…And I rode quite a lot despite challenges!
This year 2020, began quite well for me. I was towards the end of my 1-year backpacking trip to Latin America. I spent the first month of the year in parts of Mexico and California, before heading back home in Kolkata. Little did we expect that this year a ‘Novel Coronavirus’ was going to shake up the world.
Just like many others across the world, my plans for 2020 were all messed up. Things started turning bad towards mid-March. The World Health Organisation declared Covid-19 as a pandemic/ Many nations across the world started closing down their borders and lockdowns were being imposed to prevent the spread of this Novel Coronavirus. India was no exception and the whole nation went into lockdown on 25th March(which lasted for few months).
This meant that a person who was on the road for a year, living out of a backpack (actually 2) had to stay at home. The only option of leaving home was to run some essential errands. Even outdoor sports or any other activities were out of bounds.
My Interest in Learning to Ride A Bicycle
When I was travelling across Latin America, I met some Bicycle Travellers who were exploring the vast region in their bicycles. They shared some of their experiences which were quite inspiring. The most inspiring was a mother-son(12-year-old), whom I met in Peru. They were travelling on their bicycles till Tierra del Fuego, Argentina – the southernmost region on earth outside Antarctica. You can check their adventures on their Instagram profile – @hopetrip.mx
Not knowing how the ride a bicycle made me miss out on certain experiences – like exploring the Lake District of Argentina on a bicycle, cycling down the Death Road in Bolivia or enjoy the Ciclovía Sundays in Bogotá, Colombia to name a few.
I promised myself to learn how to ride a bicycle after returning home. The pandemic worked as a catalyst for me to learn to ride. Using Public Transport was not a good option when we had to maintain physical distance in public places. Cycling turned out to be the perfect alternative. In around June and July, the lockdown measures started to ease and thus it was the perfect time to start.
Getting an Old West German Foldie Repaired
My uncle had an old folding bicycle, which was lying in a corner at home in an unusable condition gathering dust. It was originally from 1970s West Germany. Most of the essential parts were fine, the frame though extremely heavy was built with good quality steel. It needed some repair here and there to get it in running condition. So, with some local parts, I got the bicycle in running condition. The big task was after that, how do I learn to balance and ride it?
Despite facing some difficulty initially with balancing, I was finally able to get some confidence in a couple of days. But, a further challenge was there – riding in traffic. I knew with time and practice I would be able to handle it.
My Journey with the Foldie
The first week of July was when I learnt how to ride the bicycle. Slowly, I started to venture out from our neighbourhood. After a few weeks, along with my cousin cycled from Beleghata to Newtown and back. It was little above 20km and despite taking a lot of time it felt like a great achievement. Within a few weeks, I was able to make more trips to Newtown, banks of river Hooghly, Victoria Memorial and parts of North Kolkata either solo or with cousins/friends.
Though it was not very easy taking the 20inch wheel foldie beyond a certain distance, due to unreliable parts, small wheel size and weak braking from the coaster brake. I was able to manage a 40km ride on that. After learning and riding the foldie for 2 months, it was time to switch to a new bicycle.
New Bicycle and Covid-19
On September, which also happens to be my birthday month (and my 30th birthday too) I finally got a new entry-level Hybrid Bicycle. Due to scarcity in bicycle stocks I had to buy the only one available, which was little above my expected budget. Within a week I was able to complete multiple 50km rides, which included a 70km trip to nearby erstwhile Danish colony of Serampore. By that time I started riding with a local cycling group – Cycle Network Grow.
This was followed by exploring some hidden gems in Kolkata and the wonderful wetlands situated in the eastern part of the city. But, during this time, around mid-September, the unexpected happened. We had a Covid-19 outbreak at home and everyone got infected. Even I was not spared. But, thankfully I was able to recover within 3-4 days but had to quarantine myself for around 3 weeks. And it meant no physical activities for some time. But, I knew once I am allowed to go out I would cycle more and explore more places near and far.
After Recovery Completing Challenges and Milestones
In the month of October, after recovering from Covid-19 I slowly restarted cycling. Increasing my distance little by little and slowly I was not only back to my previous fitness level but better. On 1st November, I went on a group ride to Sher-e-Punjab Dhaba on NH-6 in Kolaghat with my amazing buddies from CNG (Cycle Network Grow). I not only completed my maiden 100km ride, it was around 142km. I had just 75km as my longest ride prior to this. This boosted my confidence further.
During a short trip to Darjeeling in November during Diwali, I rented a bicycle a got the flavour of riding in the Himalayas.
I had further achievements down the line. I qualified for a Cyclothon Umeed 1000, organized by RBL Bank to contribute to girl child education by riding a bicycle. To complete the Cyclothon challenge one had to ride for 1000km within 15 days. I was able to cross the 1000km mark in 11 days. My position #16 in all India(among 127 participants), #3 in Kolkata after completing 1212km in 15 days. I was able to raise INR 83,450 through my efforts.
The last big achievement for me was to complete my first 200km ride. I already had several century rides under my belt but completing one 200km ride before the end of the year would make it even more special. Thus, I registered myself for my first BRM (Brevets de Randonneurs Mondiaux) event. It was a 200km self-supported ride, which I had to complete within a time duration of 13hrs 30 mins. I completed it in 10 hrs 13 mins (Ride time of 9hrs 5 mins).
For those who want to know more about BRM or Randonneuring – In randonneuring, riders attempt courses of 200 km or more, passing through predetermined “controls” (checkpoints) every few tens of kilometres. Riders aim to complete the course within specified time limits and receive equal recognition regardless of their finishing order.
When I look back at how much I cycled this year, it is quite a lot considering I am a beginner. I covered more than 4300km this year after learning to ride a bicycle in July, which included a 3-week gap in September-October due to Covid-19. Benefits of cycling are tremendous. I use my bicycle for almost all possible commutes now, there is zero carbon emission, it keeps me fit and the fuel is provided by me pedalling. I don’t have to worry about the rise in petrol prices.
Realization on Cycling In and Around Kolkata
Cycling within the city and nearby places helped me explore so many places quickly with great freedom. I was able to know some hidden gems in the city, explore nearby villages and towns, and above all make some wonderful friends.
I have been living outside Kolkata from 2012 till the beginning of 2020, and I can say that I never knew my city and surrounding places so well as I do now after cycling. This reminds me of a poem which was written as an autograph by Rabindranath Tagore for young Satyajit Ray.
The translation in English is something like this (the translation in collected, not mine):
“I travelled miles, for many a year,
Spent riches, in lands afar,
I’ve gone to see the mountains, the oceans I’ve been to view.
But I haven’t seen with these eyes
What two steps from my home lie
On a sheaf of paddy grain, a glistening drop of dew.”
Having travelled many places around the world, more than most people from India of my age; cycling in Kolkata and in the surrounding areas of rural Bengal made me realize the importance of these lines written by Tagore. Though there are amazing places in faraway corners of India and across the world, we often overlook some wonderful places right in front of our doorstep.
Future Plans with Cycling
Since my inspiration to ride a bicycle came from Bicycle Travellers/Bikepackers my main objective to ride a bicycle is to explore and visit new places, see previously visited places in a different way and to promote an environment-friendly mode of travelling. Maybe, I would start with exploring my home state of Bengal, then other places in India and then someday do some international trip on my bicycle as well. And since I love long-distance endurance rides, maybe I will do a few more brevets soon.