Tuesday, May 1, 2012

BACK TO BACK JAMBOREES




Now that I have got myself involved with it, I now realize how active mountain biking activity in this country really is. It did not occur to me then that mountain biking could be as active as I first knew it to be and as I now do. Even back in 2010 when I first got myself involved with mountain bike jamborees, there were already in existence then a number of mountain biking groups or enthusaiasts who were already actively organizing mountain bike rides and jamborees either on a weekly or monthly basis. Although mountain biking has continued to grow steadily over the years, it still remains a relatively isolated activity.



I am unaware of what the actual percentage of  the population's involvement with mountain biking really is; from its sporting or non- sporting capacity. Be that as it may and isolated as it may appear to be from mainstream public activities, it is, however, an activity that is slowly but steadily gaining strength as well as popularity.



When I first started mountain biking, there certainly weren't many mountain bikers that I could see pedaling around the area where I live. Nowadays, I can expect to bump into a few coming down or going up my favourite hill nearby every time I go out biking, or, meet a large number of them over the weekends riding the same favourite trails that I do; and that number is steadily increasing, influenced by what they see or by what others are doing.


One has to only surf the net to find out the number of mountain biking jamborees that are being organized in the country each week to know its intensity: how active its pace and how high its level of involvement. I have personally participated in at least two jamborees in the last one year which had attracted more than two thousand participants each jamboree while figures close to or more than a thousand bikers participating in a jamboree are now becoming quite common. Those that have proven to be well organized will usually attract the highest response. This does not include the races or competitions that are being organized by some sporting organizations or bodies though the number is small.  The overall response towards these jamborees can be said to be quite large considering that there may be more than one or even two jamborees that are being run at any one time usually over the weekends. Mountain biking can be so consuming that anyone robust in body and spirit can get bitten by the so-called bug and end up possessed or obsessed by its harsh and rugged appeal.


But unlike some popular sports or other health related physical activities, mountain biking remains a relatively less known activity that I feel still  lags behind in terms of acceptance and popularity. Perhaps, such a situation is due to the harsh nature of the activity itself and its lack of promotion as a sporting or health oriented activity although this country has all the prerequisites and conditions  for its adoption and advancement. I am, however,confident that mountain biking will one day gain its appropriate place in society.



The fact that one can now easily participate in mountain biking jamborees at least once or even twice each week goes to show how active the state of the activity really is. One has to get aquainted with that special world however, in order to know and feel its intensity. Not many are really aware of the real situation unless they are active mountain bikers. I have participated in jamborees back to back these last two weeks and quite regularly before that and will be doing so again these coming two weeks.One good thing about these jamborees is that one can also enjoy the vast and varied range of venues and trails they offer whether one chooses to do it far or near depending on one's means and preference. However, if you do not wish to participate in jamborees, you could always organize your own rides either individually or in groups although it is highly recommended that one should not do it alone. I consider myself lucky since some of the mountain biking trails available to me are just a stone's throw away from where I live. Unlike walking or jogging, mountain biking enables me to be in more places and many times further than what walking or jogging can give me.



For a sixty-four-year young man like myself who has suffered some form of knee injury, it is also more forgiving on my legs and more importantly, my knees compared to walking or jogging or other forms of physical activities which I am now not encouraged to perform; or, out of my own personal preference, choose not to.



As for the risks and dangers mountain biking can pose to me,  the subject remains a moot point.

See you in Shah Alam this Sunday.



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