by: IGOP | Pics by: The PUHC Riders

Latest Pic of the PUHC Riders
<L-R> J.C. Girl, A.R., Carlo, Bong, Nix, Chari, Nadj, Chock, and Mario

Over the years, this crazy gang of hockey players biking around the unknown has grown exponentially. Flicking the puck, holding their breath, and finning for their dear lives underwater is just not enough for this group. For them, their legs can do a lot more than just finning... and cranking those bike pedals is one of them.

The name PUHC Riders was coined during the 2006 Cecon 24 Hours Mountain Biking Endurance Test. Chari, Chock, and Carlo collectively thought of a name to represent their team and that's how it all began.

Before The Start

Way before I got my bike though, a lot of the PUHC'ers have been biking already. From the Vets to the PUHC1 players. But it was only after the 24 Hour Race that the whole early-morning-thursday rides got its momentum and the group started to ride regularly.

A lot of "classic" stories happened during those Thursday adventures, which up to now, never fails to give us a good laugh whenever we talk about it. But as always with the PUHC Riders, its all in the spirit of good fun. One of the classic stories is when this certain PUHC Rider got traumatized on his first ever Bugarin ride. He quit the ascend and hitched a ride up to the top of Bugarin, not knowing that the finish line was only 5 more minutes away. Good thing there were people who recognized him splattered at the back of a pick-up truck and called his attention; otherwise, he may end up going as far as Caliraya without him even knowing it. :)

Another story is when this other PUHC Rider failed to even make it to Marcos Highway! The ride was supposed to be a whole day trek to the mountains of sierra madre. Even before the ride started, this PUHC Rider was already sensing a lot negative stuff happening to him. Which to him, means that he should bail out of the ride, pronto. True enough, when we were on our way to our customary Burger King stop along Marcos Highway, he crashed! And of all places, into a deep mud pit! What made it a classic was the fact that the road was at least 8 cars wide! He was following Chock as Chock goofed around the streets. Making his bike climb the sidewalk, leap the road humps, etc, etc. As for the mud pit that he crashed in? Its size was so small its not even 1/4 of the road! :) From then on, I decided to be a positive thinking biker. Its too bad though because he missed one hell of a ride. We were all wishing he was there with us when we got to the top.

At The View Deck!	Another Group Shot

The Green, Green, Grass of Hope	The Famous Sierra Hotel

It didn't take months before we decided to have another go at Sierra. We took the same route.. this time with a slightly different cast of riders, but ended up with another heck of a story. Hehe..

Since we were all itching to do Sierra again, we managed to "convince" this PUHC Rider to go with us. It was a pretty uneventful ride at the start because the weather really cooperated that day. There was a slight mist of rain as we were attacking the initial ascends, which made everything relatively easy. Of course, the newbie PUHC Rider struggled as she mashed and pounded her bike pedals. On the way to the top though, as she was "zigzagging" the road to make the climb a little easier, she blurted out this now-infamous line.. "Ang Sakit Na Ng ...... Ko!!!".. when we checked her bike, no wonder she was in pain, (or pleasure? or both?? Hehe..) her saddle was pointed UPRIGHT!. Hehe.. I'll leave it at that :) Everything else is best left unsaid. :) But in the spirit of good times, here's an idea on how she looked when we got to the top.

Hehe..

There have been a lot of other rides done by the PUHC Riders since then..... each with its own destination and cast of riders.. and each with its own "classic" story to tell. One thing that I liked about this group is that they continually try to convince the other non-biking members of PUHC to try the sport. Don't know how to bike? We'll teach you! Ask the Uy sisters about it. =) Just recently, the group inducted another set of newbie-PUHC Riders. Yours truly organized a Bugarin ride with an itinerary designed to allow the new riders to see and feel the true beauty of Bugarin (The Holy Grail of Bike Newbies) and allow them to experience the great camaraderie and unique support system of the PUHC Riders. Now you guys might wonder why we keep on doing these induction rides. Why do we keep on convincing other people to try biking?? The answer, especially for me, is pretty simple. Because once upon a time, we were just like them. :)

Ride with you guys soon! Relaxed pace lang! Sabay sabay lang tayo allllllll the way. Walang iwanan! :)

Thanks for reading!

With AMCI Peeps!!	PUHC Rider Girls