It’s a long hard road, but friends made the trip a whole lot easier.
When wonder couple Alex and Irma Pal invited me to join the Holy Thursday Bike Ride to Manalongon, Sta. Catalina with the Oriental Negros (ONe) Bikers, I was immediately intimidated and scared.
I am at a point in my life that I want to prove to myself that I still can do such things especially as I turn 40 this month. So when the invite came, I definitely said yes.
But as the ride drew close, I was suddenly looking for excuses not to join. I could actually feel my legs hurt just by thinking of the ride.
I was able to draw courage push through with it through Phil 4:13 I can do all this through Him who gives me strength. So I went ahead and prepared for this “Holy Ride”.
With my bike tuned, and my will in place, I woke up at 3:30am, ahead of the alarm clock, to make it to the 4:30 meet-up at Robinsons Place. I kissed my wife goodbye, and was assured that she will be keeping us in prayer. I made sure I had water, some peanut butter sandwiches. and boiled bananas for energy replacement.
As I left the house, I began to condition myself to do this ride one turn of the pedal at a time, and hope to make it back…alive.
I began to imagine the aches and pains this ride will reward me with. 
As silhouettes of riders came in one after the other, I knew there was no turning back. I was amazed at the diversity of the members of ONe Bikers. We had mountain bikes, road bikes, downhill bikes, even a BMX hybrid. We had your leisure bikers, professional riders, triathletes, runners, and me.
We began the ride with some basic instructions, and buddy assignments, and were informed of where the rest stops will be; after a prayer, we were off.
The ride from Dumaguete to Zamboanguita was not so bad. I said to myself that I could do this every week. Thoughts of a hot breakfast began to fill my mind on our last stop in Siaton town proper, which was before we hit the grueling uphill climb and twisties of Bondo in Siaton.
It was here where I had an epiphany.
It was in the most difficult stages of the ride where I admired the camaraderie and unity that the ONe Bikers displayed.
As I began my ascent up the hills of Bondo, I was literally guided by angels on wheels. Two riders, one on each side of me, laid hands, and pushed me up.
The push was so strong, I thought they were riding motorcycles, not bikes.
I don’t think I would have made it to Siaton without that special push. I was ready to get off my bike and walk, but they wouldn’t allow it.
The push gave me confidence that I can do this and that I can finish this.
There was no leaving anyone behind. They paced and encouraged the slowest rider, and made sure there was always someone watching out for them. This made me feel safe, secure, and confident.
It was here that I realized that God will send help, and that we will never be alone on the long hard road of life. When the uphill and twisties come, angels will be there to give us that push. They will pace with us, and encourage us to push one pedal over the other.
After a rest stop in Siaton and a quick breakfast, we made our last push to Manalongon in Sta. Catalina where we were greeted with an awesome lunch by the sea.
After a nap, we made preparations for our ride back. With cramps starting to form on my legs, I tried to ride back, but only made it as far as Siaton, where I gave in, and loaded my bike onto the back-up vehicle.
My legs gave all it’s got, and my hands were numb. I was consoled by the fact that I logged 96 kms. I was able to beat myself, and assured that next time, maybe I can do better, and farther.
Though I did not finish the entire 160 km. trip, I was grateful to the angels who gave me a push, and who paced with me along the way.
I thank the ONe Bikers for the experience, and am truly looking forward to the next Holy Ride next year.
Thank you to the ones who pushed me…I did not even get your names, and yet, you, guys stayed by my side in the difficult stages.
Thank you to Irma and Alex Pal. You always get me motivated, and never get tired of pushing me to go farther and longer and faster — be it in biking or running.
God bless you, ONe Bikers! May your tribe increase.
