The last Clark ride?
Its been almost 2 months that Eric Imperio & his group take advantage of the nearly completed Clark high way that leads to Tarlac. Lately, other tri teams have learned about this and capitalized on the opportunity. Polo tri, Fitness First and of course TriClark have made several sojourns.... .always saying...Aero Heaven.
My teamates in Xycos planned to ride last Saturday but typhoon Egay got in the way. However, other teamates made their way Sunday when the weather was good and Monday being a holiday. Same rave.
We got our chance this morning. Coming to the Petrol Depot inside Clark at about 7:15 am, 30 minutes late...the place looked like there was a triathlon going on. Unbelievable. The Cafe in Morong never looked this packed. Just about 60 riders, full race set-up, all prepping their rides. Not to mention the first group of Polotri and Tri Clark that already headed out, about 35 of them.
The ride is 6k out to the start of the highway, and rides 38k to the end (unfinished portion). Nothing but great asphalt roads, freshly paved. A few rough sections and metal grids to look out for, otherwise... WOW!
Just when the last rider clipped in and rode out of the gas station, Ron Caringal gets a flat (the only one today). Four of us decide to stay and helped out. 15 minutes down, we couldn't see anyone for miles. Got into team time trial formation, took equal pulls and slowly, we reached the tail of the pack that had splintered. Picking up riders one by one, some getting on the train we were flying! About one truck or pick-up to look out for every say...five minutes, so the road was very very clear. The feeling was exhilirating!
Upon reaching the 38k point, riders had converged, ate their bars & gels (no store to refill, must bring everything with you enough for the 84k ride) and it was like a tri party, at 9am in the middle of a highway.
Then someone yelled, "saddle up!" Everyone helmet on...go! This time the packs were bigger since we all converged.
This is how it looks in the paceline: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/campled/Clarkpaceline.jpg
We even rode 4 abreast: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/campled/Clarknothingbutroad.jpg
Then the wind started coming in and our 47kph pace heading out was reduced to 27kph.It was painful.
The stronger riders started to pull away and we were left to fend for ourselves. About 8k of riding solo after being dropped, I saw that some form of commotion was happening in the distant by the long bridge. Someone crashed?Then riders started heading back to my direction.
Apparently, some highway OIC decided to ban riding in this highway in the middle of the day. JC who was in the front of the line suddenly saw a highway official do an "oblation" (as in arms stretched out, not naked) in the middle of the road. As he swerved to avoid the guy, the oblation guy turns into Hulk Hogan and does a clothesline on JC. Wham! (sorry, no pics for this). Threatens JC and even boasted of firing his weapon at two female riders and a male rider who refused to stop. To top it all, he had the nerve to ask JC before we detoured.."mahal yang bike nyo noh, magkano ba yan?" Huh?
I guess cooler heads intervened and a local rider showed us the detour route thru Mabalacat.
This is how we converged in the middle of the highway thinking hmmmm "class action" kaya:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/campled/clarkstalled1.jpg
We all headed back and to my delight being so wasted, the detour cut the trip by about 7k. Coming into the gas station it was another big tri congregation. Wonderful.
The end of the harrasment story is, my teamates Ilay & Ana (who were the two females in the shooting story) went back to the highway escorted by Clark Police, got the names of the OIC and his superior and will be filling a reposrt to their HQ in the Fort.
So for those who intend to ride this wonderful Aero Heaven Highway (I suggest bring your tribike & leave your road bike home), I am not sure if the highway will still be open. Don't know if the trip back of the girls was enough to make them realize not to mess with cyclists (and never to fire that gun, hope he gets castigated for this). Remember, when OIC shows up again in the middle of the highway and does a Hulk Hogan, do a Shawn Michaels and duck under.
Ride safe!