I thought it is not possible for a normal person to cycle more than 5 – 10 km, only professional can do that. Last year when I decided to buy a cycle , my use case was to cycle to gym and back, not more than 5 km one way.
Then I saw a poster that Arvind Raman had put up in his cube, it was about a cycling trip on a weekend. The concept was similar to weekend treks organized by some groups. So the idea was if people go on treks on weekend then why not on cycling trips. The trip was in Coorg and they were doing 150kms in 2 days. I thought that was insane and forgot about it. Then I happened to be in Coorg on the following weekend and I saw them in action from my taxi, Some 30 odd people with their cycling gear and cycles on the hills of Coorg , I still thought they were a crazy bunch. But seeing them during the trip made me think that it was possible.
Now every month I would check their website to read about the trips that were being organized, 2nd weekend of every month they had a ride, different places every month. What made them even more attractive was they provided rented cycles to people who did not have one and they promised a fully supported ride. A support vehicle that would follow the riders during the trip, a rider could get on to it if and when he or she was tired. So the trip started to become really tempting. I finally had to jump onto the bandwagon when they announced a trip to Agumbe in March/April this year. Agumbe was on my must visit list and fact that I would get to try cycling in the lush green surroundings was very tempting.
I registered and paid up, but wad very apprehensive about the whole trip. Will I be able to cycle? Will I adapt to using gears? Am I crazy to be doing this? Questions like this were ringing in my head when I got on to the bus on Friday evening. The bus ride was comfortable; I soon fell off to sleep. Next 2 days were amazing fun, lots of cycling 70km on the first day and 40 on the second. I cycled the whole distance and did not need the support vehicle. It was painful yes but yet very blissful. The gang was awesome on that you would easily connect with. My body was only little sore on Sunday, hardly anything compared to what its state would be after weight training or 10km run. That proved that cycling is indeed a very injury free sport.
I have done 5 more trips with them this year after Agumbe , it’s an incredible way to relieve stress and rejuvenate.
The Group that organizes the weekend cycling trips is Cycling and More. Their December ride is just round the corner. You should go for it. Register early as their trips are quite famous and get booked soon.
