Biked to Cardona, Bombongan, Teresa Antipolo and DOMSA this morning - riding for strength

Wheels of Happiness

Big chain ring ride -  FTP

To comply with FTP guidelines, and exercise beyond 70, this post tried to bike at challenging destination at big chainrings 50 (on SRAM red group set at S works).  Its all big chainring at Bombongan, except on one hill, and entire Teresa Antipolo and DOMSA climbs (ahon)

Kapadyak riders

At Bombongan, there were 5 riders from Pasig and Taguig who rode with me.  They were initially ahead of me but caught up with me near Alfamart.  Then they stopped at the bridge and sped away until San Guillermo crossing.   Was surprised to see that I was ahead of them before the Mun Building at Teresa.  They went via bukid in Teresa, and then again I was ahead of them past  Real Cove switch back.  Then sped away for good.

Saw some riders from Taytay.  Rhom Antonio said that I was ahead of him in Zigzag (at big chain rings)

There was also Lito Briones who I initially saw at Pag asa stop light.  Then I caught up with him and overtook him.  He overtook me at Pantok and he disappeared.  Aftewards, i saw him again at Teresa Morong boundary and he sped away.    (Doing that to a 73 yo hahaha)

Bukohan at Avida Antipolo after last Climb at Zigzag now sub for T..ng kabayan?

This is the nth time I saw many riders stopping here for a cold drink after negotiating the Teresa Antipolo zigzag.  About 12 riders stopped there -  most of those who 

Made me stronger, strength training beyond 70.

It was not a chill ride.  The ride took my breath away, made my thighs and calf burn,   My feeling is that this ride made me feel stronger.   I could maybe TT for 25 kph for about 5 km.   Certainly much more improvement than when I was younger.   

Imagine riding up all the hills of Teresa on 50 chain rings. At 50 x 32.    

Biked to Antipolo using big chain ring, up to San Roque and went down to Cabrera road

Wheels of Happiness

Biked to Antipolo today.  I turned on the external bike ride function of Huawei watch started and ended it when I reached San Roque, But could not access the data.  I was not able to use this feature of the watch which was like strava.

I climbed using the 52 chain ring up to Shell however shifted to 36 approaching Beverly and up to Provincial Capitol.   Went town via Cabrera road.  Cabrera road reverse is not all down hill.  There are two ascents.  -  to the Memorial Park, and one to Havila.   Was on big chain rings for these two ascent

Aching body because it was a hard ride

Gaining strength and speed in bike ride yesterday to Morong

Wheels of Happiness

This post tried to implement what he has learned about big chain rings, and improving strength on rides (chill ride will not make you stronger) (from Giro and Audax riders)

    1.  Did big chain rings from Angono to Morong, did Callahan on big chain ring.   O riding up diversion,

         was on big chain ring until the left turn on the hill.

   2.  Returned via Diversion road for hill climbs, thigh and butt strengthening;

   3.  Sprinted up Mambog and going up final hill until cockpit

Hence sleep well soundly after the climb, and on the rest day

Big chain rings at Giro Italia; the rest of bikedom returns to big chainrings?

Wheels of Happiness

Giro Italia has seen many top riders:   Pogacar, Ganna etc riding bikes with with 54 to 60 teeth and using the same for mountain/hill sections.  Even at Queen stages

I used to ride bike with 53 - 39 which I discarded for 50 -34 compact chain rings.   I could hardly pedal with 50 x 11.  And now these riders.  

I see a group of riders riding DOMSA uphill using 54 chain rings with say 30 to 34 cogs.  

Are riders getting stronger?  What has happened to world class riders.?  

Are we rest of the riders following suit

When I am older, I learned how to bike better and maintain my bike

Wheels of Happiness

I am surprised that I did not train well or was not focused on training when I was younger.  I learned how to suffer in big chain rings (as others have advised)   Did not do more sprints.  Did not practice as much.

