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Different Cycles Types – How To Choose A Bicycle

Varun Tyagi
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4
Different Cycles Types – How To Choose A Bicycle

I had trouble choosing my first bike. I bought a HUGE HDT 10. There was no bike fit which was done. I got a small frame as compared to my height. The shop owner was concerned about selling his bike. He paid no attention to details, just sold me the bike. There are not a lot of articles on the web about this.

So in Lehman’s language, I decided to put this article together for people who are thinking about getting their first bike. It is essential to understand the different cycles type. Let’s understand this. This is a comprehensive article that covers types of cycles and about bike fit. Choosing a cycle type requires a little bit of research so do that and do not pick any bike randomly.

Let’s get you your first bike.

Different cycles types and the factors to decide!

There are three factors you need to look at. The first one is the type of bike, second is the bike features and components. lastly, the third is the bike fit. Let’s understand these points.

Different Cycles Types – This depends largely on where will you ride your bike.

Bike features & components – Stuff like gears, frame material, suspensions, brakes determine the performance of a bicycle.

Bike fit – Once you have decided the bike type and features, it is important to do a bike fit. This is done to make sure that the bike fits you perfectly. Choosing a cycle type might be easy but it is worthless till you do a proper bike fit.

Different Cycles Types & How to choose a cycle?

How to choose a cycle when you are just starting your cycling journey.

Different Cycles Types depends on where exactly you want to ride. How to choose a cycle? Well, it depends. People love riding on trails, flat tarmac, or pavements. So the deciding factor is the path on which you want to ride. 

Some bicycles are made specifically for a particular kind of riding surface, while others are versatile enough that, perhaps with a quick tire change, they can be ridden in more than one category. Check out this detailed article about the tire type in cycles.

Let’s Understand Each bike type One by One

Road Bikes

Choosing a cycle type is essentials if you do not want to encounter any injury.
A Road Bike

Road bikes are good for pavement, flat roads, tarmac, fitness riding, long-distance, events, tours, & racing. These bikes have lightweight curved drop bar handles which give riders an aerodynamic position. This is beneficial in case you want to go fast, furthermore if you want maximum speed from your bike. People who get an adrenaline pump from speed usually go for these bikes. They also allow for a greater number of riding and hand positions than bikes with flat bars. Their more aerodynamic riding position (bent over at the waist) may put more strain on your back if you are less flexible. Furthermore, if you are interested in serious cycling and taking part in events. This is the bike you should choose.

Now there is further /classification of road bikes. Let’s understand them one by one so that you know how to choose a cycle for yourself.

Racing Bikes

Riders who do not want to compromise on speed go for these bikes. These bikes are light and expensive. Racing bikes generally have an aggressive geometry with steep angles that make them turn quickly. These bikes are made up of carbon or aluminum, which is light and is expensive. Go for this kind of bike if you are serious about racing events.

Endurance Bikes

This bike has a lot of features of a racing road bike, however, this bike has a comfortable riding geometry. The emphasis is given to comfort as riders who choose these kinds of bikes are endurance riders. They ride long distances. Hence, the speed can be compromised a little if the comfort is increased. 

They generally have taller head tubes, slacker (lower) angles, and sloping top tubes intended to reduce stress on your back and neck. They also often feature clearance for larger-width tires for versatility and a softer, more comfortable ride. Some endurance bikes have flat handlebars, for those who prefer a more heads-up riding style.

Cyclocross Bikes

Cyclocross racing involves the repetition of a course of the track which can be of dirt, road, pavement. These bikes are incredibly lightweight, and yet tough enough to deal with the extreme riding conditions. Most cyclocross bikes have semi-knobby tires to handle the terrain challenges.

Touring Bikes

These are the bikes for people who want to travel on their bikes for long distances. People who would like to carry supplies ration and stuff for long-distance travel. Touring bikes have a few tweaks on the traditional road bike design that make them ideal for long-distance bike tours.

They are designed with sturdy frames capable of carrying heavy loads on the front and rear racks and feature multiple attachment points so you can attach racks, fenders, water bottles, pumps, lights, and more.

Mountain Terrain Bikes

I call these bikes the thugs of cycling. Why? Because these bikes are designed with shock-absorbing features and better braking systems, mountain bikes can handle dirt trails and the rocks, roots, bumps, and ruts that come with them.

They usually feature lower gears than most road bikes to better handle the steeper terrain. I ride an MTB, A Merida 40D, and damn proud of this bike. I am the kind of person who loves mountains, so I had my choice narrowed down to this.

There is a further classification within MTB’s, Let’s have a look so that you know how to choose a cycle for yourself.

Trail bikes

These are the most common type of MTBs. A friendly meet in the woods or if you wanna ride a mix of incline and declines. Then this is the perfect bike for you. Bikes in this category place equal emphasis on fun, efficiency, and sensible overall weight.

Typical specs: 120–140mm of suspension travel; 67–69° head-tube angle

Suspension travel is the amount of movement offered by the bike’s front and rear suspension.

Head-tube angle is the angle that the head tube forms with the ground. A steeper head-tube angle generally indicates that a bike will turn faster and climb better.

Types of cycles are many, this articles helps you to choose.

A slacker (lower) angle generally indicates that a bike will provide better stability at high speeds but won’t climb as well.)

