Parade/caravan of super and sports car last Sunday at Sta Rosa Tagaytay highway

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
October 25, 2017

                                                Parang ganito -  hindi ko nakunan ng pix

While waiting for some of fellow riders to arrive at sari sari store some 2 km from Tagaytay City market,  we were treated to a parade of supercars and sports car;  may be a dozen of them:   Porsche, Lambo, Ferrari, Audi and the least expensive of them Mustang.  Wow.  That could be worth a P100 million worth

Merry mix up in ride to Tagaytay today, October 22 2017

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
October 22, 2017

                                                Wesluk, Gerry, Netoy, Meong and Alan

                                                       Ed and Al, we left as soon as they arrived

The Recyclists rode up to Tagaytay City today, leaving Angono by 6:10 and arriving 7:30 in Angono (we were waiting for Ed de los Reyes and Al Alegre who were with Jorgeusbiker and Weng Balubar by 5:00 pm near Bicutan intersection. The two claimed they were just some 100 meters behind near the Condos on the west service road.  (The group waited for them for nearly two hours.  Jeff looked for them but failed to see them.  We attempted to contact them by text and call but no one answered)

On the other hand, the group thought that JB got lost: they waited for him at Highway 2000, at  waiting shed of in front of Camp Bagong Diwa and 711 in Alabang. However, JB lost sight of them upon take off and thinking that the group turned left to Baytown rode in that direction. The leadership failed to inform him that they would pass at MEG instead.

And so thinking he was left behind, he rode faster.  When he looked at his phone, there were 13 calls and  several texts.  He was all ready in Balibago, and the rest were still in San Pedro, some 30 minutes behind

Those who joined were:

Gerry Cataps
Meong
Jess Verchez
Weng Balubar
Angel Balubar
Pres. Wesluk
Gerry Cataps
Jorgeusbiker
Netoy Mariposa
\Ed de los Reyes (7days)
Al Alegre
Jeff Arquiza
Alan Astorga
Peter Anonuevo

14 in all

Master and Joel showed up, but did not join

What was new that Tagaytay climb is now via  Sta Rosa, and descent is via Aguinaldo highway which is much simpler to navigage and faster.

                                        Angel, Jess, Joel, Meong in front of Iglesia

                                              Netoy and Gerry

                                         Gerry and Weluk taking snacks some 2 km to Tagaytay

                                       Some nice looking furniture (and very expensive too)

Preparing for Tagaytay ride - riding up Antenna in San Carlos using a road bike

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
October 19, 2017

Gerry Cataps told me that the group will ride up Tagaytay, this time via Sta Rosa.  Wow that is going to be  tough.  A lot tougher than via Aguinaldo or Greenwoods

And so to prepare mentally for that ride, I rode up Antenna using the Bianchi with 39 x 32 gears.  That is about .37 gear inches. Today, I rode up with the Fuji carbon bike with 34 x 23 gears.  It should have been 25 sprocket but woes of woes,  the bike wont shift to 25.  It was a little bit tough because the ratio was .39.  But I managed to do this twice.

I hope I am ready for that ride this Sunday.  I lack mileage though

Botched group ride schedule to Tagaytay today

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
May 29, 2016

The young riders who joined us in previous rides backed out today on our planned ride to Tagaytay.  One went on with a another event, the other one would attend to a bike acquisition project.

Well people are entitled to change their mind after they have made their commitment, or promise to join a ride.  Older and more mature riders are more disciplined and determined to go on with what they promised to do.

I should be more discerning when they request to join a ride. They may not mean this after all.

The bike ride of the Magnificent Four to Tagaytay yesterday, February 28 2016

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
February 29, 2016

                                                I brought this veteran roadie for this ride

Gerry K planned the ride yesterday.  He invited me to join as a preparation he said to Baguio ride on Holy Week.   However, it has to be via Sta Rosa.  Last Friday, I saw this as an opportunity to view a project which was for sale.

I prevailed upon Gerry to go the usual route, Daang Hari to Paliparan, to Greenwoods, then Silang  It was shorter and probably less chance of failure (just to make sure I will able to fulfill my goal)

And so were 5 gathered together at INC:  Val, Gerry, Weng, Master and myself  Magnificent 4 or Quadro de Jack?.  Master was there but he begged off.  We passed Baytown, floodway, High Way 2000 and C6.   They wanted C5 since C6 was badly rutted. however I said that it is only for 2 km.  C5 would be much longer by 3 to 5 km and much less safe because of more high speed traffic.

We left at 6:20 trying to have Alan join us but we was on night duty before and may not be in the best condition to join us for the long ride.  We were at Camp Bagong Diwa at 7:00 am, at Daang Hari cor Alabang Zapote road by 7:30 and 8:00 am at Bacoor.  No stopping.  We had breakfast by 8:30 at Paliparan road about 5 km to GMA.  I spent only P60.00 with one rice, one viand, one coffee, and one Lemon l liter softdrink.  We were in GMA by 9:00 am.  We had fast pace. I tried to chase an MTB just after the breakfast who passed us right after the first bypass.   And we were in Silang by 10 am and in my destination at KM 47 (Emerald MP) by 10:10.  The meeting did not last long because of some breach in protocol and misunderstanding



We were in Tagaytay by 10:45.  We stayed at 7-11 (former place because it is now demolished) and biked some 5 km to the Sta Rosa Tagaytay road.  However, it rained as we arrived there and ate buko (which was P25.00 and paid for by Weng)  We warmed our bottoms sitting down on the bench in front of a store where there was shade. from 11:30 to 12:30  We conversed with 4 young riders on fixie.  Val enjoyed watching a Nelso Prince Albert Pagara fight which lasted for 12 rounds.   The rain stopped finally at 12:30.

