Wa nay Lubi-Lubi...Ur mAH hArT U mAh SoL...

2014 has come to a close and what a year it has been.

I was just celebrating and welcoming 2014 at Marco Polo with my friend and it seems it was only yesterday. A lot of things happened then, and boy it just blinked in a flash. A brand new year is around the corner.

One of the best thing this year is connecting more with my bicycle. Yes that is right, cycling!

Nothing beats the joy of riding a bike, feeling the air flowing through your skin, smiling down on rough roads and at times swallowing mud?

This year, I started to bike to work and from it I discovered how so many Cebuanos commute by bicycle to work and school. An ordinance was passed by the city council to build bike lanes and promote cycling, although I am not for this. Bike lanes in Cebu is premature and such a bad idea, they should first build and provide proper sidewalks for pedestrians. But I am all for bicycle commuting. A lot of work is need to make this acceptable to society, but we are on the right track.

Waiting for the green light.

Cebu has become more and more congested. A lot of people blame it on the increase of car sales, maybe true. However, interestingly we need to improve our traffic flow and make it more fluid. How? One, as mentioned above, is to provide sidewalks, one free from lamp posts, vendors and other obstacles. Improve drainage to avoid flooding. Implement traffic rules not just to four wheeled vehicles but strictly on motorcycles as well.  And, promote alternative transport like cycling and even walking.

Just before the year ended, I transferred to a new team within my company. A big change for me indeed. From being a team lead back to a individual contributor but with bigger responsibility and scope of work. The new team? What can I say? My new teammates are great, I feel very welcomed and the new atmosphere is a welcome change for me.

Mountain biking. I logged more kilometers this year or maybe because I started recording my millage that I feel I biked more, this thanks to numerous free apps available for smartphones. Sunday before Christmas, we rode down south going to Manipis trail in Talisay going uphill and down exiting at Minglanilla.  It was a sweet ride indeed, along the way we met a rather talkative biker whom we nicknamed the Giant Onano, Onana being the Cebuano term for dwarf. As a bystander commented, "ang imong bike Giant pero ang nag sakay kay onano". Total ride was 37.5 km in 5 hours. Pacing was rather slow, but allowed us for more chitchats. Our bike mate brought some sweets and cookies to share with the children we passed along the route.

 
                                                       
 

On Christmas, we had a charity night ride with my biking buddy. We packed our Osprey backpacks with food and some shirts. Rode around the city and shared our blessing to our less fortunate brothers and sisters. It was indeed a very good experience, putting smiles on strangers faces. Not even the pouring rain stopped us from pedaling. We may be drenched in rain but our spirits are high and warm. A genuine smile of happiness on a stranger is just priceless. So  we have planned to do this more often. Cannot wait for our next charity ride.

Last Sunday we pedaled for about 36kms +  looking for more trails and uphills to challenge ourselves. This time around we took a different route on the home stretch. Since there was a tropical depression, the sun didn't showed up, so much the better for us but still had some su burn after the ride. Took us about four (4) hours for the whole trip, along the way meeting more interesting people and places. We passed by a trio of cyclist, two were foreigners on 29er Santa Cruz bikes, drool. As usual we had our pancit bihon half way in our trip and soda to recover our sugar. After more chitchats and laughter we  started our way back home. This time the pacing was much faster but still a relaxing chill ride. 

It was a good long ride to end the year. Of course it wont be complete without meeting an interesting fellow. 

Since it is still the holiday season, we met a talented caroler. Pure home brew local talent at its best.

                  

The Weekend Road Trip

Over the weekend, I rode about 100+ kilometers on my bicycle. I never really log my distance covered before, and wow, that was great knowing how far you have biked. It somehow inspires you knowing you can cover those distances.

Last weekend my high school batch mate sent us a Facebook message inviting us (other batch mates) for a weekend ride to Danao City and back. From Cebu City to Danao it is about 30 kilometers. Without second thoughts, I said yes. It was a great idea. Getting reunited with some of your high school batch mates over bicycling is a great and fun idea to say the least.

So we meet up at eBlock 2 at Cebu I.T. Park at 5:30 am, and set for Danao at around 6 am. There were about 6 of us. After our high school years, this is the first time our paths crossed again. Before 8 am we were already at Danao City Fish port. We indulged ourselves to some softdrinks (sugar and liquid) to replenish our energy and of course breakfast and catching up. We had grilled pork and fish....satiable taste, isn't it?

