BGC Cycle Philippines on National Bike Day

Last Sunday, JC, Kimi, Mac, and I joined a biking event in BGC sponsored by Cycle Asia. It also happen to coincide with National Bike Day making the event more meaningful for all participants. 

We claimed the kit a day before in Mind Museum that includes our jerseys, shades and other freebies. It was really great except probably for those people who didn't get their jersey size. My friends Kimi and Mac weren't able to get their correct jersey sizes because they've run out of it but it's funny cos we were asked beforehand of our jerseys. I'm sure if the organizers stuck to the jersey sizes that each participant has declared, no one would go home with oversized or too small jerseys.

Next time I hope they implement it :)

But overall, BGC Cycle Philippines was a really great event. I have nothing bad to say them come event day. I've joined other biking events but this was the first time I got to bike peacefully without stopping in every stoplight there is. It's like I wanted to yell thank you to every marshal holding the angry motorists behind them.

Guys, this happens once or twice a year only so wag kayong exagg makabusina. Share the road!

Waiting for gun start

The 40km Challenge Ride started at 6am while and left by batch every 5 minutes. We only joined the 20km Community ride, so we were all pretty chill. Our wave (I and J) left at exactly 6:30am.

Me and my friend Kimi

We arrived at the Uturn slot in PICC at 7.30, had a short Gatorade break while waiting for Mac and Kimi before pushing on again.

Mac and JC

Along Mapua area I had a little accident caused by this woman crossing but NOT looking on the road. She was looking instead in her phone! Ay caramba! Good thing I wasn't in a full speed so no damage was done to us both, although I fell on my bike. I'm glad she said sorry a couple of times acknowledging that what she did was irresponsible.

We witnessed multiple crashes earlier on and I didn't want to be one of the growing casualties!

Anyway, on to the finish line. We crossed it around 8:55am. Super swabe ride, no pressure, just pure fun. We were provided with McDonald's muffin sausage and Jamba Juice for breakfast which was really really nice.

They were also giving away free beer! First time to drink a beer this early lol.

Here we are, refreshed and recovered ready to tackle EDSA on our way home :O
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Til next year, BGC Cycle Philippines!

Sunday Hits

The Cheese and haven't been able to ride our bikes for 3 consecutive weeks due to various weekend activities. But last Sunday, after his mom intercepted our supposed Arayat climb,  we finally had the time. 

After a few rounds in the oval, Science Complex and Heartbreak Road, I asked for a shake break. Homaygoodness avocado shake is the best! These two serving cost us only 40 pesos. Inuwi pa ni JC yung isa since hindi nya naubos.

Since we only had a hundred pesos with us that time, medyo pinagkasya namin ang budget namin. I missed eating at Lutong Bahay so we decided to have our breakfast there for a change (skip muna sa Coop). We ordered Hotsilog with extra fried rice. This cost us a total of 50 pesos! I love estudyante rate breakfasts.

 The unnecessary Lutong Bahay selfie.

After breakfast, we went back to Acad Oval and hung out there for a while before going home. For a change, we took a new way home. We exited at Vanguard, took the overpass (fronting the huge Iglesia ni Cristo church/New Era University) and finally, Sentral road. We like this new route so much because there are less people in the overpass as compared in Philcoa plus less vehicles too in the road. Yay for little discoveries! 

Candid shot in the overpass overlooking the deadly Commonwealth Avenue.

13th Tour of the Fireflies

Last April 17, the Cheese and I, along with 15,000 (or more according to their website) riders joined the annual Tour of the Fireflies, already on their 13th year with Bike Revolution as this year's theme. ToF is an annual biking event that aims to boost Filipino awareness of bicycle as a form of sustainable environmental transportation for cleaner air and generally, to promote safer roads for any cyclists. We all know this, Manila is totally unsafe for bike enthusiasts, cyclists, even professionals. There are very very few areas where bikers and their corresponding spaces are respected. Right now, I could only think of two: UP Diliman and Marikina. I wouldn't dare include Quezon City Circle despite its obvious bike lane, lest I want to be run over by a maniac driver or be the subject of every motorists irk. 

Anyway, Sunday morning came. The Cheese and I cycled our way to Tiendesitas from my place in Kapitolyo. Pretty short and smooth ride (which I really liked) since I'm a very nervous rider and technically still an amateur. I don't like it when cars are driving in front, behind or beside me. It really scares me haha.

