Merry May Summer Enduro Ride
- May 16
- 3 min read
By Larry A. Limjoco
May 9, 2026 Naga City, Camarines Sur. The Endurocross (EX) riders of Naga City took off from Naga City Lights View in upper Barangay Carolina at about 9:00 a.m. and headed straight to the now-paved Panicuason Road, which back in 1973 was still rough and rugged. Their target entry point for the ride was through the Harubay area.
The pack hit the dusty, rocky, muddy, and uneven outskirts of Calabanga, Goa, Tigaon, Ocampo, and back. Mine was only a 30-minute warm-up ride with the group up to the boundary of Barangay Lugsad, but it was fun and exciting. I then rode back home, passing through the barangays of Binanuaanan, Comaguingking, and others, where rural folks along the road were busy preparing for their own cultural May Fiesta celebrations. Everyone was already in a festive mood.
I also dropped by the grounds of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Parish Church and Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish Church.
The dirt bike group’s route, however, was much farther and more difficult, passing through river crossings, uphill climbs, and downhill descents along the mountain’s natural terrain. Surely, I wished I could have ridden with them all the way and enjoyed the thrill of the ride—feeling the twist and swerving of the rear tire while controlling the front knobby tires, the accelerator and clutch balance as well as hear the revs of the engine as the bike run across all obstacles and rough terrains. But at that time, it was best to let them enjoy the rest of the Sunday ride by themselves.
During my early beginnings in trail or enduro riding in the mid-1970s, during my college days at the age of 16, I rode my first Kawasaki KE100 enduro bike and later that year on a Honda MT250 enduro bike. I was then the youngest among the pioneers in Naga. Ironically, I am now the oldest among the pack, together with the new generation of outstanding enduro riders.
Further flashback, in my riding years in 1978 and in 1988, a Yamaha DT 175 cc I was able to ride in some local and national races. And in 1983-1985, during the Camel National Motorcross years in Manila, a cousin sponsored Honda CR 125R and my Japanese riding buddy friend, Yukio Saito’s Yamaha YZ 125 and Honda XR 200 bikes I have ridden and humbly, won them in different categories and rankings. Great bikes to ride.
Going back to the local years that followed in 1973, more enthusiasts from Iriga, Legazpi, and Daet came to love the motorsport as well and joined our treks, explorations throughout the countryside roads of Naga and Camarines Sur on many, many occasions. In my recollection, 1974 was the dawn of enduro, dirt and trail riding in Naga and Bicol. Motocrosss or MX then was already in mind but behind the scene yet.
“We traversed a 360-degree route around the foot of Mt. Isarog over a 10-hour hard-trail journey covering a total distance of 119 kilometers, with only a few stopovers. We arrived back in Carolina at 7:00 p.m.”, according to EX rider TTB, and based on his navigational record as shown above.
“The re-ride of the Mt. Isarog circumferential trail is scheduled on Saturday, May 23. Dirt-riding enthusiasts are welcome,” he added.
Happy May Fiesta to all! Thanks be to God for all the blessings!
(Transmarke Sports Promotion Services)
Comments