Bill blogging as bwfiction posted Spring Cycling and this led to an interesting ride, captured below.
Singapore’s Paya Lebar Airbase – RSAF Open House
All Comers’ Race over the runway and perimeter track
Hunker down and crest the slopes
Downward rush is the reward
Rubber wheels eat away the miles
Drops of sweat pull and slick off
Exhilarating, the huffs and the puffs
Accelerating, to more trials and trails
The wind on my back
The sun on my face
Come on now, join this race
************ Copyright @ Eric Alagan, 2014 ************
Cycling, a human motor sport, activity we all can get into. I enjoy cycling based poems, there’s one or two around my little corner. It’s a sport I love to watch up close, and live, in particular, track… Love to ride too, has been a few years though. Love the expression the poem carries inside of the experience..
Peace, Sean
Track cycling! Now that’s something that demands a cool head, strategy and skill – as much as muscle power.
Well, Sean, I hope you get onto your bike and feel the cool breeze through the helmet again. You already know that it’s a unique experience.
Glad that you love the words too 🙂
Cheers,
Eric
Is that you on the bike. I envy you ‘“The wind on my back
The sun on my face….. .’ Once upon a time I too have done a fair amount of biking, to go to my work place with friends. Enjoyed a lot.
Yes, that’s moi 🙂
I road cycle as a hobby, to this day – and plan to do so for as long as I can.
I can well imagine the great thrills you must have had, Indira, cycling with your friends 🙂
:-).
Bicyclists will love you for this one, especially Bill.. 🙂
Yup! Bill is an enthusiast too – we also like a tipple (Hic!) or two 🙂
I bet. 🙂
It was obvious you had a blast! I’m ashamed to say I can’t ride a bike… 🙁 I make do with my legs though. 🙂 A great post Eric.
Hello Seyi,
Yes, I do immensely enjoy road cycling and plan to continue until my knees give way – then, switch to roller blading (I meant, watching people do it 🙂 )
Nothing to be ashamed about, I reckon, if you can’t ride a bike. There are a lot of things you do that most others can’t, I reckon.
All good wishes,
Eric
You just reminded me of my dad as I read your words. It was a wonderful memory. After his second bypass surgery he was determined to get into shape and took up biking. He practiced and practiced, riding first a stationary and then finally his street bike. For over a year he practiced even joining the local ‘old fogies’ club. About 14 months into this new hobby he announced he was going to ride the Seattle to Portland run, that this is what he been practicing for.
I was so proud of him that year. Two bypass surgeries in less than 7 years and hard work to really get back into shape.
This is what he did: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle_to_Portland_Bicycle_Classic
The STP is something that I would love to participate.
You dad is one tough guy – I admire such grit.
Old fogies club – LOL! I suppose that he was quite self-deprecating. I wonder whether I qualify for that club 🙂
All good wishes dear,
Eric
He was tough alright. They all called it that, all over 60, all with various health issues and all pushing toward the STP. They were funny.
I surely do miss him.
That would be a fun ride! I rode my bike around the neighborhood last week, but this makes me want to go for a ride now. Only problem is it’s 10:30 at night… guess the ride will have to wait!
Hello Janna,
If you ride regularly, no worries.
For newbies, my suggestion would be to take it easy and slowly build up the time/distance. It’s not so much the need to build stamina – but to toughen up against saddle sores – LOL!
Enjoy your road cycling,
Eric
Looks fun…and you look very nice in your biking outfit! you should visit Trentino, you’d mix right in with all our cyclists! 🙂
Thank you, Georgia,
It’s fun and yes, road cyclists all over the world have stuff in common.
Cheers,
Eric
🙂
I close my eyes and I see your words!
Isn’t that lovely,
what a beautiful compliment, Willow dear and thank you 🙂
Well you wrote so vividly
So joyful l l l l l
Hello Anne,
It’s great fun and when cycling over long stretches of road – one really feels the joy of mingling speed with sun and wind.
Cheers,
Eric
Long ago and far away, I rode horses and I had that feeling then….wow…thanks for reminding me!
Hope you enjoy the race 🙂 Eric, you have changed your gravatar photo
Hello Hikari,
You’ve been gone for some time – hope all is well.
Yes, I uploaded a more recent photo 🙂
Say hello to Yoshiko for me,
Eric
Hi Eric,
Thanks for your concern and hello to Yoshiko. She is happy for your hello to her. Sorry for being gone for quite some time due to family, work and time management.
Hikari Yori
“The wind on my back
The sun on my face
Come on now, join this race”
Who can resist such an invitation?
