Life Lessons I Learned from Mountains

Over the past few years, I’ve developed a deep love for Mountains. No matter the season or the location, there’s something about towering peaks and deep valleys that inspire me. There is a gravity in mountains which pulls me toward itself. Adventure Travel is an activity that requires a leap of faith, one that pushes you to move out of your comfort zone, knowing that you are giving up on your comfort to try something new, something daring, something challenging, yet fun and adrenalin pumping. An experience that you won’t forget, that will change you in a way or another without you even notice it.

Trekking in the mountains may look fun, but it is not for the faint of heart. It takes a lot of determination and willpower to complete a hike and reach the destination and sometimes, the descent is an even more challenging journey that one has to face. But, at the end of day, you are going to realize that it is the challenges and the hardships that will make you stronger as a hiker and as a person. There are many things one can learn from the mountains that individual can apply in their own life.

Dream Big – One should make great plans for future. It is said modesty is a virtue. I believe modesty is not a virtue when it comes to self-assessment and goal setting. There is no limit to what one can accomplish in life if one dreams big, stay committed to success and work hard.

Avoid Naysayers – There will be people who will tell you that you can’t accomplish your goals. It’s too hard”, “You set your sights too high” “and that’s not possible”. Never allow yourself to be fenced in by the doubts or expectations of others. Sometimes your worst naysayer is yourself. I reach a point where I feel overwhelmed by the difficulty of the task and I want to give up and try another time. You too will hit those hard patches during your life journey and will think about giving up on your dream. Banish those thoughts from your mind and stay the course. Surround yourself with people who are better than you.

Set Goals – In order to accomplish great things in life, one need a game plan. With the help of others, create that game plan. Sometimes it is best to focus just on the short-term goals so you are not overwhelmed with the enormity of the task. Break list of task for the year into smaller groups of things to accomplish each month. Always be motivated.

Work Hard – Anything is possible if you work hard and are mentally committed to success. This requires short-term sacrifice for long-term gain. If you work hard now and sacrifice some fun in the short term, you will enjoy a lifetime of happiness and satisfaction.

Positive Attitude – Mental preparation is far more important than Physical preparation. An important part of mental preparation is to visualize success. Always do best to make experience less painful and more pleasant with a smile and few words of encouragement. In a world full of vague cynics and sourpuss, an infectious positive approach can boost the morale and lift up the disheartened spirits of the people around you.

Learn from Mistakes – One will experience setbacks, disappointments and failures. When that happens, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, figure out what went wrong, make the necessary adjustments and get on with the journey.

Trust – Trust in yourself and your ability to succeed. Trust in others, for example, your family, friends, teachers, pastors and teammates. Most important of all, place your full trust in the Lord.

Enjoy the Journey and always give Thanks – Savor the positive experiences on your life journey. Find the best in every situation and hold on to those great memories. Always remember to thank the people who have supported and helped you realize your dream. Most of all, thank the Lord who loves you the most and keeps you solidly focused on the path to happiness and success.

Gratitude and Kindness – It has been truly said that every true success is a mankind joint venture. Live by those words. Help others, just as you have been helped. The smallest act of kindness can set in motion events that transform lives and benefit society. Do your part to lift up those in need and help them reach their full potential. Your life will be enriched by random acts of kindness.

Value of Teamwork – You won’t achieve your goal if you don’t work together, and you won’t have a successful project or product launch if somebody in your team messes up.

Time and Resource Management – Time is precious. Everyone’s day has 24 hours. No more and no less. So how you tackle those 24 hours can make the difference between a wasted day and a day you can be proud of. Pack your stuff and manage them properly. Avoid materialistic things which are not required. Maintain cleanliness and share stuff within team.

Stress Management - Stress is quickly becoming one of the biggest health issues in the world today. Going to the mountains is a meditative and spiritual experience, a true break from the daily grind and monotonous worry.

Patience - Mountains have taught me patience. Keep a calm, clear head and stay focused on what is important. Only people who can wait through this difficult period potentially can continue the journey and reach the top.

When the task is complete and you got the reward move on to the next task. Realize how far you’ve come and how much you’ve accomplished. Revel in that success.

