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Vegetarian Diet for Cyclists

Varun Tyagi
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5
Vegetarian Diet for Cyclists

This article is especially for riders who are vegetarian and do not include meat in their diet. Let us take a look at the vegetarian diet for cyclists. I have a lot of rider friends who consider non-vegetarian food a big taboo. If you take a look at our country India, most people do not intake any sort of meat in their diet plan. This is primarily because of religious bounds, beliefs, and a lot of animal lovers. In this article, I will layout a simple vegetarian diet plan for cyclists.

A lot of people who are vegetarian and are experts in this field like my rider friend Dr. Ajay Jain, a leading physiotherapist in Jaipur contributed to the making of this article.

Furthermore, Dr, Ajay Jain says there is a thumb rule of cycling diet plan.

He says “Thumb rule of Vegetarian Cycling Diet is simple carbs before workout and amino during workout protein after a workout then complex carb posts your cycling plan”.

Indian Food Habits & Vegetarian diet for cyclists

Vegan diet plan for cyclists | Vegetarian diet for cyclists
Avoid complex carbs

I insist on not taking any complex carbs during the workout. I have seen a lot of my cycling friends who ride around the city and then have complex carbs breakfast.

We Indians really can’t live without Samosa, Poha, shakes, and Kachori, Damn! 🙂 Even me!

Furthermore, Dr. Ajay suggests that sugar should be avoided if u want to derive more power from muscles. Black unflavoured chocolate is a more healthy energy source than dairy milk because later has sugars in high quantities.

The black unflavoured chocolate is available at almost all good bakeries. The brand Morde is a brand that you should look for as it’s good and slab can be used multiple times and is affordable.

Diet Pointers Suggested

Vegetarian diet suggested by Dr, Ajay Jain is mentioned below.

  • Take simple carbs like include any fruits before you ride.
  • Amino rich products like BCAA, amino acids majorly supplements can be taken during the ride.
  • Protein-rich products like Whey, Paneer, Tofu, Boiled Pulses once you finish your ride.
  • Avoid complex carbs like chapati, rice, and almost every complex carb food that we Indians love.
  • Avoid street food at any cost.

Pro’ & Con’s Of Vegetarian Cycling Diet

If you are wondering if the vegetarian cycling diet that you have chosen is good for you or not? Here are the Pros & Con’s.

Pros of a Vegetarian Diet

  • Vegetarian people have a longer lifespan as proven and suggested by a lot of studies.
  • Vegetarians have a lower risk of developing heart disease. Almost 32% less as per studies.
  • People who are vegetarian have a lower risk of developing cancer, Especially breast, bowel, and prostate cancer.
  • Veg diets are more economical as compared with non-vegetarian diets and hence save a lot of money.
  • It is better for the environment as livestock farming is responsible for 15% of greenhouse gas emissions.

“Hang on now, just hang on! it has some cons as well”

Cons Of a Vegetarian Diet

  • Vegetarian diets lack nutrients. You should have a plan in place for compensating lack of certain things found in nonvegetarian diets. Else, you can fall short on protein, iron, zinc, omega-3s, and, for vegans, calcium and vitamin B12.
  • Plant-based diets are not very calorie-dense. So you may unintentionally eat too few calories to fuel your cycling.
  • Plant-based foods are high in fiber. Eating lots of high-fiber foods may cause premature satiety, gas, bloating, and GI i.e. Gastrointestinal discomfort.

I am a non-vegetarian and have a mix of both veg and non-veg both. However, I now conclude that being on a vegetarian diet has more perks than the non-veg diet by a significant margin as per studies.

Furthermore, if this is the case why are most of the athletes who are not of Indian origin perform better than us? Also, most of them are on a non-vegetarian diet plan. (Confirmed with various cyclists from other countries)

Vegetarian cyclist diet plan

I am including the stuff that I like to eat before my ride in a vegetarian cyclist diet plan. These pre-ride food items are easily available and liked by almost all cyclists.

  • Oatmeal: Cook 1/4 cup raw oats with 1/2 cup almond milk or water. You can add more fresh fruit for additional calories.
  • Bread & Spread: I absolutely love this. just make sure that you use 100 % fruit spread and it should not have any added fats and artificial sugar components.
  • Fresh fruits before the ride: I usually go for a couple of bananas as they fill the stomach and also are a good source of energy.

Along with the above black coffee is something that you can take to get you ready for your ride.

Summing Up

The debate is long and never-ending. So with a few, I would agree to disagree and with a few, I will agree with the most.

However, the simple philosophy when it comes to extracting maximum performance while cycling as per my conversation with a lot of prominent people in the fitness industry are:

  • Hydration support should be proper and should be available all the time.
  • You need to get a sound sleep before you commence your ride.
  • You need to take care of your meals, they should be timely and following products in the articles.
  • Consume less sugar and salts as they tend to induce lethargy in your body.
  • Don’t consume too much oil, however, always remember that fats are a must.

