In the zone MTB!

Cordillera Challenge 7 (Epic): Short clip

2016-06-09T18:48:00.008-07:00

This year's Cordillera Challenge took us from Kapangan to Kibungan. It is by far, the most brutal challenge (based on distance and elevation gain) since I started joining this event 3 years ago. I don't know why I keep coming back to this event every year, but despite the (expected) pain and sufferings, I always come out fulfilled and happy at the end of the day. Sportive like this, for me, is what real mountain biking is all about.

Till next year!

Cordillera Challenge 7 (Epic) from Jay Icban on Vimeo.

Ride map:

Bike Fellas' Antenna Hill Ride

2014-09-01T08:16:00.004-07:00

One of those relaxing rides with friends. :)

We rode from Tiendesitas to San Carlos Heights in Binangonan. Then took the San Carlos loop to Antenna Hill down to Thunderbird trails all the way to lagoon. We exited at the old quarry road back down to Manila East road en route back to Ortigas.

I had loads of fun filming the group here and it was a blast doing the post-ride video :)

Ride map and stats c/o Strava sports tracker:

Looking back: Globe Cordillera Challenge 5

2014-09-01T07:59:00.022-07:00

May 10, 2014 - I've been dreaming of joining this challenge for a long time and I finally did this year. It was my first Cordi Challenge and by far the most agonizing ride I have ever done in my entire life! 70kms of pure heaven and hell!

Braving the trails of Cordi with my trusty ol' bike

Cordi4, the dream that never was

Cordi5 was almost 2 years in the making for me. I missed last year's Cordi Challenge because of fickle-mindedness. I wanted to go but wouldn't without a buddy in tow. My mind was telling me to go on my own but I was afraid to do it. The thought of getting into an accident with nobody there to help you kept playing in my mind. To be out there with complete strangers and in the hardest and remotest ride of my life scared the hell out of me. My indecisiveness cost me Cordi4 as registration was already closed a few days later.

Cordi5, dream come true

This year I made sure I wouldn't miss Cordi5. I finally grew some b***s and took upon myself to go alone this year. I wouldn't miss Cordi5 for the world this time around.

I also made sure to train for the event. I started training as early as January doing long and hard rides mostly in the Rizal province. Long climbs, gnarly trails, paved roads and everything in between were on my training menu. The only objective in my mind was to cross the finish line.

March 17th, Cordi5 launch at Mind Museum, BGC

After months of preparations, I felt I was ready for Cordi5. I made sure I wouldn't miss registration this year so I attended the Globe Cordi Challenge 5's launching at Mind Museum in BGC and registered at the event. And just like in the previous year, registration was closed after a few days.

Injury scare

As if I was never meant to join Cordi5, just a week before the event I re-injured my lower back. It was an old back injury (ruptured disc) which I've been battling since 2007. It's a recurring condition. But of all the time it could've given out on me, it gave out a week before the event. :( I seriously considered pulling out from the event as I could hardly stand up with the intense pain in my back. I have muscle spasm all over my back and a pinched nerve shooting pain from my behind down to my calves. How could I possibly participate in the hardest ride of my life with this condition? Call it stupid, but rather than opting out I decided to just suck up the pain and did Cordi5 anyway. I figured I wasn't willing to wait for another year to experience Cordi. Bahala na si Batman! I can always bail-out if the pain becomes unbearable or so I thought.

There was nothing else to do but to try to rest as much as I could in the week leading to the event. I skipped the doctor's appointment all-together as I knew that would put an official ending to my Cordi5 dream. I also had to act "normal" in front of my wife as she would've surely put an abrupt ending to my madness had she noticed I was in pain.

The Event

Fast forward to May 9th...I was on a first-class Victory Liner bus (my first fc and it was super comfy!) to Baguio with my wife and kids in tow to squeeze in some vacation time with the family. We left Cubao at 10am and arrived in Baguio at 3pm. We checked-in at Le Monet hotel at Camp John Hay then proceeded to do some R&R in the afternoon. Thanks to Globe for transporting all the bikes to the venue in Tublay it made our commute to Baguio hassle-free.

The commute from Baguio to Tublay was a challenge though. The event check-in time was 3am in Tublay, so that meant I needed to commute as early as 2am. I asked for the hotel's help and they arranged a taxi service for me. It took a while for them to find a taxi driver to agree to take me to Tublay though. Apparently, taxi drivers in Baguio see Tublay as far-flung already. I found it funny because Tublay is only 12 kms away from Camp John Hay. My commute from my house in Q.C. to Makati is actually farther than that and nobody see it as "far" in Metro Manila standards. Oh well, they probably have different definition of near and far in Baguio. Anyway, I contracted manong driver for P500 and he was happy to bring me to Tublay. I got to the starting line a little past 3am. The trucks that transported the bikes from Manila were there waiting for owners to claim their bikes. I claimed mine and happily proceeded to the starting line.

Gun start was at 5am. I was at the frontmost position carrying what felt like a 30lb back pack. My bag had tools, extra clothes, food, water, first-aid kit, lights, rain gear...the works. I didn't want to carrying such a heavy load with my still injured back, but I had no choice as I knew every rider is expected to be self-sufficient throughout the ride.

Climbing Halsema Hwy. with a heavy load (photo credit: Mickey Salada)

We started off with a long climb via Halsema highway all the way to the junction to Atok, which was at the 15km mark.

Pausing along Halsema Hwy. to appreciate the beauty of the mountains

Then we made our way to the trail descending then ascending to Atok proper at the 25km mark. A 7-8km of steep and long downhill followed with ascent in the end up to Pasdong. The descent from junction to Pasdong was a whopping 20+ kms of paved, gravel and trails. I've never heard of so much brakes squealing and smelt burnt pads and rotors in my life before!

First leg of the descent coming from junction to Atok

I couldn't help but stop every now and then to marvel at the beauty of the Cordilleras in front of me. The Naguey rice terraces, the mini waterfalls along the way, the lush green mountains were all mesmerizing. I felt like I could stare at these magnificent views indefinitely.