Cross Country Bikes

This style of riding typically implies riding fast, with an emphasis on climbing prowess. Distances vary from just a few kilometers to 25-plus, and bikes tend to focus on efficiency and low weight. These bikes can be great if you’re considering getting competitive or would like a racier ride for your local trails.

Typical specs: 80–100mm of suspension travel; 70–71° head-tube angle

Fat Bikes

You must have seen bikes with enormous size tires. I mean really broad tires or in other words fat bikes. Oversize tires, from 3.7 in. to 5+ in. wide, give these bikes excellent traction and are optimal for riding in sand or snow. The wide tires are reassuringly forgiving as you ride over rough terrain.

All Mountain Bikes

If you are an adrenaline junkie if you like technical trails, and if you like leg-burning climbs and ruthless downhill. Then this bike is for you. Bikes for all-mountain riding are designed to perform well on steep descents while also being light and nimble enough to pedal uphill.

Typical specs: 140–170mm of suspension travel; 65–68° head-tube angle

Downhill Bikes

These kinds of bikes are good for downhill only, and a little incline. These bikes are heavy and sturdy, the rider wears all protective gear when riding this kind of bike. In many videos, you must have seen riders wearing full-face helmets. This is exactly that kind of bike. The riders encounter jumps, berms, rock gardens, and wooden ladders.

Typical specs: 170–200+mm of suspension travel; 63–65° head-tube angle.

Hybrid Bikes

These bikes are a mix of a road bike and MTB. That’s why the name is hybrid. These bikes have decent enough broad tires to let you occasionally hit less technical trails. Also, these bikes come with a light frame and with drop bar handles. Generally, you’ll get the skinny, speedy wheels of road bikes mixed in with the quick-turning prowess of mountain bikes, plus a dash of comfort with a plush saddle or even a shock-absorbent fork.

They usually combine a flat bar and a heads-up ride for comfort and a better view when riding in traffic. Some hybrid bikes are equipped with disc brakes for responsive braking while bike commuting in any weather. Many commuter-friendly models include racks, lighting systems, or fenders. Choosing a cycle type that too Hybrid is liked by a lot of new riders for city rides.

Specialty Bikes

Specialty bikes are crafted for different purposes. This section tells you more about them.
Specialty bikes are different….keep reading!

These bikes are characterized by some specific feature. Their usage also puts them into a different category. The further subdivision is listed below.

Cruiser Bikes

This bike comes with a comfortable seating position. A bike like this is meant for leisure riding around the city. A very comfortable riding position with a flat handlebar for the front head riding position. They usually have 26 inches tires.

Cargo Bikes

As the name suggests these bikes are suitable for carrying loads and cargo. These bikes are specially designed for carrying a lot of weight. Now, because they carry a lot of weight, they are slow but sturdy. These are ideal for urban commuting. A lot of goods delivery stores use these kinds of bikes.

Electric Bikes

As the name suggests this bike runs on electricity and muscle power both. This bike can help you on intense climbs with ease. The concept is that a built-in sensor checked the amount of force you are putting on the peddle, based on which the battery power is applied accordingly.

Folding Bikes (Foldie)

You can virtually take this bike anywhere. People who love traveling on their bike, this is the bike that you should go for. You can fold it, pack it and carry it with you. Assembling is easy which does not require a great deal of technical knowledge.

Women’s Bike

How to choose a cycle for women?
How to choose a cycle for a lady?

Now I don’t want to get dragged into a debate here, and I know that a woman can ride the same bike as men, however, there are still few differences. Let me elaborate a little here. Women can ride road, mountain, or hybrid bikes. However, these bikes feature frame geometries, handlebars, and saddles that are customized for a female body proportion. For instance, the top tube frame lengths on women’s bikes are generally about 1 to 3 centimeters shorter than men’s bikes, so the reach (saddle to handlebar) is shorter and fits most women better. These bikes also feature shorter-reach shifters that better fit women’s hands.

Get the Right Bike Fit for You

How to choose a cycle? Well, that’s important. However, no matter what bike you choose from different cycle types, make sure it’s fitting your body structure. In our city, no one does a proper bike fit. Also, the people who do bike fit are with incomplete knowledge at times. So you end up spending money on something which is important, however, is not done as per the cycling community standards.

Once you get a bike, next step is to learn the gear system. Check out this article. 

Summing up choosing a cycle type

A cycle is a cycle as a new rider picking up cycling for fitness you might not pay attention to a lot of details. Having said that, please get a proper bike fit done and chose a bike thinking about the kind of road/path you would ride on. I hope I have explained in detail how to choose a cycle? Any questions related to choosing a bike please let me know in the comments section below.

Do check out this article if your hand get numb while cycling.

Problem With Indian Educational System

Varun Tyagi
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2
Problem With Indian Educational System

I so much wanted to write about the ruthlessly, consequently a mismanaged Indian Educational System. The same education system which has now become a factory. A factory that manufactures robots. I grew up in the same educational system. Studies and mugged up books. Early Childhood Education in India is a mix of things that are not even relevant.

“We all want a job that pays us in six figures every month. Look at the ground reality of our education system that how come it is going to help you in getting a job that could pay you in six figures”

Fundamental Problems With Indian Educational System

I have listed few problems with the Indian educational system that I observed during my educational stint.

