Cycling delights

Sharing his passion is Manoj Chougule,49,who has done the 1700-km bicycle ride from Mumbai to Kanyakumari. “I do not know why I cycle,it’s a feeling difficult to express. But when you feel the wind in your hair and the exhilaration,it takes away all the exertion,” says Chougule,whose motto is ‘fit hai to hit hai’.

Then there is 34-year-old Vikas Chavan. A resident of Koparkhairane,Chavan planted 10 trees along the Vashi to Ghatkopar stretch,which he daily covers on bicycle to reach his office. He carries a gallon of five litres of water to and fro to ensure that the plants are watered every day.

The idea of doing a bicycle tour of Sri Lanka germinated in the mind of veteran cyclist and mountaineer Dhananjay Madan,51. Fondly called Appa,Madan began seriously cycling in 1989 with trips from Mumbai to Goa and Mumbai to Kanyakumari and the treacherous Ladakh to Khardung-la pass route. “It has been my dream to travel to neighbouring countries on bicycle. Sri Lanka is affordable,beautiful and now,safe to travel. I sounded off the idea with some cyclists and received an enthusiastic response. After many meetings,the entire tour of Sri Lanka took shape,” says Madan.

The 13 members had done individual cycling and mountaineering trips in smaller groups,but this was the first time they were travelling together. The group had mountain terrain bicycles or all-terrain bicycles for the journey. “We have done several treks in the Western Ghats and bits of cycling in the country. But for all of us,this was the first international ride on bicycle and it has paved the way for many such travels,” says Manish Bhosale,28,who is an engineer with a private firm.

With a letter from the Sri Lankan embassy in hand and ‘Love thy neighbour’ slogan,the group managed to convince monasteries,police officers and locals that they were simply enjoying a tour of their scenic country.

With a final count of 1,234 km,they touched 15 destinations,including the southern city of Galle,the highest point at Nuwara Eliya,the ancient city of Anuradhapuram and the mythical location of Baticole.

This was not an all-men bastion. Two ‘first-time serious women cyclists’ also set off for the thrill of the expedition. “I was undecided till the last minute. Then I just jumped in. At times it was really challenging because I haven’t done cycling seriously. Today,after having covered such a long distance,I’m amazed at what I achieved,” said Gauri Rajput,29,a private firm employee.