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.

Another flat today

Wheels of Happiness

While others are basking in the glory of their lap victories, I had my share of back to back - flats.   I was able to replace the broken Vittoria tire with old edition of Continental.  However I got another flat at Mambog today.  And my plan to scale climbs vanished.  I saw Sec Noe again.  However, there was a vulanizing shop nearby and had the flat repaired for P30.00.  No need to walk 10 km.

Am awaiting my Chao Yang tires order from an electronic pllatform

Allowed the owner of Villa Sophia at Montevideo to use adjoining lot as parking

Wheels of Happiness

Many small resorts for staycation mushroomed during the pandemic.   For the project we developed that is overlooking the Laguna Lake (it is a good fengshui) this post did not realize that there were that many resorts in that residential subudivion   (As many as twenty)

The owner of Villa Sophia contacted me via the former institutionn I used to work with for a decade.  He needed additional parking space for his resort.   He wanted buy the 400 sm beside his property.   He was willing to pay an exorbitant price for that.  At the same time this post did not want to lose that nice property.  The reason why his resort clicked is that it had such a prime location/vantage point

So why not just allow him to use the lot for a nominal fee.  The owner is an MD at a big and prestigious Medical Center in Pasig and is a gastroenterelogist

This post just charged him the Real Property Tax + % for the 400 sm or merely P10.00 sm.  It was a sweet deal for him

Biked this morning up to Morong KM 44, visited Mario Toledo to have the bike fixed - Wheeltop does not want to shift to 36t

Wheels of Happiness

This post biked this morning to Morong KM 44, near the New Municipal Building of Morong.   On the way, I discovered that there is a Bikol Ni Lugawan in Mambog Binangonan Rizal near the INC church.  That means, I have to bike just 10 km instead of 20 km+ to Lagundi Morong Rizal.

At Cardona a 60 ish MTB rider just past the municipal hall passed by and conversed regarding my destination and I said I am up to Morong only, and he said he is from Tanay.   I chased him and overtook him at Callahan and over the top he overtook me and chased him again from the exit arch and overtook him near the Bombongan crossing.  He inquired about my age and answered 73 and he said he is 59   So that is about 2 decades difference.   

I returned and then proceeded to my main destination a bike mechanic from Mambog Binangonan Rizal.  He lives at Crystal East Binangonan and arrived there at about 9 am.  He awoke at about 9:30   I went there to do a back job on the Wheeltop electronic GS that does not shift up to 36 t.  I need the 36 t to enable me to ride up steep hills like the ones going up Mambog.   There were 3 hills till Marios place and I only had 32t to manage the climb.  The first one was about 20% grade.

While waiting for Mario, I conversed with the regired Msgt from PA.  He was being massaged on account of neuropathy from diabetes and difficulty in standing   I learned that his wife just died  and may be he weas recovering from the grief.  We talked about same situation as I have.  Diabetic and growing weakness. I advised him to exercise some more and be happy.

As for the bike, Mario was able to make the gears go back to 36t.  But he needs to access the apps to smoothne out hte high gears.  

SRAM red sti failed in this morning ride

Wheels of Happiness

This post experienced failure on this am ride intended to go around Teresa.  I could only shift to the 5th cog and no more  up ot Mambog.  So this post decided to return because that meant I could not negotiate steep hills at Teresa and Antipolo because the shifter was not working properly.

Could it be failure of the shifting mechannism inside STI?  Did the pawls or the plastic dram fail.

Five km from Mamabog on the way beck this post tried to examine the tightness of shift cable.  And lo and behold, it was.  The cable was loose by at least 4-5 mm.   I tightened the cable, (pulled by hand and later with a plier when I reached home) and tightened the nut the cable nut well.  And the problem seemed to have been resolved

Cables and uts do get loose and they result in such function failures   Be sure to bring tools

Thought I have to see Mario Toledo again or worse buy a new shifter.   Good for me.  Savings

Climbed Cardona diversion on large chain ring

Wheels of Happiness

In one of the videos on FTP, I learned that aside from sprinting one of the ways to induce your body to ride faster and stronger, is to ride hills consistently, and increasingly on harder gears

On the way back, I rode up to Cardona diversion.    Instead of riding up on 36, I rode up to the first turn to the left to be at 52t chain ring.  I felt that I could do the remainder of the climb at 52.  But I did not want to hurt myself so I downshifted to 36t

I tried to pass at Mambog but I was on rb and the roads were muddied.  So I just went through the diversion.  