If you like the article please share it with your ride buddies and comment if there is anything to add. Experience riders can add on to the article and the article will have the contributor’s name. Just leave your additions in the comment section below.

Leave the comments and I will try to get back to you ASAP.

Jugni waterfall of Vashisht village Manali

Varun Tyagi
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1
Jugni waterfall of Vashisht village Manali

My friend advised me to do a small trek to Vashisht Valley so that I get acclimatized to the mountains. I started around 10 AM from Manali and reached Vashisht temple via the Leh-Manali highway. Just take a left from the Bridge which connects Nagar and Leh from Manali. This is also a way to Solang valley. Jugni waterfall of Vashisht is one of a kind and it is the first place where I go for altitude acclimatization. The Valley view of Vashisht is spectacular and attracts a lot of wanderers. There is a lot of valley view Vashisht hotels in and around Manali. This is also called a valley of gods Vashisht.

Watch the vlog below;

Before I reached!

I reached Manali with my cycle in the last week of May 2018. I had plans of cycling to Solang Valley, Nagar, Rohtang Pass & Manali. Cycling in mountains is tough. Especially when you have to cope up with AMS (Acute mountain sickness).

The best part of hiking up Vashisht Village is the Jugni Waterfall. Amazing as it sounds, the scene is quite spectacular. This place has an amazing valley view of Vashisht village.

What Is AMS? Is It Dangerous?

Acute mountain sickness occurs in high altitude places like Ladakh when there is a scarcity of oxygen in the air. This is, in fact, the biggest challenge that people face while traveling to high altitude areas.

Symptoms are nausea, vomiting, anorexia, fatigue or weakness, dizziness or lightheartedness, and lack of sleep.

Severe AMS can cause brain damage and even death.

I would advise people to travel Ladakh via the Simla route taking the Kaza valley. Reason being that the altitude increases gradually, which gives your body to get acclimatized to high altitude places with low oxygen.

You can also take the Srinagar-Leh route. Srinagar – Leh Highway is lower in altitude than Manali – Leh Highway, with the highest point being 13,479ft (4,108mtr), Fotu La pass.

In comparison, Manali – Leh Highway’s highest point is 17,585ft (5,360mtr), Tanglang La pass. And for the 200km long stretch between Zingzing Bar and Rumtse Village, altitude never dips below 13,780ft (4,200mtr).

Do We Have Any Medicine To Counter Act The Symptoms Of AMS?

Yes, we do. Diamox is the name. This lifesaver is available at any medical shop in the valley. This medicine speeds up the acclimatization process.

I had a word with one of my friends who is a doctor and tried finding out how does this medicine actually works.

Here is what he had to say about Diamox. PS: He did a trip to Tibet and this is how he took the medicine.

  • It is recommended to take half a tablet (250 MG), twice per day. Once in the morning, once half an hour before bed.(Consult Your Doctor First) Also, it is advisable that you start taking Diamox once you reach Manali.
  • About 1 hour after taking the first 1/2 tablet, you need to visit the toilet a few times in fairly quick succession. Diamox is a mild diuretic – it makes you expel water from your body. Drink plenty of water.
  • Throughout your trip take the Diamox every day in the same manner – 1/2 a tablet in the morning and 1/2 a tablet 30 minutes before bed. Drink copious amounts of water – 2 to 3 liters per day. The air is incredibly dry and dehydration can increase the chance of altitude sickness.

It is useful to take the Diamox at night before sleeping. This helps to reduce the strange phenomenon known as “periodic breathing” or “Cheyne Stokes respiration.” When this happens, your breathing alternates between rapid breathing and almost not breathing at all for a short time.

You might sleep better if it can be reduced as it is a bit frightening for some people.

Observations If You Do Exactly As Stated Above

  • No symptoms of altitude sickness – not even headaches.
  • No noticeable side effects from taking the medication.

The Way To Vashisht, Jugni Waterfall

You take a left from the bridge and walk towards the Vashisht Temple. It is hardly a couple of kilometers to the temple.

Take a left from the Manali Bridge towards Leh Highway.
Take a left from the Manali Bridge towards Leh Highway.

The way is amazing and the scenes are spectacular. Once you reach the temple there is a way to Jugni waterfall.

Nothing like build roads but a nature trail.

The experience of walking through the nature trail is blissful. Take a look at the picture below! Something like this you would encounter.

Nature trail at Vashisht Village.
Nature trail at Vashisht Village.

Do not get confused with the small water fountains on the way. You have to hike till the top where the waterfall originates. Valley of gods vashisht will have a lot of surprises for you.

Beyond this point, you can go, however, you will have to do “Brighu Trek”. This trek is next on my list.

