For as long as I have been riding on a motorcycle, I have never come across the term 'open' or 'closed' rides. On any given Sunday, bikers from all over Metro Manila converge at any of three or four popular meetup sites Shell J. Vargas, Shell Fort, Shell Balintawak, Petron C5 or until lately, Petron La Vista and takeoff for the weekly group ride.

Although group rides are planned beforehand by individual motorcycle clubs, the actual composition of the riders are only determined minutes before actual takeoff and are very often an eclectic mix of motorcycles: sportbikes, touring bikes, adventure bikes, scooters, etc. For safety reasons, the entire ride group is subdivided into smaller packs by either class or engine displacement yet all share the same destination and, if possible, the same route.

It is not uncommon for riders whether club affiliated or otherwise to ride together especially where one or two mutual rider acquaintances are involved in an implied endorsement of sorts. I have had the privilege of riding with different clubs in which I am not a member of and have grown to appreciate an emergent brotherhood of the road so illustrated by Hombre Doc Allan in his following article.

Birds of a feather, I suppose.


Why We Ride: The Brotherhood of the Road
By Alan T. Ortiz, Ph.D.


Why do we ride? Why are so many middle-aged professionals buying big bikes, donning armored jackets, slipping into leather gloves and reinforced boots and riding off to Tagaytay, or Subic, or Tanay or Gumaca at the crack of dawn every Sunday morning? The facile explanation is that it is the coming of our second childhood, of juvenile dreams fulfilled, of male bonding rituals performed amidst the roar and the swoosh of high performance machines.

Perhaps. But we riders can attest that there are certainly deeper, more meaningful explanations for the urge to mount our bikes and join the thundering herd on Sunday mornings or on long weekends, as we navigate around the unruly buses, jeepneys, tricycles, and pedestrians and finally escape the clutches of the metropolis, coast through the countryside, and still manage to be back home by lunchtime to be with our wife and kids in the afternoon, go to mass at sunset and have a pleasant family dinner thereafter.

We can cite at least five reasons why we choose to ride.

First, it’s about Time. The kids are no longer toddlers and are nearing adulthood. The wife has settled into her career or vocation. The childbearing and childrearing days are mostly behind us. The house has been set up. We are at or near the summit of our respective professions. The cars are fully paid. And, lo and behold, there is some surplus in the bank account to purchase, say, a reasonably priced big bike (more than 450cc). This is when we realize that it is time to turn a gleam in the eye, and to transform the wistful yearning during our youth for the freedom of the wide open spaces and the proverbial wind in our face, into the reality of a powerful, throbbing, gorgeous big bike weaving skillfully through the twisties of Bitukang Manok in the Bicol region or climbing Marcos Highway up to the City of Pines. The single biggest hurdle to overcome at this point is the WIFE’S VISA. As many of our comrades-on-wheels (some, ex-future) have experienced, no amount of cajolery, dramatic pleas, veiled threats, and even bribery can persuade a spouse, once she closes her mind to reason and manic persuasion, to give the green light for the purchase of a big bike. Once obtained, however, the coast, literally, is clear. And the Big Bike Adventure begins.

Second, it is pure Wanderlust. When we were younger, we always suspected that there is a whole, wide, beautiful country out there filled with warm people and incredible vistas. In the course of our work during our younger days, we got bits and pieces of this tapestry. In just two years of riding, our big bike group has seen the entire tapestry and has managed to ride and experience the whole country, from the windmills and beaches of Pagudpud via Cagayan and the Callao Caves, all the way to the fish markets of General Santos, the durian stalls of Davao, through the BUDA highway to the pineapple plantations of Bukidnon and via RORO to the hot springs and lanzones of Camiguin island. We rode the best and worst highways via RORO from Matnog, Sorsogon to Allen, Samar, through the broken cement road from Calbayog to Catbalogan and the country’s smoothest asphalt highways via San Juanico bridge to Tacloban, and then on to Cebu via RORO from Ormoc. In August of last year, we had a fun ride from Dumaguete, where we shipped our bikes, through the vast sugar plantations of Negros, up and across Mt. Kanlaon and into Bacolod, where we took another RORO to Iloilo. From Iloilo, we took the southwestern route to Caticlan, spent two days in Boracay and then boarded a RORO to San Jose, Mindoro up to Calapan, and then boarded another RORO to Batangas City and then back home to Manila. And, of course, we have done Baguio, Subic, Vigan, Iba, and Bolinao, many, many times. And everywhere we go, we are met by smiles, friendly chatter, helpful guides, curious locals eager to lend a hand. On our part, we are always the anti-stereotypes - the respectful, fun-loving yet courteous visitors, not quite the hooligans and boors bikers are often depicted in the movies. Some Filipino big bikers have also managed to ride abroad – in South Africa, in Borneo, in Baja, Mexico, in the Austrian and Italian Alps. To see all these interesting places and meet such wonderful people is to appreciate the beauty and majesty of God’s work.

Third, it is the Macho-Effect. C’mon. Of course a little vanity is involved here. Wearing leather jackets, gloves and high-cut boots (in hot Manila!) atop gleaming, pricey superbikes conjures adolescent illusions of being Matt Damon (Jason Bourne) or Daniel Craig (James Bond), or in an earlier era, Marlon Brando or Steve McQueen. Big Bikes are undoubtedly chick magnets and every once in a while, illusion becomes reality. But most of the time, it’s just smoke and mirrors, like that time in Bacolod, when we were surrounded by a gaggle of schoolgirls pointing excitedly at our group and shouting “Power Rangers! Power Rangers!” Ouch. To be mistaken for cartoon characters. That was when reality hit home. And it hurt, just a little bit. But there are also many instances, mostly in gasoline stations, when real men off the streets would ogle and marvel at our bikes and our accoutrements. And that’s when we fantasize that we belong to that rare breed of Man, the Adventure Biker, the one-who-rides-and-crosses-mountains-and-seas-in-search-of-Truth-and-Beauty. Cut! End of fantasy.

