Typhoon Mario - The Weekend That Was and Sunday Ride 32Km

19Sep14 - Typhoon "Mario"

Friday was very wet day with "Mario" unleashing heavy rain for almost 24 hours causing evacuation of residents on low laying and flood prone areas. Even majority of my office staff were unable to report to office on a Friday. However, nothing much can be done as all government offices and even banks were closed for the day. As for my bike schedule for the next day,  even before noon Ruth A Rod already cancelled the Grotto Run which was could had been a nice route. "Mario" was a downer, there goes my usual Saturday Bike Run.

Edsa on Friday 19Sep14 7:50am

20Sep14 - The "Mario" Aftermath

With rain just about stopping but still with roads all wet and on certain area covered with water, it was not an ideal condition for a bike run. With ample of time at hand, I need to improvise on how to have a worthwhile morning.

Took the family for a breakfast at "Cafe Juanita" at Capitolyo Pasig;

 Breakfast at Cafe Juanita - 20Sep14 8am

After breakfast, I was craving to eat "ayungin" either pinangat or paksiw. From Cafe Juanita, I just dropped wifey at Paragon Plaza and proceeded to Farmer Market with my son DENNIS. I had difficulty to convince Dennis to join me, but, in the end he was my bodyguard. It was a trill just marketing as one of my joys in life in marketing on weekends which I have done so many times whenever opportunity arises. Farmer's Market in Cubao has been my usual venue for this exercise and I was glad to be back in my territory after a long absence.

Sad to say, the main purpose of buying 'ayungin" was a failure as none can be found anywhere at the market. Just decided to buy as much fruits as possible. Then all of of sudden, I decided to make a good deed for the wifey and bought her "atis" her favourite fruit and a dozen of pink roses also her favourite. As they always say "good deeds bear fruits" and are like chips that you can call for favour in the future.

Good Deed for the Wifey

With most of Saturday the weather has improved a lot which made me decide to my a Sunday Bike Run the following day. However, with Sunday Mass at 9am in our condominium, it was a must that I had to be back from the ride the latest 8am with enough time to shower and dress up.

The following bike route was mapped;

Planned/Mapped Route for Sunday Bike Run

21Sep14 - Sunday Bike Run 32km

Sunday Bike Run - 32.16Km

Woke up early at 4am as intentions was to ride out by 5am with target time to be back by 7-7:30am. All logistical tens were taken cared of the night before and made sure that "Black Beauty" in tip-top condition. After my usual early morning blood sugar and blood pressure readings, there were nothing else to do but await for time to ride out.

At 4:59 or just a minute before 5am, took off taking the intended mapped route. As it was still dark, I had to limit my speed as it was difficult to see the pot holes even with my shimano dynamo lights. When I reached "Tiendesitas" the Circle Monument was very prominent against the dawning sky that I decide to stop and took pictures. This picture was something I liked;

Daybreak at Tiendesitas

 "Black Beauty" at Daybreak

Nothing significant happened during the ride until I was at the corner of Wilson and Ortigas Avenue at Greenhills when I heard people shouting my name. It was the group of Ruth, Jesse and Party whom I assume to be meeting-up for a ride. I shouted back that I am trying to catch time which I hope they were able to understand. Later on the group overtook me at La Salle and it was only then that I found out that they are to attend the Retro Bike Event at Tiendesitas. Upon reaching ADB Avenue I have to bade good bye to all as proceeded to Tiendesitas and I turning left for home.

At about 6:58am or thereabouts I arrived Paragon Plaza having done 32.16Km in 01h56m27s with a 707kCal burned.

Plenty of time to prepare for a Sunday Mass.  Good bye "Mario"

Saturday BCP Friends 53.50Km Ride - Do Not Be Timid "Invite And They Shall Come"

Intended Route and Distance with Elevation

In the past, I have taken my rides on a Saturday or on a Sunday with extra rides on Holidays. These rides have been all solo except those that have been organised by Brompton Club of the Philippines (BCP) or by the Folding Bike Pilipinas (FBP).

As I do blog and or post my rides on the FB page of BCP and my friends,  I have received a number of comments why I have not been inviting anyone on these rides. The main reason was that I was feeling timid and shy as I do not know if anyone would like to join, more so that I normally start my ride at 5pm (normally too early for young people) so that I could be back home by 9am. I still remember Ariel Arias II of BCP posting a comment onetime "do not be timid we are all brothers and sisters here". It was a very encouraging words so much so that for my scheduled ride of today 13Sep14 I gathered courage and posted on the BCP FB page as an "Open Invitation" to all who might be interested to join the ride.

