Considering the founding fathers of the sport started on a 1941 heavy steel-framed BFGoodrich by Schwinn and running on single speed drive trains with no suspension at all except that provided by its sprung saddle and smooth balloon tires, 21-speed bikes was later thought of as the future. That was until 24- then 27-speed drive trains arrived.

Currently we have either 30- or 20-speed drive trains as choices. This, apart from the dizzying other possible upgrades on forks, shocks, wheels, hubs, and so many others which qualify more as bling rather than a move towards pedal efficiency, and all of them promising to make better mountain bikers out all of us.

What I personally discovered out there on the trail was what you have on your steed does not necessarily create for you a brave spirit. Engaging those ruts, roots, tight switchbacks, rock gardens, steep drops immediately followed by an uphill will all depend on how big your mountain biking heart is and not whether you have a SRAM XX or a Shimano XTR.

A friend would constantly tell me that “wala sa pana iyan, nasa Indian” or loosely translated as “it is not the arrow but the archer”. I think so, too. But I also have to admit that it does provide some level of comfort having state-of-the-art working with you; like that remotely adjustable seat post for example. However, without commitment, without a bikers heart working for you out there on the trail, there will be no engagement and we may as well call ourselves posers.

This brings to mind my biking mate Alex.

If he was to be identified by the region he comes from he will surely be labeled a tightwad. But Alex has always been my mentor when it comes to purposeful purchases. He is my walking specifications expert, my component and upgrades evaluator, and my product specialist. All these qualities and more make him someone you would want to listen to when that upgrade bug starts to work its poison up your system. He would not hesitate to give you an honest opinion complete with the necessary technical computations if need be. And yet with all his unbiased views, there are still those who insist they are thoughts of an Ilocano. Ah, it can get hilarious sometimes.

The thing that I most admire about Alex is his willingness to suggest what he loves to call “bang for the buck” items. Maybe a Fox fork is the bees knees or even that XTR Servo-Wave Disc Brakes. But for Alex everything is relative and whatever is efficient and gives you joy when you pedal, no matter how entry level it may be, will always be of premium value. Ask my friend Francis and he will surely agree.

For example, a Duro wire beaded tire has tremendous value. It may pale in comparison to a folding bead Schwalbe Nobby Nic, may cost pennies and may even be scoffed at by those who think expensive is better. But that it exceeded his expectations is good enough for Alex. After all, what others think does not make him a less of a mountain biker nor his rig less of a mountain bike.

What will happen on our next trail ride, whatever it is that we will overcome, be it our fear or that intimidating rut, or the joy of having successfully conquered that drop without ever releasing those cleats, will be a reflection of what is truly in our hearts.

And I just can’t wait for that next time.

Possibly Related Posts:

• Heat wave!
• EFCIE
• Welcome back, sir!
• FOR SALE: BMC Trailfox ’08
• Kid gives greatest inspirational speech after riding a bike for first time

A couple of downsides to this heat wave are the risk of getting dehydrated faster and possible heatstroke.

I’ll just share the precautions I do to keep myself cool and safe under this damn heat. Also, most of the things I do are common sense, but we all know common sense is not so common these days…

Before leaving the house:

• Start earlier than usual.
• Apply sunblock.
• Drink 2-3 glasses of water.
• With this heat I prefer to use a hydration pack, even just for quick rides in our local trails — better to have a half-full hydro bladder than an empty water bottle at the end of the ride.
• Wear arm warmers — contrary to the name it can keep your arms cool when you’re riding and the arm warmers are wet with perspiration (I’m guilty of not really doing this — funky tan lines FTW!).

During the ride:

• Drink! Use that hydrapack! I take a few sips when arriving at the meeting place, while waiting for the group, and upon taking off.
• Ride where there is shade — On the way to the trail head, if it’s safe to ride where the shadows of trees fall then ride under it.
• Drink some more! While on the trail after conquering a fairly difficult/technical section which requires you to exert more effort than usual take a few sips just to help your body cool down a bit more.
• Know your limits.
• Rest under the shade — this doesn’t need mentioning, but I feel it’s still needed. Go figure.
• Communicate with your riding buddies if you feel something out of the ordinary.

After the ride:

• Drink from that hydrapack! I usually take a few more sips than normal when we’re out of the trail pedaling to get home since the roads are smooth compared to the trail so a heavy stomach “full” of water won’t affect my riding too much. It will also replenish the water I lost during the ride.
• I avoid softdrinks/sodas when we stop to eat after the ride. I either stick to water or the healthier fruit juices if it’s available (mostly it’s not in the places we usually eat at) — I’ve been scolded quite a few times before by Doc Riz when I try to order soda, so I stopped doing it
• On the way home while pedaling on the road I take a few sips after the uphill sections, slight ascent or not.