The System Promotes Pointless Pursuit in Indian Educational System

Indian Educational System
Rat Race In India Among Students

I will be honest, all I see is a rat race. Consequently, all I see is an endless, self-defeating, or pointless pursuit. Almost, everyone is running behind “Marks”. I mean are we serious? Where is the development of analytical skills? This rat race is exhausting, a repetitive lifestyle that leaves no time for relaxation or enjoyment. we need to change this with immediate effect. In addition to the system promoting the rat race, seems like the parents are just up for it.

“They want their kid to become a doctor, a government servant, or an engineer. The only three professions which exist in an Indian parent’s mind. Phew!”

No Personality Development in Indian Educational System

Indian Educational System
No personality development.

The most noteworthy point here is that the personality development of students does not happen in this system. People are more concerned about academic qualifications rather than personal development.  Success is determined by numbers on a piece of paper and not the natural caliber of a person. Also, the mere point of attending this system is to get marks and nothing else. Students do not pursue their hobbies or passion. They get into a race of marks hence, to earn more money.

“Our system demands good numbers from a child in an exam not to show his personality. Furthermore, a child is not well exposed to the outer world and he or she might not be able to develop a personality”

Analytical Research “Zero”, Only Fact Establishments

Blindly following the literature which was set by someone centuries ago. All we are taught is to mug up those beliefs and act on them. Follow it all our lives. Just imagine, we are born with nothing, in just 5 minutes of our birth, our religion, our caste our creed, & social status is defined. We all die defending it, something which was not even ours. We inherited it from someone else. Damn! Our children are not able to do the critical analysis of anything, for example, our history, culture, and religion. They take the line of establishment or the views of the predominant majority.

“Students are simply not able to look at things from their own perspective. If you want a society should become a lot better than we must develop a culture of looking at things critically”

We are simply failing at this because of our education system. Children must learn to criticize our own culture and other established narratives.

Missing Global Outlook

Our education teaches too much nationalism and it could create a negative mindset in our younger generation. Loving your country is a good thing but just blind love is dangerous. In our schools, children are not able to get a global outlook.

“I myself was not able to feel that I am a cosmopolitan rather I was thought to become jingoistic”

Jai Hind! Jai Hind! I mean yeah I love my country, however, there are other countries too. Let’s have a look at them too.

In-Efficient & Underpaid Teachers

Underpaid and In-Efficient Teachers!

To make things worse, our teachers themselves are not sufficiently trained to teach students. They do not have proper training that how they are going to impart values to children that are going to change the future of the country. If they can teach properly then the government does not have enough salary to pay.

“I still remember when I was in school, there was one physical instructor for 5 different sports. Especially relevant point is that he did not know even a single one of them”

Medium Of Language Of Our Education

Problems with Indian Educational System

We are not able to decide on the medium of the language of our Indian Educational System. So how do they are going to understand what teachers are teaching?

“Moreover, subjects like mathematics, physics, and arts have nothing to do with the medium of communication. Furthermore, over-emphasis on English could be wrong”

Indian Educational System Gives Education Which Is Irrelevant

Issues with Indian Educational System

Look at the current job market. I studied tons of things in school. I hardly use 10% of what I studied. Never wanted to be a scientist, however, I mugged up the periodic table. Marks! Had an interest in design and creativity, which I am pursuing now, after 9 years of wasted corporate life. Indian Educational System actually wasted my time, furthermore, It wasted years of my precious life.

No Innovation & Creation

It has become a common thing that every young student is interested in getting a job that pays them well. However, they would never like to become an entrepreneur. This lack of ambition does not allow our country to excel in any field. This attitude of our children making them slaves to few multinational companies.

Most privileged students in the country are equivalent to an underprivileged student in India. The same syllabus, same methods of teaching. Furthermore, there is no attention given to innovation & creativity. Create new things people, once you do that, you will innovate more creations.

I would say education is important, we spend only a few percent of our GDP on education, so our government should make education its first priority and try to address issues that are mentioned in this blog.

Learn how learning a musical instrument can help in your kids growth.

Summing Up

If the government is able to take note of these 10 problems then we can definitely overhaul our education system. having said that I do not see the solution to it in the near future. Follow your dreams like I am doing of blogging and creating a video on YouTube.

Riding Your Bike – Cycling Night!

Varun Tyagi
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0

Essential Safety Tips for Riding Your Bike During Night-Time

Cycling night!! Racing your Bike During Night! It gives a chill down the spine immediately. Night ride, something we all want to do but is scared to the core. Especially on Indian roads, it’s scary. It’s a proven fact that rides during the night are more dangerous as compared to rides during the day.  I have done a few night rides since the time I started cycling. Let’s look into what you can do to ensure your after-dark cycling trips remain safe and enjoyable.

1. Cycling Night With Lights

cycling nights
Night ride with lights!

Virtually the most important component of your bike when riding at night. Not only does it solves the purpose of making the path visible, but also helps in letting others know about you. Now there is a different kind of lights for cycle available in the market with different modes. I use a Sigma buster which is the best, and the flash mode on it. Research indicates that flashing lights are more visible to other drivers than static lights. It saves battery too! Also, it’s been proven that the lights on ankles catch more attention than any other location on your bike. Lights that trace the movement of your feet as you peddle are the most eye-catching of all.

If you want to buy a cycle light with a heavy discount click here.