Fourth, there is Modern Technology. The bikes of the 21st century are far superior, technology-wise, compared with the bikes of the 70s and 80s. The most coveted name brands today have totally upgraded their latest models starting from the design, on to the weight, then the fuel systems and carburetion and finally the braking systems. In terms of design, aerodynamic configurations reduce drag and allow more speed and better handling. Big Bikes may look very big and heavy but may actually weigh less due to the use of more carbon fiber, aluminum fairings, titanium exhaust pipes, monoshocks and tubular frames. Again, this adds greater maneuverability, speed and safety. Finally, big bike brakes have adopted the Anti-lock Braking Systems (ABS) found in many cars. This allows for shorter, yet safer, braking distances and therefore greater confidence in avoiding accidents. The past decade has witnessed greater emphasis on ease of handling and safety. As a result, bike sales are up all over the world. And more Adventure Bikers are hitting the road.

Fifth, and finally, there is the Brotherhood of the Road. We have this unspoken, unwritten bond among bikers everywhere, whether on the smallest or on the biggest of bikes. It says that “We are all part of the Brotherhood of the Road. Our paramount mission is to ensure the Safety and Well-Being of every Biker at all times.” This is a real code. Not some fancy, romantic slogan imbibed during the motorcycle riding course we took prior to our first ride on the superhighway. Once we ride on that saddle and start running and gunning our machines, we all assume a sense of responsibility for all the riders in our group, for ourselves, and for all the riders we encounter in the course of our trip. This code is true not just in the Philippines, but all over the world. When we pass each other on the street, big bikers often offer a slight nod, a honking of the horns, a wave of the hand to acknowledge a brother Biker. Like ships on the ocean, when bikers come across an accident, we offer assistance and ensure that the distressed biker gets proper help. Off the road, bikers often get together at local clubs to swap stories, discuss new and old trips and make new friends. The Brotherhood of the Road is a remarkable phenomenon amidst the turbulence and complexities of our modern society.

For these reasons, riding has become a passion for many, an oasis of peace, brotherhood, and beauty, amidst the stresses and pressures of everyday living. And, to be contemporary and au courant about it, riding provides us middle-aged professionals with what Ian Fleming calls our “quantum of solace.” Because everytime we ride, it’s just us, the bike, the road, and about a hundred million personal thoughts between the start of our journey, and our final destination.

By TIM PARADIS, AP Business Writer

Mon Sep 29, 6:03 PM ET

NEW YORK - Wall Street's worst fears came to pass Monday, when the government's financial rescue plan failed in Congress and stocks plunged precipitously — hurtling the Dow Jones industrials down nearly 7 percent. The almost 780-point decline was the largest one-day point drop ever for the index.

The percentage declines for theStandard & Poor's 500 and Nasdaq composite indexes were even larger. And credit markets, whose turmoil helped feed the stock market's angst, froze up further amid the growing belief that the country is headed into a spreading credit and economic crisis.

Stunned traders on the floor of theNew York Stock Exchange, their faces tense and mouths agape, watched on TV screens as the House voted down in midafternoon the administration's $700 billion plan to buy up distressed mortgage securities. Activity on the floor became frenetic as the "sell" orders blew in.

The Dow told the story of the market's despair. The blue chip index, dropped by hundreds of points in a matter of moments, and by the end of the day had passed by far its previous record for a one-day drop, 684.81, set in the first trading day after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.

The selling was so intense that just 162 stocks rose on the NYSE — and 3,073 dropped.

It takes an incredible amount of fear to set off such an intense reaction on Wall Street, and the worry now is that with the rescue plan's fate uncertain, no one knows how the financial sector hobbled by hundreds of billions of dollars in bad mortgage bets will recover.

While investors didn't believe that the plan was a panacea, and understood that it would take months for its effects to be felt, most market watchers believed it was a start toward setting the economy right after a credit crisis that began more than a year ago and that has spread overseas.

"Clearly something needs to be done, and the market dropping 400 points in 10 minutes is telling you that," said Chris Johnson president of Johnson Research Group. "This isn't a market for the timid."

The plan's defeat came amid more reminders of how troubled the nation's financial system is — before trading began came word that Wachovia Corp., one of the biggest banks to struggle due to rising mortgage losses, was being rescued in a buyout byCitigroup Inc. It followed the recent forced sale of Merrill Lynch & Co. and the failure of three other huge banking companies — Bear Stearns Cos., Washington Mutual Inc. and Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc.; all of them were felled by bad mortgage investments.

And it raised the question: Which banks are next, and how many? The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. has a list of over 110 banks that were in trouble in the second quarter, and that number surely has grown in the third.

Traders on the floor were stunned by the House vote.

"How could this have happened? Is there such a disconnect on Capitol Hill? This becomes a problem because Wall Street is very uncomfortable with uncertainty," said Gordon Charlop, managing director with Rosenblatt Securities. "The bailout not going through sends a signal that Congress isn't willing to do their part."

Wall Street is contending with all these issues against the backdrop of a credit market — where bonds and loans are bought and sold — that is barely functioning because of fears that anyone lending money will never be paid back.

