A Sad Day

Today, Negros Day, is a SAD day for all the biking community.

We bikers have developed a certain esprit de corps being bonded by our common love for the sport. Naturally, we have a deep and sincere concern for each other’s safety, regardless. My ride is never complete without sending out prayers of safety and protection to all the other bikers I come across with.

Bikers are not just a bunch of reckless, careless and suicidal lot as some motorists perceive us to be. We are acutely aware of the dangers on the road. All the gears, from the helmet down to the bright jerseys and tail lights are not just for aesthetic purposes but mainly for safety reasons…particularly to be seen--- literally--- on the road.

Hence, the news earlier this morning of a fatal collision involving a biker named Ben Morana was totally awful and shocking. From the bits and pieces I gathered from fellow bikers, Ben was struck from behind by the driver of a speeding pick-up who, unable to overtake on the left because of an oncoming vehicle, opted to overtake on the right where Ben was then.

I was particularly stunned as hubby and I passed through the same route Ben took earlier in the day.

The horrific news immediately spread like wildfire among fellow bikers. For sure, his death left a lot of us devastated and with shaken confidence.

Ben was on the right side of the road –factually and figuratively --- at the time the collision occurred. At the right place but, unfortunately, the wrong time. What a senseless tragedy!

What are we supposed to do now? Are we expected not only to look forward for road hazards, sideways for passing motorists…but likewise, backwards for reckless drivers?

Like others, my heart goes to Ben, his family and to all those who feel this loss.

To everyone, Ride on but Ride safe!

Wood War

Wonder what the picture here is of? That’s the detour roadblock…after I, on a bike, attacked it. The roadblock, which took up the entire right lane, was set-up to prevent cars from traversing the newly cement-covered fissure on that portion of the road.

It was about a quarter before 6 in the morning when I approached said roadblock, made-up of 3 makeshift wooden signboards and an orange-colored hard plastic barrier placed about a meter apart along side each other. The day before, I noted that one can negotiate right through each meter gap.

My pet peeve while biking is being compelled to stop after gaining momentum. It is a hassle to stop in the course of my trip and pick up pace all over again.

As I was getting nearer the roadblock, I thought of 2 options. First, to take the opposite lane with an oncoming speeding motorcycle and a jeepney right behind it; second, to pass through the one meter gap between the orange plastic barrier and one of the wooden signages. Full stop? I just mentioned it’s a hassle…so...not one of my options.

I picked up speed to beat the motorcycle before it crosses the contested roadblock. Just a few meters away, I realized that the motorcycle driver had the same intention, forcing me to take on my next option. My naturally wide eyes opened its widest when I noticed too late a 3x6 inches wooden plank on top of the entire length of the roadblock. Both feet being clipped to the pedals, a full stop was out of the question. Left with no other choice, I braced myself to ram directly to the wood plank hopeful that the impact would cause it to fall down. And, boy... no wonder they call it hard wood.

I found out later after I picked up my spoils of war…watch with a broken strap…a shaken pride…. that the wood plank was nailed to the signboards.

Well….the swelling bruises on both my forearms and right hips are mute witnesses to my ignominious loss with my war versus the wooden plank. Oh…of course, there are other witnesses --- like the 2 other bikers right behind me.

For sure, the minor wounds in my arms would only take a few days to heal…but…how long does it take to heal a bruised ego?

The Right Turn

For all the dangers that confront a road biker on each and every ride, nothing compares to the anticipation, thrill and excitement one feels in negotiating that two-wheeled vehicle through motorists, pedestrians, potholes and other gaps on the road.

As a safety or precautionary measure, how does a biker let others know of his direction while on the road?

A fully functioning brake light and turn signals are a must for every car on the road.

Bicycles though, including mine, are not equipped with these warning devices. That is why, I resort to hand signals to let the others know where I am going. As bikers, due to the relative size of their 2-wheeled vehicle compared to 4 or even 3-wheeled vehicles, must take the rightmost side of the road, the left arm understandably is the one used for ALL hand signals.

