In Pangasinan, village trails are haven for mountain bikers

SAN FABIAN, Pangasinan, Philippines — Mountain biking enthusiasts have found a haven in this central Pangasinan town—a 13-kilometer stretch of ascending and descending trails which crisscross four villages.

“The trails in Barangay Inmalog Sur, Inmalog Norte, Bolaoen and Lipit Tomeeng are for adventurers and amateurs, but professionals can also find the place challenging,” said Joel Balolong, a mountain biking enthusiast.

Most village roads have been concreted, but unpaved trails lined with trees are muddy or dusty, depending on the season.

The bikers are familiar with the route and have named sections of the trails as “the Devil’s Climb” for a trail toward a steep slope, “Susong Dalaga” (maiden’s breasts) which are three perfectly shaped hills, and “Sunrise, Sunset” for the hill from where bikers can watch the sun rise or set.

Villagers use the trails to bring down their produce to market.

Pangasinan Rep. Christopher de Venecia, a biking enthusiast, discovered the trails and put up a bikers’ den in Inmalog Sur, which he inaugurated and turned over to the Pangasinan Fourth District Bikers Association Inc. on Oct. 12.

BIKER-FRIENDLY Bikers find a home in San Fabian, Pangasinan, where trails have been developed in four villages to challenge amateur and professional cyclists. A pit stop for bikers has been put up in the village of Inmalog Sur. —PHOTOS BY RAY ZAMBRANO

Cycling capital

Pedal pushers can park their bikes at the den, which has toilets and shower rooms. Its geometric roof — highlighted with red, green and yellow slats of wood — is a tribute to Pangasinan bikers who ruled the cycling races and earned for the province the title “cycling capital of the country.”

Pangasinense cyclists won 24 championships in the annual summer cycling race Tour of Luzon, beginning in 1957 with Rufino Gabot.

Among the champions on record were Mamerto Eden (1959), Edmundo de Guzman (1962) Gonzalo Recodos (1963), Jesus Garcia (1973), Teodorico Rimarin (1974), Modesto Bonzo (1976), Jacinto Sicam (1981-1982), Romeo Bonzo (1983), Ruben Cariño (1984), Pepito Calip (1985) and Bernardo Llentada (1991).

Many cyclists from the province have won the Ronda Pilipinas, Padyak Pinoy, Tour of Calabarzon and Le Tour de Filipinas.

Some prominent young cyclists included Ronald Oranza, Santy Barnachea, El Joshua Carino, Irish Valenzuela, Cris Joven, Ronald Gorantes, Mark John Lexer Galedo, Joel Calderon, Tomas Martinez and George Oconer.

Garcia said the bikers’ den could focus government attention on mountain biking.

“Mountain biking races are not popular in the Philippines. There are mountain bike races, but not as spectacular as the tours, and they hardly get attention,” he said.