The evidence of the credit markets' ills could again be found Monday in the Treasury's 3-month bill; investors were stashing money there, willing to take the tiniest of returns simply to be sure that their principal would survive in what's considered the safest investment. The yield on the 3-month bill was 0.15, down from 0.87, and approaching zero, a level reached last week when fear was also running high.

Analysts said the government needs to find a way to help restore confidence in the markets.

"It's probably fair to say that we are not going to see any significant stability in the credit markets or the stock market until we see some sort of rescue package passed," said Fred Dickson, director of retail research for D.A. Davidson & Co.

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson indicated that the government would try again.

"We need to put something back together that works," Paulson said. "We need it as soon as possible."

On Wall Street, the Dow fell 777.68, or 6.98 percent, to 10,365.45. The decline also surpasses the 721.56-point intraday decline record also set during the first trading day after the terror attacks. Still, it was the 17th biggest percentage decline for the Dow and remained well below the more than 20 percent drops seen on Black Monday of October 1987 and the Depression.

Broader stock indicators also tumbled. The Standard & Poor's 500 index declined 106.85, or 8.81 percent, to 1,106.42. It was the S&P's largest-ever point drop and its biggest percentage loss since the Oct. 19, 1987, crash.

The Nasdaq composite index fell 199.61, or 9.14 percent, to 1,983.73, the third worst percentage decline for the index.

The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 47.07, or 6.68 percent, to 657.72.

A huge drop in oil prices was another sign of the economic chaos that investors fear. Light, sweet crude fell $10.52 to settle at $96.36 on the New York Mercantile Exchangeas investors feared that energy demand would continue to slide amid further economic weakness.

And gold, where investors flock when they need a relatively secure investment, rose $23.20 to $911.70 on the Nymex.

Marc Pado, U.S. market strategist at Cantor Fitzgerald, said investors are worried about the spread of troubles beyond banks in the U.S. to Europe and other markets.

"Things are dying and breaking apart," he said.

The federal Office of Thrift Supervision, one of the government's banking regulators, indicated that the market was overreacting to the House vote and that its fears about the financial system are misplaced.

"There is an irrational financial panic taking place today, and we support and applaud the continuing efforts of Secretary Paulson and congressional leadership to restore liquidity and public confidence," John Reich, Director of the federal Office of Thrift Supervision, said in a statement. "We will continue to work diligently with our institutions to ensure they operate safely and soundly, and to restore stability to the marketplace."

Spokesmen for the Treasury Department's Office of the Comptroller of the Currencyand the Securities and Exchange Commission had no immediate comment after the House voted against the bailout package.

Lawmakers voted down a plan that was different than what the Bush administration had originally proposed. There were restrictions allowing Congress to limit how much of the money goes out the door at once. It also included caps on pay packages of top executives as well as assurances that the government also would ultimately be reimbursed by the companies for any losses. The Treasury would have been permitted to spend $250 billion to buy banks' risky assets, giving them a much-needed necessary cash infusion. There also would be another $100 billion for use at president's discretion and a final $350 billion if Congress signs off on it.

But Wall Street found further reason for worry overseas, as the fallout from U.S. economic problems kep spreading. Three European governments agreed to inject Fortis NV with a $16.4 billion bailout. Fortis, with has headquarters in Brussels, Belgium and Utrecht, Netherlands, is Belgium's largest retail bank.

The British government, meanwhile, said it is nationalizing mortgage lender Bradford & Bingley, which has a $91 billion mortgage and loan portfolio. It was the latest sign that the credit crisis has spread beyond the U.S.

The economic news in the U.S. only made matters worse. The Commerce Department said consumer spending fell in August to its lowest level in six months, while analysts expected it to edge up slightly. With consumers already uneasy and the uncertainty from the financial markets likely to spill over to the rest of the country, the outlook for spending remains bleak — and consumers are the biggest driver of economic growth.

___

from AP

Business Writers Joe Bel Bruno in New York and Christopher S. Rugaber in Washington contributed to this report.

from AutoSport.com:

Hamilton penalised, Massa handed win 

By Jonathan Noble and Pablo Elizalde

Sunday, September 7th 2008, 16:08 GMT

Lewis Hamilton has lost his victory at the Belgian Grand Prix after he was given a penalty for cutting a chicane when fighting with Kimi Raikkonen.

The stewards gave Hamilton a drive-through penalty after the race had ended, meaning 25 seconds were added to his time.

The win goes to Brazilian Felipe Massa, second in the race. The penalty has dropped Hamilton to third place in the race.

Revised race results and standings:

Pos  Driver        Team                        

1.  Massa         Ferrari  

2.  Heidfeld      BMW Sauber  

3.  Hamilton      McLaren-Mercedes      

4.  Alonso        Renault  

5.  Vettel        Toro Rosso-Ferrari  

6.  Kubica        BMW Sauber  

7.  Bourdais      Toro Rosso-Ferrari  

8.  Webber        Red Bull-Renault  

9.  Glock         Toyota 

10.  Kovalainen    McLaren-Mercedes 

11.  Coulthard     Red Bull-Renault 

12.  Rosberg       Williams-Toyota 

13.  Sutil         Force India-Ferrari 

14.  Nakajima      Williams-Toyota 

15.  Button        Honda 

16.  Trulli        Toyota 

17.  Fisichella    Force India-Ferrari 

18.  Raikkonen     Ferrari

World Championship standings, round 13:  
Drivers:                    Constructors:               
1.  Hamilton      76        1.  Ferrari               131  
2.  Massa         74        2.  McLaren-Mercedes      119  
3.  Kubica        58        3.  BMW Sauber            107  
4.  Raikkonen     57        4.  Toyota                 41  
5.  Heidfeld      49        5.  Renault                36  
6.  Kovalainen    43        6.  Red Bull-Renault       25  
7.  Trulli        26        7.  Williams-Toyota        17  
8.  Alonso        23        8.  Toro Rosso-Ferrari     17  
9.  Webber        19        9.  Honda                  14 
10.  Glock         16 
11.  Vettel        13 
12.  Piquet        13 
13.  Barrichello   11 
14.  Rosberg        9 
15.  Nakajima       8 
16.  Coulthard      6 
17.  Bourdais       4 
18.  Button         3 

