Will bikers get depressed and commit suicide like Anthony Bourdain and Kate Spade?

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
June 11, 2018


Parehong nagbigti!!! Masakit yata yon

                                     From Bloomberg - Details of Bourdain's death emerge

                                   Medical Examiner confirmed cause of death was suicide (hanging)




The world was shocked with the death of these two celebrities both coming from alleged suicide.Kate Spade founded a bag company which Liz Claiborne bought for $126 million.She was 55 Anthony Bourdain  61is a celebrity chef we often see on TV...He died from suicide too (also hanging using bath robe belt) at luxury hotel in Kayserberg France  while filming for CNN series "Parts Unknown " How could they do it at the height of their career,  apparently very successful famous and wealthy

The early TV show today was filled with news about the sad demise of these celebrities.  The DOH USec Tayag said that suicide comes from depression and depression is a prolonged sadness of two weeks or more.   He gave 8 pointers/checklist when one is depressed like 1.  lack of sleep or oversleeping.  2.  Inability to focus and concentrate 3.  Lack of interest in the job or hobby  4.  Fatigue  see link

8 signs you may have depression    One or two signs that  you see is normal.  4 or more is something that needs professional help.  In the US about 6% of the total population may have experienced depression in their lifetime.

How about cyclists?   Can they have depression or suicidal symptoms?

What do you think?  

I doubt...

Many addicts/cyclists, think nothing more except their ride, even if it rains.  Nothing could be more depressing than a gloomy dark, rainy day. But many cyclists enjoy savor that. Sarap yatang magbike pag malamig at umuulan

There is always something to motivate lift up the spirit of the biker:   a new place to ride two, drinking session after a ride;  good food, a new jersey ordered from Lazada, a new part ordered from Amazon or eBay.
Or a new upgrade

Bikers curse death, or accidents, as it buzzes by as he/she rides.   We hate and curse abusive drivers who put us on the brink of death.   Many of us would want to experience with us on top of  the bike, rather than at ICU or death bed.  We hear of bikers dying from accidents, but have you heard of anyone taking his own life?

As we ride, there is nothing to think about (otherwise we crash) and crashing is painful.   As we glide down a hill, we feel free and independent.  Like an eagle soaring.

There is nothing that will make us feel depressed.  Mababaw ang ligaya.  All we need is Lugaw, Lomi, pansit and mountain dew to be satisfied and happy.

Puwede rin ang bakal na bike at hand me downs. Some of course would get OEM or orig whose price runs into hundreds of thousands.   These are reasons that  make us feel motivated, high never thinking of ending our lives.

So why follow the footsteps of Anthony Bourdain or Katespeed.

SRAM xx1 Eagle 12 speed, wireless

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
June 11, 2018

A MTB rider from Antipolo was interviewed on his gem GS at his MTB (total cost he claims is P300K).  The GS a SRAM eagle xx, wireless, 12 speed x 1, 10 -50 teeth. Number of teeth in front is 34.

Its claimed features:

1.  Wireless, uses Blue tooth technology

2.  Programmable, adjustable using the smartphone  (less visit to the mechanic) even after a fall;

3.  Double A batteries are substitute batteries.  You can be back to normal ride by replacing the batteries from Mercury, 711 or other convenient store.

4.  When the battery goes dead, the system homes in the home gear say 17 or 19t.

But it comes with a  hefty price.  P75K... Can you afford (Jun Balbin daw invested in this GS)

With the advances in technology coming at the speed of light, are our traders and mechanics keeping up?
Some mechanics hardly know the advances.  Say even various BB tech advances

Interesting notes on bike ride this morning to San Carlos Hts. Antenna

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
June 11, 2018

                                  Boasting aside, the two lots where the antennas are used
                                  to be owned by the author.  Sayang

Happy Rizal Province day today.  It is non working holiday today in Rizal....

The skies cleared up today. the rains stopped.And I decided to ride albeit using an MTB in view of the wet and still slipper road.  I rode up to San Carlos Antenna

Leonard Cequena, a young and strong rider overtook me some 30 meters from the summit.  The rains fell again and we had time to converse:

1.  That he was transferred at the  RPH system to Bosoboso;

2.  That there are very few MTB mechanics and he was going to his house to a good MTB mechanic formerly working at 4 Cantos.  His bike was creaking as he pedaled.  It could have resulted from him biking at the rains last Saturday and Sunday.  Grit and water could have seeped into the axles, BB, or even seat post.   He just wants the mechanics to figure it out.

3.  Some riders who said they were formerly from Medalva (an OFW from Singapore) was interviewed about his MTB groupset, and Eagle 12 speed with wireless controls.  The adjustment could be made from a smart phone wow.  And his bike cost about P300k .. Wow.  MTB jackable. Ingat sa long rides