

Location : Cebu City, Cebu (province), Philippines
Downhill Ride
It's been ages since I was on the saddle. With Cebu MTB Adventure tagging me to come along for a downhill riding tour, I was curious how it could be different from my experience as a cross-country rider. With my new hardtail, I wondered if I still had the juice.
Cebu MTB Adventure
This outfit was founded by famed motocrosser and downhill rider, Gene Faelnar. It's one of the very few mtb outfitters in the country. They provide everything - just show up with your riding clothes. They provide the bikes, there is a support vehicle to transport bikes and riders to the jump-off and patiently wait at the landing point where bikes and riders are loaded again to the next trailhead. The support crew have all the competence - as professional bike mechanics, they can fix mechanicals along the way (but there is always a spare bike to avoid delays). As riders, they are podium finishers, so even if you are an elite rider, you wouldn't see them eating your dust. Lunch is provided - boodle style!
Joiner
The scheduled ride was for a group of Accenture employees who were out to try something unusual - downhill riding. As expected, they were all new to it with the exception of about 2 riders. I was the odd joiner.
On the Way
The trip took quite a while as we left the hustle-and-bustle of the (city) and up into the mountain range of Busay - way beyond Tops. We stopped on an obscure section of the main road which served as the jump-off point. How Gene discovered that is beyond me. From the top end, we began our downhill run. From what Gene said, it's a continuous 5km run before we start to do some pedaling to where the support truck was waiting for us.
Newbies
But there was a snag - they were newbies. On the first 10m, on a non-technical section, someone already took a spill. On mild grades, the whole group would stop and everyone would take slow and very cautious manuevers, sometimes to another wipeout. This would go on practically on every 50m. The 5km run was essentially broken down into short segments as we all stopped to ensure the safe passage of the newbie riders. This would characterize the rest of the ride.
All Fun
It wasn't a game of patience for them. Since they were mostly at the same skill level, they we enjoying the moment - every bit of it as they took selfies after selfies. It was the greatest team-building activity for an office crew - fun, challenging and rewarding. Gene and his entire staff were consumate professionals guiding, instructing, assisting and taking videos and pictures, always smiling, not showing any trace of frustration or impatience.
Boodle Lunch
Unique in the Visayas is the boodle fight of laying down all the food on banana leaves on a table with people simply crowding around and eating with their bare hands - no individual plates, no spoon and fork. Such was the scene for our lunch as we devoured roasted native chicken, grilled pork and fish with lots of rice and bananas.
Waterfall
After the filling lunch and some much needed rest, we were off again for the second trail. It was more techinical with a long downhill run that ended up to our climactic finish, the waterfall. With weary legs and tired bodies, we soaked it in to our hearts' delight. It wasn't rushed. We just stayed there as long as we wanted afterwhich pedaled a few back to the support truck which took us back to the (city).
Time-Based
We covered 2 trail systems but the tour isn't about the number of trails. It's based on a full day of riding. If you are fast riders, then you cover more trails to ride on. One staff mentioned being with a fast group. There was no stopping or dismounting until at the end of the trail. On that day, they did 11 trail systems!
Ending Thoughts
The crucial lesson I learned was to join a group with the same skill level as me. I didn't see this situation coming. But again, the operative word is same skill level - you don't want to be the slowest either. I remember joining a winter ride back in the day when I was the weakest link amongst elite riders. It was pure trauma as I found myself immeasurably out of my depth.
Why go to the beach on a weekend? It's been done to death. For a weekend activity with the gang that's different from the usual, riders or not, given all the hand-holding the crew provides, a bike tour with Cebu MTB Adventure is highly recommended.
--- Gigit (TheLoneRider)
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More on Cebu City:
Cebu City to Camotes Islands
Camotes Islands to Cebu City
Cebu City to Dumaguete by Boat
Cebu City to Dumaguete via Liloan (bus, boat, jeep, tricycle)
Cebu City to Tagbilaran, Bohol
Cebu City to Siquijor, via Tagbilaran
Sugbo Urban
There is only one bus plying this route - Sugbo Urban. Tourist class coach, a/c, comfortable, Sun-Fri (these dates keep changing). P420 for bus, P275 for ferry to Liloan. Leaves Cebu City (South Bus Terminal) at 8 pm (Sundays 1 am), heads south to Liloan (Santander), takes the ferry to Larena Port, Siquijor, docks around 5 am, makes a clockwise roundtrip around Siquijor Island - Larena, Enrique Villanueva, Maria, Lazi (stops at Lazi market for breakfast and leaves 6:50 am), San Juan, Siquijor (arrives 8am, P50 from Lazi to Siquijor Poblacion) and catches the 1pm ferry at Larena Port for Liloan, Cebu and resumes its land route. Arrives Cebu City 10 pm.
Sugbo Urban is the cheapest and most convenient way because when it reaches Larena Port (Siquijor), it continues its trip around the island (clockwise) along the circumferential road, passing through - Enrique Villanueva, Maria, Lazi, San Juan, Siquijor...and back to Larena. It spares you the cost of hiring a tricycle or habal-habal which charges exhorbitant fares. Besides, it's a long trip to the other side of the island to be taking by tricycle.
More on Cebu Province:
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