Thanks kid.

I had an awesome day and it started out badly.

First off, I had to get up at 3:50AM to make the 5AM ride out. I swear by all that is holy, every time I have to wake up that early, I allot around twenty minutes just convincing myself to actually get up, stop being miserable, and get on the bike.

Second, I had already met up with the group and we were riding out to pick up our buddies at different places en route to the highway, when I realized I had forgotten to wear, or even bring, my gloves. Not great when you're about to go on a 100++ kilometer ride

Third, I flatted twice. The rear wheel first, and an hour later the front wheel. I was so flustered fixing the rear wheel, I installed the tire with the threads on backwards. With only about sixty kilometers to go.

But right now, at the end of this day, I look back and feel euphoria. It's the endorphins for sure, but there's a high to be gotten from just spending a day on the bike with good people.

I love these guys I bike with. And I don't even know them all that well. I'm only starting to know what they do for a living or who they're married to. I don't even have all their mobile numbers. It's all Facebook now. I met them late last year on a invite of a friend, and all the rides I've been on with them have just been body-crushing, soul-lifting adventures. We've biked from Manila to the beach in Nasugbu, and all around the Laguna Bay area. We've gone up around the mountains of Rizal. The rides are hard but the pace is friendly. They're designed around food and beer (while I meekly sip my fruit juice). There's tons of salty banter and everybody emits a happy, can-do vibe. I suspect some of the guys in this group are former hard-core racers, but we have no know-it-alls, and nobody is ever, ever dropped.
 
On today's ride, the heat was punishing, and somewhere towards the end I crumbled liked a stale biscuit, and had to slow-pedal my way back into existence. We finally made it to Clark Air Base and hung out around the the "Air Force Museum," which is sort of an open-air graveyard for old fighter jets.

I lay down on the ground and under a tree, amused that this is me getting all outdoorsy. This was a couple of hours before the ordeal of finding a bus to take us and our bikes back to the city (it was so crowded, the 115 km night ride back to the city was seriously considered, but they'd been drinking by then).

On the grass and in that cool shade, I thought to myself, the gloves didn't matter, sleep could be had later, the wheels held up, I'm glad these guys have my back, and it was truly a good day.

Laguna Loop

C5, 4:30AM meet time

Pila Laguna, probably 60 km later

L-R: Jof, Dennis, Gary - who reconned this route 2 days before

Greg and Art, the guys who wouldn't leave me behind

Lunch venue

Started climbing to the town of Mabitac. Gave up, climbed into support vehicle soon after.

Pre-mature recovery meal. Note my own bite mark before thinking of taking a photo.

Quick flat fix.

Been taking advantage of this gap between Christmas and New Year to get some kilometers in.

This Laguna ride was two days ago. Had I completed it, I would biked 180++ kilometers for around 8 or 9 hours. I gave up on the climb, which came at kilometer 114. But got on again for an awesome downhill run. Felt dirty finding pleasure in something I didn't completely work for, but no judgement from this group, haha.

It's a great bunch, and I feel lucky to have been invited on this ride that allowed me to see Laguna, and the bay, in another way. It's been a couple of days and I'm still thinking about the whole thing, and about how, only half a year ago, I would have never thought of doing all this.

I'm really happy. Haha.

Sierra Madre

en route to Sierra Madre

turn around point

Attempted to ride up the Sierra Madre today. My first time. That's around 25 km from Cabading where I met up with the rest of our group. I did okay, but I think I slowed the group down. By the time I got to where everyone was resting at kilometer 15 - after, what, 14 kilometers of climbing - it was midday, hot, and we were hungry.

We turned our bikes around, and headed to Mang Vic's where the bulalo is awesome. I should probably do this climb in parts, wear the same outfit, and pretend I did it all in a day.

One of those few occasions when I like both the song, the music video... and the parody video.