Met a politician from Region 3, learned later than he is an avid biker and did several Audax

Wheels of Happiness

Had a meeting this morning with a distinguished just elected (third termer though) provincial official of Region 3 province.  Learned that he is an avid biker; had both MTB and RB but now focuses on RB.   He did several Audax all ready.  He is SIL of my family doctor.  

You meet the best people on bikes

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

Congratulations to Audax finishers

Wheels of Happiness

Audax just concluded over the weekend its 600 km challenge.  Some of those who finished are people we know.  One of them is Aycycle who we often see at DOMSA.  He said he nearly  did not finish (DNF) because of a bus who buzzed by.

Thanks God you were not seriously hurt and that you finished the Audax challenge in style.  Congratulations to the FINISHER.  

I bet I can still do a 200 km but prudence dictate that I refrain from doing so because I can experience

medical episodes or accidents

Tried to do a semi Audax ride yesterday March 20, 2016

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
March 21, 2016

I did not join the Audax ride, although it could have been a ride of lifetime, owing to unavailability of vehicle, feed support, and the very hot weather (reaching as high as 41 degrees Celsius)   But I tried to feel and experience what an Audax rider could have done.  I must have covered  130 km yesterday covering 1/2 of the Audax distance and the challenge.  (Come to think of it, I could have done the Audax ride if had a little bit more practice and courage.   I was only 70 km short, and could have covered that easily in 3 hours) Could have finished by 5 pm. If there would be an Audax in April, I could finish this. Hahaha.

I peeled off from the Recyclists Peloton at Sampaloc Shell Tanay intersection and started to climb Sampaloc by 8:00 am.   At km 58, I had a companion, Edwin from Morong who had an MTB 29er with 11 -42 gear and 2 x 11 set up.  However I had a road bike which was lighter and 11 x 36 gears with 3 x 10 front chain ring.  I towed Edwin until past Padre Pio and we parted ways at the bukohan of Jenjen at the summit.   I turned right exited at jungle base entrance to Marcos highway and pedalled fast descending up to Saksak (about 15 km to Jarels peak)  It was around 10 am when I bottomed out and wondered how I could get back up to Sampaloc.  Indeed it was a challenge, and I got the answer why it took the riders who started at 5 am from Bosoboso to start descending Sampaloc by 11 am.   The journey going up is ardous up to Daraitan intersection.  Wow it was like riding up Marcos Highway.

I was up at Sampaloc by 11 am.   And had halo halo somewhere in Sampaloc (very delicious) and descended fast.  I was at Shell by 12:00 noon.  I had to rest a lot of times because of the heat.   I was home by 2:00 pm.

P.S.

Ed Valdez texted me early morning yesterday re report of one of his wards re Audax.  He said it was a killer route.  Many walked (probably the return route to Sampaloc from Marcos Highway and Sampaloc) and did not finish. They could have been better off spending the entry fee of P500 for their food or bike parts

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

Audax 200 km ride is on today; God bless fellow riders

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
March 19, 2016

Reminders for the Audax ride

The Audax 200 km ride from Bosoboso, to Jarel, Sampaloc, 2x up and down, then back to Sierra Madre, and Bosoboso is on today, probably having started at 5:00 am today. Idol Ed Valdez did not join because he was not granted a leave. But his ward, a champion rider, a MTB rider probably joined today with other adventurers and halimaw.

Ingat mga kapadyak.  With the heat and the ardous route, and despite 3x practice us Sampaloc, I feel I am not ready.  Other strong riders who feel not joining think this is too challenging.

Fellow riders who are in the vicinity or who are watching;  let us cheer them up or offer food and drinks or dousing of cold water.

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

Idol Ed Valdez tried the Audax route and even the young ones, the best of the best bonked out

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
March 14, 2016

Idol Ed Valdez and I talked about the Audax ride this coming Saturday. He and two other young riders tried this route. It took them 7 + hours from the 5 hour start to finish at the Paradise Hotel.  They averaged 26 kph for the entire ride.

It was he said one of the most difficult ride he experienced, even worse than the Marcos Highway ride to Baguio City.  At the last portion from Sampaloc to Sierra Madre, the champ young riders who rode with idol bonked out.  They were dead tired.

Should I join the ride?

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.

Training for Audax of Baguio Ride - practice ride to Sampaloc Daranak falls

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
March 8, 2016

My muscle, joints, knees and hips still ache from excesses of last Sunday race. I slept soundly last night until this morning and yet I decided to have a practice ride to Sampaloc.

I stopped at KM 64 and decided to make a turn for Daranak falls which I thought was a simple ride.  But no.  It was as if I rode straight to Sampaloc and even worse than that.  There was a return route that was not unlike Majayjay.  True to the prediction of an old woman, I had to walk about 200 meters to the summit near Aurora sign.   It would not have been had I not answered a query from somebody in Innova who inquired where Daranak falls was (Naturally I had to stop.  It is difficult to restart from a middle of an incline.  I had to find spot where I could start sideways/crosswise)

I would have made 90 km distance today, plus a degree of difficulty of about 4 (out of 5)

By Friday, I would do a right turn for Jarels peak.

Audax Rizal ride challenge 200 km from Bosoboso to Sampaloc, Tanay to Jarels peak, back to Sampaloc Sta Maria and Bosoboso

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
March 4, 2016

There is the Audax  Rizal challenge.  Vics again, to Sampaloc, up to Jarels peak, down to Sampaloc up to Shell and then up to Real, u turn and  and going back to to Boso boso. Wow.  Audax though is not a race but riding a predetermined distance.

Reminders for Audax ride on March 19, 2016

History of Audax

Audax Rizal ride information

Exciting bike rides of Ed "Idol" Valdez to inspire us

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
March 3, 2016

I had a conversation with Edgar "Idol" Valdez who is from Cubao.  We had conversation on the software company which he established and then our conversation drifted to biking.

1.  Will the Recyclist have a bike ride this Holy Week?  Yes to Baguio.  Who are joining,  Jeff, Gerry, Val, myself

2.  What were his bike rides:

      1.  Centurion Challenge at Marcos Highway from Mang Vic,to Jarels Peak (that is all ready Real Quezon) a total distance of 164 km (100 miles hence centurion) which he covered in five hours plus.  That means he did this ride mostly uphill in a little under 30 kph!   Centurion Challenge at Facebook

                              2015 Centurion Challenge

     2.  The Kaybian ride via Pico de Loro then Nasugbu, Tagaytay, Silang and home base, 246 km all in one day in 8 hours plus.  He did this at 30 kph

     3.  There is the Audax  Rizal challenge.  Vics again, to Sampaloc, up to Jarels peak, down to Sampaloc up to Shell and then up to Real, u turn and  and going back to to Boso boso. Wow.  Audax though is not a race but riding a predetermined distance.

Reminders for Audax ride on March 19, 2016

History of Audax

Audax Rizal ride information