200 Years of Cycling

Much to the chagrin of amateur history Claude Reynaud, the 200^th anniversary of the invention of the bicycle is likely to pass by with little pomp or fanfare as millions of pairs of eyes gaze at television screens or from the roadside to watch Chris Froome and his rivals battle for yellow jersey glory.

Billions of people use bicycles, many on a daily basis, and yet few are aware of this important milestone. Reynaud has fought a 50-year battle to defend the memory of the invention of the bicycle. He even houses a museum in its honor at his chateau in Domazan, in the Occitanie region of France. Reynaud said it was on June 12, 1817 that “for the first time, a man took a two-wheeler and went on a road” in the Mannheim region of what was then the Grand Duchy of Baden, now part of Southwest Germany.

Baron Drais’s “velocipede” (nicknamed the ‘dandy horse’) had no petals or a chain and required the rider to propel his “Laufmaschine” (running machine) by pushing off the ground with his feet. But the Baron’s genius was that “he discovered balance on two wheels”. “Like all ingenious inventions, it seems obvious, but someone had to think it. He invented the two-wheeler!”

However, the running machine was far from a resounding success and had its faults, notably proving difficult to control on bumpy surfaces. When Drais organized a demonstration of the velocipede at the Jardin de Luxembourg Park in Paris in 1818, “it was a disaster”. At first, it didn’t work; he couldn’t sell it, people made fun of it. But the idea had taken root and was soon being copied, particularly in France, although many draisines were adorned with horse’s heads. In 1866, Pierre Lallement attached pedals to the draisine and invented a pedal-powered velocipede.

The next stage in the development of bicycle saw a huge front wheel attached with a small rear wheel, but it was a machine that was far from stable and resulted in some spectacular crashes. It wasn’t until 1885 that two similar-sized wheels were attached to the velocipede. After that it was just a case of technical improvements, but all the ideas already existed – brake cables, pedals, chains. The bicycle enjoyed an exponential success, especially from 1890 with the invention of the tyre. Reynaud Chateau de Bosc welcomes 6,000 visitors to its museum but the amateur historian’s greatest regret is that he doesn’t own an original Laufmaschine to put on display.

Historical Cycling Tour from 15 Miles to Leh

Over last couple of years, cycling has become a passion and a way of life for me. On 23^rd March 2016, I signed up with Youth Hostel Association of India for this 12 days (including test ride) bicycle ride in the Himalayan valley from 15 Miles to Leh. It was not just covering this route on cycle, for me it was discovering life, pushing myself physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. It was for testing the strength of my grit, belief and purpose. It was for getting inspired and hopefully for being an inspiration. I will share an everyday account of this amazing cycling trip through one of the toughest terrains in the world.

Day 0 – July 10, 2016

We reached 15 Miles YHAI base Camp at 8:30 am. In the afternoon I took a walk to the Manali market and Hidimba Temple. From the Manali market, I could see Rohtang Pass. We were in total 53 riders in Batch 1 who were leaving for ride on 13^th July 2016. In evening, we sat down at Beas River side near our Base camp. After Dinner at base camp, we get to know each other in introduction session.

Day 1 & 2 – July 11-12, 2016

In morning, we got our bicycles from YHAI with all required accessories. Then after lunch we got ready for our test ride to Naggar, a beautiful village between Manali and Kullu. We had two trips to Naggar Castle with some steep climbing. There is a Russian painter, archaeologist Nicholas Roerich home converted into Museum in Naggar Castle. While returning to base camp, we enjoyed Fresh Apples from Orchards.

Day 3 – July 13, 2016 (15 Miles to Marhi – 48km)

We started our ride from 15 Miles to our next destination Marhi, roughly 48 kms. Total climb of the day was 1800 meters. I started at 9:00 am after SDM arrived for flag off. I was riding Firefox Target D, which performed up to the mark on the rough route. We passed through Manali and took a 15 min break to click photographs. Till Marhi, I did solo ride waving to other riders & Army in between. As it was my first long climbing experience, I had to stop after every 15-20 minutes for break. Near Solang Valley, I met a couple who were riding with their tents and bags which motivated me. 

By 2:00 pm we had a break for lunch. At that time, there was around 18km to be covered. Clouds started gathering and suddenly there was no visibility beyond 5-10 feet. Then it started drizzling at around 3:30 pm. Luckily, I was not carrying Rain coat with me and started feeling cold. I pedaled continuously for last 1:30 hrs. & drank water from my Hydration Bag without stopping and reached Marhi by 5:00 pm. By far this was the toughest day of this journey. Some of the riders kept arriving by 10:00 pm by night and some of them quit the next morning.

