Lessons on two wheels

Nagacadan rice terraces, a UNESCO site. | Photos by Luckie Masbad, Conch Tiglao

We’ve been planning this ride for years. Ever since I bought a motorcycle and found myself riding often with the same curious mix of people I met in the music industry way back when (hello, 2000s Saguijo, 77 and Route 196 peeps!) and new friends who share the same passion for two wheels. Good buddy (and a staple in the local motoring industry for years), Mark Laccay calls Dupax in Nueva Vizcaya his hometown. He knows the best routes and stops heading up North and had even helped take a large group of Vespa riders (along with fellow rider Darwin Andres) to his community and through the Cordilleras years back.

Sound engineer Mark McCullie on his KTM 1190 Adventure.

I remember talking about taking the same route with both Mark and Darwin in 2018 (I had just bought my bike in 2017.) But life happens. Work happens. Other stuff happens. Besides, at that time, I still needed to hone my riding skills (especially through curved roads and slightly unpaved areas.) I was still iffy and scared riding through twisties, and I needed to learn to ride a bit faster. And then 2020 happened. And all the plans we’ve been making, rewriting, adding to, stopped as the world did.Finally, on April 5, we packed our bags and made our way up North. A ragtag group of sound, mechanical and electrical engineers, a lawyer, a writer, a financial advisor, a moto talkshow host, a contractor, a public relations professional and a pilot, on motorcycles as diverse as its riders–from a Honda Rebel 400 and a Kawasaki W800 to Royal Enfield Scram 411s and a KTM Adventure 1190.

Sherman tank at Dar-awan Hill, our first stop at Malico.

It was a four-day trip that took us through seemingly endless twisties and scenic roads, from the Malico-San Nicholas Road to Dupax, to Banaue via the Villaverde trail (with a side trip through the historic town of Kiangan) and finally down to La Union via Besang Pass. The journey was more than just a physical one, especially for me–the roads we took weren’t just paths to our destination–they were a dynamic teacher, prodding me to quit worrying about the next hairpin turn and to embrace the challenges, while enjoying the ride and the sights. That trip didn’t just help me level up my riding skills, it was also a transformative experience that led to a lot of valuable lessons and insights:

Riding is meditation, or at least it should be. Distractions, wavering thoughts, multitasking have no place in your head when you ride. In the split second that you try to remember something, a dog might suddenly run in front of your bike or a vehicle in front of you might suddenly come to a full stop. As a motorcyclist, you need to be constantly scanning the road ahead for risks and be ready to respond to any risk.

Taking twisties like a champ. Gary Lamanilao on his Kawasaki Ninga Z900.

Plan ahead but be prepared for the unexpected. For this trip, Google Drive and Sheets were our besties. In our Sheet for the trip, we had a list of emergency contacts, addresses of our accommodations; route maps with stops for each day, reminders and lists of crucial items to bring (including first aid and quick bike and tire repair kits, rain gear, water bottles, snacks, battery packs, extra fuel canisters, etc.). Since my classic Kawasaki W800 didn’t have tubeless tires, I also brought extra inner tubes with me. A week before our ride, we also had our motorcycles checked and maintained or tuned.

The trip gave us scenic views and challenging roads.

You do you. Ride at a reasonable pace or speed. Yes, sometimes you need to push yourself to your limits, and test what’s beyond your comfort zone, but always remember you can slow down or take a breather and signal the group if the speed, pace or terrain get a bit too much. When we planned our route, we allotted about six hours of riding a day, including refueling, rest and hydration stops. We also made sure to take some time to see the sights, interact with locals and try the cuisine (we spent our longest stop at an area where we had a majestic view of the Nagacadan rice terraces).

These are lessons I still take with me every time I ride. If anything, that trip taught me that the best way to hone any skill is to just go and do it. Over and over again. By the time we reached Manila after kilometers of twisties, I felt I could take any hairpin curve or steep, downhill turn easily. People always say that it’s the journey, not the destination. But it’s both–more importantly, it’s also the people you take that journey with. Be right back. Off to plan our next adventure.