The majestic Naguey rice terraces

Mini waterfalls along the long paved downhill

Massacre Hill

Pasdong was the last pit-stop before the brutal Pasdong-Lubo hill climb. This section is 7 kms long and has 821m of elevation gain with average grade of 13.6% to a maximum grade of 30%! Bikers in GCC5 later coined the term "Massacre Hill" to refer to the now notorious hill climb. But before attacking the ascent, I rested and refueled at Pasdong and took the opportunity to chat with other bikers also resting in the area. I was actually in a good mood prior the ascent as I felt strong and confident at that point, albeit limited with my injury. It was only 10am when I reached Pasdong so I thought to myself I could get to the finish line before noon. Big mistake! As soon as I started my ascent, I instantly realized that there's no way I can pedal my way up the hill. Apart from being unbelievably steep, the hill is combination of narrow pavement, gravel and rock garden sections. It was simply unrideable for mere mortals like me. Most pushed their bikes up in that section. I don't know if anyone could actually pedal to the top.

Last water refilling station in Pasdong

Massacre hill screwed me big time. I started cramping on both legs and my back was already killing me. The hill was crazy steep my bike was sliding on its own even with both brake levers squeezed and rotors locked. Gravity got the best of me up there it took me a staggering 5 hours to clear that section. Every single step was a struggle -- literally. And I was not alone, everybody had the same experience.

Push bike is a common scene in this section

More pushing


And some more pushing

Break time, can't push anymore...LOL!

I've never heard of so much cussing in a ride than this one. Fellow bikers ranting about pushing our way up as not "biking" anymore or that nobody said about "hiking" as part of the challenge. I could relate to them as it was indeed puzzling to even include an unrideable section like that in the event. Anyway, those who were strong to push their way up got ahead of everybody. Pity me I did not train to push so I was languishing my way up to the top. It was survival mode for me half-way through the climb.

Down but not out. Giving my back a well-deserved rest before the final push to the top

At 3pm I finally reached the top. I was spent. It felt like I didn't have anything left to give. And the 15km Boklaoan descent was still up ahead. It was an off-road rocky descent with gravel and loose dirt in-between. This section was the most technical and dangerous section in the entire course. And there I was with zero energy going into the descent. Lol! The only thing that kept me going from that point on was my unwavering determination to finish the challenge.

My survival instinct was on high-gear when I started to descend. And true enough, the descent was precarious. I saw a number of injured bikers as I made my way down the mountain. I've never seen so many hurt and wounded in the entire course until now. Ambulances were busy shuttling injured bikers off the mountains. I was thinking it would just be a matter of time before I figure in a crash myself. My back pain was already unbearable and was hampering my movement so much I could hardly stand up. Imagine going downhill at 50kph while seated! It's a recipe for disaster and I knew it. But there was nothing I could do as I could not afford to stand and subject my back to further strain. As if the terrain could not be gnarlier, the skies opened up mid-way to my descent. It was around 4:30-ish when a thunderstorm hit the mountains. It was dark in an instant and heavy rains poured down. Nasty lightnings steak overhead with a loud boom. I quickly put on my rain gear and continued my descent. In a matter of minutes, the whole trail network turned into flowing streams, flooding everywhere. It was the scariest moment for me as the already dangerous trails became even more dangerous with the now slippery trails. The three guys in front of me and another two behind me just disappeared. Before I knew it, I was the only one in the trails riding down the mountain. It was daunting to continue with no other rider within eyesight to see you (or maybe rescue you). I thought most of the guys I was with took shelter at the closest refuge they could find. Anyway, I mustered all my courage and continued descending despite the thunderstorm. For a while there I forgot about my aching back. Haha!

Just before the storm. Rain gear on!

To survive the long downhill with a bad back, I sat at the far end of my saddle and squeezed the saddle between my thighs to provided support for my back and better positioning of my weight rearward throughout the descent. It worked and I managed to stay on my bike the entire time. It took me 2 hours to complete the descent. I reached Amburayan river, the end of the long downhill at 5pm. It was already the 65km mark at this point.

Only 5 kms to go, right? Unfortunately, the finale was yet again another 5km uphell climb to the finish line! It was like climbing Shotgun at Timberland to cap off the already long and arduous ride. I had to summon every ounce of remaining energy in my body to complete the last climb. At 6pm I finally crossed the finish line. It took me almost 14 hours to finally complete the challenge.

Ride map and stats c/o Strava sports tracker:

Akayan Trail Ride with MCC

2014-05-20T06:47:00.009-07:00

March 10, 2014 - The most difficult ride I've done thus far in and around Metro Manila. Period.

This ride took us to the reverse Helipad route where we started the climb from Macaingalan to Akayan then ultimately to Mt. Balagbag (aka Helipad).

This ride was organized by the Montalban Cycling Club (MCC) headed by their President, Mr. Flor Bambao. There were about 70+ riders who joined coming from different groups - MCC, San Mateo Biking Club, Philmofo, plus a few others - adventure-seekers like me.

Ride map and stats c/o Strava sports tracker.

7-Eleven Trail 1000 - Post race feedback

2014-05-20T06:12:00.012-07:00

February 23, 2014 - Oh boy, I've been wanting to write about the 711 Trail 1000 experience for a while now, but laziness to write about anything gets in the way every time. :)

Anyway, allow me to share a few thoughts...and videos!

This was the first ever edition of the 7-Eleven Trail 1000 MTB Race in the country. It was a huge event with 800+ riders registering for the race. There's the usual age grouping, open/elite, male/female classes. There was seeding too - at least for those who were able to race in one of the identified races from the past year - Giant XC Cup 1 & 2, TKOM, etc.

And just when I thought I’ve seen and experienced everything at Timberland, they came up with this crazy section complete with the new and uber difficult black diamond Trail 1000 towards the end of the course. The new trail was intimidating to say the least. It was 1.5km long with steep climbs with gradient ranging from 14% to as much as 20%! The descent was equally steep, loose, and long. Trail 1000 was downright scary! A laceration to my left rib cage courtesy of its downhill section is a testament to its notoriety.

The only gripe I had about this race was the wave placing. Since most racers were not seeded, they were allowed to choose their wave assignment based on their honest assessment. Unfortunately, a number misplaced themselves to the faster waves that resulted to traffic in the trails. Other than that, plus a few cuts and bruises here and there, I totally enjoyed the race! The race course probably offered the most "complete" XC race course thus far in terms of distance, altitude, gradient, and technicality.

I'm already looking forward to next year's 7-Eleven Trail series. With more racers getting seeded this year, next year's wave placing will prove to be better.

