To all my friends and love ones...

Ahon nanaman?!?! vs. Yes! Ahon nanaman!

I searched for tips and techniques on the web about riding uphill since I'm having a terrible time keeping up when riding inclines. If you're mountain biking, chances are you'll come into contact with a rather steep hill, yung galit at mas galit na steep hill. Here are some tips that I found...

1. Practice on gradual ascents before you try a steep climb. Shift into a low gear (Granny: matanda = mabagal...lolz), and experiment until you know which gears feel comfortable on various inclines.

2. Parse the climb into several sections in your mind to avoid being overwhelmed by the miles ahead.

3. Lean forward and keep your back straight while you climb. Keep pressure on your front wheel by leaning on your handlebars. This helps maintain traction.

4. Lean even more on your handlebars if it feels like your front wheel is lifting off the ground - this often happens on extremely steep climbs.

5. Hunch over the handlebars and push your weight into both wheels for steep pitches. Pedal like there's no tomorrow.

6. Keep your legs and arms flexed, but avoid locking your joints.

7. Consider standing up to pedal to break the monotony and exercise different muscles during longer climbs.

8. Switch into a higher gear, and raise yourself into a standing position as you pedal.

9. Keep your weight centered above your pedals and press down on your handlebars as you pedal standing.

10. Practice! Practice! Practice!

Other Tips & Warnings

- If you're tired...Walk! Si Lance Armstrong nga nilalakad yung ibang uphill. See Lance Armstrong at Leadville 2008

- If all else fails, pahinga muna anak baka mag collapse ka.

- Dont look far ahead. Focus your eyes about 5 feet from your front wheel para di ka mawalan ng gana.

- Mind over body...Ahon nanaman?!?!

- Lighter people tend to get more out of standing. Heavier cyclists are more efficient when they hunker down and pedal.
- Prepare by drinking lots of water and eating high-energy foods like Banana. For climbs that last more than an hour, bring along a sports bar or gel to keep your energy level high. Though I havent tried this one yet. Taking energy drinks like Baccus or Red bull also helps.

- Get lots of rest before you ride. Unlike me, I do it after my graveyard shift. Kaya nanghihina agad :(

- Standing takes more energy, so use it with discretion.
- Wear a helmet.

Mainang - Dapdap - Malasa

Another long ride with Jogs and Avie.

MTBTrek04 121108

Sitio Mataba

Last thursday morning, undertime ulit. We (Avie syempre) plan to head for the famed "waterfalls." This time, conserve energy muna kaya nandaya muna kami. From the back of Mimosa to the "pader" kaso pabalik...downhill. No effort at all. lolz. No sweat! The good part pa e it was a cloudy day. Nice weather for trail riding :)

We went ahead to Sacobia then turned left papuntang Gawad Kalinga... It was amazing! Great view! Great beer! nyek... We "kinda" asked around where the falls is. Awed by the view, we took a wrong turn. Actually, we didn't turn at all. Hehehe. We went straight. Until we got to the steep road going to the sapa... and more sapa... more dirt & bush. Its like we're in the middle of Jurassic Park. No cellphone signal. Approx. 12km from Mt. Pinatubo.

Time to go back and try again next week.

More pix here ... MTBTrek03 120408

Ride Again...

After our dreaded first ride with Jogs 2 weeks ago, we filed 2 hours undertime in order for us to start early. We started at 6 am this time. Almost the same route except for the dreaded "pader" plus our first downhill rough road trail ride. Weeeeeeee! kakatakot! Afraid! lolz :) That was at Gawad Kalinga. It's a small village populated by Aetas. We went there while waiting for Jogs to arrive. Di naman kasi makakapasok si Jogs dun e.

Pumunta lang kami sa harap and ask around about the place. For the following weeks trail *wink*

This is also the first time I had a flat tire! Buti nalang I had a spare interior at nandun si Jogs "the vulcanizer" hihihi. Stupid me...I tried to jump about 10 inches na ledge sa expo. Kaso na clip yung rear tire ko at nawala pa grip ko sa pedal. Muntik na si Little Leo ko... grrrr!

A couple of pix here ... MTBTrek02 112708

50k Ride

Whew first time! A 4 hour long ride with Avie and Jogs. From 9am to 1pm. Spanning the road from Angeles (my apartment) to clark then to eTelecare around Fontana... then down to the "ocho" road along expo filipino going to Sacobia bridge. Uphill... downhill... my leg hurts. Knees stiff. Feet numb. Teka! teka! let's have a short rest. Wasak nako! Picture picture muna....

Ooopsss! Enough...Uphill ulit to the Helipad...Sto. Nino, Bamban aka Little baguio . Then picture picture ulit...feeling Sam Hill.

Tara uwian na... dko na kaya :( Aray ku po! Let's walk muna....puff!


There's still more??? ... the dreaded "Wall" aka PADER. Approx. 4km long steady rise between Sacobia river and the back area of fontana. Mind breaking!

You can click here for more pictures ... MTBTrek01 112008

Next week ulit...

Gear Masher is online!

Start Blogging now... MTB newby here... this is my blog.