Intended Route and Distance with Elevation
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
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
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.
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