The human spirit is indescribable. It can motivate people to do things that will surprise or shock people around them. Come January 26, a group of cyclists will commence cycling from Atal Setu in Panjim and go all the way to Ram Setu near Dhanushkodi at a distance of 1200 kms. And here is the kicker. It has to be completed in 90 hours.
None of the cyclists involved in this rather madcap adventure are professional sportsmen but are individuals who are involved in careers or businesses that keep them very busy. And for many of them this is not their first trip on such distances but their second. What motivates them, these bunch of cyclists were more than happy to tell their story.
Advocate Shashikant Naik has done this once before in Oct 2022. When asked why he was into cycling such distances, he said it was about checking one’s endurance. He was accompanied by a few people from the local cycling group. In addition he said there were people from all over the country. There were 56 participants then of which 42 completed. Those who completed it like Shashikant in the time frame of 90 hrs would have to then be able to order a medal from the Audax Club in Paris. Those who don’t complete it within the time limit will not get a medal. Shashikant started cycling in 2018. He moved to intense cycling in 2020. He rode the 200, 300,400 and the 600 miles in a year to be called a Super Randonneur. He has done these distances in a year on two occasions. He will be doing 400 kms next month on Dec 17. Why cycling and not any other sport was due to high cholesterol. He said,”Within a month it was reversed and this was in 2018.”
For Dr Vishwajit Faldesai an orthopaedic surgeon the trip will be nothing new in the sense he has done the Goa to Kanyakumari on two occasions. The first time in 2019 and then in 2022. In 2021 he did the Goa to Pondicherry a distance of 1000 kms. The 55 year old has been cycling since 2013. When asked why cycling, he said as a surgeon he had to put in long hours in surgery and it helps him in his job. It also helped him develop a lot of patience. Earlier to stay healthy he used to play Badminton but on Sundays the indoor stadium was shut. The group then decided to do something outdoor. That’s when the cycling began in Margao. He has a cycling group called Pro Pedalerz which was formed in 2016. During the season from November, he cycles almost everyday, otherwise, it is on alternate days mixed with badminton. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays are allocated for cycling. When asked how he and others managed the mental side of it all, he said everyone would undergo a stress test. They would focus on small trips like first it would be 100 km then 200 which would then go up to 600 kms. He said it was important to hydrate very well at regular intervals and eat solids too. He said,” We eat normally and local food is always available. We enjoy meeting people on the way. We prefer to be in groups of four to five people. It helps. One should never go alone on long rides. We have ride buddies. They keep your spirits up”. The doctor then kicked in and said there were several advantages to cycling. He said it improved one’s cardiovascular health, overall it burnt calories effectively and it can manage weight loss. He said it builds up muscles and tones them. He ended by saying long distance rides need focus and determination. So it contributes to mental toughness and stress relief. Since cycling is a low impact exercise , it reduces stress on the joints in comparison to other high impact activities. And because of cycling he said one reduced the chances of chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes.
He is an assistant engineer in the electricity department in Margao which can be a pretty high pressure job but Finton Dorado finds the time to cycle and will be one of the group on Jan 26. This will be the second time he will be doing such a distance having done the Goa to Kanyakumari which covers a distance of 1200km in 90 hours. He was candid when he said, “ It is like an addiction to explore the different routes. I dream of doing the Paris to Brest and back, which is the blue riband event which is organised by the Audax Club Parisien”. He first started cycling in 2018 having earlier been involved in running. He had participated in the Tata Mumbai marathon, the Vadodara marathon to name a few. When asked what made him shift, he said it was for cross training.He said ever since he started cycling, he had stuck to it. He cycles 50 km everyday, leaving his house at 5.30 am. He does different routes everyday to keep it interesting. On Sunday’s he cycles 100 kms. He has done the 200, 300, 400 and 600 kms races in a year on five occasions. This year he intends to make it his 6 th year. When asked if cycling in Goa was safe, he said cycling in Goa was safer as compared to other states. On the highway, he said it was important to follow the rules and follow the hand signals.
Businessman Natraj Naik started cycling in 2015. He has already done the cycling trip to Pondicherry. He expressed his excitement at doing the trip to Dhanushkodi saying he was cycling everyday and he had already done the 200, 300 and 400 km distance this year. On the weekends he said he would do 100 kms. He said his motivation to start cycling came from the fact he wanted to be active and hence he chose a sport that would help him. Gradually over a period of time it became a passion.
From dealing with the world of software to the pain and fatigue of distance cycling can be quite a stretch but Sameer Naik a IT professional seems to be managing quite well. He did the journey from Panjim to Kanyakumari last year and this year it will be the Ram setu. He says he cycles 50 km everyday and much more on weekends. A member of the cycling club Pro Pedalerz , he started cycling during the lockdown. Before that he used to go to the gymkhana. His neighbour suggested going cycling when everything was shut and then his passion for it increased when he joined the club. He then participated in a contest called the Tour D100 where participants had to cycle 100 kms everyday for 100 days. He said, “ Once we enrolled, consistency increased dramatically. All those involved were ready to take up long distance cycling”. When asked about the mental side he said there would be around 25 people doing the journey. Everyone would be riding with people they know . they would talk to each other, take breaks and have fun. Otherwise he said it would be taxing on the mind. He said, “ When you are with your friends, the focus is only on the physical side and if one is mentally drained then your buddies lift you up.”
One wishes the group of cyclists all the very best as they go ahead on this long journey.