Day 4 – July 14, 2016 (Marhi to Sissu – 45km)

We started our ride in foggy weather from Marhi to climb Rohtang Pass. It is a ride to Rohtang Pass located at 3978 meters.   Interestingly Rohtang means “pile of corpses” as many people die trying to cross the pass during cold weather and unpredictable snowstorms. From the top, breathtaking views of the glaciers and snow clad mountains of the Chandrabhaga Range on the other side of the pass was spectacular. The ride down was challenging due to very bad road conditions. Many bikers and tourists were saluting us or giving thumbs up throughout the route, which boosts my morale and my dream of carrying National Flag on my bike, motivated me. I enjoyed the most on downhill with speed and drifting and singing patriotic songs.

The downhill ride ended in Koksar where we had lunch at roadside dhaba. After Koksar there were some plain straight downhill roads towards Sissu where many of us might have touched the speeds of 70’s and 80’s. The camp site at Sissu was wonderful with Chenab River flowing in the backyard. There was a waterfall flowing through a heart shaped rock structure. This was one of the best camp sites of this journey and there was no shortage or supply of water.

Day 5 – July 15, 2016 (Sissu to Jispa – 60km)

After Sissu I decided to reach at last to every milestone and enjoy the ride with fellow riders. Sissu to Jispa is around 60kms along with Chandra and Bhaga rivers. It turned out to be a rough ride due to bad roads, sudden change in gradients, and hot afternoon. Parts of the road were filled with thick layer of dust and rubbles. We took a break in between at Tandi for 30 minutes and had lunch. From Tandi, there was a climbing road towards Keylong. I took a break under shades and wait for fellow riders to join. We then again took a break at Keylong for lunch. The road from Keylong was unexpectedly tough as the road suddenly increased in gradient and afternoon was very hot. Final stretch towards Jispa is a complete downhill with sharp turns in between. After Jispa there are no mobile postpaid network connections. Jispa was the place where we got built up location for stay. It took 8 hours to complete this ride.

Day 6 – July 16, 2016 (Jispa to Zing-Zing Bar – 35km)

Today we ride from Jispa to Zing-Zing bar. Our route continued along the Bhaga River till Darcha. From Darcha the roads climbed in switch back turns and gradually lead to Zing-Zing bar. Zing-Zing bar is at the base of Baralachla climbs, the next major milestone on our tour. There were multiple waterfalls and at the base of waterfalls there were loose boulders or nala’s. Crossing the boulders on cycle required some skill. On the route, we had a brief halt at Patseo near Deepak Taal as it was drizzling outside. After Deepak Taal, we passed through the first Army base camp and I felt so patriotic to see our soldiers. Zing-Zing bar camp was at 4300 meters altitude. Oxygen levels were periodically checked for those who were feeling uncomfortable. It was the first time I felt bit difficult in breathing.

Day 7 – July 17, 2016 (Zing-Zing Bar to Sarchu – 53km)

The strenuous section and high altitude of the trip begins from here. From Zing-Zing bar the hard climbed started and continued to Baralachla, elevation of 16040 feet/4890 meters. Route passed through beautiful Lake of Suraj Taal. A group of motorcyclists were amazed to see me riding a cycle on top of Baralachla. They applauded “Bravo, Bravo” and took some pictures. The views from the pass are amazing. At higher altitudes, oxygen availability is less so the efforts get automatically multiplied. Once again weather changed drastically and it started raining.

Sarchu is the border between Himachal and Jammu & Kashmir. This was the point where we had crossed Spiti Valley and entered into Ladakh Valley. Road descends from the pass to the plains of Sarchu. The landscape changed completely with no trace of trees. The landscape is awe-inspiring – blue sky, enormous mountains, and marvelous contours of the rivers.

Day 8 – July 18, 2016 (Sarchu to Whisky Nala – 48km)

Today is an uphill ride covering the famous Ghata Loops and Nakeela Pass and downhill to Whisky Nala. Ghata Loops is a 21 hairpin bends that takes us from 4190 meters to 4630 meters. Nakeela pass is at 15547 feet/ 4950 meters after Ghata Loops. It was a proud moment for me at Nakeela Pass and riding with the flag on my bike. I again did solo ride after Ghata Loop end till Whisky Nala because of late hours.

