From Road To Trail

When I started biking I just wanted to explore our province(Pampanga). I just want to visit every town of it. Explore, and see their churches and famous landmarks.  And every time I ride, I’m riding on a mountain bike(on the road?). And so I did, I was able to visit some of them and it was fun.

And then, a hiatus.

And then the December, 2016 came. I got a new bike. That’s the time, my buddy introduces me to trail riding.

It was a foggy cold morning that day. We headed to Mountain View Hill, it’s a hill near the Mt. Arayat. The path is kind of rocky and muddy. With my 1.95-inch tire, it was slippery and fun.

I didn’t mind the drizzle because it was really fun. The fun of getting dirty and muddy.  That’s the time that I realized,” Oh, this is what I want.” And that’s it! Since then, I always hit the trail. Either uphills or downhills. 😀

That’s all for now.

Keep Safe!

It’s Been Four Months

It’s been four months since I got a new bike, a Giant ATX 27.5. For the first three months, I mostly hit the road with its 1.95-inch. I missed those long rides using a mountain bike(I’m for the comfort). So yeah, I spent those three months riding around town and neighboring towns.

And then, I bumped into a friend, who recently changed his bike discipline. He invited me and one of my friends for a trail ride. And it was fun, so fun that I quickly realized that, this is MOUNTAIN BIKING. (I’ll tell you the story of my first trail ride soon.)

And now, It’s been a month that I don’t do long rides. I actually don’t want to stay on the road, I want off-road. And also, I already changed my tire to Maxxis Ardent (27.5×2.25), it’s an all-trail tire.

And because of this new biking discipline I learned, I appreciate nature more. I discovered those unnamed trails in Mt. Arayat. And yes, the speed and the adrenaline when you go downhill, it’s amazing!

Goodmorning

Long time no post. No rides. I’ve been very busy. For the meantime, let’s watch this Mountain Bike Fails Compilation 2015.

ENJOY!

Bike-related Haiku

It’s national poetry day today. So, I’m going to share some bike-related haiku. Just for fun. 🙂

Uphill climb is hell
Downhill makes you glide like kite
As I always felt

We wanted to win
Always we wanted to win
Let us hate headwind

What gear are you in?
Don’t push it hard, it might break
Asshole on the run

Keep on pedalling now
Move forward like life taught us
Have you check your brakes?

Mountains are so high
Thighs are stronger than ever
But your wife said, NO!

Quick short ride

Mt. Arayat

I was able to ride again a while ago. Though it was just a short ride, I felt the joy that I missed for so long. I’m looking forward to riding more this coming months.

And after I got home? Yeah! The rain pours. 😀 Saved!

Meet The Dog That Saved Our Son’s Life

Kapampangan Mountain Bikers Network: One Big Ride

The registration for Kapampangan Mountain Bikers Network‘s One Big Ride is now open. This 30 km bike ride is for the celebration of KMTBN’s 2nd Year Anniversary.

You may visit the Kapampangan Mountain Bikers Network FB group page for more details.

Biking in the month of May: The warmest month in the Philippines

There is no Summer season in the Philippines because we only have two climates, the dry season(December – May) and the wet season(June – November). However many Filipinos believe the dry season is also the summer season because of the humidity and the high temperatures.

Photo from IMReady Facebook page

And during this season especially in May(the warmest month), you’ll never see bikers around 9 AM because at that time the temperature is going up to 28 – 30 degrees Celsius. And that’s already hot.

The perfect time to go biking is from 4:30 AM up to 8 AM and during nighttime.

If you were still on the road at around 9 AM, just keep yourself hydrated to prevent heat stroke and dehydration. Much better if you wear sleeves(warmer) to protect your skin from the sun, and sunglasses. And also try to be at home before 9 AM.

Solo Riding: Pros and Cons

Riding is fun especially if you are riding within a group. Group ride here, group ride there, but… solo riding is fun too.  And here are the…

Pros:

• You own your time. (You can go fast or super slow, it’s really up to you.)
• You can change your plan or cancel it anytime. (No one will get mad at you.)
• You can go to any place you want.
• You can focus more. (If you’re on training.)
• You can challenge yourself. (Time trial)
• You will build self-discipline, patience, and perseverance too. ( If you are on a long epic ride.)
• You can take photographs or take your selfie shot anytime you want.

Cons:

• It’s dangerous. ( When visiting rural areas.)
• You’re on your own if anything needs to be fixed. ( You should learn to fix some stuff like changing flat tires, adjusting brakes, etc.)
• You are vulnerable to rude drivers.
• Your bike is vulnerable to bike nappers.

Now you know some of the pros and cons(there are a lot of pros and cons out there) you must know some Do’s and Don’ts.

Do’s:

• Plan your ride carefully. Go online. Check Google Maps for the routes and alternate routes. Check if there are convenience stores along the way.  Search everything about the place you are planning to visit.  Join forums or join Facebook groups or pages and gather more information.
• Bring an Identification Card. If something goes wrong, they will be able to know your name and address and they will be able to contact your family.
• Bring lots and lots of water or any hydration fluid. Keep hydrated always. Bring less(just to lessen the weight) if you know there are convenience stores along the way. 
• Bring a light meal. Bananas, hard-boiled eggs, protein bars, etc.  Any food that is light and not heavy on the stomach.
• Bring extra money.
• Track your rides. There are so many smartphone application trackers(Android or iOS apps) that were created for this purpose.  They can track your ride through GPS, and they can calculate your distance, speed, maps, etc. 
• Bring Cellphone. Everyone has a cellular phone nowadays.  In case of emergency, you may able to call for help.
• Bring all necessary tools.  Allen wrench, spare tires, spare tubes, air pump, etc, etc.
• Follow the traffic rules.
• Respect everyone you meet along the way.

Don’ts:

• Do not go out without telling anyone where you are going. 
• Do not go on a motor pace. 
• Do not forget to rehydrate yourself every 20 minutes.
• Do not forget, you ride to have some fun,to enjoy, and not to kill yourself. (Don’t push yourself too much)

Here are the Pros and Cons, and Do’s and Don’ts that are based on my experience as a solo rider.  This post is open for suggestions, and I will be happy to include your suggestions on the list.

Biking and Jogging activity at Arnedo dike

Sunrise at Arnedo dike

The road maintenance in Arnedo dike in Arayat is now fully completed. The road is now asphalted from San Agustin Sur, Arayat all the way to Candaba.

I was amazed about the improvement of the road. You’ll be able to ride smoothly. And I was happy to see families, group of teens, and elderlies that walks and jog along the dike. This could be another joggers and bikers destination in Arayat.

Mt. Arayat view from Arnedo dike(Cupang, Arayat)

Compared to Tree House at Mt. Arayat National Park. Arnedo dike has much more beautiful scenery. If you visit that place early you’ll be able to see the beautiful sunrise while Indung Kapampangan river(Pampanga river) is just under your nose, while on your left is the view of Bunduk Alaya(Mt.Arayat) sitting still. And of course you’ll be able to breathe fresh air because less vehicles are passing on that road.