2. Reflective Gears Are Must During Cycling Night

There has been an increase in the number of accidents with cyclists. The prime reason is visibility and post-sunset hours. Fluorescent color is great, however, it does not cut the fatality percentage. I recommend using plenty of reflective material on every possible part of your cycle. look for reflective surfaces and pump them up. Most bikes will come with some reflective areas, but if you’re serious about staying safe at night, you’ll want to beef these up. Get some reflective tape, and use it liberally: helmet, clothing, bike frame, rims, and pedals.

3. Knowing Your Route – Do Not Go blind On Cycling Night

This happens a lot when there are brevets being organized. I have seen it has a drastic impact on the people participating. It’s always good to scout the route a day or couple of days before your race/brevets. Those ways you are aware of any pot hols, blind intersections, gravels, mud, stones, cobbled &  virtually any accident attracting situation. If you have to take a new route, do some research first. Is there a bike lane? Is it well lit?

4. Traffic Laws Are Meant To Be Obeyed

If you expect others to follow traffic laws around you, they expect the same from you. India, however, is a different story altogether. Speed thrills them, and once the STRAVA came out with KOM concept, there were no stopping accidents then. People are mad about being KOM’s these days, even in my city, that they pay no heed to traffic laws. Their only aim to get better and accomplishing the “being better” goal by speeding. It’s tempting to ignore the rules of the road, especially if there’s traffic and you’re in a hurry, but this is the cause of a large percentage of bike accidents. Weaving through traffic or around parked cars is especially dangerous at night. Ride like you’re invisible – because to inattentive drivers, you often are.

5. Treat Your Bike Better Than You treat Your Lady

Absolutely, in my cycling world, the people are known for how good they treat their bikes. Anyone who’s had to change their tire in poorly lit conditions knows it’s not fun. Not to mention dangerous, if you don’t have plenty of space away from the road, or if you get a flat in a rough area. Minimize the chances of breaking down by taking extra care of your bike. Don’t forget to inspect your tires, chain, and brakes before setting off at night.

6. Keep Your Bike Safe on cycling Night

Be safe during cycling night
Locks are important!

Your riding in India bro, what do you expect. Always carry locks, any of them, combination or key lock to make sure that your bike is safe. During long night rides, you will be stopping at places to relax and have food. Make sure that your bike is in the safest area, lock it. Lately, there has been a lot of bicycle theft in the country. We keep on looking at those posts on the majority of the groups. The best solution is the U-lock and cable combo. A good U-lock at least 13mm thick may cost more than 500 to 1000 INR, but it’s worth it! The cable is to wrap through the lock and around your front wheel, which can be removed in seconds if not protected.

If you want to buy a cycle lock with a heavy discount click here.

Summing Up

Biking at night can be intimidating if you’re not used to it, but there’s something very special about a peaceful night-time bike ride that everyone should experience occasionally. If you stay alert and follow the safety tips above, you’ll be able to safely enjoy the beauty of night time riding.

Moon captured at night during Cycling Night

Amer fort In Pink City Jaipur On Cycle

Varun Tyagi
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0
Amer fort In Pink City Jaipur On Cycle

Today I somehow got up at 5 AM. I’ve been trying and after my Manali Trip, my cycling schedule got a bit disturbing. It’s like the feeling when you don’t cycle for a week or two and then you suddenly fall into that lethargy trap. I decided to break this lazy schedule with a cycle ride to Amer Fort. If you feeling the same then check out my article on how to get back to cycling after a long break.

Waking Up Early

Morning at Jalmahal in Pink City Jaipur! Heading to Amer Fort!
Morning at Jalmahal in Pink City Jaipur! Shot on Canon

Jaipur is too cold these days. Having said that in summers it gets pretty hot too. You can read my article on how to cycle in extreme temperatures. The best time for cycling is early in the morning. So I woke up after 5 unsuccessful attempts of snoozing my alarms. I had literally set 5 alarms starting from 5 AM till 6 AM. So got up and got ready. Took out my bike, had a sandwich. Never go out cycling empty stomach. Started pedaling my Merida, the idea was to reach Sanganeri gate at 6 AM.

From Malviya Nagar, it’s a pretty simple route that I take, all the way through JLN Marg. It took me about 30 minutes approximately to reach the Sanganeri gate. For folks cycling from the nearby areas where I live there are multiple meeting points. One is Saras Dairy, the second is Birla Mandir and then all the way to Sanganeri gate where most of the cyclists meet. Especially the cyclists who want to try the insane climb of Nahargarh or go all the way to Amer fort.

Meeting My Ride Buddies

This article tells you about my journey from my home to Amer fort which is a popular tourist destination. I went on my cycle.
One rainy morning at Sanganeri Gate!

I reached the point of meet roughly around 6:05 AM. Four more prominent rides were waiting for me. However, I thought of not waiting at Sanganeri gate for long but head towards Jal Mahal. So five of us headed towards Jal Mahal which is one of the most iconic tourist places in Jaipur. A fort, floating amidst man Sagar lake.

Reaching Jalmahal

Jalmahal in Pink City, Jaipur!
Jalmahal in Pink City, Jaipur!

I have a connection with Jalmahal because this place has been my favorite since childhood. I frequently visited Nahargarh and Kanak Ghati in my school and college days and Jalmahal was supposed to be our stop for sure. A popular place which is been filled with tons of waste and garbage by ever building tourist population and ignorant locals.

However, the local authorities are taking note of this and a regular cleaning drive is held. Plus they have deployed cleaning workers who make sure that the place is clean. Clean Jalmahal is what is being liked by all and to be honest it is an amazing place to sit and watch the sunrise.

