Epic Ride :: Bet for a cause

The bet for the EPIC ride

We need Starter Kits (a helmet, a lock and a light) for our Bike Foundation, actually for almost all 100 bikes.

The bet
Jens is joining the epic ride and he bets 5 STARTER KITS that he will make it

Do you hold the bet ?
You can bet against him for a minimum of 1/2 a starter kit - 10:1 (12.5 Euro or 850 PHP - for sure you can also bet more if you like)

What if Jens doesn't make it ?
Then he has to pay 5 starter kits and you nothing.

And what if Jens makes it ?
Then you have to pay the amount of money for the starter kits you bet against him

The rules
The rules are quite easy, the ride starts at 6am with rolling start and the cut off time is 6pm. Who till then has not reached the finish line is out. Jens is also not allow to walk.

Bugoybikers are supported by

The North Face

Bugoy Bikers 2006
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The smiling "torture"

20 Jan 2007. We started at around 7am. Around 30 bikers all in good mood and ready for the challenge. I knew it would be a hard ride and was actually scared about it, but this morning I was just looking forward that it finally happens. When we assembled, I met Frank, the organizer. He immediately told me that he will hold my bet. That encouraged me even more. The first 65 km was easy cycling with an average of 30 km/h. We even chatted during the ride and the sun seemed also to be our friend this day. We agreed to have a first “refill” stop in Lugo. Before we arrived there we had to climb for around 5 km. This was something like a first test for what will be waiting at the end of the day. In Lugo we had our break, some picture takings and the we continued going downhill all the way to Tabuelan. On this stretch some riders started to chase each other and the speed went a bit up. From Tabuelan (km 88) down to Balamban (km 135) we had to pass some rough road streches , including a crash (nothing serious) and some flat tires. We arrived in Balamban at around 1pm and had our “lunch” break there. One could realize that now most of the riders got a bit serious knowing about what comes next. After some picture takings and refilling our bottles and chocolate bars we started at around 2 to cross the TranCentralHighway.

The next 8 to 10 km are still flat, but the “big” mountain range came closer and closer. Till km 145 we cycled more or less always in a group with chatting and laughing but this ended in the moment when it became steeper. We had to climb up to 850m above sea level to be on top of the 1st mountain. In seconds the group split up and everybody was left with his own fate. Climbing on a road bike means finding your rhythm and stay with it. The road got steeper and steeper and I realized that I was already in the granny gear. It was now around 2.30pm and the sun changed from become a friend to become a burden. I checked my odometer and it went down from 10 km/h to 6 km/h. The legs started to feel sore already but I was still moving. Suddenly I saw 2 of our group already walking up … This was not really motivating and when I passed them they did not really encourage me when they were telling me “why don’t you walk?” On the other side was my bet and the challenge to beat that monster mountains … and some encouraging text messages I received during the whole day. Fighting against the good and the bad … I came to a moment where I was struggling. My legs hurted and I was not in the rhythm. I stopped. I was drinking a lot and just relaxed a bit and then I started again. In my mind I still knew, I have not lost the bet as long as I did not start walking. After around 500m I had to stop again … Its so cruel if you make it around the next corner and then you see the road climbing an climbing up ahead of you. I really felt that’s it. I drank again and fighted between “Come you can make it” and “Why the hell are you doing that ?”, In the meantime some bikers from the back passed by all sweating and suffering. I tried it again. Back on the bike … and trying to find your rhythm … then like a miracle my ipod started to play … (I actually prepared it and wanted to start playing music … but I just forgot it .because I was concentrating on the climb only. With George Thorogood “One burbon one scotch one beer" … I was something like concentrating on the music and not anymore on the road. When the song finished I realized I found it …. My rhythm … it was still steep and serious climbing but I found a rhythm which was comfortable. Even so I used the whole road (luckily it was wide enough) so I could go up in zigzag. At the end of the day I would cycle around 10 km more of a detour but at least a way to beat the monster mountain. Looking in front of me …all guys where doing the same …. The problem now was the cars and vans once in a while. As soon as a car approached it was impossible to use the whole road … going more or less straight up made you realize that you have to pedal harder … and this caused cramps … I was really wondering how many muscles I had in my legs … coz I got cramps everywhere … as soon the car had passed … time again to use the whole road … relaxing a bit and time to “uncramp”.

This procedure repeated itself several times and slowly I got closer to the peak. The views over the valleys were just amazing and in a kind recharged the batteries ?. The following downhill was on the one hand nice, to relax a bit and drink some water but on the other side it was frustrating, because we knew after that it is going up again. Looking ahead you could see the other cyclist already suffering again in the climb and in a short while I would have the same fate like them. This climb was shorter but now I was already tired. Thanks to our service car, I had another break and refilled my water bottles. The guys on the back did their best to cheer me up …. Finally I made it up to Kantipla and the trust in “I can make it” came back. We regrouped in Kantipla for a soft drink and then another downhill followed by a small climb to Ayala Heights was waiting. Now even the easy climb to Ayala Heights was a torture. I was seriously cramping on that stretch but just ignored it (maybe I was to tired already. In the meantime it was drizzling and that helped a lot even so it was cold. After another downhill the last climb for the day waited. When I crawled around the last bend and I saw the saddle of Tops less than 80m away … I felt a happiness which is hard to describe … On “Tops” I got teary eyed and I shouted because I made it. I never had such a feeling and I don’t know how to describe it. The last downhill to Willies was just enjoying and smiling. I could not believe that I had made it and I still can not believe it. Arriving at Willies I had 185km on my odometer and could almost not get off my bike. After 10 hours of cycling, my back was sore and my legs were hurting but the feeling of having survived that day was overwhelming. At Willies we had another soft drink and you could see in all those exhausted but happy faces what a great day it was.