My Cycling Journey - Introduction

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(3 minute read)

Quick backgrounder 

A journey begins with the single step... that is, to put into action those things conceived by the mind. Allow me to share my personal experiences about my odyssey to biking in this time of pandemic.

Quick backgrounder, as a kid - i learnt to bike using a BMX for kiddos; and from there i guess, i was able to develop the muscle memory of riding a bicycle from then, moving forwards.

Fast forward year 2020, i looked back and tried to remember when's the last time i rode a bike?

I couldn't certainly answer... prolly back in high-school? College, nah; i was in a dorm and i normally walk to the college of engineering building or go back home using a public utility tricycle.

When i started working - i never had the chance to go biking - Sampaloc to Makati, to Ortigas, or to MOA were pure LRTs, MRTs, taxis and jeepneys.

Bikes were not common back in those era... prior to pandemic - at least in the environment where i was used to.

Now... amidst the time of pandemic - bicycles became "In"; it suddenly became a new normal for all walks of life; whether you are in the low class, middle or the richie rich folks.

What inspired me?

It most certainly is due to my exposure of the bikers i see whenever i do the walks and jogs, may it be along Daang Reyna or within Vermosa.

Aside from the visuals and social media fever that talks about biking, it is just downright appealing to bike (verb); yeah!!

And to add, whenever i see folks with those caps/helmets and the "feeling great" display of adrenaline rush as they traverse the downhill path, i felt obliged to feel envy, but to sort out, it was on the eagerness to try and experience the same.

The Execution

I have a friend at church and a stranger friend; that i got to alk to in my walks/jogs, intrinsically their perceptions and attitude towards biking influenced me to try.

So the canvassing and hunting of a bike led to visit multiple shops in Dasma and Silang (Bike Bike Bike, Tulang Bikes, and Bike Plus).

We tried our best to at least buy from out of the mall built-bike (stock) - but we never get to find a suitable frame for me.

I decided, i wanted no MTB - mountain bike (at this time) but instead the RB - road bike, it's a personal choice; the RB is more appealing to me esp the drop bar portion of it and the slender frame, not to mention the thin wheels. 

RB, unfortunately is not available based on my height... so i settled to a semi-hybrid one. I haven't been able to memorize the specs but will try to learn it prolly create a separate post about it.

Learning The Basics

Road Bikes (RBs) vs Mountain Bikes (MTBs)

I got to learn the basic difference of RB versus MTB; again, the basic... without actually trying to google and just hearing it said verbally by these friends of mine who bike and race.

What stuck in my mind - MTBs are used for trails, primarily; while RBs would be used for flat roads delivering speed and the picturesque of road races.

It got me fascinated, those with the drop bars (the curly bars i used to say) are for RBs while the MTBs would normally have

 the flat straight bar handle - which makes sense, giving a more relax posture when biking.

But then, it appeals to me that the posture of riding an RB, the aero-effect style of bowing down where the torso is horizontally parallel to the lever of the bike frame is way cool thanks the ordinary ones.

What's Next?

Edi wow! 

On a serious note, i guess, i will get to take time first in learning (there' a lot to know) while enjoying the exhilarating effect it brings as i devour the beautiful greens, the winds chasing my back or opposing my fronts, the foggy scents in an early morning ride, and possibly other indescribable feelings of riding a bike that i am yet to experience.

#RideSafe

~billymacdeus

The Big Three

Day 4 - How's it going on your journey towards a Stoic life?

The big three : Perception, Action and Will are the basics - foundations of executing the Stoic life. They are overlapping to each other  but each has their critical power and discpline.

 It's like a three-legged stool, don't let one stool go down, otherwise it will tumble down.

“ the following little reminder sums up the three most essential parts of Stoic philosophy worth carrying with you every day, into every decision:

Control your perceptions.

Direct your actions properly.

Willingly accept what’s outside your control.”

Excerpt From: Holiday, Ryan. “The Daily Stoic.” Apple Books. 

~ billymacdeus

Vermosa - Joggers, Walkers and Bikers' Lair As of November 2020

(one-minute read)

Tried creating this post to pay homage to Ayala Land because it has opened its doors to its jogging pathways and bike road trails in Vermosa Imus Cavite.

Welp, at least since or during the lockdowns of this year - 2020. In the last month, it has opened its arms wider because of the accessibility to its gorgeous views inside the Vermosa Township.

Back in the days when it was just Mcdo and Starbucks, until they paved ways for their trimmed and spacious paths for joggers and bikers/walkers alike, the Vermosa area is one quite easy on the eyes landscape - and to put more praises once it's fully developed.

Its accessibility along Daang Hari is definitely a plus - and i do hope it'll maintain the trafficless nature as it converge to bring people into its community.

Possibly (at present) - its magnetic appeal is the open air green scenery, the Vermosa Sportsclub --- semi-finished yet already taking earnestness to passers-by and, the dream-like-you-are-in-a-province set-up makes you forget that you've already walked more than 1 hour, like time flies without such a worry.

But i lament now, thinking of the future that there'd be soon to rise skycrapers and dwelling places of hard metal and glass making the green scenary contrasting already to a city life.

Again - industrialization will take over, and we can only do bits and pieces to collectively balance things out, for the sake of love to nature and the calmness it brings to our deepest of minds.

~billymacdeus

Be Ruthless To The Things That Don't Matter

 "be ruthless to the things that don't matter" - an old adage from the Stoics yet so powerful and timely at these modern times.

There are books supporting, and maxing-out explanations in detail (ie) Don't Sweat The Small Stuff, or How To Not Give A F*ck - or in lay man's term if you like... "I don't care".

One of the hardest things to do in life is to say “No.” To invitations, to requests, to obligations, to the stuff that everyone else is doing. Even harder is saying no to certain time-consuming emotions: anger, excitement, distraction, obsession, lust. None of these impulses feels like a big deal by itself, but run amok, they become a commitment like anything else.”

Excerpt From: Holiday, Ryan. “The Daily Stoic.” Apple Books. 

So what can you do? Filter, filter, filter... go back to # 1 - Choice and Control, then apply.

 

“Start by learning the power of “No!”—as in “No, thank you,” and “No, I’m not going to get caught up in that,” and “No, I just can’t right now.” It may hurt some feelings. It may turn people off. It may take some hard work.But the more you say no to the things that don’t matter, the more you can say yes to the things that do. This will let you live and enjoy your life—the life that you want.”

Excerpt From: Holiday, Ryan. “The Daily Stoic.” Apple Books. 

~ billymacdeus 

Education Is Freedom

 

Day two of my journey in reading #TheDailyStoic book, we are looking at purpose here. In everything you do - what and why are you "doing" it?

“No, you picked up this book because you are learning how to live. Because you want to be freer, fear less, and achieve a state of peace. Education—reading and meditating on the wisdom of great minds—is not to be done for its own sake. It has a purpose.”

Excerpt From: Holiday, Ryan. “The Daily Stoic.” Apple Books. 

With the overall emphasis on education - what truly matters when learning is knowledge - self knowledge in particular is - is freedom (quoted from Ryan Holiday)

 

Education as Holiday reiterated... is the reading and meditating on the wisdom of great minds.

~billymacdeus