It's been extremely hot for the past week! The news reports daily on the dangers of the heat wave. In addition, real-time safety messages remind us hourly of the risks in our daily lives.
I really didn't want to ride my bike today. It was too hot, and I saw a weather forecast that said the temperature would exceed 30 degrees Celsius by 8 am! So, I notified my friends on KakaoTalk that there would be no "Bungee" (bike ride) this week.
I woke up very early. Is it because I'm getting older? Or is it the tropical weather? I turned on the fan next to my bed and tried to go back to sleep, but sleep just wouldn't come.
Lying there, thinking about various things, I suddenly felt like riding my bike. Checking Naver Weather, I saw that there were still more than 40 minutes until sunrise!
Rather than lying there, I decided to go out and got dressed carefully.
Riding my bike down the road. For years, I've always worn a lollipop when riding my bike. I found it comfortable.
As I rode past Ochang High School, I saw the sun slowly rising over the distant mountains.
From then on, I started battling the heat and loneliness.
Usually, I would meet 2-3 teams of riders on the road. But today, it was too hot, so there was no one.
The temperature was 4-5 degrees Celsius higher than the same time last Saturday.
Still, I enjoyed riding on my favorite saddle.
Even though I could find other hobbies, I don't worry about looking for them because the feeling in my body and mind when I ride my bike is so good.
Cycling is a really great exercise to enjoy alone or with others.
Running and hiking put a strain on your knees, and walking is more of an aid to digestion than exercise.
Other sports like soccer, basketball, and golf are asymmetrical exercises, while cycling is 100% symmetrical and uses muscles and cardiopulmonary function without putting much stress on bones and joints.
When I arrived in Eumsung, I met another rider, a red Specialized rider who was also riding alone. He said he was from Eumsung.
Maybe he had the same reason as me for getting up early to ride his bike. We exchanged greetings with joy at meeting each other for the first time on this route and then parted ways.
Entering Ggotdongnae, I found shade from the surrounding mountains.
The mountain breeze and shade! I thought today's ride was going well!
As I rode alone today, I realized that it's more important to remove unnecessary things from life than to fill it with various hobbies and events.
The landscape of mountains and fields, which were overflowing with fresh green just a while ago, seems like yesterday. August is already here, and soon it will be harvest time.
Just as nature flows, I also realized the precious insight that there's no need to rush to keep up with the pace of others' lives.
Instead of struggling to catch up with those who have lived longer than me, gasping for breath, I should enjoy living at my own pace, like riding a bike.
