CYCLE FOR STRONG LEGS

Are you a bike freak? I don't know about you but I suspect I could be one; or, if not really one, quite close to being one. I have no qualms about admitting that I do think a lot about bikes although I have yet to dream of or eat one myself. Maybe the day I did, I would let you know. But then, it does not matter if I am one. It's one label that I don't mind being tagged with.  So long as certain aspects of things related to my life and those of others associated with mine remain unaffected, peaceful and unruffled, that's fine by me.

When I first got into mountain biking, I didn't know that it could be so addictive and so engrossing and that it could also really bite; just as hard as fishing, another hobby that I can claim to own.

The first advice the doctor gave me when I went to see him to complain about my shrinking left leg was for me to go swimming in order to rebuild its muscles and bring it back to strength. It first struck me as quite a sensible and a convenient suggestion since there is this olympic-sized pool at the club where I happen to be a member of that I could go to for my swims. Just as quickly as I had first reacted, I also quickly realised the implications of his suggestion and began to doubt its suitability and its wisdom. The idea of me who was then on the verge of entering the so-called golden years of my life exposing and displaying my physique in public in a skimpy trunk did not appeal to me at all and as quickly as I thought it was a good idea, I had to quickly say no to his suggestion in response. That was when he proposed cycling as my next best option. And as I said in my posting earlier, it took sometime before the good doctor's advice finally saw the light of day.

Now that I've got myself into it and having gone through it, I have begun to see it more than just a piece of good advice. I am talking about the need for owning not only a pair of strong legs that could do the work for me as they should, but also a pair of strong legs that could ensure me my physical independence for the rest of my life. I am inspired by the suggestion that I should try to 'live' life until the day I have to bid it goodbye. I believe it is much better for me to die standing (pun not intended) than to die lying down or crouching  in some sort of a wheelchair because my legs just can't take anymore what life has to give them while I live.

I once realised some strain that I began to feel in my knees as I continued to progress in age. I could feel that strain whenever I tried to stand upright from a sitting or a squatting position after doing whatever I had to do that required me to sit or squat. Barely two weeks into my cycling, I could feel that the strain was slowly beginning to wane until finally, it was completely gone. I am no doctor nor orthopaedist and can only speak for myself since I am also aware of friends who cycle and who have been doing so for quite sometime but yet still experiencing some sort of pain or strain in their legs or knees. But I also realise the highly important need for one to do it right. For example, getting the right-size bike and fitting it correctly to suit you and your pedaling is highly important for if not, it's going to create you problems instead of preventing them. I am also unaware if such a problem could have possibly been caused by some sort of incorrect sizing or fitting of their bikes.

I  now acknowldge the importance and the need for me to have a pair of strong legs. I am informed that one of the two known best leg exercises is pedaling -- the other is using the leg press machine -- whether in the gym with a stationary bike set at some resistance or with a real bike done outdoors. Since I am an outdoorsman,  I prefer to do it outdoors since it also provides me the opportunity for an encounter with nature, another benefit that mountain biking has to offer that I love.

I can only relate some of the many benefits cycling can give to my legs and to me that I have now come to learn. If you allow your legs to weaken, you may need a cane or a walker or wheelchair to assist you in your later years. With weakened legs, getting out of a chair or ascending or even descending that flight of steps in your house can become a challenge and a risk. With weakened legs, it becomes difficult for you to stand and maintain your balance without assistance and you could fall and fracture your hips or suffer other injuries. A hip fracture suffered by an elder spells trouble since it is known that post-surgical complications if a surgery is carried out and the depression that usually sets in, reduce substantially their chances of survival. That's what happened to my dad after he suffered a hip fracture as a result of a fall. He survived for only about two weeks after the incident although he lived to a ripe age of ninety-one and only required the cane very much later in his life.

I also learn that studies have shown that owning a strong pair of legs could be our insurance policy for an active and enjoyable life in our later years which is very very important for bike freaks like us if we wish to cycle for as long and as much as our health allows us to.

So cycle in order to obtain that pair of strong legs.  And as for cyclists like us, we need that strong pair of legs in order to cycle.

Me? I need both.

SIXTY THE NEW FORTY?

I might have turned dizzy with my mountain biking exploits but I also do realise that I am no spring chicken any more. I am not experiencing some kind of negative weekend warrior syndrome nor facing some sort of a past-midlife crisis. It's just that at this stage of my life, I have found for myself something that I love to do which seems to suit my preference as well as my lifestyle. I did have my share of injuries for doing what I do -- twice to be specific -- that required the administering of some stitches ( for a wound on my lower right palm) and the use of a sling (for a fractured left humerus) which I sustained during two of my bike outings, but those injuries were caused not by some blind daredevil enthusiasm on my part but more by my own ignorance and lack of skill.

