Tried to do a semi Audax ride yesterday March 20, 2016

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
March 21, 2016

I did not join the Audax ride, although it could have been a ride of lifetime, owing to unavailability of vehicle, feed support, and the very hot weather (reaching as high as 41 degrees Celsius)   But I tried to feel and experience what an Audax rider could have done.  I must have covered  130 km yesterday covering 1/2 of the Audax distance and the challenge.  (Come to think of it, I could have done the Audax ride if had a little bit more practice and courage.   I was only 70 km short, and could have covered that easily in 3 hours) Could have finished by 5 pm. If there would be an Audax in April, I could finish this. Hahaha.

I peeled off from the Recyclists Peloton at Sampaloc Shell Tanay intersection and started to climb Sampaloc by 8:00 am.   At km 58, I had a companion, Edwin from Morong who had an MTB 29er with 11 -42 gear and 2 x 11 set up.  However I had a road bike which was lighter and 11 x 36 gears with 3 x 10 front chain ring.  I towed Edwin until past Padre Pio and we parted ways at the bukohan of Jenjen at the summit.   I turned right exited at jungle base entrance to Marcos highway and pedalled fast descending up to Saksak (about 15 km to Jarels peak)  It was around 10 am when I bottomed out and wondered how I could get back up to Sampaloc.  Indeed it was a challenge, and I got the answer why it took the riders who started at 5 am from Bosoboso to start descending Sampaloc by 11 am.   The journey going up is ardous up to Daraitan intersection.  Wow it was like riding up Marcos Highway.

I was up at Sampaloc by 11 am.   And had halo halo somewhere in Sampaloc (very delicious) and descended fast.  I was at Shell by 12:00 noon.  I had to rest a lot of times because of the heat.   I was home by 2:00 pm.

P.S.

Ed Valdez texted me early morning yesterday re report of one of his wards re Audax.  He said it was a killer route.  Many walked (probably the return route to Sampaloc from Marcos Highway and Sampaloc) and did not finish. They could have been better off spending the entry fee of P500 for their food or bike parts

Idol Ed Valdez tried the Audax route and even the young ones, the best of the best bonked out

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
March 14, 2016

Idol Ed Valdez and I talked about the Audax ride this coming Saturday. He and two other young riders tried this route. It took them 7 + hours from the 5 hour start to finish at the Paradise Hotel.  They averaged 26 kph for the entire ride.

It was he said one of the most difficult ride he experienced, even worse than the Marcos Highway ride to Baguio City.  At the last portion from Sampaloc to Sierra Madre, the champ young riders who rode with idol bonked out.  They were dead tired.

Should I join the ride?

Exciting bike rides of Ed "Idol" Valdez to inspire us

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
March 3, 2016

I had a conversation with Edgar "Idol" Valdez who is from Cubao.  We had conversation on the software company which he established and then our conversation drifted to biking.

1.  Will the Recyclist have a bike ride this Holy Week?  Yes to Baguio.  Who are joining,  Jeff, Gerry, Val, myself

2.  What were his bike rides:

      1.  Centurion Challenge at Marcos Highway from Mang Vic,to Jarels Peak (that is all ready Real Quezon) a total distance of 164 km (100 miles hence centurion) which he covered in five hours plus.  That means he did this ride mostly uphill in a little under 30 kph!   Centurion Challenge at Facebook

                              2015 Centurion Challenge

     2.  The Kaybian ride via Pico de Loro then Nasugbu, Tagaytay, Silang and home base, 246 km all in one day in 8 hours plus.  He did this at 30 kph

     3.  There is the Audax  Rizal challenge.  Vics again, to Sampaloc, up to Jarels peak, down to Sampaloc up to Shell and then up to Real, u turn and  and going back to to Boso boso. Wow.  Audax though is not a race but riding a predetermined distance.

Reminders for Audax ride on March 19, 2016

History of Audax

Audax Rizal ride information

Who among the 50 and above will win tomorrow's Bugarin bike race?

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
December 19, 2015

Merry Christmas on Friday

Yesterday, I biked to Pisong Kape.  There I met Ed Valdez, Ed de los Reyes (7 days) and Pablo (Tsinelas)  Ed 7 days and I were ahead at Pisong Kape and we were discussing who are most likely to win the race at Bugarin on Sunday (sponsored by Manang Rita)   Among Boy walang practice, Ed V and Pablo, who would win.  Ed 7 days shouted it is going to be Ed V.  And just then Ed V and Pablo arrived.

Pablo conceded it is going to be Ed V.

They however lament that if O conducts it the way he conducted this for Pisong Kape, it is going to be tiring and demotivating. These senior riders lament:

1. Syndicates, corporation, as they called who view these races as livelihood and not for sportsmanship or fun.  They will cooperate to win at all costs including harassing other riders.

2.  Non observance of age groups.   40s join the 50 above group, etc.  A lot of dishonesty take palce.

Anyway, Ed V and Pablo went on to go to Bugarin and do the Jala jala loop. They invited me to join and promised there will be sprints.   Ed and I just went home

Fast cadence riding and use of cadence counter

Wheels of Happiness

Angono, Rizal Philippines
August 18, 2015

When we were riding to Luisiana, Ed "Ido" told me as we were going up Kalayaan that he favors fast cadence riding. ie that the most economical ride pedalling rate is between 90 and 100 rpm. It is possible to know that if you have cyclometer with cadence counter.

For him, with a 12 to 34 cogs, this means having his gears at 53 x 26.  (For about 51 gear inches).  Will he be left behind by guys using say 53 x 14.  He said that the pedaling rate will eventually catch up with speed. This is the training for champs

I tried using this technique and  by the time we were at Luisiana, it was game over for me.  I have to get used to this technique

Ed texted me further that his training rides are either to Bugarin or Sierra Madre  6 to 10.  No rests in between.  He usually rides up with 53 x 26 and stands up for say up to 10 km.  With his lean body, and strong leg muscles, he can do that.  And that he is a Valdez, the family of great riders/bikers

This guy Ed Valdez (Idol) is a great guy

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines   | December 23, 2014

All I know about idol is that he and Jeff rode to Baguio last Holy Week and Jeff, one of our strongest rider, was no match for Idol.

I later learned that idol represents a software company, and has done a lot of research on radiant energy (the Tesla principles) as source of free energy.  We hear and see about these in the movies.   He says he has done 15 years of work on this.

But you should admire how he practice.  He says a training ride for him is 100 km stop.  After we came from Real, he returned to Cubao via Sampaloc.  Great

We are supposed to meet today for a presentation, but he did not come.

We met the members of the Ateneo Blue Eagle Bikers for the first time (si idol pala ay Atenista/La Sallista)

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal  Philippines  |  September 1, 2014

    Ed Valdez, Edcel Nuguid,  Gabs Buluran and Bernie Marquez

While resting at Manay's restaurant in Pakil,  I saw a table with 3 bikers with labels emblazoned on their jersey with Ateneo de Manila words in it.  And they were happily conversing with Edgar Valdez (idol - the guy with whom Jeff did the Baguio ride last Holy Week).  There were three of 3:   one was Edcel  Nuguid, who teaches environment management at  ASOG (with Dr Tony Lavina) at Loyola Schools, one works with Ginebra (who said he is the boss of Rico Lacsin, manager of R and D) and the other one works at the govt. (Edcel texted me that their names are Gabs Buluran and Bernie Marquez) I didnt quite remember their names after we were introduced.  The difficulty of climbing Paete hills and Kalayaan must have erased that memory.