How they started?
Cycling is an integral part of most of our growing up phase. The sad part is we don’t realize when we outgrow our cycles and never tend to fit back on the saddle. The obvious reasons being an aspiration of moving to motorbikes, cars and so on. What we miss in the whole process is that some basic things never change or can be replaced just like a wheel cannot be reinvented.
We cycle not only to reach our destination but to continue enjoying associated health and environmental benefits. This is reminded when we start losing our health and face challenges like pollution and global warming.
Well just to come back to my experience of how I took more than 20 years after my school to get back on the saddle. It was around 4 years back when my wife Mahasweta decided to gift me a cycle as I was only planning and never executing the great plan of buying a cycle. Reasons best known to me as I am too old to cycle, it’s not safe to cycle on road anymore, I may have health problems if I cycle at this age etc…..
Finally, I went to Decathlon in Whitefield which is closer to my place and found one attractive yellow color cycle called Rockrider from BTwin brand. I just took a few rounds of the same in store and bought it finally. This was just the first step of entering the awesome world of cycling again. Once I got the cycle and rode it back home around 5 km, it was a great achievement considering I was doing it after 2 decades. The best was yet to come as the first day always looks nice and easy but the real fun begins when we have to do something in a regular manner.
What challenges I faced in the beginning?
So let me tell a few of my initial feelings and what challenges I faced while cycling:-
• Stamina was limiting me no. of kilometers to the single digit. After a couple of months when I cycled to Cubbon Park (20kms both ways), I was sleeping the whole day as I was completely exhausted.
• The regularity of cycling. Even once a week was not possible for the initial one year.
• Motivation to cycle. Initially, I use to cycle alone and was quite boring to do so.
• Issues like body pain, back pain, muscle pain was another deterrent.
• Time constraints. Finding time in the busy schedule of home and office is a major challenge.
• Safety on the road. This is another reason why most people discontinue cycling.
• Chased by dogs early morning 😊
How they overcome?
One should not worry about all the challenges mentioned above at the same time. It will slowly go with time and the right approach. This is how we become experienced cyclists. In my case, it was quite a funny incident that happened. I was upset due to the challenges I was facing and finally thought there is something wrong with my cycle hence all the problems. To fix the same I went back to Decathlon same branch after almost one and a half year and met Mr. Stanley. He was a polite and humble gentleman always ready to help. I took the opportunity of discussing my issues with him and requested him if I can sell my cycle back to Decathlon at a reduced price. I still remember his answer what he gave “Sir, we sell cycles and not buy them back” but seeing my condition he still offered to buy it himself, maybe to pacify me. That gesture was the real beginning of a nice bonding between me and Mr. Stanley which continues till date. He became the untold cycling Mentor (Guru) for me and most of the confused lot like me. The first advise he gave was to join the cycling group which they called as “Weekend Riders”. The name sounded interesting and I immediately joined the group. Within a couple of days, they organized first ride towards Hoskote which I was very excited to join as it was close to 40 plus kilometers ride (both ways) from my home. We had to assemble on a Saturday morning near Hoody junction. I reached on time and met a set of enthusiastic riders waiting for others to join. It was the first time when I met Mr. Chandu Babu, another inspiring personality in my cycling journey as well as Mr. Rajneesh and a few more riders.
Now there is a reason why I have mentioned this in the bit detail. All this had a positive impact in overcoming my initial challenges.
• Being in a group always helps to clock more miles. Your stamina automatically starts improving. Group dynamic helps.
• We tend to become more regular in cycling (starting from weekends initially) as the excitement of meeting your group is very high.
• The motivation of riding and seeing new places takes away all laziness.
• A group is always taken seriously on the road. This ensures more safety while cycling.
• Obviously, the dogs continued chasing but our confidence levels are high enough to handle it 😊
• Guidance from senior fellow riders on aesthetics and riding positions helps to get rid of most of our body pain issues.
How practicing daily has changed it?
“Practice makes a Man Perfect”. This phrase is apt for cycling too. When we try to practice it daily, it has multiple effects on us, which includes physical, Mental and Emotional. Let me explain how:-
• Daily cycling keeps us young, healthy and physically fit.
• It helps us in proper Time Management as we tend to use it more effectively for something constructive like cycling.
• Develops tenacity of mind and a high level of determination as well as discipline.
• We tend to become more adept at handling our emotions and stress as energies are channelized positively.
How cycling has changed their lives and brought new enjoyment?
Cycling has changed my life in many ways: –
• Health benefits. Free from physical ailments and better stress management.
• Got to know new people and made new friends in the process.
• Unleash my potential and explore my capacity to do more than what I always thought I can.
• Every extra kilometer covered during the process had pushed the mental barrier further.
• Reclaim my lost hours. I can do more in the same set of conditions than earlier.
• An inspired couple of my friends to take up cycling in the process.
• It’s the real ME time I have with myself.
As well as your own recommendations
Based on my experiences, I would definitely recommend everyone to take up some physical activity, especially cycling for the below reasons:-
• To reclaim our Health, Mental Peace and Time in our fast-moving stressful lives.
• Explore more and make more and more friends in the process.
• Join cycling groups and things will become easy.
• Listen to advice and tips from experienced fellow riders.
• Try cycling as frequently as possible. Office commute is a good option as we can productively utilize that time for our benefit.
• Inspire others to join cycling. Share your activities related to cycling with friends and family and encourage them to join.
• Eat and Hydrate well during cycling.
• Always follow safety rules while on the Road. Wear safety gears like helmets.
• Never STOP it completely just because you were not regular for some time. Remember that Quitting won’t improve things.
cyclingislife 