Secretly I was telling myself that should by any chance there be none to join, I then just go ahead as what I do every Saturday. However, even if only one will join it will be a 100% increase in number. Today 13Sep14, at 5:00am there were five of us or 400% more than last Saturday.

At 5:04am (still in darkness) the following composed the group BRYAN RIVERA + REX DORIA + BENJAMIN FRANCIS (BIBO) ANTONIO + MELVIN PASCUAL (joined the group at Meralco Avenue) and AMADO CASTRO. Our ride intentions was  to complete a 56.93km as mapped on a route above (first picture).

The Group

2 kilometres into the ride we met with MELVIN at Meralco Avenue who bears bad news that a Meralco post has been downed by a wayward truck causing a traffic to both north and south bound of Meralco Avenue. The group decided immediately to detour on St. Paul Street and proceed to Lanuza Avenue and return on track at Ortigas Avenue.

In was during this stage of the ride that I made a big rookie mistake that I will pay heavily on  latter stage of the ride. I was leading the pack and instead of keeping on my usual pace mode, I was feeling young as my BCP buddies who were only a third or a half of my age. The pace from thereon until crossing the Katipunan Road was beyond my normal.

However, let me first backtrack, after traversing Felix Avenue, daybreak was already at hand, however, a sudden heavy downpour of rain required the group to take shelter on a gas station for about 10-15 minutes before finally deciding to just continue with the ride despite of the rain.

The first test of a hill climb was at Marcos Highway just after passing SM Marikina and joining Aurora Boulevard to Katipunan Road. The young ones were really powerful and had no problem in ascending the stretch which was a lung buster for an old man like me. I still remember in the past when I first joined the BCP ride that it was BRYAN RIVERA and JO KANLAPAN who baby sat me on our ride from BGC to UP pushing me on hilling stretches (which was a great help).

As expected when we reached the stretch of Cubao area it was a battle for the share of the road wherein the jeepneys and other vehicles were congesting the road. Taking the right side of the road is a dangerous side as the jeepneeys when they stop suddenly swerves to the right and the passenger they just alight with out looking. However, should you choose the left side of the road you could easily be side swept. Anyways, you just use you wise judgement as the need arises.

Reaching Lacson Avenue we were supposed to head towards Nagtahan Bridge but the container truck traffic was terrible that again the group decided to instead take the Legarda flyover then to Ayala Bridge before turning to Jones bridge and crossing the centre lane by foot to proceed to the Aduana Monument opposite the Customs House ruins.

The group stayed 15 minutes for rest and picture taking at the Aduana Monument.

It was here that we invited a "guest of honour" to grace our group picture..... "Heneral"

The Group with "Heneral"

It was after this rest that I started to feel the mistakes of my earlier pacing ...... payback time. Along the stretch of Roxas Boulevard I could feel the fatigue although same was bearable. Airport Road to Lawton Avenue it was already like my normal speed was down to 11kph and then the long lung busting stretch of Lawton all the way to BGC which was like crawling.  I think the group could already see the agony in my face that we decided to have a drink and banana at BGC.

15 minutes after we were back on the road to 8th Avenue and down to JP Rizal Extension. Just after entering JP Rizal along the Bliss Homes in the area muscles on both my right and left tights froze, I was having cramps on both tights that I could not pedal and was afraid to stop as I might not be able to hold myself upright. Luckily the group were immediately in my assistance to guide me on the side of the road.

It did take a brainer to decide to terminate the ride as with still the uphill grind at Guadalupe flyover and the Edsa stretch to Pioneer street it was an impossible task.  The group waved a taxi and REX joined me for the taxi ride to ensure that I reach Paragon safely. Goodbyes were said to the three others who have to complete the ride and proceed to their respective homes.

Anyways the total distance logged was 53.50km with the following route recorded;

The Final Route taken and Distance Logged

It took us only 3 minutes to reach Paragon from where we alighted the taxi. REX proceed on bike to SOGO where he is residing and I have to straighten my walk when I enter my home as if nothing happened nor matter and with a big smile and loud voice of "Good Morning" to my loving wife.

