My Ride

If there is something that feels like "bomber" to us cyclists, it's the rain. Not only does it call in the gloom, it also brings along mud and early evenings.

For this month I pushed for daily average of 40KM at 25kph on my mountain bike Mosso 680 XC (short for cross country) frame. To do this, I need to travel from Lapu Lapu City, Cebu to Danao City, Cebu and back.

Danao trip is a coastal ride and is better traversed on a road bike. The never ending sea breeze maybe a headwind curse but a welcome respite on the way back. The road is freshly minted asphalt all the way to Catmon though there are damaged sections apparently done by less responsible road repair contractors, nonetheless it is a biker’s paradise.

An hour into the trip I realize that something is missing, and, lo and behold, I am into the rolling mounds in Danao and Carmen.

Crawling up you feel your legs burn as it strains to mitigate the watt demanded of the climb. My muscles twitched out of my tight fitting chamois-spandex and I can almost see my heart exploding out from my chest. I went up two gears to an easier cadence and paced properly. After a few strides I found my rhythm. Sweat beads streak down my back like some kind of a sprinkler system.

I went home later to nasty tan lines, heavy legs and aching muscles.

Musing back I realized Danao wasn’t the destination it is just a marker of the trip. Cliche as it may sound but the destination is actually my ride.