USAC Permit 2013-3230 (Part 4) - A Historic Event! The Finest Philippine Hour There Is!

Can you believe I made this post into 4 parts! Some probably noticed how long this story was when I first posted it. I think dividing it up gives more justice to what just happened... Finally...

A one-of-a-kind event like this surely attracted media and news interviews!

(For some reason the videos from YouTube does not show up to get linked)

Please click the links to view them. Thanks.

Steve Angeles of Balitang America for ABS-CBN

and by

Chris Trondsen of Pacific Rim Video for Jannelle So’s Kababayan Today. 

Thank for our media crews: Steve Angeles, Balitang America, ABS-CBN, Chris Tronsden, Pacific Rim Velo, Jannelle So, and Kababayan Today for interviewing Arland, showcasing, and broadcasting this event.

Special thanks to Brian Masayon, Noriel Simcuangco, and Greg Uy of Fil-Am Tri Club. They are our relentless event coordinators. I hope they didn't get tired of me!

Invitations were sent out as far we could, Fil-Am Cycling Clubs in the area, San Diego, and Northern California, Texas, friends in Hawaii, East Coast region, UK, France, Italy, Dubai, friends in Singapore, Australia, and naturally in the Philippines. This also includes Fil-Am and Philippine’s fixed gear-enthusiast groups that we can reach out to. I hate to mention but Facebook really played a big role of connecting us up!

The crowds were terrific! Our officials attested that they had fun too!

This is proof! Give me a high TEN!

Just to let everyone in of what’s in store for the future…. how about another national record attempt next year again?! How about getting the Philippine Track Team to travel and race at UCI’s Los Angeles Grand Prix this November?! How about a “Flying-lap” event in the plans from my cycling friends in Australia?! They even want me to sample my sprint later this year and create their own track records! Wow! I’m just amazed! In addition, my Ironfly teammate Mark Neumann will also attempt an hour record very soon!

In addition, the extra funds gathered from this event were arranged for Arland’s friend and Tri-athlete Joash Serrano who was in dire need of a kidney transplant. We hope the little help gathered will count a lot for his surgery. Get well Joash! We need you back competing once again!

There are so many thank you's and a few repeated ones! Without ALL of you, I don't think we will be able to pull this event off the charts! We broke new grounds and made history that day!

Most of all, Arland's family… Twinkle and Miles who were cheering from home far away; and mine... Trelly and my grown-up kids for their support for both of us in our passion for this sport of cycling!

Caption of the poster above made by Patrick Silverio. All photos courtesy of John Photography and Gus Sarmiento.

There are so many “first” made during this event. We pioneered the first 1-hour track record in Asia! We truly broke new grounds that Sunday!

This will be a day to remember for Philippine Track Cycling! Thank you for trusting me orchestrate this historic feat!

Thank you all and congratulations, Arland!

Arden Arindaeng
Philippine Hour CEO
Chief Event Organizer

USAC Permit 2013-3230 (Part 3) - Arland Macasieb To Make History!

Now it's time for Arland Macasieb to shine!

Arland's first time on the track was just 5 days before and after a day he arrived. Coach Kevin Phillips was there for him. Arland was very surprised how difficult it was to keep up with the pace given that he only had a limited time to warmup. He also had difficulty with the banking. He mentioned that it felt like riding on a wall! But no worries, as the limited days progressed, he adjusted really well and looked very promising.

Here are just a few of the great action shots by John Salangsang of John Photography and more professional shots by Gus Sarmiento, Roehl Rosales, and a few more for sure.

The day came, the moment Arland, myself, and everyone were waiting for... He was set...

and ready to go!

This is a classic!

Arland was timed faster on his second half of his attempt.

A photo to remember! Philippine flag looking over Arland!

WELL DONE, ARLAND! YOU JUST MADE HISTORY!

After the long day and 162 laps later.... still all smiles!

Here are our officials making sure all the laps are accounted for after Arland crossed the finish line.

And finally after he can stand up and walk again!

Arland getting together with his friends and supporters!