Another picture of the trail on which we hiked and reached Jugni Waterfall.

Nature Trail At Vashisht!
Nature Trail At Vashisht!

Upon reaching the top of Vashisht Valley, the feeling of accomplishment kicks in.

Your body gets used to hard physical activity and starts adjusting to the high altitude.

My Vlog

I started making Vlogs while I was hiking this beautiful hill.

Upon reaching the waterfall the view looks like this. Solang Valley is next, read more about what I did there.

Jugni Waterfall At Vashisht Valley
Jugni Waterfall At Vashisht Valley

I made a Vlog and uploaded it to my YouTube Channel. I am sharing the same Vlog in this article as well for you all.

Let me know if you have any questions about valley view Vashisht hotels in Manali or valley of God’s vashisht. If you want a place to stay connected with me at vashisht hotel in manali.

Transporting Bicycle In India

Varun Tyagi
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16
Transporting Bicycle In India

I did a tour of Manali to Leh and adjoining areas a few years back. I toggled almost a few hundred articles. Articles related to bicycle transportation in India. Unfortunately did not find much help. Internet sometimes sucks. It really does. I talked to a lot of my friends who are into bike packing.

Transporting bicycles in India is sure a headache If you do not know the correct procedure. Now that I have searched every nook and corner of the cycle transportation Industry. I am writing this article for your guys so that you don’t face any difficulty while transporting cycles across India. There are different ways like transporting cycles in a train, in buses, in planes or getting a car rack.

There are quite a few ways by which you can transport your bicycle in India. I am mentioning all of them.

Transporting Bicycle By Train

Transporting cycles in a train across India
Make sure that you bike is properly protected to avoid scratches during the transport

I love bus journeys. However, when you have to go through multiple states to reach your destination, Also when the commuting distance is more than a few thousand KM’s trains should be preferred.

Procedure and points to remember while transporting bicycles in train

  1. Firstly carry your train ticket with you.
  2. A bike as a parcel is booked for transport when you are traveling from the source destination to the final source destination. No breakage in between, no changing trains, else they will not book it.
  3. A day prior to your travel, go to the train parcel office which is adjoining the train station. Booking is done in a matter of a few minutes, you just have to share your PNR number with a very efficient computer system. I did not get the amount deciding factor, but you pay a rupee for each kilometer.
  4. Furthermore, wrap the bike carefully in order to avoid getting your bike damaged. Cycles in trains are bound to get damaged if not packed properly.
  5. Make sure you keep the receipt given by the parcel station safe. You won’t get your bike without showing your receipt.
  6. Now go home and sleep, board the train the next day, and travel to your destination. Your parcel might arrive on the same train or some other train. There is no fixed departure time for your parcel.
  7. You will get SMS notifications of your parcel, but being Indian systems they are bound to fail. Keep a track of your parcel by talking to parcel inquiry.
  8. If your parcel arrives and you are not there to pick it up. They will throw the parcel in the stockade and 250 INR per day will be charged if you do not pick your parcel.

Transporting cycle in plane

Transporting Bicycle on a plane
Expensive yet a quick way to transport your cycles if you can’t afford to lose time

Transporting your cycle in a plane is preferred when you are going for a cycling tour outside your country. Also, when you do not want to waste too much time traveling within the country. Since I was planning on doing this I began searching for information related to this.

  1. Different airlines have different rules when it comes to transporting bicycles. Few airlines would tell you to wrap the cycle in a clear plastic bag. Few airlines will tell you to dismantle the bike and pack it in a cardboard box.
  2. Although if you are going to places like Leh, where people love cycling the authorities and airport staff are very courteous and helpful. So then there are not going to be any issues while transport. The charges you will have to check at the check-in counter.
  3. Cycle in the plane is the best way to transport when you want to save time other than you can’t really see how your baggage will be handled.

A good way of reducing travel time and transporting your bicycle to your destination. Different airlines have different luggage rules, please read through them. It will help you.

Transporting Bicycle By Bus

Transporting Bicycle on a bus
Bicycle transport by Bus!

I went to Manali by Volvo bus. This luxury liner is super comfortable and when it comes to baggage, it has an ample amount of space. I packed my bike in a cycle bag and took it to the local bus station so that it can be loaded into the compartment. I found transporting cycles in buses the most preferred and easy way of transportation when the distance is less than a thousand kilometers. The reason why this is so preferred is of below reasons.

  1. You do not have to book a space for your bike a day before as you do on a train. You can take the cycle on the same day and get it booked in the cargo compartment.
  2. Your cycle is transported in the same bus unlike in a train where you have no idea in which train your bike is getting transported.
  3. The transportation cost is way too less when it comes to transporting the cycle on a bus. If you can pack it nicely in a box you won’t have to pay more than 500 bucks for a 1000 km bus journey.
  4. You can check your packed cycle box every time when your bus comes to a halt as you are traveling with your cycle just not together though.

