Today’s destination: The Shotgun Trail in San Mateo, Rizal (though, this isn’t the original plan, but it’s nearby). This will be my first time to ride this trail as it’s quite far from where I live and ever since I started mountain biking I always bike from home (I only started last year, almost the same time as when fuel prices were climbing — though that’s not the reason why I started biking).

Today is also the day when I would need to return my mom’s car, which I borrowed over the holidays because my car needed a new clutch pedal (yes, the pedal). And since I will be bringing the car to my parents’ place I thought why not accept the invitation to ride, then return the car afterwards? So that’s what I did.

Days before today I have been texting and asking the other guys from the Backout Boys if they would like to join me on this ride, since I know we seldom venture up north I thought it would be a welcome break to ride a different trail than the trails we are so damn used to (NBP, Malipay, Paliparan, Bokiko, Sta. Rosa trails, etc.). Jun P. agreed right away to join. Rommel C. said he’ll check with his wife if they didn’t have any plans for today (they did so he wasn’t able to join), some expressed interest then remembered a prior commitment, some thought it was too far (true, but then I would be going north to return the car, so I decided to kill two birds with one stone).

Anyway, Jun and I rode in a convoy from Alabang to Aling Tina’s Eatery in San Mateo where we met with our hosts Mark, Kenneth, Hubert, and Dr. Raffy — all my friends and fellow members of the Vitara Club of the Philippines.

When everyone was set (except me, I wanted to have breakfast before heading off, but everyone was raring to go) we started pedaling towards the trail head.

When we reached the trail head everyone took a quick breather, shifted to the granny (smallest chainring) and one by one we started pedaling uphill.

Though lacking in technical obstacles the Shotgun road made up for it with its looong, steep, and uneven (uncemented) incline.

Our group of 6 got separated. As much as possible I didn’t want to stop climbing (I was just challenging myself) and Jun decided to stay on my tail. I found out later on from Mark and Hubert while eating at Giant, Kenneth and Dr. Raffy rode together while Mark and Hubert took up the rear.

With Jun and I being first-timers in this area and the first of our group to reach the top we just decided to follow where the tracks lead us. On the flats we slowed down, talking, then a group overtook us, followed by a smaller group of 4. Since the track was a gradual downhill these 2 groups were rolling fast. We decided to follow them, thinking they were on the way to Giant.

After the downhill portion came the small and easy uphill climb and the dirt road became cemented. Then I heard the only girl rider ask her group, “I thought we were going to Giant…?” Uh, oh, I thought. This isn’t the way to Giant. So I asked her where the way to Giant is, and she invited Jun & I to tag along, since her group (the smaller one) is also on their way there.

So we turned back and instead of climbing up the slight downhill portion we just rode we took the path going right (I didn’t notice this track at the bottom of the downhill portion).

When we arrived at the junction of where we came out and the old/usual route going to Giant we took a breather and introduced ourselves to each other. After a few minutes Enzo, who is in the Philippines in a semi-vacation, shouted in mock anger, “LET’S GO! I’m so hungry! I’ll treat you all to lunch!” and who am I to decline, I am a first-timer here?

At the resto-store in Giant Enzo treated us to corned beef with rice, then followed spicy pancit sprinkled with tuna. I don’t normally eat spicy food but the pancit was great!

When we were done Mark and Hubert arrived. That’s when we found out Kenneth and Dr. Raffy weren’t with them, as they also thought they were with us! With the very weak and erratic cellphone signal at Giant we just thought maybe they’ll get there eventually.

While the 2 late-comers were eating we received a text message from Dr. Raffy informing us Kenneth took a spill. He endo’d somewhere and they decided to head back home without us.

We also found out Whreachelle (the girl rider who guided Jun & I to Giant) led us through a different and easier route from where we met than where Mark and Hubert went through, no wonder their bikes were all muddy.

But then, maybe as some sort of retaliation for being able to keep our bikes relatively clean Mark decided to lead us through the muddy sections going back to our vehicles. Since we didn’t have any choice we just decided to deal with it and laugh at the mud splashing on our bikes. We tried not to think of the cleaning up afterwards!

When we got to Aling Tina’s (where our cars were parked) we decided to have coffee before heading home. It was a nice and satisfying ride, though I found it too early to have finished (we left Aling Tina’s at 2 PM), but then I still had errands to do.

And yes, I will go back and try the Shotgun trail without stopping… Will I be able to do it? I’ll let you know.

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• Bato-bato-pick
• [VIDEO] Philmofo’s Southern Attack
• Sanitarium: The Video
• [June 12, 2010] Phoenix Freedom Ride
• DH Day

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