Those are the usual things I do to prevent dehydration during rides. Hopefully this will also keep me from getting a heatstroke.

If you have other precautions I didn’t list please let me know in the comments below (or even via Twitter or Facebook if that’s what you fancy) and I’ll add them (with proper credit, of course).

Possibly Related Posts:

• Purposeful Purchase
• EFCIE
• Welcome back, sir!
• FOR SALE: BMC Trailfox ’08
• Kid gives greatest inspirational speech after riding a bike for first time

Possibly Related Posts:

• Philmofo XCM-MIM 2011
• Launching of Bacoor Bike Lane
• Prima riders bag two golds in 2011 Singapore Open
• Team Prima @ The SG National MTB Championships 2011
• Extreme Bauan XC MTB Challenge 2011

Read Back to Insanity, Part 1 here.

Getting our strength and endurance back slowly by riding every weekend, occasionally quickies on weekdays, with the help of fellow Backout Boys, Team Prima teammates, and our friends the QueensRow Boys, Frank and I sometimes feel a single, full loop of the Malipay trail network just doesn’t fulfill the day’s riding fix.

A couple of Saturdays ago we attacked the trails again with the usual group. Naturally, there are days when you feel you can still go on even after the ride is done. There are days when you feel you couldn’t even get past 10 feet from your house.

Anyway, on that day, at the Evia Bike Station tents after the ride and after checking the stuff being sold, also after making sure Frank’s visitor/friend is all set to go home, we decided it’s time to go home. The other guys from the group have left as some have appointments, some may have already bonked out — haha, just kidding.

A few meters away from the Evia tents while pedaling towards home our short conversation went like this:

Me: One more round?

Frank: There? (Motioning towards the Evia bike tracks on our left)

Me: No. Malipay…

Frank, smiling: Good idea!

I checked my watch and said, “Well, it’s still early.”

Frank: Let’s go.

So we made a U-turn and rode towards the Malipay trail head, for the second time that day.

Rode the complete “no-dismount” loop at a relatively relaxed and easy pace, with a few bursts of hard pedaling on some long stretches. We only stopped for a minute at the “Tree of Malipay” and exited, with wide smiles on our faces as we chuckle at the just-concluded ride.

On our way home we even saw Allan of the QueensRow Boys (he was with the group earlier in the day) on his bike, on his way to a bike shop, wearing cleaner clothes and obviously having just taken a shower. While Frank and I still stink from the insanity that creeping its way back to our souls.

Read Back to Insanity, Part 1 here.

Possibly Related Posts:

• Back to Insanity!
• Welcome back, sir!
• Strike Ride for a Cause
• [VIDEO] Philmofo’s Southern Attack
• Sanitarium: The Video

So I clicked on the image of the bike and read the complete description with a short summary of what happened.

Here are a few details posted:

• This happened at around 5:15 A.M. today (March 23, 2012), at “Shotgun Hill”
• There were 2 suspects. One was thin, the other was a bit chubbier. Those are the only descriptions given
• They were armed with guns
• They were riding a motorcycle with a bright HID headlight
• The motorcycle didn’t have any plates on
• Other passersby didn’t even stop to help them out, even when there were quite a good amount of traffic at the time: cars, motorcycles, tricycles, trucks
• Police report was filed immediately
• The poster’s friend’s bike was thrown over the cliff and only the bike posted was carried by the robbers. I don’t know if they were able to recovery the friend’s bike.

I know how it feels to have your bike forcefully taken from you. I was a victim of a bike-jacking incident on the trails last year. Our bikes were taken at gunpoint. I really hope the bike gets recovered and the robbers (and masterminds) get punished to the full extent of the law.

I hope this entry helps in the recovery of the bike, if and when someone recognizes the parts and reports to the authorities A.S.A.P.

Possibly Related Posts:

• Back to Insanity!
• Bill seeks to grant tax perk to bike-commuting employees — Inquirer.net
• Philmofo XCM-MIM 2011
• Launching of Bacoor Bike Lane
• Prima riders bag two golds in 2011 Singapore Open

That’s the text message I received from Frank, my long-time riding buddy.

We both got back on the saddle at the start of this year.

I was forced to stop due to the trauma of my bike-jacking at gunpoint experience (I haven’t written about this, still undecided if I should). It was on one of our local trails my group of friends frequent. I was off the saddle for almost a year.

