My First TfN
2009. A year of amazing upheavals. Personally, this year could not have gotten worse.
But then I happened to read about the Tour of Nilgiris in the paper.
I applied on a whim.
3 weeks later, Jack Lee replied.
The rest is history.
Of the many tours and holidays that I’ve been to, I’ve never had nor think I’ll have as much fun as I have during the TfN.
But the TfN was definitely my first long distance ride on a cycle.
After a few weeks of practice ride that was hardly anything, I could barely wait for my TfN!
It’s strange how strong a bonhomie you build with your fellow riders. Even before the Tour started.
Of the thousands of emails and notes that you’ll exchange with 70 other pedal crazy fitness freaks, you’ll start knowing what the other person is. You’ll meet eccentric cyclists, over zealous fitness gurus and sprinkled in between a newbie or two. I was one of them.
But ofcourse, I had cycled in my ‘growing up years‘, if you can call teenage that.
My earliest remembrance of cycling was when I used to explore neighborhoods on my BMX.
The raw enthusiasm and the pleasurable guilt of exploring tarmac that was far far away from your home. Ofcourse, protective parents that we had, our sojourns used to be only to a block or two away. I remember playing tag and catch on my cycle.
When in college, I fought tooth and nail for a Hercules MTB and treasured it until it was bequeathed to my younger cousins.
Cycling is therapeutic.
And my first TfN was like week long Wellness Retreat.
I’ve made the strongest friends that have lasted three years since.
I’ve done two TfNs since. And I’m still fighting, hoping and praying that I do a third this year.
First timer? My Advice to you is – Relax! Prepare well. The ride is no walk in the park. Not even for ones that pedal thousands of kms a year. But don’t let the beauty of the route escape you. This is perhaps the only ride in the world that will take through tiger santuaries and pristine forests, villages and cities. But don’t take my word for it.
TfN2011. It’s here, folks!
Ride. Sweat. Cherish
By Navin Mathew
The TfN Editor
Tags: cycle, experience, fun, journey, TfN2011
