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)      

Weekend trek of Recyclists Magnificent Six to Jariel's Peak

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
August 21, 2017

Happy Atom Day (August 21 movement)

                                         Pres Luis and JB at Rosary Hill

Video by Pres Luis of Jess and Jorgeus Biker at Marcos Highway

Yesterday, despite heavy rains Saturday evening and until wee hours of the morning, the skies cleared at 5:00 paving the way for the planned ride to Jariel's Peak.  Six turned out for the ride:   Jeff, Alan, Pres Luis, Peter, Jess V and I.

The rendezvous was supposed to be at Sacred Heart.  No one was there by 5:40.  However Jeff arrived, and then by 5:45 we left for Morong Maybancal Simples Lugawan.  Alan Pres Luis, and Jess were there.  Soon after we rode to Sampaloc arriving there at the summit by 8:30.   Then we waited for Peter at the Crossing who said he was all ready at Daranak Falls.  (Iyon pala panay ang selfie)

We started for Jariel by 9:00 am.  We did away with snacks planning to have the same along the way.   It was first time for Jariel for Alan, Jeff, Peter, and Jess.  It was all downhill up to km 70 and then we had snacks at km 76.  I had water, Fudgee bar, and RC Cola.  Although the destination was mere 12 km away, I struggled and caught up with the group at Rosary Hill at about 11.   I arrived 11:30

We had lunch at Marquez Bulalohan.  We were fortunate, most of the MC riders had left Marquez and we had a table and was able to get food in less than 10 minutes. When I rode with Angono MTB, we did not have a table,  food was served after one hour.  Iyon pala, pay as you order.  We had Sisig, pansit, lumpiang toge,  and 1.75 Royal Orange.

We departed for home by 1:00 pm.  I could swear we were doing 50 kph +   We arrived at Sampaloc Crosssing by 2:30.  We stopped for snack of Hopia and RC cola.   And then I bought Marang and avocado at our buko stop.

Making up for the missed Sierra Madre ride last Sunday 84 km

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
January 18, 2017

I made up for the ride to Sierra Madre last Sunday.  Wearing only slippers and ordinary walking shorts, I biked up to Sampaloc Tanay.  I had lugaw at Simples at 7:30 and started my journey by 8:00.  I was at peak of Sampaloc by 9:30 (it is a hard ride) and started my descent by 10;00.

At Jen jens bukohan I met a rider (MTB) from Baras, an education graduate,  who has a Mosso MTB  His name is Von (Tanto?) from Baras near the cemetery.    He was behind me on the descent and then lost him on the plains.  He said he was afraid of high speed descent and I said he must master counter steering on descent to control his speed.

One of the things I could be proud on this ride is I used only 42 x 36 lowest gear on the ascent which meant this is still high gear.   I used to use 32 or 34 on the ascent up to Jen Jen

And then I totalled the distance.  I rode 42 km one way (70 - 28 km reading at Angono).   Total distance is 84 vs 94 they rode last Sunday.

Is this a good substitute make up ride?

Riding better as one gets older

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
May 2, 2016

My experience yesterday, riding up again Sampaloc, and from there riding up to the Wind Turbine farm in  Bugarin Pililla, proves that really only carabaos get old.  One can get stronger as a biker as one ages.  I will be 65 next month, and yet I can tackle as good or better than younger bikers.

I rode the entire stretch from Angono to Km 66 on 44 front chain ring and just changed the cogs from 11 to 17.  I climbed the km 61 using 44 x 30.    However I dropped to 34 x 28 and 34 x 30 riding up the final 3 km from 66 to 69.  I used the 34 chain ring going up to Bugarin.   at 23 to 30 cogs, but not at 32.