Good thing this year we were able to find a good spot near the starting line. We had a quick McDonald's breakfast on that same spot while the host interviewed each costume contest participants. At exactly 7am, we rolled our way to Ortigas Ave. crossing EDSA towards Greenhills. Below is a map of this year's ToF route.
The organizers plot new routes every year and for this year it was: Pasig - San Juan - Quezon City - Manila and vice versa.

España was a breeze, in contrast to what I thought would be a traffic hell. Thank you to the kind officers who agreed to momentarily halt/reroute traffic that day. A big eff you to those motorists who revved off and cut our peloton. You have no idea how you scared the hell out of me! See, if you're the only four-wheel car cruising along us and you're not an ambulance, an auxiliary van or media, then shame on you! We only ask 5-6 hours out of 365 days for you to give way to us and you can't even comply, won't budge or won't give way at all.

As we were approaching Quezon Bridge in Manila area, we could already see the a la mass exodus of people walking their bikes up the bridge. Traffic ng bike haha. Some people took it as an opportunity to have photo ops. But when we reached the bridge's plateau we all went back to our wheels and pedaled our way down to Lawton, cruising along Manila City Hall and National Museum, stopping at red light before turning left to Roxas Boulevard straight to CCP for a water break.

My friend Patty posing with the Bioman guys. Photo by Mac Velasquez.

Every year, the organizers encourage participants to join ToF wearing various costumes, whether it be related to the year's theme or simply just for fun. For this, the Biomen instantly became the crowd's favorite riders.

These two oldies had their picture taken with the Cheese haha. Cute.

The Coconut Man. I gave him an A for effort.

On our way back to Tiendesitas, The Cheese and I were able to ride along our friends, Patty and Mac (who took this photo).

After 5 hours, we finally reached Tiendesitas again. I was so proud of ourselves and all the other riders who made it under the excruciating and unforgiving Manila summer heat and traffic. See you all again next year!

PS:

Thank you to the ToF organizers, sponsors, brave and valiant marshals who patiently guides rider and explain to irate motorists what the hell is going on, the patrol men, ambulance, all those who helped, the local government of each city and all the people on the road who understood and never complained. This was our third year to join ToF and hopefully will continue riding with them in the coming years.

Pedals for Progress

I wonder when our own bicycle culture will set off. I agree with what the guy said, having a bike is a blessing. Maybe not so much for me - who lives in the most bike-unfriendly city -, but to millions of people out there, a bike bridges man one pedal push closer to his dreams.

Padyak Time!

It's that time of the year once again. Save the date (April 17, 2011) for the 13th tour of the Fireflies!

12th Tour of the Fireflies

This year, the peloton of ToF passed by these areas: Pasig City (starting point and endpoint at Tiendesitas), a bit of QC area (mostly Libis), Marikina City (Marcos Highway), Cainta, Taguig (The Fort and McKinley Hill), Makati City (specifically in Ayala, where riders can rest for a while and refill their water bottles) and Mandaluyong City (scary but exciting tunnel ride ooh).

from top left: biking along Marikina, Ayala stopover, ze bikes and Kimi and I.

And I'm mighty proud to tell the world that I'm a finisher this time, unlike last year when I quit along the Guadalupe area (prolly about 4 to 6 kms. more before the finish line). And I have to thank the Cheese of course for guiding me, helping me get up when that terrible crash happened (along Ortigas extension area a rider cut between us dragging my right hand on his rear wheel before finally falling off). It wasn't that bad a fall (thank goodness for the arm warmers I was using), what was bad though was the feeling of being neglected or rather disregarded by the marshals with regards to the issue.

I understand that there are thousands of riders that day and that it has to go on no matter what happens but even for a second they never showed concern nor bother to asked what happened in there. What's ringing on my head til this moment was the screaming marshal's lone word: "TABI!"

Last year's marshals were waaaaay nicer and helpful. Yown lang.

All in all, the experience was nice and exciting. Rained a bit in Pasig area (approaching Guadalupe bridge), pedaling in sloped area can be a drag and muscle-burning but it was worth all the experience. See you next year!

Word!

"Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever."

Oo nga naman. May point si pareng Lance Armstrong. :D

It's Tour Season Once Again!

And I almost forgot about it. Will definitely tune in again this year.

