Monday, June 30, 2025

Had bloodshot eyes after birthday; had check up with Optha yesterday, it was determined that I had HBP

Wheels of Happiness

We should not be complacent even if we diet and bike.  You as I did have some health problems.  I had blood shot eyes (left) a day after my birthday.  I was able to have my check up last Saturday.  The DX was that it was caused by HBP.  My bp at the clinic was 150/90.  (How could that be)  I often prided my bp to be just 110/70.... Huhu

I remembered on my Bday on the 20th, I binged on bulalo and Crispy pata.   These are happening despite 3x bike ride weekly and they were hard.  Did the hard ride cause the HBP?



Changing mindset at 50 by Elon Musk

Wheels of Happiness

The next 50 years is not a continuation of the first 50.   It is not a time for retiring but to reinvent, or recreate your life   Stop shrinking if you want to expand.  Stop seeking permission if you want to live for the next 50 years.

At 20-40 your advantage and power is your energy;   if you are over 50, your power is your skills and knowlede

How you can repurpose your life, your next 50 years.
1.  What is it that you cant stop thinking about?
2.  What can your contribution for the next 20 years
3.  What is the thing where there is most friction?   That can be your compass

What limits you is your enegy and they can be dissipated by your habits:
1.  Distraction external stimuli that robs of your energy:   phone, soc media, txt etc
2.  Unfiltered input from someone?  Is he trying to build a better future or putting you down?
3.  Multi tasking

Chaning your mindset after 50.  This is strategic
1.  Stop defending protecting what you have built.  What if you start all over again
     Stop[ validating.  Build something bigger than yourself.  Stop apologizing for being 50   Build something that you are not qualified (this will elicit the best in you and/or energy that you are low on.
2.  What do you want to be in the next 20 years.  What will be your greatest contribution.
      You are not yet on decline

3.  You focus on imagination, creation and action

A prescription for golden girls and boys to lead a better next 50 years.





Friday, June 27, 2025

Affordable Chinese ebikes... (how blessed are we vs our Western counter parts)

Wheels of Happiness

We can buy cheaper affordable ebikes from Chinese sources.







Budget e bikes

Wheels of Happiness

Can you afford ebikes?  EMTBs?    My Wheeltop electronic shifter is tops.  Has been doing finef ever since.   It set me back by mere P25,000 vs SRAM and Shimano that cost well over 6 numbers.

We cant be purists.   We need to exercise yes, and we dont want to suffer forever as we bike






Long range electronic bikes

Wheels of Happiness

For senior like me, (weakening muscles, loss of strength) this will be the next frontier.   We can go on long rides and not fear hills anymore.

I believe that many seniors will migrate towards ebikes.  They are motor assist anyway and exercise will not be lost.  Affordable Chinese bikes will be available soon




Shocking death of a Cainta Rizal at Barrio Kapitolyo Pasig City calls for immediate corrective measures

Wheels of Happiness

The death of Cainta mtb rider calls for resolute action.  It was schocking and gory.  It did not seem to be deadly from initial footage (All accidents are)  The opening of the door of the van, and the running over were all fast.

Dooring

Thisi post have experienced being doored twice - ie you hitting the door of a vehcile being opened at speed.   One was Pantok involving a jeep that unloaded a passenger in front.   The door opened suddenly.   My speed was around 5 kph but nevertheless it hurt.   Then the other one was in Pililla.  A driver of Ranger suddenly opene his door.  My handlebar hit his door This was a little bit faster at about 20kph+  The impact tore the hood cover of the STI.  The bike wobbled and the bike veered to the opposite lane.  It was good there was no vehicle from opposite direction or from behind.  My ankles - shin bones hurt and I had to have them checked for possible fracture.  Fortunately there was none.   The driver of course, as usual scratched his head.  He was not responsible for anything........??#!

Bike lane

1.  Most bike lanes are sharrow -  shared ROW.  Most of them are marked by chevron.   It means the lane can be shared by bike, MC, MV.  Thus the bike lanes become inutile for any protection or safety of bikers.  Those in Cainta (floodway) Pasig, Antipolo are sharrows.   This post is not sure whether the bike lane at Kapitolyo is sharrow.

2.  Most bike lanes (especially sharrow) are used for parking, tricycle and jeep terminal, loading and offloading passengers

3.  Apprehendsion (NCAP) for bike lanes is spotty if enforced at all.

We pay attention to this because someone died.   Will there be action or simply a news report.

If we want transformation to GREEN and sustainable public transportation, we must hae bike lanes.  This post understands that DOT has large budget for bike lanes.  As it is this looks wasted to this post

May be biking can be better through a safer bike lane system.  







Did a Morong, (via Bombonngan, San Guillermo) Teresa Antipolo ride

Wheels of Happiness


Did a Morong, Teresa Antipolo loop yesterday.  it was via Bombongan.  The ride through Bombongan features 5 hills:   3 initially from Morong Manila East Road, and 2 at the far end nearing the zigzag road.

