Men's Health/All Terra Bike Clinic

Yesterday was a good opportunity to earn some bike karma. Men's Health magazine and All Terra bike shop were conducting a bike clinic for new riders at the Divine Mercy race track. Attendance was pretty good and Karlo joined in as well as a photographer and participant. The session started off with lectures by the team members on MTB fundamentals and a short Q & A session. After which they each had a shakedown ride to check equipment and adjust bike fit. Then we let them loose on the track (of course, accompanied by the instructors).


Obviously I wasn't listening to the lecture!


Edmund briefs all the participants prior to heading on track.


New riders who can't wait to get their tires dirty.

The venue was the same race course as last year's SMB Light MTB series, and while the place has changed a bit since then, some of the climbs and drops were still there.


Karlo attacking a short climb.


He's got his game face (aka Tiger Look) on. Karlo did particularly well - even riding with us thru several drops and gnarly sections. Whaddaya expect - his surname is Samson!


Twas nice to ride with the rest of the MHAT team - Dandan, King and JM brought their singlespeeds too, so that was fun.

The sesh ended around 11:30am, and after a snack at Aling Tina's, Vic P, King and I went up to hit the trails in Roxas. A short and sweet loop, we were a bit concerned about the noontime heat, but luckily we've had a spate of cool weather this month, and a big cloud gave us ample shade for the duration of the ride. Spanky felt good - rather, Spanky kinda disappeared underneath me - I kinda like that when it happens - you just flow along the trail. Cleaned all the climbs, and just dabbed twice. Once before a stream crossing and another in a rooty section. Headed back to the car by 2pm - not a bad day at all for riding.

singletrack soundtrack: Run Runaway - Slade (hey at least it's a fast song with catchy guitars)

Thanks to Jed of Ecorescue and Karlo for the pics. We've got more, but we're saving them for an upcoming story in the mag :)

Powered by Valrhona/The Two Towers

Last night was admittedly, quite decadent. Nothing like a nice evening spent with the Lady Nitro, sharing two Valrhona flourless cupcakes (plus a peppermint/choco one) and a nice pot of Earl Grey tea. I LOVE IT. Of course, I'll be atoning for my indulgence by riding...

Yes I can have my cupcake and eat it too.

singletrack soundtrack: Avenging Angels - Space

Don't ask why, but that's what the jukebox in my head started playing while riding. Today's ride was back in La Mesa, with Polly, Jay, King, Jovan, 2 Carlo's and 2 Vics. All in all, 9 riders. We felt like Ringwraiths. Guess you can call me the self-styled Witch King. Fitting that, since we were riding to the Two Towers - that is, La Mesa ranger towers 3 and 1, respectively.

After logging 16km to and from the towers, we headed down to the campsite by the water. Total mileage was around 22km I guess, but let me tell you, the first 16km were intense. At least I climbed the hills non-stop.

Post-ride meals were had at Tia Maria's Cantina along Katipunan - Mexican food is perfect after a hard day's ride. I had myself a grilled chicken burrito.

Jay, where are the pics?! Here are the pics!


Polly, Vic M, myself, King, Vic P, Ranger DenDen, Jovan, Carlo K, and Carlo M. Not in photo (he snapped it) is Jay.


That's one tricked-out Turner tricycle!



On a clear day you can see forever. Polly and Jay seeing the sights from atop Tower 1.


We rode down to the shore, where Spanky decided to hang around for a bit.

Afternoon riding

the ride's singletrack soundtrack was:

Tell - The Radio Dept.

King, Vic and I met up for a mid-afternoon ride in Maarat yesterday. Weather was perfect, with some a bit of sun shining down on us and a cool breeze blowing.

We decided to do some "exploring" (a creative way of saying we got a bit lost), and ended up backtracking at some points. The whole ride was well worth it though, as the photos attest:


View of the city from one of the higher points of the ride. To the left is Laguna de Bay, straight ahead is Makati and Manila Bay, and to the extreme right would be La Mesa. Wish I had a more capable camera!


"My GPS says...", that's Vic


Ridin' and smilin'! Looks like King's fully recovered from last June's mishap


Me taking a breather



Ride down or walk it? We walked it. Too steep and too rutted for our tastes.

Quotes of the day

All around crazy guy and "returning" biker Karlo sent me this quote via YM:

"When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments. Here was a machine of precision and balance for the convenience of man. And (unlike subsequent inventions for man's convenience) the more he used it, the fitter his body became. Here, for once, was a product of man's brain that was entirely beneficial to those who used it, and of no harm or irritation to others. Progress should have stopped when man invented the bicycle." ~Elizabeth West, Hovel in the Hills

Speaking of more bicycle related quotes, here's more:

"The bicycle is a curious vehicle. Its passenger is its engine." ~John Howard

"The bicycle is the most civilized conveyance known to man. Other forms of transport grow daily more nightmarish. Only the bicycle remains pure in heart." ~Iris Murdoch, The Red and the Green

"When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race." ~H.G. Wells

"It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle." ~Ernest Hemingway

"Until mountain biking came along, the bike scene was ruled by a small elite cadre of people who seemed allergic to enthusiasm." ~Jacquie Phelan

"The secret to mountain biking is pretty simple. The slower you go the more likely it is you'll crash." ~Juli Furtado

Going up...

the ride's singletrack soundtrack:

All Mixed Up - The Red House Painters



So this is how I look when my heartrate is on the redline, going up a hill. This shot (taken by Jed Santos) was taken during last weekend's ride at La Mesa - and I was part of a 10-rider gaggle led by King. There were several other groups of riders too, and it was a great day to ride and enjoy the lush scenery - as well as contribute to the preservation of the area by paying the entrance fee.

This was the last big hill before heading back to the parking lot. Vic and I broke off from the group and did some exploring :)

Did feel the effects of my efforts later in the day, though. But it was well worth it. Cleaned all the climbs, and Spanky with the Maxxis Ignitors worked like a charm - well, mostly. Back at the parking lot I decided to check all the bolts on the bike (lesson learned!) and as I torqued down on my crankbolts, one of them snapped. It was a Salsa one to boot. Should've known better. Never run alloy chainring bolts on a singlespeed. Luckily All Terra had some stainless steel bolts and spacers for sale. I duly grabbed a set of 10, and replaced all 4 alloy bolts on my crank. Problem solved, with spares to boot.

The Mother of all 29er FS Shootouts

Looks like Francois and the rest of the MTBR crew have outdone themselves on this one.

A heeeyuuuuge 29er full-suspension shootout. Lots of bikes, lots of riders, lots of reading!

Here's what they tested (in alphabetical order):

Astix Monk
Ellsworth Evolve
Intense Spyder
Lenz Sport Leviathan
Niner R.I.P.9
Titus Racer X 29er
Van Dessel Jersey Devil FS
Ventana El Rey

Personally, I think I'd go for the Ventana. Get all the big wheel action here.

It's great to see the bike industry embracing this "new idea". We'll be seeing more 29er-specific components in the near future, that's for sure - wheelsets, tires and forks to be exact. Now, I wonder how long it will take for this movement to reach Philippine shores ;)

Here's to 2007!

It's a new year and a new start.

And personally I think it will be a good year :)

Watch this space!

Happy New Year to everyone!