I sprinted as usual on flats and down hill.  Max of 46 kph going downhill at Baras and Bugarin;  up to 37 kph riding on flats. And that is on an MTB (the Mosso Falcon 1 with xt group set)

It is not really about the bike or the latest parts; it is about the rider

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
March 21, 2016

At the bike shop in Angono this afternoon, a pamangkin said if I had upgraditis.  No I did not.  I just wanted to have 3 links added to the chain of my SARS bike (I had a complaint of the chain jumping from 44 to 32 when I shift the cogs to 32 and 36.  The mechanic said that I simply should not shift to that cog when at 44 because of the limitation of the changer.  However, I solved that by raising the FD level by 5 mm above the chain line instead of the usual 2 mm. The only problem was the chain length which could be increased by 3 links)  I spent P30 for the job; I could have bungled the job because I waste a lot of links trying to get the chain axle out right.

The solution that I had before as suggested was to try to get a 2 x 10 set up.  It does not come cheap though.  A Deore 2 x 10 will set me back cheapest by P2,700.  A Deore XT upgrade would be about P6,500 (quoted by Christy)  A SRAM or Truvativ set up would be about P20t plus.  All that I spent was P30 and some imagination.

I also observed in my ride yesterday to Sampaloc Tanay that the MTB rider from Morong, Edwin had a top end equipment, XT, 2 x 11 set up with 42t gear.   He was struggling though vs my SARS 6 year old bike with a 3 x 10   11 - 36 gears.  I did not have to use the 22 front chain ring. Only 32 x 32 combination.  I did not struggle.  So its not about the equipment, it could be the rider on the bike

(That was my fourth ascent in 2 weeks)

The road from Sampaloc Tanay to the Windfarm in Bugarin

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
March 19, 2016

The purpose of the trip today, wherein I saw the Audax ride was to visit one of the cattle farms of my uncle.  Right before the jungle base, after passing the shortcut to Marcos Highway, before the Marcos highway there is a right turn and goes to Mapandan.  I remember turn right turn right and at the fork (the one that goes straight goes to the farm of my uncle) and then you see some rugged roads, a newly opened solar farm, then down and up to a dirt road (rather steep fit for MTB only) and then you see a winding stretch of newly built road to the wind farm of Altenergy up to km 66.  It cuts travel by 10 km between Sampaloc and Bugarin.  There are now many tiangges in the wind farm (to cater to many visitors and tourists)  This is the first time I passed through this road.  (Some say this is the road from Regina Rica)

                                        Looks like cross on the calvary

Some views of the Audax Ride today, March 19, 2016

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
March 19, 2016

I did not join the Audax ride because it looked real tough despite 3 tries to ride up Sampaloc.  I instead joined my uncle to visit his farm in Tanay.  On the way, we saw riders of Audax coming down from Marcos Highway and some going back to Jarel's peak by 11:00 am.  I even saw the Audax controller.  Many of the joiners were clubs, and had support vehicle.

Congratulations and I salute those who joined for your courage and endurance and stamina.  God bless.  If there will be one next year, I will join

Here are some of the pictures (You have to excuse the poor quality of the picture because it was taken from inside a moving motor vehicle)

 x

The more my SARS bike became valuable to me after the Regina Rica ride

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
March 19, 2016

I could have sold my SARS Ultegra laden bike last month in exchange for a mountain bike. However when the offer to buy was only P10t, I preferred to have to used to the ground,  I kept experimenting on what the gearing would be and improving it.

And so I used it in my latest ride to Sampaloc and Regina Rica and it did well, much better than a mountain bike. The ride was relaxed and I did not have to exert too much effort.  Kayang kaya.  The more I loved and appreciated the bikes value to me.  Mabuti di nabenta.

                                      The SARS  was ahead of an expensive MTB with latest tech

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

Get well Ed

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
March 17, 2016

                                  Vhen joined me at Sampaloc ride, shown here with a new friend Alvin
                                   at buko stop.   He also joined me  visiting Ed de los Reyes (7 days) who
                                   was reported to be sick.  He will get well soon

I texted Ed de los Reyes when he said he could not join the PNP race to get well.  He texted me that he has gouty arthritis, his creatine level was high (so he needed dialysis) and that he has low hemoglobin, to get well, to take Llanol (allopurinol for his gouty arthritis) and to have dialysis for a longer.... He did not reply to this.