Day 9 – July 19, 2016 (Whisky Nala to Pang – 29km)

This was the small distance ride of complete journey. There was around 6km of climb till Lachungla Pass and then downhill till Pang. Pang is one of the world’s highest transit camps of army. At that night, I called my home from Army’s Satellite phone and ensured them everything is alright.

Day 10 – July 20, 2016 (Pang to Debring – 41km)

At Pang, Flag off was done by Army Major at around 9:00 am. After climbing 5km we reached Moore Plains. These are the world’s largest plains after 16000ft height. It is a very good road surrounded by deserts and mountains. Our camp site was at Debring, which was the highest camp site of all. It was at 4600+ meters of height. There were some dried up lakes along the roads and it was very hot in afternoon. For long distances there was nobody. We sat down silently near a milestone for an hour.

Day 11 – July 21, 2016 (Debring to Rumtse – 56km)

Today was the second most difficult ride on our tour to cross Taglangla. Taglangla is at 17582 feet/ 5359 meters and is claimed to be the second highest motorable pass in the world. I was persistent and kept riding. It was a great relief to reach on the top. We celebrated, danced a lot at the pass. I stayed there for 1:30 hours and took my lunch. The downhill ride to Rumtse was rewarding. The camp site at Rumtse was one of the best with 24 hours water stream flowing and farms spread on the sides of tents.

Day 12 – July 22, 2016 (Rumtse to Leh – 80km)

We are now close to the end of this amazing journey. The ride to Leh is great as we say human habitats, animals and trees after many days. Roadside after Upshi you find military establishments and beautiful monasteries co-existing. The road is mostly plain except for the last 10km stretch to Leh which gradually goes up. On the route we came across Rancho’s school, Thiksey and Shey Monasteries. It felt like heaven when we finally reached our last base camp in Leh.

We had 53 members in our batch out of which 43 managed to reach till Leh. We cycled for about 80 hours throughout the journey. The next two days we explored Leh city and visited places like Shanti Stupa, Zorawar Fort, Hall of Fame, French Bakery and Leh Market. On July 24, 2016 I returned back to Delhi with my first ever experience in Air India.

Few of the quotes that I kept telling myself throughout the journey and following them heartedly are:-

Never Criticize, Always Encourage.

You just want to be passionate. Find something you care about and care deeply.

Treat others as you would like to be treated.

If you only do what you can do, you will never be more than you are now.

Finally quoting a FB post from one of the friends in the group, which sums up the whole journey - Mountains, they test you, bring you on your knees, break your over-confidence, sometimes part you in millions of pieces and then all you know is – Life is not about getting stuck in complications but about living the simplicities.

Type of Bikes for Cycling

Cycling is a great cardiovascular exercise that even elderly people with weak bones can take up. Cycling is an open chain exercise; the activity exerts much less pressure on the joints and bones. The recovery time for cycling is much shorter compared to a sport as grueling as running, football or hockey. But before one goes out and buy a cycle, one need to figure out what kind of a cyclist he/she is the city rider, the speed king or the mountain biker. Based on geometry and purpose, cycles can be classified broadly under three broad categories road bike, mountain bike and hybrid.

Cycles don’t come cheap. The cheapest road bike starts at upwards of INR 40,000. The cost goes up depending on the material of the frame, fork and other components such as wheels and gears shifters. The aluminium frame is the cheapest option, followed by alloy, and carbon bikes are the most expensive. The advantage of using a carbon frame is that it absorbs vibrations and shocks much better than aluminium or alloy.

Road Bike, as the name suggests it is meant for road riding. It is built for speed. Its primary characteristics are aerodynamics, light frame, rigid fork, thin tyres, racing handlebar with integrated gear shifters and brake levers. A rider who intends to ride largely on roads and wants to feel the wind in the hair can consider a road bike.

Mountain Bike, popularly known as MTBs are off-road bikes. They are meant for rough riding conditions, which make them ideal for most Indian roads. A typical MTB has a front suspension fork, 2-inch wide, off-road tyres and disc brakes. A full suspension MTB would have an additional rear mounted suspension as well. MTB is great for riding in the trails.