Thank you BRYAN, MELVIN, BIBO and REX I hope you all enjoyed the ride. As what MELVIN texted me after I reached home maybe next time we just limit the ride to 30-40 kilometres with breakfast in between for carbo-loading and fellowship.

Pictures can be seen at;
https://plus.google.com/photos/100678127252451474640/albums/6058402016051638577?banner=pwa

Happy weekend to all.

Saturday Ride - 6Sep14 56.39 Km

Given only the chance to ride during weekends, I was already feeling excited the night before. I was sitting by myself and  contemplating on which route to take. Using the MapMyRide software, I executed my ride in my computer tracing the streets to take and turns to make. In the end my planned route looks more or less like this;

I tried to have an early evening sleep so as to have the necessary power for the ride, however, I just could not sleep,  probably the adrenaline of the thought of the bike ride (excitement). Furthermore, my scalp was really itchy as I just had my hair dyed earlier during the day.

Woke up at 4:15am and did my early morning medical routine checking my blood sugar (100 mg/dL) and blood pressure (124/80) were the registered readings and then after  took my preventive medicines all 8 tablets in one single gulp. Looking at my watch it was only 4:40 then and still too dark outside that I did not want to risk the ride under darkness but rather prefer to ride out just about daybreak for safety reasons. This gave me ample of time to check emails and even take a look at my FB account.

At exactly 5:18 still under darkness, I started pedalling heading to the general direction of Meralco Avenue then to Ortigas extension bound for Rosario Junction. Barely a 100 meters after starting, I noticed that my middle gear would not engage and that only the 1st and 3rd would engage on either high or low gears thus giving me only 4 speed on both ends without the middle gear. I contemplated if I would continue my ride or just return. However, the devil in me just keep no prodding to go go go. (I need to have my gears tuned and I do not know how to do it myself).

 By the time I reached Rosario Junction it was already daylight. I have used this route so many time times so there is nothing much to write about. I took the opportunity to try to shift to 2nd gear without releasing my thumb so that it would not snap to either 1st or 3rd which I noticed I can do so but need to exert pressure on the thumb levers which was painful but on emergency purpose could do so just to have the middle gear engaged. Then the rise from SM Marikina all the way to Katipunan, I have never managed this stretch without dismounting my ride but I was hoping to do it today. I started talking to myself and thinking of so many thing just so that my mind will be pre-occupied of other matters and forgot the lung bursting pedal.  One, two, three, etc., and finally I crossed Katipunan without dis-mounting. I could not belief it but was very jubilant inside me of the feat accomplished.

After just turning heading for Nagtahan Bridge I had to gather momentum to reach the summit of the bridge with ample gear speed. Managed to do so without any problem and just as I was about to relax a motorcycle crossed my heading and greeted me a good morning. Of course, I greeted as well with loudness the person a "Good Morning". He said "I am Jak Bausa". I have been exchanging chats and comments at the FB with Jak and readily know him by name. He complemented me of my ride "Black Beauty" and thank him graciously. All these conversion while both of us were in motion at Nagtahan Bridge. He invited me for a coffee, but, have to begged off as I promised my wife that I would be back home by 9am. With pleasantries we bade each other goodbye and I turned right after Nagtahan Bridge to headed to UN Avenue.

Its nice to meet and greet with you Jak Bausa. I hope to have that coffee in the very near future.

Did not took long and I was already approaching Jones Bridge. I crossed the lane and headed to the old Aduana Building (Customs House/Ruins) and it was here that I decided to stop, have a drink and do my photo ops;

 After the photo ops I have to double up pedalling as I might not reach home by 9am. Just after NAIA3 I could already feel fatigue and was afraid that I might have not paced myself properly. I knew I had only one obstacle to handle and that is the stretch going up the cover leaf at Guadalupe to EDSA and then on to Paragon Plaza which is stiff and long ride and with my middle gear mal-functioning I was not happy of the situation to come.

When the time came to actually pedal my apprehensions were but only of the mind as I was able to hurdle the ride without alighting the bike although it was really a lung buster.

I arrived Paragon Plaza at 9:05am (missed my target time by 5 minutes) having accomplished 56.39Km in 03h29m20s and burned 1736Kcal. Another great ride for myself and looking forward to my next ride. Meantime, I have to make time and visit a bike mechanic and have my gears tuned up.

Have a greet weekend guys!