I visited him last week but he was not at home.  So today after Vhen and I rode to Sampaloc and Regina Rica, I requested him to visit Ed (7 days) to which he obliged.  Vhen was happy for this request because he had a chance to rest and be ready for the LLDA ascent.  And so we conversed with Ed.  He has fever every afternoon, but he tested negative for an infection characterized by low fever every afternoon.  As for the gout, he could not control the diet but takes meds regularly.  I advised him to take the real allopurinol - Llanol which I detailed as a drug reps so many years back.  I was an ex pert on gouty arthritis and xanthine oxidase blocker.

As for low hemoglobin I advised him to take sweet potato leaves steamed or malunggay leaves.  I teased about only old people getting gout.  And that he should get well to join us again in biking. Like we did today to Sampaloc.

Preparation for Audax long ride 200 km

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
March 11, 2016

It is just 8 days before the Audax long ride and I maybe I am only 30% ready. I made my second ride up Sampaloc. There is still the Jarel ride of 28 km, riding back to Sierra Madre that needs to be completed.

I made my second ride up to Sampaloc and I used 32 x 28 and 29.  I used the 32 x32 going up the final hill and bend because laspag na sa the rest of 14 km going up.

The buko man at the crest of the Sampaloc hill told me that a number are feverishly practicing much much earlier than my ride

I hope I can still find the inner strength and confidence to join the ride.

Bakasyunan Conference and Team Building Center

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines,
September 27, 2015

I gathered enough courage to enter the Bakasyunan and see what is inside.  At the same time, I am looking for alternative venue for students at the grad school Leadership Class for team building

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.

I had a wild and fast steed - Fuji SL-1 for the Sierra Madre Ride last January 17, 2015

Wheels of Happiness

                    My Fuji rests at km 68 after a hard climb

                    VM leads the 3rd pack at Sampaloc

Rizal Philippines    |   January 19, 2015

His Holiness, Pope Francis leaves today for Rome, and leaves behind lessons and emotions that will not be forgotten for long

Last Saturday, as His Holiness flew to Leyte to sympathize with the Yolanda victims, we rode to Sierra Madre, via Sampaloc.

I was a hesitant starter, because I arrived late after trying to see the Pope at the Family Encounter in MoA.  I felt I was not physically up to par, and I had an appointment at 2 pm that day.

Nevertheless, I was at the appointed place, Sacred Heart Parish.   Pres Luis and I nearly collided with one another at MLQuezon in Angono, at about 5:40

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.

Some of the Recyclists had difficulties at the Sierra Madre ride last August 24, 2014

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal, Philippines   |  August 30, 2014

Gerry, I and Jun Jun Verchez met yesterday near Majusay bakery.   We talked about last Sunday's Sierra Madre ride.

Gerry said that the troop reached Angono at 2 pm. This he said was a little bit late because as early as the Sampaloc portion of the ride, many were all ready struggling -  some walked the last part of the climb

I did not join the ride ;  I had no mileage and was coughing.  The Sierra Madre ride starting at Sampaloc is of extreme difficulty requiring stamina, and strength.

There are several difficult hills to be tackled:

1.  Sampaloc
2.  Sierra Madre
3.  Foremost
4.  Going back to Garden Cottage
5.   Boso boso
6.  Olalia hills

I was not able to join the Sierra Madre ride

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal  Philippines   I   August 25, 2014

I was not able to join the Sierra Madre ride.  No excuses.   I was not physically fit -  I lacked the endurance rides to tough it up, I had injured toe and I was coughing (the fuel injection aspiration system was blocked and not working properly)

I biked yesterday to Morong at  6:15 am.  And I arrived there about 7:15. And the rest of Recyslists were there for the ride:

Pres Luis
Master E
Alan
Angel Balubar

Plan to Bike to Sierra Madre or Round Laguna

Bike for Health

Luis, our president, texted me early today that Armin is rearin to bike to Sierra Madre via  the Sampaloc route or Round Laguna.  Which do you prefer.  I am ok especially for the Round Laguna, especially if the Lunch will be Mang Inasal at Los Banos.

They are also planning a Baguio ride from Manila, sleep over at Urdaneta city (Cap Eleng said that his son in law lives in Urdaneta city)  The Real Men plans a Calauag or Naga Ride this December.