After breakfast, we did some more of catching up with and chitchats of each one's life events and even discussing the possibilities of joining in triathlons. Hahaha, seriously? Come to think of it, it is in fact a great idea, it is not about winning, it is more about the experience, the fun, and finishing the race. Who cares if you finished last, as long as you finish and had fun then it is all good. And we agreed to meet up more regularly and do some weekend cycling. Looking forward to it already.

Just over past 8 am, we started pedaling back to Cebu City. This time to each was its own. It was like, we were racing back to Cebu. I was at a disadvantage as I was riding a Mountain bike, the rest were on Road bikes. Damn, wish I have a road bike too. Now, I am motivated to have one. Should start saving for a Cervelo R3. WIDE GRIN! Drool..

Bike to Work - Day 2

On my second time of biking to work, I feel a bit more confident braving the rowdy and unruly streets of Cebu. I said "unruly" because unfortunately, there are a lot of crazy drivers out there that have utter lack of regard for traffic rules. But, this is what makes biking to work more exciting and fun, and now, I look forward to commuting by bicycle more often.

Today though, I noticed, I was sweating more than during my first bike to work day. Maybe I was pedaling a lot faster today, and took me about 20 minutes for a 6 kilometer ride. It is great to know that you are not contributing to any irreversible damage to Mother Earth. Rather, you are helping save the environment with zero carbon footprint pedaling all the way to the office while burning fat!

Now, I don't really need to give more time to go to a workout or run a few kilometers, just hop on to my bike for my commute and I am keeping my self fit while saving on gas. However, I am not too sure yet if I can sustain this but I am looking forward to my next bike to work day. There are still a lot of reasons and issues that made me think I cannot sustain this activity.

1. Safety on the road
2. Rain
3. Fumes.

But other than that, it is worthwhile and fun. The best part of it is it will help me save money.
Read somewhere on the internet, "Car runs on money and make you fat, Bike runs on fat and saves you money" , funny but true.

I Want to Ride my Bicycle - Bike to Work Day 1

Finally I tried commuting to work via bicycle. Always thought of doing it but never did. My bike was solely for recreational activities, trail biking, uphill trails and weekend rides.

But today I rode my bicycle to work, and it was a very nice and cool experience. It only took me more or less 20 minutes for a 6 kilometer ride. If I drive, it will take me about 45 minutes or more from my home to office. By public transport, it is about 1 hour to 1 hr and 30 mins. Distance is quite short, but a lot of time is wasted on heavy traffic and stop lights for the multiple intersections you have to pass thru. Thus the longer commute time on public transport or by driving a car.

I had a lot of excuses then of not riding my bicycle to work. Below are a few.
1. I do not have a commuter bike that suits the city. (I own a Mountain bike)
2. I cannot be sweaty and smelly coming in to the office.
3. What if it rains?
4. It can be dangerous with all the crazy and un-courteous drivers out there.
5. I hate waking up early.

Leg stretch

Went for a spin last night on my beloved mountain bike with my biking buddy. We have a passion for pedaling and every time we have a chance, we go grab our gear and go for a spin.




Riding a bicycle on the city streets is a very different experience than on the mountain trails where we are so used to. It is even a more unique experience riding on nighttime where there are lots of glaring headlights, potholes, manholes and dark alleys. Yet all these are what makes night ride a different kind of fun and euphoria on your bicycle.




As my biking buddy and I have a passion for pedaling so do we love eating pizza at our favorite cafe. So by home stretch we stop for a hot freshly baked homemade special recipe pizza and below zero refreshing beer at their main branch just along Gorordo avenue. Perfect carbo loading after a sweaty spin around the city. In my opinion this is the best tasting thin crust pizza out there.

Why we love this joint is not only for their pizza and their support for local art and artist, but their support for a livable and sustainable Cebu. They have a bicycle rack for cyclist to park their wheels. This is why this stand out for me and my buddy, not only for their great pizza but for supporting alternative transport. And we being cyclist are advocates of alternative transport.

Local government should support and encourage alternative transport,
most specifically bicycles. To start, establishments should put bike racks to encourage more bicycle commuters. Better yet, it should be a requirement for all buildings and establishments to have one. Bicycles are easy to operate, has zero emissions and fun to ride with. Although it will still take years to have the buy in from everyone, but it is a start. Heck it will take more time for bikers to gain the respect on the roads from pedestrians and motorists.

For me and my bike buddy, we will continue to pedal the streets of Cebu (and drink more beers). Hoping that in our little way we are promoting for a more sustainable and livable city. Encouraging more to ride bicycles, appreciate the outdoors and reduce our carbon footprint. And someday we will see the change that we are advocating.

Keep pedaling! Cheers.