Trail Biking at Noon

..is never a good idea. It's the hottest part of the day my goodness so do not freak out if you see your face in the mirror all burnt. Anyway, I realized two things about our recent trail biking:

1) I'm not ANY good at it.
2) But I liked it because If I ever fall from my bike, grasses and plants will catch me!


Last Saturday, Kimi, JC and I brave another round of biking in C5. Jeez. I still can't get over how trucks were driving inches away from us, it's still ringing in my ears. Katakot much! After meeting Ryan, we proceeded to the Fort's trail biking area. Let's just say (and JC will definitely approved) that I screamed, fell flat on mi face and walked most of the time. Watta achievement right? But we did have fun at least I did. Hehe. Now I know what it felt to be following and riding those steep and small trails. I would never wonder much about it now. It's HARD.

But maybe someday, when I'm better, I'll give it another try. Nyaha.

The Loneliest Person I know

...is thankfully not me. I’m not egocentric enough to claim the title. It still belongs to someone out there, someone who’s far more worthy, somehow.

I’m not sure if anyone follows my evident lack of social life (or what I actually reckon as social activities) for 6 whole weeks. Heck I’m sure nobody give a tinker’s dam of my whereabouts, whatabouts and other abouts for it is always I who ends up asking everyone how-are-you-what-have-you-been-up-to-i-miss-you-did-you-ever-miss-me kinda line. In a nutshell, I am bored and lonesome. Again.

For the record, there’re only two activities I’ve done with some friends that I could count as social interaction in the span of 6 weeks:

1) Watching Virgin Labfest 4 plays at CCP with Ed and Tbud: and
2) DVD-marathon at Juraine’s place (with Kimi) that more likely turned out as surfing marathon. Haha.

And I am utterly grateful for breaking the humdrum of my so-called life.

So where am I all these time? E di at work, working overtime, abusing my eyes and right hand (and I guess damaging my carpal tunnel in the process too) for some measly dinero I need to save up before September. I’ve let go of a Tapulao climb because of that and I suppose other more relatively-expensive mountain stuff. I walk home alone everyday, bobbing my head to my life-support music thus sometimes attracting odd glances from here and there, smiling with security guards I passed by everyday. Kulang na lang I shout "good morning" to all those construction workers I see too but that would be too much drama na and I don’t want to push it. Just showing a clear picture of my eventful days for those who would want to have an idea.

Alas, it still brings me wonder that I am able to find ways to entertain myself in such a muted and mind you, cheap fashion. Of course I have no choice but to be cheapskate. All the laziness I’ve felt a few weeks ago with regards to writing, reading and watching free films have come back. I’ve picked up Elmore Leonard again (yipeee!) but mostly it was Lance Armstrong’s fault. Yes. The Lance "Tour de France 7th consecutive winner" Armstrong. See I bought his It’s Not About the Bike book in (where else) Booksale and wooosh, never stopped reading. Even made me madly addicted to everything Tour-de-France: maillot jaune, maillot vert, peloton, l’Alpe d’Huez, CUI, Tour d’Italia, EPO, Eddy Merckkx, Ivan Basso, Greg LeMond, Giro, dingy inns, Team Time Trial, Prologue, etc.. But hey, I’m still learning. Still have a lot to read and watch about the sport. Funny how it coincided pa with this year’s Tour. As of today they’re probably on Stage 7 there. Stefan Schumacher leads, wearing the maillot jaune. I really admire the talent, stamina, endurance and extreme will power of these athletes plus their quirky and unwritten code of ethics while on the road.Basta, I will probably write a more elaborate piece on this as soon as inspiration kicks back.

All I can say is, halimaw si Lance. Even though early on the book he already strike me as mayabang and vain (which he openly admits). But seriously, with all he’s been through (chemotheraphy for his testicular cancer, brain lesions operation and SEVEN maillot jaune), the guy deserved it. At least he knows who to thank at the end of each race (his team mates of course, without which there could never be a yellow jersey on his back). Oh if you wanna see pala some evidence of European’s total dislike to American Lance, everything’s in youtube nowadays. Don’t miss "Lance Armstrong attacks Jan Ullrich". Ay grabe, give me some of your thoughts and we’ll discuss it hehe.

Okay. So much for digression. I guess, I owe it to Lance somehow no matter how indirectly it seems cos at least I’m picking up books now, made me write this entry and I guess, for not making me the loneliest person out here.