Lately I find myself glued to Makisig Network TV channel 76 on Sky. While it's a horse racing channel for the most part, its other shows remind me of those old startup shows on Studio 23.

Motoring Today, Inside Racing and Stoplight TV are already there as well as cooking show Venus Cooks for Mars hosted by Reggie Aspiras, Living the Life with Claudine Trillo and other shows such as The Bachelor's Pad, At Your Pleasure Nancy (Castiglione), Pinoy Gamers (Reema Chanco), etc.

I wish the guys behind Makisig Network all the luck. I'm sold.

Upsilonians live by IF, a poem written by Rudyard Kipling. Here's the version for bikers by Dave of MotorcycleNews.

You're a Biker If
By MCN Dave

If you can keep your lid when all about you are dropping theirs and blaming it on you,

If you can trust your map when all men doubt you But make allowance for their GPS,

If you can wait at lights and not be tired by waiting, Or being lied about, don't deal in lies, Or being hated, don't give way to hating, And yet don't look too cool, nor boast too much

If you can wheelie -- and not make wheelies your master,

If you can stoppie --and not make stoppies your aim;

If you can meet with Ducati and Bimota, And treat those two biposto’s just the same;

If you can bear to hear the throttle you've adjusted Twisted by kids to make a thrapp for fools, Or watch the expensive plastics, broken, And stoop and fix 'em up with gaffer tape and glues:

If you can make one pile of all your fasteners And drop them upon the garage floor, And lose them, and start again at Halfords, And never breath a word about your loss;

If you can force your arse and knees and back To sit in the wind blast all day long, And so hold on when there is nothing left within you Except the dispatch rider which says to them: "Keep on!"

If you can ride with L plates and keep your virtue, Or walk with Rossi and not lose the common touch,

If neither BMW’s nor Mercedes Benz can hurt you;

If all men ride with you, but none too close,

If you can fill the unforgiving M1 With 12 hours worth of engines run,

Yours is the garage and everything that's in it, And--which is more--you'll be a biker, my son!

DAY THREE
Friday, 04 April 2008
Davao City to Cagayan de Oro City
305 KMs

DAY TWO

03 April 2008

Gen. Santos City to Davao City

203 KMs

It is a cool 8:00 AM seaside morning when AMDG-Petron begins its tour of selected service stations in General Santos City. We are honored that avid motorcyclist and Sarangani Governor Hon. Migs Dominguez dropped by at our hotel this morning on his cruiser to send us off. After the customary pre-ride briefing and prayers, we notice the return of about 12 riders from the Raiders Club of GenSan all wearing good ol' Petron blue. These guys are once again our motorcade escorts for the day.

One thing our group isn't is camera shy and we gamely pose for photos at the 5 or so Petron service stations we stop at. It is always a thrill to see our group's logo printed on every Sprint to Mindanao streamer that we see and group photo ops holding aloft Petron's new line of Sprint motorcycle lubricants is no chore at all. What we are concerned about, however, is the time it's taking before we actually begin the ride to Davao and the possibility of encountering rains at the challenging Malungon-Sulop mountain pass, particularly at the broken twisties of the Cliffhanger segment that we have heard so much about. After stopping by for photos at the home of Gen. Santos' favorite son, Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao, and the impressively sprawling Provincial Capitol of Sarangani, it was already 11:00 AM and the time has come to say farewell to our game wheelie-loving underbone escorts, the Raiders, and finally ride our bikes in anger. On to Davao City!

South Cotabato is a wonderful place to ride motorcycles. Traffic is very light and the roads are pristine. Our ride spearhead sets a brisk but moderate pace, ever so mindful that we were riding on inhabited national roads and always putting the safety of pedestrians and passers-by at a premium. The sight of thirteen AMDG-Petron riders resplendent in arresting club vests, riding in staggered formation is truly a sight to behold and riding today at the tail end of our train, I never tire of it.

Our group's bikes are its usual eclectic mix today: 6 standard bikes, 4 BMW enduros, 2 scooters and a sportbike ridden by a priest. This configuration is typical AMDG-Petron.   

Tight group formation is the first thing that gets thrown out the window the moment riders are provided with a wide open stretch of road. Somewhere near the town of Alabel, nine of our riders get the opportunity to open up the throttle and allow their bikes to finally be all they can be. This is the first instance that my ride buddy AMDG Sccobs and I  are reminded that bringing our scooters to Mindanao may not have been such a good idea and that we should have brought our big bikes instead. No matter, bikers ride whatever contraptions are most conveniently on hand at the moment and crossing Mindanao on these 150cc babies will be an achievement in itself. This becomes my mantra over the next 500 kilometers.

