Thursday,
13th August, 2020.
Hi there!
Days were tough when I came out of college and struggled to get a job. Every engineer may/may not get into his dream firm or into an organization that offers the engineer a job suited to his degree and learning experience. Fortunately I got into the field of my choice and thought life would be better, Like why not.. Graduated in Electronics and working then as a level 1 circuit designer.
Well I was wrong! The job was way too stressful, even after working continuously for 11-13 hours a day I wasn’t able to deliver a design or a product to my senior and I pretty much sucked at everything I did there except passing time and warming the bench and sipping tea/coffee. The environment was so stressful for me there and I felt really helpless in that place which I called my office. I was into skating before I started cycling so I took a chance and went to the very place where I used to skate. I buckled up and started skating and I could feel the stress just disappear within seconds, that’s when I realized what I am missing in life. After skating for an hour or so I went to eat idli’s and wada’s in Ghatkopar and that’s when I met Vinit bhai who introduced me to GCC and the cycling community (the journey since then has been just.. just mesmerizing!)
I was hogging and gulping the wada’s because I was hungry after skating for 1-1.5 hours. Vinit bhai saw the helmet and asked me if I cycle. I just denied saying that I am a skater, who once upon a time was good at atleast 1 thing in life. That’s when he told me about Hetal ma’am, and I was shocked to know someone from Ghatkopar who knew my coaches’ best friend. After talking for a few minutes he introduced me to GCC and what GCC as a community is. We swapped numbers and I didn’t bat an eye (honestly) to join GCC and cycle all the way.. Things changed during the rains. It is not easy to skate on wet roads, so then I decided to cycle at least until the rains get done and then I could then get back to my forte. Things changed with this decision.
Office was really stressful and I had to do something to relive myself from that environment. My first solo ride was of just 10Km’s on EEH and I loved the feeling. I enjoyed the rain drops falling from the sky, I loved it how the winds kissed me while cycling, I was feeling the dopamine being released and the adrenaline rush inside myself, I wanted to go fast, no faster, faster than I was in the last moment and feel the speed and thrill on the downslopes. That was the very moment I knew, my love for all the “wheel” type sports is constant, I may keep swapping from skating to cycling but the love for wheels and hitting the roads will never never fade away.
October 7, 2018 was my 1st ride with GCC. I had never done 40Km’s before that and it was Mirza Bhai’s (Powai Pedals) farewell ride. I was amazed to see the numbers of cyclists gathering there. It was crazy!! So many people, so many different bikes, people taking, breathing, thinking all about cycling and the environment felt so homely. I was shy and reserved at first but later after a ride or two I opened up and just enjoyed every moment with GCC. I used to join for the weekend rides because I had to go to the office and serve my 10-12hours duty and cycling for an hour before or after the duty was not something really practical.
The more I got indulged into GCC and cycling, the more I was able to relive the stress and perform better in the office. I realized that I missed such an important thing in my life and I realized what makes me happy. I had a reason then, to wake up to go to office survive the weekdays so I could go for cycling with the group in the weekends or the public holidays. I used to be fascinated by our riders who used to go for weekday rides, post good pictures from every corner of the city, some beautiful scenic locations, some amazing nature photography, trek routes and what not. I would never miss the photographs of tea and snacks during the ride (well one more reason for me to go for cycling so I could fearlessly eat wadapav and oily stuff!). Things were sort of coming on track and that’s when I decided to buy a road bike. I did some research around the town and found a good deal on a road bike. I purchased it and joined immediately for the next big ride. It was for the 1st time that I was attempting something over 40 Km’s. My first ride with the roadie was of 77Km’s with the pros in GCC, some went ahead till bhajanlal and completed their century ride. I was happy by attempting 77Km’s and things for me had just started then.
Days passed by and my bond with GCC grew, I met a lot of cyclists through GCC. Learnt a lot about routes in the city, Learnt a lot about cycles and its accessories, and the learning process has never stopped. People from different walks, different generations, and different circumstances came together in GCC, everyone having just one common goal and one common love i.e. Cycles. Be it MTB or a hybrid or a roadbike and I’ve never seen any rider from GCC who does not love their cycle and enjoy cycling. I met people who were prodigies, I met experienced professionals, I met people who defined what Discipline means.
I am glad I listened to Viint bhai’s advice, took up cycling and joined GCC. I’ve learnt so much from people here that I cannot put it in words in this piece of write up. The GCC family has been very considering and very supporting in every way. I’ve seen times when I was helpless and was about to give up on rides but someone always used to motivate me and push me until the last meters of the ride. I learnt the never give up mantra from GCC and it is because of them I was able to know some parts of the city which I had not heard in 21 years! I remember how homely and comfortable I felt in my first ride with GCC and now everyone whom I know is contributing and enhancing this feeling for the new-comers.
I want to really thank every GCC rider whom I’ve met, whom I’ve heard about from other riders, for keeping the GCC spirit alive. I’ve found some part of myself through GCC and I am very very grateful to each and every one. You people are such an inspiration to me and many other cyclists in the group. I’ve achieved a milestone or 2 and it was all because of you people. I love the positivity and the brotherly/homely feel that is in the very essence of GCC and I’ll do my best to be a part of it and enhance it.
The journey was good and friends made it better! Vidhi, Kevin, Shubham, Aryan, Dhruv, Dhruvit, Manan, Tirth, Harsh Solse (gayab), Barhan, Het, Rohan, Krish, Devraj, Mohit, Niral, Parshwa, Shivang, Nayan SIR, Parin bhai, Sunny Paaji, Viraj, Viral, Arpit, Anish, Harsh Teck, Abhay, Vinit bhai, Nigam bhai, Pankit bhai, Suresh Anna, Navin bhai/uncle, Sanket bhai, Jignesh bhai, Samir bhai, Nilesh bhai, Jatin bhai, Rahul bhai, Karan bhai (KC), Karan bhai (Karan Hemani), Amit bhai, Abhishek Bhai, Tushar, Dr Falgun, Mayur bhai, Vrijesh bhai, Ganesh bhai, Mangal bhai, Prachet Bhai, Simrat Singh, YRC, Navin Kothari, Deepak sir, Vinod bhaim Ashok bhai, Rajesh bhai and so many more, also toothless (my single speed bike) and Garuda (my roadie). Without you people, it wouldn’t have been possible to be here and enjoy the journey. I am glad you all happened and I am glad GCC happened. Forever grateful!
Stay safe and take care of yourself and your bike, wishing you a very happy GCC anniversary and positivity!
-XOXO
Quiet.
