Globe Cordillera Challenge Bike Ride on May 4

Are you a mountain bike enthusiast? Check out the Globe Cordillera Challenge Bike Ride happening on May 4, 2013 in Benguet.

The Globe Cordillera Challenge is a bike ride to raise funds for reforestation of the Cordilleras. This year’s target is 30 seedling nurseries. The NGO partner Cordillera Conservation Trust builds roots-and-shoots nurseries in the Cordilleras in partnership with communities to teach them how to conserve and replenish their forests. This also helps enhance the community watershed and prevents landslides.

This is the fourth edition of the Cordillera Challenge, fondly called “Cordi” by its repeat participants. The organizers have already reached their target number of 350 bikers, up from last year’s 290+. However, there’s a possibility that Cordi registration will reopen on March 26 after participants confirm their slots by completing payment through GCash or bank deposit.

The “donation” fee is P1,000, which includes a biker’s kit and roundtrip transportation of your bike between Manila and Baguio.

Cordillera Challenge 4 bike kit

Cordi 4 will be an endurance challenge, since it’s the longest the Cordillera Challenge has ever done. It is set to cover 65 kilometers, which will include passing through two dams — Ambuklao Dam and Binga Dam — to emphasize the role of forests in the water supply.

• Section 1: Tublay Municipal Hall climbing through Halsema Highway (the highest roadway in the Philippines) to Kilometer 21
• Section 2: Descent to Ambuklao Dam over a loose gravel road. Short-course riders may choose to end their ride at the Dam.
• Section 3: The biggest climb of Cordi 4 involves 1,636 meters uphill via the Nueva Vizcaya-Baguio Road and a 5-kilometer descent back to Tublay Municipal Hall.

Mountain bikes or traveling on foot are the primary means of transport in the Cordilleras; road conditions on the route itself make mountain bikes (26ers, 29ers, hardtails, and full-suspension) de rigeur. Outfit your mountain bike with 2.1 knobby tires for the rocks and loose gravel you will encounter on the course.

Again, it’s a bike ride, not a race. But to give you a feeling of accomplishment, the organizers have marked sections of the course for Strava users, so you can still compare your times and claim “King of the Mountain” titles. For non-competitive participants, they can use their smartphones to check-in at Foursquare locations and claim an Adventurer badge.

This will be a green event, so even if there are food and water pitstops, participants are advised to bring their own water bottles and hydration bladders.

If you’re interested in helping the Cordillera Conservation Trust’s reforestation efforts but don’t have a mountain bike, you can still donate funds via GCash or bank deposit.

• via GCash: text “DONATE 1000 [your MPIN] CORDI” to 2882
• via bank deposit: BDO account # 5180031673 (Tignayan Para Iti Konserbasyon Ti Kordilyera)

I’m keeping my fingers crossed that registration will reopen for those who are interested. Check the Globe Cordillera Challenge 4 event page for updates and more details.

Globe Cordillera Challenge 4