From Standard to 31.8

Code name Zagatrix asked if I have something to buy for my mountain bike because he was going go for window shop at the south bike shops for his dh rig. I gave him one thousand bux as budget for a dh handlebar for my freeride rig.

After 48 hours he came back with a 31.8 riserbar with the big "T". It was a nice high end part for a second hand price. Just lately I had time to install after two months due to unavailability of stem for the handlebar. I made a road test just this afternoon and made few adjustment of the angle and hight of the handlebar so as to compensate the feel from my old handlebar.

Now I have a better feeling with my new handle bar a li'l more away from breaking of the standard size handlebar.

My Brother's Bike

It was late November 2007 when my two brothers decided to build their own mountain bike! I decided to help them by inquiring parts and acquiring funds. We sold in game items in an online game and converted it to cash to purchase parts.

We were able to accumulate brand new and some good condition second hand parts. We acquired a Harro V3 frame, manitou splice fork, shimano xt deraileure, specialized xc rims..... The best part of the process was, some of my friends in biking community donated parts like headsets and chain guides. My special thanks to Code Name Lagum for giving advice and for his free use of his titec stem as a temporary stem, to Code Name Zagatrix for giving advice and parts.

Currently the bike was up and running for two weeks and we had fun trail riding and cruising downtown and up hill.

Only In the Rain There is Silence Defined as Freedom

I was Biking to the city proper while it was raining, I had fun pedaling my bike while watching and feeling the water splatter all over my face and jersey!

When I was in the city proper and drove along bike shops where other riders use to stay for past time and chat, I noticed that they where a li'l curious cause it's rare in our place to find a rider who always ride his bike under the rain.

As I passed by another shop, the owner that is not unknown to me called me and ask something regarding my spare parts at home, and he also asked me why do I ride my bike while it's heavy raining. I just said "I'm having fun and much more, only in the rain I fined silence defined as freedom"

Rain! Rain! Come And Play With Aerox

The Clouds was thick the air was hot!!! I stared at the sky, it looks like it's going to rain! I went to my room and geared up to go for a li'l trail. When I was out looks like the rain is at the city. I headed towards the dark cloud to play in the rain.

Disappointed to know that when I arrived at the city I found not a drop from the dark cloud! I rush into the streets while the traffic was high dodging the cars and gaps at the sidewalk. I made it back home safe with a smile on my face!

I had fun biking today without the rain! How I wish it would rain tomorrow by midday so as I can play with Mr. Rain!

Tour to Lake Agko "The Undying Spirit"

Friday night April 18, 2008 about 8p.m. I headed west toward Cotabato City at The Corpo Cycle Bike Shop. It's where I'm gonna sleep to conserve 15 minutes of energy and strength.

April 19, 2008 about 4a.m. rendezvous at Central Bank Of the Philippines Cotabato City Branch. Me and Codename Lagum where looking for a small stall of fast food to eat our early breakfast! It was a bad idea! for with didn't find any decent one!

Just as Lagum and I was thinking of any ways to pack our empty stomachs with food for energy, the president of CATBA arrived with packs and boxes of hot pastel (Rice and chicken meat rolled in a banana leaves) we were able to eat enough for a one and half hour of non-stop pedal towards Midsayap the first pit stop. We leaved Cotabato City at exactly 5a.m. on my watch heading Midsayap.

The average speed of the group was about 30 to 40 kilometers an hour just as I expected! I was behind with one of their slowest member mister attorney, both of us maintained a speed of 25 to 35 kph! That I decided to stick with so as not to get exhausted as early as 3 hours.

Lagum sticked with us after sensing that he cannot phase with the main group. We arrived at the first pit stop about 30 minutes late. The pit stop was for refueling purpose and re-energize ourselves with the prepared food and drinks by the group. Not merely breathing well the main group already launched just about 5 minutes after we arrived. We hurried our share food and drinks to keep phase with the main group. Sadly we were unable to keep in touch!

The coming roads were almost all uphill up to Pikit, Aleosan. Determined to reach Lake Agko we pedalled our mountain bikes constantly at a speed of 20 to 25 kph until a glimpse of yellow jerseys were on sight on the last climb! We made it to stick with the main group and manage to keep and maintain a 25 to 30kph till we arrived at the second pit stop, Kabacan!

The wheels keep buzzing again after a 20 minutes stop for rest and food! Just as almost I felt like dying under the heat of the sun and hot swirling wind on my face! I saw the flock of the group at the foot of the entrance towards Lake Agko! We were all advice to prepare and store a lot energy for the last trail is the worst of all! It's a 24 kilometers of rough climb!

The group headed uphill. And just as usual I was left behind, but this time I'm all alone for attorney rode the mini cruiser to the lake and Lagum was still strong enough and manage to pedal fast and leaved me behind!

At the point of last 5 kilometers of never ending climb the group settled for launch! After that launched I thought It's gonna a step over! But I was wrong! the trail was even steeper that I made it through the top 1 hour late! The steeper climb and rain shower was my companion for the last 3 kilometers for Lagum left me behind again! The president of the group waited for at the gate of the Lake and tease me "Here's our rider with the undying spirit"! But I find it as a compliment! For I made to the top with riding a engined machine! And the best thing is I brought with me a Freeride Mountain bike with twice the weight of their bikes!

The best part of the tour regardless of the sweet moments at the lake was, the going home! the steep made me experience a speed of about 50 kilometers an hour with a mountain bike!

Trip to Lake Agko

Two more nights and the trip is on! rolling towards Lake Agko! a lake where hot and cold springs exist!

It is a tourist spot about 146 kilometers from our hometown! And where gonna conquer it via two wheels and two legs!

On April 19, 2008 early in the morning we will set to go to the said lake it's about 5 to 7 hours of non stop pedalling!

Code name Lagum and Aerox are going to ride their freeride rig again although it's heavy it'll be a part of the challenge and nevertheless it'll be fun going home all the way from the top of the the Hill where the Lake is laid by nature. The rest of the group on convoy will be using a cross-country rig pretty fast and designed for speed and long distance biking!

God bless I hope and I pray that I'll be blogging next week a detailed information about the trip and about the Lake!