Let's continue on to Part 4 to close this special day....

USAC Permit 2013-3230 (Part 2) - An Opportunity I Won't Make A Pass On.

It’s hard to not include my low key USA Masters 45-49 Flying 250-meters sprint National Record breaking attempt. As some knows the story behind how this came about and how it became a serious business are amazing in their own respect. You can find my insights about this whole thing in a post I did last August 18th at Pinoy Fixie’s Facebook Group. This attempt was an opportunity I won’t make a pass on and my first time making such a thing like this.

The photo above was taken just before I headed out for my attempt and the lap before the sprint (below). This is one of the moments I've been waiting for and cannot retreat anymore!

I will never forget the help and mentoring I received from Louie Rivera, Pete Maharaj, Kevin Phillips, Gil Mangabat, Gibby Hatton, and Arland himself. Even Philippine Team track racer Apryl Eppinger and Malaysia’s Olympian and Champion Josiah Ng were aware of my crazy plan. My greatest confidants: Bill Stevenson, Martin Vickers, Alan Dudley, and Mark Neumann. I am so glad you were all there and thank you for the incentive! You know it’s my trophy that only a few will taste! (below) Finally crossing the finish line! I can't forget how painful it was from the start to the finish of my sprint!

The National Record to beat was 14.688 seconds @ 61.275 kph. It was set by Dave Brinton, an accomplished world class level cyclist. He set the new record last 9th of August 2013 in this same velodrome on an International Omnium during the Elite States Track National Championships. The permit of our event was approved a week before that. The previous record was 16.794 seconds held by Christian Reinke last August 2012 at South Carolina’s Rock Hill Velodrome. This was the record time I beat days earlier at 15.6 seconds with the help of Louie Rivera and Gil Mangabat during practice. Were were so happy of the outcome since I was just on training setup the whole time. All we had to do is to rehearse and experiment on the gearing.

Just to cut the story short, I was not able to beat the record. That last lap sprint felt like I was in slow motion and so painful that I knew I will cross the finish line with the slowest time I will ever know. To my amazement, it was still in my range at 15.6 seconds and I was happy with it. Did I just mention how painful it was?!

Special mention to the Meatheads of South Bay Wheelmen: Masters Track World Cup Cyclist Jim Kloss with the great support of wife Carol, Charles Watson, Steve Whitsitt, Dairo Moody, National Record Holder Kurt Sato, Tom Buescher, Melanie Peterson, and our former Coach Mark Whitehead (deceased). All heavily experienced from the annual National Track Masters Championship events held at different velodromes nationwide and SCNCA State Track Masters Championship events from all 3 velodromes in Southern California. I don’t think I’ll get to this level without this amazing group of old school trackies that I truly embrace.

Here's a really cool photo of the change of hands with Arland set to make history!

Now it's his turn...

USAC Permit 2013-3230 (Part 1) - An Event to Remember!

The 15th of September 2013, Sunday was indeed a great day for Philippine Track Cycling! As most knows by now, Fil-Am Tri CEO and Ironman Elite Arland Macasieb has successfully set the bar for the most distance covered in one hour on this world class velodrome now called Velo Sports Center. Arland officially reached 162 laps or 40 kilometers and 405 meters after 60 minutes of pursuit. This one-of-a-kind velodrome (formerly ADT Event Center) is located in Carson, California, spec’ed at 45-degrees maximum banking, 250-meters, wooden indoor track per Fixed Gear Fever website. This is the same velodrome our ’84 Olympian Deogracias Asuncion made his comeback and the first Pinoy to represent our flag at UCI’s Track World Cup in 2007; followed by Steve Pelaez and Victor Espiritu during the 2008 World Cup; a few USAC Juniors and Elite Track State and National Championships by Coryn Rivera, Mary ‘Lala’ Glenn Enrique and Steve Pelaez; and Tony Zaldua Jr. and Christina Ricafort during SCNCA State Masters Track Championships in 2010. This is also Coryn’s home track and won a whole lot of racing during her junior years.

