AUDAX BALER 200KM - WHY THIS MAY BE OUR LAST AUDAX 

It is sad that accidents happen, no matter how careful we cyclists are. What is sadder is how some people pin the blame on organizers when they have no clue about the facts. Audax began in 1897. It is even older than the Tour de France. All participants in this Baler route - including Jan and Jose - acknowledged that they knew the nature of an Audax, i.e., that one must be SELF-SUFFICIENT and that the Audax is an UNMARSHALLED EVENT. So for people to hurl invectives at the organizers and tell them to do a better job, let it be known that what you EXPECT is not what an Audax is. Audax comes from the root word that gave rise to “audacious”, meaning “to be hrave.” Truth is, Audax DID RESPOND. The hotline received a call that someone had an accident at Km65. When the support vehicle arrived, wala nang tao. Apparently, the team of Jose was the one who took care of bringing him to the nearest hospital and subsequently to his hotel. The even is covered by accident insurance. EVERY participant paid for this, including Jose. All they have to do is file the requisite claim. Motorcyle escorts have never been part of an Audax, and what a participant pays for registration is barely enough to answer for the fee charged by Audax Paris to homologate the results of the ride (N.B. Opo, internationally recognized yung results ng mga Pinoy), the neck gaiter and helmet sticker given and the meals of the support staff. Before people talk about pera-pera, alamin nyo muna kung magkano ang registration para sa Ironman.

You bring up very valid points regarding the actions or lack thereof of the Audax organizers. Yes, you have to be self-sufficient. But in instances where a crash occurs, the least they can do is to organize an emergency team to your location. The mind of a person will work a different way once you or a loved one gets into an accident. They should know your approximate location if you give them the distance you already travelled. Mahirap din bang tumawag sila ng ambulansya habang naghihintay yang mga organizers na yan sa mga upuan nila? This shows how little the organizers care about the participants. Basta bayad ka na, you are on your own. Kudos to you for being calm and reasonable with your comments and for providing a voice to those who experienced this kind of incident before but with no following to really gain traction. But for me, this incident deserves a big FU to the organizers. Do better, Carmela Pearson.

It's incredibly distressing to witness an accident in a cycling event where the event organizers failed to promptly send help to the injured cyclist. Their NEGLIGENCE is truly disheartening. Instead of taking immediate action by calling the emergency hotline themselves, they irresponsibly placed the burden on the cyclist to make the call, even without considering the potential lack of mobile reception in such a remote area. Events like these should prioritize the safety and well-being of participants above all else. It's crucial that organizers have robust emergency plans in place to ensure prompt assistance in times of need. Let's hope this incident serves as a wake-up call for them to improve their protocols and prioritize the well-being of all participants in future events. Ride safe, Jan and Jose.

Truly glad that Jose is okay despite the bad spill. How we wish organizers can provide all support we desire specially for newbies in Audax. But just to set expectations, it’s not the way that these events are run. And this needs to be clear with everyone signing up for such event - whether here in the Philippines, and in foreign countries with much longer Audax histories. The way it is done here is actually quite “pampered”, compared to how it is done abroad - where you’re mostly really on your own. I have ridden multiple Audax events in the US, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and Europe mostly 1200km’s and basically, one needs to be prepared to be self-sufficient. There will be multiple times there are no signal, no convenience stores for supply, or bike mechanics or emergency medics for hundreds of miles. Anywhere in the world, there’s vehicular traffic and negligent drivers, some even haters of cyclists. And Audax comes with these risks. I understand where you’re coming from in thinking if this will be the last Audax for you. It is not for everyone, and I am glad you take some lessons at the end - first aid kit, study the route, train and prepare properly. Whether it’s in an Audax, or if you’re riding on your own those lessons are valuable skills. Heal well and recover. Ride safe.

With the registration they collected, they should have more people and support for the riders along the way. Marshals between 25-50km na naka motor that has all the info needed in case of emergency. Get well soon. Ride safe.

I’m glad Jose is ok - what an experience- it almost cost his life. Always ride safe and praying that your husband fully recovers soon

Thanks God, minor lang. Pero dapat may gps tracker bawat participants. Tama mam Jan, dapat may mga road warning signs, kung sharp curve etc. Disappointing nga lang sa mabagal ang responds ng organizer. Lesson learned na lang. Ingat palagi kayo.

First the problem with audax organizers is the lack pre ride briefing.since the route in baler is technically difficult,the organizers should have advise the riders that communication along the route is a major concern. Second, the route itself is not for novice riders Third,prior to scheduled ride,the orgsnizers should have coordinated with the LGU,specifically brgys offices located along the route so that in the event of emergencies the barangay themselfs may assist riders who are in distress from exhustion or mechanical failure Fourth,although audax promotes self reliance,the burden of providing assistance and safety among all the participants is still with the organizers. Fifth ,the organizers should scrap annoucing the fastest time, since this defeats the purpose that thr event itself is not a race.

Yan ang hirap minsan sa mga rides organizer e, sila dapat ang nakakaalam ng lugar nila at mga accident prone areas dyan, basta naka-collect na bahala na kayo e😢...anyways pagaling ka master Jose at always ride safe po tayo...

