All stories filed under "cycling"
![Packing list for multi-day self-supported cycling trip [Version 2.0]](IMG_1317-2-l.jpg "Packing list for multi-day self-supported cycling trip [Version 2.0]")
Packing list for multi-day self-supported cycling trip [Version 2.0]
Some years ago I had posted a packing list that I had used for my Manli-Leh cycling trip. That post generated many thank-you’s and even more follow-up questions. The Manali-Leh trip was my first major multi-day self-supported cycling trip. Since then I have done many more trips and I am now more settled on my packing list. And my approach to packing for a cycling trip is more refined, or so I’d like to believe.
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7 minute read | 1341 words
#cycling, #featured, #bicycle touring packing list, #cycle tour in india, #cycle touring, #manali to leh cycling
Should I be cycling to work everyday?
Before I get to the ‘should’ let me answer if I ‘want’ to cycle to work. The unequivocal answer is yes.
For me the reasons for cycling to work are many:
I enjoy cycling. It is good for my health. I can create time from thin air if I cycle during my allocated commute time. If I don’t have to get up at 5:00 am to go out and ride, I can do other things at night: read some, party some… It saves me fuel and money.
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5 minute read | 1025 words
An Indian Going West. To Discover America.
At age 40, in the middle of raising venture funding for my second tech start-up, I had a massive heart attack. It’s a long story, but in essence, while I was lying on the cold OT table and wondering why they were trying to freeze me to death, my loved ones were waiting outside desperately hoping and praying that I make it through. Surprise: I did make it through.
In just a few days I will make it all the way through to 50.
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3 minute read | 486 words
#cycling, #adventures, #featured, #cycle touring, #cycling, #northern tier cycling
Cycling the Sach Pass - 2.0
At 4,420 meters Sach pass is not among the highest ‘motorable’ passes in the country, but it is certainly one of the steepest and one of toughest to bicycle across. A couple of years ago, Punit and I failed to cycle across it (read about the last attempt to cycle across the Sach pass here. What are the chances that I’ll do better on a solo attempt?
It is a little after 4:00 pm and it has already been a tough day of cycling.
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12 minute read | 2547 words
#cycling, #adventures, #featured, #cycle touring, #cycling in the himalayas, #himachal pradesh, #saach pass, #self-supported cycling
Bicycle shops in NCR - Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida
There is a post on my blog about choosing a bicycle
that has become very popular and I get to reply to lots of comment related to it. Recently I created a list of cycle shops in the NCR (Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida) for a comment on that post. Oddly this information is hard to get online. Therefore I thought I might as well share it as a post.
The list is sorted alphabetically (Name) but you can sort it in other ways by clicking on the column header.
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2 minute read | 234 words
Manali to Leh — Route Map
Planning on riding/driving from Manali to Leh? You can explore the route in an interactive map right here and also download a .gpx file of the route for your GPS.
On this 470 km trip you will climb 14,000 meters and cross five major high-altitude passes (called La). If you are cycling, the climb to the pass will seem endless. I have marked all of the passes in the file just so that you know how much more you need to suffer!
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1 minute read | 190 words
#cycling, #adventures, #cycle tour in india, #cycle touring, #manali to leh cycling, #bicycle adventures, #cycling in india, #indian himalyas, #manali to leh
Cycling the Spiti valley — Nako to Manali
The hardest part about Spiti is reaching there. It took us a 22-hour bus ride to get to Rekong Peo. For the sake of acclimatization we had planned the night stay at Kalpa, which is not so far from there, but much higher. And also much nicer. Having had our fill with the HPTDC’s ‘ordinary’ buses, especially given the quantum of our luggage, we choose to just hire a jeep the next day to take us up to Nako (technically still in Kinnaur) – another five odd hour drive.
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10 minute read | 2104 words
#cycling, #adventures, #featured, #cycle touring, #cycling in the himalayas, #bicycle adventures, #spiti valley
Which is the best cycle for touring the Indian himalayas?
People often ask me what is the best cycle for touring the Himalayas. It is a hard question to answer, mainly because different people define ‘touring’ differently.
For instance, cycle touring may mean cycling hundreds of kilometers self-supported where the rider carries a tent, sleeping bag, cooking gear on the bike, and has the option to stop and camp wherever she fancies. However, many of the well established Himalayan routes can also be toured ultralight, by eating and sleeping in teahouses (dhabas).
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5 minute read | 1008 words
#cycling, #featured, #cycle touring, #cycling in the himalayas, #self-supported cycling, #cycling in india, #manali to leh
Riding the thunder dragon
Where in the world
do you have a car driver slow down to a halt, to let you finish taking a picture from across the street.
Where in the world
do you have women managing the night desk alone in a small hotel, in a smallish town.
Where in the world
do you have women taxi drivers doing solo cross-country drives.
Where in the world
do you have young women single handedly manage resto-bars on the side of a highway, in the middle of nowhere.
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3 minute read | 460 words
#cycling, #adventures, #featured, #cycle touring, #cycling in bhutan
Choosing a bicycle 101: Roadie, Hybrid, MTB, Touring or fixed gear?
So you’re thinking of buying a new cycle? And you are being bombarded by friends, fellow cyclists and salespeople by all kinds of conflicting information?
I have, in the past, tried to clear some smoke for friends. This is an attempt to make my suggestions available on the web. Do let me know if this post did the job for you. Let me start by saying that you will not get a straight answer.
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7 minute read | 1341 words
Cycling across the Sach Pass, Himachal Pradesh
Perhaps more appropriate to say ‘trying to’ cycle across the Sach Pass. And failing. We did our best, under the circumstances, and failed. No shame in that!
15 odd kilometers short of the Sach pass we had to turn around . The trail (can’t call it a road, even though it was wider than a typical single track) was so steep, and so full of slush that our bikes had no grip.
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2 minute read | 308 words
#cycling, #adventures, #cycle touring, #cycling in the himalayas, #himachal pradesh, #saach pass, #self-supported cycling
Manali to Leh cycling — What does it take?
It’s that time of the year again. When people start thinking about ‘the’ great Indian cycle ride – the Manali to Leh cycling trip. A couple of people have written to me in the recent days asking me questions, many of which can be classified under: ‘what does it take to cycle from Manali to Leh?’ While I have replied to many people individually, I thought it might be a good idea to post a consolidated response here.
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5 minute read | 916 words
#cycling, #cycle tour in india, #cycle touring, #manali to leh cycling, #bicycle adventures, #cycling in india, #indian himalyas, #manali to leh