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I always loved this wonderful quote from Lance Armstrong, the world’s great Cycling Champion.

It was still a theoretical knowledge for me, until I had my very own first hand experience of this quote, two weeks ago. I decided to go on a cycling trip to Nandi Hills which is 65kms from my home in Bangalore. It was all because of those enthusiastic bikers from Bangalore Bicycle Champions (BBCh) group. I’ve heard a lot about the tough steep 8kms climb of Nandi hills, but never had a chance to go there.

The moment I got an e-mail on this trip, I decided to join these folks to explore this ride to Nandi. I knew this is going to be my first long ride just after I started cycling again 2 months ago. Though I enrolled myself to this trip, once I got to know from Google Maps that, the distance is around 65kms from my home I was full of doubts and worries. It’s going to be 100k+ in a single day ride and that’s first time for me. I was not sure about myself, I had my own inhibitions if I will complete the full distance. I thought I could anyway stop and come back whenever I feel like not going further, but if I miss this opportunity then I’ll miss a wonderful experience and a great chance to experiment on my own endurance levels.

It was planned on a Sunday; we were supposed to assemble near Hebbal Fly Over at 6.30am. The previous evening I did clean up my cycle, checked tyre pressure, brakes and other basic things of my dear Hercules ACT 110. Though I tend to sleep little long on weekends, my biological clock came to my rescue as usual it does on important days in life. I woke up at 4.30am, got ready and started from my home at 5.30am. My wife insisted me to carry additional bottle with my regular one which, indeed helped me during the tough times of my ride – the last few kms of Nandhi Hills.

@6.00am:
I reached Hebbal Flyover and proceeded towards Esteem Mall where I had to wait for almost 45mins. I think I was little early due to the excitement about my first long ride. Then came all other bikers from Cubbon Park. After small introductions we all started together towards New Airport on the Devanahalli highway. It was a real fun riding all the way till we reached a small junction that turns towards right from the highway near Chikkaballapur. I was already tired riding 45kms in one stretch and I heard from Yogesh our coordinator for the trip that it’s just 12kms more to the foot of Nandhi. The next 12kms was exciting especially thanks to the quality of good roads without much of traffic. It was lots of fun riding that 12kms stretch.

@8.30am:
We were at the foot of Nandhi. I understand that, there is just 8kms more to reach the peak our finish point. After a little while I realised that this 8kms is much more difficult and challenging than all the 58mks we’ve covered till now. It was too steep and my thighs started paining severely. I thought this is no way all possible for me, it’s better to stop here and wait down the hill for others to come back. Let’s be honest, in some situations quitting feels great as it instantly removes all the pain and all difficulties seems to be over just like that. Simple, Just Quit and it will be Over. Quitting gives us one guarantee for sure; all the pain and agony are over. But I realized that it’s highly impossible for me to go back with that guilt of not completing the ride without climbing the hill top after riding more than 60kms to reach here. It’s really a great injustice to me and my own commitment, if I don’t complete this.

@9.15am:
Sun was already scorching through my helmet. Halfway through the steep hairpin bends of Nandhi hills, I decided to take on the challenge, fight through the pain and try all possible to reach the hill top and be a winner. It became way too difficult for me to push the pedals through last few kms. It was really really steep, looked like almost 90deg angle for me. I did stopped very often to take a quick 1min break and I know if I wait for too long, all my muscles will start relaxing and going ahead will become tough. So, I decided to take some quick breaks in between small distances and keep on going. I repeatedly said this wonderful quote “Pain is Temporary, Quitting is Forever”. Yes, I wanted to taste the victory over that mighty Nandhi hill by conquering it’s peak.

@9.50am:
I tweeted like this “Six more kms to hill top. I must do it. Come on Siva you can.

@11.15am:
My tweet said: “Standing on top of Nandi Hills. Feeling like on top of the world. Good job Siva. Kudos”.

Imagine if I had gone down half way, I would never have this wonderful feeling of standing on top of the world. Only because I decided to overcome that temporary pain, I could cherish the permanent pleasure of reaching the hill top. That’s a life time experience, I could ever forget. It’ll remain for ever.

@4.30pm:
It became too difficult to come back, as most of us were at our own pace and I had to cycle all the way alone from New Airport to home. Yes, it was a real test for my endurance. I was thinking of hiring an auto or hopping on to any of those volovo buses. But, I had a strong thought that if I could climb Nandhi hills, then this is nothing in front of me. So, I did cycle home as I know my loving wife is waiting with delicious Lunch prepared for me.

End of the day it was satisfying and full filling achievement in my life.

Now, with all my first hand experience I can really say,

Pain is Temporary, Quitting is Forever and Winning is Everlasting.

Thanks for Visiting my Blog.

With Love,
Anbusivam

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