I signed up for the 20th Century Ride of Cycling Advocates (CycAd) last Feb 22, 2015 and I have to say it was everything I expected it to be and more! The ride was to go from the KKK Shrine at Manila City Hall to Bacoor, Cavite then up to Ternate via the Centennial Highway, through Kaybiang Tunnel, then down to Nasugbu in Batangas, before going up Tagaytay then down again to Manila via Aguinaldo Highway. I was able to read a bit about the ride from the internet as the famous blogger Lakwatsero had already undertaken the ride to Kaybiang Tunnel and made a blog entry about it. So armed with this knowledge, I was confident that I would be able to finish such a ride. And with an upcoming ride to Baguio with our bike club coming up soon, this ride would be the perfect opportunity to train and gain valuable ride experience.
I made sure to register on the 13th so that I could get my hands on the event jersey the week after. The P600.00 fee included an event jersey, two snacks, and lunch. A medical team was on hand and SAG support vehicles for riders who would not be able to finish the ride. It wasn't a bad deal especially given the logistics of such an event.
I started training in earnest on Feb 16-19 by biking to Monterey Hills every morning and doing some floor exercises to strengthen my core. I had already made a list of stuff that I would be bringing along and made sure that my bike was up to spec for the ride. But all that training didn't even really prepare me for the ride ahead of me..
Feb 20 and 21 I made sure to get as much rest as possible. I bought all the needed supplies and made sure to prepare everything beforehand. My original plan was to get a cheap motel room in Manila on the night of the 21st so that I would have ample rest for the early morning ride on the 22nd. But I ended up deciding to make the early morning ride from Marikina to Manila City Hall. I woke up at 245am and got ready. Eating instant noodles for breakfast with coffee really got me all warmed up and ready to go. I was on the road at 330am with my Cyclometer GPS app recording my entire ride.
I made it to Manila City Hall around 440am after clocking 21km on my app. I was supposed to meet up with a fellow TPC member (sir Timothy18) who would be registering onsite. And past 5am he was already there and we were there with a third TPC member (sir eapi_tech) who would be riding with us as an unregistered bandit. We were all set to go since the original plan of the organizers was for the ride to start at 5am but for whatever reasons, the ride pushed forth at 6am.
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| Picture taken at the KKK Shrine as we were about to head out. |
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| With sir Tim as we were heading to Centennial Highway. Photo by eapi_tech. |
We took our first break on the climb to Puerto Azul. I had already finished my first pack of peanut butter sandwiches, thrown away my disposable bottle of water, and was about to finish my first bottle of coconut water. I had already done about 80km of riding at that point and we had a long way to go. The climb was tough as the sun was starting to shine brightly with nary a cloud in sight. We took our second break at the entrance to Puerto Azul and snapped some pics before heading out again. My going up was painfully slow as my companion easily left me behind over and over as he was riding a road bike that was a lot lighter than my 13.5kg commuter. He would always go up ahead and I would be finding him waiting for me at some point a bit later. So much for all my training! Ahahahahaha!
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| Last pic as we were about to head out again. |
We reach the first refreshment station just before going into Kaybiang tunnel past 10am, and this is where we get to restock up on water and eat up on boiled bananas! We are told that it's going to be a short climb to the tunnel then it's going to be a long downhill from there.
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| Still looking energetic there.. |
At the tunnel we take some snaps then proceed to cross over to Batangas province. At the other side, I lose my balance as I go over some speed bumps and end up on the ground! Luckily for me I was going very slowly and there were a lot of people there to help me. After taking a short rest and evaluating the extent of my injuries, we decide to push forward! We take a few snaps before we go and take in the beautiful sights ahead of us.
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| With sir Tim at the tunnel entrance. Photo by sir eapi_tech. |
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| Hell yeah! |
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| The exit of the tunnel where I took an untimely spill.. |
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| The beautiful coastal scenery that greets you after you exit the tunnel. |
We make it down to a cove and take on a long uphill road to Looc town. By this time I was really struggling as I was greatly affected by my injuries. But fortunately I had already taken one of my tramadol tablets and the pain was kept to a minimum. We make it to Looc town past 12 noon and we take our badly needed lunch and refill our water containers. After drinking some Mountain Dew, we push on to Nasugbu and battle the midday sun and headwinds. It was a long ride through flat country roads until we reached Nasugbu and proceed to the long climb to Tagaytay.
