In my last post I described my journey into cycling and a bunch of memorable adventures from past years. Being a regular commuter to office on MTB having having clocked 3400+ KMs on speedo now, I must admit that cycling is one thing that happened in my life which is having a positive influence all through.
Couple of years back I was an avid Enfield Bullet rider! I was a proud owner of 1983 Enfield Bullet Std - did touring for 3-4 days with fellow bikers - went on solo rides to places around that I wanted to explore. There was a lot more speed, power and loved mile munching on such beautiful motorcycle. People around me, who didn't have the sense of what it feels to ride such a motor cycle, were poking fun at me to sell the fuel gulping Bullet and put few more grands on it to buy a cycle instead and thus I granted their wish! To be honest, I jump started my cycling life again in becoming a "monk-who-sold-his-ferrari" ;) I felt really glad that I have made them shut their mouth now.
Break-up with my beloved Enfield took its toll :( but my new love Khs Alite 500, did help me recover back from the depression very soon ;)
Thus as a close friend the first lesson my mountain bike taught me was "to move on in life"!
When I started commuting to office on my mountain bike (16km, round trip) folks around me said its not feasible/suitable in Bangalore traffic and they were too skeptical on lean me doing it even for couple of days. I confess frankly that it was hard for me too to begin with the plan of daily commute. People look at you as a dumb-idiot-attempting-the-impossible-all-in-vain. Sad but true - a lot of people wish to see others fail in their endeavor. But I had to break the ice in integrating cycling as a part of my daily lifestyle. That is when my cycle taught me second lesson to "just get on with it and don't hesitate of what people think of you". This lesson has helped me in welcoming funny comments at my cycling attire during commute - Once a passer-by called me out loud as "Hey, look at that Spiderman!" - Well, I second his thought as I wearing full sleeve red jersey with black neo-mask air filter in black-red shorts (Just to be more visible on road). Who knows he might call me a "Green goblin" when I wear a green jersey. Hehehe :D
Courage is not to be thought as "having-no-fear-at-all" but it is the power of your will to overcome your fear. It is just the 1st day that mattered when I started - the rest just happened on determination. Its been more than 1.4 years of my office commute now. It is like doing meditation (Yoga) - you keep practicing it daily and hope that you perfect it within your lifetime! I personally feel that anything you inculcate as a habit of practicing daily becomes a part of your spiritual life. I might not daily say mantras and sit and meditate at one place but I rather feel that every time I crank the pedals with my feet, it feels the same as chant! Thus the third lesson my bike taught me was "to contemplate and introspect at least once a while"
To be very honest, at first even I was skeptical about my fragile body (5'7", 60Kg) whether it could take long duration exercises. I was worried more about cycling associated pain and injury. That is when I came across an article about human body and its endurance. It read - Homo sapiens are not meant to be sprinters like other four legged mammals but we are very good at aerobic metabolism and have excellent body cooling system. Great, I thought and I did test myself in doing 100+ km rides endurance cycling to Nandi Hills and back several times now but I have never suffered any injury (touch wood :P). All you need it a proper bike-fit and good posture to sit on bones in your butt to avoid back pain and injuries. Thus the fourth lesson my bike taught me was "we have an evolutionary legacy to be athletes"
(To be continued...)
Yours amateur biker,
Karthik
Couple of years back I was an avid Enfield Bullet rider! I was a proud owner of 1983 Enfield Bullet Std - did touring for 3-4 days with fellow bikers - went on solo rides to places around that I wanted to explore. There was a lot more speed, power and loved mile munching on such beautiful motorcycle. People around me, who didn't have the sense of what it feels to ride such a motor cycle, were poking fun at me to sell the fuel gulping Bullet and put few more grands on it to buy a cycle instead and thus I granted their wish! To be honest, I jump started my cycling life again in becoming a "monk-who-sold-his-ferrari" ;) I felt really glad that I have made them shut their mouth now.
Break-up with my beloved Enfield took its toll :( but my new love Khs Alite 500, did help me recover back from the depression very soon ;)
Thus as a close friend the first lesson my mountain bike taught me was "to move on in life"!
When I started commuting to office on my mountain bike (16km, round trip) folks around me said its not feasible/suitable in Bangalore traffic and they were too skeptical on lean me doing it even for couple of days. I confess frankly that it was hard for me too to begin with the plan of daily commute. People look at you as a dumb-idiot-attempting-the-impossible-all-in-vain. Sad but true - a lot of people wish to see others fail in their endeavor. But I had to break the ice in integrating cycling as a part of my daily lifestyle. That is when my cycle taught me second lesson to "just get on with it and don't hesitate of what people think of you". This lesson has helped me in welcoming funny comments at my cycling attire during commute - Once a passer-by called me out loud as "Hey, look at that Spiderman!" - Well, I second his thought as I wearing full sleeve red jersey with black neo-mask air filter in black-red shorts (Just to be more visible on road). Who knows he might call me a "Green goblin" when I wear a green jersey. Hehehe :D
Courage is not to be thought as "having-no-fear-at-all" but it is the power of your will to overcome your fear. It is just the 1st day that mattered when I started - the rest just happened on determination. Its been more than 1.4 years of my office commute now. It is like doing meditation (Yoga) - you keep practicing it daily and hope that you perfect it within your lifetime! I personally feel that anything you inculcate as a habit of practicing daily becomes a part of your spiritual life. I might not daily say mantras and sit and meditate at one place but I rather feel that every time I crank the pedals with my feet, it feels the same as chant! Thus the third lesson my bike taught me was "to contemplate and introspect at least once a while"
To be very honest, at first even I was skeptical about my fragile body (5'7", 60Kg) whether it could take long duration exercises. I was worried more about cycling associated pain and injury. That is when I came across an article about human body and its endurance. It read - Homo sapiens are not meant to be sprinters like other four legged mammals but we are very good at aerobic metabolism and have excellent body cooling system. Great, I thought and I did test myself in doing 100+ km rides endurance cycling to Nandi Hills and back several times now but I have never suffered any injury (touch wood :P). All you need it a proper bike-fit and good posture to sit on bones in your butt to avoid back pain and injuries. Thus the fourth lesson my bike taught me was "we have an evolutionary legacy to be athletes"
(To be continued...)
Yours amateur biker,
Karthik
4 comments:
Good write up. Thanks for sharing. Wishing you safe & happy cycling at all time. Do visit my blog whenever you get time rgbcycling.blogspot.comments
I've also completed my two years of commuting to office in my MTB. You blog post has reflected my views and experiences. Nice read and keep posting.
Well said sir. Happy cycling, I hope this city one day gives up motor vehicles and come back to cycling & join with us on wheels.
Very nice post Karthik. Used to cycle a lot about 3 years back. I miss those days. :) And this post brought back so many lessons that my cycle taught me as well. Thanks and keep writing :)
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