Also check out the four amazing sunrise spots in Jaipur.

Route To Amer Fort

Mostly it’s the tarmac till the entry of Amer Fort via Sagar or either a turn before Sagar. An incline to the Amer Road gate and then the road is mostly downhill till Amer Fort. Once you reach the end of decline take a left turn or look for a turn to Sagar. This road will take you to a cobbled pathway that takes you to Amer Fort.

Now, this is an incline and that too cobbled, so MTB is good to have here. Even Hybrid works fine, as one of the riders, was riding a hybrid. However not too sure if a road bike is a good idea. Someone who has experience will ride a road bike on a cobbled road might take it all the way. However, folks with less experience might not like this way to the fort.

Ride road bike at your own risk.

Amer Fort – A Living Heritage

Amer Fort In Jaipur!

The first thing that speaks about Jaipur’s history is the Amer fort. The principal tourist attraction, Amer Fort, is situated 11 kilometers away from the center of the pink city. Amber is a small town with four square kilometers area under Jaipur. Even though we loved spending time at this historical place, however, the mercury was pushing us to go back home. I am enclosing the necessary details about Amer Fort for my fellow riders and travelers.

Amber Fort Jaipur

Visiting Hours : 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Contact No : 0141 253 0293

Entry Fee (In Indian Rupees):

  • Indian: Rs. 25.00 Student: 10
  • Foreigner: Rs. 200.00 Student: 100

Light Shows Timing (Onwards)

  • In English: 7.30 pm
    Entry Fee: Rs. 200.00
  • In Hindi : 8:00 PM
    Entry Fee: Rs. 100.00

Elephant Ride at Amber Palace for two person Rs. 900/-

Let’s Dig Some History, Shall We!

The Amber Fort was built by ‘Raja Shri Maan Singh JI Saheb’ (Maan Singh I) (December 21, 1550 – July 6, 1614) in 16th century. Man Singh, one of the first war chiefs or the trusted general of Emperor Akbar. Akbar included him among the ‘Navaratnas’, or the 9 (nava) gems (ratna) of the royal court. Man Singh began the construction of a fortress-palace of white and red sandstone i.e. Amber Fort in 1592. He was the Kacchwaha (Rajput) of King of Amber, a state later known as Jaipur. Nearby he ordered to set a small temple devoted to ‘Sheela Mata’, his patron goddess.

Once you enter the fort area, there are three prominent places to visit within the fort premises. Do check out these places.

Diwaan-e-Aam and Diwaan-e-Khaas

Diwan-e-Aam or better known as the ‘Hall of Public Audience’ is a beautiful hall stands on two rows of ornamented pillars and opens on three sides. It is said that king used to listen about needs and complaints of the General public like the way our current leaders listens to our issues. What a joke! Reference: Amer Fort Guide!

Sukh Niwaas (Sukh Mandir)

Sukh Niwaas, (Name is orgasmic enough) which is opposite to ‘Diwaan-e-Khaas’ having doors made of sandalwood and ivory. There is a channel running through the hall, which carries cold water that worked as an air cooler. This system is better than our modern age airconditioning. In this artistic hall, the cold climate was artificially created. It is said that the kings used to spend time in this Sukh Niwaas with their queens and sometimes with their mistresses that is why it is known as the residence of pleasure or pleasurable residence in English. See, I am already beginning to like this dude. And here, we are on a troublesome search of OYO rooms. (To all unmarried couples)

Sheesh Mahal

Well, the name explains the whole concept. A room made of glass. Why and for what purpose? Here is the answer.

“The reason behind why this hall was made by the glass because in ancient days the queen was not allowed to sleep in open air but she loved to see the stars shining”

So the king ordered his architects to make something which could solve the purpose. The most stunning thing about this hall is that if someone burns two candles, then the reflection converts that small light into thousands of stars. Phew! What a masterpiece.

Return Back

ok, so this was about my ride to Amer Fort today. I am gonna go to work, make a vlog and also since I am starting all the three challenges today, it’s going to be a tough day. The evening I am going to run and do all the fitness challenges for today. I made a vlog for the entire day today, hope you guys like it. mentioning the video link below.

https://youtu.be/leTAzZj1fyQ

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Check ouy my cycling trip to Chulgiri temple in Jaipur.

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Cycling At High Temperature

Varun Tyagi
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1
Cycling At High Temperature

Cycling In Extreme Heat – Beat the Heat!

I live in Jaipur, proudly known as “The Pink City”. This is the place of extreme temperature. In winters the mercury drops to 6 degrees, and in summers it rises up to 48 degrees. It’s summertime right now. Temperature is soaring above 40 degrees. Even early mornings are hot as hell. However, the love of cycling never let us relax in the closed air-conditioning environment. Let us take a look at things to keep in mind while cycling at high temperature.

cycling in heat
PC: Ajay Jain

In this article, I would take you through my journey of beating the heat in warm Jaipur summers while cycling.

Cycling in extreme heat is tough but you can make it fun too by keeping few things in your mind.

I take care of few things daily before starting and on my ride which helps me in cycling at this extreme temperature.

Riding In The Heat

Cycling in heat
Cycling in heat – PC: Ajay Jain

Riding in hot conditions is a little trickier to get right than riding in the cold. Mainly because you can only take off so many clothes to regulate your heat. 

