It was in late 2022, that I got introduced to a cycling group (Cultsport, Eros Gurgaon) by a friend who encouraged me to try group rides. Cult was just starting its outdoor cycling rides from right outside my condominium, so it was super convenient for me (or say difficult to find an excuse to say no), and that is how the journey began.

Approaching it with a closed mind, I was very sure of doing just a couple of rides and thereafter return back to my regular routine. Such closed mind was a culmination of advice from my doctors to give up strenuous sports all together due to medical reasons and at best do walks for staying fit.

Life had but different plans. In no time, what started as an adventure I was only exploring, had turned into enthusiasm where I wanted to challenge myself to do more. Very soon these weekend experiments turned into something to look forward to and soon I did my first 25km, then 50km, then 75km and finally the first century ride! We were exploring newer routes every weekend all across NCR, meeting new members, new groups and much more fun along the way. 

While it is still early days for me, as every adventure in life brings in experiences/ learnings this cycling journey thus far has been no different, some of which I am sharing here under:

• If you want to do something, paths emerge, or you make one! (‘jahaan chaah vahaan raah’) – When the doctors asked to give up active sports, I sulked.  Fear mongering was persistent with voices in the head saying ‘no’, but I was adamant to find a way to get courage to atleast give it a try. Assuming ‘no’ as the answer in mind, with apprehension, I asked my physio if I can take up cycling. To my utter surprise he encouraged me with a yes!! Fast forward a year, I recently crossed the milestone of 10,000 km of cycling (starting in Nov’22). This journey reinforced my belief that anything is possible if you dedicate yourself to it, for there is an ‘invisible force’ which gives you that extra little you need to get to the finish line. In true sense, “when you want something, the whole universe conspires in order for you to achieve it.”

• You miss something to gain something (‘jaago mohan pyare’). In this case, it starts with your sleep and family time. Getting up at 4 am (sometimes even earlier) is not easy, only your passion can get you out of your cozy bed. Then you miss out on your morning cups (plural in my case) of tea in the comfort of your home.  You do end up exhausted at times with a black eye, but the sense of completing that ride makes ‘daag acche hain’ moment.

• Don’t think much (‘sab ho jaata hai’ attitude) should be the mantra – While you may be very meticulous in planning, life is full of surprises and the best you can do is deal with it. Basic minimum planning is essential, but more important is to learn from your experiences and make amends and figure the rest out. In the end, you will deal with it when it hits you one way or the other, if you train yourself to deal with uncertainties, it would be less uncomfortable to deal with it. Contextual example would be that when you get a flat tyre, you repair it or replace it with the spare you have, but what when both options are exhausted? Ask someone for help or take a uber figure it out?

• In the end you are on your own (‘apna apna dekh leejiye’) – While group rides and moving with company is any day better than going solo, but in each ride, you are on your own as well. This in some way exposes you to manage things on your own and at the same time also opens up multiple options like be at your own pace, or push yourself to be with the team ahead or slow down to be part of the ones (if any) coming behind. Such is life as well, there are moments where you have to manage on your own, take your own decisions and then there would be moments where you can seek help. Likewise, you can lend a helping hand to those in need and be there for them as they navigate any challenges along the journey.

• Keep moving (‘chalte raho’) to get to your destination – For moving forward you keep pedalling, else the cycle comes to a halt and so does your journey. Take short breaks, rejuvenate yourself and move forward is the mantra. While the journey is as enjoyable, but the high you get reaching your destination is unparallel. In life too, your every day grind and in between breaks, help you push yourself at times, unwind briefly and then work towards your goals.
• Getting to technicalities (or call them jargons) is a learning curve in itself. You start with getting ‘arre tumhe yeh nahi pata’ stares when someone throws these heavy weights at you, to you doing the very same – from the ideal saddle height, to the size of cycle which best suits you, to bike fit, to the material of the frame, to the type of gearset, to repairing punctures, to lubricating the chain and last but not the least swanky terms like cadence, crank, cassette to what not (I am yet to understand / learn a lot of things still). Then, as if these are not enough, you have to deal with event names like BRMs and abbreviations like GCR, GFR, QM. Guesses?

• Respect others (‘arre ruk jaayenge’ / ‘arre dekh lenge’ attitude won’t work for long) – Always give the same respect to others, what you expect for yourself. For example, every persons’ time is equally important for he/she would have sacrificed something to get to that ride; always give way to someone you see riding a cycle to work since it takes huge efforts to stop and start again; respect lane driving, apply breaks carefully, do not stop abruptly anywhere on the road. Last but not the least, irrespective of a persons’ stature, respecting him, giving him his due talks a lot about what we are as individuals.

• No budget is enough and by no means cycling is a poor man’s sport (it just seems from far that it runs on your own fuel (power), but that isn’t true!!…..‘paise kam hi padhenge’) – Every one of us makes budgets, trust me none is enough in this case. You can upgrade your ride, its gears, its accessories, clothing et and all besides the regular wear and tear.  Differentiate between what is a necessity where no compromise should be made and give it preference over comfort and luxuries.

This note is incomplete without Thanking all those who have made it possible for me to come thus far and I hope shall continue to support me going forward – three cheers to my Family for tolerating all absences from home and a barrage of cycles and accompanying gears occupying much space at home, to the trainers whose guidance has been the foundation stone, to my fellow riders for the chit chat fun along the way and bringing in the competitive spirit, to our regular ‘chai wallahs’ without who the pedal would halt, the mechanics for fixing the cycle each time in crises, to the uber drivers who allowed to carry the cycle in their car in case of a breakdown, and to every other person who supported the ride in any way! You guys ROCK!!

Ending 2023, with hope to continue this momentum forward and make cycling part of my life. Leaving you with some glimpses from the journey this far…..