Cheap Mountain Bikes In CARAGA

Before, one could say that cheap mountain bikes is an oxymoron.  There are no cheap mountain bikes.  But with the influx of surplus bikes in the country, one can actually buy a cheap mountain bike these days.  The quality of these cheap mountain bikes however, well let's just say you get what you pay for.

When I started getting interested in mountain bikes, I first bought a surplus mountain bike which was supposedly from Japan.  Two hours after I started using it, the pedals fell off.  The following day, both tires were flat.  I had to go to the local bike shop and have the interiors vulcanized.  The vulcanizer, after removing the inner tubes said, I can't vulcanize this, you'll be back here in no time.  I suggest you buy one.  So I did.  Two days after, the handle bars got undone.  Then the chain got busted.  Then it was the saddle's turn.

It was a series of unfortunate events.  Like I said, you get what you pay for.  I certainly did.

Friday Break

No mountain biking for me today.  I got roused up really early this morning by an overzealous gopher who just had to follow my  brother's order.  He's only the messenger of course but still, my zzzz got interrupted.  I had to stay up for another 30 minutes just to feel drowsy again.  I went back to bed and passed out.  I didn't get up for another 5 hours.  By the time I got up, the day was almost done.  At least for most folks.  My day however, has yet to begin.

A Little Insight On What I Do

As mentioned in my About Me page, I am in the BPO industry.  Don't imagine me with headsets getting a talking down from some irate customer.  I don't do that.  I am in the non-voice part of that complicated industry.  Yep, it's complicated.  Fortunately, and at the same time, unfortunately, I report to a boss in the US.  We do have an office in Manila but since I am not required to report there, I can bloody well work anywhere as long as there's a stable internet connection.  The unfortunate part is that I have to follow US holidays, as well as US time.  Thus, in a town where people start dozing off at 9 in the evening, I am still happily banging my laptop until the wee hours of the morning.  This goes without saying that I don't get to have normal holidays as well.  If it ain't a holiday in the US, then it ain't a holiday for me.  So there you go.

But I think even if my sleep wasn't interrupted, I don't think I'll go out biking.  I just felt really heavy earlier and my pad was a mess.  So I opted to do a little laundry, clean up a little, and just enjoy the hours before I start working.

Still a fine day I think.

End Of The Road

I woke up today determined to put some road mileage behind me.  For some unknown reason, I was very ambitious in my plans-- I figured I'd bike for at least 3 hours on my Manapa trail.  Shower, then eat lots of protein and vegetables.  Exercise and then eat healthy-- the lifestyle of champions. Meh.

Then it rained.  And everything was perfect for an epic ride.

As it turned out, I was only able to bike for an hour and a half.  Not my fault though.  I simply ran out of roads!  Can you imagine?  I felt like I was Forrest Gump staring at the sea in a harbor with no more roads to run.  In this area, people have to ride a motorized banca to cross to the other side.

The wet road was outstanding though.  Lots of potholes and puddles and mud.  My labandera would kill me once she sees the mess I made with my clothes.

The cool thing about the Manapa trail is that you're riding beside the sea.  Along with a beach trail though are the challenges posed by the sand.  If you're not careful, you could hit a soft patch and find yourself rolling in the dirt.  There's also the temptation to always be looking at the ebbs and flows of the sea.

I went home soiled, soaked, and grinning from ear to ear.  I got to bike in the rain.  I'm a happy camper.

Extreme Downhill MTB

I don't aspire to do what these guys do, but I think they're awesome.  I just think this is way too extreme for me.  Also all that carrying bikes to the peak just to come down really doesn't appeal to my lazy nature.  I have this movie in my collection though.

Manly Excuses

Biking is a manly excuse to play in the rain.

For most folks, rain is a perfect deterrent to going out of the house.  I see it as an invitation.  Maybe I was a pig in my previous life 'coz I get really excited when I paddle through mud and I get muddied all over.  Somehow, everytime I go playing in the rain, I always find myself in Manapa.

Default Trail

This is the view from my default trail.  It overlooks a ricefield in Malpoc, Buenavista.  I always end up walking my MTB to this location to get some shots.  My goal is to finally conquer the very steep incline here.  I am close to that goal I think.  Everytime I ride, I feel I am getting stronger so it's only a matter of time.  I just have to keep pushing on.

I like this trail because of the slow seeping downhill roads.  After climbing the steep incline, everything doesn't automatically fall down.  The downhill trail takes its time to bring you down to level ground.  Most of the time, it's only me and the very small road.  When me and a couple of friends go jogging here, we always think that the area is a perfect setting for a slasher movie.  You could scream all you want and nobody would come to your rescue.

Beach Bike

This is a photo I took earlier when I had my usual quick run (one hour worth of quicky ride goodness) along the beaches of Ata-Atahon.