Valleybikes

25/04/2024

Marikina valley gettin it done!

The construction of a bike parking with facilities for bicycle users in Marikina City earned praise from the local online community. A social media

23/04/2024

Round Bangkok with Just Nok Bike Tours
Thank you, Nok for the wonderful bike experience.

23/04/2024

Bangkok bike tour with JustNok bike tours. Saw and experienced stuff that normal tourists won't see on a regular city tour.
Really thankful that Nok showed and taught me Thai traditions and beliefs.
Fun ride despite the heat.
Saya, sarap, arrai!

21/01/2024

E.Z.

14/01/2024

Tambs

11/01/2024

Radical Rick.
CTTO.

29/12/2023

BMX mountain bike build=
Surly Instigator, Fox 34, Sunrise bar, Shimano slx drivetrain, Maxxis DHF and DHR, Oury grips and Brooks C15.

Grateful for this build.
Here's to more builds for 2024!

24/12/2023

Ride for noche buena.
Went to Filinvest to chill with my South cholos.

27/11/2023

Rode around the city with RCC and Oscar's biker friends in celebration of LG2's 20th anniversary.

Thanks to Michael who gave me a missing link when I broke my chain.
Apir!

Thank you also for the yummy breakfast. Cheers!

25/11/2023

Congrats to the awardees!

Two cities from Luzon and one in Visayas were recognized as the most bicycle-friendly cities in the Philippines this year, according to the Mobility Awards.

04/11/2023

Goals!

Aston Martin and titanium bicycle leader J.Laverack unite to create an innovative road bicycle handcrafted in the UK exceeding anything seen before Laverack Aston Martin .1R developed by high-performance designers with experience of Aston Martin’s sportscar and hypercar projects Offering a truly b...

22/09/2023

MARINDUQUE MINDSET

Sept 15- 17, 2023

If you want something done, write it down. Chances are, before you know it, it will materialize and come true. Marinduque loop started out as a goal for looping an island. Our little tribe of Mountain Goats wanted to loop Mindoro but we have never done it via bicycle. The island next to Mindoro is much smaller and must be easier to accomplish. After lots of research and ogling at Google maps, the road around the island attracts us like a gravel road attracts a gravel bike.



To have an eccentric plan, you need to have a village to execute it. In this case, one just needs a couple of bikers with a sense of adventure and time to execute the plan. It’s really nothing new. Bikers have done the loop; it is not extra ordinary… but this Marinduque bike loop is very special because of the perfect timing. Timing is everything. It separates this ride from other rides; thus making it AWESOME.



We wanted to make this a fun and easy ride. There were climbs around the island and it was more than 130 kilometers to loop Marinduque. So, what would you need to make a ride like this FUN?

1. Invite excellent ride mates.

2. Prepare your bike (so that there would be no mechanical failures)

3. Plan ahead your itinerary.

4. Pack right. (bring essentials only!)

5. Train your mind and body for the ride ahead.



Weapon of Choice

This is the first all road expedition that we shall ride. Being mountain bikers, our crew were used to knobby tires and suspensions. Since the Marinduque Loop would be an all road tour, a gravel/ touring bike is the logical weapon of choice. Since I do not have a gravel bike, it was a toss up between my full sus OR my old school full rigid mountain bike. I opted for the rigid bike with 26 x 2.3 tires for this journey. There were no racks, so I had to pack light for the 3-day adventure. I strapped my tsinelas on the down tube of the frame, (to lessen my backpack load) and was ready to roll. I had two water bottles, extra clothes, quick drying towel, and lots of snacks.

Some of our ride mates brought a lot of gear like tents, sleeping bags and cooking gear. But the plan was to ride and have fun, so we all agreed to check in resorts to spend the night. In trips like these, money is essential so you can buy food and other stuff that would bring happiness.

Whatever your weapon of choice is, always remember, you are responsible for it. Use whatever you want. It is your adventure.





How to

We rode the JAC Liner bus in Kamias, Quezon City going to SM Lucena/ Dalahican port. Bus fare is 324 pesos plus 100 pesos for the bike fee. We rode the 2am bus so we arrived in Quezon port at 5:30 am. The bus ride was a chance to rest and get some Zzzzzzs. When we arrived at the port, the Roro was there already and boarding. We paid the port fee, boarded our bikes into the Roro and we were off to Marinduque. (Roro fee was 425 php per person)

When we arrived in Port Balanacan, the serenity and beauty of Marinduque greeted our merry group. We ate breakfast and then pedaled south to Mogpog. It was a great way to start the ride for it was a climb towards town. When we reached the town proper, we had lunch in the local restaurant. We tried the local delicacy called Karikari (tastes like dinuguan).