Summing Up Transporting Bicycle in India

I found the most secure and safe way of transporting bicycles is, in fact, a bus. Your cycle is near you all the time and then you can check on it whenever the bus comes to a halt. However, with extra precautions and packing your bike efficiently, you can transport it on a plane and lastly, I would recommend a Train. A train is the most unsecured-high damage chances way of transportation.

Professionals Bike Packers: Please feel free to add anything in case I have missed it in the comment section.

If you have any questions related to transporting cycles in a train, or a place, or busses or car racks, leave the comments and I will get back to you.

Check out a video from my YouTube channel.

How Good Is Your Mobile in low light? Tip’s and Trick’s

Varun Tyagi
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1
How Good Is Your Mobile in low light? Tip’s and Trick’s

This article will help you in understanding the features you have on your phone for Low Light Photography. We all love clicking pictures of our rides. If I talk about my city, this has now become a craze to click amazing pictures and share in your respective cycling groups. Clicking Pictures In Low Light has now become an integrated skill.

I see a lot of my rider friends clicking amazing pictures during their night ride. However, night photography often comes with blurry images, complete loss of detail & background washed out with excessive flash. Frustrating to the core! So let us put an end to all the frustration as in this article I would take you through low light photography tips, tricks, and settings.

Now, the point is, that changing mobile phones won’t help you out. All those companies selling high end expensive mobile phones are here to rip you off. Unfortunately, it’s true. You just need to pay attention to a few details on your mobile phone camera and your pictures will be great.

Tips, Tricks & Settings

Mobile Tripod

use Tripod For Low Light Photography
Use Tripod For Low Light Photography

I have advised the same in my earlier post related to mobile photography It is very important to keep your mobile stable. Even a slight wobble in your nerves is enough to distort your image.

This is because unlike in a day when the light is optimum camera sensor uses the short exposure to click the picture. At night exactly the opposite happens.

The camera sensor knows that the light is not enough so the mobile camera automatically uses the long exposure to click to gather more light. So if your hands are shaky the image will be blurry.

You can buy one from Amazon by clicking the link here You will get a lot of cheap tripods stands on Amazon which is easy to carry.

Also, It can be quite a pain to carry the tripod for a few people, so I always advise people to make a natural tripod. E.g. try keeping mobile against a wall or a table and set it on auto timer. It works!

Use Flash Or Not?

A question which baffles most people while doing low light photography. Well, to be honest, flash is good and should be used. After all, that’s the utility of that inbuilt feature.

However very cautiously. Too close and the flash is going to make the image so bright that your subject looks overexposed.

Too far from the subject and you will get a dark underexposed image. I recommend to find out the correct apt distance, this can only be done with practice.

Moreover, when you are not sure about using flash then try to modify the angle and try to find more light.

HRD Mode – A Mode That Very Few Know About

Before I make you understand the HDR mode, please look at the image below.

Clicked With HRD Mode On Mobile
Clicked With HRD Mode On Mobile

Now, this mode is to be used when you have damn steady hands or if You are using a Tripod.

What this mode does is that HRD takes a bunch of pictures like any burst shot and then combines them.

The combination is done to get a better dynamic range of the photo. The above image was shot in the HDR mode from Samsung Galaxy A6.

“Bottom Line: Use a tripod if You are using HDR mode or else look for a night mode”

 Do Not Zoom when doing Low Light Photography

Low light photography
Images clicked by Samsung Galaxy A6

Do not ever zoom when using your mobile phone to take pictures in low light. People do not use the zoom on the mobile ever! You will end up getting a blurry image.

You can click on the no zoom mode and then crop later, the results will be the same. However, if you zoom into your subject you will end up getting a blurry image.

Use The Pro/Manual Mode for Low Light Photography

I recommend using the Pro/Manual Mode on your mobile camera.

This way you have better control over the key deciding factors in the image like exposure, ISO, and shutter speed.

This way you can look at the picture and then tweak the setting to get the desired results.

Mobile Applications & Editing

There are tons of editing/digitally developing image software. All of them are good, If I were to use a few, they would be Snapseed, Pic Art photo Studio, Image Editor and the list goes on.

These applications are both available for iOS and Android users for free. There are certain professional features which are locked, however, you can get those even by paying to the creator.

Furthermore, you always have the king of the image-editing market “Photoshop” to make any changes in the images.

Low light photography settings and tips

For settings I would suggest to keep you aperture wide open to get maximum light to your camera sensor. ISO should vary between 800 to 1600, anymore then that you would get a grainy image if not using tripod.

With shutter speed you can do wonders. Slow shutter speed shots are ridiculously famous and the images are worth looking at. Slow shutter speed also lets you capture more light as it keep the shutter open for long.

