How are Filipinos faring in the Tour of Langkawi in Malaysia.

Wheels of Happiness

We still have a lot of sharpening and hardening needed in international tours.   The only Filipino who figured well was rider Francisco in KOM caregory.  Morales figured in a crash and his collarbone needed surgeery.   Oranza and others show their brilliance once in a while but fadeway in the final phase of the race.  We are ranking in 50th or 60th .  With Francisco 4th in Asian Category

More work still be done in the international arena.  More exposure...

Felipie is No 60 and Navarra is 92 in GC.     Eurosport Tour of Langkawi

We had to strategize to aid the #Recyclists go home safely and early yesterday October 5, 2014

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines

            VM and the Navarra were Recyclists savior; that is the wife of Jeff who hails from Mindanao.  They have two children

We had 20 riders who joined us in our sojourn to Majayjay to share some of the blessings of Jeff and their farm.

They were:    Alan, VM, Jeff, Choco2, Luis, Chito, Gerry C, Gerry Y, Master, Jorgeusbiker, Joel (nagdala ng sweet and juicy tsalap bibingka) Edgar (7 days) Vec, Edgar (Idol) Jeff, Jess, Nolite, Val

The new ones who joined were:  Miong Bautista, Mario.

The bike was long and challenging. It rained hard in Majayjay as soon as we got to Jeff's place and on our ride back to Pagsanjan. Surprisingly, there was no rain in Paete.

Some really suffered and had cramps, Master:  Miong, (Angel - we were surprised! first time that happened)

As soon as we got down to Pagsanjan, we looked for jeepneys to bring us to Tanay.  But none agreed to be out of line.

Some requested to be brought to Bugarin from Pagsanjan:  Joel, Chito, Ven, Gerry.  They were low batt, exhausted or had cramps.  VM who a Nissan Navarra pick up with him, ferried the stricken riders to Bugarin and would pick up the rest in Mabitac.

In Mabitac, VM ferried us to Bugarin:   Jess, Pres Luis, Master, Vec, Jorgeusbiker.

Others struggled to ride home on their own up Bugarin:   Choco2, Edgar;   Edgar 7 days, Nolite, Mario, Jeff.

Awesome new pick ups; latest from Ford is amazing 200 hp output and 470 nm torque

Real Cyclists
 



I used to be a 4x4 enthusiast.  We loved outdoors and we used to be Land Rover Club of PHL.  We used Land Rover Defender,  Range Rover classic, CJ (with SD 33 underneath -  its awesome) and a host of other UV -  Frontier Eagle, SUV -  TLC, Patrol.   The Patrol and Pajero are heavy and not very suitable for hard core 4x4 (off roading)   The Frontier and  L200 have weak 4x4 components and easily breakdown.  The Ranger performance (even the Pinatubo series) used a lot of winching.

A lot has changed in engine technology;   the Range Rover Classic with a V8 engine had 150 hp output only;  the 4.6 HSE had output of 180 hp only.  Whereas, the x Trail spews out 180 hp for the 2.5 variant.

You must be amazed with the current array of pickups;  their outputs are comparable to the V8 4.6 liter engine of Range Rover.

Hi Lux 4x4 variant 2.7 liter engine - 163 hp 343 nm

Navarra 4x4 -  174 hp  403 newton meter 6spd transmission

Di Max (Isuzu) - 177 hp, 270 ft lbs torque

Chevrolet Colorado with Duramax engine and VGTI turbo (variable geometry turbo with intercooler) - 180 hp and  470 lbs.  The most powerful in its class!

Comes the Ford Wildtrak Ranger  with 3.2 liter engine -  200 hp  and 470 nm torque  priced at Pl.549 million and 6spd automatic transmission.! The 2.2 L variant has 120 hp output and 285 nm torque

Why would a biker buy these trucks?  So that he can load his bike - MTB for off road or to go biking up to Bugarin (if you live in MM and we see many bikers doing this)