Adrenaline XC Cup 1

2014-04-04T20:52:00.000-07:00

Adrenaline XC Cup 1

Timberland Heights San Mateo, Rizal

April 11, 2014, Sunday @ 6am

60/30 KM (Open, Elite / Male, Female)
Age groupings: 16-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50 & above

Registration (March 20 - April 14)
60 km - P1,000
30 km - P750

Late Registration (April 15 - May 5)
60 km - P1,250
30 km - P1,000

See poster for registration details.

Enduro Lite MTB Race

2014-04-01T07:17:00.000-07:00

Happening on April 5, 2014 in San Carlos Heights Binangonan, Rizal

Registration fee P350
Race starts 7:00 AM
Gate 2 San Carlos Heights

Categories: Open, Enduro Curious, Female

Register here

For more details, visit http://ten10.ph/

Catching up: Tagaytay Century and La Mesa Rides

2014-03-12T20:32:00.028-07:00

Too busy riding and doing so many other things I hardly find the time to post anything in this blog. Anyway, I just found some free time now - sitting at my favorite coffee shop (Bialetti), sipping my favorite coffee while waiting to fetch my kids from school - so I might as well take this opportunity and post some rides from January and February.

Tagaytay Century Ride

January 31, 2014 - This was my first century ride -- a 129-kilometer ride from BGC to Tagaytay and back. We took the more scenic and less-traffic route of Reverse Palace or RevPal as more popularly called by cyclists visiting the area.

I rode with Ralph and Mike in this bike escapade. We rode out 4 am from BGC and got to Nuvali by 6:15 am. We had a quick breakfast first then proceeded to climb RevPal.

To those who haven't tried the RevPal route - this route presents a climbing challenge. It's a love/hate thing depending on whether you like climbing or not. Bikers who go there are usually climbing enthusiasts. Either they are training to become better climbers or simply heeding to their personal challenge of conquering the long and steep ascents leading to Palace in the Sky. All three of us were probably there for the same reason i.e., personal challenge. Mike had a Gran Fondo challenge at Strava that he needed to beat. Ralph, I surmise for the heck of adventure. I, on the other hand, was there simply because I love long climbs. I wanted to measure how "better" I can climb that same route the second time around.

We started to climb around 8am. From the base of Bgy. Casili, a short steep climb leading to the old Marcos mansion awaits. After hurdling that stretch, it was long and winding road ahead with ascents gradually getting steeper as we covered more roads ahead. The whole back road to Palace in the Sky is cemented except for a couple of sections with broken roads/gravel sections. The road condition is not bad at all as even roadies, with their skinny slick tires, can ride it without any problem.

It took us around 1 1/2 hours to get to the top. Ralph took a little longer as he took some rests before pushing for the top.

Next, we were off to get some much needed nourishment [read: bulalo]. We went to Java Jazz Café to sample their bulalo. They have some of the best bulalo within the vicinity of Palace and Picnic Grove. Java Jazz's other dishes are superb too. Even their coffee is good. But the best thing about eating there is the place itself. The ambiance is quiet, soothing, and relaxing. The inside gives an instant feel of a atelier restaurant similar to the ones you see in Angono, Rizal. The outside is just as perfect - stone tables and benches, great view, great weather, hot bulalo - what more can one ask for, right?

After a hearty lunch, we were off to descend Tagaytay via Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay road. We started descend at 12 noon. Traffic was already horrible when we reached Nuvali. Worse, heat was more terrible than traffic. We had to endure both all the way back to BGC. It took us 4 hours to get back to BGC. I was spent when I got back home. The heat and pollution on the road was just unbearable it made me question why I joined the ride in the first place. It's just counter-intuitive to ride and be healthy and yet expose yourself to so much harmful pollution. I thought to myself I could've just driven to Nuvali and do the climb from there and be healthier. Maybe next time :)

Ride map and stats c/o Strava Sportstracker:

La Mesa - The Return

February 9, 2014: It had been a year since my last ride in La Mesa. For some guys in our group, it had been years for them. After frequenting the place in the last couple of years, I guess it was a case of nagsawa. Nobody wanted to return until after a year had passed. Well, it kind of worked because everybody missed La Mesa a lot. There was so much anticipation going back and riding the singletracks and fireroads again.

Not much had changed since we last went there except for the river drop where they now built a bridge over and some walls being put up along the fireroad going back to Tower 11.

There were about 12 riders who joined this ride, 5 from my group and 7 from another friend's group. This was the largest group we've ridden with in La Mesa. Excitement was very high even prior to the ride especially for the first-timers. I could tell that they had a blast as evidenced by their subsequent returns to LaMesa trails.

Ride map and stats c/o Strava Sportstracker:

MTB Race: 7-Eleven Trail 1000

2014-01-27T23:32:00.003-08:00

30k MTB Race at Timberland Heights San Mateo, Rizal on February 23rd, Sunday. Registration fee is P500.

This is guaranteed to be a lot of fun! Hurry up and join!

For complete details please visit http://www.trail711.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/711philippines

Edit: Post-race feedback here

The Art of Snot Rocket

2014-01-17T06:29:00.007-08:00

Ever had runny nose during a ride? I do - every damn ride. It doesn't matter what kind of workout I do, for as long as it's cardio-intensive, it's guaranteed my nose would be dripping like a faucet several minutes into the workout. The medical community refer to this condition as exercise-induced rhinitis (EIR) or, in layman's term, the inflammation of the nasal passages. EIR is much like allergic rhinitis except that it's not induced by any allergen. You don't need to see a doctor if you're afflicted with this condition. Know that EIR is a common condition among athletes and fitness buffs. It will go away the minute you stop exercising. However, should it persist even after workouts, you should definitely see a doctor to have it checked.

Anyway, let's not dig deeper into the affliction itself. The point of this post is not about that. What we bikers afflicted with EIR want to know is how we can alleviate the discomfort of having clogged nose during rides. What can we actually do to unclog that icky mucus from our nasal passages? Well, there are three common "schools of thought" on this (lol!): 1.) wiping, 2.) snorting-spitting/swallowing, and 3.) blowing. I see all three employed on the trails all the time and each one can easily make a case on why their technique is better than the other. Ultimately though (if you try all 3 techniques), you'll know that blowing provides the instant relief you're looking for. Wiping helps unclog your nose, albeit partially, but the constant wiping becomes a discomfort in itself eventually. It can also lead to mouth sore (singaw) if done excessively. On the other hand, snorting-spitting/swallowing is...uhm...just plain gross to me. I don't even want to know what can happen to your throat, stomach, or maybe even your lungs from downing all that mucus. The simplest and most effective (and the least gross option to me at least) solution is to blow mucus out through your nostrils! Nothing beats a snot rocket from unclogging your nasal passages quickly and completely. It provides instant relief with just little effort. I personally believe this is an indispensable "skill" every cyclist should know about.