Many among us still view cycling as a sport or activity suitable only for the young; or at least, for those who are still in their prime. Hence, we seldom see seniors cycling on our roads or around our neighborhood or anywhere else.  It's a moot point, however. As a result of such a view, we find books and other forms of literature written specially focusing or discussing on the subject of senior cycling. One such book is 'Cycling Past Fifty'  by Joe Friel which provides us with some insight and guidelines into the topic.

The view that cycling is only suitable for the young may have been induced by the nature of the activity itself. On public roadways, a cyclist could get involved in an accident which could prove fatal or cause them serious injuries. Or, one could simply fall off  their bike or crash and suffer fractures or other forms of injury. All this has tended to create the impression that cycling is a demanding and dangerous activity suitable only for the young and strong. On the road, a cyclist pedaling along with traffic or weaving through it can appear so susceptible and so exposed to harm or danger that it's only sensible for anyone past their prime or above a certain age to avoid it. Moreover, this is a country not known for its cyclist-friendly attitude nor outlook.

I am not aware of the actual statistics although I believe there have not really been too many cyclists who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways compared to motorists and other road users. I suspect there have been more motorists and pedestrians killed or injured per kilometer of road compared to cyclists. But then, the number of cyclists in this country is relatively small compared to the number of motorists or other road users and I am uncertain  whether it really is more dangerous for one to cycle than to drive or walk. Now that I have got myself quite deeply immersed into cycling and enjoying and loving what I do, I am not too keen to find out what the exact situation really is although I cycle almost daily for my workouts and doing so on public roadways which could also land me into some sort of accident or injury. Since there are ways and means for me to avoid or at least reduce such harm from endangering my life and limb, the best option would be for me to educate myself as much as I can before such harm befalls me.

But for now, I see the benefits to be gained from cycling enormous compared to some other forms of physical activities that I have previously performed and still, sometimes, do. The fact is I have never felt fitter in my life than the way I now feel; yes! even at this age. The proof is that there have always been younger cyclists - and plenty of them - who were always behind me in every jamboree that I participated in each time I arrived the finishing line although for me, such rides would always be a case of riding against myself - my will, my stamina and my determination - and not against anyone else; and that does not include those who failed to bring the rides to their full end. All this has been due to my cycling. A century ride today does not give me the jitters nor create in me the anxiety just like it once did the first time I participated in a forty-five kilometer mountain bike jamboree. Today, I would look at such an option with a lot of excitement and enthusiasm knowing that I could do it, more so if such an option and its arrangement strike an agreeable chord with me.

I do not need more proof to support my contention such as the status of my resting heart rate or the number of beats that my heart drops per minute during workouts to indicate the current state of my fitness and health . Sure, my maximum heart rate is based on my age, but then I believe, like age itself, that rate is just numbers. As they say, you can still have the heart of a forty-year old if you choose to live and adopt the right lifestyle and cycling is one of the ways for you to achieve that. With cycling and the right lifestyle, you can reverse the biological clock. I have no doubt that cycling has done me a lot of good and I believe that today's sixty can be the new forty.

Allah willing, I look forward to being fifty or less when I touch seventy. How about you?

PUTRAJAYA MTB JAMBOREE 2012

I did not follow the conduct of the jamboree very closely this morning. Perhaps, it was due to the impression I had of the trail planned for the riders. I felt that the trail was not hard and rough enough to get my adrenaline flowing.

The jamboree was to be held around the Putrajaya Wetlands area which has a mix of paved, gravelled and off-road stretches waiting for the riders. I thought that the trail was relatively mild compared to those that  I had ridden before during previous jamborees. Photos of the trail shown in the organizers' blog for the jamboree could have also been responsible for creating such an impression on me. I am quite aware of the nature of the terrain surrounding the wetlands area having travelled to Putrajaya several times over the years. The area where the jamboree was to be held is relatively flat with only a few hills to challenge the riders. I felt that it was going to be one easy ride and I was inclined to look at it and to treat it that way.

And well, that's what I did. I believe I had quite an easy ride today except for one short but steep uphill stretch which also proved to be one slithery slope for everyone else created so by the rain.The rest of the trail was relatively easygoing. Still, it was a satisfying jamboree that was worth the fee that was paid for and one that would have given any rider, even seasoned ones, the thrill and challenge they needed. As for those weekend warrior types who participated in the jamboree, I am sure it was a ride well worth their money and more so their time and effort.

