Mga Memorable Pictures ni yumaong Ed de los Reyes: 7 days

Wheels of Happiness

Ito ang mga ilang retrato ni Ed noong siya  ay buhay pa.

                                            Kuha sa Tayabas papunta sa Atimonan, dami niyang
                                             beses na naflat     2011

                                                 Stop over, pahinga sa Luisiana  2011

                                                    Iconic shot natin ito sa Bitukang manok sa
                                                              Atimonan

                                                     Sa party kina Jess noong 2014 Dalawang
                                                      Ed (7days) at Green Lantern

                                                   Sina Jimmy, Jess, Ed 7 days at Ed Green Lantern

                                                Kalaro ni Gerry Cataps sa chess sa Atimonan in 2012

                                         Tagay sa may beach sa Atimonan: EngrJune, Allan at Ed

                                     Sa OL sa bukuhan, si Ed 4th from right blondie buhok

                                                 Assembly sa Simples Lugawan: Ed with Master,
                                                     Engr June, Alan, Exequiel Villadiego

                             

                                                                      Ed resplendent in his new uniform

                                                     Ed de los Reyes attending to Al Alegre
                                                      on the way to Tagaytay  last year
                                                         (hinahanap ko sila) akala ko nauna
                                                         sila ako pala nauna

                                              Si Ed kumakuha ng pagkain (nasa ibabaw ng balikat ni
                                                           Tito)

                                                     Sa Christmas party kina Jess noong 2015
                                                          Si Jimmy at si Ed nagbobolahan (ha6)

                                                  Solo Pic ni Ed sa Christmas Party kina Jess

                                                   Sa Jollibee sa Urdaneta, background si Ed

                                                  Baguio City ride 2015, Ed at extreme left
                                                           at Kennon viewdeck

                                                    Going to Baguio at SM Rosales in 2015

                                                            Sa SM Rosales

Idea of race back to Baguio City from Urdaneta gaining traction

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
February 21, 2017

The thought of returning to Baguio City soon, with the ride starting from Urdaneta is gaining traction and many are interested.

The idea came when Engr June, who was our host in Urdaneta last Baguio City ride February 10 to 12, floated that idea that perhaps we could race to Baguio City soon from Urdaneta.  I mentioned this to VM and some of Recyclists and they liked the idea.  I posted this at FB, a three liner and there were many views and likes

One of them was Sec Noe, whose dream of scaling Baguio City was dashed last Feb 11 when Nanding said he does not know the route when we were all ready in Rosario La Union (ako rin di ko alam)

Analysis of Baguio City ride

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
February 18, 2017

I thought that I did not do well with the Baguio city ride.   I used to be part of the peloton from Urdaneta to Sison.  In our last ride, up to camp 6, I was part of the middle pack.  Now I am the last. There could be various reasons:

1.  Age matters;  I got fatigued at the second half (100 km of the Urdaneta portion)

2.  I stayed back at the Tarlac to Pangasinan portion to assist a limping co rider;   he could have quit due to cramps but I encouraged him to go on spinning. Naturally, I had to go slower and break my rhythm

3. I used the road bike only one week before the ride. I was used to using MTB and got used to 42 x 13 gear combination.  Thus most of the time I was on 39 x 13 or 15 on flats

4.  The kapadyaks are simply getting stronger and faster.   And I am not because of #1

But one thing I can say is that I kept going at the Kenon portion.  The MTB gears saw me through the rest of the climb.   I did not feel distressed at any point in time

My 7th Baguio City ride

Wheels of Happiness

Other Baguio ride pics from VM CP

Wheels of Happiness

1. 

Scaling Baguio City for the 7th time, at the age of 65

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
February 17, 2017

Happy Hearts day tomorrow.

This weekend, the Angono Recyclists have an achievement of sort:  it was the biggest group so far, 27 in all, we had great accommodations:

1.  courtesy of Engr. June Francisco.  He allowed his unit at Urdaneta home and office to be used for sleeping quarters for the Recyclists; (aircon ang 2nd floor ng house pati ang office)

2. Pine Breeze, we were billeted at H1, H2, H3 F1, F2 and F4 in four different locations and we had cookware, plates, towels and bed sheets, plenty of water.  And plenty of exercise and just near the city proper.  Inasal was 10 mins away

3.  We were fetched (the twelve of us:  Richard, Exequiel, Chito, Meong, Boknoy, Joel, Jericho, Jess V, JUS, Armin, guests bikers:  June Balbin, Jake and Matthew  by a van hired from Cardona for straight contract of P4 t only, we shoulder the cost of  toll and gas.  We were billed by Richard for only P550, each much much lower than the P750 for express and a little bit higher than P450 regular fare.  We used the van for shopping and it was point to point travel.  We were offloaded in Angono, for most of us, but Joel, Jun were brought near their houses

It was significant because none of the riders quit, and we reached our goal in record time.  There were first timers and there were revenge riders (those who did not finish before but finished now.)

