Shirley's Spa Day

Every month, I bring my bicycle to the shop for some maintenance work. It gets washed. The chain and the crank get re-lubricated. And the wires for the brakes and the shifters are tightened.

In September, I rode Shirley a total of 480km. Giving her a spa treatment is a small price to pay to keeping her in tip-top shape.

Shirley getting stripped "naked"

Manong Rudy giving Shirley the VIP treatment

Good as new!

Biking in the Rain

It's been raining a lot in Metro Manila. That's to be expected in a tropical country. But weather patterns have been displaying extremities like the very high temperatures last April and this severe volume of rain we're experiencing now.

As mentioned in my last post, I have three ways to deal with the rain.

Large garbage bag for my messenger bag

Newly-installed fenders

My rain poncho

As I've tested yesterday, the poncho and fender combination is quite effective in keeping my clothes dry (I was wearing a shirt and a pair of shorts). The key is to hold the poncho over the handle bars so that it'll act like a tent covering my legs and my bicycle. This allows for maximum coverage of the bicycle top tube and the rider's thighs. The opening underneath the cape ensures ventilation. Wearing traditional rain coats while biking can cause a lot of sweating so letting the air in is very important.

 How to wear a rain cape / poncho on a bike

Image borrowed from Diane's blog - unfoldandcycle.com

My rain poncho isn't really designed for this function. It doesn't have a clip for handlebar attachment nor thumbs loops to keep it in place when I stretch out my arms. I actually have to hold the poncho onto my bars with my hands, thus making it impossible for me to signal with my hands. I also need one that has a better coverage for the side. My rain poncho is quite open on the sides so it flaps with the wind and so there isn't much coverage for the lower part of my legs (i.e. wet shoes).

I originally wanted a Carradice Pro-Route cycle cape, like the one my friend Diane had in the picture above. Unfortunately, it can only be ordered in the UK (and in some select stores in the US) and is quite expensive (mostly because of the shipping fee). According to Diane, it was also quite heavy and bulky so she eventually sold it. She now favors cheap PVC rain ponchos, which I guess are similar to what I'm using now. So, now I've been researching alternatives online.

Below are some of the options I'm currently considering. All of these can be ordered online from the US.

Grunden's Bike Poncho from Rivendell Bicycle Works - $122

Ultrex Rain Cape from Oregon's Center for Appropriate Transport - $79

Rain cape from J&G Cyclewear - $49.95

Bicycle cape from Campmor.com - $34.99

Ventura Rain Poncho from Amazon - $13.51

Bike rain poncho from The Monkey King - $9

If I had the money, I'd go for the Grunden's rain poncho because it offers good bike and leg coverage. But I looked for reviews of the Campmor bike cape and I think it's also a very decent cape for a lower price. So I've decided I'll save up for that one so I can buy it together with my tires and pedals. But I might also purchase the one from Ventura or The Monkey King just so I can have a comparison.

For many, the raining is enough a reason to not even try biking as a primary mode of transportation but there are several means to work around it. With traffic getting worse and worse everyday in Metro Manila, it's about time people start thinking of riding a bicycle as a viable means of transportation, even in the rain.

Biking to a Dinner Meeting

Shirley parked outside the Rockwell Power Plant Mall

Tonight (well, last night) I was invited to dinner with a couple of guys from work  (our Canadian senior budget specialist and our guest from S. Korea). Dinner was at 7:30PM and I was able to leave the office a few minutes before 6:30PM. After a few kilometers, it started to rain hard. It was my first time to get caught in the middle of a downpour while biking to a destination other than my house. Nonetheless, I was ready for this contingency. I stopped by the side of the road beneath a tree, placed my bag inside a large garbage bag, sealed the bag with a rubber band, and wore my rain coat. In less than 10 minutes I was riding again. 

