PERSONS IN INTEREST: EDWIN SALVAN/JEFFREY PALDENG
A term "person of interest" is usually associated with someone who the police considers as involved in a crime, but there aren't enough facts to engender a belief that he is a suspect in its commission. In the biking community, such a person would be one who has done something to merit attention and even praise.
I am a fan of the Audax. Audax is not a race; it is a test of physical stamina and mental fortitude. Over a given distance ranging from 200 to a maximum of 600 kilometres, one is asked to bike within specific time limits. Some cyclists are strong enough to bike the 200km in less than 7 hours; others, however, are not as physically gifted. I had always wondered what pushes the latter to combat physical exhaustion, and pedal for 13.5 hours to the finish under the merciless summer heat.
Ladies and gents, I give you the stories of Edwin Salvan and Jeffrey Paldeng, the "Last Finishers" of the Audax Subic held last February 24, 2018.
Q: What bikes did you use for the Audax200?
ES: I used a Specialized Tarmac, not sure of the exact model. This was my first Audax.
JP: For this Audax, I found myself using a foldie bike (Crius Master D). I had previously done the 200, 300 and 400.
Q: Why did you join the Audax?
ES: Nabuyo ako ng group ko (Happy Specialized Bikers) to join the Audax kasi I was probably the only one who hadn't tried it. So it was a spur-of-the-moment thing and registered only the night before the event.
JP: Ako din, nagka-buyuan lang. Even as I am a bike-to-work, I had no plans of joining the Audax but my bike mates were insistent. So I said "Okay, Ito na lang na foldie bike ang gagamitin ko".
Q: But neither of you were into long-distance riding?
ES: Ako hinde. In fact I would only bike less than once a month. The most that I'd even biked was around 140km. then nagpasundo na ako hahaha!
JP: I biked to work, that was my exercise. As I mentioned earlier, hindi naman problem for me because I already had prior experience in doing the Audax.
Q: Did you have a particular strategy to finish 200km?
ES: I told myself that so long as I don't experience cramps, matatapos ko sya. So nagbilin ako kay Doc. Vic de Leon to bring me some Saltsticks, and he gave me some with instructions on how often na I-take. Sabi ko sa sarili ko, di bale nang hindi ako umabot sa cut-off time, basta tatapusin ko sya. Bonus na kung umabot sa oras. For nutrition, I checked Google Maps and I was heartened to learn that there were enough 7-11 and Mini Stop stores along the way.
JP: I built up the foldie bike for a race but I didn't push through. So I told myself that I would test the bike during the Audax. That was a big mistake, kasi as it turned out, mali yung mechanical setup ng "granny cog" ko. Kaya whenever I would somehow use the biggest cog, sumasabit sya sa chain and I had to dismount to fix it. In simple terms, I didn't have a big cog for the steep uphills, while using a foldie bike. By the 100km mark, laspag na ako.
Q: At what kilometre mark did you realise that it was going to be a struggle to finish?
ES: I was pretty strong during the first 50km. Then by the time I reached Iba going to Masinloc, gusto ko nang umuwi. I bought 6 pieces of Spanish Bread from a store and it gave me energy to climb up to Masinloc, but I was already exhausted by then. I knew that there was hills before Masinloc, but I never expected that it would be parang never-ending. I was thinking, "Oh my God! Kelan ba matatapos itong ahon na Ito?" I was actually already looking for a pick-up who would be willing to carry me back to Olongapo. It was around that time that I met Jeffrey and decided to join forces with him so that we could both finish on time.
JP: While traversing the Botolan Bridge going to Masinloc, my chain locked with the cog. I was lucky that I didn't fall. One of my bike friends was a mechanic, and he told me that the "granny cog" was inverted when it was installed. He couldn't fix it without the proper tools. So I told them to just go ahead and leave me behind, and I would find a way to get back to Olongapo. It was around 9:30AM when I reached Masinloc, and met Edwin there. Sabi ko sa kanya, "Sir, pasunod ha. It was good that he agreed."