Low Light Photography tips, tricks, and settings – Summing Up

Low light photography is fun, only if you understand the basics of it.

The clicking part is easy, you just have to spend a little time tweaking settings and finding camera angles with the proper amount of light.

“Everyone can do it! It only takes a little time to learn”

I have summed up these basic pointers to keep in mind when you are riding in the night and want to click amazing pictures.

If you have any questions about lowlight photography tips, tricks, and settings please leave them in the comments section. I will try to get back to you.

4 Profitable ways To Make Money Online

Varun Tyagi
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0
4 Profitable ways To Make Money Online

Making money is always difficult. Especially when you are leaving all the boring corporate stuff behind and are in pursuit of or hobbies. I left my job 2 years back. Since then I have blogged a lot, and created over 100 videos of my hobbies. This is one of my primary source of income, and in this post, I would explain as to how you can “Make Money Online”. 

My videos on YouTube mainly belong to the field of Travel, Cycling, Photography & Fitness. These things which defined me were almost gone when I jumped into an abyss of making money. My daily scheduled started by dragging myself from the bed and going to an office which I hated, but since I had no choice, I had to keep on doing it.

“Visit My YouTube Channel“

Corporate Office Was Not My Cup Of Tea

I felt disgusted and unhappy waking up every morning. I knew I had to do something which did not make me happy.

As a result of which I started staying under pressure, had anxiety issues, was depressed all the time.

After 9 years I was an obese 30-year-old guy. Social life was gone and personal life was devastated, this is exactly what working for something that you don’t feel is great, does to you.

The Idea To Make Money Online

The idea to make money online is great. However, it takes a lot of time and patience.

When I started blogging I was making a dollar a day. Yes, you heard it right, a dollar a day! However, with patience and time, I was able to increase this income.

The income gain was 50% more than the increment which I used to get in my previous companies.

There are a number of ways by which you can make money online, however, it does take a lot of time and patience. Listing all the ways below for beginners.

Ways To Make Money Online

Blogging

You would be surprised to know that the top blogging sites like HuffPost make $18 Million a month. It just did not stop here, the American giant AOL purchased HuffPost in a rocking deal of $315 Million. Now the current estimated value of this blogging site has crossed $1 billion marks.

However, it took them time and a lot of planning to get here. Similarly, if you have a flair for writing and blogging, you can make money through this innovative online business. However, it has now become tough as the number one ads serving platform Google Adsense has tightened it’s rules when it comes to placing ads on blogging sites.

YouTube

Again stressing the point that Adsense has now made guidelines very strict for content creators online.

This is because there were a lot of content creators who were making content that was not apt for the people watching them.

Because of which YouTube did major changes in their monetization policies this year. You can watch a complete video below or by clicking the link which takes you to the post which I made for YouTube policies.

Affiliate Marketing

After the blogging culture made its way in making money online, the affiliate business popped up. 

It simply means that If I own a business and someone brings a customer through his reference, he/she gets a commission amount when the customer purchased the product or service.

In Lehman’s terms. Further explaining, I am Amazon.com’s affiliate partner and whenever anyone visits my blog or watches my videos on my YouTube Channel, and clicks on the Amazon link, I get a commission out of whatever the visitor purchases. However, this takes time as your audience will take time to build and the clicks on the links would be less at the start.

Become A freelancer worker

I prefer this as the payout is good and then I get to work according to my terms and time. I make websites that are right now a good business to make money. Normally a developer who works for any firm makes a limited amount of money. However, when you work as a freelancer developer the scope of money being generated is more. The net profit comes to you. However, it does take a little time to develop a profitable clientele.

Way’s Above!

The 4 ways to make money above are the most efficient and once your blog, or channel or affiliate audience grows the returns are substantial. This is how I have been making my money to travel, cycle, and pursue my passions.

In case you have any more ways to earn online please mention in the comments below. Let’s get another source of income.

Learn more about affiliate programs.

Preparing For Cycling Tours

Varun Tyagi
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2
Preparing For Cycling Tours

I have done a lot of cycling tours in the last 2 years. Most of them were in and around my town of Jaipur within a grasp of a few city miles. The longest being my cycling trip to Pushkar. Almost all the cycling tours that I did were maximum of a day or two, this is the first time when I am doing a cycle tour of 6 days in the mountains. In this article, I am laying down all the facts from my previous tours.

Even though I would say that I am not a professional in this but I will try and include the maximum. Before starting would like to says with the experience that adventure cycling tours are a bit tough as crossing mountain passes on a cycle requires a level of physical fitness and determination.

Watch my previous tour here.

A few Weeks Back!

It takes a lot of planning to make, execute, and come back successfully from any tour. I started planning this tour in the month of April, a month before. I have an upcoming cycling tour in the month of July, in which I would be doing Manali to Leh cycling expedition.