AMDG Scoobs and I are fortunate that AMDG Reybetsy and Eagle One decide to reign in their own individual needs for speed and sweep for us both, respectively. I decide to break away from Scoobs and allow my Vespa to reach its 100 kph limits with Eagle One at sweep. Reybetsy opts to stick it out with Scoobs and peg the throttle at sub-80 kph velocities, a massive display of restraint for a BMW enduro that can easily reach speeds at three times that figure. Reybetsy's generosity is much bigger than the displacement of his 1200cc GS it seems.

Over the next 40 kilometers of mountain pass reminiscent of our own Marilaque back home, Eagle One and I casually throw our bikes around twists and turns, textbook-style. Of course, Nilo could have beaten his bike-monster's 1700cc heart to its own limits and leave me to deal with these bends by myself, but such isn't the nature of the man. This moment through the Malungon twisties brings me back to my first training day ride in Marilaque on my then Honda CB1 bike with Eagle One on his CB1300 almost two years ago. Of course, I am a better rider now since then, but looking at what the rider on my rearview mirror has done and where he's been as a biker, I knew that I still had much to learn. Onwards! 

At noontime along the mountain town of Sulop, the smooth twisty roads have started to take a turn for the worse, so caution becomes the operative term from here on. I don't know how Nilo's MT-01 deals with jaggies, but my Vespa with its tiny wheels literally makes you feel every bump, dip, nook and cranny that Sulop throws at you. So this is the road construction hell that guys at the online discussion forums talked about. Nilo motions for us to turn back for some reason as I ride out my momentum for a few more meters before making the u-turn. By the time I make the turnaround, I lose sight of Eagle One and with my eyes totally fixated on the broken road beneath me and my nerves frayed at the seams, I ride a few more meters and decide to wait by the roadside for Scoobs and Reybetsy whom I am sure are only a few clicks away. True enough, both arrive and all three of us go to scenic Cliffhanger restaurant where the rest of the guys had been all along, but whom I didn't see on the way back. We take a few photos and once again commence riding, but this time as a single group.

 

Broken mountain roads under construction persist for the next 5 kilometers or so until we reach the neighboring towns of Hagonoy and Digos as the road smoothens itself out once again. The group stops for a 1:30 PM lunch at Dolly's House, a roadside eatery in the town of Sta. Cruz, I believe. AMDG Doc Trigg who mistakenly takes the route to Matanao arrives a few minutes later and joins us for what is arguably our best meal during this Mindanao adventure, on the banks of the mighty Davao Gulf. Dolly's sizzling fish egg sisig dish is highly recommended.

Resuming the ride after our sumptuous lunch, we notice that the volume of vehicles on the road is increasing substantially - a true sign that the City of Davao is not far off. I decide to power my Vespa among the lead group and it surprisingly held up its own at the sharp end.

It is 4:00 PM by the time we reach the busy streets of Davao City and the group decides to take advantage of the remaining daylight to proceed with the Petron service stations tour. We meet Davao Petron's Geoffrey and Raymond who lead the group on a silver coupe through 5 or 6 service stations, each having prepared refreshments for the group. "It's like a town fiesta where we get to eat at every house," remarks one of our guys. It certainly seems like it.

Microtel is our group's home for a night here in Davao. We arrive at its doorstep by 5:30 PM and take in the charms of its winsome receptionist. We have travelled a total of 203 kilometers today and despite Microtel's inviting beds, we know that rest will come much later, the same as last night. Our group's number has also increased to sixteen with the arrival of AMDG Bigbird, Hercules, and his boytoy Stampede Blue. 

Dinner at the downtown Buffet Palace(?) this evening is once again courtesy of sponsor Petron and I could not have enough of it. We are joined tonight by Davao's On Any Sunday Motorcycle Club who offer to lead AMDG-Petron to Cagayn de Oro City the following day. Most everyone winds down the long day over drinks at the nearby bars conveniently located beside the hotel. The night also sees the promotion of AMDG's resident idol to "2x4" status and his work is far from over.

After finally unloading sixteen bikes at Manila North Harbor's Pier 8, today marks the official end of AMDG-Petron's latest adventure, the Sprint to Mindanao motorcycle ride. From 03 to 04 April 2008, sixteen motorcycle riders from the AMDG-Petron Motorcycle Club rode 525 kilometers from General Santos City to Davao City then finally to Cagayan de Oro City in Mindanao, crossing thirteen towns and stopping at Petron service stations along the way, whenever possible.

Being AMDG-Petron Motorcycle Club's most ambitious undertaking to date, the Sprint to Mindanao involved weeks of preparation between the group and Petron to arrange for the shipping of the bikes to General Santos City, plane fare for all 16 riders and Petron personnel, hotel accommodations and food and beverage in three cities, complimentary gasoline fill-ups and promotional stops at designated Petron stations, and finally shipping the bikes from Cagayan de Oro City to Manila.

The  Sprint to Mindanao began last 27 April at AMDG-Petron's refuge at Station 2 in Sgt. Esguerra, Quezon City where the group converged to bring the bikes to Manila North Harbor for shipping container loading. This being everyone's first time to load motorcycles on two 20" FCL containers, we are very fortunate to bank on the experience of newest AMDG member "the fixer" Francis Rivera and AMDG "MVP" Scubadiverdaw in tying-down motorcycles and the shipping documentation and procedural know-how of AMDG "pahinante" Reybetsy. By nightfall, we take four hours to completely secure the bikes. Our collective relief in overcoming the first hurdle is muted by the knowledge that this won't be the last time that we will be doing hard labor of this sort before the ride is through.