In Manila, as soon as the rain pours, horrendous traffic will follow - good thing I was on my bike. I might be a little wet (the rain stopped a few minutes later) but at least I was able to go from my office to Rockwell in 30minutes (it's about 9KM away). Unfortunately, the people I was supposed to have dinner with weren't as lucky.

Nagbike ako papunta sa isang dinner meeting. Naka iwas sa trafik. 30mins lang. Kaso nga lang yung mga ka-meeting natrafik. #bikerproblems
— Omi Castañar (@ocastanar) September 17, 2013

Eventually the two of them arrived and we had a nice dinner. Then the rain started to pour again. It was even raining when I was biking on my way home. But I dealt with the downpour in the same way I dealt with it earlier. I just wish my fenders would arrive already. Oh well, I might be a little wet but it's nothing a good towel can't handle.

Today's total ride mileage: 28.17km
Today's bike lesson: Rain is not an excuse to stop biking.

Riding with Team Adventureros

The lone photo I took during the ride

Last Saturday, I joined my friend Paolo and his group Team Adventureros on their newbie ride around the Sierra Madre loop. It was my third time to go around that route so I was expecting the ride to be easier than in the past. Unlike my previous long rides, I opted to just bring my rear rack pack with me and leave the belt bag at home. I also packed less stuff (no extra food) and instead of wearing my usual Merrell Trail gloves, I wore my Sandugo sandals.

After meeting up with Paolo and Drake (a first timer) near Cogeo, we pedaled to our first pitstop, about 35km into our ride (I can't remember the name of the place so I need to take a photo next time). In the pitstop, we refilled our water bottles and my two companions drank bottles of soda to get energy from sugars. After a few minutes of rest and pleasantries, we went on our way.

After a few kilometers, Paolo and I noticed that Drake stopped a few meters back. Apparently, he was having troubles with his rear cassette - his bike's chain won't go into the cog when shifting. Paolo, the ever reliable mechanic, busted out his screwdriver and adjusted the rear derailleur. And so we went on our way.

After a kilometer or so, I heard air coming our of my rear wheel. I stopped and checked my tire and I saw that my bike has suffered a flat. For the record, this has been Shirley's third flat since I got her over a month ago. I actually get a flat tire every time I go for a long ride. With Drake's help, I was getting ready to replace the inner tube (bought one spare after my last mishap) when a guy approached me and told me to just have the wheel vulcanized. When I asked the manong where the nearest shop was, he pointed to the shop right across the street. I was so focused on removing the wheel that I didn't notice the shop. After a few minutes, the 18-peso vulcanizing job was done and we were on our way.

We went through our usual routes and usual stops (soda break at the kawayan kubo and lunch at that eatery in front of Pranjetto Resort). The Adventureros are actually a fun bunch to ride with. Most of them ride in mountain bikes. I liked hearing their experiences in their long rides including their multi-day ride to Baguio. I guess that ride won't be the last time I'd be joining their group.

----

Currently, a couple of things about Shirley is bugging me. First, I think I need to find a better set of tires. Currently, I'm using Kenda Klimax Lite. These tires are very light. But as my experience have shown, they're prone to punctures because they are quite thin. Touring bikes need bomb-proof tires that can survive harsh road conditions. But at the same time, I need tires with little rolling resistance so I can easily accelerate on pavement. I'm currently looking for a shop in Metro Manila that carries any one of the following:

• Continental Travel Contact
• Continental Touring Plus
• Schwalbe Marathon Plus
• Schwalbe Marathon Extreme
• Schwalbe Marathon Dureme
• Vittoria Randonneur

I also want to change my pedals. I'm currently using a pair of Exustar P-921 pedals. They're cool looking pedals because of their small size. At first, my only problem with them is their sharp teeth. My legs kept getting small wound whenever my calf accidentally hits a pedal. But after last Saturday's long ride, I realized that their small size is also a problem.

