RIDE for Fun ! Not for Milestones..

      There are beginnings in life which are inspired by people around us. We try to imitate what someone else is doing because our mind thinks that it must be fun and we also should be doing it. Well, that's how the human race has been evolving till now where notions, ideas, religions have been passed by from generations to generations. Interestingly, I got the inspiration for cycling in 2022 from a friend who is a Marathon winner (titled "Iron Man" awarded to anyone who completes  three sports (Cycling, Running, Swimming) challenges).

    Once decided to try out cycling, there were these procrastination ideas created by my mind :

1. Let me borrow and try my friend's cycle for a few days and see if I can really take up cycling.
2. I am already going on routine morning walks. How would I spare time for cycling also?
3. What if I bought a cycle and did not use it and let it rust in my garage?   and many more...

      One fine Sunday, I took out my 4 wheeler and visited Decathlon Store of my city. With the help of a friend over an instant phone call, I finalized a model of the cycle which was not available at that time. So, I booked it right there and paid for it in advance. There was this internal happiness flowing inside me which was the sign that I was going to take up a new habit of cycling regularly. They call it "The Power of Habits". Yes, it was another habit (after book reading) which was going to be added in my life.

 

    And finally my journey of Cycling took off in mid of 2022.  Initially, it started with small rides of 5-6K, which then slowly increased to 10K. I also had started using "Strava" app for tracking all my fitness activities. On Strava (Activity Recording Tracking and Sharing Platform), I used to see many of my friends cycling 20-30K effortlessly almost every second or third day. On weekends, it would touch 40-50K for them including mountain rides. So inspired by that, I took a challenge, as well as a task - "Itna km to karna hee hai" (need to ride this many kilometers anyhow). 

 

    With this approach, I could somehow manage to increase my rides to 13-15K. At this stage, if I recall, one day I cycled to work (around 10K) and then back home. There was this sense of achievement and content. The content was linked to a desire residing somewhere in my subconscious mind (I could not commute to my school (hardly 5K from my home) on a cycle when many of my friends used to do so). I had this feeling of accomplishment and the desire to achieve more. However, my rides continued within that range only and usually I would set a target before starting my ride (Typically, we are programmed to set a goal and work on it :) ).

 

    All of this may seem normal for most of you reading this blog and those who are not regular cyclists. But for my physical condition, too much physical stress is not advised by the doctor. So, I really never thought of cycling long distance. My cycling journey became yet another habit but I was not improving. 

 

    During one of my rides, I met my friend (The Iron Man) who was also riding that day and had almost completed 30K. I could not resist to ask him for the tips or the technique for those lengthy rides. He replied the usual ones: "take baby steps and then improve", "No one can ride 20K on the first day", and the usual "more practice more stamina". But, something which he told I could not comprehend at that time was:

 "Bas chalte chalo, Jahan le jaye ye raaste,  Weather acha ho, water aur chocolates saath rakho, Bas enjoy karte raho, Aaram se hoga." (Just keep rolling wherever these roads lead to. Good weather, bunch of chocolates and a bottle of water are your friends. Enjoy the ride, don't count the miles You will do it easily !). I did not understand his last piece of advice fully at that time and continued cycling in my own way. 

 

    Soon the year 2022 ended but I was excitedly waiting for the year 2023, not for any year resolution, but for new habits to be formed. To my surprise, I could take my first ride of the year in 2nd week of Feb'23. Although I was walking regularly, but the my first ride was delayed by almost one and a half month. And I feel there was a reason, which I am sharing here.

 

     It was one of those winter Sundays when there was a lot of fog around and temperature was just the optimum for a long ride. I had my machine ready, a day before the ride. The idea was to get a good sleep on the day before the ride, start early in the morning and use the weather conditions to my advantage. I started with all those ingredients which my friend cum mentor had suggested:  a bottle of water, a few chocolates (5-Star bars), and  the idea of just enjoying the ride (even if it was for only a few kilometers). Since this ride was after a long gap, the momentum took a little bit time to build. I also had this thought of going back home as it looked like lot of effort to put at the first place. But as I diverted my mind to the beautiful weather and the gorgeous road ahead on that awesome winter day, I continued pedaling and moving ahead. 

 

    I started recollecting memories of earlier rides on that route. After sometime, a crossroad came and I took an unusual route (a longer one), not because I wanted to, but because it was feeling effortless and I just wanted to move a little bit more. A few kilometers with this flow, I started appreciating and thanking all the people who had inspired me to try this sport, specially my spouse (she was the one who had put the tyre inflator from overhead cabinets to easy accessible cabinets in our home, which actually increased my cycle ride frequency).  And when the next major milestone crossed in my route, I was feeling like its just like my regular morning walk (easy peasy). I stopped for a break after completing 10K in one go, had my chocolate, a few sips of water and with the sun coming up, I kept rolling. The next little break was on 15K to take a sip of water, some pics for the day (to be blogged - attached below) and finally ended the ride with just over 20K. BAMM! 

 

    The feeling of coming back home was on the higher end of the energy spectrum unlike my previous rides when I felt tired and exhausted. In-fact, the energy level was high for another 10K. I came back because I had other commitments to attend. So, the way things turned up that wonderful day, I found a strong belief that there is nothing which can’t be achieved. After long gap, riding 10K would have been a challenge, but at the end completed 20K with the zeal of another 10K left in the heart. These may be mere numbers for all but for me they are motivation. They are the fuel to go ahead and try things that challenge you. Sometimes, we are unaware of our own capabilities, but incidents like these make us realize that we have the power to achieve anything we desire and work for. 

Go Ahead, 

RIDE for Fun, 

Not for Milestones

And most important..

ENJOY the ride