DAY ONE

02 April 2008

Manila to Gen. Santos City via Cebu Pacific

Flight delays are a given in domestic aviation and the group's takeoff to General Santos City on 02 April is no exception. Passenger traffic at the terminal is understandably heavy in Summer and as much as the club's eyes are surveilling the throng, eagerly scoping out scantily-clad beach bunnies bound for Boracay to while away the time, we are sadly disappointed by its unavailability. Alas, it is a Wednesday after all and we just turn our attention to Cebu Pacific's perky cabin crew instead. Although food and beverage aren't, passenger amusement is at least covered by our plane fare. Cellphone numbers, however, is a denied option today.

After and hour and a half of flight time, the group arrives to a warm welcome at the airport by the Raiders Club of GenSan who regale the group with underbone vertical wheelies on a motorcade to the container yard where we will offload our bikes. We certainly appreciate the balloons attached to their bikes too and instantly our group becomes accidental VIPs in the town, even if just for a day.

We arrive at the container yard by 3:30PM and everyone is anxious whether our bikes survived days of tossing and turning on high seas. A hulking forklift lays down the FCL containers in front of us as we brace ourselves for the worst: a heavy inhale followed by a collective sigh of relief. The bikes escape unscathed from the journey and already we behave like veteran inter-island motorcyclists. After AMDG Fr. Hoken does a quick blessing of the bikes, everyone gears up and head off to the spanking East Asia Royale Hotel in downtown GenSan. The ride to the hotel is brief but significant. AMDG-Petron are now officially riders on Mindanao soil.   

In what will become a recurring pattern for the rest of our journey, the initial settling-down at the hotel is short-lived as the group is consigned to social commitments on almost every evening of our stay, not that we are complaining. Our sponsor Petron is immensely generous when it comes to catering for her famished riders that it seemingly prepares a feast for twice the number of mouths to feed every time. Tonight's dinner is at the well-appointed Orange restaurant in downtown GenSan, peculiar for its zen architecture and interiors, reminiscent of an upscale Metro Manila bistro. Orange is an odd but highly welcome attraction in this developing city and is undoubtedly the first of many sophisticated dive spots over the following years.

"We are eating tuna sashimi like it was dilis," remarks one of our riders. He is spot-on. Pounds upon pounds of glorious GenSan red tuna underscored the fact that we are in the tuna capital of the Philippines after all. And tuna sashimi is just for starters, mind you. The rest of the repast held up just as well.

After dinner, the group unravels into splinter groups each with its own ideas on how to spend the rest of the evening. You may imagine our East Asia Royale Hotel compound as GenSan's version of Metrowalk. Some of us decided to shoot some pool at the Casadores billiards place while the rest presumably settled into their hotel rooms to prepare for tomorrow's ride to the premier city of the south, Davao. Our first night in the island of Mindanao also sees the first of a member-idol's exploits earning him the provisional nickname '1x4' for the moment.

Ever since I saw Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman do The Long Way Round (followed by Race to Dakar and The Long Way Down), I've always wanted an enduro bike and an enduro helmet: both a cross between motocross and street.

I already have the bike, so that's that. And I also have both a motocross and a street helmet. The silver street helmet shown on the right in the first photo is what I always use, but is already at least four years old, has more invisible hairline cracks than i can count, and is really due for replacement. The white motocross helmet on the left looks great but I never use it on out of town blasts because of the goggles. You see, my weak left eye is virtually blind by heredity and I always use my right eye to scope out my left side mirror. I can no longer do that as easily when using goggles because of its obstructing nose bridge, so I end up turning my head to the left to view the side mirror. You can tell that using this white helmet could have mortal consequences.

I am currently choosing between the two color options (silver or red) of the new HJC CL-XS enduro helmet shown on the second photo. I have also included a photo of me with my F650GS motorcycle for your reference. Which of the two HJC helmets do you think I should get? I'm currently undecided between the two. A stalemate.


RED:
Pros:
- matches well with my bike's fairings
- rarity because choice is dependent on bike color (and there aren't many red bimmers)

Cons:
- relatively flashy
- clashes with my suit and AMDG colors


SILVER:
Pros:
- matches well with my suit and AMDG colors
- subdued hue is very BMW-conservative
- the greys match well with my bike's frame and engine

Cons:
- subdued and not as eye-catching
- may eventually become common to many bikers with non-red bikes


So what do you guys think? Not getting the helmet is not an option, ok? So is getting another suit. Or joining another club. I'm keeping the bike too.

Urdaneta - Baguio City


The parade pace is over and all riders have been given the green light to attack the twisties of Marcos Highway however they deem appropriate. Birds of a feather will always flock together and true to form, I enjoin 5 fellow moderate-riding AMDG eagles to stay at the rear and allow our fast and furious mates to sprint ahead.

Traffic eases up the further up North you go and Pangasinan's tarmac, despite not being as well-maintained and smooth as Pampanga-Tarlac concrete, allows faster riding speeds. The BSRC MC of Baguio ride on underbone bikes, a cross between motorcycles and scooters, with engine displacements between 110 to 150cc and have predictably pulled up the rear with my 5-eagle subgroup. For safety purposes of riding in a group of similarly powered bikes, we decide to pick up the pace and maintain a sizable gap with our highlander colleagues. We are also glad that Eagle One and AMDG Philip have yet to submit to their own needs for speed and are still around for blocking and sweeping duties for us.

