Come back stronger - AMTA Insane Tour 2017
Due to my frustrations of last year's Insane Tour and envy to the finishers, I started my regular bike training as early as January.
I will finish this time coz I can.
I am now with a new line-up of a 5-man-team - the Thundercats B with Victor "Dondon" Merto as our Team Captain. We also have Allan Leon Pujida my co-team phoenix last year, and our tour rookies Romel Gulfan and Christian Redemio.
Our aim is to finish in 36 hours or less compared to the others who aimed the traditional 24 hours or less.
Our Thundercats Team is a 4-man-team lead by Abner "Abski" Ramirez since the assigned captain-Dexter Catubay won't be able to join this year due to his father's illness. Team A is stronger and faster, with its members Dennis Selmar, 15-Year-Old Sandy Boi Erediano and Ruvie "Rubas Bolantoy" Basabe.
We have a guest team this year which is the Team Big Ring.
Other AMTA teams organized were Team Wild Cats, Photon Panthers and Cheetah.
Team Big Ring
Cheetah
Photon Panthers
Wild CatsWe departed Minglanilla @ 4:00 AM of November 25 and encountered our first flat tire at Liloan, it was Christian. We replaced the tubes fast and off we go to our next stop @ Catmon for our breakfast. Unfortunately, Noy Clovis of Stray Cats had an upset stomach which caused us further delay.
Our pacing was synchronized. Not too slow, Not too fast. Just enough that everybody can keep up since we have some bikers with us who are already past 60 years old - Master, Noy Clovis and Noy Drigo.
We arrived in Bogo at 11am, 1 of 4 quadrants down I say. We're almost there.
Everyone was kinda hungry and thirsty due to the unforgiving heat of the sun. Too early for lunch, the senior bikers said. We then decided to have our snack break at a roadside bakery.
The road from Bogo heading to San Remigio was punishment. No shades to comfort the burning heat of the sun.
The backup vehicle was approaching from behind that opted us to stop and grab some ice. Another senior biker with his bike got of the vehicle, to our surprise, it was Noy Ely. He left Minglanilla at 5:00 AM and tried to catch us up until our backup vehicle passed him somewhere in Bogo. The backup vehicle urged Noy Ely to ride so he could join our pack sooner.
We had our lunch past as expected. It was already 1:30 when we ate at Tabuelan.
We had our next flats a few kilometers after we had lunch, it was Romel this time plus a bonus of a broken spoke. But doesn't discouraged us to pursue, it was all part of the tour.
We got caught in the rain at Balamban around 6pm. A lot of people was astonished since we still continue to pedal despite the water dripping all over us.
We arrived in Toledo at 7pm and had dinner. Noy Joel Cabriana joined us although he only started the tour half way but I'm quiet sure he don't wanna miss this big event.
Almost everyone changed their lycra and jersey after the sumptuous meal prepared by our backup crew.
Aloguinsan at last, took a deep breath and had some snacks prior to the steep climb. The streets were dark although all of us had their blinkers and flashlights strapped on. Dogs coming out of nowhere. Paced suddenly arise and not minding the ascending roads. We all had goosebumps due to the dark environment and creepy nature sounds.
Not so later on, we are now descending to Mantalungon and got there at exactly 10:00 PM, same as my last year's record. We had another cup of coffee before battling the climbs heading Barili.
This is where I quit the last year's tour, I wasn't able to battle sleepiness.
I should conquer it this time. I started with a flashy pace to keep my adrenaline that might help to prevent me from falling asleep while on the saddle.
A descending road rewarded us after Barili Milk Station. The wind was too cold that reminds me of sweet bedtime. Don't Sleep I said to myself while I noticed Sir Efren Larumbe crossing the other side of the road with his eyes closed. I just watched him do so, I don't know what to do, I was 3 seconds delay unti he was just able to wake up by himself.
The two teams agreed for a 3-hour sleep in Moalboal by 12 Midnight but sad to say, it was already 1:00 AM when we arrived Alcantara so we decided to took a nap there 'til 3:00.
Off we go again for our great determination to finish the tour.
Had our coffee at Badian just to keep us alert.
Unfortunately, the first biker to give up was Jonathan "Onyot" Sabal of Team Stray Cats.
The dark highway is giving us goosebumps again. Some of our bike lights' battery started to drain.
Pedal with patience. Slowly but surely. We'll get there soon, I said to myself.
With just a few hours of pedaling, we could see the sun shining again.
We had our next stop and re-group across Alegria Church. Sir Efren took a nap since he was too sleepy to pedal.
We frequently re-grouped ourselves from town to town since we lost our pedaling synchronization. We had a different level of exhaustion and a variety of pedaling techniques just to be able to continue and survive the entire tour.
