Friday, May 17, 2013

Visiting Puray Falls

One of the major destinations of cyclists in Montalban is the Puray Falls. It is near enough even for newbies to tackle in less than a day. And it offers two exciting routes to choose from: mountain route or river route.

If you want to bike to Puray Falls, you can use the map below to guide you to your destination.

Coming from outside of Montalban, you can reach Montalban either from J.P. Rizal in Marikina or Batasan Road or Litex Road in Quezon City.

Once in Montalban, you can choose from two routes going to San Isidro: either go left toward Mayon Ave., or JP Rizal Ave. From JP Rizal Ave., you can choose between the Eastwood Residences route (cemented/dry road) or Avilon Zoo (trail/wet road).

From San Isidro, climb up then down to Mascap. From Mascap, you choose between the mountain route or the river route. Or you can go through the mountain route, and return via the river route.

The river route is passable only during summer. This route is flat, but involves crossing the same river for almost twenty times.

The mountain route includes, well, climbs and downhills. But this route is now almost completely cemented, making it easier to navigate.

Food stops are at the Montalban town proper, Mascap, and lastly, Puray (not in Puray Falls). Packed food is recommended.

Recommend that cyclists prepare to getting wet when going to Puray Falls. Wear apparel and shoes that are safe to get wet, put your belongings into waterproof containers, bring lube for your chains.


View Welcome Rotonda to Puray Falls, Rodriguez, CALABARZON, Philippines in a larger map

Monday, May 6, 2013

San Jose race results


Congratulations to all the winners of the 1st Antonio J. Umali MTB Cycling Challenge held in Bgy. San Jose, Rodriguez (Montalban), Rizal last May 1.


ALL SAN JOSE category

Champion: Roland Siquijor
1st Runner Up: Rafael Imprego
2nd Runner Up: Manuel Visaya
4th Place: Moderno Lapez

BEGINNER category

Champion: Eduardo Jocson, 80
1st Runner Up: Ryan Moral, 83
2nd Runner Up: Denise Rosende, 96
4th Place: Ernesto Eusebio, 81
5th Place: John Paul Molaro, 94
6th Place: Joseph Sevilla, 92
7th Place: Bon Umbay, 78
8th Place: Rizalino Damodao, 77
9th Place: Jules Arambulo, 84
10th Place: Jun Tabale, 97

25 UNDER category

Champion: Edmhel John Flores, 73
1st Runner Up: Jeffrey Pancipane, 51
2nd Runner Up: Jake Aldrin Rivera, 52
4th Place: Marven Aleonar, 53
5th Place: John John Glinogo, 55
6th Place: Chris Omolon, 74
7th Place: Christian Glinogo, 56
8th Place: Dino Bautista Jr., 57
9th Place: Mark Gilbert Ayuson, 76
10th Place: Jayson Calimlim, 54

35 Under category

Champion: Timmy Santos, 33
1st Runner Up: Michael Dalma, 34
2nd Runner Up: Eusebio Quinones, 25
4th Place: March Aleonar, 28
5th Place: Julius Ahleem Zape, 35
6th Place: Alvin Benosa, 21

35 Over category

Champion: Alfredo Rivera, 44
1st Runner Up: Benito Abayon, 37
2nd Runner Up: Alfredo Mapa, 41
4th Place: Cecilio Bon, 49
5th Place: Jessie Lejano, 45
6th Place: Rey Cortez, 43
7th Place: Arnold Pinano, 47
8th Place: Angel Guisama, 50
9th Place: Felix Santos, 40
10th Place: Romeo Beronio, 39

We know we have, and we apologize for all our shortcomings in this race. However, we stand that the  decisions made by the organizers are correct.

Photos of the event, click here.

Monday, April 29, 2013

Tree planting, done!

About 60 cyclists from San Mateo Bikers, CYCAD, EASI, and from Montalban and Sampaloc joined Montalban Cycling Club and the MENRO-Rodriguez in planting tree seedlings at Helipad atop Mt. Balagbag, Bgy. San Isidro in celebration of this year's Earth Day.

Mt. Balagbag is one of the highest peaks of Montalban. It is frequented by mountain bikers, either as destination itself, or pass-through to another destination. Once on top, Mt. Balagbag offers a grand vista of the plains of Rizal, Metro Manila, and Bulacan. It is situated in the upland area of Bgy. San Isidro.

We started gathering at the municipal town hall at 5:30AM.


By 6:30, we kicked off. We passed through the plains of San Isidro before starting our climb to Bgy. Macabud.




Water-stop after the first long climb. End of cemented road, start of rough road.

Onward to Licao-licao, on the boundary between Montalban and the City of San Jose del Monte.


And a short rest stop at Licao-licao, before climbing toward Sitio Balagbag (or Veterans).

We left our bikes at the health center of Sitio Balagbag. And started walking toward the top of Mt. Balagbag, or what is referred to as "Helipad".



The view at the top. It's a good thing the sky was cloudy. It wasn't so hut while we trekked to the tree planting site.


Food stop first, we are famished.

Then we planted our trees. More than 400 seedlings in all. It already rains in the afternoons in this place, according to the locals. So our trees, although located at the top of the mountain, have  very good chances of living.




You can view our other photos here: https://plus.google.com/photos/109810665246281797587/albums/5872287896162670721?authkey=CM6IhJe54YembA

Or view the route we took here:

By the way, this place on Helipad is a camp site open to hikers and bikers, at P20/person. Ate Lenlen, who manages the place, says they have five camp sites of varying capacity, night light (solar-powered), water supply, a variety store, and guides for trekking. Campers can request cooked food from them.




Saturday, April 27, 2013

Cyclists go tree planting, again

Montalban Cycling Club and the Rodriguez MENRO will be conducting a tree planting activity on April 28 in commemoration of Earth Day 2013. Meetup at 5:30 AM in Rodriguez municipal hall. All cyclists are welcome to join.

Tree planting area will be in Sitio Balagbag, San Isidro, Rodriguez, Rizal. We will bike up to the tree planting area.

Light snacks shall be prepared.

Join the 1st Antonio J. Umali MTB Cycling Challenge

Brought to us by:
Bgy. Capt. Antonio J. Umali and Bgy. Council
for San Jose Fiesta 2013

In cooperation with:
Montalban Cycling Club

START:
Montalban Town Center
Bgy. San Jose, Rodriguez, Rizal
8AM (mass start)

CATEGORIES (all non-pro):
Beginners
Ages 25 and under
Ages 35 and under
Ages 36 and over
All San Jose residents

PRIZES (all categories):
Champion: P2,000, Trophy
1st Runner Up: P1,500, Trophy
2nd Runner Up: P1,000, Trophy
4th-10th Placers: Medals

REGISTRATION:
On-site
Registration starts 5:30AM
P100.00


Race route:  http://goo.gl/maps/BP1rj