Road Trip

I think I have a magical attraction to Mount Sto. Tomas that I instantly said I'm game when my friends from Globe invited me for a weekend trip to Baguio.

To me, Baguio is not strawberries and ube jam anymore. It's the short eight-kilometer offroad climb to one of her peaks that gets me excited and makes me do the five-hour drive up the country's summer capital from Manila. It's the joy of punishing yourself up a rocky climb as the cold frigid mountain breeze cools your body down.

The second climb was really different from the first one with Mike O. last year. It seemed shorter. Nonetheless, the climb is still a good test to see one's fitness as I had to stop several times to rest. Maybe next time I can do it without going down.

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Here are some tips when you do your road trip with your bike

1. Do not forget to bring your helmet, gloves, shoes, socks, water bottle/hydration pack and riding shorts. Realizing that you left one of these in your garage can mean your bike ride is over.

2. Bring your lubricant and pump with you in case you may need them. Don't forget the trail/road tools as well.

3. Bring a lock with you so you can secure your bike in your hotel room. You don't want to go back from a night around town only to discover that there's no bike in your room.

4. For those with roof-mounted bike racks installed in their cars, do not forget that you have bikes up there when you drive. Be careful with telephone/cable/ electric wires, branches and those oh-so-dreadful drive thru's.

Got more tips? Post 'em here! :)