This was the plan: Leave home (Cavite) at around 6 A.M., pedal all the way to my parents’ house (Mandaluyong; 40km all road, on a mountain bike, with an 18-liter backpack for my extra shirts, slippers, and other small stuff), get my mom’s car (which I borrowed for the weekend to be used on Sunday’s race), drive to Aling Tina’s (San Mateo), meet up with Bri, and decide if we’ll tackle Shotgun hill first then do the track reading or vice versa.

I was able to leave around 6:30 A.M., due to my paranoia of leaving something behind and not being able to fully enjoy the ride.

On my way to Mandaluyong I felt tired. I wasn’t riding as fast I normally do. Then I realized maybe it was because of my full backpack… oh well… It took me 2 hours to get to my parents’ house.

As I was driving I started to get text messages from Bri. You see, he told me he’ll be leaving his house at around 6-6:30 A.M. He didn’t want to leave the house later in the morning, he said. That’s understandable. He has already rode around one part of the race track (I found out later on he didn’t know about the other part near the finish line), and he’s been waiting for me to arrive with nothing to do… I think.

I arrived at our meeting place, at Aling Tina’s Eatery, a little before 10:30 A.M. Looks like we’ll be climbing Shotgun Hill as the day starts to really heat up. Well, we don’t have any other choice.

As I was about to park I noticed a solo rider hydrating, walking around, all sweaty. And 2 more talking by their bikes. Then I recognized one of the bikes, an off-white Haro Sonix with blue blings. The owner had his back to me so I couldn’t see his face, but I was almost sure it was Cesar (a.k.a. Adrenalin).

After getting his attention and exchanging of greetings and introducing them to one another (Bri and Cesar) I find out Cesar’s done riding and was about to head for home. When I arrived he was just resting after his ride.

I joke around saying it was still early, and he should come with us. Our destination were Shotgun Hill then do a track-read for Sunday’s race. He agreed, and he continues saying it’s his way of paying back the times I ride with him around the Malipay trails before he goes to work.

After a quick preparation on my part — installing of tires, wearing of socks and shoes, leaving all unnecessary stuff from my bag in the car, applying sunblock, etc. — we took off. Upon reaching the junction which will tell you where we’ll head on to (right to The Wall or left towards Shotgun Hill) they ask me where to turn. I answer in a loud, “LEFT!” and they both groaned. I had to chuckle.

When we reach the gate indicating the start of the climb I checked my watch. 10:44 A.M., and I let Bri know, “10:44!” marking the start. And so we climb… and climb… and climb…

Bri knows my plan: to beat my personal record of climbing Shotgun Hill within 49 minutes of starting, without stopping.

Then I saw something up ahead that wasn’t there before. Half of the road was being cemented. Oh no, I thought! In no time this will all be one long, steep, winding, cemented road. Now where’s the fun in that? Booooooring! But nothing can be done and we continue climbing.

As we climb noises of heavy equipment hard at work can be heard in the distance. No doubt preparing the dirt road for cementation. These noises are ignored. 90% of concentration is given to spinning, keeping cadence, and balancing while moving forward at 0 k.p.h.

The noise becomes louder… nearer… and when I look up I see a bulldozer on the road up ahead flattening a fairly steep section approaching a steep curve. We can’t stop. Bri and I continue riding to the left of the bulldozer.

The summer heat and weather turned the soil powdery and it now became thicker due to the bulldozer. Looser and powdery soil surrounds the bulldozer. We continue spinning… spinning… feeling the cranks become heavier. I look down and make sure the soil isn’t wet. It was starting to feel like pedaling in thick, sticky mud. I checked my gears, I was in granny. Why the heck are the cranks so damn heavy, I thought.

I groan loudly, letting Bri know I was having a hard time. He does the same. Then my crank stops turning however hard I try to pedal. I almost fell, but I was quickly able to unclip from the pedals and dismount. A split second after I hear Bri unclipping, too.

“Argh!” I shout.

We started pushing our bikes out of the newly bulldozed and powdery soil. As soon as we’re on more stable and hard-packed ground we mount immediately and start pedaling. I look back to check on Cesar and see him pushing his bike at the start of the bulldozed soil. Good, he’s safe, I thought, so I continue pedaling.

Frustrated and helpless I concentrated again on pedaling. I know this has affected my attempt to break my personal record but I was still intent on finding out if I can break it even with 1 unavoidable dismount.

Bri was slowly widening the gap between us making me want to tie a tow strap around his seatpost and the other end around my handlebar, but I didn’t have a tow strap with me. Heh…

Other distractions (obstacles?) came in the form of trucks — dump trucks and cement mixers — that disturb the soil and dirt leaving clouds of dust and exhaust smoke in their wake making it harder to breathe. Nothing can be done so I continued pedaling.

When I finally reach the first recovery section where the road flattens and descends I shift to the middle ring while I recover. I was still aiming to beat my 49-minute record. The downhill portion of the road is a welcome sight. I plan to ride down as fast as my guts will allow (which isn’t really fast, haha!) and hopefully this will shave a few good minutes off my final time.