All of us were given certificate of Recognition by Pres Luis and VM Jun Vic at the socials/fellowship held at H1 H2 quarters.  Boknoy was given an initiation.

Thanks Pres Luis, VM Jun Vic, Richard, and Sec Noe. and most specially to Engr. June for the special accommodations.  Congratulations also to him for having conquered Baguio by bike for the first time in his guapo and super light Wilier Bike. The more he will strive to have more Baguio City rides in the future

This is an experimental post, where I dumped all the posts at FB and simply embedded the post at blog (before it used to be the other way around:  blog and then link to FB

Getting ready for the Baguio ride on February 10, 2017

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
January 22, 2017

As we waited for the food to be served at Manay's, Richard who is serving as the coordinator of VM (he is in Baguio City now) announced the following:

1. We depart on February 10, 2017 5 am.  Assembly is at Holy Gardens Angono.

    Estimated time of arrival at various points:

February 10, 2017
    7 to 7;30  Ayala Hts Balara

     8 to 8:30  Marilao   breakfast /snacks

    10 to 11 San Fernando for refreshment

    12 to 12 30  Dau for lunch

      2 to 2:30 Hacienda Luisita

      4 to 4:30   Sm Rosales

      5 to 5:30   Urdaneta at Engr. June's place

      7:00 dinner courtesy of Engr June

February 11, 2017

      5:30 am breakfast courtesy of Engr June

      6:00 depart for Rosario

      7:30 snacks at Rosario

      8:00 depart for Baguio

      11:00 arrive at Camp 6.
     
        1:00 arrive at view deck

        3:00 arrive at Baguio city;
        ayos gamit and then lunch

        7:00 pm dinner

        9:00 to 12 socials

February 12

      7:00 breakfast

      8 to 9:  empake

      9 go to bus station

     3 to 4 estimated time of arrival at Cubao

    5 to  6 pm -  Home na


2.  Damages:   P500.00 for lodging at Baguio, P100 to 200 gas;;  Total between 600 to 700

     Food at Dau,  lunch, dinner , breakfast at Baguio;   kkb;   your snacks and refreshment on the way are for your own account.

    Bus fare.  KKB

3.  Bring two sets of jersey, and your own toilereties at sleeping clothes adopted to cold weather.

4.  Engr June will take care of lodging at Urdaneta, dinner and breakfast.  (Wow.  Thanks Engr - just quoting you)

Next week, the last tune up will either be at Luisiana (it usually rains there) or Tagaytay.  Then light ride one week before February 10

If you are not ready, please think of the ride in 4 stages (the first day is the toughest ) divided into 4 segments of 50 km each.  If we ride at 20 kph, we can cover the entire distance in 10 hours (that is from 5 to 3 pm.  Kayang kaya

The Baguio portion is only 74 km: 40 km from Urdaneta to Rosario.   the 33 km is the climb.  The hardest part is only from Black Mountain to Baguio City proper only 10 km.  Parang Bugarin ride lang.  If at any point you are distressed, get off and rest.  It is not a race

Kayang kaya. if we practice well and set our mind to it.

Unable to join the Sierra Madre ride, although I reached Simples Lugawan

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
January 15, 2017

                             Rapid healing of the rashes after one week;  no pus and infection due to sili
                                  (the left one hood)

                                 The skin around the wound are healing and stretching causing the
                                                very slight pain


I was unable to join the ride to Sierra Madre this morning.  I intended to ride only up to Sacred Heart to see the kapadyak off but they were not there. I spun up to Calumpang and there I saw Richard and Vhen and I was motivated to bike further.  I said I would join them up to Morong as I had no tools, no money, no uniform, wearing only slippers and my knees were aching a little bit (the skin around the wounds was stretching and causing a little bit of pain).  But the troops were in full force:   Meong, Master, Jess, Alan, Pres Luis, Vhen Engr June, Joel Ambet (and even saw Gerry Y) riding up to Morong in Morong highway (near Cardona)

So only 3 weeks to go before the big ride to Baguio.  I hope I got the mileage from the Jalajala ride.

