Enough of the loose talk about addiction and affliction - let us replace with LOVE OF LIVING/CYCLING

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
February 21, 2018

                                              This over this at the bottom

There has been a three month conversation about the B epidemic and  addiction. Tokhang for the cyclists addicts, images of cyclists sniffing their  saddles and their bikes etc....Maybe many are being carried away with this conversation and many too our friends, our readers and loved ones may begin to think that we are lowlifes, humongous (as per late Sen Santiago) and that we are dregs of society.

We may appear like addicts?  Yes and Why?

      1.   We spend prodigious amount of money on bikes. And this does not stop;

      2.  We spend endless hours at the internet surveying the latest and most expensive bike hardware.

      3. We talk chat endlessly about bikes.

     4.  We bike frequently and the rides are long. And people ask for what? Ano mapapala mo diyan?
           And probably only crazy people will do that.  Or addicts.

I dare say we are not.  We are decent human beings and our love of bikes may carry us to extreme. But our reaction our love of what we do is a normal human phenomenon. The desire for self actualization for lifes extreme experience has been scientifically studied by a scientist Abraham Maslow.  The late Steve Jobs of Apple has admonished us time and time again to "Love what we do and do what we like" And that means biking.

We simply have ZEST for life.  We like to live healthy and strong.

I interviewed a kapadyak whose health failed him in the first six months of 2017 after the Baguio ride.  And all of a sudden he is well again.  I asked him his secret.  He said he always has new bike project in mind. Upgrades in mind.  He bought parts in Lazada.  He said that having a project made him wake for another day to see  his project done.

No more addiction or affliction.   Baka some PNP will take this joke seriously and do a round up of bikers. Let us not allow that to happen. The earlier tokhang was a disaster because just anybody pointed by their assets as person of interest will be summarily executed.  These are dangerous times.  Let us not  give them the opportunity to take our jokes seriously

Zest for life  Love of Cycling

Upgraditis is not an affliction nor addiction but a wellspring of hope and motivation

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
January 7, 2018

We often read mention of upgraditis at FB and the only cure is to buy something from a Bikeshop - "iyon ang reseta ng Doctor). If not cured, the Pres may send the team of PNP PDEA under Op Plan Galugad or Double barrel to stop this afflicition (joke only)

Upgraditis 2012

But I think that upgrading is normal, and the bike marketers are harping and banking on that to add up to their bank balances.

Why do we upgrade?

1  Our equipment, parts are old, and new tech are coming up and we are being left behind in rides;

2.  It is a motivation. When our bike, the parts, the eyewear the jersey are new, we are motivated, and inspired to ride better. That motivation is enough for 3 to 5 more kph.  It is a reminder that we want to live
healthier and stronger.

3.  It is an inspiration to continue riding.  Why do some guys quit riding? They are no longer motivated.
It happened to me.  I wanted to quit too. But when Vhen and others were buying on line  shirts at Lazada
for only P1,215, free delivery:  fit na fit and better than local stores inventory, I am thrillled (I just wore mine to Jalajala ride)

4.  It is a part of our desire, need for self actualization and recognition.  To have a new set up, a new uniform is goal setting and its fulfillment gives us a sense of achievement, and no amount of money can equal that.

It it an investment in a thing in an equipment that remains faithful to us, is silent, does not nag us nor answer back nor raise its voice but silently and faithfully brings us to the place where we want to be.  No gas bills to pay, no monthly just pure enjoyment and excitement everytime we ride on the saddle

So it is a normal thing. And we stop even jokingly to refer to upgraditis as an addiction.

I believe it is not. What do you think?