This is how my pedal comes in contact with my footwear - (left) Merrell Trail Glove and (right) Sandugo sandals

The effective surface of my pedals are about 75mm only. The consequence of the short width is pain in the knees during hard pedaling. I learned this after last Saturday's ride. Because part of my foot isn't leveled on the pedal, my knees either flex inward or outward. This lateral stress on the knees caused some mild pain in my inner right knee a few days after the ride. The small surface area of the pedal makes for a slippery hold during wet conditions. In addition, bigger pedals would definitely provide better power transfer per downstroke.

Any of the following pedals would be excellent replacement for the ones I have:

MKS Sylvan Touring

MKS Lambda

Velo Orange Touring

Shirley at the Million People March

This morning, I brought Shirley to Quirino Grandstand to join the Million People March against the abuses in the use of the pork barrel. Although I went on my own, I had a great time hanging out with the other bikers. 

All 'em boys kept staring at her racks

There were actually several bikers who approached me, admiring Shirley's racks. They'd ask me where I got her and if I go on touring. Then our conversation would shift towards the issue of the pork barrel and we'd talk to about what we think can and should be done. Not bad. Good job bikers!

I was going around with some random bikers

More bikers

Fixie community represented

Next time I ride a bike to a rally, I'd bring a flag along

These bikers were riding chromed cruisers. Astig!

The WTF moment of the day. Impeached Chief Justice Corona showed up and people boo-ed and shouted "Epal!"

There were a lot more interesting stuff that I saw in the rally, like bikers wearing Guy Fawkes masks, witty banners, copper-plated bikes, recumbents, members of the Tiklop Society of the Philippines, and mini velos. Unfortunately, my phone won't turn on any more. I wish I had a better smartphone for times like this.

Oh well.

*oink oink oink oink oink oink*

What to Bring on a Long Ride

1 - Rear rack bag. This 10L bag is perfect for those extra Gatorade bottles, snacks, and change of clothes.

2 - Hand towel - especially useful for wiping my hands when texting in the rain.

3 - Water bottle. Never leave home without it.

4 - Light raincoat. It's not about being dry on the road. It's really just to avoid getting the chills because of the wind.

5 - Saddle cover, because leather saddles hate a downpour.

6 - Plastic bags. This is useful as either a double protection for the saddle or as a bag for those wet clothes.

7 - Head light

8 - Ziplock bags - my gadgets' bestfriend.

9 - Jersey and cycling shorts

10 - Extra shirt

11 - Hand pump

12 - Patch kit

13 - Gloves

14 - Snacks (Choco Mucho and an apple)

Note to self: Pack a couple of tire tubes

----

Some sights from yesterday's ride along the Sierra Madre loop:

Beware!

 Shirley looking pensive

There's a lot of climbing to do

Siblings photo 

Halfway point brunch break

When Shirley Turned into a Cyclocross Bicycle

This morning, I joined Oz, Noah, and Mo on a bike ride around the Cogeo-San Mateo loop. I was looking forward to go on a long ride with my road bike, Mrs. F, but Oz told me last night that we'll be going through some trail so I opted to bring Shirley.

Shirley, waiting for the others

Shirley, somewhere on top of Antipolo

One of the highlights of the trip was meeting Shirley's older sibling. At around the 25km mark, we stopped by this bulalohan to rehydrate.

This place is a biker's pit stop

There, we met Paolo, Oz's friend.

What I want Shirley to be

Like me, Paolo rides a Surly Long Haul Trucker. His Surly, though blue in color, also has the same set of racks as mine. It's even outfitted with a black Brooks saddle, though his is the more deluxe version (i.e. the Brooks Champion Flyer).

Look at those springs!

I also inspected his bike and saw a couple of neat things. His bike had a dynamo in his front hub that is connected to a front light. That's useful for riding in that dark for extended hours. He also has a cross bar on a 2nd stem wherein he attached a second set of brake levers and a handle bag mount.