Once your core temperature goes past a certain level, your brain will choose survival over performance.

Your output will start to decrease as your body redirects your blood to perform cooling duties. 

With this in mind, there has been a lot of research on what you can do to minimize the effect.

Heat adaptation

Spending a period of 10 to 14 days in hot environments sees a change in your blood plasma levels, which helps core temperature regulation.

cycling
Saunas are becoming a popular method to acclimatize to hot and humid conditions

In recent years, it’s become common for elite athletes to use a sauna in the training process as they come into the summer races to get the athletes acquainted to cycling in extreme heat.

Stressing the body in this manner is similar to how you might train out on the road.

Your body is challenged so it adapts to become stronger and more efficient at handling the heat. I usually hit the sauna twice a week in summers.

“The difference betweena sauna and a steam room can be summed up as simply dry vs. wet. Saunas provide dry heat, whilesteam rooms generate moist heat. Both can open up your pores, loosen up your muscles and help you relax”

Clothing

Cycling jersey
Jersey to wear in heat while cycling!

What you wear plays a part and it’s obvious in this scenario that you want the lightest clothing possible.

It’s is a matter of balance between covering up to keep the sun off and keeping your garments light and breathable.

Arm and leg sleeves to wonders, however, some prefer to get their arms and legs tanned.

Sunscreen

sun cream while cycling
Use Suns cream

When your skin burns, your core temperature rises and you can overheat. Use sunscreen to stop this from happening.

Hydration

Hydration support while cycling!
Hydration support while cycling!

Keeping your fluids up, and ideally with an electrolyte solution, keeps your motor running cooler.

As you become dehydrated, your core temperature will once again go up. On very hot days, it is impossible to ingest enough fluid to maintain hydration when you’re exercising, so it needs to be a 24/7 effort.

“Dont drink to fill your stomach, sip the water just to get your throat wet”

Observe your urine and don’t be afraid of alternating between the electrolyte solution and water. If what you’re drinking is passing straight through you, increase your sports drink intake. It not, keep up both water and the sports drink.

Homemade Lemonade Ice Slurpee

Slurpee is tough to get in India. it’s not like a lot of 7/11 store which exists in India. I make a lemonade mix in the night and keep it in the refrigerator overnight in a bottle.

The frozen lemonade is my partner for the ride. Since it is a mix of sugar salt and lemon, which is needed by the body in extreme heat.

I keep on sipping it when I am on my ride. Slurpee is basically the life-saving solution with lots of crushed ice.

 

Summing Up

Heat in summers can be unforgiving. However, that doesn’t mean we would not be riding. I mean even an apocalypse will not stop us from riding. If I was to put up this article in one sentence it would be!

“Enjoy the sauna or steam, drink plenty, wear light, sunscream helps and keep riding”

I hope this article will help you in planning your rides more effectively in summers. Suggestions from pro riders are welcome. Please feel free to add anything that I may have missed.

Preparing for brevets? Check out this article

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Check out my Video log on my cycling expedition to Manali.

Read my article on vegetarian cyclist diet.

Running Benefits

Varun Tyagi
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0
Running Benefits

Running Benefits! What It Does To Your Body!

I didn’t like running even though Running Benefits were amazing. I know that’s a pretty harsh statement to start with. However, I started liking it when I starting doing it. I started jogging and started reaping the benefits of running & jogging. My first love is and always be cycling. Cycling helped me in getting back in shape, (somewhat), got my confidence back & boosted my social circle. I love cycling, that’s the bottom line. However, I was not losing fact as quickly as I wanted to. Furthermore, the rate of losing weight was slow. Although it was fair enough since I had put on a lot in the last few years. Here is an article on Running Benefits and why should you include daily running in your everyday life.

Running Benefits

I decided to change my schedule. One of my fitness friends advised me to run. Daily running??? Seriously run!! I ran for a day, a two, a three and on the fourth day I started looking at my body.

I could literally see the change. IN JUST 4 DAYS! That’s how effective running is. Furthermore, it helped me in cycling to greater distances as my stamina increased.

So I decided to put together this article to let you guys know what changed in me and my body since the time I started running.

Running Benefits & Jogging Benefits – Changes In My Body!

Changes in my body and attitude after I started running. (6 major benefits of jogging)

1. Improves Your Overall Health | Benefits of jogging

I have improved to such an extent that I went on a solo trip to Manali with my cycle. My overall health improved and I was able to trek and cycle in the mountains of Manali.

Read More About My Manali Trip in my bike packing tour section. I got strong legs now and strong lungs. My stamina has increased phenomenally. I was able to cycle more and trek more in the treacherous mountains of Manali.

Running benefits also includes boosting the immune system and helps in lowering the formation of blood clots. Isn’t this great! But wait we are just getting started now!

2. Daily running prevents disease

Running Benefits
Benefits of Running

This is true. Since the time I started investing my time in cycling and running. I have not fallen sick (Touchwood).

With a great boost to my immune system, my body has become more resistant to common cold and cough.

Furthermore, to any disease which may occur due to any external or internal factors.

For women running has far greater good effects. Firstly it reduces the risk of breast cancer, it reduces the risk of stroke & high blood pressure. Many of the doctors now recommend running for diabetic patients. Well, I must say it has great effects!

3. Lose Weight

Running Benefits

We all know why we exercise. Especially after the age of 30. To reduce that belly fat and toning other areas of our body. I started cycling because of the fact that I was overweight and obese.

