the ReboluSSyon's EvoluSSyon

Around the same time, last year, I went for a bike ride with Gary - an expatriate Pinoy who is now based in Idaho. Gary spend a good amount of time riding the NORBA circuit, and has amassed a huge amount of experience and knowledge about riding, and bikes in general. He's an accomplished racer, mechanic and now a framebuilder. To think his full-time occupation is as a software designer! He's now since retired (from both racing and from his day job), and visits his folks in the Philippines every year. Oh ya, we raced together last year, for shits n' giggles.

This year, though, he brought along his singlespeed bike, and we managed to organize a singlespeed ride of sorts at the La Mesa watershed. Here's the crew, from left to right:


Jovan(trying to unsuccessfully blend into the background), he rides a Cannondale hardtail.
Michelle(better half of Matt), on a Giant NRS.
Matt(unofficial father of Pinoy SSing), who rides an EBB's Dean Titanium hardtail.
Francis(bearer of positive vibes and siopaos), on a Giant NRS.
Edmund(All Terra head honcho), on a Salsa Juan Solo.
King(everybody knows him!), on a converted Gary Fisher carbon fiber hardtail.
Myself(nothing to see here, move along now). Oh wait, I'm wearing the 2nd edition P1SSer jersey!(ok, now move along).
JM(Super Strong SS rider, placed in one of the short-track races this year), on a sweet EBB'd steel Seven Sola that's blinged out.
Gary("just visiting"), on an Ionic Titanium hardtail that's setup as a dinglespeed - two different sets of gear ratios- one for commuting, another for dirt. Trick setup. He's got the 1st edition P1SSer jersey.
Not in photo:
Noel(fellow SS 29er), he rides an On-One Inbred 29er.
Vic(the downhill bomber), on a Jamis XLT.
Rommell(endurance athlete), on a Cannondale Rush.

Now that makes seven singlespeeders in one ride. That must be a Philippine record. If only Rommel brought his SS Klein, and Vic converted his own Klein, and Jay was in town instead of paying Mr. Lee a visit at Flying Ball...we'd have ten! Matt said he's got a project SS bike for his better half - so yes, we are a growing movement!


Matt and me comparing sizes. Wheel sizes that is.


Almost at the top of the heinous climb. Sorry, couldn't stop to admire the view! But I believe you can see the city from up here...

singletrack soundtrack (for the climbs):
Twist and Crawl - The English Beat

singletrack soundtrack (for the twisties and the descents):
Too Much Pressure - The Selecter

guess that Ska comp is still ringing in my years from last weekend ;)


Edmund giving his Juan Solo a workout. Or was it the other way around?


Noel, always smiling! He's a strong rider. To think he hasn't upgraded to clipless pedals yet!


It's da King. He has unofficial "ranger" status in these parts.


Matt- he's the one that started it all.


Gary - he's a mountain goat! Halfway thru the ride he had a wardrobe malfunction, and lost a cleat bolt underneath his right shoe. He had to pedal one-legged for a bit. On a singlespeed. Uphill. I'm not worthy.


Matt, myself and Michelle grinding and grinning our way up another climb.


JM's Seven and Gary's Ionic. Taking five at Tower 5.

Our route took us to Tower 1, and JM set a blistering pace (we later found out he had to be home for lunch hehehe). The head ranger said that they are developing a link from Tower 1 to Tower 5, which unfortunately was still unfinished at that time. So we doubled back from Tower 1, and took a breather at Tower 5. We continued on back towards the parking lot, but Gary, Francis and myself got separated from the group, when I took a wrong turn (sorry!). Luckily we regained our bearings and met up with Jovan (who waited for us) and pressed onwards after I quaffed a Powergel packet. We decided to take an indirect route back to the parking lot, via the Violago gate, which was mostly rolling doubletrack punctuated by a few climbs. My thighs were giving me warning signs on an imminent cramp meltdown, so I decided to take it easy and let the rest of the guys go ahead, whilst I stretched and checked my mobile phone (had important matters to deal with). After receiving the good news via sms, my legs felt fine and I pushed the pace to catch up with them. A quick breather and phone call and we were off towards the parking lot. I wanted to get back to the car by noon as I had to make a follow up call and on the slight incline near the finish line my legs were getting really stiff. I was down to the last few sips of my hydration pack and I decided to just grimace and bear it. Upon reaching the parking lot, I hopped off the bike, and my legs were stiff as boards! I was waddling like a penguin. Had trouble sitting myself down so I did it in lil increments. Man, I felt like a geriatric hehe. After a good stretch, I was able to walk normally. A quick phone call and my day was made :)

On the way home, Gary and I stopped for some vegetarian burritos. That hit the spot.

All in all, a perfect day as far as riding was concerned. Rode with a fun bunch and hung out a bit afterwards. I felt beat though, but in a good, masochistic way.

What a difference a year makes!

Thanks to Gary and JM for the pics!