June 3, is the world bicycle day and despite being part of the PedalYatri group since 2009, I didn’t know that the group was formed on that day !!
Krishnan and I have not been riding regularly in the last few years but our love for cycling is just the same. As always I am struggling to re-start ….. once I do, it will be back to being “Paagal” Yatris as my mother calls us.
The 14th birthday of PedalYatri group was celebrated in a slightly different way than we usually do. For one none of us were in our riding gear as it was in the evening. The traffic was crazy. Since it was Family Day we also had non-cyclist family members joining us.
As it is, Krishnan and I don’t remember that we are at an age when 40 year olds can call us Uncle and Aunty 🙄 and the PY 14th birthday celebration just confirmed why. I was 40 in 2009 !!!
PedalYatri’s 14th Birthday
When we were just about to begin celebrating … in walked a celebrity soldier. Col Rajyavardhan Rathore joined us in person ! None of us were surprised ofcourse because Rajesh has always been involved with sports bodies at the highest levels, but it was still a special moment for all of us. I guess every single one of us there would have stood up if someone announced that an Indian army Soldier was joining us – irrespective of who the person was. Here was someone who has brought laurels to the country in the Olympics as well, so he deservedly got a standing ovation.
Col Rathore is a 4th generation soldier first, an Olympic silver medal winning shooter next and a Politician last. Its people like him and Annamalai, who join politics because for them its always country first and being a politician is just another way to serve the nation. Thank you Col. Rathore for your continued service 🙏🏿.
We had another celebrity, actor Pravin Dabas and his wife Preeti joining us as well.
Kushal took on the emcee’s role and did a fantastic job of it. He is a natural. We got to see a short video with a collage of different rides over the years. Kushal tried putting me on the spot to speak, but like I told him, I am the “spot” (Bindu) so I can’t be put on the spot. We had Bhoomika sing a medley and then young Sanaa and Khushi took over the stage with their amazing songs !!
In between, we had lots of sharing from PY’s about how it is being a part of the group. Krishnan and I missed the “old” gang … Anand, Ganesh, Jasbir, Sanjit and Atam, Ajay, Venu, Sachin, Bobby, Muthu, Rajan, Naveen, Vivek, Anant, Rajesh Tiwary, Nitish, Rupesh, Prabhat, Pavane and so many more people.
Krishnan also shared about his injuries while riding … the fractures and ofcourse our wonderful (late) Dr. Bharat Inder Singh. I kicked myself several times during the celebrations for letting go of this “habit”.
Several prominent sports personalities like Pullela Gopichand, Gautam Gambhir and Geeta Phogat had sent in their video greetings. Rajesh had an impromptu “guftagu” with Col Rathore. It was great to see how fit Col Rathore is, a huge inspiration for all of us to keep exercising and remain on the fitness journey.
There was amazing cake, fantastic snacks and food to round off the evening.
PedalYatri – Blast from the Past
These pics are from 2009 …. beautiful memories but also hoping they rekindle the passion for cycling.
A big thank you to Jagdish, Kushal, Ajeet, Manish and all the organisers for an outstanding celebration 👏👏
Hoping to have a grander celebration when PY turns 15 and hopefully Krishnan and I have added a few thousand kilometres on the cycle before that !! 🤞🏿🤞🏿