Before the road starts its ascent I shift back to the smallest ring, a little too late than my normal practice and I’m grateful it shifted perfectly allowing me to continue riding. Bri was nowhere in sight. Damn, he’s fast…

Uneventful riding brought be to the last part of the Shotgun climb where the road again flattens with very little short and gradual climbs. I shift to the middle ring again to make the bike move faster. I need to really pedal hard and fast here so I can beat my old time.

Then I saw Bri riding the other direction. As I get near him I asked, “You going down again?”

“I got no more strength left!”

I laugh but I continued trying to ride hard and fast.

When I reached the gate marking the end of the climb I saw it was closed. How are we going to get through if it’s locked, I though, taking note of the huge padlocks. We’ll deal with that later, I thought to myself then quickly and gently I hit the gate with my front tire, while braking, and I check my watch immediately. 11:32 A.M.

I do a quick calculation. 48 minutes? Against my old record of 49 minutes? I laugh out loud!

I do know I didn’t beat it technically, because of the dismount. So I will be back. Hopefully soon.

As Bri and I were resting my phone started ringing. It was an unidentified number, but I kind of knew who it was.

“Hello?”

“Where are you guys? This is Cesar.”

“We’re here waiting for you. Are you OK?”

“Yeah, I’m OK. I had a flat and I don’t have my tire pump with me.”

I shake my head…

“You want me to help you out? I have a tire pump, I’ll ride back down to you…”

“It’s OK, I already found help. Just wait for me there.”

“OK. See you.”

Then I relay the fact Cesar hadn’t brought his tire pump to Bri, emphasizing the fact he needs it right at that moment.

When he finally arrives I asked him, “What have you learned today?” He just smiles and explains why he didn’t bring his tire pump.

After resting and taking a pic (photo above) we continue on to the main purpose of this ride: for me to survey the race track. Bri told us we’ll be entering a single track usually used by downhillers, but it’s rideable XC style. Just proper body weight shifting is needed.

This track will bring us directly to the entrance of the technical section of the racetrack, without having to ride through the boring dirt roads.

I welcomed this suggestion as I haven’t ridden this track yet. I almost crashed in one steep/deep section as I was being cautious since it was my first time. My tires slipped against the sloping sides and I was able to dismount, but I almost lost my balance. We both shouted out a warning to Cesar to be careful and to inform him I was still blocking the track.

Then a wider area with a good, nice single track climb. Then all was smooth sailing until we exited and reached the cemented road. Across this is an arrow/marker letting us know the race tracks enters that trail and Bri informs me this is the start of the technical portion of the whole race track.

Single-tracks, wider-than-single-tracks with deep ruts to one side effectively forcing you to pick the higher ground for your line, roots, rocks, a small creek crossing that exits to a clump of baby heads (rocks rooted in the ground as big as baby heads) and fairly huge but rideable boulders, a short and sudden climb up, slight incline that curves to the right and becomes steeper and steeper, then a steeper yet climb with roots snaking across the track.

It’s a fun section but scary if you’ll be riding it with a lot of racers all vying to win.

This techy section exits to another slight uphill dirt road. The only way to recover is to really slow down. During the race you will have to make a decision: rest, recover, and pedal slowly, risking being overtaken OR forget about recovery and try to still pedal as hard and as fast as you can, right after the tiring single-track section. I’ll decide on race day.

When we reach an intersection where the track needs to go straight (going the direction we were going) and a left turn from the opposite direction (where the first part of the racetrack is; going straight you will be met with other racers until that intersection) Cesar and Bri decided to rest and wait for me there, if I still want to do that loop.

So from our direction I turn right into that dirt road (during the race we will be turning LEFT as we will be coming from the opposite direction) and try to ride as hard and as fast as I can. It was a fun and satisfying run, especially the downhill portions as I was able to really ride fast, then I turn right again into the techy single-track section.

I exit at the other end and ride the inclined dirt road the 2nd time and reach Cesar and Bri. They mount as I arrive and we continue to ride the track.

Cesar showed me where the starting line will be, after which we proceeded to the Banyan Crest area of the track, where the Kids’ and Women’s categories will run, but will also be a part of my category’s track.

Since this section will only loop within this area Cesar warned me of a confusing section of this track and told me he’ll wait with Bri in the shade since he has already ridden this twice and he’s tired from riding.

This part of the track surprised me! Really tight turns that running with the bike would be faster. My problem is I haven’t tried and practiced mounting my bike while running so I opted to ride the “maze” instead of running.

Then the climbs are also tiring, 2 downhill sections look scary for kids. The first one I almost fell during the race as the ground was loose and dry.

But it was still a fun and welcomed track after all the wide dirt roads.

Once I was done we all started riding towards Aling Tina’s Eatery where we consumed 2 big bottles of Mountain Dew, with Bri ordering a small extra one for himself.

After preparing to leave and putting my bike in the car I drove off looking for Cesar and Bri. The plan was I will follow them in the car while they pedal all the way to Cesar’s house and we’ll have lunch at his place.

But Bri declined during the ride and went his way as we reached Cesar’s subdivision gate.

To Bri and Cesar: thanks for the company, and thanks for the lunch, Cesar

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