On a few occasions in the past, while riding downhill on a narrow two-lane road at the speed of about 36 km/hr., with an on-coming car on the opposite lane and with the edge of my side of the pavement dropping off to a ditch, I took the whole lane, that is, I rode on the middle of my lane, to prevent the impatient, honk-addicted motorist behind me from overtaking. At the same time, to warn him ---either to chill-out, slow down or just to let him know of my crazed dare-to-hit-me-if-you-can or will-not-allow-you-to-overtake mindset --- I bent my left arm to a 90 degree angle, fingers pointed upward as shown in the photo above.

If you were the irate motorist behind me, would you have known what said L-shape, arm up signal meant? It indicates that the biker in front of you intends to execute a RIGHT TURN.

A right turn?! Who would have thought of it? Certainly, not I.

Imagine the confusion I must have caused if those annoyed motorists behind me were familiar with internationally accepted bike traffic rules.

Of course, a left-turn signal is a no-brainer. It is done by holding the left arm straight out to the left.

What about a stop signal? If you see a biker bends his elbow and points his arm downward in an awkward upside down L-shape figure, fingers pointing to the ground… do not panic. The biker did not accidentally twist or mangle his elbow. He is just signaling that he is getting ready to STOP.

Oh well, why can’t bike manufacturers just develop a brake system similar to that of the cars? Honestly, I won’t mind if they make mine the size of a frisbee.

A Biker's Perspective

As a motorist, Bicyclists and Motorcyclists top my list of Road Nuisances. Of course, of course…they have equal rights as I do on the road. Consider though the numerous distractions that motorists already have to contend with----ubiquitous pedestrians, unenlightened jeepney, bus and truck drivers who think of themselves as “kings of the road” and beyond traffic rules, tricycle and trisikad drivers who appear to be under the mistaken belief that they are invincible, cellphones---- surely, bicyclists are better off the road than on it.

But have you ever look at the road from a biker’s perspective?

From my side of the world, especially my usual Bacolod-Murcia bike route, potholes, sugarcane stalks and loose stones on the road are a common sight.


To a motorist, the most probably that a pothole can do is to cause damage to the shocks or cause a dent to his vehicle. To a biker, however, potholes and fresh sugarcane stalks are nightmares as any abrupt change in the road surface can cause one to lose control and veer right into the path of a car or truck running in the same direction.

The Bacolod-Murcia road is about 10 km. from my place, a great portion of which consists of narrow 2-lane roads. Not only does it not have shoulders (defined as a part of the road where drivers may stop in an emergency) but, more often, the edge of the concrete pavement is notably higher than adjoining soil, making like a 2-step stairs. As you can see, riding too close to the edge is…well…suicidal.

Taking my eyes off the pavement, large cattle, especially carabaos, goats and stray dogs are also common sight. I saw a cyclist crashed directly into dog in a tour de france event. The dog got away unscathed but the impact crumpled the cyclist’s bike frame into a mass of twisted metal. Then on, I see dogs on a different light…as bright yellow fluorescent warning signs.

My most dreaded companions on the road are the buses and the haulers. Can you imagine yourself riding beside these monstrosities?

Especially if they overtake you 3 in a row!!! Its like biking on a hanging tight rope... the slightest mistake could be fatal.

Now, who could argue that even road biking should be categorized as an extreme sport?

Clipless in the Saddle

Imagine if after pedaling for a short distance, you realized too late that some ill-humored prankster spread quick-drying super glue on your bike pedals. Try as you might to remove your feet, you remain glued to the pedals. First instinct would probably be to find a lush of grass, muddy area or any soft spot that could cushion your fall….that is, if you get lucky.

Glued to my bike…that is exactly the feeling I had when I first used clipless pedals. When my bike fell sideways (naturally!), down sideways I went with it with my feet still clipped to the pedals…with matching shrieks, of course! Good thing, hubby was surprisingly quick to catch me.

On my first look of hubby’s mountain bike (MTB), I took note of its whisk-like pedals, a far cry from the platform pedals I had known during my BMX days. How can you pedal with that kind of contraption? That was the beginning of my education to the world of clipless pedals.

A quick internet search disclosed that clipless pedals got its name from the fact that it does not have the toe clips or straps common on old-type pedals. In the old days, cyclists would have to use two toe straps on each pedal and tighten them down super snug to be “glued” to the pedals. The whole clipless system is designed precisely to keep one’s feet locked securely to the pedal while cycling. To be “clipped” to the pedal, special cycling shoes is needed for you to mount (attach) a special cleat. This cleat is the one that you engage (insert) to the pedal. Once engaged, you are locked-in, get it?

