Riding a road bike on the treacherous ghats of Maredumilli is not easy, says R Kaleeswaran. “Rain pounded my face and it was pitch dark inside the jungles of the Eastern Ghats. Add to it pothole-ridden roads and Andhra Pradesh’s dreaded red corridor. I had started to pedal at Vijayawada the previous evening and till Rajahmundry, the ride was a breeze, after which the steep, slushy mountain roads posed a tough challenge. So scarcely populated is the pocket that I could barely see a light for hundreds of kilometres. The front wheel of my Java Siluro road bike hit a deep crater on the road and I could feel the impact on my shoulder. Yet, I pedalled on non-stop,” recalls the 20-year-old student of Thiagarajar College of Engineering, who’s the youngest ultra cyclist in the city to win two Super Randonneur titles and a 1,000 kilometre Les Randonneurs Mondiaux (LRM) within a year.
Kaleeswaran was a regular college-goer who rode his cycle occasionally. But one fine day, he found his calling in endurance cycling. “I casually joined a group of cyclists and soon became a regular at their weekly trips. We cycled to nearby places and I found it fun. Then, a few members started preparing for Brevets Randonneurs Mondiaux (BRM) events and I was inspired to join them.” That’s how Kaleeswaran participated in the Tiruchi–Dindigul 200 kilometre event. From then on, there has been no looking back for the lad who went on to bag a Super Randonneur title within four months.
“Right after the first event, the cycling bug bit me and I became determined to keep pushing myself,” he says. “I have never opted out of any of the events I participated in. Even in the Vijayawada LRM, I fell sick while doing the last 100 kilometres. Luckily, I was left with 13 hours to complete that distance, which despite several breaks in between, severe vomiting and fatigue, I managed to clock in 10 hours.” He adds, “The breakdown of my body or the cycle will not stop me. I just focus on the finish line. I believe the mind plays as important a role as the body.”
Kaleeswaran was among the four our of 12 participants who finished the task within the stipulated 75 hours. “I did some research on the internet about the route; but after all, it’s an unknown landscape. It was so scenic and I did pause to take in the sights; I stopped at local shops to eat and sometimes, also had a chat with my fellow riders. Otherwise, one might get bored and the mind could become weary during such long distance cycling expeditions.”
Keeping off greasy food, he survived on biscuits, nuts, and fruits for almost three days. “I kept guzzling water and juices wherever possible for hydration. I also learnt the knack for not feeling sleepy at night from older riders to — mixing coffee powder with cola, so that the caffeine keeps you awake,” he shares. “Power naps for 20 minutes do come in handy. Especially because riding on the highway at night is extremely dangerous and you can’t afford to doze off. The bright headlights tire your eyes and you need to give them breaks in between.”
Cycling has helped Kaleeswaran build lean muscles, gain confidence, improve concentration and become more disciplined. “It has given a direction to my energy. Surprisingly, pursuing endurance cycling has not impacted my studies but has rather made me better,” he says. Apart from cycling 100 kilometres every Sunday, he also runs thrice a week for cross-fit training. “Since ultra cycling works up the body too much, fluctuations in weight is common. I weighed 54 kilograms when I started for Vijayawada, but was only 48 on returning home. So I make sure I eat healthy and gain back the optimum weight. The body of course, need adequate rest and intake to recuperate from all the hard work.”
