Ninoy Aquino Day Bike Ride - 38.72 Km

Today 28Aug14 is Ninoy Aquino Day and is an official holiday in the Philippines. Being able to ride "Black Beauty only on a Saturday or a Sunday, a holiday is an added opportunity as it is as well a bike ride day for me, a very welcome respite from daily grind.

The night before I was not able to make any plan as to the destination and distance, so,  I had to on the spot make a decision. The following was my complete route taken;

Started at Paragon Plaza in EDSA to
Meralco Avenue Pasig all the way to Meralco Ortigas
Ortigas Avenue passing Galleria, La Salle, Greenhills and all the way to Gilmore
Gilmore/Aurora Blvd to SM Sta Mesa all the way Nagtahan
Crossed Natahan Bridge to UN Avenue and right to SM Manila and City Hall
City Hall to Intramuros then to Anda Circle
Roxas Boulevard all the way to Baclaran then to NAIA 3
NAIA 3 to BGC passing 8th Avenue to JP Rizal Extension
JP Rizal to Guadalupe the EDSA until Reliance at Paragon Plaza ..... 38.72km

The ride was pleasant and enjoyable. Aurora Boulevard was being asphalt over laid so that a certain portion of westbound lane from Gilmore to UE was closed. Thinking I need not follow the rerouted route, I passed the newly overlaid asphalt and my front tyre just dug-in and got embedded. Wow, the workers did not know how to react, but, before they could get angry,  I had so many sorry and apology expressed that they instead just let it slide. Bad of me, will not do it again.

Just after Intramuros, what I normally just hear over the news I was able to witness first hand, the long queue of trucks carrying containers, wow, I have no words to express the traffic it creates although they only occupy the left most lane. I think the problem is that the container port cannot be situated in the heart of the city itself. The only solution is relocate the container port of Manila either in Batangas or Subic. The early they do it the better. There is no magical solution at hand.

Lastly, although my 3 speed was just enough, I was hoping I have more speed in my gears so that I could have an easier climb on areas needed. I cannot wait for my 6 speed BWR upgrade which I have already ordered from SJScycles in UK. Hopefully it arrives next week.

Enjoy the rest of the day and here is a collage of photos taken during the ride.

Paragon - Rosario Jct - Marcos Hway - GreenHills - Paragon 30.68Km

August 16, 2014 5:36am - 30.68Km

After a five work week, Saturday is a much anticipated day for me as its only on this day that I am able to ride "Black Beauty". However, I do not know for whatever reason I was not able to get a good night sleep last night as I was awake and looking at the clock every other hour so much so that when it was time to wake up at 4:30 my head was spinning and appears to have a hang-over.

The night before I did some planning and mapped my intended route using "Map-your-Bike" which was supposedly be;

as intended the route was only 25Km without passing Greenhills. However, hallway to my bike run this morning I decided to include passing Greenhills from Katipunan.

"Black Beauty" has only 3 speed as such I am avoid stiff hills/climb as the gearing is not enough. It is for this reason that I have already orders from the internet SJS Cycles in UK a replacement 6 speed BWR hub so that I can be able to negotiate stiff/reasonable hills.

The climb to Katipunan at Marcos Highway was a struggle which I need to dismount and walk as I could not take the hill climb. However, before then and from thereon it was all mounted ride. I cannot wait to have that 6 speed BWR hub installed soonest it arrives.

From Greenhills I passed via Wilson thence to Shaw Boulevard and back to Paragon. The distance covered was 30.68 Km and time duration of the ride was 01h 52m 46s. It was worth a wait of a week for the ride. Now another week to await.

Brompton Club Philippines - Sinag Jersey Ride to Eat (Wai Ying Restaurant)

Brompton Club Philippines - Sinag Jersey Ride to Eat August 9, 2014

BCP had its regular membership ride on 9Aug14 with a unique theme of "Ride To Eat at Wai Ling Restaurant at Benavidez".

The group was to converse at the "Jetty MOA" with contingents from Greenhills to meet-up with contingents from Makati at Ayala Triangle and then both group to join the main group at the Jetty.

The Ride was not as well participated comparative to previous month's ride, however,  it was a good ride and jolly fellowship at Wai Ling Restaurant.