Q: Tell me what happened on the way back. If 10:00AM kayo na nasa Masinloc, you had a full 7+ hours to complete the remaining 100km.
JP: I noticed that one of Edwin's bike tires was flat, so we had to fix it.
ES: I had a spare interior, but I didn't have tools. Buti na lang, meron si Jeff. Hindi rin ako marunong magpalit ng gulong so I was fortunate that he was with me.
JP: We met Arman and Hyacinth along the way, and we struggled to beat the cut-off time.
ES: Arman kept reminding us to ride at a particular speed. 25kph daw, and not to go down below 22kph. Kasi babagal daw kami sa mga bayan and sa huling ahon kaya't we needed to make up for lost ground sa flats.
JP: But the heat was so unbearable so I would call a stop when we couldn't go any further. Pagdating ng 150km control point, kumain kami ng goto sa tabing-daan.
ES: At some point, it was Arman and Jeff who pulled ahead, while Hyacinth and I were left behind. We were just exhausted, we couldn't keep up with the pace na.
Q: What happened during the last few kilometres?
JP: I suffered a flat during the last climb. Some bystanders tried to help me but my interior gave me a difficult time. I wanted to quit, but it was around that time that Edwin caught up with me.
ES: I had no illusions of finishing on time, but I just wanted to prove to myself that I could do 200km, even if it was beyond the cut-off time.
JP: When I was nearing Mango Valley, may sumisilip from the tent. A female (maybe Carmela Pearson) shouted, "You can still make it! You have 10 ... 9 ... 8 ... " Naku, pinaspasan ko. I was shouting "Flat! flat! Flat ako!" all the way until I finished. People were clapping and cheering when I arrived. I was close to tears out of exhaustion.
ES: I actually arrived a few seconds after Jeff. Sabi ni Carmela, since hindi pa naman 5:31pm, I was still within the cut-off time.
Q: What is your message to those who want to do the Audax?
ES: Prepare for it. Train on long rides, and try to train while maintaining a particular speed.
JP: Set up your bike well. Tune it well before heading to Olongapo.
ES: It is a wonderful experience to finish. I can't wait for May 2018 to try to beat my time.
JP: Ako din. Baka sa 300 or 400km ako. Let's go!
I am a fan of the Audax. Audax is not a race; it is a test of physical stamina and mental fortitude. Over a given distance ranging from 200 to a maximum of 600 kilometres, one is asked to bike within specific time limits. Some cyclists are strong enough to bike the 200km in less than 7 hours; others, however, are not as physically gifted. I had always wondered what pushes the latter to combat physical exhaustion, and pedal for 13.5 hours to the finish under the merciless summer heat.
Ladies and gents, I give you the stories of Edwin Salvan and Jeffrey Paldeng, the "Last Finishers" of the Audax Subic held last February 24, 2018.
ES: I used a Specialized Tarmac, not sure of the exact model. This was my first Audax.
JP: For this Audax, I found myself using a foldie bike (Crius Master D). I had previously done the 200, 300 and 400.
Q: Why did you join the Audax?
ES: Nabuyo ako ng group ko (Happy Specialized Bikers) to join the Audax kasi I was probably the only one who hadn't tried it. So it was a spur-of-the-moment thing and registered only the night before the event.
JP: Ako din, nagka-buyuan lang. Even as I am a bike-to-work, I had no plans of joining the Audax but my bike mates were insistent. So I said "Okay, Ito na lang na foldie bike ang gagamitin ko".
Q: But neither of you were into long-distance riding?
ES: Ako hinde. In fact I would only bike less than once a month. The most that I'd even biked was around 140km. then nagpasundo na ako hahaha!
JP: I biked to work, that was my exercise. As I mentioned earlier, hindi naman problem for me because I already had prior experience in doing the Audax.
Q: Did you have a particular strategy to finish 200km?
