I woke up at 4:00 am to prepare myself for probably a gruelling ride. After I did my morning rituals, I made my way to the car. It was already 5am. I was hoping to start riding by 530 but the sky was a little too dark to ride and it wasn't safe. We made our way to Daang Hari (DH) and arrived there around 530.
As we parked the car to dismount the bikes, it was a great sight to see a group of riders arrive for their trip as well. Finally, 6am there's light and its safe to ride.
I take it easy since it's going to be a long ride this morning. I estimate about 5 hours total including stops. As we hit 15km, I was assessing how I was feeling to ensure that it as safe for me to continue. By now, we have entered Gen. Trias, Cavite. Traffic was light and I was still feeling ok, so continue with the ride.
Left turn on the intersection to Amadeo. Good God.. Here we go. Uphill. Kilometer 5, 10, 20...what the f*K? It's all uphill. Someone lied to me. Rolling hills my ass. What a welcome ride after being away from so long. Longest I have done after my incident was 30km.
What I love about this was the weather. It wasn't hot just right. Amadeo, so the sign says. Left turn and continue with the uphill. By this time, my thighs are starting to get sore. I asked the man in the gas station how far we have to go before Tagaytay. He says.. "diyan na lang" Relief or skeptical? Hmmmm..... Liar.. It was another 10km of gruelling uphill but the weather is now nice and cool so I can just take it easy on the way up plus I was on time.
I hear other bikes coming up from behind and I look over. Hey!! It's the guys from POLO TRI riding as well. I know most of the guys who where there and a couple of them I train with in the run discipline. I asked for final directions and rode with them for a bit then parted. FINALLY!!! WELCOME TO TAGAYTAY!!!
I make my way to the bypass rode. By this time, the pain in my thighs have subsided as the roads are now friendlier. Left turn and bingo, one last uphill and it should be all downhill from there. I was right. I didn't really have to pedal on the way to Lemery but had to hang onto dear life as the winds were too strong at times that it almost blew us vlose to spilling. Rest..rest..rest..
Recover for the final 10km to Taal. Lots of traffic now. Jeeps, Tricycles, Trucks and motorcycles. Pollution.. arrrrgghhh!!! Just keep pedalling since we're almost there. Now a more confident and relaxed since it's so near. Lemery proper now and I see our office.
Anik and I talk which way to take going to the house. A final steep climb? or a more gradual climb yet longer? Let's be brave. The steep climb since its shorter. Pedal..pedal..pedal.. shift and make it easier.
People are looking at us like we're crazy for taking this route but I have always wanted to climb this on the bike. One last push and we make a FINAL right turn. I see the house.. 150m away.. yahoo!!!
Dang... cramps hit both thighs and I can't pedal. Uh-oh... Car in front stopped and I need to unclip a shoe. Legs not responding. I'm going to fall to my side. Last minute, one leg relaxes and I'm able to disengage my shoe and stand but cramping really bad still. I sit on the chassis in hopes to relax the muscles. It works. I try to stand up again and the legs feel fine.
I mount up again and ride towards the house. FINALLY!!! After 4 hours and 19 mins of riding, we have reached our destination. Another notch on my training.. Really good day today.
Next week, back to Puerto Azul. need to do 125km. sigh...
As we parked the car to dismount the bikes, it was a great sight to see a group of riders arrive for their trip as well. Finally, 6am there's light and its safe to ride.
I take it easy since it's going to be a long ride this morning. I estimate about 5 hours total including stops. As we hit 15km, I was assessing how I was feeling to ensure that it as safe for me to continue. By now, we have entered Gen. Trias, Cavite. Traffic was light and I was still feeling ok, so continue with the ride.
Left turn on the intersection to Amadeo. Good God.. Here we go. Uphill. Kilometer 5, 10, 20...what the f*K? It's all uphill. Someone lied to me. Rolling hills my ass. What a welcome ride after being away from so long. Longest I have done after my incident was 30km.
What I love about this was the weather. It wasn't hot just right. Amadeo, so the sign says. Left turn and continue with the uphill. By this time, my thighs are starting to get sore. I asked the man in the gas station how far we have to go before Tagaytay. He says.. "diyan na lang" Relief or skeptical? Hmmmm..... Liar.. It was another 10km of gruelling uphill but the weather is now nice and cool so I can just take it easy on the way up plus I was on time.
I hear other bikes coming up from behind and I look over. Hey!! It's the guys from POLO TRI riding as well. I know most of the guys who where there and a couple of them I train with in the run discipline. I asked for final directions and rode with them for a bit then parted. FINALLY!!! WELCOME TO TAGAYTAY!!!
I make my way to the bypass rode. By this time, the pain in my thighs have subsided as the roads are now friendlier. Left turn and bingo, one last uphill and it should be all downhill from there. I was right. I didn't really have to pedal on the way to Lemery but had to hang onto dear life as the winds were too strong at times that it almost blew us vlose to spilling. Rest..rest..rest..
Recover for the final 10km to Taal. Lots of traffic now. Jeeps, Tricycles, Trucks and motorcycles. Pollution.. arrrrgghhh!!! Just keep pedalling since we're almost there. Now a more confident and relaxed since it's so near. Lemery proper now and I see our office.
Anik and I talk which way to take going to the house. A final steep climb? or a more gradual climb yet longer? Let's be brave. The steep climb since its shorter. Pedal..pedal..pedal.. shift and make it easier.
People are looking at us like we're crazy for taking this route but I have always wanted to climb this on the bike. One last push and we make a FINAL right turn. I see the house.. 150m away.. yahoo!!!
Dang... cramps hit both thighs and I can't pedal. Uh-oh... Car in front stopped and I need to unclip a shoe. Legs not responding. I'm going to fall to my side. Last minute, one leg relaxes and I'm able to disengage my shoe and stand but cramping really bad still. I sit on the chassis in hopes to relax the muscles. It works. I try to stand up again and the legs feel fine.
I mount up again and ride towards the house. FINALLY!!! After 4 hours and 19 mins of riding, we have reached our destination. Another notch on my training.. Really good day today.
Next week, back to Puerto Azul. need to do 125km. sigh...