Let's look at some pointers on how to master the art of snot rocket. But first, be mindful of other people around you before you fire that snot rocket. What you want to do is to land it safely on the ground away from people. Always keep this in mind before firing away.

Thumb vs. Index

These are the two common fingers used for blowing snot out of your nostrils. Both of them work. It's just a matter of preference which one feels and works better for you. Thumb uses the fingertip while index can use either the fingertip or the second joint below the nail called proximal interphalangeal joint or PIP for short.

Index fingertip

Index PIP

Left vs. Right

Being a righty, I'm more comfortable with my right hand steering the bike and my left doing the dirty work. So naturally, I tend to shift my head a bit to the left and use my left hand (index fingertip) to clear my nose. Try different head-hand combination until you find what's comfortable for you.

Head angle

This is the more difficult aspect to master in the technique. It takes practice to dial in the right angle. In my experience, 10 o'clock is the best angle for head left-side/left-hand snot rocket. This angle retains the natural head movement when steering your bike i.e., it does not require you to tilt down/up your head considerably allowing for better vision ahead (remember that you are still steering your bike while you do your dirty deed). Any degree higher would risk landing your snot on your handlebar, while any degree lower would put your legs, arms, and side in the line of fire. I would imagine the same effect if done vice versa.

That's it! Pretty easy huh? Now go out there and try it! A few misfires and missed targets here and there won't hurt you. This is an essential skill that will surely keep you comfortable on future rides.

Ride safe!

Race for Leyte Timberland Heights

2013-12-06T22:04:00.001-08:00

Race schedule is on December 15th, Sunday at 6am. Registration is open until Dec. 12th.

Race categories: Off Road Duathlon, XC MTB Race, Trail Run

No cash prizes will be given away for this race. All proceeds will go to the procurement of 100 units of portable water filtration system for Leyte.

For updates, please check Thumbie Remigio's Facebook page.

2nd All-Terrain MTB Race (Padyakan Sa Lagoon)

2013-12-05T23:17:00.001-08:00

This race is going to be held at the Antenna hills and is organized by Thunderbird Resorts. Race is on December 14th, Saturday at 8am.

For more details please visit Thunderbird Resorts' Facebook page.

Ride To Provide 2 in Bulacan

2013-12-05T07:06:00.006-08:00

November 30, 2013 - Thank you to the organizers of R2P2 for another successful event despite putting the event together in just a few short weeks. What they did was admirable -- rising to the occasion in such a short time to lead their fellow bikers to a noble cause for Tacloban using the forum we all know and love -- biking.

The meet up place was at the Bulacan Convention Center in Malolos, Bulacan. Ride out was originally scheduled at 5:30am but was delayed to 6:45am - I suspect due to the low turnout in the early morning. I must admit, even as a participant I felt a bit worried that fewer bikers would actually show up to support the event. I recall being on site early at 5:30am but only saw a handful of bikers present at the location. I was expecting to see a larger number of bikers by that time. Fortunately, more and more bikers finally turned up as daybreak came. By the time we rode out, the peloton was already big. It grew even bigger as more bikers joined along the way.

The ride took us to Malolos, Plaridel, Pulilan, Calumpit, and Hagonoy towns in Bulacan.

There were definitely more bikers who participated in the first R2P in Tiendesitas, mainly due to the proximity of Ortigas to a lot of bikers in Metro Manila. R2P2 in Malolos, Bulacan, on the other hand, is very far especially if you're coming from Metro Manila. Nonetheless, Bulakenyos showed full support for Tacloban as significant number of bikers still showed up for the event. Even some folks from Dinalupihan, Bataan showed up for the ride. And I know for a fact that even more people registered just for the sake of helping out. In my work place alone, 11 colleagues registered, and most of them are non-bikers. They did it out of the goodness of their hearts. I know similar stories are true for others as well.

I hope that this is not the last R2P. I hope to see you on the next one! Ride safe!

Ride map and stats c/o Strava sports tracker.

BGC Cycle Philippines 2013

2013-11-18T09:39:00.001-08:00

November 17, 2013 - A big congratulations to the organizers for putting together the first ever Philippine leg of Asia's premier biking event! Kudos to Cycle Asia, BGC, and Sunrise Events for joining forces and making this event happen.

What can I say? The event was a smashing success! It was three days (Nov. 15-17) of fun-filled, competition-filled biking action for the entire community. There were different categories catering practically to everybody. There was the tricycle ride for toddlers, Kid's ride for ages 6-10, Junior Challenge for ages 10-12, Community Ride for non-competitive riders, Foldies ride, and The Challenge for the more competitive riders. Distance vary depending on the category too with the Tricycle Ride being the shortest at 100 meters and The Challenge as the longest at 40km. It did not matter whether you are an amateur or a pro to enjoy the event.

The event kit alone was worth the price of admission (I admit, it was a bit pricey). Premium jersey/shirt, Rudy Project shades, Felt sling bag, among other things, added to the already exciting event.

My group joined The Challenge (40km) category. There were around 830+ riders in this category alone. I'd say a good portion of the riders in this group were road bikers, followed by mountain bikers, foldies and a few other riders (mini velo, SS).

The Challenge was divided into 6 waves due to the large number of riders in this category. Waves A & B rode off first, followed by C & D and E & F last. I was with group C and at the frontmost of the pack. It was daunting task to compete against roadies on a road challenge/race with a mountain bike so I figured that I should at least position myself at the front of the grid to leverage the pole position. The strategy actually worked well up to C5. However, once I reached Buendia avenue, roadies started zipping past me left and right at will! They were just hammering the roads like there's no more tomorrow. At first I'd try to keep up with them. I thought to myself that I should at least be able to hang with them. Well, I couldn't. They were fast. I'd spin my brains out and I wouldn't even come close to catching up with them. Anyway, that didn't dampen my spirit a bit as I was enjoying absolutely every minute of the ride. I mean, how often can you ride around Metro Manila with roads closed and have them all to yourself, right? If this is a preview of having dedicated bike lanes within the Metro, I'm all for it!