By the time I reached 29 I was weighing 130 kgs. Phew, thanks to my corporate life and too many working hours after office. Those late-night parties and excessive alcohol. All of which I said Adios!

Since then never looked back. I wake up around 5 AM and then go for my cycling and running. Also, running is a leading way to burn off extra calories and that it is the second most effective exercise in terms of calories burned per minute, following only after cross-country skiing.

4. Running benefits includes boost in your confidence

Running Benefits

Not every benefit of running is physical. Running Benefits also includes boosting your confidence.

Since the time I started combining cycling with running, it has boosted my confidence. By setting and achieving goals, you can help give yourself a greater sense of empowerment that will leave you feeling much happier.

5. Stress release is a benefit of running daily

Running Benefits

I still remember coming back from the office with a headache, workload, temper, depression, anxiety, and whatnot. Furthermore, with no time for exercise, I was under constant stress all the time.

When I decided to get on the fitness road, these issues got eliminated with due course of time. Stress can actually cause a number of health and mood problems. It can also diminish appetite and sleep quality.

When you run, you force your body to exert excess energy and hormones. Running also helps to reduce your chances of developing tension headaches.

6. Running has the Power to Eliminate Depression

Running Benefits

Ahhh! This is so true! You feeling low, start running. You feeling stressed, start running. You feeling depressed, start running. 

When you are depressed, the last thing you likely want to do is to get up and go for a run.

Yet you will find that after only a few minutes of running, your brain will start to secrete hormones that naturally improve your mood. In fact, there are few things in the world that can better or more rapidly treat depression than exercise such as running.

“Summing Up: Running is incredibly beneficial to the body, mind, and spirit. You will find that even short runs can leave you feeling more energized, more focused and better able to enjoy all that life has to offer”

Leave any questions in the comment below, I would try to get back to you ASAP.

Cycling At Bijli Mahadev

Varun Tyagi
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0

Electric Hill Of Bijli Mahadev – Stunning Trails For MTB Riders

Bijli Mahadev Trek on Cycle!
Bijli Mahadev Trek on Cycle!

I had fun yesterday at Vashisht village. I got up early and found that my rider buddy Hemant was already up and having breakfast. We initially planned to go to Rohtang, however, we dropped that plan because of a couple of reasons. Firstly the traffic was a serious concern and secondly, we had another place in our mind. This place was more beautiful then Rohtang. Name itself was enough to spark our guts. It was the bijli Mahadev also known as electric temple trails and trek. The reason I said trail and trek are because we carried our bikes on our shoulder and did a trek of about couple of kilometers. Furthermore, we went downhill from bijli Mahadev through the technical trails of Kais Wildlife Sanctuary. Electric temple in kullu is a must visit.

“Read my last article on my cycle ride to Solang Valley”

Manali To Kullu

I got up, quickly freshened up and went outside my room to see the lush green forest in front of club road staring at me. We did not have breakfast and got going after a steaming cup of coffee. Took out some cash from Mall road in Manali. I don’t like this as it’s too crowded. However, we went in the morning though when it was quiet. We immediately boarded a bus to Kullu and got our bikes on the bus’s roof carrier.

“Reason why we did not rode from Manali to Kullu is the immesnse traffic jam becuase of road getting constructed. The dirt flying was enough to get us tired before we could reach our destination”

To The Foothills Of Bijli Mahadev

Got off the bus and then rode towards the entry of Bijli Mahadev. The road is still under construction for we had to walk a little with our bikes. This was just the start. We had to trek almost about a couple of hours with bikes on our shoulders. We walked through the stairs for almost 2 hours and reached the top of the mountain, where the charming BijMahadevdev temple lies.

The view from bijli mahadev!
The view from bijli Mahadev!

Bijli Mahadev to Naggar Trek

The real charm of the Bijli Mahadev to Naggar trek trail lies in the interiors of Kais Wildlife Sanctuary. A 15 km approach by foot from Kullu town to the top of this hill is an experience in itself. In addition, there is 12 km long motorable road that trekkers can take.

The sylvan surroundings of the quiet valley are mesmerizing, with a wide array of deodar and pine forests. This is complemented by the beautiful apple, pomegranate and pear orchards of Jana Village. The trek becomes more interesting with overnight camping inside a forested ridge at Matikochar. As you exit the valley and reach Naggar, you’ll learn that it’s a wonderfully satisfying weekend trek.

Bijli Mahadev trek weather

As this place lies in height, the weather is unpredictable. The best time to visit Bijli Mahadev is summer as the weather is pleasant and not very cold.

Bijli Mahadev Temple!
Bijli Mahadev Temple!

During winters and rainy season, the weather is cold and the road becomes slippery which makes trekking difficult.

Video Log

Pictures and video speak a thousand words. Hence I have put together a video for my entire trip. Watch the video below and subscribe to my channel on YouTube.

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Learn all about AMS before heading into mountains.

Manali To Solang Valley Cycle Ride

Varun Tyagi
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4
Manali To Solang Valley Cycle Ride

I woke up the next morning. Vashist trek was tiresome, but also made my body acquainted with high altitude. “Read the full article here” I wanted to ride my bike today. Furthermore, I started looking at the map searching for places to visit around Manali. My friend suggested I ride towards the Solang valley.