  And we started a slow but probably slipper descent to Sta Rosa.  A lot of new businesses are here and especially at the industrial Greenfield Paseo, Arcadia,  Robinson, All Home area. If you were 5 years ago, you would not recognize this area.  We had lunch at 2:00 pm near the Coca Cola Plant, and we took off at 2:30. At that place, our distance covered was 100 km.  to go via the Provincial Road to Binan, San Pedro, Muntinglupa, Alabang service road, then Sucat, C6 and  Floodway and then to Baytown and home.

Solo ride to Tagaytay to prepare for May 1-2 Nasugbu long ride

Wheels of Happiness

Angono, Rizal     April 27, 2015

        These sprinklers near Bellevue was welcome treat

Although I was tired from Saturday trip to La Union and Pangasinan, I struggled to make a long weekend ride Tagaytay.  Without this practice ride, I will be ill equipped to handle the rigors of long ride with the tropang Recyclists May 1 and 2.

I arrived before 11 at Tagaytay, compared to earlier rides where our arrival was before 12 noon.  It is surprising since I only spun and used mostly 39 chain ring

Is my ride improving?

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines  | March 23, 2015

I am surprised at the relative ease of my bike ride to Tagaytay yesterday.   I biked in a relaxed manner (since I was not with the halimaws)  I just spun at  39 x 15 and 17 and covered until Bicutan l hour,  Bicutan to Alabang in 30 minutes,   Daang Hari in little under 30 minutes,  Paliparan in over thirty minutes.   Going up to Tagaytay was easy to at 39 x 19 and 21.  

The return trip ride at Daang Hari was easy to. It did not look formidable as before.

The rain had double edged effect.  It made the ride less tiring.  But it slowed me too because I had to ride slower and safer (it is slippery and you could not stop in time.)

Can we successfully climb the Sungay?

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines     |  February 24, 2015

Right after the Baguio City climb, I returned to Manila to attend a wedding on the 22nd to be held at Balai Isabel in Talisay, Batangas.  Since we had some business to attend to in Dasmarinas, we chose to go by way of Aguinaldo, then descend towards Sungay (before DAP) after the road to  Sta Rosa junction. And the ascent to Tagaytay looks terrifying.

It is about 5 km from town proper and 4 km of difficult uphill, with switchback.  Which one is more difficult?  Kennon or Sungay?

                      That is a sharp and deep bend to the left

                   Well paved and marked roads with shoulders

                         Overlooking Taal lake

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Rendezvous again with Jethro Garcia

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal, Philippines |  January 20, 2014

                          Jethro with his Cannondale bike;  talking with VM in Amadeo gasoline station

Jethro Garcia, our host for the Lemery, and Kaybiang ride again met us for this Tagaytay ride. He joined us in Amadeo.  He joined VM Jun Vic for most of the time.  We stayed with him in Tagaytay for sometime, and then we parted ways along C de los Santos ave, going to Silang.

Thanks Mr. Jethro.

Tour de Calabarzon

Jethro is planning a Tour de Calabarzon

Read about Jorgeus bikers teaching chores

                               Eating at Tagaytay city;  Alan elbowing it out with Caloocan riders

                                  Food for the motor and bike riders - cheap

                                   Our new riders

                                The sign belies the cold wind blowing

Other activities as an educator

Pit stops on the way home yesterday

Wheels of Happiness

                                    Arrival at Tagaytay

Rizal Philippines  |January 20, 2014

We were at Tagaytay by 10:45 had lunch there and  descended via Amadeo by 11:45.  Nevetheless, we were home by a little over 4:00 pm.  The question was could we have come back earlier?

Did we have too many pit stops?

As far as I know there were only 3 stops we made:

1.  Jingle stop at Gen Trias near Lyceum and to treat the wounds of Edgar  (12:30)

                                        Jingle stop at Gen Trias  Read about Jorgeus biker as a professor

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                                    The wind was blowing strong

2.  Petron food stop (ah this took long.   Maybe l:30 to 2:19)

                                    Eat and rest stop at Petron: Jess, Chito, Choco2, Joel and Armin

                                       Angel, Luis and Alan

                          Master and I were late comers because we assisted Ado with his flat

                                 We left Petron by 2: 19

3.  At Bicutan (about 3 pm)

                                     At Bicutan at 3:11

In general, the pace was fast and furious.   Some argued that we need to rest because of the distance and difference in fitness.

                              Waiting for me at Highway 2000 at 3:56;  maybe they arrived 3:45?

                                       In Angono by 4:20

Read about Jorgeusbiker as a Prof