On the way back, I rode with Reymond Pactao from whom I bought the Bianchi frame of my road bike, via diversion road.  That is developing the lungs and legs for the Kennon road ascent.   And the confidence.

Night riding to Baguio by bike

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
May 2, 2016

Since I heard the story by a retired PA soldier from Manggahan about Baguio City MTB ride at night, I was intrigued.  He said that they started out at 4 pm and was in Baguio City by 10 am of the following day. They rode on the bus on the way back.   That is 18 hours of ride.   On a day time, you can ride up to Urdaneta in 8 to 10 hours.  But that is hot and tiring ride.  At night, there is not much traffic and no heat to contend with

You need lamps though plus and endurance to pedal when at that time you are supposed to be asleep.  Some say that this is dangerous, but not if you are on  a group ride, the risk would be less.  May try sometime

Reliving the Baguio Ride

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
March 25, 2016

Three of our Kapadyak Recyclists are in Baguio now:   Jeff, Val, and Angel.

This reminds us of our past rides to Baguio City (at slideshare)

Group pictures at baguio ride january 24 2013 from Jorgeus Biker

Jeff, Angel and Val rode to Baguio Holy Thursday, Good Friday,and Black Saturday

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines April 5, 2015




A glorious Happy Easter Greeting to all

Angel rode with us today and we just learned that their trio:  Val, Jeff, and he rode to Baguio during the long holidays

On the first day Thursday, they rode to Asingan.  Since they had only two stops, they were at Asingan by 3:30.  They were in Angeles by 10 am and had lunch at Dau (where we had lunch)

/They left for Baguio at 6 am on Good Friday and arrived at Baguio City by 2 pm (just about our pace).  By 4 pm, they descended for Asingan.

They went home at 4 pm and would probably be in Asingan by nightfall.  They rode home yesterday, and arrived about 8 pm last night.

Let us thank the Lorda for their safe return

Lessons learned from the recent Baguio climb

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines   | February 25, 2015

Happy EDSA rev (29th year)

Where is the Spirit of Edsa 1986 (did we just replace the dictators with new ones, the commissioners, but used the old system and values)

In biking, it can never happen that we use the old system to achieve outstanding results.  Certainly we should have learned our lessons.  Some interviews show lead us to some lessons:

1.  Invest in a trainer.  Vhen has one (given/courtesy of Engr. June)   Tito plans to buy one.  You can practice a lot of things on the trainer:   leg speed, sprint, ILT and a lot more.  Not to mention being able to practice on a rainy day.

2.  Hydrate often,  Eat every two hours.  Or bring along chocolate, banana, or even rice cakes.  Drink before you feel thirsty, eat before you feel drained out.

Boasting time for JB in the bike ride to Baguio City

Wheels of Happiness

Angono, Rizal  Philippines   |  February 23, 2015




I think I prepared hard for this ride.  The opportunity to ride again this far and this hard, may not come again. By June I will be 64 yo. I hope God gives me the strength of mind and body to continue this adventure (foolishness to some)

But what did I do to get this far:

1.   Doing stationary bike rides of at least 30 minutes 3x a week doing:

    1.  Spinning
    2.  Sprints
    3.  Isolated leg training (ILT)  for at least 4 mins each side
    4.  Standing (with heavy gears) for at least 4 mins.

2.  Long rides to Real, Famy, Sampaloc (alone and with the group) and Angono Mahabang Parang

3.  Group rides and trying to catch up with 34 chain ring to spin fast and to surge

4.  Hard interval training (HIT) going uphill and very briefyly 5x every ride.

5.  Strengthening of core muscles by:

      crunches
      sit ups
      push ups (varied one arm)
      pilates.

The outcomes are:

1.  I did not find trouble catching up with the leaders

A very nice picture of of my bike ride to Baguio City last Saturday

Wheels of Happiness

Group Pictures of the Recyclists ride to Baguio February 20 to 21, 2015

Wheels of Happiness

Angono, Rizal  Philippines  |  February 23, 2015

Here is the collection/compilation of group pics taken during the two day sojourn of Recyclists to Baguio Feb 20 -21. That is the only proof we can show that we did the ride, the mute witness to our aches, pains, and hardships -  the painful butts, the harsh sun beating on our skin, the bumps we have endure, the invisible wall of wind we have to cut through, plus the loneliness and the agony when we are left behind trying to catch up with the leaders, wondering whether we are lost or we can still make it.

