I know there's little to see here. But this is one of those peaceful afternoons--my weekly mountain bike rides. This place is called Brgy. Villa Floresta, in a tiny town called San Jose City, nested in the northern part of the country's rice granary, the province of Nueva Ecija.
There are a lot of nicer riding spots around here, but of course, with the pandemic still ongoing, this is all we've got. But I came to really like this place, especially during the afternoons when we have the place only for ourselves (I ride with my husband) and a few others. On most days, this spot crawls with mountain bike riders, dirt bike riders, and some runners/hikers.
During bike rides, I get to sweat a lot because of the seemingly endless uphill climb. One hell of an exercise, I must say. The number of calories I burn when running pales compared to when I ride. No shit.
This view is worth all the sweat, panting, and leg pains. Because coming up in the mountains isn't just about regular flat roads. It may not be much, but this motivates me to keep moving forward and upward (figuratively and in a more literal sense).
I'm not into some serious trail-riding, but I'm not completely dismissing the idea. I just have to have the right type of bike (
full suspension--I use a
hardtail XC bike) for that. That's for another day in the distant future.
I always feel like I sweat all the stress I have in my body. Lol. That's why I see to it that I ride at least twice a week. Because the more I stay indoors, the more I feel dead on the inside.
I'm totally missing the old days and my younger thrill-seeking self with no care in the world. When I go biking, I get to be that person all over again. This is one of those moments I feel alive--not just living, but alive.
At the end of each ride, I feel exhilarated. I feel free and happy. And who wouldn't? If, after the challenging climb on two wheels, powered only by leg muscles and determination, you are rewarded with a view like this.
