My Riding Journey

This is probably my first time posting about my bike and my riding journey. For the past few years, I have been on the saddle. Its my kind of, therapy. I have to admit that I suffer from depression. Most of the time I feel down. I feel like nothings goin on with me. This is me living the moment. No future, ugly past.  For me, the only way to fight it is thru cycling.

I ride not to compete with everybody else. Im way past my prime. Let the kids grab their awards. My only victory is that I tried and conquered the challenge and become better. No one else. Just me. Me against me. That fuels my fire. 

Its not easy. Im getting old. Its not like before that I can do anything and I felt like flying! Now, its all in my head but the body cant follow. Its like punishing myself. The pain and agony is surprisingly - addicting. 

My last race in clark, i have 8 kms left till finish line. I suffered really painful cramps on my left leg. The entire left leg. From my calves all the way to my thigh. Good thing a passerby (God bless him) gave me some electrolyte capsules. In about couple of minutes, Im up and peddaling again. I finished 19th in my age category plus a new personal record clocking 4 hours , 51 minutes in a 120km ride. 

I have been a fan of Gravel Racing lately. My favorite among the races is when I joined the one in Nueva Ecija called Attck Unrstrcktd. Its a 120km gravel race in the fields of one of the hottest and windiest place on the country. So windy my bike is turning on its own as the gust of wind pushes me. Its hard when the wind pushes you on the side. You really have to pedal hard and fight back. 

Another place where I love to ride is the roads of Sierra Madre. The weather is cold. The canopy of trees shelter you from the raging sun. The long winding road gives you that natural high! I already had 3 Sierra loops under my belt. Naks yabang. 100+ kms of pure riding bliss. 

It also has river crossings and crazy bumpy trails. Exhausting but very fulfilling. Sometimes I do ask myself why I do this? And most of the time I dont know the answer and I still keep on doing it. I just love to push myself. Push myself to insanity. 

By far this is the longest Ived ever ridden. The Laguna Loop. 200km ride! We were riding our bikes as early as 3am and finished almost 8pm.  Well, we had a few stops along the way. That ride was fun. Crazy fun. 

This is my current bike set-up for now. I recently bought the new Panaracer Gravelking Sleek tires. Im riding around Bicol this weekend. I joined this bike challenged called Mayon 360. Wer gonna go cycling around mayon volcano. Total distance of 80kms. Its actually my first time cycling in Bicol and Im really excited. 

Actually theres more stories to share but Im kinda tired. I have to say, cycling saved my life. Without it I dunno where am I now. Its like an outlet. Everytime Im sad, I go for a ride. If Im happy, I go for a ride. If im not doing anything, I go for a ride. Its not just a form of exercise. For me, its an escape.