The idea of  being able to prove to the world with these little reminders and trophies that we did is all that matters, and wipes all the negative things that we went through during the ride.

Story and chronology of our ride

Wheels of Happiness

Angono, Rizal Philippines  |  February 23, 2015

 A little bit of chronology:

                  Meong and Vhen

                      Richard and VM

    February 20, 2015

3- 4 am assembly

4:45 departure for Manggahan church

5:30 arrive at Manggahan church, say a little pray

6:00 depart from Manggahan Church

7:00   Valenzuela

7:30  SM Marilao

9:00 Apalit bridge

10:00 SFDO

10:30 depart for Angeles City

11:30 Angeles City

Resolving where to go on February 19, 20 and 21? Baguio City or Sagada?

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines   |  February 2, 2015

There were two agenda yesterday for Recyclists:   1.  to resolve the destination for Baguio ride    2.  to bike to Jala jala

However, Nanding set an appointment for me with Sonny Varde President of Baras Cycling Club, for some real estate properties for sale.  So I did not have chance to finish the meeting, because they would wait daw for VM to arrive.  I also had an appointment with Mr. Jim Cruz of a business concern in Baras.

As with regards to the proposed ride to Baguio and/or Sagada:

1.  There are those who would settle for Baguio because logistic wise and participation wise, Sagada would be difficult.  There would be no need for a van and this would be easier to manage.

2. Others do not want the Baguio ride because this would be nth time to have this.  A Sagad ride would be in order. Maybe we can just hire a jeep to Sagada which would be cheaper say only P7,000 with driver and fuel

3.  Or we can do the Naga ride instead.

However, VM would seem to have made a DP for the Baguio sojourn.  The whole decision making was left hanging with barely 20 days to go.

Proposed bike ride to Baguio City or Sagada

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines   | January 1, 2015

                          Richard, left, announced the proposed long ride;  Archie and Choco beside him



Happy New Year everyone.  Wishing every one a happy and prosperous year ahead of us -  uneventful, challenging, and causing us to improve and be better in our ride.

In the last Christmas party held last December 30, 2014, last year, Richard Ang, the MC announced the planned ride to Baguio City or Sagada.  The scheduled ride will be on Feb  20 21, 22

1.  The Baguio City option -  1st day ride to Urdaneta, 225 km flat ride; 2nd day ride to Baguio City 78 km, sleep at the Leonard Wood Gonzales inn, 3rd day, bus ride to Manila

2.  The Sagada option.   Leave Angono from Unishoppe at 12 midnight of 19th, arrive Sagada 12 noon, rest;  2nd day ride from Sagada to Baguio City via Halsema highway, stay sleep in Baguio City;   3rd day ride down to Rosario via Marcos Highway, or take bus ride from Baguio City;  let bikes ride to Manila.

The group voted 14  to 12 in favor of Sagada.

The damage will cost about P25,000 and means P1,000 each contribution for gas, food, board and lodging, excluding bus ride and pasalubong.  I remember I and Armin being member of the finance committee.

The concern of others is the cramped condition of everyone in travel from Angono to Sagada if there are only 3 vehicles.  (Defender,  say 10 pax, Patrol say 8 and the truck (that would be difficult for a 11 hour ride

                                  VMs project at start of 2015; thanks VM for wallet and the project

                Start making your contribution to Wesluk;  oy yong utang pa sa uniporme, magbayad na! Pareng Luis conducting the exchange gift

Jeff and Idol (Edgar) rode tandem to Baguio City last Holy Week

Wheels of Happiness

Teresa Rizal, Philippines  |  April 27, 2014

I knew  before that Jeff and Idol rode to Baguio last Maundy Thursday and Good Friday (Holy Week).  They rode up via Marcos highway and had to walk 1/2 of the way from the tunnel to Green Valley.  I understand Jeff's gear is 53 x 23.  That must be hard climb for both them.

They slept in Tayug Pangasinan, I understand.

Congratulations and God bless Jeff and Idol.  Idol kayo pareho

New names for some Recylists

Biking and health

Baguio City, January 26, 2013

Many members got new names and please guess who they are:

Dante Varona

Vic Vargas

Gino Antonio

Boy Agimat

Boy Eat

Boy Totu

Jay Manalo (nee George Estregan)

There was a lot of bantering and joking, if just to remove the pain and body aches.

Some names were acquired after the photo ops at Shell station in Rosario La Union.  Some members seem to attract a lot of elderly fans for photo ops - up close and personal

They went to Burnham park too to have feet and back massage