Holiday rides

This past week, I have been partying more than riding my bike. I should have been doing the opposite especially with the Tour ni Frank just three weeks away and with the Toledo-Cebu (via the Trans-Central Highway) on the menu. A lot of cyclists who have an 8 to 5 job can blame it on the early morning rain that lately has been more predictable than the sun rising from the east! But bad weather doesn’t really bother me that much since I have a trainer at home. I just change my rear wheel for another wheel appropriate for the trainer and off I’d go. But not before I set up my laptop to watch downloaded bike races from the internet (www.cyclingtorrents.nl), it keeps the ennui in check for the next 75 minutes or so.

However, bad luck and one, nasty virus has made sure that my schedule was rearranged in the way I didn’t want it to be. So here I am, grounded from an upper respiratory infection that got me twice in the past three weeks, drinking lots of liquids, not from bidon (water bottle) but from my glass containing antibiotics my good friend and riding buddy, Dr. Paul John So, has prescribed for me.

Yesterday, there was this group that had a training ride over the Trans-Central Highway organized by Ian Entica. While I wanted to ride so bad yesterday, the TCH climb is not the one I yearn for. That mountain pass is so hard that I sincerely believe that it kills a few cells in my body. And for that reason, I only cross the TCH once a year, during the Tour ni Frank.

I really hope that I can get back in the saddle in the next few days. I need this training ride now just to shed off some unwanted pounds that will come from lots of wanted food over this holiday season.

As for my Christmas wish, I don’t have one for myself, as it was already given to me as early as 6-months ago! My Christmas wish now is not for myself but for my immediate family, my cycling family, The Freeman family, my family at work, my colleagues and my students - that we’ll find the joy, the peace and the understanding in ourselves. Pretty much what John Lennon said.

Finally, Xerox Lauron, my good friend and ex–riding buddy dropped by my place last week. X, who has stopped riding for about 4 years now, told me that he’ll be going back to training next year. He has a new carbon fork, thanks to Ome Rodriguez……Thanks to Miguel Flores for organizing, Jong Sepulveda and his pretty wife, Shiela, for hosting team CebuCycling’s Christmas party…… I’d like to wish you all the best of this Holiday Season! Just remember that no matter how bad things are, we are still lucky to celebrate another Christmas. I had a friend who wasn’t as lucky, he passed away 10 days ago from cancer. Just remember that this season is about sharing the blessings that we have not about the gifts we are about to receive. Merry Christmas!!!