I immediately looked at google maps on my mobile and thought about having breakfast first and then head to the valley. Solang valley cycle ride is fun especially with such breathtaking scenic views on the way. Manali to Solang Valley cycling requires a basic level of fitness. The incline towards Solang valley is tough as compared to the incline from Manali to Solang valley checkpoint. The way back i.e. Solang to Manali cycling is more enjoyable as the road descends till Manali.

Breakfast Before Manali to Solang Valley cycle ride

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I have heard this from every other serious cyclist. If you take a high protein and fiber breakfast you will have more energy to ride. I ate boiled eggs and a couple of bananas before heading for my ride. I asked the same question to one of the cycling fitness groups in my town, and below is the food intake that the group members suggested. (Purely Indian)

Vegetarian Breakfast

  • Nuts
  • Seeds
  • Beans
  • Lentils
  • Soy products (tofu, tempeh)
  • Whole grains (such as bread, oats, pasta, rice, and millet) and quinoa.

Note: I have written a complete article on the diet that you should take while cycling. Read the complete article by clicking this link.

Solang Valley Cycle Ride From Old Manali

I started around 10 AM on a cloudy day with the temperature just above 12 degrees. From old Manali and took the road all the way to the new Manali bridge. Then I took a left and found this milepost which said Rohtang “50 km”.

Rohtang milepost at Manali.
Rohtang milepost at Manali on the way to Solang valley

I started a little late, however, it had no effect as I had the entire day of my cycle ride. I stayed at the old Manali. The route was not long but only 15 km. The only bottleneck was that it was 15 km of pure incline.

Scenic Spots On The Way – Manali to Solang Valley cycling

This is my journey through Manali to Solang valley. Learn how to prepare for long-distance cycling and backpacking

Cutting Through Manali Traffic (The Nature Park)

As soon I departed from old Manali, I rode towards the new Manali. The road is amazing but comes with a lot of traffic. Fortunately, I was on my Merida 40 D and had no issues reaching the new Manali main market, cutting through the traffic via the road adjacent to Nature park. This nature park is amazing. I still remember I went to this place a few years back and it is bliss for mountain bikers however cycles are not allowed inside and there is an entry fee of INR 20 for Indian tourists. Let me show you how it looks like.

Nature Park In Manali on the way to Manali to Solang Valley cycling
Nature Park In Manali

After I crossed nature park and Manali mall road circle, I took the bridge and turned left towards Manali Leh Highway.

Vashisht Village

I love this place which is around a distance of about a few km from Manali. If you guys remember I did a trek at this place to Jugni waterfalls. Read the complete article here

This place is amazing and helped me in getting acquainted with high altitude physical activity.  This will be the first scenic spot on the way to Solang valley. In the article I share earlier you will find complete details, however, the picture which I liked a lot I am sharing in this post.

Vashisht Village on Route To Solang Valley.
Vashisht Village on Route To Solang Valley.

You can watch the entire video log of Vashisht Village by clicking this link. I am also embedding the video below.

Bahang Village

Beas river flows left of the entire route till Solang valley. It is so beautiful that you at times forget about the treacherous ride and want to stick to watch the water flow.

This village, on the east side of the Beas River, is a pass-through heading north from Manali towards the Solang Valley and Rohtang Pass. Army base, last petrol pump, police checkpoint & a few attempts at “modern” tourist “attractions”.

Any shopping requirements are much better supplied in Manali. I clicked a picture here watching the mighty mountains and listening to Beas river making a sweet sound of water gushing through it.

View From Bahang Village
View From Bahang Village

The distance from Manali to Bahang Village is 4.5 KM.

Nehru Kund

Nehru Kund is approximately 4.3 km from Vashisht village and about 5.7 km from Manali. The name came into existence when the first PM of India, Jawahar Lal Nehru visited this place and was strolling through and watching the scenic beauty which surrounds it. He absolutely loved and everyone does. Look at the pictures who would not love this place.

A view from Nehru Kund on my Solang to Manali cycling
A view from Nehru Kund

Isn’t this mesmerizing.

Palchan

I crossed Manali, then Vashisht Village, then Bahang Village, then Nehru Kund, and now I reached Palchan. Palchan is the point where the roads get dissected and one goes to Rohtang pass and the other goes to Solang valley, where I was headed on my cycle.

A view from Palchan | Solang to Manali cycling
A view from Palchan!

Right from this point, I turned towards the left to head to Solang valley.

Solang Valley

It’s just 2.7 km from Palchan, however, it’s a steep climb. Furthermore, this place is like an addiction. Once you reach the valley of Solang, your mind will not allow you to head back to Manali. I had to literally drag my body and mind back to Manali. Thank god it was mostly downhill. Else I would have stayed in Solang.

Unfortunately, I did not click any picture of Solang Valley and was busy making videos. You can watch the entire video log below. Do check out my YouTube channel. It’s crazy!

Heading back to Manali post-Manali to Solang Valley cycle ride

Even though I was mesmerized by the beauty this place had to offer, I had to retreat back to my hotel in Manali. I started after sitting there for few hours and headed back and enjoyed the downhill till the milepost said Manali “0”.

Cycling at Solang valley is not tough. All you need to do is keep pedaling and enjoy the mountain view around. Trust me you will never feel tired.

I hope you like the article, please leave a comment below in case of any question related to Manali to Solang valley cycling and I will try and get back to you ASAP.

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