This all started when the 3-day cycling camp I signed up for was canceled. We were supposed to cover about 350 km, including a lot of hills, over three days. I was excited, and for once, I had enough budget to spend comfortably. However, with rain in the forecast and the roads washed out from a recent cyclone, the camp was canceled. I was visibly upset to the point that I was binging on pizza. The magic food didn't really work this time though. I did not cancel my leave - as no one should. I decided to make the most of it by riding outdoors in Bengaluru (a luxury for someone living in this armpit of the city, where there are hardly any roads suitable for road bikes). The plan was to hit Nandi at least three times within the week. Preparing for a big week One round-trip to Nandi from Yelahanka is about 91 km with 900 m of elevation gain. Based on my calculations (and Strava data from a recent ride), I would burn about 1800–1900 calories. That means I need to consume at least 1700 c...
I'm Aswin, a road cyclist based in Bengaluru, India. Once a couch slog with the body of a 35-year-old at just 24, I fought depression and a largely inactive, workaholic lifestyle through my newfound love for cycling. What started as a harmless and inexpensive hobby has turned into a burning passion, leading to a substantial investment of time, effort and money. In my (almost) four years of cycling, I have made countless friends, ridden distances I once thought unimaginable, and participated in several flashy racing events (to the point that I now call myself an Amateur Road Racer). At 28, I am in the best physical and mental health of my life. People around me find it hard to believe that I was once an extreme introvert. This blog is my humble attempt to rekindle my long-lost hobby of writing and blend it with my post-pandemic passion for road biking. Check out my Instagram @aswinraj.exe, where I’ll notify new blogs, post pictures from my rides, share occasional...