Vhen joined me in my ride up to Sampaloc and Regina Rica

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
March 17, 2016

                             Vhen standing up pedalling at the section before the waiting shed

I wanted to try out the Audax route which will be held this coming Saturday.  I am not joining this anymore on Ed Valdez revelation that it is a very challenging route. He said it is more difficult than Marcos Highway route to Baguio.   I could not do that. His companion, young champions at that had game over going  back to Sierra Madre.

So just trying out today, I convinced Vhen who said it is his independence day today with his day (Malaya ngayon - I thought he planned to go to Malaya Pililla)  to bike to Sampaloc. He said hindi niya kaya.  I convinced him we ride slowly and if there is a problem we stop.  And so we went.

He was game though.  Our only stops were at the store before Padre Pio, and the waiting shed.  He said we must take pictures to show to every one that we did it.

It rained as soon as we reached the buko stop and we had new friends:   Alvin and Gary Martinez who was selling his land rights for P30.00 per sm (for 5 hectares)  They were supplying buko to the outlet.   I bought coffee from the kuya there.


When the rain stopped we biked to Regina Rica.  Vhen convinced me to descend.  But the return ride was steep and very challenging. I had to use the lowest gear.  34 x 28.  I survived the return ascent  Then time to look for lunch   We went to the market where we had decent lunch:   rice plus mongo cost P42.00 (mahal na rin)  It was around 11.  It rained again.  We were able to start again at 11:30. Dropped by the Sampaloc church.  It rained again and we stopped at the buko stop.  We had coffee and bj again (buko juice)   We conversed about the passion of the kuya - taking care of the Brahman cows.  He now has four.  It is opportunity to get rich as my uncle who had two pairs and probably would not have a hundred.  The cattle are adapted to the cool weather of Tanay and do well in trimming the grass and vegetation of large properties.  He can have milk and cheese.  And later on he will slaughter cows for meat.  Time to level up.

We were downtown Tanay by 1:00  and we expected to be home by 2:00.  We passed by Ed at about 1:45.  And we were home by 2:30.   Vhen said he was laspag at Morong by 1:30.  He doused and drank plenty of water and soon recovered.

                                         Our first stop for a drink at Sampaloc

                                     Ready to ride again and ride the saddle going up

                            This means I was ahead of Vhen by about 30 meters ha6

                                         Great photo of Vhen

                                  On the way to the waiting shed

                                      Vhen took my picture going up;  just putting on the cleats

Padre Pio at Sampaloc Tanay Rizal

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
September 27, 2015

                                                  Similar to the one at Eastwood in QC

We have passed the Padre Pio Chapel/shrine in Sampaloc Tanay.  But because we are huffing and puffing as we ride up to Sampaloc, we never bother to stop.  Today I went inside (because it was raining it had to seek shelter and these were beautiful sight I saw.

2015 Bisikleta Iglesia of Recyclists Yesterday, April 2, 2015

Wheels of Happiness

Angono, Rizal  Philippines   | April 3, 2015

                             Last church to be visited was in San Roque.Marikina City.  Recyclists pose with Fr. Nante Tolentino, cousin of Hanah (pamangkin ni Smith)  He even blessed us with Holy Water and our bikes

We had the annual ritual of doing the Bisikleta Iglesia (visit of 7 churches) to do the Way of the Cross as a form of penitential sacrifice.  However, instead of visiting churches at the Eastern Rizal, the group, decided c/o Pres Luis and adviser VM to go westward and towards MM.  So the FB page said we assemble at 5:30 am and leave for the Visita Iglesia:   Taytay, Cainta, Manggahan, Padre Pio, Sta Clara, Concepcion and Church of the Abandoned in San Roque Marikina City

I biked to Sampaloc solo yesterday December 31, 2014

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines    | January 1, 2015

                               The only proof that I biked to Sampaloc.

                              It looks steep; doesnt it?

Happy New Year to one and all.

I ended the year with a very hard ride to Sampaloc Tanay and it was solo ride.

This rider started at about 6:40 and met Romeo Bautista somewhere in Tayuman after leaving the Sacred Heart Church.  Meong as he is called was wearing the green and black jersey and was on 39 x 17 but was riding furiously.  I lead him for a while until the Convention center but he dropped me in the first curve;  he waited for me at Cardona;  he dropped me again at Callahan, I was 25 meters away at Morong Church and because of traffic the gap widened to about 50 meters and I was very very behind at Namay.  He stayed at Morong, and I rode straight to Pililla.  My goal was and is now to ride the 30 km from Angono in one hour.  I still do not.

According to Meong, his goal in his ride to ride hard (which is what some coach recommend) in order to be stronger.  In fairness, I tried to do intervals as I rode with him.

At km 51+ two riders in TT bikes overtook me but I stayed close behind with a gap of say 20 meters.  Near km 52 they slowed down and I attacked till the crest and I in turn passed them on the way down. (descending)  The other guy in green in white TT caught up with me at km 54 and had some conversation: from where I am, where am I going, how old I am.  I let him pass me again at km 55 and so with his companions.  But I still biked furiously as if on TT.   I learned that the equipment of the other biker should not intimidate us.

At km 59, right after the Pilillla municipal hall, two bikers:  one in 711 uniform, another a chubby biker in blue and black jersey passed me at the slight uphill (the one turning right before descending to pisong kape).  I changed to lower gear and pedalled hard.  Lo and I am proud to be Recyclist, I dropped them.

                        Even at my senior age, I still could give chase and drop some of these guys

Then I had breakfast at Pisong Kape and learned that the sibling of the owner of the Pisong Kape did not have to und an open heart surgery this Christmas.  Today, they have their fiesta and she invited me.  I said I am not sure if I can make it.   By 8:30 I started my ride back to Tanay and I was at the intersection by 9:00.   I was not sure if I could make it solo.  It must have been a year or more that I have not ridden up Tanay.