I really don't have anything negative to say about the event. Of course, nobody's perfect. Sure, there were some bruises and scratches along the way - a few crashes too. But thankfully nobody got seriously hurt. I can say with confidence that this was THE perfect community cycling event in the country. It's an event the whole family can enjoy. My only gripe is that there was no separate event for mountain bikers. If they can put one just like they did for foldies would be great. Maybe next year? I wish the next one would even be bigger and better than the just concluded one.

Check the results at MyRunTime or at BGC Cycle Philippines' website.

Ride map and stats c/o Endomondo sports tracker.

Ride 2 Provide 2 - Padyakan sa Bulacan para sa Tacloban

2013-11-15T06:52:00.002-08:00

To my fellow bikers,

This is our chance to help the victims of super typhoon Yolanda in Tacloban. Let's show our support by not only joining this noble event, but by encouraging others to join as well.

Please share to as many people you know. The bigger the peloton, the bigger the help we can extend to our brothers and sisters in Tacloban as well.

For more details, please visit the Ride2Provide's Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Ride2ProvidePH

UPDATE Dec. 6, 2013 - Check here for the post ride details.

Shotgun, San Mateo

2013-11-11T09:02:00.010-08:00

Whew! After almost a year of frequenting Timberland, I finally did it - I freaking climbed Shotgun! It was a litmus test to my escalating climbing addiction. And let me tell you that it lived up to all my expectations and then some.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a noob in this part of Rizal. Prior to this ride, I've been climbing the Wall repeatedly and clocking decently. But for some reason, I never pushed through with Shotgun. The thought of doing it stuck with me though. It was always a plan that did not happen until now.

The long delay may have been caused by my desire to ride up Shotgun with my group. It was difficult to organize as some felt they were not ready to do the arduous climb just yet. Heck, I wasn't even sure I was ready myself! But the mere sense of adventure was enough for me to do it. I always thought I could bike-push all the way to the top should I get spent before reaching the top. Other challenging rides derailled my Shotgun plan repeatedly as well - La Mesa, Licao, Puray, Tagaytay were all there to be conquered as well.

Shotgun is more than double the distance of the Wall at 4.3 kms from Kambal road to the guard house with a whopping maximum 45.3% gradient! It can be easily described as the Wall times 2.5 - both in terms of distance and difficulty.

I realized that my best chance of finally riding up Shotgun was to do it solo. And that's exactly what I did. I hopped on my bike, climbed Shotgun, climbed Walls 1, 2 & 3, then finish it off with a hearty breakfast at Giant store in Pintong Bukawe.

View on top just beside the guard house

Scenes on the way down

It was a taxing ride, but I'm happy I did it. Now I know I'm ready to take on even harder climbs in the future. I'm looking forward to conquering my next big hill already.

Shotgun, Walls 123, Giant store Route Map:

Ride 2 Provide Pilipinas - Pidal Para Sa Batang ComVal

2013-11-11T05:35:00.004-08:00

October 13, 2013 - Ride2Provide was an advocacy ride to raise funds for the victims of typhoon Pablo (International name: Bopha) in Compostela Valley. The typhoon hit Mindanao in 2012 that left over 1,000 people dead and over 200,000 homes destroyed.

This was my very first mass ride for such an advocacy and I truly hope that this was not the last. After super typhoon Yolanda (International name: Haiyan) wreck havoc just days ago, more people can help thru such fund-raising events. We in the cycling community can do our share by organizing or just simply participating in events such as this one.

Update Nov. 15, 2013 - Prayers answered. Biblica Publishing (the organizers of Ride 2 Provide) is organizing another advocacy ride but this time for the benefit of typhoon Yolanda victims. Check here for details.

Ride2Provide route map and stats c/o Endomondo sports tracker:

Nuvali-Tagaytay Ride (RevPal)

2013-11-08T16:39:00.009-08:00

Climbing up to Tagaytay has long been on my list of must-do biking trips. There's just so many things to be excited about this trip - good workout, cooler weather, beautiful scenery and the thrill of conquering the long climb top my list. Even the thought of a warm serving of bulalo waiting on top fuels my motivation even further, enough to endure all the pain I knew my legs will be subjected to later.

Our group rendezvous at Evoliving in Nuvali early in the morning. We originally planned to hit the Nuvali trails first then climb our way up to Tagaytay via Reverse Palace route or RevPal next. I sensed from the beginning that the climb to Tagaytay was doubtful as my two bike mates were lukewarm to the idea. In the back of my mind though, I just had to push through with the climb one way or another. I didn't drive all the way from Q.C. to Nuvali for nothing, I thought to myself. It was just a matter of motivating them to do it (budol alert!).

Four guys showed up for the ride. Just when I figured out how to motivate them to push through with Tagaytay, lo and behold, another mate showed up with a road bike! And not just a road bike mind you, a fixie bike! We knew trail biking was out of the question at that point. It was not a biggie for me as I've been to the Nuvali trails before. I felt bad for another mate though. It was his first time in Nuvali and I knew he was looking forward to hitting the trails since he missed the last time we went there. Oh well, now we really have to do Tagaytay I muttered to myself (with an evil grin...haha!). I'll do anything to convince them to do the climb.

We quickly hopped on our bikes and did a quick loop of the Nuvali roads. The road work was great and it provided the necessary warm-up for the harder climb ahead.

Bike Fellas in Nuvali

After an hour or so of wandering around the roads of Nuvali, I prodded them to push through with Tagaytay. The idea met some opposition at first, but I kept on prodding and was determined to be pesky about it. I wanted to do it so bad, I even told a little tiddly bit of white lie just to convince them to do it. :) Let's just say I understated the gradient and distance a little bit to make it sound easier. Yeah, I know. I'm not proud of it. But it got the job done and everyone was smiling from ear to ear after the ride. I knew those guys were strong riders (esp. the guy on fixie) so there was no doubt that they could do the climb.

The old Marcos mansion in Bgy. Casili, Tagaytay

Nicer view of the old Marcos mansion

Long stretches of uphill roads

Pit stop at Java Jazz

Bulalo lunch at Java Jazz, Tagaytay

The climb was hard, but it was not the hardest I've tried thus far. The climbs in San Mateo (Wall, Shotgun), in my opinion, are harder due to the steeper ascents and shorter distances. The gain in altitude is enormous in just a short distance. In contrast, RevPal makes you climb longer but gradually ascent to the top. It was a fun ride, nonetheless.

On our way down, we took the Tagaytay-Santa Rosa road. It was pouring heavily before we even left Palace in the Sky. Boy, was it cold going down! It was a surreal experience going downhill on fog-covered roads under heavy downpour. Sarap!!!