So… you want to be locked into the pedal while cycling. Impressive! Are you a masochist? No? An extremist maybe?

Power, control of the bike, blah blah blah are reasons advanced by clipless users as among the advantages in using clipless. As for me, I felt compelled to shift to clipless not so much for the claimed benefits but for the need to be legit. From the remarks of other bikers, I gathered that one is not taken seriously unless one uses clipless. Clipless separates the men from the boys, so to speak.
Engage…disengage. Clip-in…Clip-out. Easy does it? Or so I thought. After getting my first clipless, a Shimano SPD, I was confident I could go all the way on it the next day. Night before it was practice time. Clip-in…balance….fall down….SCREAM….hubby to the rescue…WHEW!
Clipping out was harder than I ever imagined. Trauma replaced confidence with the knowledge that clipping out is not instinctive. I tend to fall with the bike with feet still clipped in. Panic erases all other thoughts…including clipping out. It is much like learning to put on the brakes or pressing the clutch when learning how to drive a car. These movements are not instinctive but sorts of becomes second nature only after constant practice.
And…practice I did. The door handle, which I used as a brace to balance, suddenly became my constant companion.
The newly opened Victorina Subdivision and the Panaad Park nearby became sought after destinations. Victorina Subdivision is the perfect practice place. Few joggers (to witness my fall), abundance of tall grasses (to cushion my fall) and few vehicles (to allow longer pedaling). To my chagrin, I failed to factor in an overly playful and extremely hyperactive mongrel. Hey, doggie! Avoid my path…ok? Everything seemed to be going my way…pedal…clip-in…twist foot to clip-out (nothing happened)…twist again… freedom! Again…pedal..clip-in…twist…twist…twist….horror of horrors! …doggie focused on me as the object of its pranks….avoid doggie…turn around…twist again…out finally! I had enough for the day.
Fortunately, hubby generously gave me his Look Quartz pedals. Compared to my old Shimano, clipping out now is much more reassuring. Though I still need a bit more confidence to clip-out just a few inches from a stopping vehicle (my immediate goal for the nonce), yet…I know I can do it…soon.
I wonder, is there ever a hope of me turning into a Lance?

Bike Talk

I was getting big. Nah..FAT is truthfully the apt term. A few months after hubby and I repeatedly stood up badminton partners, I thought the weighing scale needs to be repaired. Subconsciously, i know that shrinks have a precise term for it...self-denial. 125 lbs...126..127 and still getting higher. Weird scale.. i stopped using it when i registered 130. my pre-marital weight averaged 110-115lbs. 130lbs? impossible!

When a friend pointed out that the back zipper of my pants looked like it is about to split, I decided to be get a grip of reality and be proactive about my weight issues.

Badminton...out. The usual 6-8pm schedule just wont do anymore. Aero? No instructor does it at 7:30 a.m., right? Well...do video aero! Nah...leave it to the anthropophobics.

Hubby took to his past hobby, roadbiking, again. Road bike? to Murcia... and back? COOL! Will you ride with me if i get one of those "ready-made" three thousand worth bikes displayed on most bike stores? "Tetanus vaccine might be more expensive" replied hubby.

I realized later when i invited friends to take up road biking that the usual reaction is to get a cheaper bike first in case one finds out later that this sport is not for him. Sounds fair enough. However, this "ready-made" bikes are mostly not upgradeable so you will be forced to get a new one... more costly in the end.

As a newbie, it was only my pocket that prevented me from upgrading as often as I like. While in the process of assembling my bike, i insisted on the cheapest seat available. Just two rides after, i was back to the store. That the old seat was way to uncomfortable is clearly an understatement.

My handlebar went from riser to flat straight in barely two (2) months, bike shifters from trigger to grip in about 5. Another common remark for most newbies is "i will never wear clipless! ever! too extreme for my taste!" Touche! my pedals went from platform to hybrid to clipless in less than five (5) months.. the first 2 are still up for sale. Needless to say, upgrades gets me nearer to my "perfect" bike (read: most comfy bike).

Till then, OFF to Murcia!