23 Rules of the Trail

There are certain rules every mountain biker should live by on the trail…

1. Pay It Forward – Tubes, quick-links, a helping hand. You’ll need it one day too.
2. You brought it out…you bring it home – No one likes a litterbug. Keep the trail clean.
3. Know your role – Fast climber? Get up front. Slow descender? Get in the back.
4. Bike worth does not equal biking ability – Everyone loves the latest and greatest…but it doesn’t increase skill.
5. Be Self Sufficient – Always bring what you need…and sometimes more.
6. Know Basic Bike Maintenance – Be able to fix your own flat…
7. Treat Other Riders Like You Would Want To Be Treated – No one likes a jackass.
8. It’s Only A Race If The Other Participants Know They Are Participating – You didn’t beat your friend on the climb if you are the only one that knew it was a race.
9. If A Rider Catches You…It Doesn’t Mean They Want You To Ride Faster – Move to the side and let the rider by.
10. Music While Riding Is Great…Unless You Are Oblivious – If you are going to wear earphones while riding, check around you constantly for other riders.
11. Know Your Abilities – Don’t get too far over your head.
12. Just Because You Can’t Ride It…Doesn’t Mean Others Can’t – Mountain biking should be a progression. Not all trails can be wide and groomed.
13. You Have Zero Room To Bitch If You Didn’t Work On The Trail – Try not to be a backseat driver to trail work.
14. There Is No Cure For UGI – Upgradeitius is a serious disease for which there is no cure.
15. Beware Of Rider Recommendations – The best bike for a friend may not be the best bike for you. Everyone thinks they are on the best mountain bike on the market.
16. Don’t Be “That Guy” – You know the one…the guy that brags about his time on local loops and doesn’t ride anywhere else. Enjoy your ride…it isn’t a contest.
17. In Shape Does Not Equal Technical Ability – You are in shape…awesome…but that does not make you a better rider. It just makes you able to ride longer.
18. Riding Keeps You Young – Yes…that guy that is twice your age will still drop you.
19. Diversity Is A Good Thing – Different bikes, different styles, different personalities. It would be dreadfully boring if we were all the same.
20. Support Those That Support You – Support your local Bike Community and local advocacy chapters. They do more than just work on trails.
21. Online Superstars Type More Than Ride – Time worrying about online arguments is time you could spend on the bike.
22. Riding Is The Best Therapy – Self explanatory…

Good Job Market-Market…

Feb. 13, 2014, 11:15AM. Pumunta ako sa opisina ng Ensogo sa BGC, kaso ang mga hindot ayaw mag-pa-park ng bike sa harap ng office nila, mag-park sana ako sa High Street kaso may bayad kaya nag-decide ako na pumunta na lang ng Market Market kasi libre ang parking… kaso mali ako…

Pagdating ko, sinita ako ng guard at sinabing dumiretso daw ako sa entrance kasi nandun yung bike rack… Pagdating ko dun, bigla akong hinarang ni ate sa booth at tiniketan ako… “May bayad na ang bike?”, “opo” ang sagot nya… “Php 35 po ang first 4hrs”… siningil ako sabay tanong ng pangalan, kulay ng bike, brand at model ng bike at accessories na iiwan sa bike… lahat ng info sinulat nya sa likod ng tikcet sabay abot sa akin…

Pagdating ko sa bike rack una kong napansin yung isang guard na naka-assign sa bike rack na may hawak na logbook at yung dilaw na kadena na nakapa-ikot sa mga bike sa rack… hindi ka basta-basta pwedeng mag-park… kinuha muna tikcet ko, nagsulat sya sa logbook at pinapirma ako, tsaka pa lang nya ako pinag-park sa rack at kinadena yung bike… nung iiwan ko yung helmet ko, sinita ako at dapat daw pinalagay ko sa ticket na mag-iiwan ako ng helmet, kaya kinadena ko yung helmet sa bike at dinala ang pump at water bottle ko, magtatanong pa sana ako sa kanya kaso suplado at umalis agad…

After my business with Mercury drug at Ensogo, Pagbalik ko sa parking, hiningi agad yung ticket at pinapirma ako sa logbook bago nila inalis yung kadena… ibang guard na ito kaya sinubukan kong i-rapport… natanong ko kung kelan pa nagsimula yung ganun, kaso hindi din daw alam ni kuya kasi kababalik lang daw nya galing sakit at pagpasok daw nya ng lunes nandun na yung rack pero may nabanggit daw sa kanyang nakawan na nangyari mga ilang linggo na ang nakakalipas… hindi din daw nya alam yung details pero parang nagbayad yata ang Market Market ng mahigit Php 150K para daw sa 2 bike na nawala… Hindi ko sure kung totoo yun pero naisip, hindi gagawa ng “despearate measure” na mag-assign ng isang guard para sa bike rack kung hindi malaki ang binayaran ng Market Market sa mga nawalang bike…

My take : ok na sana Market Market pero bakit ngayon lang? Ilang bike na ang nawala, sa mga empleyado nyo, sa mga tenants nyo… kung totoo man ang mga bali-balita, kung hindi pa kayo mananakawan ng mga mamahaling bisekleta hindi nyo gagawin ang ganito… Noong mga panahon na nawalan ng mga bisekleta ang mga empleyado nyo, may ginawa ba kayo? Wala! Dahil ba empleyado lang sila at wala silang magagawa kahit mawala sila ng biseklatang pinag-ipunan nila mula sa kanilang kakarampot na sahod… Ganun na ba talaga, kapag may pera ang na-a-agrabyado nagiging big issue at na-a-aksyonan agad?

Anyway, nandyan na yan e… Sana lang mapangatawanan ng Market-Market ito… sana hindi lang sa simula… Tsaka, kailangan ba talagang may bayad!? So security comes with a price… 😦