Bike ride yesterday, January 4, 2015

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines |  January 5, 2014

After reading the book of Arnie Barker, I implemented some of them in yesterday's ride.  He mentioned that there should be:

1. sprints (at least 5)
2.  anaerobic efforts in rides

So I tried this yesterday.  The anaerobic efforts could be something like:  maximal effort (sprint) for 30 seconds to 1 minute coupled with short rests (say 30 secs to 1 minute)  Sprints are all out efforts too and this could be fun with the group.

I left at 6:50 and I biked solo.  The Taytay riders passed me in Calumpang and I did not make make any effort to catch up.  However, I pounded on the last 100 meters of ascend to Montevideo and tried to maintain the gear at hard.

I went past Maybancal.  According to Idol Ed Valdez, you will get strong if you can ride straight 50 km, no stop.  This was confirmed by Boy Naval who said the only time he gets off the bike is when he goes home

Repairing a Campy derailleur

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines  | January 2, 2014

On our long ride to Majayjay the Campy derailleur malfunctioned.  It would only go as far as #23 sprocket and no more. That gave me a psychological block that prevented me from negotiating the steep climbs well.

I was able to get it back right in Luisiana, however after that the malfunction kept on coming back.

This holiday, post Christmas I tried to look at the problem well.  I found out too that the Conti tires have bald spots at the walls and reenforced these portions with cut interior tires (I wrapped around the interior) and that gives me more confidence that the Conti would give me a few thousand km more of ride.

And so I found out why I could not shift well - the cable was set wrongly at an angle so that the cable would bind with the barrel adjuster.  The cable holder was set wrong.  So after I corrected the setting, the shifter worked well again.  And so I did not have to go to Boyeth Flores or Christy.  i did it again after careful thought and problem solving.   It gives me a thrill and a sense of achievement to solve this little tricky problems with the bike.  It make you alert and challenged

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.