they say that once you fall off a bike, you've become a full-fledged biker.
if that's the case, then since last monday, i am a BIKER.
given that June 14 was declared a non-working holiday because Independence Day fell on a saturday, a few of my multi-sport friends have decided to have a group ride in BHS as a way to show the new bikers (and those with new road bikes) a few tricks of the trade.
being one of the enthusiastic newbies, i decided to join the troop.
basically what the drills were, just to loop around BHS until someone says stop (or if you decide to stop, ok lang din). during this drill, i was doing fine. i was even able to run a half loop after.
after a while, i decided to join some of the other people in the "playground" where they were teaching ellen how to brake properly, etc. having been a confident rider with an MTB, i joined in. i rode around the area, making sure that there were not much distractions etc, and then i decided to borrow marvs' road bike, just to test how different it was.
there i was freely strolling around the "playground" enjoying the speed that a lighter bike has to offer, the smoothness of making u-turns, when all of a sudden
for some weird reason, as compared to other stories i've heard from people having their semplangs of movie-like slow motion, mine was super fast. i didn't even remember how i exactly fell. after the image i had of having been confused on how to apply the brakes properly, to the point where i thought of trying to brake using my feet, i have no idea how i fell. basta i remember seeing myself on the ground, with the bike (pero take note, ingat ang bike, medyo may natanggal lang na minor parts pero madali namang makabit, pero the bike was ok ;) ) somewhat shocked.
i wasn't really able to assess the situation as i was still shaken and at the same time i was worried about the bike. shempre the bike was not mine so double concern diba?
after picking myself up, and making sure that the bike was still in one piece AND workable/ rideable, i wobbly walked towards the rest of the group.
i checked on myself, and saw that my helmet had some scratches on the side. obviously the side of my head kissed the pavement (good thing i was wearing my helmet, or else i'm so sure i'd be in the hospital now). i also felt my shoulder had some pain as it took the brunt of my fall.
ayun, as i walked towards the parking, i was still shaken, but i had mustered enough courage to try riding my (borrowed) bike at the parking lot just to gain confidence lang ulit. ayun, i was able to ride naman PERO iba pa rin ang feeling. after 2 loops at the parking lot, i called it the day and dismantled my bike and placed it inside my vehicle. as soon as i got to the breakfast place, i requested for ice and iced my face.
that was the last day i rode a bike.
until this morning.
i decided to ride the bike again. just to make sure that 1) i still know how to ride the bike and 2) to ensure that i am not chickening out on riding the bike.
actually, this morning, i had a little difficulty in riding the bike again. at the back of my mind, walang ibang tao to support me, and at the same time, i was still shaken from my bike fall last monday. i may look ok already, but i was still shaken. just like what ellen told me, there was a point in time when she was afraid of riding the bike primarily because of the possibility of falling again. that thought kept playing in my mind while i was riding around the village. most specially since there were a lot of vehicles already. i almost fell 3x this morning, but i wanted to face my fears, but i also have to be realistic. i don't believe that i am ready for this ride today.
there are a lot of similarities between biking and love.
it's easy to enjoy the thrills that a new adventure gives you but once you get hurt, it a lot easier to stop and let go. it's easier to avoid the pain and the possibility of getting hurt more that what you initially thought it should be. the happy thoughts you initially associated with the experience suddenly turns sour and you think of whether you really wanted to push for this or not.
it takes a lot of maturity to face the possibility of suffering/ pain again, but then again, if you really want to pursue something, you'd consider both the joys and the pains, and hopefully the positive effects overcome the negative and move on. try to cultivate the spark that started it all.
soon, i'll be ready to fall in love again.
if that's the case, then since last monday, i am a BIKER.
given that June 14 was declared a non-working holiday because Independence Day fell on a saturday, a few of my multi-sport friends have decided to have a group ride in BHS as a way to show the new bikers (and those with new road bikes) a few tricks of the trade.
being one of the enthusiastic newbies, i decided to join the troop.