Your Physical State Matters in any cycle tour

Varun Tyagi from ShutterholicTV Blog
That’s me! Trying to look tough! PC: Yuvraaj Dagur

Keeping fit is always a priority when it comes to any cycling tour. The kind of brutal conditions you might go through is unimaginable. That too when you know that your cycling tours are going to be in the mountains. I am so not into running as my first love is and always will be cycling.

However, as advised by a doctor friend I started running a little to shed that extra fat in the body. Guess what? It has done wonders for me. My stamina has increased considerably in just a few run regimes and I feel more confident.

“Make sure you are in a good physical state to execute a tour like this, being a lazy sloth will not help you”

Cycling Tour Plan & Itinerary

This is the most problematic part of conducting cycling tours. Planning requires you to make use of your brain to the utmost, unlike short distance cycling where you use majorly your legs and don’t think too much. I would recommend taking help from anyone that you can find who has done tours before.

If you have someone whom you know in the place where you are going, it’s great! I have a friend in Manali, he is a local and knows every nook and corner of town. As a result of which I was able to finalize an itinerary of my cycling tour. Sharing the same with you all.

Cycling Tours in India
On the way to Chatru near Batal in Spiti valley!
  • Tour starts on May 18th, 2018. I will board the bus from Jaipur to Manali via Delhi. My bike will be in the luggage compartment 
  • Upon arrival, I will check in to the hotel, get fresh from the overnight journey. Post which I would go for the Basisht trek in order to get acclimatized to the weather and high altitude in Manali. 
  • On the second day, I would be cycling from Manali to Solang valley which is a mesmerizing tourist place. It’s at a distance of 24 km from Manali. 
  • The third day would be the toughest, as I will climb to Rohtang La pass which is 50 Km from Manali and it mostly incline. Phew!
  • On the fourth day, I will be heading to a beautiful place called Manikaran and would be camping in Kasol village which is 5 km from Kasol.
  • On the fifth day, I will cycle to Tosh village which is one of the most beautiful places I have seen ever, and then would return back to kasol village. 
  • Finally, on the sixth day, I will return back to Manali enjoying the downhill slopes of the Kasol valley. Board the bus to Jaipur and then head back home.

How To Transport Your Bike

At times while touring you might need to transport your bike to a certain location and then start from there. A cycle tour does not often start from your doorstep and finishes at the same spot.

Transporting yourself is easy, bike a little difficult. Considering the fact that I am not a trained or skilled mechanic and I am still learning how to put up a bike together. I would be transporting the assembled bike in the luggage compartment of the Volvo bus. There is enough space for transportation.

However, while setting it up just make sure the edges and parts of the cycles are well protected. You do not want a broken/scratched bike when you reach your destination. if you are traveling in normal express busses you might have to load your bike on the roof which is a hefty task and your bike might get damaged. The Volvo compartment is the safest. So this time I am transporting my bike in the luggage compartment of a Volvo Bus.

What To Carry On Cycling Tours

cycling tours in manali
There is never a list!

People might have different opinions on this subject, however, there is no specific list. Cycling in the mountains is a risky sport, and you never know what might hit you on the road. However, there are few basic and important things that I would recommend you to carry on a cycle tour.

  • Two extra tire tubes – In case you get a flat tire and there is no scope of repair
  • Puncture/Flat Repair Kit – In case you do not get any Mechanic you can fix the tube yourself
  • Allen key – For any minor issues, which would require you to make adjustments
  • Saddlebag – You can keep handy things here like your phone, purse & waterproof bag
  • Water bottles and energy bars, better yet carry a hydration pack too

I can make a list which goes on and on as nothing is always sufficient, however, these basic things would help you to not get into any major trouble

Summing Up Adventure Cycling Tours

I really cannot write an article about the things very extensively right now as the tour is yet to begin. but this is how I am preparing for this trip.

Cycling Tours in Manali
View from Basisht hill!

More importantly, it is required to mentally very fit as compared to physically being fit. These kinds of cycling tours require immense determination and a rigid attitude.

I would keep on updating you guys about the tour preparations. I am currently preparing myself physically by running in the evenings and cycling in the morning. If you have any questions about the cycle tours please let me know in the comments section.

Professional Riders: I request you to please add things that I have missed here in the comment section about adventure cycling tours. I would love to add and make this article better with your inputs.

Stay tuned for my adventure cycling tours by following me on Instagram below.

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How To Prepare For Long Distance Cycling

Varun Tyagi
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5
How To Prepare For Long Distance Cycling

I am a fan of long distance cycling. Ever since I bought my first bike, which was a HUGE HDT 10, I always wanted to ride long distances on my bike. I read a lot of articles online about long-distance cycling and was confused and did not know where to start. the long-distance cycle ride is something that every cyclist want’s to do, however only a few succeed.

