CHAMPING AT THE BIT

                                          
Some bikers from E.T.Riders have turned nocturnally active lately. They have been riding at night regularly since last couple of weeks. They had of course, ridden at night before and even gone offroad sometimes. But, such rides then were few and far between.

It all began last Ramadan when they started riding at night since they couldn't do so during the day because it happened to be the fasting month. Since then, they have continued to ride regularly at night usually during weekends. Not many would want to consider riding the heart-hammering Bukit Dinding at night previously, but now, the hill seems to have become their regular destination during these rides besides the city and its suburbs.

It's uncertain how long these night rides are going to last, but I suspect they are likely to go on for quite a while yet judging by the manner their mood seems to show. Even right now while I am trying to piece this story together, they are out on another night ride. These bikers are those you would expect to see in most of the bike outings organized by the group. They are the keen members of E.T.Riders who probably spend quite a bit of their time through the day thinking about bikes. Just like a horse champing at the bit raring to go, they are probably champing at theirs eager to ride .

That's what it appears to be; so it is, at least for me. But that just happens to be part of what I feel to be my zest for living and for doing what I love to do i.e. biking. Life in retirement has been one of discovery for me. I never had the luxury of time before to notice much the many things around me. Today, I am glad that I have been encouraged to take that step outside myself to know more about who I really am, what I love to do and am capable of doing. I am happy to experience this new phase of life; one that is different from the life that I once lived for almost thirty-six years.  Much of it then was work and responsibilities and most times, at the expense of my own and my family's.

But then, that was the way it was for many of us who did the same thing for a living. Today however, I feel good waking up each morning feeling different and realizing how more wonderful life is which has so much still to offer that I should be thankful for. Time, I feel, is now more on my side and biking I believe, has partly contributed to my present optimistic state of mind. Mountain biking has not only endowed me with the good health and high spirit that I now enjoy, it also reminds me of the need to always count my blessings. It is also about loving and enjoying what I do and that, I believe, is one great feeling for anyone to experience.

My next mountain bike jamboree will be this coming Sunday in Sungai Buaya, Rawang, Selangor. I understand close to thirty bikers from E.T. Riders will be there to participate in the jamboree, the largest number of participants from our group to join in a jamboree so far. More than a thousand mountain bikers will be there. Nothing like seeing a large crowd of eager mountain bikers anxiously waiting at the start line ready to go. It's the challenge and the potential experience of going through the trail that keeps you feeling anxious yet excited. But then, I guess, only bikers would understand.

In the mean time, I have been keeping myself physically busy with my daily workouts. To plug in the gap whilst waiting for the next jamboree to come, I have been riding my usual trails around the neighbourhood and in Kemensah and FRIM.  And, as I mentioned, there have been a couple of night rides with E.T. Riders up Bukit Dinding and around the city and its suburbs to round off the activities.

Biking has become my main physical preoccupation at the moment. Ever since I got myself into biking and after realizing that too much walking (while playing golf, that is) and jogging are bad for my knees especially at my age, I have more or less given up these two activities although I still keep in touch with golf once in a while for social purposes. And now, I am happy to know that there is someone who happens to be 78 in this world today who still goes mountain biking including the competitive kind and winning prizes to boot! That, I think, is just one wonderful and most encouraging point to note.

You never know how far and how long more you could go. I pray that life will continue to remain wonderful, healthy and exciting.

I really am champing at the bit -- for more.