Lately though long rides are easier say to Jalajala or Bugarin or doing Teresa or Bombongan ride  

Domsa is becoming easy.  

I enjoy biking more   Feel stronger and fitter

Getting used to the two by set up with a 29er

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines

5.25.2021

This post is testing his 29er two by set up:(34 and 24 front chain rings  11 -42 rear cogs combination)     first with a long ride to MM,, and second, hard climb to Antenna hill.   Anxious about chain falling off, and shifting malfunction.     Fortunately there was none;   the set up was DIY and has not been inspected tested by a bike mechanic.  How would the bike hold out vs conventional set up.

1.  On the flat. - I was even ahead of the group at 34 x 10.  If you compute:   34//10  =  3.4 x 29 inches =  98.6 gear inches nearly near to a 53/12 x 27 = 119.  Of course there is still a 19 gear inches difference.  However, this is tough on the calf muscles.  

Now this is the reason why MTBs overtake even RBs on the ride..   

I computed with an Engineer these gear ratios.

If you have a 38 chain ring in front and you have 10 smallest gear at the back  (SRAM has 9), you have 38/10 =   3.8 x 29  =   110.   Then you are at par with a RB with 53t front chain ring   

2.  Going up  -  I tried the set up at Antenna hills where the climbs are stiff and steep.  I stayed at 34 (the primary gear of the two by) and used mostly 34 x 34, and 34 x 36.  I did not have to shift at 42   I did not shift to the 24 (No 1) gear.

I am happy with the bike performance.  Going two by was just keeping up with the trend, and experiencing what other MTB riders are experiencing,  

Some knowledge on compatibility of various group set brands, 10 speed vs. 11 speed, wheel set freehubs.

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
March 2, 2017

I am experimenting with SRAM group set.   And my first difficulty was with the BB. The crankset was BB 30 and it could fit only BB framesets like Cannondale, Giant etc.  with BB 30 frames.  So I cant use the very light SRAM red crankset.   Money down the drain unless I can resell this (It costs P20,000 bn)

I was planning to buy a standard SRAM however it is only for 11 speed.  Seem to fit the rest of group set na 11 speed?  An expert in SRAM reminded me that it may not shift properly. My research shows that it could be noisy:   a wider 10 speed chain running along a thinner blade of 11 speed.  Compatible may be but not perfect.

1.  Brands compatibility:     SRAM and Shimano are compatible:   for cogset, they are interchangeable and the  spline accepts either Shimano or SRAM.  However Campagnolo splines are different and so are their chainset.

2.  Chainset compatibility  SRAM vs Shimano no problem provided both are of the same speed.

A guide to groupsets: Shimano, SRAM Campagnolo


Mixing groupsets: what works and doesnt work

Year end bike cleaning

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
December 31, 2016

I did not bike today because I think I over reached yesterday.  And the weather did not look ok - there was a slight shower. I decided I would clean all my MTBs.  The Mosso pedalling was rougher and tougher than the others and inspection of the bottom brackets (the outboard type) look that they have plenty of grime.

So I took apart the Mosso crank first and found out that dirt and some fibers were jamming the shaft and bearing so it could not turn freely.  I cleaned the plastic bearings, put some motor oil and then lined them with grease.  I used 1,200 grit sand paper to clean the shaft and put some grease too.  Then I brushed the chain rings with kerosene, washed with water and wiped with dry rags to remove the grime on the chain ring.   Then I washed the tires with soap and water, trying hard to make the tires all black again (mud had stuck to the sides of the tire)  wiped the rim too. Then cleaned the chain too, and afterwards put some oil on the chain. I repeated the process with SAVA carbon and SAVA titanium.   I noticed that the fitment of SAVA carbon BB was ill made.  (Well Chinese technology)

The bikes were dirty after all.  The undersides which I did not see often needed detailed and thorough cleaning.  Only the bike owner, not the boys in your house, not the maida, or your wife or children can do this cleaning for you.  Only you

Or maybe your mechanic and wait for a week