For the most experienced riders, there are three highly specialized versions of the MTB. The cross-country/trail bike accounts for the highest number of mountain bikes sold in India. A downhill MTB is one which a biker uses to come down a steep but defined path. And finally there is the free ride, the most extreme version of downhill biking, restricted to the highly skilled riders and adrenalin Junkers.

Hybrid Bike is a mix of the MTB and road bikes. It features flat handlebars, tyres wider than those of a roadie and thinner than those of an MTB, and gear ratios that are between those of road bikes and MTBs. As most cycling is done early mornings on city roads, the hybrid is the best option for someone who is not a road biker. BMX or stunt bikes has small wheels, usually 20 inches in size, a 360 degree rotating handlebar, and stunt pegs at the front or rear, or on both hub axles. It is used purely for stunts. 

Car Free Day

A Car Free Day, which is celebrated in more than 200 cities in the world, promotes improvement of mass transit, cycling and walking. Studies showed that for short trips in cities, one can reach more quickly using a bicycle rather than using a car. About 3.1 Million people ride bicycle every month. It is a European event that emerged in 1960s and it caught attention within three decades. This event is being scheduled in Gurgaon for every Tuesday; a city where handling road traffic is the first job of the day for many people.

While the movement of cars will not be banned in the city, pick up and drop facilities in offices and unauthorized parking on roadsides and other places will not be allowed in specific areas of the city. Specific locations are chosen in the city for the event. In my opinion, it is a good step towards sustainability and reducing rush and accidents on the road. The only thing is it has to be followed properly by citizens and structured in a good way.

Instance, one will save fuel consumption, save environment, save economy and traffic will become smooth. Day is not far when Humans will have to adopt sustainability forcefully. Increase in viral diseases, disasters, rapid consumption of natural resources will one day bring back life to focus on these things. This step taken by Gurgaon Municipal Corporation for the benefit of city people is a positive move.

Two days of this event and it emerged as a positive source of inspiration for cyclists. The reason why I see this event as a good source for community is I ride a bike daily to office. I leave ten minutes before my scheduled time and reach office before any person in car, starting from same point. The only difference is I feel the Sun, the Dust and the Sweat. The aim of this event is to switch people to public transport and we should join hands to make it a success.

My Love for Cycling & My Mountain Bike

Albert Einstein once said, he thought of the theory of relativity while riding a bicycle. Cycling is third most popular recreational activity in the UK. About 3.1 Million people ride bicycle every month. I too love cycling since childhood and my new Mountain Bike “Rockrider 5.3”. There are many reasons that turn me on for cycling every time including its benefits.

Regular cycling can help one shed weight, regulate stress and improve fitness. It saves transport & fuel expenses. The best thing about cycling is that it is pollution free which is good for environment. According to a research by Illinois University researchers, cycling helps build brain cells in the hippocampus, the region responsible for memory, which keeps on deteriorating after the age of 30.

Cycling also beats illness and keeps doctor at bay. It is also helpful for Insomnia sufferers who can’t sleep at nights. Cycling helps in getting proper sleeps because it prevents the stress hormones and regenerate sleep. Regular cycling can protect skin against the harmful effects of UV radiation and reduce signs of ageing. It also helps in living longer because body becomes much more efficient to regenerate new cells.

Cycling also helps avoid obesity which means guilt free snacks at any party. It also helps me to get fitter and hence better at sports. Professionally, cycling also helps to maintain and create network with people. Last but not the least; twenty bicycles can be parked in the same space as one car. It takes around five percent of the materials and energy used to make a car than to build a bike and a bike produces zero pollution.

Cycling is an activity that involves the whole body. Therefore, arm-to-leg, feet-to-hands and body-to-eye coordination are improved. I love my bike because it has twenty seven gears, disc brakes and a light weight frame to pull. Apart from physical structure of bike I would like to add that cycling also builds leadership & strategy skills. Above image describes meaning of all parts of cycle. Gear part is engagement and chain is the feedback point.

So, one can’t easily measure the benefits of cycling on one’s life. Most of the times, people ask me “Why don’t you buy a motor bike in same price”, well the answer is simple, it will make me lazy and increase risks of accident. When I travel from one place to another in a city, my ultimate goal is to cover a distance, which can be done from cycling as well.