Thank God and nothing serious. God bless, always!

Popcorn ready!

Keep safe po senyo, thank god di malala nangyari. Di talaga natin masasabi kung kelan ang aberya. God speed to you both.

Ride Safe always Bossing 🤙

Thank God Jose is okay with just minor bruises. Still fortunate indeed considering bangin na nga just a few inches more. Re the claim, you may check if Audax contracted insurance for the participants. If so, you may file a claim with that insurer (or thru audax). In staging big events like this, esp if for profit, the corp would have to get necessary permits from the LGU and/or the concerned regulatory agency/ies. I would assume that as a pre requisite for the permit/s, there has to be some sort of provision for health emergencies, such as this, if not an absolute no-fault insurance for all participants. Might be worthwhile to check for your claim and for future reference of all.

presenttttt!

Safety first it's not a race . Stay safe everytime . Hope 🙏 everyone is doing well.

Get well soon po sa hubby nyo. I hope he is okay.

buti nman po mam at gnun lang ..doble ingat po sa sunod ❤..janjanjanjan..

Lakas mo momy jan. Good to know okay na si dady jose. Very true soooo disappointing audax sa part na yun. Malaking event yan they should be prepared or ready sa emergency situations na tulad nyan. Good thing you have a group what if sa solo rider nngyri yan? Hope maayos yan ng audax. Stay safe and ride safe momy jan.

Ano reason ng sugat sa noo yung shades?

Kengkoy talaga to si babe jose. Naging mang kepweng get-up na at lahat lahat pero tawa pa din. pero buti na lang no major injuries. Ride safe palagi sa inyong dalawa.

Delikado pala diyan sa Audax kapag na accident ka bagal ng emergency rescue 😢 di yata sila prepared sa mga ganyang pa rescue rescue. Rs na lang sa inyo Jan and Jose 🙏

Saakin khit di mo pa alam ang lugar basta nilagay sa direction ng map mo, matetrace mo pdin sila. Habang ngdadrive ka ng sskyan mkikita mo pdin kong saan ka ptungo.

muntik ka ng makita, naka 3x edit ako sad pala ending… rs always 🤘

Di ako sure Maam..pero prang dyan din na aksidente ung kasama nila biker dude nung nag ride sila...prang dyan tlaga mismo sa kurbang yan....

Wala man lang nag call back from organizers na ang emergency service parating. Lesson; mahirap pala magsolo sa audax

pangarap ko pa naman mag audax sa pinas, pero iba na lang sguro...

Naka claim ba sa rcc insurance?

Good thing your husband is okay. Dapat alam na nila location nyo nung sinabi naka ilang kilometer na kayo. Dapat lang magtampo kayo sa organizers at least talaga nageffort sila para masundo kayo.

Tara Jose, maginom nalang tayo. Banlaw lang. haha

ride safe lodi

👍 👍 👍

Dapat nag share location kayo tru google map

dangerous pala ang partypace. Get well Jose.

atleast minor lang at nakakapag bike na ulit si jose! sana may ready na emergency per checkpoint. at buti na lang talaga hindi nahulog sa bangin. nakakatawa pa e!

Matagal ko tong inintay! Finally! 🤍 Sobra palang dikit na dikit na sa cliff, susko! Thank God talaga! Pero pinakaba mo pa din kami Jose!!!!

Nakakaba nga yun

Yung organizer dapat unang tutulong sa inyo.kayo pa pinatawag sa rescue.

banayad lang mga ahon jan..janjanjan...

duguan na nagjojoke pa si kuya Jose e 🤣🤣

Sobrang disappointing ng audax organizers. Dapat dun pa lang sa scene nag first aid na tapos Hospital agad. Dinala pa sa Barangay tapos hindi pa pala audax yung sumundo sa na-aksidente. Thankfully everything went well sa inyo. Nakita natin dito yung isa sa mga baho ng audax. Fr

walang ambulance na sweeper ang audax????

thanks gOd po safe ung asswa mu ,,,,

Anu b yan AUDAX sila dapat tutulong sainyo tapos kayo papakuntakin nila,pwde niyo naman yan ereklamo anung klase yan AUDAX😡😡

Pambihirang organizers yan. Laki ng pagkukulang.

Very dis apponting ung Audax organizer ang laki ng kinikita nila every audax d man lang maka pag provide ng mga emergency personel thats why i dont like to join audax anymore..kulang na kulang xla sa mga sinage and emerg.personel very dis appointing talaga...

kaya ako nagsubscribe dito ay dahil honest ka sa opinions mo before. before yun. like nuong una-una ba na kumain kayo sa isang resto sa marikina yata tapos hindi ka nasarapan, sinabi mo yun. im saying na parang you're pulling your punches ngayon. nagbayad ka para makasali sa isang already established na event then you get nothing but a phone number ng iba na parang sinabing wala na kaming pakialam sayo, bahala ka na sa buhay ng asawa mo, etc... parang hindi yata tama yan... pang daw o..