Sometimes you just have to do things on your own—like biking in a strange beautiful island for instance. Last April, I went to Batanes for a week’s worth of biking. After savoring the sights, sounds and vibe of the province’s main island of Batan for several days, I thought it was time to hoist the
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Biking Batanes: South Batan Loop
Biking around the southern part of Batan Island reminded me of a lot of things. The road reminded me of Pagudpud because of how its rocky cliffs plunged into the sea. It also reminded me of Sagada because of how those same cliffs often towered above the road. Its undulating grass carpeted hills reminded me
Mountain Biking Batanes: North Batan Tour
Batanes’ landscape is special. To describe this group of islands as beautiful is to commit a grave understatement. Even jaded travellers are awed by its strangeness. I’m not sure if you can find another place in the Philippines where the earth, sea and sky come together in the same spectacular manner. Biking Batanes is also
Tips on Mountain Biking Batanes
Dream destinaton—there’s no better way to describe it. Batanes is likely the best biking destination in the Philippines. Bar none. I thought I’d seen it all. But then I rode my bike up the crest of a steep grass-carpeted hill overlooking the sea. Then I pointed my bike down the hill’s steepest face and let
Pedals: Clipless or Flats?
It’s a question a lot of bikers ask: Should I “upgrade” to clipless pedals? When you’ve been biking for a year or so and you’re looking for the next so-called performance boost, you can’t help but think of clipless pedals. The pros use them. Your “serious” biker friends swear by them. Heck, you might be the
7 great tips for cycling enthusiasts travelling abroad
What better way to experience the world than riding it on two wheels? Here are seven essential tips if you’re planning to cycle your way through your travels. Prepare for the weather Depending on where you’re headed, there’s going to be weather conditions that you may not be accustomed to, and they become a whole
Resolutions for 2017
This year I promise to travel more. This is at the top of my list of New Year’s resolutions. Looking back at the year that was, most of the best memories I have were collected while I was in motion, in transit, and in someplace stranger than the everyday, but always on two wheels. This
Project CX/Touring Frankenbike
After enduro, perhaps the hottest new trend in cycling right now is gravel grinders, also known as adventure bikes, also known cyclocross or CX. While it’s not exactly a new thing, CX seems to have caught the fancy of a lot of bikers… including me. I liked the idea of having a bike that can
Biking the Bataan Killer Loop
Bataan is famous for being the site of some of the most heroic but hopeless last stands of the Second World War. For mountain bikers, the province is equally famous for the dreaded Bataan Killer Loop–a mountain bike route so mythically gnarled and twisted, it has supposedly reduced many a mamaw to a weeping pile
Biking to Daraitan Again
Sometimes a place is so beautiful, one visit just isn’t enough. El Nido is like that. Sagada is like that too. Batanes is very high on that list. And now, I must add Daraitan to that rundown. I visited Daraitan three years ago in one of the best 21k trail runs I had ever done.
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