I am well-acquainted with scenic Marcos Highway's twists, bends and wide banking corners, being a regular monthly visitor to Baguio three years ago. However, this is the first time that I am riding through these mountains on my BMW F650GS therefore anxiety is on top of my emotion list. Those looming dark ominous clouds aren't too encouraging either, but my bike's roaring engine and tires reassure me anyway.

Ten minutes of twisties finally calm my nerves and I have suddenly developed a very comfortable rhythm with my bike and immediately start taking in the sights. Ever since Urdaneta, our 5-man subgroup has been accompanied by a Petron service van and I start entertaining notions with its 3 arresting model passengers. It is time to strut this eagle's feathers and almost as if on cue, I spiritedly perform textbook cornering and leans. There's nothing wrong in impressing the girls, is there?

An opening salvo of rain suddenly manifests its intentions upon us and I pull aside and stop to transfer a pocketed cellphone and iPod to my water-resistant luggage box. With the rest of my companions spiriting ahead, I decide against putting on my rain gear lest I be delayed any longer than I already have. This was to be a poor decision on hindsight.

Upon resuming my ride, it is apparent that the others have already pulled a good distance away from me, assisted no doubt by single-lane road diversions that held me up in traffic. I had a lot of catching up to do by my lonesome. Playtime! This moment is what I signed up to this ride for: one bike, one rider, one mountain pass; no assistance and support crew whatsoever with just my bike and wits about me - every soul biker's literal wet dream come true. This may not be the Swiss Alps, but it will do.

My brief yet memorable soul ride ended the moment I catch up with my companions and I motion a signal for me to take the lead. I knew that my bike's halogen auxiliary lamps may finally be put to use today as dense fog menacingly rolls in and I punch my fist in the air in exhilaration. However, if there's one thing that will eliminate this thick fog it's heavy rain and that's exactly what happened.

Rain, torrents of it, came bearing down upon us easily permeating our mesh suits and drenching my underwear instantly. I should have donned that rain suit a few minutes ago but it was already too late. I throttle down the riding pace for safety purposes but visibility through the rain was horrendous. Helmet visors were smattered with rain making it difficult to see and we couldn't lift it up anyway lest rain pierce our eyes whenever we did. I am so thankful we had already passed Marcos Highway's steep hairpins the moment the skies opened up on us or it would have been an entirely different story.

The final stretch of sustained incline is the last hurdle before reaching the City of Pines and with this afternoon's heavy downpour, it is certainly the most perilous. Huge mounds of slippery waterlogged clay that rolled down from the mountain are spread out evenly across the uphill road when it happened. My rear tire slips vigorously as I correct the bike by easing and pulling on the throttle. Safe. I assume that my mates fare as well for I can only hope they did; I could not see the second bike after me on my side mirrors.

Once again, I let my mates pass me as I pull to the shoulder to finally don the much-delayed rain gear. I knew that in a matter of minutes, I shall be reunited with them, along with our remaining train of 52 bikes, at our designated stop: Petron BGH, Baguio.

All 52 riders that joined the mountain ascent made it to the Mile High city in one piece. I say a silent prayer thanking the Good Lord for this rare instance of a 100% success rate for a very large riding group. The fact goes unspoken among bikers by tradition yet I am convinced of the collective sigh of relief, the greatest of whose was Eagle One's. We all have made it to Baguio City and he was the one who brought us here.

With this feather in our cap, the AMDG-Petron Motorcycle Club has together achieved its inaugural ride with flying colors of Ateneo blue & white and Petron red. Our fledgling association has finally paid its dues to the motorcycling gods in the presence and support of our MC companion groups. Let the festivities begin!

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam! Always.

Manila - La Union


65 big bikes rolling in staggered formation along undulating C5 is truly a sight to behold. Up until the entry of the NLEX, all five groups that comprise today's ride train move in disciplined formation. Spearhead AMDG Hubert has been tasked to assure that the ride will proceed in unfamiliar parade pace owing to its corporate nature, a far cry from the furious velocities that he is well-known for. No sooner as the group hits the NLEX that every rider's verbal agreement to maintain formation, behave and resist the urge for "playtime" is broken. Presented with a stretch of wide open road, bikers will be bikers after all.

The NLEX is the easy part. This road is wide, pristine, and accommodating to big bikes that are designed for speed, besides its most important aspect of single flow. There are far less chances of mishaps along the NLEX because all vehicles move in one direction without incoming traffic and intersections. Being lulled to sleep along boring NLEX in ideal weather is arguably the biggest risk any biker may be concerned about. Nevertheless, today's romp through the NLEX is especially gratifying due to the lifting of a one-month ban on motorcycles of 400cc displacement and above earlier during the week. It is a reunion of sorts for big bikers and the NLEX.

The train peels away from the NLEX at the San Fernando, Pampanga exit for the first of 10 promotional ride stops at selected Petron service stations along busy McArthur Highway. Not unless you're a card-carrying e-pass holder, toll booth episodes are a burden to glove-clad motorcyclists who have to fumble around with bills and coins. Fortunately, the Petron guys are already waiting for us by the time we arrived at the San Fernando exit to pay for our toll fees. "Man, these guys have everything covered," I say to myself. Everyone loves a freebie.

Playtime is over and it's back to strict formation once the train finally hits bi-directional McArthur Highway, melting pot of innumerable intersections, buses, trucks, tricycles, pedestrians, etc. - all the worst that the national road system can muster. Here is where every individual biker cuts his teeth and then some. However, ours was a long train of 5 groups of unfamiliar riders and the stakes have definitely gone up.

AMDG-Petron MC's journey along McArthur Highway on the 13th of October 2007 will be spoken about by eyewitnesses for many years to come. Looking back, I don't know how we managed to pull it off with nary an incident at all.

