NEGROS MOUNTAIN BIKING 

One of the few sports I love is mountain biking. Mountain biking is a sport which includes of riding bicycles off-road, often over broken, bumpy or rocky   terrain, using specially adapted mountain bikes. What I like about mountain biking is the opportunity to see nice sceneries while doing the activity.

Mountain bikes are very much alike  with other bikes but has added features designed for an improved durability and performance in difficult  terrain. Mountain biking can be classified into  multiple categories such as  cross-country (XC), trail riding, all mountain, downhill, freeride, street riding, dirt jumping, and trials. The great majority of mountain biking especially here in Negros falls into the recreational XC, and Trail Riding categories.

This individual sport demands  endurance, strength on one’s core and good balance, bike handling skills, and self-reliance.

Advanced riders do steep technical descents and, in the case of free riding, down hilling, and dirt jumping, aerial maneuvers off of specially constructed jumps and ramps.  Mountain biking can be done  almost anywhere from a back yard to a gravel road, but the majority of mountain bikers here in Negros ride a combination of road and off-road trails to make the ride exciting and enjoyable.

Negros Occidental has a lot of beautiful trails which offer not only challenging tasks for any rider but they also offer beautiful sceneries to enjoy.

During weekdays, for example,most riders would take a route from Bacolod to Brgy. Granada road or off-road, then proceed to Brgy. Alangilan where a very modest eatery selling natural and organic awaits the riders.One can eat his breakfast for an amount of 30 pesos only and a treat to a friend or two with your 100 pesos.One can just buy “buko” for just 7 pesos and the juice is bottomless.Well, some riders would just pass by Brgy. Alangilan and would proceed immediately to RC Yulo either road or off road trail and go back to Brgy. Alangilan for their breakfast.This route would only take around 2-3 hrs or even shorter depending one’s speed to and from Bacolod City including a short break. Well,if you leave Bacolod by 5am, you can still report for work by 8am.

On the way to Brgy. Alangilan, one can opt to turn left and proceed to Brgy. Concepcion, Talisay City.Brgy. Concepcion, Talisay City is known for its sweet native lanzones. Like in most places where the bikers would go, Brgy Concepcion also has small eateries which sell very cheap health foods like “laswa”, native coffee,puto and much more.

Another route one can take is the Bacolod-Murcia .The municipality of Murcia is 16.5 kilometers away from Bacolod City. With an elevation range of 400 ft. Quite similar to Brgy. Alangilan is the public market’s “kapehan” which caters to bikers. As soon as you arrive at the market you will immediately notice the bike racks which the store provides for the bikers.any biker can indulge in native coffee, “puto” and “ibus” or “suman” while recuperating from the hurdles of going up to the town.

Strong riders would opt to proceed to Mambukal Mountain Resort, which of course quite challenging to do especially for the newbies like me. Along the way, any rider would be awed by the scenic view of the place.Mambukal is 1,200 ft above sea level. The Mambukal Mountain Resort has many beautiful sites, both made by man and by Mother Nature. The Hot Springs with sulfuric soda water is one of them.

There are parts of mountain biking that shares similarity to trail running than regular bicycling. Because riders are often far from the crowd or community . I myself was challenged to develop self-reliance in the sport. Anyone must learn to repair their broken bikes or flat tires to avoid being stranded far from help. Many riders will carry a backpack, including a water bladder, containing all the essential tools and equipment for trailside repairs, and many riders also carry emergency kits in the case of injury away from outside help. This reliance on survival skills is very crucial for the group dynamics of the sport. Club rides and other forms of group rides are common, especially on longer treks which made the ride even more enjoyable and fun.