Samar Island Loop 2019

The more the merrier! Nineteen cyclists from Sorsogon rode the third largest island in the Philippines during the Holy Week of April 2019.  The coastal loop of Samar is 731 km from Allen to Catbalogan, to Balangiga (with stop-over San Juanico Bridge), to Borongan (skip Guiuan), to Gamay, then back to Allen. It was a light and fast 5-day ride averaging 146 km per day. Hot, plenty of climbs, dawn to dusk rides, kind Samar people, good food, scenic coastal seascapes, and good wide roads almost all the way. My first bike tour with a loaded road bike. 

A happy and noisy crowd, at Matnog port

Cycling the Indian Himalayas 2019

To eyeball the mighty Himalayas is a childhood dream of mine. To cycle its high mountain passes with its rarefied air and fluttering prayer flags, to sit still in Tibetan Buddhist stuppas and temples in its secluded valleys, to attempt to summit any of its 6,000+ meters snow-clad peaks… And why not? Let’s go!

Descent from Baralachala, photo credit to Rak Ssr (FB)

Cycling the Roof of Luzon - Part 1, 2019

This ride is a field test of our cold-weather trekking gears and newly-installed bike parts and accessories. Gearing up and testing for that planned high-altitude Indian Himalaya ride, and Benguet in February is the coldest and the highest you can get in the Philippines. Four mountain bikers from Irosin, Sorsogon (me, Kareen my wife, Tyrone and Paulo) once again took leave from day jobs and rode two long bus rides to revisit the roof of Luzon. This ride is a 5-day loop of Baguio City – Bokod – Kabayan – Atok – Baguio City (with a side trip to Mt. Pulag).