The Cycle Guy

Hi everyone!

I think All of you know how to ride a bicycle,  for sure. But what you think about living the cycle.

The two tires, one handle and paddles.How one can live with a cycle?

But there is a man sitting on the seat, sweating from head to toe, having some dreams in eyes, having an iron will inside his heart, rides the cycle as like a child. Ankit Arora, hailing from Ajmer, Rajasthan, became Rajasthan’s first “Super Randonneur” after his amazing 600km cycle ride. National Record of “Non-Stop” cycling for 702 kms within 69.38 hours on the Indian Golden Triangle route., The National Cyclist, based in Jaipur, has also traversed the highest peak in Rajasthan near Mt Abu- Gurushikhar and a cross country solo expedition through Rajasthan, loves his cycle same as an aeroplane. Ankit, My friend, allowed me to capture his gut by this post. He is very candid while talking and enthusistic while chasing his dreams.

Just pick the back seat of his bicycle & travel his world. He is going to thrill you, Believe me .

 

Q. Hi Ankit! Welcome to my blog. I am very glad to see you. Finally time allowed you to share your world with my readers.

Ankit- Thank you Avdhesh! this is not like that. I am also glad to see you. (laughs)

Q. Tell us about yourself.

Ankit- I hail from Ajmer and I am a CA drop out turned Cyclist with a belief in the adage “you only live twice once when you are born and next when you travel solo.” A nerd who escaped out of the balance sheets to become a blogger beyond the borders.

Writing travel tales brings solace to me when I explore the world on two pedals and a saddle with a diary in hand and meets strangers to weave stories.

I currently work as a freelance journalist with an English daily newspaper in Jaipur and as a travel blogger for some digital media platforms.I insatiable desire to test My mettle on the uncertain roads, and the quest for inspiring stories of hundreds of people keeps me going.

Q. What made you to pick a cycle for the very first time despite being a CA student?

Ankit-  For me personally, I get lost into a wonderland while I’m cycling. The hour or hour and a half of cycling goes by in a fraction of a second. Even Scientists are confirming what most cyclists instinctively know – that riding a bike has extraordinary effects on our brain chemistry.

Chasing a dream with a professional career is altogether different. One gets to learn balancing one’s obsession with professional life. I learnt it when countless hours were spent chasing the resources related to my bicycle modification, arrangement of solar panels and designing a campaign for waste management. I remember some words by Albert Einstein, “ Life is like a cycle, in order to maintain a balance you need to pedal on regularly.”

After having worked in my job tediously for 12 hours a day I used to practice in the morning and sometimes in the night. And as I always have inculcated nocturnal habits so my nights were spent sipping a hell lot of black coffee while finishing documentations related to this ride. I still remember those sleepless nights spent for three months in an inexorable pursue of my dream.

Q. From where you started your journey?

Ankit – My journey started in Jaipur, The Pink City of India.

There are multiple reasons to treasure my life spent in Jaipur like this is the place where my life started making sense. It was Jaipur where I started cycle adventures that gave me the chance to live my dreams of becoming a writer and journalist that I have been chasing unceasingly. So all and all life in this city has been a roller coaster ride which has made me restless and has favoured me with all its treasure.

Q. Well, How you have lived your Cycle Love till now? Share some of your journeys and achievements with us.

Ankit- Yes, Cycle penetrates directly from my nostrils to my heart in order to make me alive. (grins)

You can see my achievements here below

1.) National Record of “Non-Stop” cycling for 702 km within 69.38 hours on the Indian Golden Triangle route. : I recently created a National Record in “India Book of Records” for the first ever non-geared, self supported, solo cycle ride on the Indian Golden Triangle (Jaipur-Agra-Delhi) route. The record was made for 702 km within 69.38 hours of non-stop riding. It was a sponsored expedition. The home ministry of Rajasthan and Indian scouts team also supported this endeavor.

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Below are the links to the coverage of my record journey on various print media platforms for your ready reference.

1. News of Rajasthan: https://tinyurl.com/mfn92l3
2. All About Jaipur Blog – http://allaboutjaipur.com/ankit-arora-record-cycling/941/
3. Indian Women Blog: http://preview.tinyurl.com/l9gndkp

D. Half Baked Beans: https://tinyurl.com/kb5bz9l

 

2.) “Super Randonneur” Title from France earned first time in Rajasthan: In 2016, I became the first cyclist from the state of Rajasthan to earn the prestigious title of “Super Randonneur” from “Audax Club Parisien”, a renowned cycle club headquartered in France. 

