71-year-old man cycles 1,000km/month, recounts moment of exhaustion in the middle of a dangerous mountain pass

(Dan Tri) - For nearly 20 years with a bicycle, Mr. Bach Dang Quang has cycled across Vietnam alone many times, overcoming the limitations of age to pursue his passion for sports.

Cycling 40-50km every morning for 20 years

Every day, at 4am, Mr. Bach Dang Quang (71 years old, Dien Hong ward, Ho Chi Minh City) takes his bicycle out of the house and regularly cycles around the streets of Ho Chi Minh City. At a steady speed, the old man quietly glides through the familiar roads for nearly 20 years.

“Every morning I run 40-50km, alone, and I have been doing this for nearly 20 years,” he said.

Mr. Quang has been pursuing cycling for more than 20 years (Photo: Facebook character).

At around 6:30, he returned home to have breakfast, shower, and then continue working at a bailiff’s office. Even though he is retired, he still maintains the habit of working “for fun”, partly because he misses his old job in the legal field, and partly because he wants to maintain a regular life: cycling in the morning, going to work at noon, and picking up his grandchildren from school in the afternoon.

Mr. Quang has loved sports since childhood and played many sports . When he was still working, he was attached to badminton. But in 2005, his knees hurt so much that he had to hold on to the railing when going up the stairs. His friends advised him to switch to cycling to improve.

“They said that after a week of cycling, I could climb stairs without needing to hold on. I listened and my knee pain really went away. That was the moment that started my journey of nearly 20 years of being attached to cycling,” he said.

Every day, Mr. Quang cycles 40-50km (Photo: Facebook character).

Since then, he has “closed the book” for more than 1,000km every month. From the original semi-sports car, he gradually upgraded and bought more models of cars suitable for each terrain: highway, mountain climbing, long distance…

First solo trip across Vietnam

In 2016, at the age of over 60, Mr. Quang decided to take his first solo cross-country trip - a challenge that many young people are hesitant about.

“I’m retired and healthy, so why not give it a try? During wartime, soldiers traveled the Truong Son trail, but during peacetime, we have plenty of vehicles, so it would be a waste not to go,” he said.

He prepared everything himself, studied the experiences of those who had gone before, made a list of things to bring, including two sets of clothes, a long-sleeved sun-protection shirt, spare clothes, food, water and bike repair tools. He also learned the “express washing and drying” technique of backpackers so that he would always have dry clothes the next day.

But what Mr. Quang did not expect was the feeling of loneliness when wandering alone.

“Traveling alone means taking care of yourself. You get used to running around, but sometimes you feel sad. There is no one to talk to, no one to support you. I am also old, so sometimes I feel sad,” he laughed when recalling the journey.

Mr. Quang has made many cross-Vietnam cycling trips (Photo: Facebook character).

His most haunting memory was the time he crossed Cu Mong Pass, a pass connecting Gia Lai and Dak Lak provinces, which is considered dangerous. At that time, he had no idea how steep it was, no map, no smartphone. He just kept pedaling through the successive steep slopes.

It suddenly started to rain, the water hitting his face, making him feel stinging. Exhausted, he pulled over to a vacant lot by the side of the road to catch his breath in the cold rain, his body shaking with fatigue and worry about whether he could make it through the pass before dark. After resting for nearly half an hour, he tried again. And just a few minutes later, he reached the top.

“Because I didn’t have a map, I didn’t know how close I was. When I got there, I let out a scream. I was so tired that tears and snot ran down my face. I felt so sorry for myself, but the feeling of joy was hard to describe,” he said.

Although he admits there were times when he felt discouraged, Mr. Quang was compensated by the majestic natural scenery and the feeling of overcoming himself. Therefore, he became more and more excited each time he conquered a new route.

Continue to roam the roads

Since that first trip, Mr. Quang has continued to make many other journeys. Some trips he took alone, some with friends or relatives, but for him, the feeling of cycling alone is still the "best". His most recent trip across Vietnam was last year.

Years of cycling have significantly improved Mr. Quang's health and his spirit. At over 70 years old, he does not drink alcohol or stay up late, and maintains a simple and disciplined lifestyle. He said he has no room for any other passions because: Morning sports, afternoon work and family, that's enough.

On each trip, he makes new friends (Photo: character's Facebook).

There were times when heavy rain or long business trips interrupted his cycling, and Mr. Quang missed his bike so much that he felt restless. Now, cycling has become almost a part of his life. His wife and children have also gotten used to him leaving home very early. They support him, although sometimes they worry about his safety.

Not only does Mr. Quang ride a bike to exercise, he also participates in many cycling clubs in the city, has traveled far and even competed abroad. In the past three years, he has stopped competing in mountain bike races because he feels he is no longer strong enough to compete with the younger generation.

Although he often runs alone because of the time difference with his friends, Mr. Quang said he has many acquaintances on the morning run route. “My children and friends have become familiar with me over and over again. Many young people recognize me and cheer me on. I feel embarrassed but also proud. That is the motivation for me to continue cycling and inspiring others,” he said.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/cu-ong-71-tuoi-dap-xe-1000kmthang-ke-phut-duoi-suc-giua-deo-hiem-tro-20251207011505964.htm