Lezyne Femto

2013-09-22T00:41:00.001-07:00

I ride often at night after work so safety lights are a must for me. I was bummed when I lost my Topeak Redlite Mega II just recently in one of my regular night rides. The Redlite Mega is probably the most effective rear safety light I've ever used. People can see you from a mile away with its bright LEDs. It also has superb side visibility because of its taller profile lens housing.

Anyway, as much as I wanted to replace it with another Redlite Mega and be done with it, I convinced myself not to. Instead, I thought of trying other products and see what worthy alternatives are out there.

As I've already been itching for a while to get lightweight blinkers I can easily carry in my backpack for longer rides, I started looking around for micro lights. After a week of visiting LBS and researching on the net, I basically narrowed my options down to the Lezyne Femto and Topeak Safety Light Helmet Mount. For the love of God, I can't find the latter so I just bought the Femto. And I'm glad I did! The Femto is gorgeous and super lightweight. It is a well-builit, quality product for its price.

Pros

Lightweight
Sylish design
Easy rubber o-ring mount
Single bright LED
Weather resistant (performs well in rain)
Rear light is angled for correct orientation when installed on the seatpost
Up to 30hrs (constant) / 60hrs (strobe)
Runs on a pair of CR2032 batteries (included)
Affordable

Cons

Poor side visibility

The Femto only cost P600 at R.O.X. It's a quality product that can withstand abuse. I've used it in a recent ride to Tagaytay under heavy downpour. No issues so far. It's rain proof! And the best part is I can carry these little lights anywhere I go minus the weight. I can even carry spare CR2032 batteries without worrying adding weight on my back.

It may not be as good as my old Topeak Redlite Mega in terms of visibility, but the lightweight design and affordability more than make up for its minor shortcomings.

All Terra Eco Trail: Blue Zone

2013-09-21T22:31:00.002-07:00

If you frequent Timberland, chances are you've ridden the Blue Zone already. For those unfamiliar, this zone is the more technical half of the All Terra Eco Trails designed for the more advanced riders. And just like the Green Zone, the Blue Zone was designed in partnership with IMBA. This trail is rated as "more difficult" by the IMBA trail difficulty rating system. Don't be fooled by the IMBA rating though. It is easily the most technical singletrack in San Mateo, Rizal. This trail has everything - roots, rocks, berms, steep ascents/descents, off-camber turns, switchbacks, stream, you name it. Ravines and gorges are present too. One wrong turn can easily end up into a disaster.

You can forget about the world for a minute...:)

But despite the intimidating landscape of the Blue Zone, it is by far the most befitting XC trail in the whole of Rizal - perfect for honing ones mountain biking skills. Bikers who are looking for a gnarly ride will surely love this trail.

The entrance to the Blue Zone is on the right side of Basic trail, approximately a few meters away from the trailhead if you're bound for Sapinit road/Giant store. The trail greets everybody with a steep, albeit short, ascent complete with big roots littered along the trail. This is followed by a series of descent-ascent-switchback-off-camber turn combination coupled with strategic berms located along the trail.

Drop? I say, go for it Rober!

Popular pit stop with a nice view of the surrounding mountains

View of the San Mateo landscape

Hardpack section

Nice and flowy singletrack

One of several off-camber turns

Towards the middle is an off-camber sharp left turn descent on the edge of a small cliff. The upper and lower trails are bridged together by a huge mound of dirt. A small stream flow through the trail as you navigate your way down. Rocks are plenty in this section too.

Just below the off-camber left turn

The last half of the trail is the most technical with big roots, river crossing, steep ascents and descents. This section is mostly covered by canopies of trees giving that La Mesa feel to it. During the rainy season, this area can be muddy and flooded for weeks.

Yes, more flow please!

River action...sorta. Bikers taking the opportunity to unclog their drivetrains from mud

I don't know how long the Blue Zone really is, but I've tracked 6-7kms on my GPS tracker in my last two visits. This trail fork into several trails so the length one can cover is really up to the rider. There's the "harder" route which, to be honest, I'm not sure if I've tried already. I just ride wherever my wheels lead me and just try to enjoy the gnarliness of the Blue trail.

Bike Maintenance: Fixing that creaking seatpost

2013-09-10T02:47:00.002-07:00

So today the creaking on my bike reached a whole new level. The creaking was so loud it attracted curious looks from passersby. It drove me nuts trying to figure out where the creaking was coming from. The creaking radiated everywhere on the frame making the origin of the sound difficult to pinpoint wile on the bike. Only after so many tests was I able to find out the problem.

The culprit was my seatpost rubbing against the inside of the frame's seat tube. I can see the paint from the bottom part of the seatpost shaved off from rubbing against the frame. This may have caused a play inside the seat tube making the creaking noise whenever I put my weight on the saddle.

To silence the creaking, I wrapped the bottom part of the seatpost (the shaved area with exposed aluminum) with teflon tape then dabbed some high temperature grease around it. I also greased the seatpost shaft lightly to protect from possible friction with the frame. I then reinstalled the seatpost back to the seat tube.

Voila! The creaking went away instantly! Problem solved!

Philmofo Weekend Getaway: Puray Falls

2013-08-10T16:21:00.001-07:00

August 10, 2013 - This ride almost did not push through because of bad weather. Thanks to a handful of determined Mofos who still showed up at Aling Tina's despite the heavy rains. There were only 8 of us, but we decided to push through with the planned Puray ride anyway. We took the dry route going there and the wet route going back. Highlights of the ride include some serious ascents & descents and a lot of river crossings (16x). Of course getting to the falls is the real trophy. The majestic scenery alone made the trip worthwhile. It did not hurt we got to swim on the river below the falls as well :)

Dry route: Aling Tina's - Ampid Rd - Patiis Rd - Daang Bakal St. - Millex Rd. - J.P. Rizal Ave. - Rodriguez Hwy. - Mayon Ave. - Mascap-Puray Rd. - Puray Falls

Wet route: Puray River - Puray River Rd. - Mascap-Puray-Rd. - Mayon Ave. - Eastwood Residences - M.H. Del Pilar St. - J.P. Rizal Ave. - Gen. Luna Ave. - E. Delos Santos St. - Kambal Ext. - Aling Tina's

There were also unfortunate mishaps on the way to Puray - tocino knees and elbows and all - but the guys braved their wounds/injuries and continued with our journey to Puray falls.

