10 miler: Truth to tell

In behalf of all the people who are into cycling for fun, exercise, competition or for transportation, I’d like to thank the Sportswriters Association of Cebu for conferring to the RECLAMATION CYCLING CLUB a “Special Citation” award during the 25th ALL CEBU SPORTS AWARDS held at the Casino Espanol last May 18, 2007. Thanks so much, SAC!

The “cebucycling.com 10 miler ITT” that was held two Sundays ago was a success, considering that local cyclists take TT’s like a child takes to eating amplaya. Ew!!!

The idea to hold this event came from Richard “Nobby” Clarke, a British national befriended by Mike Flores, VELLUM president, a few years ago. Nob, who works for ARAMCO in Saudi Arabia as an oil drill supervisor, used to be a seeded “chronoman” back in his district in his younger days. Now married to pretty Cebuana, Nob is hoping that this popular sporting event in England will take root here.

Traffic along the race route, from Km 48 to Km 56 and back up north, was as bad as it got, considering that the Bogo was celebrating its town fiesta on the same day. But it didn’t dampen the competitive juices of those who joined.

Time-trialling is where cutting edge cycling technology usually is discovered. The search for an advantage, no matter how trivial to some- lightweight bike frames, aerodynamics, pedaling mechanics, shaved legs, human physiology- is always a concern in TT’s than in the other cycling discipline. However, Nob rode a “special” retro bike that he put up to a cost of almost half a mil! Almost everything was custom-made- the handlebars were done by the eccentric Giant compact frame designer Mike Burrows frame while the 8-speed cogset was made in the McClaren  F1 factory back home.

Most TT courses are short, usually about an hour or more of racing but if you put everything into it like it’s supposed to be done, the aftermath is like being hit by a Mack truck! Every sinew in your body aches and you don’t know what to do about it.  While you can hide in the pack during the road races and the criteriums, it’s only you, your bike and the course in the time trails. That’s why it’s called as the “Race of Truth”, since you can’t lie and there are no excuses against it. The best time in the 16km (10miles) race belonged to one armed rider Rex Gonzalez of SPARK KLEEN, who clocked an amazing 23 minutes and 57 seconds. In the cat C, truck driver Jaime Noynay rolled over the competition with a time of 26.58. (Special congratulations to Stephen Chian for placing second and Jerome Rodriguez who missed the podium by a few seconds in Cat B!)

The next 10-miler will hopefully be in September if all things come together. Many thanks to the following who made it happen: Nob himself, Jong Sepulveda, Mark Ylanan, Raldy Vios, Glenn Rasco, Xerox Lauron, SPARK KLEEN LAUNDRY POWDER, TITAY’S ROSQUILLOS, VELLUM, ReCYCLE, ALPINE ELECTRICAL, T.W.O. Footwear, the OUTPOST Restaurant and all the nameless faces who made a contribution to the event. Thanks, guys!!!

Padyak Pinoy 2007

Six of the 8-man VIS-TEAM who rode the PP arrived last week after being thrown into the cauldron of a 10-day stage race. Even though I haven’t done it, I have a feeling (in my dreams, LOL!) that it must be an experience of a lifetime to do the Tour.

Of the 6, only Albert Basirgo made some noise, getting into a 3-man breakaway in the Baguio stage but succumbing to the difficulty of the route and to the experience of his breakaway companions that included Lloyd Reynante.

Victor Espiritu won his second Tour title after 9 years after being banned the last three years due to cycling politics. This humble 31-year old just kept his cool and finished everyone when he needed to. I can only rue the day when arrogant cycling officials decided to exclude him from all racing for the flag the past years. There are even talks after the Tour that he will be “re-banned”! Crazy!!!

Finally, my wish is to have a new organization behind the Tour who’s more professional than the PNCA and DOS1. No tear will be shed if both go.