Jayagiri Moss Alley Ride -- Pedalling // Coasting

Hike-a-bike isn’t my cup of coffee.

It was, however, inseparable part of the cycling trip to Moss Alley—a small attraction spot in the middle of Jayagiri forest, at the southern slope of the infamous Mount Tangkubanparahu. It was @kerangkerungs who invited me to the ride, and I was intrigued; a short weekend ride to nearby forest with few fellow cyclists seemed like a nice idea. So there we were, a group of four, climbed to the north of the city on a beautiful Saturday morning.

The fresh air of the mountain greeted us as we reached Cikole, and turned to quiet road to the northwest. The climb grew steeper, however, and the road became increasingly smaller, as we ventured deeper into the woods. The combination of @kerangkerungs’ relaxed attitude and @rizkymament’s speed resulted in perfect pacing; just brisk enough without being laborous. There were few accidents along the road—@kerangkerungs rammed an old lady, and @rizkymament snapped his chain—but nothing impacted the whole ride significantly. Despite prolonged climb, lush forest trees, gentle mountain breeze, and morning sun’s warmth, made for a truly refreshing ride.

The hike-a-bike session came after we made a turn to short singletrack and small camping spot. It was shorter than I anticipated, however. On the other hand, I was thrilled to find parts of the hiking trail still relatively rideable. Thus, it didn’t take long for us to get to the moss-covered alley. Shaded by the trees and the tall wall, the alley was wet, dark, and cool—a perfect climate that allowed the little primitive plant to thrive.

Taking few pictures was all we did before we returned to the road we came from, and enjoyed the mostly descending ride all the way to Lembang. The iced grass jelly in Rumah Kayu restaurant was a perfect dessert after the long climb from the city. It was still 10 am in the morning, and I found myself feeling tired and refreshed at the same time. It was good to be reminded of pure joy of cycling—no cut-off time to pursue, no pushing oneself to self-imposed limits, no beaten-up sensation after over-the-top efforts—just a short, quick escape to the mountain with few good friends.

Thanks to @kerangkerungs, @rizkymament, and @furqonab for the weekend fun cycling trip. See you all on the next ride!