The group met Mono Bob who has taken it to himself a charitable work in "Feeding Street Children". Thank you for being so helpful to our needy less fortunate brothers and sisters in the streets of Manila.

I share here below a collage of pictures taken during the ride....

For those who may wish to see the individual photo in the collage please check the link below and should by any chance you want to grab something fell free and go ahead. Link to the photo is at;

https://plus.google.com/photos/100678127252451474640/albums/6045429394077415217?banner=pwa

Tagaytay Rotonda to MOA Earth Globe - 51.93Km Downhill Ride

July 27, 2014 06:15-0945 am

To keep myself motivated not only in upgrading "Black Beauty" but riding her as well, I have lately made it a point to have a long ride either on a Saturday or a Sunday as my schedule permits. This last week I have been thinking of making the Tagaytay route, however, as I will be on solo flight, the uphill climb will be too much for me. This made me decide why not the other way around, a downhill ride from Tagaytay Rotonda to Mall of Asia MOA Earth Globe Rotonda.

I have to asked my driver to come early today. We left for Tagaytay at 5am. While on the way to Tagaytay, I did my ride plan with my driver.  The projected ride was an easy downhill ride, however, I did not feel easy as what if I have a flat tyre,  I am not really a savvy guy on changing tyres more so if the flat will be at the back wheel. I told my driver to await for me at Pala-Pala about half way the stretch just to make sure I have a support vehicle as a backup.

At 6:15am without too much ado, I started my downhill ride. I have not even reached 5km and a speeding Toyota RAV4 overtook me on my left side and after clearing me a 100 meters ahead she hit a crossing dog that made a big smashing sound with the fender of the CRV coming off at the same time and the dog catapulted to the side road. The CRV did not even care to stop and double check what he hit (am pretty sure he felt it otherwise why will the fender fly-off) I stopped to see what can be done to the dog, however, the dog was dead instantly. I wanted to take a picture of the dog, but, my conscience was against it just to give respect to the dead dog.

For the 1st hour, I timed myself to have done 27+ kilometres which was quite fast for my standard. After reaching Pala-Pala I saw my driver a the side road and signalled him to proceed ahead to MOA.

The second half of the ride was a different story all together. With no more downhills and with a terrible congested road, there is nothing much you could do but just glide with the traffic. From Las Pinas Bamboo Organ Church it was like being a dare devil driver. You have jeepneys, motorcycles, bikes, hawker push cart and what have you to share the road. Worst is when you have a speeding jeepney overtake you and make a sudden stop in front  of you either to pick-up or drop a passenger, such a very dangerous move or you have pedestrians crossing in traffic from left to right that you will not notice them because of the blocked vision of the vehicles lined up which my cause you to hit the pedestrian.

At around 8:45 I was already at the MOA Earth Globe and my driver was on time to pick me up. At exactly 9am I was already at Paragon Plaza, just on time to have the driver pick up my grandchildren on our usual Saturday bonding.

What a good feeling to have done the Tagaytay Rotonda to MOA Earth Globe Rotonda. Where to next week?

Firefly Brigade's "Ride To The North"

20Jul 2014 - Firefly Brigade's Ride To The North

BCP Meet and Greet at BGC - July 12, 2014

Part A - Paragon Plaza to BGC via Shaw/Mandaluyong/JP Rizal

On my own from Paragon Plaza to Shaw corner Luna Mencias and joined the group of Ruth Rod et al numbering around a dozen and proceeded to BGC. Just after clearing Makati-Mandaluyong Bridge at JP Rizal got an education on how to change a flat tire. God they were good, how I wish I could someday learn the skills.

Total distance covered 10.74 Km. Different photos are as follows;

Part B - Meet and Greet - Members Ride at BGC 5.73 Km

Assembly was at Bonifacio High Street in-front of ROX from 7am. Sinag T-shirts were distributed and attendance was mustered for record purposes. At 8:15am members were assembled for a group ride which took 5.73Km around BGC and ended at Italianis for breakfast.

Following were pictures taken then......

Part C - Going Home - BGC to Paragon Plaza 4.16km

After the member's ride which ended at Italiannis, I decided to go home. I took the following route;

Of which the following photos I wish to share....

At 9:10am I was already back home. It was nice to spend time with the Brompton Club Philippines. Feel free to download which ever picture interest you. See you all on the road.