AT 70 years old, senior citizen cyclist Gil Gener Palomar still beats the rush on two wheels — while making a colorful statement aboard his bicycle.
Just check out his outfit when he went out for a recent ride, as spotted by Spin.ph lensman Jerome Ascano.
Lolo Gener, a.k.a “Mr. Terno”, revealed that he has nine different bikes and sets of outfits that he reshuffles weekly.
“Nakakakita kasi ako dati ng mga nakaterno ang suot, kaya sa akin, ginawa ko kung anong kulay ng bike, iteterno ko ang damit ko, lahat pati helmet at ngayon, mask,” Palomar told SPIN Life.
“Kung ano lang ‘yung kursonada ko sa araw na ‘yon, ‘yung ang susuotin ko. Meron akong siyam na iba’t ibang colors ng bike na pa-unti-unti kong binuo. Ako mismo ang nagkukulay at nag-a-assemble, [at] bumibili ako ng parts,” he shared.
Palomar has been cycling since 1988. Since then, it has become both his release and exercise.
“Sa pagba-bike kasi nawawala ‘yung mga problema ko sa buhay. Parang makakalimutan mo ‘yung iniisip mo, tapos relax ka lang,” he said. “Dati, sumasali ako sa mga cycling club. Meron kami dati sa Taguig, masaya ‘pag may grupo, may kwentuhan, tapos ambag-ambag kayo sa meryenda pag-akyat.”
Although he’s more seen pushing the pedals across EDSA, or traversing Caloocan to Buendia and Roxas Boulevard, Lolo Gener still has the vigor to tackle uphill climbs. In fact, he often visits Tagaytay.
“Malakas pa ako. Nakakaakyat pa, kayang-kaya. Okay ‘yung pagba-bike, kailangan lang talaga mag-ingat ngayon. ‘Pag nasa bahay kasi minsan nabo-bore ako,” he said.
Mr. Terno is also most thankful for the new bike lanes around the metro which helps him feel safe biking around tough vehicles.
Having witnessed how traffic jams have increased in a span of years, he said: “Mas mahirap na talaga ngayon kasi maraming sasakyan, di tulad noon maluwag ang daan. Kaya doble ingat talaga, ‘wag magbara-bara. Dati ‘nung nagtatrabaho pa ako as a security guard, nagba-bike lang din ako papunta sa trabaho araw-araw.”
Tatay Gener also takes delight in the limelight he’s receiving, especially now that the cycling community begins to grow more.
“Maraming bata na nagpapa-picture sa akin. Pumapayag ako syempre. Nakakatuwa din na maraming kang napapangiti at na-i-inspire, pero ang lagi kong advice sakanila, mag-iingat talaga,” he said.
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