post feared an article that says that the shin bone of a senior snapped while climbing a hill.

Thus this affected my bike ride to to DOMSA last Sunday.   I had to stop 3x because of that fear, and the fear that this post may collapse.  

I will be 72 this June and age does seem to matter

Resuming long rides

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Did not bike for a while because of extreme temperature.  One senior was known to  have died because of extreme heat.  He fell from his bike allegedly due to heat stroke.  Then he must have fractured his head from the fall.

By not biking I had a sore knee and it limited

Since the rains started to fall, it has been cooler.   Last Thursday, I did a 40 km ride, today I did the same

This post noticed though:

1. That Bicol Ni is being demolished and refurbished;

2.  That there are 3 subdivisions  mostly owned by a large realtor developer  which has caused the removal of green foliage from once cool Bugarin.

3.  Very few biked because it rained last night.  

Had a grain of sand operated on yesterday at a high end MM hospital

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One year after the accident happened in Pagbilao Quezon, in February when we climbed Bitukang Manok, after much prodding and plenty of failed scheduling I got the cyst on my elbow removed by a popular surgeon.  Surprise surprise, he charged me on ony P100.00 as PF for the operation.  He was a  MBAH student of the undersigned in 2006 and he said he learned much from my class on entreprepreneurship.

Thank you Doctor for the almost free procedure.

He did the procedure at about noontime yesterday and assisted by a Dr. resident  in surgery from CDO.

Thank you the Doctor, the hospital staff who assisted me and my two daughters who accompanied me to the hospital and gave me moral support

The culprit was a grain of sand about 4 mm across (or gravel) that was encapsulated (my body acted like an oyster who was getting rid of an irritant by coating the same with mother of pearl  The wound, the rash was not thoroughly cleaned, hence the  cyst..   

Next problem to be removed is the soreness of the left shoulder which was fractured.   Some say there is an adhesion and it feels some stiffness if I rotate the same counter clockwise,

We shall overcome  

High Vis clothing not necessarily safe for cyclists

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HIgh visibility garments

In foreign countries, high vis clothing is mandatory to prevent accidents.  However, a pro cyclists broke his back after being hit by a speeding car.  He was wearing high vis clothing  He is going to miss a race in March

"Sorry mate I did not see you"  I have heard this before from a tricycle driver one late morning  He sideswiped my bike, and when confronted, he said sorry he did not notice me    

Really some posts are right in saying that really biking on the streets is not safe.  Not to mention sharrows, and bike lanes (as announced) notwithstanding

Its really amazing how easy it is to complete a 100 km ride with a nice bike and constant practice

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Am really amazed how easy and efficient it is for me to ride 100 km lately despite an advanced age.   Constant practice, and a well built bike:   nice GS and WS make for effortless ride.   And pacing yourself well.  

It takes 3+ hours to complete the ride, whereas before it takes 6 hours or more.   

Kara David 400 km mentions

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More mentions on Kara David ride today:   

3 in Binangonan

2.At Morong fiesta.

1 At Cardona.   

In Morong, whenever  I start mounting the bike, I am often asked if it is #BiketoBicol

Thanks for asking and the mentions

A repost on energy drink peril

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This post has seen a resurgence on the endorsement of energy drinks even from some of fellow bloggers and famous influencer.   This is an activity that we should view with caution.  It is unfotunate that the  enegy drinks are named after venomous snake, or animals that can be wild.  That is the effect on our health.   

Let us beware vigilant.

A kapadkyak who drank a famous venomous snake had kidney faiure   He died   (  suffeaths from drinking energy drinks

Am unwell for over reaching or due to advanced age.

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Has been unwell since Friday.  I have a racking cough (covid19 - but I have not lost my smell or taste, nor had upset stomach. ) I did a Tanay Sampaloc ride before involving steep climb  It could have been due to exposure to aircon, as I still go to the office after a ride.  (I always ask the AC to be turned off but failed to do so during the last two rides)

I feel better now,.  No meds  Just warm water, tea, and katimco rubbing on chest and throat  I am going to the province tomorrow and I should be well

Were you paid?

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One of the frequent questions being posed to me by kapadyaks is whether the network paid me for the #400kilometro  # padyaktobicol.  They allege that the network made a lot of money on the advertiser not to mention the million others at you tube   

I answered no.   The network made sure that I signed a waiver as to the rights to the video and probably talent fee, and accidents just in case   The pundits said that it difficult to get a  senior biker to do that for free Maybe bike for 100 km but 400 km   

I said I biked for personal glory and self satisfaction.  I reached  my goal I got some publicity.  I got free food and accommodation and transpo going home.  

That is enough  Thank  your sir Mam

Although this post noted that the researcher and the host no longer communicated with this post

although initiatives are done to dm or text.    

Upgraditis not necessariiy a bad thing

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Perhaps we converse about upgraditis as tongue  in cheek, as joke.  It is not necessarily bad.   It becomes part of our nature  as a biker to keep on improving our biking:   our skills and equipment.   Upgrading equipment  our bike costs money and our spouses (wives) frown and quarrel with us regarding these purchases which they consider atrocious to family budget - education food, housing, and the like

But upgraditis is a sign that you are alive and you are very much interested and you love what you are doing ie   biking

They say that having more money or possession is key to happiness.   Doing what you love is

You tube - bike upgraditis

What were the thing I learned in 2022 regarding bikes

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I thought there were many.   Here are some

1.  Making splash guard from softdrinks plastic bottle.  They are expensive and costs about P400 each

     It is free when making them from used PET bottle

2.  Repairing spokes converting them from J to straight pull using pliers and inserting them at hub holes

3.  Partially truing a wheel.  The correct tightening is counterclockwise

4.  Retightening a fork top tube extender.   This is what he mechanic did to the Pinarello top tube 

     when it got loose from the Daraga 400 km ride

5.  Installing a goat link to SRAM red rd so that the rd can accommodate 11-36 cogs

6.  Cheap saddles are good for your butt   

FB posts:    senior rides, Jorgeus George

Many mentions regarding the Kara David 400 kilometro Padyak to Bicol

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This post experienced  popularity  when recognized and asked if  this was the bikemates of #KaraDavid

in  #Padyaktobicol #400 kilometros.   Since the bike ride ended there were no more than 20.  The latest was at Taktak where there were 3 requests for photo ops.   Am very thankful for this wave of admiration

and popularity.   

There were some controversial questins:

1.  Did mam Kara really biked that long -   Yes.  The crew and Reinier D and I can attest to that.  She is

     a strong and fast rider

2.  Are you and she related?  Kasi you look alike    No we are not relatives.  I got to know her through Josh Nicdao the program  researcher.  She is the interviewer and I am subject case study.   Very professional.   They are so  busy with their shows  that communication has been nil since we departed from Daraga in  November 6

But my pages views skyrocketed to almost half million a week after the ride.  The numbers are down to its

old level;  the trending has stopped.