basically what the drills were, just to loop around BHS until someone says stop (or if you decide to stop, ok lang din). during this drill, i was doing fine. i was even able to run a half loop after.
after a while, i decided to join some of the other people in the "playground" where they were teaching ellen how to brake properly, etc. having been a confident rider with an MTB, i joined in. i rode around the area, making sure that there were not much distractions etc, and then i decided to borrow marvs' road bike, just to test how different it was.
there i was freely strolling around the "playground" enjoying the speed that a lighter bike has to offer, the smoothness of making u-turns, when all of a sudden
for some weird reason, as compared to other stories i've heard from people having their semplangs of movie-like slow motion, mine was super fast. i didn't even remember how i exactly fell. after the image i had of having been confused on how to apply the brakes properly, to the point where i thought of trying to brake using my feet, i have no idea how i fell. basta i remember seeing myself on the ground, with the bike (pero take note, ingat ang bike, medyo may natanggal lang na minor parts pero madali namang makabit, pero the bike was ok ;) ) somewhat shocked.
the kenkoy runner-biker worried how to stop the bike.
i wasn't really able to assess the situation as i was still shaken and at the same time i was worried about the bike. shempre the bike was not mine so double concern diba?
after picking myself up, and making sure that the bike was still in one piece AND workable/ rideable, i wobbly walked towards the rest of the group.
i checked on myself, and saw that my helmet had some scratches on the side. obviously the side of my head kissed the pavement (good thing i was wearing my helmet, or else i'm so sure i'd be in the hospital now). i also felt my shoulder had some pain as it took the brunt of my fall.
ayun, as i walked towards the parking, i was still shaken, but i had mustered enough courage to try riding my (borrowed) bike at the parking lot just to gain confidence lang ulit. ayun, i was able to ride naman PERO iba pa rin ang feeling. after 2 loops at the parking lot, i called it the day and dismantled my bike and placed it inside my vehicle. as soon as i got to the breakfast place, i requested for ice and iced my face.
that was the last day i rode a bike.
until this morning.
i decided to ride the bike again. just to make sure that 1) i still know how to ride the bike and 2) to ensure that i am not chickening out on riding the bike.
actually, this morning, i had a little difficulty in riding the bike again. at the back of my mind, walang ibang tao to support me, and at the same time, i was still shaken from my bike fall last monday. i may look ok already, but i was still shaken. just like what ellen told me, there was a point in time when she was afraid of riding the bike primarily because of the possibility of falling again. that thought kept playing in my mind while i was riding around the village. most specially since there were a lot of vehicles already. i almost fell 3x this morning, but i wanted to face my fears, but i also have to be realistic. i don't believe that i am ready for this ride today.
there are a lot of similarities between biking and love.
it's easy to enjoy the thrills that a new adventure gives you but once you get hurt, it a lot easier to stop and let go. it's easier to avoid the pain and the possibility of getting hurt more that what you initially thought it should be. the happy thoughts you initially associated with the experience suddenly turns sour and you think of whether you really wanted to push for this or not.
it takes a lot of maturity to face the possibility of suffering/ pain again, but then again, if you really want to pursue something, you'd consider both the joys and the pains, and hopefully the positive effects overcome the negative and move on. try to cultivate the spark that started it all.
soon, i'll be ready to fall in love again.
No more chicken (scientific name: Gallus gallus; in other words semploks, hehe) at the next ride, Basti. Good luck! :)
ReplyDeleteSomeone said the day you stop crashing is the day you stop riding. Haha. Go go go Tim bili ka na ng roadieee :)
ReplyDeleteOh, boy! You get scratches here and there, you get bruised, you feel wobbly leaving your legs shaken, etc. All of these is just but part of the game of learning a new skill. You'll get your balance soon. Be patient and enjoy the ride. ;)
ReplyDeleteDear Tim - It appears we rediscovered another alternative at the same time! Enjoy!
ReplyDelete