We had another change of wardrobe in Samboan. Had a light breakfast and coffee provided by our ever supportive backup crew.
Some of the bikers moved ahead for the hope of buying fresh fish in Malabuyoc.
We had our heavy breakfast there.
We moved again right after everyone had fuelled up.
Our speed was quiet promising but keeps dropping from time to time due to extreme exhaustion. Next Stop would be in Santander, the start of the tour's last quadrant prior to everybody's dreamed finish line.
This is not a race anyway. It is a battle of one's self motivation, patience and determination to finish the insanity you've started.
Me, Romel, sir Lornell and Noy Joel was on the lead, Mr. Sun is up already.
We pedaled and took a stop on 1 of Santander's barangay. We were tempted to go ahead and arrive earlier but it wasn't a decent move I said. We can't just leave our teammates behind. We're all in this together.
Unknowingly, we were able to sleep for 40-minutes until the arrival of everyone.
We joined and pedaled with them until we reached Santander at 1pm if my memory served me right. Everyone agreed for a group picture.
The group was again divided with each individual's pacing. Next re-group would be in Oslob for our lunch. Santander going to Oslob consumed a lot of our energy due to its switchbacks. We had a lot of quick stops and short walks once an ascending road is encountered.
We re-grouped in Oslob and had our lunch at 2pm since the backup crew was also too exhausted that they forgot to prepare our meals. Juvenal aka "Rock n Roll" suffered a knee pain and decided to quit and ride the backup vehicle.
As per circular text message disseminated from our President Sir Chu Ravanes, Team Photon Panthers was just few kilometers ahead of us while some of the teams and bikers had crossed the finish line already.
Sandy Boi Erediano of our Thundercats A crossed the finish line first at 3:30am, he was able to break the 24-hour barrier. Next to him was a guest biker from Dalaguete, Lito Bellarma at 3:35am.
Sandy and Lito's break-away was full of rush and adrenaline.
Check out this Video by one of Lito's Supporter.
We had another good news received thru SMS that Ms. Abigail aka Haponesa is waiting somewhere in Dalaguete with lots of cold refreshments and snacks. Together with her was her daughter Angel and Sir Don-don's wife Mam Helen.
We pedaled again after we filled our tummies with such refreshments.
We got caught in the rain again along the way and all of a sudden almost weakened my entire body and triggered sleepiness. I am about to quit but we're almost there.
The rain stopped and we moved again, with me is Sir Lornell and Sir Efren.
Our pace this time was the fastest. Later on, I opted to drop my pace and went solo until Argao. I can't find any biker behind me nor in front of me. I took the opportunity of dropping by Angel's Burger in Taloot. The burger might hold me until dinner.
A few minutes have passed then I saw Noy Drigo and Noy Ely passed by.
I rode again and caught up to them at once. I rode with them but their pace was slow. Later on, Romel and Allan caught up to me and decided that we ride together until the finish line. It was an order by our Team Captain that we should mark our first ever Insane tour finishing time.
When we arrived in Carcar, Sir Lornell and Sir Efren were there together with Noy Joel fixing his broken cleats. They waved at us and we stopped. I persuaded Allan and Romel that we'll ride with the rest until the finish line.
Master and the rest didn't come after a few minutes of waiting. Romel and Allan were eager to go and finish ahead. I was hesitant to agree and asked them to extend a little more time waiting.
Even though Carcar is a few kilometers away from the finish line (Minglanilla), the temptation to quit never stopped. "This is good as finish" but another part of me keeps on whispering that I should cross the finish line, no matter what.
It's now or next year.
Master and the rest arrived, Sir Dondon was a bit mad seeing us since we defied his order then I explained.
Off we go again as a pack. But still our speed divided us. Allan moved ahead after Carcar Rotunda then Romel followed. I opted to stay with the group until I can no longer bare the uncomfortable speed.
It was somewhere in San Fernando when I moved ahead without informing them. I was angry with the bikers who moved ahead. I regret joining this insanity. I will not do this again I said. This is enough. I even took away my Bike's AMTA Sticker. Well then I realized, it was all due to my exhaustion that leads to those nasty emotions and actions.
AMTA Station at last. The dreamed finish line. I made it. Clocked at 8:46PM.
There's no one left there to welcome us - the last finishers; but I understand.
It's all worth it.
I am satisfied.
Almost 41 hours of insane biking along the coastal roads of Cebu was not that easy.
I immediately pedaled going home since I really wanna jump into our bed for a good rest. I didn't join our Victory Party since I myself inside was celebrating my own victory.
My wife and 2 daughters were very happy knowing that I was able to finish this one tour of a kind.
While on our comfy bed I say to myself that I'll do better next year.
Ooppss!!! Did I just said that?
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