Interesting Bike Routes for Bikers in Lucena City

Posted on Aug 16, 2015

It’s another relaxing Sunday.

The crossing along Diversion Road in Barangay Gulang-gulang is relatively wide and offer a pleasant ride during off-peak hours.

For most people, this is the best time to clean around the house or to wash some laundry, maybe continue the book they were reading or catch up on the latest episodes of the series they were following, and, hey, that’s perfectly fine. It’s a precious rest day after all — one that we should enjoy to the fullest — but for those who are looking for a little more outdoor thrill or just a good way to give their bodies some much-needed exercise after being cooped up at work or at school for the past several days, this is a great time to go on a bike ride.

Luckily for us, there are plenty of interesting bike routes around the city and neighboring towns that will appeal to all types of riders — both inexperienced and not.  Check out this short chat we had with Gabriel Barrantes, a biking enthusiast from Lucena, City as he gives us some tips on the best places to go and some tips on how to keep rides safe and enjoyable.

What would be the best time to start or end the ride?

For start times, it’s best to go around 5 or 6 AM so the morning sun won’t be too harsh on your skin, but, that aside, it would really depend on how far your intended destination is and how fast you cycle. The same thing goes for the best time to end the ride. You might want to factor in the volume of traffic on the road during given times for ease of navigation, though.

Which particular bike routes would you recommend to bikers who have just recently started going on rides?

The initial stretch of dirt road leading to Puting Buhangin Beach also known as Kwebang Lampas is fairly flat

Landing Road leading to the Sariaya Eco-tourism / CALABARZON Road and Tayabas Road via Gulang-gulang Road. I would recommend those routes to newbies because those roads are relatively wide and the volume of traffic is not particularly heavy. Personally, I prefer the first one because there’s a spot there that is ideal for picnics. It’s a very relaxing place.

For a quick ride around the city, you might want to try the route we usually take, starting from the city proper then passing through the Market View- Dalahican Road, the Slaughterhouse through the SOLCOM Ville Road then a quick turn around CEFI (Calayan Educational Foundation, Inc.) tracing the road along Red-V all the way to the city proper again. Sometimes, we take the ride all the way to Gulang-gulang Road passing through Pleasant Ville Subdivision, Max’s Restaurant, Diversion Road, then back to the city proper again.

How about for those who have had some experience in biking? Are there are any routes that you would recommend and can you please rate their difficulty?

This dirt trail located several meters from the entrance of Puting Buhangin Beach Resort might prove to be a bit of a challenge to navigate through, but with the right bike and some biking experience, this could be a fun and exciting ride.

For intermediate riders, I would recommend the Tayabas Road via Maharlika Highway. The ride might become a bit tiring because it will be a long, uphill climb and there will be plenty of large vehicles of different types to share the road with, but it’s a fun challenge to conquer.

The Bantigue Road in Pagbilao, Quezon is also a good one. The ride isn’t particularly tiring, but the road might prove to be a bit difficult to navigate because there are plenty of buses and trucks passing through.

It’s worth the effort, though, because you can go on a food trip once you got there. There are plenty of stalls that sell fresh seafood in the area and you can have them cook some for you during the early mornings. There’s also a nearby beach where you can lie for a bit or take a refreshing dip to cool yourself off.

A white sand beach with crystal clear waters will greet all of those who successfully made it past through the rocky terrain shown in the photos above

For more advanced riders, I’d recommend the route going to Puting Buhangin Beach Resort also known as Kwebang Lampas in Barangay Ibabang Pulo which is also in Pagbilao, Quezon. The initial stretch of road is fairly straight and flat, but the remainder of the trip would consist of navigating through rough roads and an uphill climb along narrow dirt trails. There’s a white sand beach with crystal clear waters waiting a little further down the road, though, so it’s a very rewarding trip if you can finish the course.

Another option is the old zigzag road in Atimonan, Quezon also known as Quezon National Park. I’d say this would be more appropriate for people looking for an extra rush of adrenaline. This route is usually taken by those who are training for competitions because of the challenging terrain, but it can also be taken by those who merely want to go on a joyride. I suggest they be extra cautious when going down the road because it’s a bit steep and there are plenty of sharp curves, though.

Is there any special gear required for particular routes?

The old zigzag road at Atimonan, Quezon is a good place to start for those who want to improve their biking skills or just looking for some extra thrill.
Photo by Tantin Tolledo

None really. Just the standard ones: helmet, gloves, sunglasses for protection from the glare of the sun, and long sleeved shirts for those who don’t want to get tanned. 🙂 Bringing a mask as protection from smoke-belching vehicles is optional, but might be a good idea.

How much time would be a good time to spend on the road?

It depends on individual preferences. Generally speaking, for those who are only after a little exercise, two to three hours of biking (or even less) per day should be more than enough.

Are there any pieces of advice that you would like to offer to those who are interested in taking biking around the city and nearby areas for a hobby?

My best advice is to always follow road rules. Stop, look, and listen, and always wear your protective gear to stay safe.

Good luck! 🙂