Hello VB,
Aha! See you on the bike tracks – I’m the guy bringing up the rear and wearing a yellow helmet 🙂
Cheers,
Eric
Great Eric- once again you inspire us.
Isn’t it amazing how good that adrenaline rush makes us feel? I’m glad that you can immortalize the huffs and puffs and the force of the elements as they work upon the taxed body – good stuff and enough to inspire the couch potato to leave his / her perch.
I hope that you Inspire your friend who walked past the gym to keep walking as it is so much more enjoyable to take one’s exercise out of doors than encased in a box on some stationary machine like a trapped hamster. Walking outside is good and we are so much better!
Cheerio, Jane
Hello Jane dear,
I’m a bit of an adrenalin junkie 🙂
I also notice from your comment, Jane, that you’ve read all the other comments and replies here. That is lovely and so inspiring – how you convey your respect and regard to all who read and comment here.
And speaking of my friend, now that’s a thought – get my friend to walk faster and faster past the gym. He would like that, I reckon – walking away faster!
Cheers,
Eric
P/s I see that you’ve uploaded a new gravatar image 🙂
I love it. Makes me want to get my bike out of winter storage. Thanks for stopping by my blog.
Hello Connie,
Yes, as winter fades into warmer weather, time to don and dive into it 🙂
Cheers,
Eric
When I saw this post, it immediately reminded me of your post on Mechanic Leigh, how he learnt to ride the bike and was chased by the Raffs, Raffs, LOL. Please don’t be mistaken, I’m not comparing you, just referring to the cycling incident.
You look well geared and prepared, no huff and puff yet and fortunately no dogs allowed on such race, heh heh heh.
Hello Jasey dearest,
Well, you certainly recalled that Raff Raff episode of Mechanic Leigh learning to ride his bicycle. Good laugh that 🙂
Road biking, as in many sporting activities, requires special gear – and in this case, for added safety in case of spills. Leave it to the fashion houses to render them eye catching.
You’re right, no dogs allowed on the race – the airforce didn’t want anyone breaking the sound barrier 🙂
Luv and hugz,
Eric
The “huffs and puffs” sounded like me, and not in the good sense. (I don’t exercise enough). It’s good to hear you’re keeping in shape.
LOL! I’m 59 and dread the day when I’ve to huff and puff – but it’s inevitable 🙂
I realized years ago that daily exercise is addictive – the initial phase is daunting with plenty of stop-and-go, but once we start to coast….
I actually miss those days, especially when travelling or ruinous weather, when I don’t get my minimum hour’s dose of adrenalin rush.
I’m bugging one of my friends and he thinks he is making good progress. A month ago, he actually walked past a gym 🙂
All good wishes,
Eric
😎
Well said Eric. For many city dwellers, being in the open is itself a treat. And pitting yourself against the sun and wind, so much better.
Thank you, Ankur,
And yes, it is truly exhilarating to lift off the seat and press down hard on the pedals, throwing the bike from side to side in sync with the trusts as we climb the slope. Once up there and the pressure escapes taut muscles, we zoom down the steep gradient at breakneck speeds. Wheeeee! As the speed bleeds off at the trough, groan – another slope looms up ahead – grit your teeth and go for it!
Once it’s all over in the evening, a slow ride home to a lukewarm shower to soothe and massage the taxed muscles.
Of course, a nice glass of JD or wine to round off the day – that’s an imperative!
Heavenly 🙂
It feels wonderful when you do this.
I suppose you refer to road biking, or are you referring to my mentioning Bill’s post that inspired this?
Whichever, thank you, Shalilah 🙂
All good wishes,
Eric
Both. I rode on my bike exerciser today.
The “huffs and puffs” reference reminded me of racing each other when we were kids. There was a lot of huffing and puffing then to win the race. Good memories for me and apparently for you too.
Hello Ian,
Yes, ‘huffs and puffs’ bring plenty of memories from The Three Little Pigs, to bicycling and in a few more years’ time – when I climb the stairs 🙂
Strange but as people in my generation switch to mountain/dirt biking – slower speeds is the big draw – I continue to road bike. Time I grew up 🙂
That must have been a great ride! Happy Spring 🙂 I recently participated in the color run. It was so much fun!
It was a great ride, Aparna dear
I continue to road bike – an enduring passion/hobby.
We have the Colour Run in Singapore too. Evidently, it has grown into a world wide franchise. You’re right, it is 5 kilometres of fun and colours from what I gather 🙂
Well said Eric – we may not have wings, but we can make wheels 🙂
Hah! Hah! Hah!
Now, you said it better, Bill – wings on wheels 🙂
Thank you for inspiring my post,
Eric