Imagine 65 bikes in close formation at respectable speeds overcoming traffic congestion by counter-flowing towards incoming traffic with little passing opportunities save for what the group has forcibly created for itself. The unforgettable sight of ATAT Kevin facing-off against trucks and buses that enjoy right-of-way yet being intimidated to move to the shoulder to let 65 bikes through will forever be etched in my memory. I couldn't express enough the security and peace of mind I get whenever I see Ride Commander Hubert or AMDG/BOSS Philip zoom on my left to seal off the approaching intersection to allow the train to proceed unimpeded. Our behavior no doubt caused much consternation to incoming southbound vehicles that were obliged to stop and allow us through, but such is the stuff of legend that will be romanticized by bikers in countless iterations for the foreseeable future. Petron's Mike said it best, "now I know the feeling of riding as a VIP."

Our sun-weary train makes its penultimate promotional stop at the Petron Urdaneta station where we also have lunch prepared for us at nearby Lisland Resort courtesy yet again by the sponsor. We are also welcomed by Baguio motorcycle groups BSRC and the Baguio Big Bike Club who offered to accompany our group up picturesque yet challenging Marcos Highway.

Everyone is delighted that despite every weather forecast website that guaranteed rainfall at every stage of today's ride, we have been surprisingly blessed with clear skies all the way from Manila to La Union. To expect the same courtesy from a Benguet afternoon would probably be asking for too much and Baguio certainly didn't disappoint.

Baguio City, 13-14 October 2007


An 0500 call time at a takeoff point that I haven't been to before isn't too encouraging for a long ride. However, the Petron Taguig-C5 service station is impressively vast and well-appointed; certainly spacious enough to accommodate the 65 big bikes that are scheduled to depart for Baguio city this morning.

About 40 or so bikes are already gassed-up by the time I arrived. Petron, our motorcycle group's newly signed corporate sponsor, is pulling out all the stops for our association's inaugural ride. Gasoline vouchers are already being distributed to all participating riders as well as pit polos, caps and livery all bearing the marks of recent partners AMDG Motorcycle Club and Petron. Breakfast is also being served.

Today's atmosphere is a mixture of eagerness and apprehension. Every biker worth his salt is fully aware of the dangers of riding in a large group of riders who are unaccustomed to each other's riding style. Moreso, the 65 riders comprising today's ride train hail from five different motorcycle clubs, namely AMDG-Petron, ATAT, Force-A, LERAP and the Wacky Riders; groups having slightly differing fundamental riding attitudes and techniques yet all sharing the same passion for motorcycling.

Understandably, Eagle One is noticeably uneasy today. Having founded the AMDG Motorcycle Club a little more than a year ago, he can't be blamed for having doubts about our young group's ability to embark on an undertaking of this magnitude with proportionate stakes in reputation, resources, and high publicity. The slightest error of a single rider could lead to the direst consequences with implications on both the Ateneo de Manila, the prestigious school from which AMDG MC comes from and Petron Corporation, the largest oil company in the Philippines. Eagle One is aware that sole responsibility over the ride is his. He will not be at peace until the last rider arrives home safe and sound in Manila the following day.

However, if there's one thing that Eagle One knows best, it is the riding ability of every single member of AMDG. He has tapped venerable rider AMDG Hubert as spearhead for the 65-bike train along with reliable veterans AMDG Philip and ATAT Kevin as critical traffic blockers along with a couple of police escorts. Eagle One and AMDG Fast Eddie will alternately pull up the rear and attend to sweeping duties.

With all the corporate pomp, pageantry and press coverage of ABS-CBN, GMA and broadsheets done with, today's event has ceased to be a media spectacle and upon Eagle One's signal to gear up and takeoff at 0700, today's flurry has finally become a ride and the City of Pines awaits.

Here are three interesting personality quizzes from LiquidGeneration:

a. Star Wars
http://www.liquidgeneration.com/Media/Games/Quizzes_Puzzles/Knowledge_Quizzes/The_Ultimate_Star_Wars_Personality_Test/

b. Pixar
http://www.liquidgeneration.com/Media/Games/Quizzes_Puzzles/Personality_Quizzes/Which_Pixar_Character_Are_You/

c. Heroes
http://www.liquidgeneration.com/Media/Games/Quizzes_Puzzles/Personality_Quizzes/Which_Heroes_Character_Are_You/


So which of which are you?

BMW Motorrad yesterday announced its entry into the World Superbike Championship with the launching of the most advanced boxer of all time, the R1200 HP2 Sport at the Paris Motorcycle Show, its third high performance 2-cylinder (HP2) motorcycle, modified from the popular R1200S.

Peter Müller, Vice President Development and Model Lines BMW Motorrad:
"In 2007 BMW returned to road racing with the sports boxer after more than 50 years. In 2008 we will continue our activities in the Endurance category. At the same time we will be preparing our entry into the Superbike World Championship in 2009 with great intensity."


R1200 HP2 Sport Features:
- complete redesign of the cylinder heads to create the first Boxer engine with double overhead camshaft
- higher revs = more power: over 128hp at 8750rpm and 115Nm of torque at 6000rpm
- dry weight of just 178kg for improved power to weight ratio
- quickshifter: fast gear changes without easing off the throttle or operating the clutch
- light-weight carbon fibre fairing
- self-supporting carbon fibre rear subframe
- radially bolted monobloc brake callipers
- MotoGP dashboard
- projected SRP: £14,500(!)