Mountain Bike Race – Moving Forward

A mountain bike challenge to join before the year ends (2013), this time should be outside my province (Pangasinan) and must try a different mountain bike trail course of Paniqui, Tarlac Philippines. The team went to Tarlac to shave their trail and taste our bitter sweet mountain bikes. Jaguar Team of Dagupan City Cycling Club – Mountain Bike, raced and beat those Tarlackenos.

5am – December 21, 2013, my team drove two hours and a half excitedly, though I wasn’t sure if I could conquersince I’ve have never visited the tracks. Those mountain bikers near race tracks must be very confident and familiar with the trail. The course is a ride of thirty kilometers (30km) before you get into the finish line. Under female category, I will be competing with the only lady biker in Tarlac.

The plan is not to compete but to enjoy the track and finish it strong however, there are some points and weaknesses I saw on my competitor. She lives nearby the City so I assumed she practiced and visited the trail many times. The course has a 60% rough and “lahar” road and the rest is a vehicle road. On the first five minutes after they release us, I felt I wasn’t strong enough and so I just had to focus on my strength and goal. Along the course, it’s quite tough racing with her as we pass along each other; there are few bikers with her helping her I guess. Then two road bikers let her go and then blocking my way. They were riding racers and along the course a two way out and I was confused because of no signs. The two roadies don’t know the way out and has really intention to get me out of her way to finish line. Luckily, a woman pointed out me the way, and the two roadies followed. What a shameful tactics of those two just to save a lady without competing, a show off!

The confusing race didn’t stopped there, as I’m approaching the 3km to finish line a marshall pointed the wrong way, so I wasted 4km of ride. Well, now I understand some people can’t take the competition the right way. On my way to finish line, I saw the two freakin roadies who blocked my way inside the trail and tried to lost me, they smiled and cheered. Anyway, I was really disappointed on the event and my team has the same feeling, it is what it is and we just have to let go. My speedometer showed a 40km ride, and I wasted 10km. I know what happened inside the trail which insulted my strength, at least I had a fair and clean fight though I’m just a visitor with 10 guys who traveled that far and Dagupan mountain bikers showed how strong and friendly we are.

I have been practicing so hard to prove how strong I am to join the local bike race competition near our province (Dagupan, Pangasinan). One month of serious training with co-team, participants and racers who helped me get into the pace. I was determined so I put time and effort just to be on the right track. The long hours of ride under the sun and the uphills and downhills of mountain trails helped me become the best competitive mountain biker in my town to compete with other hardcore mountain biker ladies. There are times I am scared and worried on the performance I’m going to give on the race though my team are always behind my back to cheer me up and they’re very confident that I can finish the race strong. The biggest inspiration of me being passionate into mountain bike sports is who I will become after the race and those who believe in me that I can, those are people close my hearts.

It is my first mountain bike race and you can tell how really am worried and concerned on competing against mountain bikers.

We traveled from Dagupan to Urdaneta, with Dagupan City Cyling Club (DCCC) Mountain Bike Team, it’s approximate 20-25 kilometers. It’s not the first time of my team to race, I am the first timer! I even had stomach problem due to my nervousness breakdown, it’s quite embarrassing that I had lbm going on and it happened twice and peed several times. When we finally arrived the town of Urdaneta, I got a feeling of excitement, boost energy, as we passed some of the local mountain bikers. My team are also excited I know, as I’ve been quiet and taking moments on myself to calm and bring out the confidence, then men are discussing their tactics how to pass and not let in the other competitors on their way, it is more on coordination since they have the same category, But, I know these men are competing to each other, to step up who’s stronger or strongest on the team, however at the end of the day everyone unites.

I have met three ladies who I bet they’ve been in the mountains for years with their mountain bikes. Very confident ladies and not even worried about the race, so I was just like being friendly and, knowing I will be the last lady at the finish line

Pangasinan Mountain Bike Race Women

My mom is very supportive on the new sport and passion I got into, which she can relate because back to her young and wild generation days she was very competitive and an athlete. She felt I was an upgraded version of her and I’m so happy for her being supportive mom.