3.) 12,000 kms in 6 Indian States: My cycle travels have taken me to 6 north Indian states covering 12,000+ kms in the last 1.5 years inspired by a million of smiling faces I got to meet on my way.

4.) 600 km cycling in 37.5 hours of Non Stop cycling from India gate to Wagha border ride: This was another challenging journey with 600 km cycle ride from India Gate to Wagha Border, successfully completed within 37.5 hours.

5.) 24 cities, 4 states and a UT in 4 days:- In 2015, I paddled for 520 kms through 4 states viz Uttarakhand, UP, Haryana and Rajasthan and a union territory of New Delhi covering 24 cities in just 4 days.

Q. What are your future projects?

Ankit- 

New Cycle Expedition on 25th June 2017

Being an endurance athlete I again wish to test my iron. So here I present my next challenge that I will attempt for a record.My next big exploration starting on 25th June will take me on a journey of approx. 25,000 kms covering 3 countries- India, Nepal and Bhutan in 5 Months. Below is the brief introduction of my journey:-

· 21,000 km in All-India tour with 2 Asian countries – I’ll cycle through all 29 states and 7 UTs in India combined with 2 beautiful neighbouring countries of Nepal and Bhutan. Cycling through all the Indian states will be a new entry into ” Limca Book of records “ and “India book of Records”.

So before going on my next journey to 4 countries, I`ll be leaving Jaipur where I spent 2.5 years.

Q. Best of luck. Tell something more about this journey. I am excited .

Ankit- 

I’m doing this journey to live one of the best adventures of my life. Through this journey I wish to live the travel dreams of millions of people who for one reason or other do not dare to set out to fulfill their dreams, by sharing my experiences, filled with some of the best unheard travel tales. Some of my prominent believes for this journey are : For the below Social campaigns Govt. Officials and and NGO are helping me out already.

1) Promoting Tribal children and their sports- I’ll be visiting the slum areas and Tribal areas in every Indian state to promote sports and fitness and real stories of our rich culture.

2) “Cycle to Recycle”, to promote Solar Energy by installing solar panels on cycle and charging my mobile, laptops and lights during the journey- I’ll install solar panels on my bicycle and will charge all my gadgets with the help of these panels.

3) Child Education- I’ll be interacting with children from various NGOs and schools, which are working for less privileged kids, throughout my route, sharing my travel stories and facts about India and its rich culture, which will give them access to some real inspiring stories coupled with better outlook for the future. For underprivileged children to become a knowledgeable citizen, an interaction with their surroundings and the outer world is a must.

4) New Cycle Record: This will be an attempt for a new national record in both “India Book of Records” and “Limca Book of Records” for visiting each of the states and UTs in India on cycle in less than 5 months.

 So next I am embarking upon my big Cycle journey to the all 29 states and 7 UTs in India with 3 beautiful neighbor countries of Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh. I will be covering 21,000 km to know the true soul of our country.

Q. Good, you are not just mere a cyclist but an alive heart too, who concerns about country and underprivileged society when he is not on his bicycle.

Ankit- Thanks Avdhesh.

Q. How to contact you?

Ankit- Anyone can contact me so easily  by below links 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/restlessank/

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/restlessankit?refid=8

My own Blog: https://bloggerbeyondborder.wordpress.com/

My event fb page: https://www.facebook.com/Cyclebeyondtheborders/

Q. Your message to Youngsters. 

Ankit- – My escapades till date have turned out to be a great teachings for me that no book ever can render. And the foremost thing that I learnt from this challenge is to overcome our limits and fear of failure which lies deep down inside us. so just ask from yourself whether you are going to learn or not. It is only up to you.

Q. Thank you so much Ankit for sharing your cycling world with us. Best of luck for your future endeavors. 

Ankit – Thank you so much. (leaves)

 

“Enthusiasts like Ankit are the real trend setters and give the motivation for people to take up any activity and put your heart and soul in it. For Ankit especially, cycling is something that does not exhaust him, but something that calms him.”

– Avdhesh