100 kilometers of introspection
One hundred is a pretty solid number. On its own it is the first three-digit figure in the numerical sequence; that extra zero signals yet another dimension to the counting experience. Furthermore, making anything “one hundred” makes that particular something concrete in its own way. One hundred points in a single basketball game, for instance. Maybe one hundred gold medals; anything that has existed for a hundred years — all of these become noticeably more significant when preceded by that number. Even traveling the distance of a hundred kilometers is something.
Especially if it’s doing a hundred kilometers on a bicycle.
Just recently, a 100-kilometer bike ride from Quezon City to Rizal province and back took place. Dubbed the “Ride for Clean Air 2008,” the event brought riders of all ages and fitness levels together in the spirit of fun and proper health and nutrition. Sponsored by Men’s Health magazine and Lungcare Plus, the ride gave participants the opportunity to mingle with other riders while enjoying the scenic route from the city to the countryside.
This was a new experience for me. Being a recent convert to the sport, the farthest distance I had previously cycled would be from the house to a nearby bike shop — maybe five kilometers. This event was to be a true test of how well the bike had become integrated into my life, and it was a real challenge. And constantly challenging one’s self is always a good attitude to live by.
The ride started at 6 a.m. and bikers took off from Club 650 in Libis after a hearty breakfast sponsored by Victoria Court. The group made its way through the communities of Antipolo, Morong, Pililia, Tanay and Bugarin. The 50-kilometer mark was at the top of a mountain in Bugarin, Rizal, and riders made their way back to Libis to complete the 100 kilometers. The ride was a combination of long straightaways, slow uphill climbs and fast descents — a course that was very well mapped-out by the organizers.
As the ride moved from the city towards the more rural regions, a change in surroundings was more evident. Landscapes moved from tall buildings to patches of green fields. The number of wires in the sky lessened as the group made its way out of the city. Even the little streams and rivulets that were passed seemed a bit clearer than those in the city.
These descriptions illustrate the first lesson of the sport. Cycling provides a more universal approach to how we, as a people, view the environment. The 100-kilometer ride showed us all that right outside the city are places that are not so severely affected by pollution. There are still a number of automobiles spewing exhaust and these areas definitely must have been cleaner once before, but you notice a stark difference in air quality compared to the metropolis. This ties in with the fact that cycling is a very environment-friendly sport that has contributes minimal pollution while producing maximum results on a physical level. In the hearts of many cyclists is a love and respect for the state of nature and how to protect it.
However, when you feel dehydrated and your teeth feel like they are sinking into your gums while climbing an eight-kilometer mountain road under the noontime sun, it’s hard to think about anything other than getting off the bike and jumping into a really cold pool of icy water.
The second set of lessons are more internal and cerebral ones; in a sense, they are more introspective. Things like “don’t always be on the attack,” “pace yourself” “and “keep your goal in sight” make sense in both riding and, I guess, life itself. Maybe it was the heat, maybe it was the lack of electrolytes, or maybe it was just the shock of riding such a long distance, but I did realize some things about myself after the ride.
Perhaps taking one’s self to the max puts things into clearer perspective. On one side, these limits allow people to realize how far they can go. And of course, what would limits be if they weren’t meant to be broken?
Other sponsors of the Ride for Clean Air 2008 are Victoria Court, Club SixFifty, 100 Plus, Powerbooks, Elite Multi-Sport Resources, and Air 21.
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E-mail me at enricomiguelsubido@yahoo.com.