I think I'd like to order this from Amazon

It looks weird but it does seem practical

Although his Surly LHT is smaller in size compared to my Shirley, his bike  is the more experienced one. He told us that he has gone on an 8-hour bike ride to Pinatubo. I guess I could say that he's been doing the kind of touring that I wanted to do. Seeing someone like him who actually goes on a tour on a Surly LHT definitely motivated me to start planning longer rides to scenic places.

Our next stop was the Ten Commandments in Camp Sinai in San Mateo, Rizal (Yes. Sinai. Ten Commandments). But on the way to Sinai, we had to go through Heaven's Gate cemetery. Well, technically we just passed by it. There was nothing heavenly about that climb, though. My thighs got a good work out from that climb, especially because we also went up that MMDA office in San Mateo. But eventually, we reached Camp Sinai and the humongous slabs of stone.

I look awkward

View from the handlebar

Unlike the last long ride, part of this morning's itinerary was a brunch break. At mid-morning we had adobo flakes at Pestano's, also along San Mateo. It's also a famous pitstop for bikers and we saw some who were heading for Timberland.

Thank you Noah for the treat!

While we were eating, rain started to fall so I had to cover Shirley's saddle with a plastic bag. After our meal, I put on my raincoat because I didn't want to be shivering the way I did when we went around the Sierra Madre loop. It's a thin, yellow raincoat so it fit nicely in my belt bag. As an added bonus, I felt like I was doing a Jesse Pinkman in a hazmat suit.

I'd love to wear this on Halloween

So we rode a few more kilometers until we reached the end of the road and the start of the Timberland basic trail. It was my first time to go on a trail so I just followed Noah's lead. We saw several mountain bikers along the rocky, muddy path. Aside from slipping once, I think I did pretty well for a newbie. After getting out of the trail, we inspected our bikes. As expected, Shirley got caked with mud. My primary concerns were my saddle and my brakes. I checked my plastic cover for leaks and found none. We were going for a wet downhill ride so the brakes are very important. Fortunately, on the downhill my brakes didn't fail me.

Eventually, we reached Marikina and then we parted ways near Libis.

Just like my last ride, I ended the wet long ride with some hot noodle soup.

Kowloon House, White Plains

Epilogue:

On my way home, along P.Tuazon, I rode my bike though a small hole. When my rear wheel got out of the hole, I realized that it was flat already so I walked the last 500m of my 50km ride.

My one month old inner tube has failed me

After a quick trip to my favorite bike shop, I got a new inner tube already and Shirley is ready for yet another ride.

Some thoughts about today:
1. It pays to bring a raincoat.
2. Ziplocks and plastic bags are essential.
3. I wish I had a smart phone that can track my route.
4. Trail running looks fun. We met a friend of Mo who was running in Timberland. I think I'd like to try it some time.
5. Don't eat a heavy meal in the middle of a ride. Rather, go for smaller meals like bananas.
6. I really prefer the open road than the trail.
7. I need to practice patching tube holes.

The Number One Rule when Biking to Work

And today, I learned it the hard way.

From Tokyo to Osaka

Soon, I wish to go on a multi-day long ride. Someday, I hope to ride my own fixed-gear bike. In the near future, I'll go back to Japan. These 13 bikers rode hundreds of kilometers from Tokyo to Osaka on fixies.

I am envious.

Soon. Someday.

Unnecessary Rumblings

This week, I've noticed the two newly installed sets of rumble strips in front of Robinsons Magnolia.

I'm not a fan of rumble strips. The excessive vibration can be really rough on the wrists when biking through the strips. But unlike the usual rumble strips like the ones found along ADB Avenue, the ones pictured above are wider and a bit thicker. These make for a very rough ride.

Rumble strips are meant to alert drivers of an upcoming stop, danger zone, or intersection. These strips are installed a few meters from the Aurora Boulevard - Balete Drive intersection. But this intersection already has a traffic light so I don't understand the need for these rumble strips. They're frivolous and a pain in the butt (actually, the wrists). This is an example of an infrastructure that is car-centric, and not bike-centric.