Props to Ronald of Philmofo for organizing this great ride. Special thanks to our trail master Flor Bambao of Montalban Cycling Club for leading us throughout the ride.

Ride map and stats c/o Strava sports tracker.

Philmofo Newbie Ride - Licao-Licao

2013-07-28T07:04:00.011-07:00

A big THANK YOU to Philmofo for organizing a great ride today. I estimated about 50-60 bikers joined the ride to Licao-Licao in San Jose, Bulacan. There were probably more, but the initial number dwindled as the ride progressed.

The sun was already out when we left Aling Tina's at 7:15am. I knew heat was going to be a problem later into the ride because of the sunny weather. The sky was so clear you wouldn't think rain or overcast is a possibility later in the day.

True enough, the heat was starting to take a toll on everybody after we reached Macabud. I can feel my energy zapped away by the unbearable heat as we climbed the steep section of Payatas road. There was really nothing we could do but to suck it up and continue pedalling forward.

A couple more kilometers and we reached Mahogany trail. It was a huge relief to have shade from the canopies of trees lined up along this area. The group rested for a while and took some obligatory photo ops. Hundreds of snaps later, we were ready to hit the Mahogany singletrack next. It was mudfest from there on. The trail was too slippery making it difficult and treacherous to ride. It didn't help big roots and ruts littered the trail. There were a few spills here and there from the group as we rode deeper into the muddy trails.

Our perseverance was rewarded when we reached the stream. The stream was a picture of tranquility; clear water running down from the mountains; streams cascading through beautiful rock formations while sourrounded by lush green vegetation. This is where one would really feel connected with nature. It was a surreal experience being this far and up close and personal with nature and yet just kilometers away from the bustling cities of Metro Manila.

More kilometers of rough road and uphills later, we finally reached the Licao-Licao junction. There were a lot of carinderias there catering to bikers. Hydration was also abundant: bottled water, soda, gatorade you name it, they've got it. The place was jampacked with bikers eager to get lunch I didn't even bother to buy food from there anymore. I made do with the 2 bananas I had in my bag for lunch.

An hour later, it was time to go back to San Mateo. People were headed to different directions to get home. Some were headed to Valenzuela, some to Tungko/Fairview, while others were headed back to Montalban or San Mateo so we split up into different groups. I actually didn't know whom to ride with going back to Aling Tina's as the group I was with earlier went towards Novaliches en route to Valenzuela. Fortunately, the good folks from Montalban Cycling Club took me in. Rain was pouring heavily when we left Licao terminal. We took the Nabutas-Mahogany route on our way back to Montalban proper. We parted ways after reaching JP Rizal Ave. They took a left while I took a right towards San Mateo. I was already soaking wet when I got back to Aling Tina's.

Overall, this ride went pretty well despite the mud and heavy rains. I must say I enjoyed it! Not only I was able to ride the Licao-Licao and Mahogany trails for the first time, but more importantly, I met some really nice people today -- people from different walks of life sharing the same passion for mountain biking as me. It's actually humbling and inspiring at the same time when you're riding with a group such as this one. You can see first hand the friendly/brotherly culture of mountain bikers in the country. Everybody is just nice to everybody. Nobody's a stranger. You get to ride with newbies and seasoned riders alike minus the braggadocio. It was truly a pleasure riding with them and I wouldn't think twice of doing it again in the future.

Ride stats and map courtesy of Strava sports tracker.

First Impression: Mini Camera HD Video Recorder

2013-07-15T02:03:00.000-07:00

First, let me say I didn't have any positive expectation from a cheap camera other than it should be able to turn on/off and record properly.

I found out about this miniature camcorder thru Facebook when a friend "Like" a Lazada ad. It was listed as P699 only (even cheaper than Amazon) so I immediately pounced on the opportunity and ordered one from the Lazada website. It was so cheap it wouldn't hurt even if it did not work, or so I thought.

The packaging was a pleasant surprise. It came in a stylish tin can exuding a high-end impression. It was also small and lightweight as advertised - a measly 15 grams. The camera looked and felt disposable though. Right off the bat I can see that it was cheaply made.

On paper, the spec looks exciting:

5 mega pixels
Muti function: camera, video recorder, voice recorder, webcam
HD quality video: 1280 x 960 @ 30 fps.
Video Motion Detection - detects movements and records video automatically
Micro SD: up to 16GB
USB charging / portable charging

Of course, the video quality is not what you would expect from a proper POV camcorder. It was okay for me though. Again, for the price I can't complain. The quality is far from superb, but you still get to shoot some cool videos of your rides. I just wish it had a higher frame rate than the 30fps it has. The videos were choppy @ 30fps. In the sample video below, recording was a lot better on road than off-road. The off-road recording was just awfully choppy.

The photos taken on camera mode was worse. I'm not a photography guy, but the images looked like they have oil paint effect on them. It was a pity because the 1280 x 1024 resolution it had was a complete waste of display.

Note that I only tested the video and images features for now as these are the two things that piqued my interest about this camera. I will test the other features in due time and will report back with my findings.

Stylish packaging

Unit and accessories neatly packed inside the can

They weren't joking when they said it's small

Accessories include lanyard, USB cable, portable charger and software

As mentioned earlier, the camcorder is lightweight so it was easy to mount anywhere. I mounted mine in front of my helmet just below the visor with a velcro (this was actually a poor decision as you will see in my video sample in U.P.).

Mounted with wrap around velcro

SAMPLE VIDEOS

This video was taken in U.P. Diliman. I went around the oval first then went off-road to the trail beside Sunken Garden then off-road again towards the lagoon. Pardon the orientation of the camera, I mounted it just beneath my helmet's visor to protect it from rain. Unfortunately, it did not capture the angle I wanted, but it does show the quality of video it can record.

Road biking (handlebar mounted) - Tandang Sora - Visayas Ave.

Car ride video (dashboard mounted) - along University Avenue in U.P. Diliman.

SAMPLE PHOTOS

Bike Cleaning 101

2013-07-14T07:01:00.001-07:00

Okay, today I will talk about how to efficiently clean a bike. Every biker has his/her own regimen when it comes to this chore. Some wash their bikes themselves, while others choose to pay to have them washed at bike shops. But whatever your preference is, there will come a time you'll need to do it yourself, so it's fundamental you know how to do it right. Cleaning it yourself not only save you time and money, but also guarantee your bike is in very good hands.