We continued on our journey, going southwest until we reached the coastal road. We stopped often, taking breaks before long climbs making our pace really slow. We met a biker and chatted with him. He was very enthusiastic and accommodating that he even volunteered to guide us. We reached Sweetlips (3000 per night, two rooms with aircon) resort overlooking Bellaroca island. We bought a big fish (300 per kilo) and had it cooked by the locals. The hut we stayed in was really comfortable and we slept early for the ride the next day.

Day 2

We rode Northeast to Poctoy beach to eat lunch there. The view was priceless. The beach was pristine and the sand was really fine. When there was a climb, we stopped under a tree, cracked some jokes and pushed on. There was really no pressure in the group. Nobody was in a hurry because we knew that this was a bike-cation for everyone to enjoy.

We reached Buyabod port and left our bikes on the secure port. We rented a boat to bring us to Maniwaya Island. It was a short 20 minute boat ride to Wawie’s resort. We rented a cabana by the beach (2000 php) and had dinner at Wawie’s restaurant.

Day 3

The next day, our boatman arrived to bring us to the Palm sandbar. We had a fun morning in the sandbar and we went back to Maniwaya Island to eat breakfast and get ready for the third day of riding.

When we were back in Buyabod, we loaded our bikes and started off to go back to Port Balanacan. We stopped in the town proper and met new local friends. We ate in Sta. Cruz and bought some pasalubong. We reached Buyabod just in time for the last Roro to Dalahican. We ate our baon and drank some beer to celebrate our three fun days.

More bike talk about the past three days in the slow boat to the mainland. Once in Lucena, we boarded the bus back to Manila and called it a GREAT ride!



Conclusion

If you want to ride your bike, just plan it and then do it. Nobody cares about what bike you use. Just make sure it does not break down in the middle of the ride, so keep it in tip top shape. I had my bike serviced and oiled for the epic journey. It is an old mountain bike (26ers aint dead!) and I had the hub serviced and greased. I packed my bag right (due to lack of panniers) and light. I did not bring anything that would make it heavy.

Also, ride with people with the same wavelength. The ride would be much more fun if you are all on the same page. Rest if you must. Do not stress yourself. Just go out there and ride! Have a blast!

Ye!

09/09/2023

Ye, go bike QC!

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte wants a 350-kilometer bike network before her second term ends in 2025. Assistant city administrator Alberto Kimpo, in an interview, said the mayor has instructed him to provide more bike lanes across the city that shall provide better stops for cycling facilities link...

27/08/2023

31/07/2023

Why am I happy when I bike to work?

23/07/2023

Sarap sa U.P.

20/07/2023

Live life with balance.
Bike to work, para enjoy!

12/06/2023

As a bike commuter, it is very heart warming to see bike parking racks in establishments because it is a clear sign that cyclists are welcome in that place.

The more bike parking racks in the city, the more bicycle commuters there will be.

08/06/2023

Mountain goat in the urban jungle

25/05/2023

Solid magride sa ulan🌧.

Basta importante, ligo 💦 agad pagkauwe (kasi maputik ka at para di magkasakit).

Then dinner.
Rapsa haybu

21/05/2023

Old skool ride sa sapa

28/04/2023

Rest under a tree. Daming oxygen.

23/04/2023

Philippine Bicycle Demo & Expo highlights.
We appreciate the organizers for creating an event like this for the pinoy cyclists. 🙌apir!!

Daming biker friends, daming magandang bikes at masaya sya.
Happy Earth day, biker friends! Cheers!

19/04/2023

UP Diliman sunken garden getting ready for the Philippine Bicycle Demo & Expo on April 21, 22 & 23.
Ride the bikes you want. Try and try till you...

17/04/2023

Astig ka men.

13/04/2023

Biking and chilling

Biking also is a happy alone time for some. It helps one think OR sometimes, not think. People have their own method when riding, yet the focus that cycling brings to a person can be harnessed to help you in achieving your meditation goals. It can bring balance within.