Even though there are a lot of articles on the web to help you make it happen, no one explains in Lehman’s language. So let’s start. Always remember long-distance cycle ride is more of a mind game than a physical assault on your body. We will also look at the merits of long-distance cycle touring.

A Day Before long-distance cycling ride or long distance cycle touring

The first step before attempting a long cycle ride is to check whether your bike in good condition or not. Check the tire pressure, make sure the gear shifting is perfect, check for anything that might get you into a problem while on the ride.

I rode my bike a day before in the evening just to make sure that everything is ok with my bike.

I found that the air pressure was not right on the rear wheel so did the needful. By the time I got back home, my bike was perfect for the next day-long ride.

Ride Day

There are a few important things before you start your ride. I am listing all of them below for your understanding.

Before long-distance cycling starts

Firstly make sure that you start early. The ideal start time would be anywhere from 4 AM to 5 AM. Of course, you do not want to miss your office. In the place that I come from, summers are unforgiving. (Jaipur, Rajasthan, India) The temperature here in summers can go as high as 50 degrees Celsius that is about 114-degree Fahrenheit. Enough to boil or roast you. Everyone likes those tanned cycling legs, however, I prefer not to have them. I start as early as 3 AM on the ride day.

Eat Before You Ride

One of the most important things is to eat something before the ride. Never ever ride an empty stomach. You will be needing a lot of energy for the ride. The idea behind eating is that your body only stores a little number of carbohydrates. Carbohydrates act as a fuel for any form of exercise that you may do. Keeping your body fueled up is the most important thing to do before you go on any kind of ride. Keep it topped up! I usually eat a couple of bananas or a peanut butter sandwich before I start any ride.

Warm-Up before long-distance cycling

To prepare your body for the long cycle ride ahead it is advisable to do few warm-up exercises before you begin.

I have prepared a video to show you some basic warm-up exercises that one should do before you begin your cycle ride. Watch the video below.

Things to carry on a ride

long distance cycling in Jaipur

There are quite a few things that you need to carry while going for a ride. Especially long-distance ones. Firstly hydration pack or ample amount of water which of course as you know is a life savior in any life-threatening situation.

I usually carry two water bottles while going for a ride. Carry a hydration pack if you can get hold of it. For eating although there are numerous options available out on the road, however, I do carry few energy bars with me. In case I am riding on a stretch where there is a scarcity of places to eat.

“My friends suggested having another bottle with an energy drink like glucose, electrol, enerzal or elecrobion. If in case you need sudden energy boost it would be very helpful”

“I also recommend carrying a simple cycle toolkit, extra tire tubes, puncture kit in case you know how to use one. Also, keep an ID proof with handy cash. Also, try and get a sticker that can have your name and emergency contact number in case of any trouble on the road.

On The Ride

Ride With Your Group

long distance cycle touring

I usually ride along with my group as it’s fun and this way I cover more distance without getting bored. Also if I get into any trouble there is plenty of help available. This is always not the case at times when I ride solo and get stuck I have to deal with the problem myself. (PS: This will, in fact, make you a stronger cyclist)

Ride Strategy for long-distance cycling

This is what usually I prefer and do. I break my long cycle ride in three halves. So supposing if it’s a 100 KM ride. I break the distance into three parts. First 40 KM’s I ride at a steady pace and try not to stop for anything. I have the hydration support on my bike so I do not have to stop. I also make sure that I do not exert more during the first 40 KM’s of my ride.

You have to save energy for the rest of your ride. After 40 Km’s I take a break of 10 to 15 minutes max, as taking more breaks might settle you in that uneasy and unwanting muscle fatigue phase.

You might not want to ride more. The second phase is when I use my energy levels to keep the steady pace that I had before. Post about completing 80% of my ride I take a second break, and again the rest is of not more than 10 to 15 minutes.

long distance cycling | long distance cycle touring

Hang on your journey is almost complete! Long distance cycle ride is coming to an end.

The last phase of your journey is the most important and will drain all your energy by the time you reach home. Make sure that you eat something in the second break to replenish your energy level.

If you want to keep the same pace, give it everything you got. I normally ride slow not exerting too much. The idea is to complete the ride successfully without causing any muscle fatigue.

“I would also recommend carrying a power bank on long-distance cycle touring to support your phone battery. In case you are tracking your ride on STRAVA”

After the long-distance cycle ride or long-distance cycle touring!

Welcome back, home buddy! Your body will now demand serious rest and will force you to lie down or sit for some time and have plenty of water.

Don’t do this! You will need to do some stretching exercises to make sure your body cools down. In the same way, it’s important to warm up your body. It’s equally important to cool down your body to prevent any injuries. The best way to do this by stretching exercises.

Visit my YouTube channel for more cycling Vlogs.

Now once you are back from the ride and are done with the stretching of your body. Its time to relax and few beers as they are well deserved.

