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Archive for March 21, 2011

50km with my Trek 4300 MTB

It’s nice to be back on long mountain bike ride as me and my Trek 4300 went on to an unplanned cycling adventure last Sunday.

It was supposed to be a ride uphill going to Tagaytay (Cavite, Philippines) but ended up working my way going north to my hometown in Bacoor, a 26km ride from our new home in Dasmariñas City.

I used to bike commute and got solid 160km per week but now the mileage drops due to the fact that running became my primary sport. It’s a little harder now when I am not making up to my saddle time and it shows on the way back at kilometer 30 when I began to drop the pace. My left knee began to have that usual piercing discomfort so I shifted to my right knee for those hard climbs and effort. Also, the wind was blowing against me which added up to the difficulty of maintaining the pace.

Took me 3 hours to finished the ride and that includes typical hydration stops and a quick 30-minute meal and rest. When I got home, the odometer read 50km.

The Trek 4300 handled both long asphalt and off road paths really well. Lesson learned, plan and prepare for rides like this. It should have been a great day if I still have enough on my tank to finish strong to the last 10km.

March 21, 2011 | Categories: Biking | Tags: , , | Leave a comment

Deuter ACT Lite 25

My typical daypack is The North Face Neutron 34. It fits practically everything, camera, clothes, laptop etc. 34 liters is good, but trying the Deuter ACT Lite 25, this is much better.

First, I like Deuters Air Contact technology better than The North Face back panel. Deuter made sure that air could come between the back and the bag. So sweat and heat is not a problem. Yes, it is impossible not to sweat on trips but the air coming from the mesh wicks away  moisture.
Another good thing about the ACT Lite 25 is that it fits a 3L bladder, so it’s capable of hands-free hydration which is useful on biking and also on trekking if you want both hands free.
I use this pack both on challenging trek and also as a daily pack so it takes a lot of synthetic and organic abuse.
Unlike TNF Neutron 34, it lacks a rain cover, which you have to buy separately (Php300-600) in various outdoor shops locally. I’m 5’5″ and I find this pack amazingly comfortable, and the hip belt fits well.
For a daypack, I highly recommend getting a Deuter ACT Lite 25. Good for hiking/trekking, long or medium bike rides, or a day in the mountains. It is also good for the everyday urban commutes and will serve you well for years.
You can buy this online or locally at ROX or Toby’s.

March 21, 2011 | Categories: Biking, Outdoor General | Tags: , , | Leave a comment