I had to be careful and even walked my bike through a narrow portion  going up vicinity of Real Cove.  Feared being rear ended as in Capitolyo the other day.   I saw two Vaciador riders and kept with one most of the way.  just 10-15 meters trailing behind.

Was happy with this ride.  Fulfilled and very much exercised

Wednesday, June 25, 2025

Did hillclimbs yesterday: Montevideo, Mambog and then Macamot -Kasinay in Binangonan, Rizal

Wheels of Happiness

This post challenged myself doing hill climbs.
1.   Montevideo -  Did the uphill at the sloping entrnce.   Tumukod
2.   Mamboy -  did two hill climbs
3.  Macamot -   Kasinay -  there were 4 uphill climbs.

Kaya pa.  May ibubuga pa.




Sunday, June 22, 2025

5 Exercises to make you better beyond 70

Wheels of Happiness

1.  Invenrted row
2.  Glute bridge
3.   Sumo stance
4.   One leg Romanian dead lift
5.   Piriformis exercise (cross legging while) lying

Wrap this up with farmers walk (walk having weights in each hand)

How to live longer after 70

Wheels of Happiness

I am all ready 74 last Friday.   How I wish I can live a much fuller and enjoyable life and be able to help others continue having jobs and others with starting and continuing their business




74th Birthday celebration at Lanai by Annabel's at Sampaloc Tanay

Wheels of Happiness

My 74th birthday celebration and the Father's day took place at Lanai by Annabel's at Km 69 in Sampaloc Tanay.  It is some 200 meters from Magnetic Climb (the toughest portion of the Sampaloc ride.   The Magnetic portion is viisble from the resto.  From here the Laguna Lake and windmill in Tanay are quite visible.

The resto was full (you have to make reservation prior) to get a table.   We met some senior execs of a universal bank beside our table.

Food was expensive (we used to eat at Turs2 with food not costing than PHP 100.00 per meal. 

It was a great experience to celebrate at such an elevated and pricey place with fam (apo included -  she enjoyed being here so much and spent extra one hour at the site playing)      

Tuesday, June 17, 2025

Advice to Seniors to live longer

Wheels of Happiness

1.  Sleep well
2.  Move
3.  Let the sun touch your skin
4.   Re awaken your leg muscles
5.   Do yoga ang tai chi  (inner reawakening)




Sunday, June 15, 2025

Met a politician from Region 3, learned later than he is an avid biker and did several Audax

Wheels of Happiness

Had a meeting this morning with a distinguished just elected (third termer though) provincial official of Region 3 province.  Learned that he is an avid biker; had both MTB and RB but now focuses on RB.   He did several Audax all ready.  He is SIL of my family doctor.  

You meet the best people on bikes

Friday, June 13, 2025

How to battle sarcopenia (muscle loss) as you age

Wheels of Happiness

There are conflicting advices:   one side says take it easy;  the others say take it hard.  Do hill climbs, do HIIT, do something harder than before.  I believe in the latter that is why lately I do short rides but do hill climbs.

So yesterday, I did hard hill climbs to Ynares blvd, quarry road and DOMSA.  (Thats on top of push ups, lunges and weight exercises.)


What do you think?




Thursday, June 5, 2025

Some challenges posed by the recent concreting of road

Wheels of Happiness

Some 80 million were spent by DPWH in improving the drainage and road network at Carebi and Kalayaan.   Less problem with flooding.

However some challenges are facing the residents:

1.  MDiaz is now being used as pass through thorugh by vehicles going to  Edenville, Baytown since this is a shorter distance to the reroute;

2.  Tricycles find it convenient if coming from Kalayaan to do a short cut via 2nd street since there are no humpbs at our street.

It poses danger though to us residents since this a residential subdivision    Some forget that tricycles (or even big bikes) roar by and they could be hit and/or run over.  We advised vehicle owners to park their vehicles inside their lot to avoid being bumped or scratched

Tuesday, June 3, 2025

Unique birthday celebration of daughter at Barbaras in Gen Luna Intramuros

Wheels of Happiness

It was the birthday of the youngest daughter and she invited us, me and the clan (15 in all) to a dinner at Barbaras at Gen Luna St, in front of Plaza Luis (the courtyard of St. Agustine Church for a dinner celebration. 

It was buffet and pricey because there was a cultural show.  There were many foreigners, mostly AFAMs in attendance.  The venue was superb - an old Spanish type house with crystal chandelier.  The food was 90% Filipino:   paella, sinigang, papaitan, stewed vegetables with Bagoong, Filipino dessert.     And there was a cultural show:   tinikling, sayaw sa baso.  An audience participation was asked.  Our apo did the tinikling.  The dancers received generous tips from spectators.

We should have plenty  of occasions or venues where Filipino culture can be showcased to tourists like restos and tourist spots.   (Perhaps there are plenty but I have not been active in these spots)

It is a rare sight and experience for me.  For decades I have not seen a local cultural show.  I=

It was a night to remember.   Only at Barbaras.