The early afternoon climb to Tagaytay was the real test to our mettle as bikers as most of us were already running on our reserves. My initial estimate was that we would be in Tagaytay by 4pm but as we pedaled on, it was becoming clearer and clearer that I would not be making it there on time. I tell my friend Tim to go ahead since I was slow going and he was clearly faster than I was on the pedal. By 4pm I was very sleepy and was finding it hard to stay awake on the bike. So I eventually found a closed store with a table and bench out front and took a nap! I was able to sleep for about 10 minutes or so before going off again. I reach the second refreshment station shortly thereafter and stock up on water and gorge on boiled bananas. It was a really welcome sight! The SAG vehicles arrive shortly before I left and I confidently tell them that I won't be riding on the vehicles as I intended to finish the ride on my own power. I wave to them and pedal on my way up to Tagaytay.
The whole time I was going up to Tagaytay, I must have taken about 6 to 8 rest stops. At Mendez town, I drank my first bottle of Cobra energy drink and pushed forward to Tagaytay city. I enter the city by 6pm and quickly find a nice place to take some snaps to mark my efforts. I receive a text message from Tim that he has already gone ahead and will be pushing towards Manila. I reply to him to go on ahead and that I was fine and will be heading for Manila soon enough. After eating the last of my chocolate bars, I decide to make the return trip to Manila all on my own. It was already getting dark and I had already put on my reflector vest and turned on my helmet blinker.
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| Found an awesome spot to take some snaps at Tagaytay |
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| One of my few selfies.. |
On the way down to Dasmariñas on Aguinaldo Highway, I see some fellow riders who are also on the return ride to Manila. Most of them are also tired and are looking forward to finishing the ride. I eventually reach Salitran in Dasmariñas at 720pm and take my dinner at a roadside restaurant. After eating my fill of grilled chicken and two cups of rice, I ask for a refill of water and resume my ride at 8pm. By this time my body was already hurting all over and the injuries I got from the spill earlier were already making things difficult for me. I buy another two tramadol capsules and pray to God that they will be enough to get me home.
I pass a pickup full of weary riders in Bacoor and wave to them as I push forward to Manila. I pass by another pair resting along Zapote and goad them on to continue riding. And as I entered Quirino Avenue in Pasay, I was happy to know that there were a few who were having a harder time than me and this made me feel confident that I would be able to make it home safely. My Cyclometer app reading was 210kms and with this I made the decision not to go back to Manila and instead go straight home via Bonifacio Global City. Quota na! With this decision, I make the right turn to Airport Road and just as I was resting at one of the gates along Villamor Airbase, my dad calls me up at 945pm to check up on me. I tell him that I'm fine and that I'm on my way home. I make a stop at the gate of Bonifacio Global City to drink a bottle of Cobra Energy Drink as I see a pack of riders from Cainta pass me by without seeing me. I quickly overtake them inside the camp as the energy from the drink numbs my pain and I push forward. I cheer them on as I passed and they ring their bells to acknowledge my greeting.
I enter Marikina around 1020pm and slowly inch my way home as I relax knowing that I am riding on familiar roads. I quickly remind myself not to get too confident as most riders often get into accidents just when they are close to the finish line. This wakes me up and I pick up the pace knowing that home is just a few minutes away. 1045pm and I'm already at Barangay Concepcion when my dad rings me up again to ask where I was? I tell him that I am very close and that he should not worry. He hangs up after getting confirmation that I'm okay and I smile to myself - glad that my dad had been worried about me. It felt nice to know that someone was at home thinking about me. It made me wonder if my wife would have called me up to check on me had we still been together..
I make it home at 1055pm and my Cyclometer app read 241kms. Not bad for a day of riding. I hurt all over and I couldn't believe that I had just gone through all that in a span of a day. I was thinking to myself if this was comparable to my Audax ride last July 2014, and I decided that this one was different and difficult in its own way. I pass up on dinner and opt to wash my face and change into more comfortable clothes. All I could think of at that point in time was how much I wanted to sleep! Ahahahahaha!
Thinking about it now, if you would ask me if I'd do any of those rides again, I'd say YES in a heartbeat! I can't wait to do it again! I may not be a fast rider, but I know that I have what it takes to finish such a ride. And that in itself is an achievement. =)
Keep on biking!
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