The Impromptu Sierra Madre Ride

Let me begin by saying that I wasn't ready for this. It all started when Oz, at 1:00am invited me to ride out at 8:00am. He said we'll go to Teresa, but I had no idea where Teresa is. Nonetheless I was game for it. Nowadays, I'd hardly say "no" to an invitation to go biking.

My road bike, Mrs. F, was still in the shop so I opted to bring Shirley. So far, the farthest I've brought Shirley was the 10km ride to Manila Bay so I thought that a weekend long ride would be perfect for my touring bike.

Oz and I were supposed to meet at 8AM. But one of his tires exploded while pumping air into it. We were fortunate that it happened inside his room because that would have been an even bigger setback had it happened on the road.

So an hour later, we were off. It was my first time to go to Antipolo by bike so I let Oz take the lead.

The first challenge of the day was the climb along Sumulong highway. Aside from the Matabungkay race I joined a year ago and the city fly-overs, I had no experience in climbing. But I trusted the strength of my legs and my lungs so I pedaled on. I just applied what I know about climbing - go for high cadence not just high power. So I switched my gears and just kept pedaling in the smoothest strokes I can do on my platform pedals. Eventually, I reached Padi's point. To be honest, back then, I thought that was the most unforgiving part of the ride. Little did I know, it was just a warm up.

Eventually, we reached Teresa, Antipolo. It was almost 10:00AM so we opted to eat mirienda in Jollibee. Oz didn't bring a lock. Good thing my U-lock was big enough for both of our bikes. After refilling our stomachs with food and our hydration bottles (I accidentally left mine at home, good thing Oz lent me his) with water, we set out.

I look awkward

Our next pitstop, if I remember correctly, was at a store in Tanay.

Shirley takes a breather while Oz buys his Gatorade

This was actually the point wherein OZ asked me to decide where to go next.

Which way to go?

The choice was to either go straight along Manila East road then turn around after a few kilometers., or to go left and go up the Sierra Madre loop. When Oz asked me, my only thought was the uphill climb that we have to go through to go back to Antipolo, so I told Oz that we should just try the Sierra Madre. Oz had gone through it before and I've always been curious to try it so it sounded like the better option.

After a brief respite, we were on our way up the mountains. After only a few kilometers, the climbs started. Yup, it's plural. And it got steeper and steeper. The climbs seemed endless for me. At one particular point, I actually stopped and stretched my thighs because I was afraid of getting cramps. Then I took the photos of the ever-winding climb.

Looking back

Looking forward, it's just the same - more climbing and with no end in sight

Below, someone left his sole

And so Oz and I pushed through. We pedaled our way through long climbs and brief descents. We powered through the "Black Wall" (because according to Oz, that was a point wherein cyclists would "black out" from exhaustion). I didn't blackout but I really had to stand up on my bike to be able to inch my way through that very steep climb. Shirley is by no means light. She's a voluptuous bike and I had to bring all her kilograms with me up that Black Wall. Remember that U-lock I was so thankful for? It just added more weight to Shirley's well-endowed body. There were several times when I wish I had another lower gear in my bike. But I just told myself, "The next gear is all in my legs". So I continued to climb on.

My double-edged sword 

I remember seeing posters of Padre Pio along the way, and eventually we were able to reach the crest of whatever mountain it was that we were climbing.

Boy was I glad to see this flat road

A few minutes upon reaching Brgy. Bayucan, rain started to fall. Upon reaching an intersection (what I believe now to be the intersection of the Tanay-Sampaloc Road and the Marikina-Infanta Highway), we took shelter in a carinderia. We refilled our water bottles and at some banana cue. We thought of eating rice but we figured that bananas are better for fuel. We still had a lot of climbing to do so we needed a quick source of energy.

