The blog of Philippine cyclist Victor Espiritu.
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November 18, Sunday. I and my family went to a car show in SMX Convention Center near SM Mall of Asia. I went there primarily to visit Sixto, Cannondale Six13, and secondly to look at the cars. This was he first time I went to a car show so I do not know what to expect and I was also wondering what my bike is doing there. (more…)
Just a few days before going to ACC in Thailand, I made the decision to use Sixto, a Cannondale Six13. I decided to bring Sixto based on the results of the two performance trials the team had in Trece Martires, Cavite. On the first trial (second this year), I used an itt bike a coach asked me to use. I have been using it for only a few days before the trial. I admit I am hesitant in using the bike because I have really bad experiences with my own bike of the same brand and color. But, I gave it a chance. I challenged myself to prove that my bad experiences on that particular brand are just a big coincidence. So I rode it in the itt performance trial. My speedometer read 51′37″ after completing the 34.5 km uphill route. It was a lot slower than my previous itt using Sixto where I registered the best time of just a little over 51 minutes. So I stopped using the itt bike and started using Sixto again. After a week, I completed the same route at 51′28. My results on a standard Cannondale six 13 was a lot better than a full carbon itt bike. I decided to use Sixto in both itt and massed start event. I then asked the team mechanic to set it up as an itt bike. Saka ko na lang ituloy ang challenge ko with the itt bike. Not in this race. (more…)
9:15 PM September 2, Sunday. I stayed on the bed until around 9am. I seldom have the chance to this, to be able to sleep as much as I want to. Medyo nasarapan sa pagtulog dahil sa wakas natapos ko na rin ang matagal ko ng hindi matapos-tapos na gawain. Nabawasan din ng alalahanin. I decided to take it easy for today. For physical recovery din sa mga mahahabang byahe habang umuulan. Iwas sakit. A short rest after a busy week. (more…)
August 26, Sunday. It was a busy week for me. I resumed my training with the road team last Monday, August 20. I was also informed that I will be leaving on September 3, Monday, with a coach to join the Asian Cycling Championships for Track in Bangkok. I will be racing in scratch and point race with Sir Steve Pelaez from California. Wala daw uling pressure to win. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag dahil hindi naman ako pinag-eensayo para sa mga events na yun. After the races in track, I and the coach will then proceed to Ratchacima for the road racing events, and meet the rest of the road team there. Kasali ako massed start and itt. Napakaimportante ng race na ito dahil according sa info na binigay ng coaching staff, doon din gagawin ang road racing sa SEAGames. An opportunity to study the place and possible routes before the big event in December. I still don’t know the exact dates of my events but was informed that the team will be back in Manila on September 12, Wednesday. Due to conflict in schedule, I have to turn down a couple of race invitations from organizers. The first race is the 4th Leg of Criterium Grand Prix on September 2, Sunday in Tarlac. The second is a multi-stage race, the Tour of Cebu. Nagkaroon din ng balita na I requested to have it postponed para makasali ako. Pero hindi yun totoo at hindi ko kahit kailan gagawin yun to be able to join a race at the expense of other cyclists. (more…)
A day before the formal awarding of the 2007 Padyak Pinoy, I was asked to prepare the winning bike. I don’t have any idea why. Pero as requested, pinapogi ko ng husto si Sixto, ang tawag ko sa bagong paborito ko. Todo linis at pagpapakintab. Showbiz na pati bike! hehehe. (more…)