For the journey that matters

It’s been just over two years since riding a bicycle became a regular thing for me again. The last time I owned a bike I was eight, so you could say that it’s been a while and that, evidently, a lot has changed. But let’s just stick to biking.

Since I can only enumerate two stages in my life that ever involved a bike, when listing comparisons and contrasts the latter outweighs the former. It holds true that the basic joy of balancing on two wheels is the same whether you are eight or 80. That much I can vouch for. But what’s different is that when you’re older, having a bike really means owning another set of wheels. Furthermore you’re not just limited to the driveway, around the village, the park, or wherever your folks once deemed it to be safe anymore. Now, you can ride your bike up a mountain and hit up a sweet trail; you can then ride the same bike down and to a drive-thru for some takeout on the way home. Basically, if you want to go somewhere, now you can bike it.

Lately my brother (who is the spark that reignited this biking flame) and I have been enjoying many two-wheeled adventures. Whether it’s to go trail riding or looking for car parts, being on the bike is just tops. Its great exercise, it’s an effective mode of transport for doing errands, and you see things that you normally wouldn’t if you were driving.

The thing is that when you start riding and discovering all these cool places to do so, you find yourself in a constant search for other equally cool destinations. Sometimes they’re just around the corner, but other times, it’s quite the opposite. Naturally there would be some hesitation if it meant having to ride on a main thoroughfare or a highway to get there. Those times require another journey in a sturdy and well-built ride that can ably accommodate you and your two-wheeled steed.

A recent trip to Pico de Loro showcased the 2011 Isuzu Alterra Urban Cruiser as the ideal vehicle for such an endeavor. It is rugged enough to carry bikes and equipment while negotiating four-wheel-drive terrain, but the Alterra is also passenger-friendly. The seats are comfy, and the Flex-Ride Suspension System smoothens out even the harshest of road conditions. Other interior highlights include more legroom and headroom, ceiling-mounted air-conditioning vents, all the cup holders you may ever need, LCD screens, a touch-screen DVD head unit, a navigation system, and a booming sound system. It is worth pointing out that all the goodies inside the very spacious cabin made the three-hour trip from Manila to Batangas a breeze. The 3.0-liter CRDi turbocharged 4JJ1-TC i-TEQ diesel engine did its job, too.

IPC executive vice president Yuki Kato and IPC senior vice president Art Balmadrid during flag-off.

Pico de Loro offers mountain biking excursions for those who want to get in some trail time while being away from the City, making it an ideal location for Isuzu Philippines Corp’s. (IPC) official 2011 Alterra Urban Cruiser launch dubbed “For the Journey that matters.” And if it’s a journey for biking, well, that does matter indeed.

To demonstrate how the Alterra is made for people with active lifestyles, IPC organized a biking competition with the aid of Elite Multi-Sport Resources. Participants were taught the proper bicycle fit, basic training principles for physical fitness, handling skills, and riding safety. Other lessons included bike anatomy and the proper way to mount a bike on a vehicle. For the riding challenge, participants did precision time trials on a five-kilometer pavement course and a seven-kilometer dirt trail.

Needless to say, that scratched a big biking itch of mine. Such trips gain much more meaning, however, when taken with those closest to you and I was fortunate enough to have spent the day with my brother and with other friends who have been bitten by the biking bug. That’s what I really appreciate about IPC: their philosophy always includes family, friends, and loved ones. And it’s because their vehicles are so versatile that they are able to follow through on this.   

Yuki Kato, executive vice president of IPC, says it best: “We want to give another insight on the many usages of the Alterra most, especially in terms of recreational activities. ‘For the journey that really matters’ — our tagline for the 2011 Alterra — simply connotes that there are journeys in life, particularly those taken with loved ones, that are truly significant and worth preparing for. These road trips demand only the best in comfort, space, luxury and mobile entertainment.”

Mostly, though, it doesn’t even have to be a really long road trip. For me, the rides I take with my brother on our bikes are journeys that really matter.

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For more information about the 2011 Isuzu Alterra Urban Cruiser and other Isuzu vehicles, visit www.isuzuphil.com.

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E-mail me at enricomiguelsubido@gmail.com.