Frank sprained the area on his left chest and shoulder due to a simple crash (he called it a newbie mistake when we went back to the “crash site”) and pain on his shoulder blades lasted for months. He was off the saddle for 2 years.

Anyway, since we started again this year (2012) we’ve agreed on riding our playground, Malipay, every weekend. If opportunity presents itself then we’d ride weekdays, until we think we’re fit enough to do what we used to do before with the Backout Boys, where we learned to pedal all the way, wherever the destination was.

Upon reading his text I sensed something I really couldn’t put my finger on, but I replied with, “Wanna do a long ride?”

“Where?”

So I texted him back with a proposed route.

“OK, game on,” he replied, “Let’s meet a bit earlier, 6:50 A.M.”

Then I got a text message from Ronald asking about the plans for the next day. I told him, and he was willing to join us.

So the next day, Feb. 18, 2012, Saturday, I left the house at 6:00 A.M.

We tried to stick to our plan. First up: Complete Malipay loop, with Cris and a lone biker we saw inside the trails.

Once done with Malipay questions were thrown around.

“Where to now?”

“Paliparan trail? Or to eat?”

“Another round?”

I felt this group conversation won’t go anywhere, so I moved near Frank and asked, “Wanna continue?”

“It’s up to you,” he said.

Damnit.

So I turned to Ronald, “Wanna continue?”

“I’ll go with what you decide,” he answered.

Double damnit. But I grinned, “Let’s do it,” and both Frank and Ronald chuckled and nodded.

We started heading out of Malipay. Cris and the lone biker decided to head home.

We then proceeded to the route we all agreed upon the night before via text messaging:

• Victoria Homes
• Sampaguita Village
• Binan
• Southwoods
• Carmona

Just in time for lunch at our favorite binalot store, and refueling for the next leg of our trip:

• Timbao via Carmona-Timbao Road
• Nuvali Road, which turns into
• Laguna Blvd., and we turn into
• Nuvali Spine Road, and as we cross the
• Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay Road

We were at our destination: Nuvali Evoliving!

But we weren’t done yet. We pedaled straight to the admin building where one needs to register, sign a waiver, and leave an ID to be able to ride the Nuvali mountain bike trails.

After a quick rest we went inside and registered, signed, and deposited our ID’s, then we proceeded to rest outside the building (haha!) – thanks, Nuvali, for the tables and chairs, and the comfy couches.

I wanted to fall asleep on the couch, but Frank and Ronald started getting ready for the trails, and I was forced to stand and gear up. Since the 3 of us haven’t ridden the latest Nuvali trail design, and we haven’t ridden in Nuvali in a long while, we didn’t know where the trailhead was.

We pedaled along the main road, looking for the entrance. Found a wrong entry point which brought us to a construction site and back out to the road immediately, so we pedaled some more.

Then I saw a group of bikers going the opposite direction. I stopped on their side of the road and anticipated their arrival, then flagged them down.

“Good morning! Do you guys know where the trailhead is?”

“Yeah. Just after this bridge you’ll see the entry point on the right side. You won’t miss it.”

So I said my thanks and we finally entered the trail. And what a fun ride it was. Sure, we were damn tired and we were riding slow but the new tracks made the ride fun. Add the couple of bloopers we experienced inside.

Once we’ve exited we were discussing if we should also try the 24-Hour race track. The argument that won was: Since we’re already here we might as well try it.

But we got lost inside and we didn’t finish the 24-Hour track.

Then we decided to head home, after getting our ID’s back and refilling our hydration bladders with water from the convenience store.

Our route on the way back was to just backtrack our route earlier in the day.

Arrived home at 4:40 P.M. Yep, we were able to stick to the plan.

Update, 03/28/12: Read Back to Insanity, Part 2 here.

Possibly Related Posts:

• Back to Insanity, Part 2
• Shotgun: The Hill, now a crime scene
• Welcome back, sir!
• Philmofo XCM-MIM 2011
• Another Crazy Akrigg Video!

“SAYANG!” (What a waste!) is the common comment after they’re done checking on Efcie.

Not that she is one abused, unwashed, trail-debris-covered, ride-and-then-forgotten steed. According to these self-professed wise men of mountain biking, her type of frame does not deserve a spring damped Marzocchi fork, non-series made-in-Malaysia Shimano RM65 hubs laced to a WTB SpeedDisc rims by generic stainless steel spokes, an off-a-built-bike Bengal mechanical disk brakes from Quiapo, and a Duro Tritan wire beaded rear tire. They all are, for them, as heavy as a tank.