(Not quite) sheltered from the rain

After a short rest, we headed out into the rain. Biking in the rain wasn't easy. It was really cold, especially when the wind blew. Then there was a stretch of downhill riding. When you're going downhill at 45kph, raindrops feel like needles poking the eyes. It wasn't a pleasant experience. I had to close one or even both of my eyes for a few seconds. Aside from the stinging rain, riding downhill is also dangerous because the slippery roads can make the turns very dangerous. We had to apply our brakes more often than than usual to control our speed. Eventually, our rims ate through our brake pads causing more difficulty in controlling our speed. 

We also did a lot more climbing, in the rain. We saw other bikers going through the same route. For a few kilometers, I tried to stay in contact with a group of 6 bikers. They said they came all the way from Fairview and they were doing the loop as part of their race training. On the climbs, I tried my best to stay in contact with their group but the task is harder on flatter roads. Shirley was simply to heavy compared to their aluminum bikes. So there were times when I was all alone on the climbs. I remember a time when I was passing through a road that cut through a mountain or is built in between two mountains. Aside from the falling rain and the sound of my chain, the road was quiet. It was serene and peaceful. It was actually at that moment that I thought to myself that I was in an awesome ride. There were also parts of the ride wherein the road is mostly covered with fog.

Eventually, I reached Cottage Gardens. I saw the biking team take a break so I joined them. They were waiting for one of their teammates who had brake problems. I opted to wait for Oz so we can go through Bosoboso and Cogeo together. The descents were dangerous so I wanted to know if he was safe. The bikers I was with were taking photos of the scenic view. Unfortunately, my phone was acting up so I wasn't able to take any photos.

The scene (via Kontedstories.com)

Me, the bikes, and the rainy scenery

So we went down from Garden Cottages and went up through Bosoboso. Around this time, I got really hungry so I stopped by a vegetable stand along the road and bought some cashew nuts. It was so cold that vendor remarked that my body was already smoking. After eating a handful of nuts and taking a swig from my water bottle, I continued my climb through Bosoboso. I stopped one more time mid-climb to stretch my thigh muscles. The cold weather was making my legs stiff so I needed to do the stretches to prevent my thighs from cramping up.

Before reaching Cogeo, I waited for Oz since I wasn't sure if I'd turn left at  the intersection. And so we rode through the busy streets of Cogeo. He warned me that the streets of Cogeo are unforgiving. True enough, after riding through its bumpy roads, my shoulders felt sore. Bad street conditions lead to a lot of vibrations on the bicycles. The wrists and shoulders absorb most of the shocks. So as we went through Cogeo and Marikina, I kept on shrugging my shoulders to help loosen them up.

Along Marcos highway, the homestretch of our trip, Oz decided to go through Temple Drive to cap off our ride. I wasn't particularly enthused by the idea of going through another climb but as always, I was up for it. Oz seemed to have a lot more energy in his legs than I do because I had to pedal a little harder just for me to catch up with him on the straight roads. Eventually, we got through Temple Drive and we parted our ways along Bonny Serrano.

110km in over 6hours of cycling

So far, this ride has been one of the best I've ever done. Obviously, I need to do more long rides like this. I've been such an urban cyclist, I sometimes forget the joy of riding in the open road. I look forward to more impromptu long rides like this. This ride was also a perfect way to break-in Shirley. I'll be bringing her on a tour and I target to ride 100km everyday. This was a good indication of how well Shirley and I work together. All I need to do now is to practice with her carrying more weight.

Things I learned from this ride:

1. Always bring one (or 2) water bottles.

2. For long rides with a lot of climbing, Mrs. F might be better than Shirley.

3. Leave the U-lock at home.

4. I need to get Shirley her own cyclocomputer.

5. I need a better phone for taking pictures.

6. Wear longer socks.

7. Buy a toe clip for that precious upstroke.

8. Bring energy gels on long rides.

The Route (this isn't exactly the route we took, but I guess this is near enough):

Create Maps or search from 80 million at MapMyRide