Bohol Dares MTB pairs for 1st Epic Challenge

Local bikers who have read the tracks for the 85 kilometers bike race route that promises to separate the boys from the men have started the retro-fitting of drive trains or at least the rear cogs to heave them up with less the pain as Bike Ta Bai (BTB) brings the Epic mountain bike Challenge 2018 this November 25.

For those with a loose budget, a full rig of a carbon framed 29-inch wheeler with a 1 x 11 to 46 tooth large cogs or bigger, or the mid-range mountain bike drive trains of the SLX, XTR and XTs single ring 1x option to reduce unnecessary gear shifting are the favored set-ups.

But those do not necessarily give one the edge, as bikers say, “it is the endurance and the stamina plus the cranking pace gained only through proper and tireless training,” bikers at the Bol-anon Cyclist group in facebook would always assert.

Whizz through Bohol’s backroads and be hailed king of the epic challenge 2018, register now, visit Bike Ta Bai Facebook page.

“Considering the long climbs the route offer, the 26-inch tires on the hardy tough alloy frames are still old faithful favorites, smaller wheel sets definitely better in the climbs than the 27.5 and the 29rs,” race route veterans advised.

The race route would be 85 kilometers of highways and backroads, the unbeaten dirt roads and the unforgiving terrain and the spectacular panoramic views from the ridges of Maribojoc, Loon, Antequera, San Isidro and Calape, this November 25.

The BTB Epic Challenge 2018 cranks off from Punta Cruz Watchtower in Maribojoc, sprints through its first long climb to the highway bringing one from 3 meters above sea level to over a hundred meters in less than two kilometers.

Then it is a downhill highway coasting ride to Exaltacion Chapel in Poblacion Maribojoc where a mix of cemented and dirt loads lead to the Maribojoc Community Hospital, then off to a medium climb to Bayacabac Elementary School, then off to Baluca Street to San Roque where a switch back to the highway leads to the downhill to Toril, Busao to Santo Rosario Antequera.

After traversing the creek, take the Tupas Road and the a left turn leads to Bungahan, right to Angilan and left to Bantolinao.

From there, riders get through the rough climbs to go downhill to Baunos again and then to the plains of Cansague to the isolated barangay roads to San Isidro joining the highway right after the steel bridge.

From a little over the reefs to western Bohol’s ridges, bike pairs would need to conquer their wills to survive the 85 kilometers of gruelling race with painful grinding climbs and zipping downhills at Epic Challenge 2018.

From there, the tandem must get to the highway to Poblacion then take the Candungaw to Sampoangon barangay road, then down to Sohoton, Canguha before taking the climb to Cabayugan Calape to Quinapon-an Antequera.

From there, it’s off to Canlaas, then to Ubujan Antequera and then cross the highway to Nagtuwang, Loon, to Badbad and the scenic downhills to Loon, but before exiting the national highway, tandems take the left corner parallel to the highway behind the new Merkado sa Loon.

Then the punishing climbs start from the old cemetery to barangay Tan-awan in Loon about 414 meters elevation, to Jandig Maribojoc to Bocboc Spring and then take the right uphill barangay road climb to a single track to the municipal cemetery to Dipatlong and then race through the national highway to the moderate climb back to the Puntacruz barangay Hall and the finish line a kilometer downhill.

“Epic challenge focuses on self-sufficiency and strength over distance,” biker and race organizer Gerry Marmito advance the information.

Participants are required to carry everything necessary to be self-sufficient for the duration of the race. This includes all food, water and all provisions for your own use plus the combination of mandatory equipment specified plus what the biker gives him and his partner the edge, he continued.

Earlier, organizers have advised race participants to have good bike helmets, trail food and nutrients, hydration bag or bottle with at least a liter of water, spare tubes and patch kits, tire levers and bike pumps, chain missing link and chain tools as well as basic bike tool kits.

Already registered are 42 pairs for the 39 and below, 25 pairs for the 40-49, 6 pairs for the 50 and above and 8 pairs for the open elite category.

As the race offers no on-date registration, organizers are now putting up a registration promo for 4 teams registering together.

Offered until September 30, the promo offers four teams registering to pay only Php 4,200.

Regular registration is Php 1,400 per tandem.

The race route is already open and those who wish to familiarize with the trails can do so, BikeTa Bai epic organizers said. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)