So, it's another niche on my seatpost for mountain biking, I suppose. There will be a few more jamborees which I hope to attend this year and as I mentioned earlier, the next one will be in Jasin, Malacca this 29th of April. I understand they had organized a good one there last year. I hope it will be a much better one this year.

I note with interest that twice I found myself to be the most senior participant in the jamborees I attended this year. I am uncertain about the situation in previous years. Today's jamboree again saw me as the most senior participant among the lot. The first time was at the Otai MTB Challenge in Sg Buaya, Rawang early this year.

I am quite sure that there are many more mountain bikers out there who are senior to me. It will be interesting if I could meet and get to know them. The more senior they are, the better I believe I will feel. They will certainly reassure me of what could still be left in store for me in terms of mountain biking, at least for the next few years.

See you in Jasin this 29th.

BIKE DIZZY PAST SIXTY

It all started with a torn meniscus of the left knee. Overusage of the left leg to act  like some sort of  prop for hitting golf shots coupled with years of abuse had finally taken its toll. Well, I suppose, there would come a time when the knee just could not take the strain anymore and one more swing at the golf ball on that unfortunate day turned out to be the final straw that broke the camel's back:  a sudden splitting sensation of pain around the knee caused by the effect of a torn meniscus.

 Following an arthroscopic surgery to trim off the damaged meniscus, the left leg became smaller and weaker over time, compared to the right. This resulted from my tendency for using the left leg less than the right. To bring it back to size and strength, I was advised to cycle by the doctor. That was how it all began.

Of course I initially took the doctor's advice as a joke. What? Cycling after part of my meniscus gone and doing it at this age? He could not be more serious! But I then realized that the good doctor was in no mood for jokes and meant what he said. Under the circumstance, I had to take it that the good doctor would know best.


It took a few months before the advice finally sank into my hard head though. Cycling at an age when I am already pushing sixty? That was hard to imagine and what more to accept. The last time I was on a bicycle was maybe forty or forty-five years ago. I couldn't even remember. Then again, I could fall off my bike and break my bones and that is going to be more difficult to handle than a torn meniscus!

Anyway, to cut the story short, so I started cycling;first, just around the neighbourhood and on tarmac,of course. Well, that wasn't difficult to do and it didn't feel wrong nor feel out of sync with my age. Moreover, nobody seemed to care about what I was doing. People were more worried about themselves than about me. It suddenly dawned upon me that cycling was actually quite an attractive and an engrossing activity and I was beginning to like it and to feel good about it. I thought there was always that strain I felt in my knees everytime I tried to stand up from a sitting or a kneeling position but now that strain seemed to be gone and  I was barely two weeks into my cycling. Hey! the doctor was right. Cycling did help to strengthen my leg muscles so I could do what I needed to do with my leg better.

So, here I am, quite thick into cycling I would say, of the mountain biking type and I love it. I would even venture to say that I have gotten quite dizzy about it enjoying every moment each time I am up in my saddle. I love the benefits and the many opportunities it brings. I have never felt fitter and healthier in my life than the way I now feel. It allows me the opportunity to get back close to nature, just like the way it used to be. And, there were times, whenever I went out cycling, that I felt as though I was going full circle starting things all over again although this time, with a choice and that made me feel good.

And one more thing, it also reminds me not to forget to count my blessings, always... AlhamdulIllah; all praise be to Allah.

E.T. RIDERS

No, it isn't about some bastardized version of or sequel to the famous Tinseltown movie nor about some mystifying third or fourth kind or whatever other kind that may exist. These flers are just humans like us who happen to love cycling, specifically, of the mountain biking sort. It's just that they decided to name themselves 'E.T.Riders'!

Here are some snapshots of them ....

But why E.T.Riders?

Well, their kind of E.T. stands for 'Ekstra-Terangkat' which can be translated to mean extra-terrific, extra-special, extra-ordinary or extra-good just like a good lift, jolt or jerk a delicious or tasty dish or food can give to your spirit, your mood or just to you; or, whatever other words one can think of to describe same such state of affairs.

Here are more snapshots of the bikers.....

Well, they are an active, healthy lot. Their members are made up of the young and the not so young. The most senior member is a sexagenarian and the youngest a tween.

To date, their membership stands at more than a hundred and fifty and counting.