Earlier, I rode with Pastor Exequiel and Sec Noe.   Between Morong and Cardona, I accelerated at 52t and tried to lead them 

First class repair job by Mario Toledo made an old bike brand new - sharp and responsive

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines

5.28.2021

Mario Toledo

One of the famous names among bike mechanics is Mario Toledo who lives at July St., Crystal East Subdivision at Mambog Binangonan Rizal.  But to reach him, you have to ride up 3 steep hills which is by itself a challenge.  He charges reasonably well.

For servicing the hubs (the free hub which took time to fabricate the springs which were all ready weak) and the front shock (replacing the rubber seals with DIY seals cut from tubes - because not was available)

cleaning the springs, and refiling with oil)  The BN hub repair kit  just axle and cone costs P3,100 at an electronic e commerce.  Other hubs would set you back by P6k to P10 k (if you get the straight pull and with center lock)

The improperly set hubs (not the cones trouble) caused all the wobble and the friction on the rear wheels.  Now the bike is running like brand new - sharp and responsive   A good mechanic makes for a good bike and bike ride   Find a good one for your bike

The front shock, provided it will not do river crossing would be good for a year, and the hubs for another five years.    

Thank you Mario for a good job.   

Malaya na? Tapos na lockdown?

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines

4.11.2021

Surprise.  Surprise. 

No police at checkpoint, or lax.

I planned to go to Quarry Road via Domsa but for curiosity I checked the checkpoint at Gate 1.  There was none.  So I went to Mambog and there was no police there too.  

Our other kapadyak went up via DOMSA.   

Are our days of being at home (we are no longer safe at home) over?   

Thanks for the moral support from fellow Recyclists in today PNP sponsored race

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
March 6, 2016

                               Many of the Recyclists were in this area of the diversion

I heard them and saw only a few of them while focusing on the task at hand - to finish the 4 loops of the rather challenging Binangonan - Cardona loop. -   Montevideo, Callahan, Diversion, LLDA.   I saw Meong, Jess, Jeff, Vhen, Sec Noe, Armin, Val,  and Master. Sec Noe who texted me na manonood lang, gave me a dousing of water and Cobra drink.  Special thanks to Pres. Luis for informing the other Recyclists about this event and dragging them to the race route.

Thank you.  Your presence gave us more courage and determination to finish the race which was our only goal and to beat other riders.    Well we achieved them (Tito and I).   We completed the four loops, and a good half of the field especially members of the command, did not finish the course. (race)

Tito suggested the following:

1.  That we strengthen our Recyclists;  that we demand certain commitment and loyalty to Recyclist.  NOT EASY COME EASY GO. That we have more meetings and motivation

2.  That we join more races, and that we are properly represented by the group, rather than by individuals (Papa Ric is in many races collecting bounty for being the oldest)

3. That we give full support to the participant, like bike, or MC and other logistic support.  Mambog Biking Club, he said has enviable support for its team mate who joined this race.

                                       Sergeant Major Tamondong of Antipolo

Before the start of the race/registration at SM

                                       Registration was 4 to 6 am

                                      They campaigned for a SAFE election;  plenty of speeches

Exploring a whole new world/new trails/road less taken at MTB

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
January 3, 2016













With a MTB  1.  you lose fear of climbing like that of Cardona diversion;   2.  you are encouraged to explore trails and new destination unreachable by roadie.

I did such a ride a while ago. Coming from Morong, I passed at Cardona diversion.  After passing the Crystal East subdivision and Sunshine Fiesta community I remember there was a trail contest done several years back.  So I tried entering that trail that led into an abandoned rice field.  For me not used to such a road, I had to pick my lines carefully.  The dirt trail lead to a paved road which later I learned led to Mambog.  For a long long time, I knew Mambog barrio in Binangonan but never knew its interior.  There are steep portions of the road (2) which were easy to negotiate using 32 x 30 or 32.  Just slow patient pedalling and soon you are over the hill/hump.

It was a nice experience to take the road less taken.

VM now likes spinning on hill climbs; how about you? Which is a better technique?

Real Cyclists

Angono Rizal  PHL   |  September 8, 2013

VM prefers the Alberto Contador (or LA) style of climbing.  They use low gear and spin a lot. I see Joel and Val employ this technique.  They do this so that the legs do not tire easily with heavy gears.  VM said he did the Mambog climb at 28 kmh doing spinning.  And the Bugarin ride, back and forth was done quickly doing only spinning.

Long legged giant like Ullrich prefer heavy gears.  Some cycling books prescribe heavier gears for long climb because they say it is more efficient and less tiring?

Which do you prefer?

                                  Recyclists starting Bugarin climb (on low gears spinning?)

                                VM and Nanding;  Nanding did not proceed up;  he stayed behind

                               Choco2 and Angel

                                  Albert V and his Argon carbon bike

                      Jorgeus biker with Laguna Lake in the background, tnx Richard for the photo