Seems like a lot of people have been buying mountain bikes the past few weeks. It’s no surprise, people are awash with cash right now thanks to Christmas bonuses, and many are eager to get into this thing called mountain biking.
If you just bought a bike, ride it around the city streets for a while so you can be more familiar with your new toy and how it handles. The U.P. Diliman campus is an excellent place to learn how to bike. Once you’ve learned the basics, it’s time to level up your fitness and tackle the climbs. Timberland’s The Wall is an excellent training ground for pushing your inner Son Goku from Saiyan to Super Saiyan. Just don’t push yourself beyond your limits. If you think you’re about to black out from the strain of the climb, take a breather. Not everyone can conquer the wall in one go. Don’t go all out on the descent either.
Even veteran bikers have met accidents on that crazy fast descent. But once you’ve done The Wall, what’s next? The obvious answer is beyond the gate, and into the real trails!
Timberland has a very nice Basic Trail that’s great for beginners. It’s not too technical, and the fireroad is wide enough for two bike buddies to ride side by side in some sections. Speaking of which, if you’re just starting to learn trail riding, it’s better to find a buddy or a group of other riders who can ride with you. Why? If something happens to you, or… (heaven spare us from something so unthinkable!) your new bike, at least there will be someone there to assist you.
For hardcore padyakoldaway types, getting to the basic trail is easy. After overcoming The Wall and leaving an ID with the guards at the gates, all you have to do is overcome another steep climb, which Timberland regulars call The Wall 2. Don’t worry, it’s not as steep as the first wall. And after that, that’s it! You’re on the basic trail.
Newbies are advised to stay on the basic trail and not make a detour to the Blue Zone or the Green Zone just yet. Those trails are for intermediate to advanced riders. Just keep riding the straight basic trail until you get to another gate at the end.
The Roxas Trail is another interesting trail that’s also okay for newbies. It’s a bit more technical, and newbies will most likely need to dismount in some sections, but the view is great and it gives newbies a taste of what they could expect when they tackle the Blue Zone.
If you want some extra challenge, you can bike further on the paved road beyond the gate and get some grub in the Giant store. They serve excellent pancit canton there and lots of cold drinks. If you’re hungry for something tastier, you can go to Philip’s Sanctuary where the food is great, but it’s only open during weekends and holidays though.
If you still have enough energy in your legs, try going all the way to the Ten Commandments shrine. It’s about 2 kilometers from the Giant store. The view there is great, and it almost makes you feel as triumphant as Moses coming down Sinai, which is the name of the place by the way.
prkid
April 26, 2014 at 8:16 pmsir saan po ang entrance nun roxas loop? ive biked twice in timberland with a buddy, pero yun basic lang nagagawa namin since natatakot kami pumasok sa ibang trails baka ndi kami makalabas dahil ndi namin alam daan, hehe.
outsideslacker
April 27, 2014 at 7:42 ampasok ka ng basic trail, tapos sa may kaliwa yun bago ka dumating sa blue zone. don’t be afraid of getting lost sa timberland. maliit lang yan. di ko ka mawawala dyan 🙂
Dondon
June 4, 2015 at 5:29 pmnapuntahan ko to last sunday grabe ang akyatan parang mas nahirapan ako dito compare sa bugarin pililia rizal kaso bitin ako pag dating kosa taas sa entrance ng mga trail hindi na ako tumuloy nag pahinga lng ako ng konti bumaba na ako mga11:30 am tinanghali kasi ako ng gising dapat mas maaga ako maka punta katirikan na ng araw ng naka akyat ako. this sunday balik ulit ako mas maaga para mapuntahan or masubukan ko yung mga trail. tnks to this blog. :}
chuck
June 16, 2015 at 6:18 pmPare san ulit yung roxas loop? pag pasok galing sa ihawan, nasa left side? aabot ba sa chapel? nakakaalangan kasi pumasok baka yung mapasukan namin na trail e delikado pala sa beginner.
Thanks!
outsideslacker
June 17, 2015 at 7:13 pmhi chuck. green zone yung sa ihawan. nabago na yung entrance sa roxas loop dahil dun sa construction activities, haven’t really ridden it in a while kasi mostly blue zone and black diamond ako pag sa timberland.
mariz
February 24, 2016 at 5:56 amhello po! pano po ba pumunta dun sa basic trail papuntang mt sinai po? Thank you! 🙂
outsideslacker
March 3, 2016 at 8:59 amhi mariz, akyat ka ng wall tapos dire-diretso lang yun 🙂 you go through basic trail, then sapinit road (yung may christmas trees) tapos sa dulo turn left. papuntang mt sinai na yun
Rolly
March 7, 2016 at 10:20 pmMga Sir may alam po ba kayong bike rental na malapit sa Timberland trail or kahit san ako pwede mag rent ng mountain bike for 1 day. Galing po ako ng Toronto Canada rider po ako ng OPM ( Ontario Pinoy Mountain Biker) gusto ko po subukan tong trail na ito.pwede rin nyo akong samahan para naman kuwentuhan ride lng.maraming salamat mga sir.
outsideslacker
March 9, 2016 at 3:24 pmyup, may bike rental na sa timberland. dun sa gate, ask for adventure farm bike rentals. they have several basic xc bikes for rent there. not sure kung kailan kita pwede samahan though :p kasi medyo pabago-bago din schedule ko
Felix Diche
January 5, 2017 at 4:28 pmHello sir,
Meron po ba kayo naitatagong Trail map ng Timberland?
Plan po kasi naming pumunta sa timberland sa January 14, 2017
Art Fuentes
January 9, 2017 at 10:31 pmhey felix, wala akong map ng timberland eh. pero meron dun sa 7-eleven trail trail 2017 website. click here
Alyx
January 6, 2017 at 11:37 pmHi sir! Thanks po sa blog mo. Newbie biker po ako at balak itry ung trail sa timberland. Madali lang po ba malaman kung san direction ng basic trail at roxas trail? Also, ask ko lng po kung meron pa rin rental ng bike sa timberland? And kung meron ka po contact nila. Thanks so much.
Art Fuentes
January 9, 2017 at 10:33 pmhi alyx, yung basic trail dire-diretso ka lang nun mula sa paved road ng timberland. yung roxas naman, kakaliwa ka. ask around, or refer to the map here