THE TOOLS

Pedro's Brush Set, Chain Cleaner, Zip Wax, Muc-off De-greaser,
Muc-off Disc Brake Cleaner, WD-40, Chamois, Squirt Dry Lube

Brushes

Personally, I like Pedro's Pro Brush kit. It contains five different brushes designed specifically for bike cleaning - frame/wheel brush, drivetrain brush, parts brush, 2 cone brushes for hard to reach areas. This set can practically cover any scrubbing needs of your bike. However, if you're not willing to shell out a few hundred bucks for a good set of brushes, there are cheap alternatives available. When coupled with patience and extra work, they can be as effective as any specialized cleaning tool.

Sponge - very effective for cleaning smooth surfaces like the frame, fork, handlebar, stem, etc. Scotch Brite has them cheap (Note: Do not use the double-surfaced ones i.e., sponge on one side and scour/scrub pad on the other or you'll risk scratching your frame).

Laundry brush - highly effective for drivetrain and wheelset

Bottle brush - effective for cleaning derailleurs, hard to reach parts

Toothbrush - Similar to bottle brush, but can go deeper into tighter areas

The best part about using alternative cleaning tools is that you don't need to buy them new. You can use spent ones that you would normally throw away.

Chain Cleaner

This is a special tool I think every mountain biker should have. It's simply effective cleaning the chain. It also takes less time than you would with a brush and/or rag. This tool is perfect if in tandem with a degreaser. If you don't have one, a good laundry brush with stiff bristles will do the job too.

Degreaser

I've used several different degreasers in the past. Honestly, you can't go wrong with any of them. It all boils down to which one is friendliest to your frame's coat. For that, I stick with Muc-Off De-Greaser. I don't worry spraying over the frame's coat one to many times. The chemicals they have in there are safe for your frame's paint job.

On the other hand, a good and cheap alternative is WD-40. Not only it removes gunk on your bike, but it also loosens parts and prevents rust. It's degreaser, penetrant and lubricant rolled into one. Actually, it shouldn't be called "alternative" as it's so effective you can use it alongside a degreaser.

By the way, WD-40 has a bike-specific variant called WD-40 BIKE. I have yet to try one, or even see one in any local store for that matter. I'll give this a try if I'm lucky to find one.

Lube

WD-40 works, but to a limited degree. It's light lubricant at best. A proper lubricant will do a better job of protecting against wear. I use Squirt Dry Lube for this purpose. It's wax-based so it's effective in keeping dirt out. I use this even on wet rides. In my experience, as long as I keep my chain clean prior to applying the lube, the chain will remain clean regardless of wet or dry condition.

A cheap alternative would be the typical 3-in-one oil like Singer's. Note that this is wet lube. It will attract dirt and gunk on your drivetrain quickly.

Foam

Bike-specific foam like Brite Ride's or Pedro's are great, but they're expensive and hard to find in the Philippines. Any car wash shampoo will do just fine. They are not harsh on the finish so they are good for bike washing. I already use Zip Wax (shampoo + wax) for my car so it makes sense to use the same for my bike as well..

One other tool often overlooked is a hose nozzle. Bike washing is so much easier if you have a jet stream nozzle. Get rid of dirt and foam by blasting them off of your bike!

BEFORE

Don't forget to remove all accessories before washing your bike. Accessories should be cleaned separately.

STEP 1: Rinse

Always start by rinsing your bike. Remove as much dirt as you can with water before foaming (this is where the jet stream nozzle comes in handy). Otherwise, you'll risk scratching the coat with little debris as you scrub the frame's surface.

STEP 2: Scrub

Frame

Start scrubbing the frame with a soft brush or sponge.

Cockpit

Scrub the stem, handlebar, levers/shifters and grips next.

Seatpost & Saddle

Scrub the seatpost and saddle next. Don't forget to scrub the underside of the saddle. This area is usually dirty from splashes from the rear wheel. Use a cone/bottle brush for tighter areas.

Fork

Start with the stanchions. Make sure to brush off dirt build up around the seals. Gradually move down to the brace and legs.

Wheels

Scrub the wheels next. Start with the tyres then move to the rims and spokes.

Drivetrain

Use the big cone brush for the front derailleur and chain rings.

Use the small thin cone/bottle brush for hard to reach spots on the front derailleur.

Use thin cone/bottle brush for hard to reach spot on the rear derailleur too.

Spray the chain rings and cogs with degreaser to remove any remaining dirt/gunk.

Brush off dirt from the chain rings and cogs after spraying degreaser.

Use a very thin brush like a painter's brush for super tight areas. The cone/bottle brush will not fit in the spot pictured above.

Apply degreaser to the chain cleaner tool. I usually apply just enough degreaser to make the inside of the tool wet (pulleys and foam). On the other hand, if you can afford to blow away some dough on degreasers (they are expensive), please feel free to use them liberally.

Attach the chain cleaner tool then pedal backwards.

Wipe chain clean.

Clean the rear derailleur lower pulley by firmly touching the pulley's face with your index finger covered by cloth while rotating the pedals backwards. Alternatively, use a flat-head screwdriver instead of your finger. Do the same for the opposite side.

Clean the rear derailleur upper pulley next. Use the same technique showed for the lower pulley.

Disc Brakes

Remove the wheels for easier access to the brake pads and rotors. Spray disc brake cleaner directly to the brake pads. Muc-Off Disc Brake Cleaner cleans and re-hydrates the pads at the same time.

Clean the rotors next. Muc-Off Disc Brake Cleaner instantly removes contaminants from the rotor. It's guaranteed squeal-free after cleaning.

Spray clean the rear pads and rotors next.

STEP 3: Rinse & Dry

Rinse off foam then dry using a clean rag or cloth. Use chamois if you have one - it's excellent for drying.

STEP 4: Re-lube

Lube the chain links. As a general rule, use dry lube on dry season and wet lube on wet season. I don't follow this rule though. I use dry lube all the time regardless of weather condition. When applying lube, start with the master chain link (if you have one) so you know where you started and therefore know where to stop as well.

After lubing all the links, make sure to spread lube on all sides of the chain for maximum protection.

If your bike has pivots, re-lube them to avoid rusting and to optimize performance. This is more tedious on full suspension bikes as they have more pivots and moving parts.

Lube all moving parts on your bike. Use light oil for this.

AFTER

Ta-da! Squeky clean again!

Remember, you don't need to buy all the tools to clean your bike. There are cheap alternatives out there that can do the job equally well.

Ride safe!