And that feeling when Your Strava stats look like……!

long distance cycling | long distance cycle ride on Strava | long distance cycle touring

I hope there are a few good things that you may have picked from this article. In case you think I have missed something out, please let me know in the comments below.

Watch the video of 100 km cycling tips below on my YouTube channel.

Check out my brevet journey of 200 km

Leave the comments and I will try to get back to you ASAP.

Happy cycling!

Mobile Photography Tips For Cyclists

Varun Tyagi
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4
Mobile Photography Tips For Cyclists

Welcome to another photography article. In this article, I would take you through mobile photography tips for cyclists to keep in mind while clicking pictures through mobile phones on your rides. The digital era has made dramatic changes in our lifestyle. Everyone likes clicking pictures and they want their images to stand out.

However, not all people carry an expensive DSLR camera, or GoPro’s. It is literally impossible to survive without a mobile phone these days. Mobile phones not only serve the purpose of being connected but with the market now flooded with the new camera integrated mobile phones. So in this article, I would give out a few tips and tricks for mobile photography for cyclists

Let me show you how to take exceptional pictures with your mobile phone.

Tip’s & Tricks

I go on cycle rides with my friends very often. It is difficult to carry over 2 KG of your equipment, the weight just cuts down your performance. So I do not like carrying my bulky DSLR camera, however, I do carry my GoPro and my mobile phone. Check out how good is your mobile phone and can it adjust to light automatically?

Mobile photography first tip for cyclists – Light source

Mobile Photography Tips Light Effect
Click with Samsung A6 2015

Now the most important fact is that It’s all about lighting. The more light your mobile camera sensor catches more beautiful your images come out.

Shattering Mega Pixels Myth: Guys, a megapixel is not important, the sensor has to be large in size. The bigger the better. The above image is clicked with a 6 Mega Pixel Camera settings.

Mobile Photography Tips for cyclists | Keep a check on image size and ratio

It is never about the megapixels that people keep discussing. I find that quite funny! Always keep in mind that the sensor of the camera should be large.

An image sensor is a solid-state device, the part of the camera’s hardware that captures light and converts what you see through a viewfinder or LCD monitor into an image.

The more light, the more clear your picture will be. That is why I always tell people that the subject should always be in front of the light source. So for a cyclist, stand facing the sun and wear your sunglasses. The compare the picture that you clicked while not facing the camera. This is the first tip of the mobile photography tips.

Mobile photography second tip for cyclists – Do not zoom

Clicked by Samsung A6

The worst thing that you can do while clicking pictures with a mobile phone is using the zoom. Do not use the mobile zoom ever, always move to your subject or a focused area to click. Why did I say this? Well, the point is that if you are not using a tripod for a stable image, you would end up getting a blurry image in zoom as even a minor twitching of nerves of your hand would get the camera of your mobile out of focus. You can click first and then can crop/zoom through any of the development software.

Mobile photography third tip for cyclists – Use a tripod

Try not to share your hands while clicking pictures. I use a tripod to get a stable platform and use timer/burst shots to take a stable image. Mobile tripods are cheap and you can order them from Amazon by clicking here. You will get the same in 500 INR. It’s very effective equipment if you are thinking of taking up serious photography. Very effective while taking timed shots.

Mobile photography fourth trick for cyclists – Create angles

Look for fresh perspective people. This is something that if you copy, looks fake. I have seen a lot of people copying the angles which I use, but they end up doing a worse job when it comes to final results. Use your imagination to find unique angles that people have never seen. A fresh and new angle always attracts the audience.

“This is tried and tested! It works all the time! Copying is for losers! “

Mobile photography fifth trick for cyclists – Clean your camera lens

smartphone hand light woman photography color macro lady video picture photograph image elephants single lens reflex camera

This is not done by most people. They just take out the phones from their pocket, click and then keep it back. Try this: Your phones are in your pocket most of the time. They are bound to get dirty. Always keep a soft cloth to clean your lens whenever you go on a photography trip. Clean the lens and take the picture, you will see remarkable differences in the pictures. A very small thing but creates an awesome clicking experience.

Most Important – Enjoy your clicks!

“THE MOST IMPORTANT RULE IS TO ENJOY THE CLICKING AND MORE IMPORTANTLY ENJOY WITH YOUR RIDER BUDDIES”

This is by far the most important rule. I ride with my friends, most of them are amazing. obviously, if you are emotionally connected with your friends, your pictures would be amazing. A photographer who is always emotionally connected with the subject, bring out the beauty in them on his/her clicks.

Summing up if you keep in mind these mobile photography tips you will click phenomenal pictures.

Happy clicking! If you are looking to purchase a new phone from Amazon, check the links for phone phones for mobile photography below.

If you are using DSLR to click your pictures and still getting blurry images? Check out this article.

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