They also scoff at my never-heard-of Atech wired cyclometer which I got next to nothing from my good friend, the Master himself, Lito T of Baguio.

It makes me suspect what they might be seeing when they take a closer look at Efcie is a ghost of a BF Goodrich Klunker.

For this Stay-At-Home Dad and writer however, these are good value stuff. They’ve brought me and Efcie to places that are ideal venues for cramps festivals and we both survived.

But there are biking immortals among us who define value in terms of cost. I take that as the more painfully expensive it is, the better. My back is beginning to hurt just thinking about this sort of reasoning.

Talking about my never-heard-of Atech, I am starting to seriously ask if its thin cable wound around the housing of my front mechanical brake actually cause severe disturbance on the airflow around Efcie’s frame, which may even explain why I have a hard time on the climbs.

Could it be an issue of wind resistance that almost everyone goes for a Cateye Strada Wireless, purposely strapped onto their stem, because it can actually make one faster due to the lesser drag? This may hold water, if I have to use my mates as proof. You see, some of them with this particular gadget on board are considered by their peers as Kings of Sungay. Hmmm…

And finally, there are folks who think my 9-speed Shadow XT transmission setup is so out of place with the other bits bolted onto Efcie. Now that hurts…

Personally, the real downside of these comments is that they make me feel guilty for choosing to have my siopao (steamed buns) with pansit canton (sauteed egg noodles). Purists, those who believe that Ma Mon Luk as the only place offering the real thing, may say there is something so wrong with my choice. Siopao goes with Mami (Philippine Chicken Noodle Soup). Period.

Compare that to the current situation of Efcie, I can already hear all the purists out there unanimously yell it should be XO all the way and nothing less. Aray ko po! (Ouch!)

While I think their view may contain merit, several issues just keep popping up inside my very confused cabeza.

Will all that expensive stuff screwed onto my Efcie make me ten times braver the next time I attempt that drop that, for as long as I can remember, I have hiked with my bike for it threatens to break every bone in this aging body?

Will I actually notice the overly promoted technologically advanced thingy on my bike making a difference as I focus on that steep, loose climb followed by consecutive rock steps? Or will that chain slap be more pronounced as my rear scramble up the trail?

Will an XO (the bike thing from SRAM, I mean) actually make me a better mountain biker?

And finally, the hundred thousand peso question: can I afford it?

Maybe there is truth to the saying “with price comes confidence,” that an expensive gruppo does raise up the daring come those evil drops. But I have yet to confirm this, if there are indeed people who braved the trail not because they are as mad as this writer here but because of the confidence boost brought about by their new 2012 XTR gruppo.

I would really like to collate the data so I can begin negotiating with my significant other for a drive train upgrade basing all my arguments on this study. Good luck to me on that one.

Presently though, I see more bikes with XTR’s on them on Facebook than on the trails. Now this is true “SAYANG!”

Possibly Related Posts:

• Purposeful Purchase
• Heat wave!
• Welcome back, sir!
• FOR SALE: BMC Trailfox ’08
• Kid gives greatest inspirational speech after riding a bike for first time

At the first opportunity I got off my fat ass and went out to ride. Also taking advantage of having my eldest son back home for the holidays I brought him along for more bonding and quality time with him.

A bit after only a couple of laps on pavement we stopped, rested, and talked with a few other friends on the sidewalk. Then I saw Macoy (a friend who was also a victim of the bike-jacking with me) and a couple of friends just about to start their ride. They were planning on going inside Malipay to ride. I begged them to go easy, plus my son was with me, and we agreed on taking it easy on the trail.

The greetings of “Good morning!” from the locals haven’t stopped. They still continue to greet bikers riding around in their community. It brought a smile to my sweaty face and I continue to pray the people there stay as welcoming to bikers as they’ve always been.

Then, at one of the sections with a few houses a small group of young men were hanging out at the side of the wide trail just outside a house.

As I passed, being in the middle of our small riding group, they looked at me and called, “Kuya!” (“Kuya” being a Filipino endearment for big brother, also used informally to call to a stranger politely).

“O?” I called back.

“Tagal niyong nawala ah (You were gone for a long time),” one of them said.

“Oo nga (Yeah)…”

“Welcome back, Kuya,” they called out as we continue on riding.

“Salamat (Thanks)!” I shouted, as I shake my head and smile at the unexpected warm welcome.

Possibly Related Posts:

• Purposeful Purchase
• Heat wave!
• Back to Insanity, Part 2
• Back to Insanity!
• EFCIE