General Santos City has a pretty awesome bicycle community. The beautiful landscape is just a bonus.
Marvin Uy studies Engineering at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Manila. He is currently spending the semester in his hometown due to the pandemic, mainly stuck with his computer because of online classes. Cycling has become his refuge from the stress brought by this new school setup.
“Biking in a province like GenSan is always an adventure: one minute you’re on a paved road, the next thing you know, you’re on a river or a trail in the woods. GenSan has been my home for twenty years yet biking has introduced me to places I’ve never been before. I bought my first mountain bike five years ago.
Cycling allowed me to appreciate my home province even more because it has so much to offer when it comes to biking. When quarantine started, most malls and gyms were closed. Biking became a form of exercise and my way of escaping isolation, that’s hitting two birds with one stone. Riding a bicycle also gives a sense of accomplishment when the biker sets and achieves goals such as covered distance and speed.
Biking offers so much benefits for the mind and body, which is probably why it is addicting. It became my escape from the stress brought by online classes and the Covid-19 pandemic. Sometimes I go outside after classes and roam around the city not knowing where to go, I just want to bike. The biking community is very welcoming. The type of bike that you ride doesn’t matter—whether it’s a mountain, road, commuter bike or even a foldie. They welcome every biker with open arms.
I am encouraging people to go in groups when biking especially if you are new to the sport. Your group will be your support system. I also recommend the app Strava as it introduces you to the different biking communities around you. It also tracks your rides which gives you a record of your accomplishments.”
Photo courtesy of Marvin Uy
