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Filipino terrain lends itself well to the sport.We
have plenty of vast tracks of rural landscape,
perfect for two-wheeled adventures
PHOTOS
ERIK LACSON, LESLIE CHUA
La Mesa Watershed
The La Mesa Forest Reserve is one
of the premiere mountain biking
destinations within the city limits. This
oasis of greenery at the heart of the
metropolis has around 60km of trails
open to mountain bikers and runners.
The trails vary from winding
gravel fire roads that are perfect for
beginners, to swoopy sections of
forested single-track that will keep
even seasoned riders on their toes.
Riders must be accompanied by a trail
master, included in the PHP1,000 per
group of four fee. The earnings go into
maintaining the Watershed, the trails
and the surrounding forest. First timers
will be given a short and entertaining
lecture on water conservation
and the importance of the
Watershed to the city. The
forest rangers always
welcome new riders,
and are experts at
mixing and matching
different routes to
match your riding
ability and fitness
level.
Contact: Forest
Ranger Glenn Flores
+63 (916) 640 2513
Cebu Pacific flies to
Manila from across the
network.
com
Tarlac Recreational
Park
Less than an hour’s drive north from
Clark is the Tarlac Recreational Park.
Built in 2010 to host the Palarong
Pambansa, TRP serves as the gateway
to a network of trails that are hidden
in the surrounding hillsides. The
riding here is steep and rocky, so it is
recommended to use a full-suspension
mountain bike to help traverse the
ledges and stone steps that dot the
landscape. One of the most popular
loops is a 20km round-trip ride deep
into the hills. There are more gentle
trail systems in the area as well, with
some tracks doubling as footpaths for
the residents and farm animals. Riders
here are expected to be self-sufficient,
and the trails are best tackled along
with someone well-versed in TRP’s
terrain, such as Edrie Ocampo, who
helped map out the trails here.
Contact: Edrie Ocampo, edrieocampo@
yahoo.com
Cebu Pacific flies to Clark from across the
network.
O F F - R O A D A D V E N T U R E S
Mountain bikes
always run the risk
of being damaged
during a ride, so it is
important to make
sure they are well-
maintaned
Are you fit
enough to
ride uphill?