ES: I told myself that so long as I don't experience cramps, matatapos ko sya. So nagbilin ako kay Doc. Vic de Leon to bring me some Saltsticks, and he gave me some with instructions on how often na I-take. Sabi ko sa sarili ko, di bale nang hindi ako umabot sa cut-off time, basta tatapusin ko sya. Bonus na kung umabot sa oras. For nutrition, I checked Google Maps and I was heartened to learn that there were enough 7-11 and Mini Stop stores along the way.
JP: I built up the foldie bike for a race but I didn't push through. So I told myself that I would test the bike during the Audax. That was a big mistake, kasi as it turned out, mali yung mechanical setup ng "granny cog" ko. Kaya whenever I would somehow use the biggest cog, sumasabit sya sa chain and I had to dismount to fix it. In simple terms, I didn't have a big cog for the steep uphills, while using a foldie bike. By the 100km mark, laspag na ako.
Q: At what kilometre mark did you realise that it was going to be a struggle to finish?
ES: I was pretty strong during the first 50km. Then by the time I reached Iba going to Masinloc, gusto ko nang umuwi. I bought 6 pieces of Spanish Bread from a store and it gave me energy to climb up to Masinloc, but I was already exhausted by then. I knew that there was hills before Masinloc, but I never expected that it would be parang never-ending. I was thinking, "Oh my God! Kelan ba matatapos itong ahon na Ito?" I was actually already looking for a pick-up who would be willing to carry me back to Olongapo. It was around that time that I met Jeffrey and decided to join forces with him so that we could both finish on time.
JP: While traversing the Botolan Bridge going to Masinloc, my chain locked with the cog. I was lucky that I didn't fall. One of my bike friends was a mechanic, and he told me that the "granny cog" was inverted when it was installed. He couldn't fix it without the proper tools. So I told them to just go ahead and leave me behind, and I would find a way to get back to Olongapo. It was around 9:30AM when I reached Masinloc, and met Edwin there. Sabi ko sa kanya, "Sir, pasunod ha. It was good that he agreed."
Q: Tell me what happened on the way back. If 10:00AM kayo na nasa Masinloc, you had a full 7+ hours to complete the remaining 100km.
JP: I noticed that one of Edwin's bike tires was flat, so we had to fix it.
ES: I had a spare interior, but I didn't have tools. Buti na lang, meron si Jeff. Hindi rin ako marunong magpalit ng gulong so I was fortunate that he was with me.
JP: We met Arman and Hyacinth along the way, and we struggled to beat the cut-off time.
ES: Arman kept reminding us to ride at a particular speed. 25kph daw, and not to go down below 22kph. Kasi babagal daw kami sa mga bayan and sa huling ahon kaya't we needed to make up for lost ground sa flats.
JP: But the heat was so unbearable so I would call a stop when we couldn't go any further. Pagdating ng 150km control point, kumain kami ng goto sa tabing-daan.
ES: At some point, it was Arman and Jeff who pulled ahead, while Hyacinth and I were left behind. We were just exhausted, we couldn't keep up with the pace na.
Q: What happened during the last few kilometres?
JP: I suffered a flat during the last climb. Some bystanders tried to help me but my interior gave me a difficult time. I wanted to quit, but it was around that time that Edwin caught up with me.
ES: I had no illusions of finishing on time, but I just wanted to prove to myself that I could do 200km, even if it was beyond the cut-off time.
JP: When I was nearing Mango Valley, may sumisilip from the tent. A female (maybe Carmela Pearson) shouted, "You can still make it! You have 10 ... 9 ... 8 ... " Naku, pinaspasan ko. I was shouting "Flat! flat! Flat ako!" all the way until I finished. People were clapping and cheering when I arrived. I was close to tears out of exhaustion.
ES: I actually arrived a few seconds after Jeff. Sabi ni Carmela, since hindi pa naman 5:31pm, I was still within the cut-off time.
Q: What is your message to those who want to do the Audax?
ES: Prepare for it. Train on long rides, and try to train while maintaining a particular speed.
JP: Set up your bike well. Tune it well before heading to Olongapo.
ES: It is a wonderful experience to finish. I can't wait for May 2018 to try to beat my time.
JP: Ako din. Baka sa 300 or 400km ako. Let's go!
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