Champion of Cycle Diaries

Author's Note:

A yellow-green custom-painted road bike, a yellow-black helmet and buttock hugging lycra shorts aka Champion of Cycle. I considered starting a new blog altogether titled 'Champion of Cycle'. But then I changed my mind. For he and I, are the same person. I am no cycling champion though, not by a hundred miles. It is just that, an adorable five year old in my housing society named me 'Champion of Cycle' and the child that I am, I loved it.

My very first post on this blog makes a rather feeble attempt to describe my joys of cycling. But over the past month or so, I have discovered joys other than those - a very different world.

After having read an article in yesterday's Times of India - one in which the great Merckx speaks of cycling as a demanding sport and the lessons it teaches us, I decided to write about it; I realized it all to be very true.

From this point on, I will be showcasing snippets from the life of our very own Champion of Cycle. Every chapter will speak of a lesson our lead character learns in his day-to-day life en-route commuting on his bike.

This is a true story - Champion of Cycle's true story.

Chapter I

Besides peace of mind, his cycle has given him a lot more. It has become his new teacher. It guides him, scolds him, teaches, takes care of him and most importantly, partners him.

Cycling down a straight road, he sees a signal up ahead. Its open and yet it is a far shot that he will make it. Nonetheless he starts pumping away at the pedals to make that light. He very well knows he will get an opportunity to cross that junction even if he doesn't do so in that very attempt, for the signal will inevitably turn green next time around. But the thrill of making it through in the first go, is simply irresistible. It makes him put in that extra effort. His thigh muscles are inflamed, begging him to stop and be sensible - it is a long way home and there is no sense in burning out. His breathing is short and rapid. The warm wind in his face, dries his throat and tires him further. He says to himself – ‘breathe through your nose.. breathe through your nose.. it increases stamina.. you won’t tire so fast..’ He keeps pumping at the pedals. He talks to his bike – ‘Come on.. we can do this..’ His bike talks back to him – ‘Yes we’re there.. almost there..’ His muscles scream in pain. He can feel his muscles clamping down. There is that hint of a cramp building up in his right calf.

‘Come on.. we can do this.. breathe through your nose.. that’s it.. we’re almost there..’

This stubborn Capricorn knows no better. He is a child at heart, who seeks small joys from these small accomplishments.

The traffic at the junction can see this crazy rider. They can see he is giving everything he’s got to make that light. They are patient. They smile to themselves. It is not everyday they get to see a cyclist such as him. Maybe they admire it, maybe they’re just dumbstruck, maybe they think our Champion is training for the races or touring the world. And so they wait.

This time it is the Champion who will go first. He can see the people smile as they watch him ride through the crossroad. The Champion is smiling to himself too. He knows he accomplished something that seemed almost impossible. Before he set sights on that signal, with the traffic breathing down that junction, he did not know what was to happen. But then, he would never know unless he tried.

He pedals away, until the next traffic light – the next crossroad.

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I think I'll save explaining the moral of this story. It is the cliche part of this exercise. I’ll leave it to the reader's understanding.