We are fortunate enough to get a response from Asian Cycling Confederation confirming that a 1-hour time trial record Asian Record does NOT exist at the time of our inquiry. Unfortunately they cannot recognize this particular discipline even if under guidance of UCI. Unofficially, we can say that Arland Macasieb is the pioneer and now holds the very first Asian 1-hour record from the same attempt!

I believe this is the first time a Philippine Cycling Record was set in mainland USA! This feat won’t be possible without the enthusiasm and helpfulness of so many people, not only from the track cycling community and in the Philippines and Los Angeles but also from Filipino cycling communities around the world. There are so many people from all walks of life that were involved and we would like to thank each and everyone of you.

First, we would like to thank our USA Cycling Officials Heather and John Allen, UCI Commissaire Carla Geyer, and Timing System Specialist / USA Cycling Official Robert Pelegrin, Velo Sports Center (VSC) Manager and Olympian Adam Duvendeck, and Los Angeles Velodrome Racing Association (LAVRA) Race Director Christopher Reed for the great job they do. I have been acquainted with these great people for quite some time now but I never dealt with them on a project like this before! Thank you for working with me on making this memorable and one-of-a-kind event happen. Please check us out at Velo Sport Center’s VSC Weekly Fixed Newsletter dated September 16-22, 2013.

Arland's event poster was posted as far as we could reach out to and the skinsuit he wore on this historic ride were both designed and coordinated by Brian Masayon, John Landino, Richwood Borja, and David Sempier.

Our financial sponsors who has helped tremendously on our expenses: Claremont Designs, Optimum Care Therapy, Adobo Velo Fil-Am Cycling Club, Activentures, and A'Runners Circle. Teaming up for the technical aspect of Arland’s successful ride are Kevin Phillips of Ironfly, Tony Zaldua Jr. of Inertia Racing Technology, Louie Rivera, and naturally, Pinoy Fixie.

For those who witnessed his attempt, did you notice how quiet Arland’s bike was? Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I can attest that it was! That quietness equates to less friction, which relates to a “fast bike”! Give that credit to master mechanic, IRT wheel builder, and State Champion himself, Mr. Tony Zaldua Jr.! Here's the magician at work!

Our Coaches and Mentors: Ironfly lead and 2 National Records holder Kevin Phillips; Trinidad and Tobago’s Olympic and World Cup Track Sprint Coach Peter Maharaj; Keirin Master, Coach and World Champion and my former Coach Gibby Hatton; and USA Cycling Official Robert Pelegrin. Fil-Am Cycling Community / PhilCycling consultants: Olympian Deogracias Asuncion; Philippine Team Track Cyclists Wilson Blas and Steve Pelaez; and Louie Rivera. Special mention to newly Certified UCI Coach Virgilio Espiritu and Officers of Philippine Cycling / Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines: President Abraham Tolentino and Executive Director Jojo Villa Jr. who helped us from the beginning phases of the project. Special thanks to Atty. Billy Sumagui for the immediate posts of the event and results at PhilCycling. Who would think that both USAC and PhilCycling logos will end up together in an event like this?! This is the first for cycling history!

The very important warm-up paceline crew: Red Hook and Wolf Pack participant Langdon Taguiped, Ironman Jim Torii, Donnie Marquez of Big Orange, and Louie Rivera of South Bay Wheelmen. Without them, we will be weary about getting settled in on the track surface. Great photo of the all-Pinoy paceline that caught the Philippine flag above. Another first!

How about our National Anthem acapella singers: VSC National Anthem Singer Cristina Ricafort serenading us with our Bayang Magiliw, heard in this arena for the first time!

And American Idol singer Clint Gamboa hitting the high notes of our US National Anthem!

 Wonderful work by Event Announcer and former ABS-CBN talent JR Calanoc!

Another first in cycling history! Cristina, Clint, and JR did a terrific job! Thank you!

Just to get to this point of the event is an accomplishment by itself. There were many things that happened that day that it I decided to put the story in 4 parts. Next will be my attempt to break the National Record for the Masters 45-49 Flying 250-meter time trial....