one of the few things that i’ve done consistently to keep active for the past 8 months or so (mentally as well as physically) has been cycling. i used to cycle quite a fair bit with the parents when i was younger and enjoyed it, but ever since then it has been something i did only very occasionally with rented/borrowed bikes. after being reintroduced by @andr3wyong late november last year, i went out and bought a decent-enough bike for a modest sum.
while some initially labelled it as an impulse purchase (it wasn’t made with much time to consider, only about a week or so; but definitely not an impulse buy), i have never regretted the decision from the beginning. sure it may not have been the best in terms of weight, parts, or make, but there’s no doubt i’ve made full use of it since then. in fact, cycling is the one activity that i’ve partaken in consistently for the past eight to nine months without losing interest, and is one that does not look set to change in the future. by my records, the bike has seen about 400 kilometers so far, and i aim for it to hit at least 1000 kilometers before i do any major overhaul of parts or consider upgrading.
when it comes to exercise, i find cycling to be just as beneficial to the body as it is to the mind. routes in excess of 10 kilometers provide a constant aerobic/anaerobic (depending on whether you’re playing for speed or stamina) workout for the major muscles while at the same time generating a breeze that can be seriously enjoyable should you decide not to push yourself too hard. at the same time, the mind is required to stay spatially aware with regards to all sorts of obstacles and obstructions in the way, making prompt decisions with regards to negotiating with neighboring as well as oncoming traffic (automobiles and fellow bicycles alike). who should get right of way? is it safer to let him pass first? can you make it through if you decide to accelerate your way out of a situation?
while it is tempting to ‘zone-out’ when under the influence of fatigue during a long-distance ride, i have learnt the hard way on more than one occasion the importance of fighting it off and staying alert. these are skills that i find actually share a great deal of relevance to those who intend to obtain a driving license in the near future, as the concepts behind them are essentially the same with the exception of two extra wheels and an engine.
i don’t pretend to be an expert in cycling, but all the kilometers i’ve put in so far has given me a great deal of experience and every time i roll out i’m still learning. the cycling infrastructure in SG is being improved slowly and surely and i hope to see it become a more viable mode of transport in the future. (it already is actually, but there is definitely room for improvement in terms of giving cyclists a proper path to ride on: i don’t advocate cycling on the roads; it’s not something i will avoid completely, but i tend to prefer minimizing the time i spend on it, something that i might expound on in a later post.)
it’s been ages since i’ve updated, and for no good reason too. it’s just that after the trainee-phase of army, unit life was.. ‘interesting’ for a while i suppose.. but after a while something in me just flickered and extinguished. i’ve just been coasting on this steady flow of apathy that been flooding me for the past 9 months is it? (see, i don’t even keep track anymore.)
well, the end is finally in sight and i suppose i’m trying to restart my involvement with the life i used to recognize as being me. now that finances have stabilized somewhat (allocation of funds for future requirements have been made and forward projection of debt repayments are good) and i find myself with a small nugget of disposable income, i’ve decided to do some electronics tinkering and am in the process of sourcing parts. current estimates have the base set-up coming under a hundred bucks, offset somewhat by the fact that most manufacturers are willing to send you free samples of their ICs for prototyping. (the only downside i foresee is the usage of the addresses provided for advertising and marketing purposes) the final cost of the entire project will really depend on how far i decide to scale it really.
i don’t see the parts arriving in a rush though, and neither am i in a rush, so i’ll probably take it easy as they arrive. hopefully, this little endeavor of mine will serve as a little something to get my brain working again in time for bigger things in the coming year.
nationstates now has nice flash pie charts for nation stats! :o
The Slant Pays Off
via Kurt White
this is something i never really noticed before
the captions are really cute!
Blessings come to do those who are patient, and more often than not, they come disguised. Over the past few months, I’ve had pleasant surprises come gently floating down into my lap every few weeks or so, coupled with one or two initial shocks that have gradually faded away to be replaced with relief and acceptance.
I have also come to realize that home is truly where the heart is. I might go away, move on with my life, make new acquaintances, have disagreements, become self-reliant and what not, but at the end of it all I will always look forward to returning home and seeing my parents once more.
That said, I have also come to appreciate the company and companionship of the small circle of friends I have, they never fail to bring comfort to a troubled soul whenever we get together.
