3 friends pedal from Mumbai to Kanyakumari as they 'work from cycle'

Photo for representational purpose

While work from home (WFH) became the order of the day amidst the COVID-19 pandemic for most people around the world, three men from Maharashtra logged-in for work while on a cycling trip.

Bakcen George, Allwyn Joseph and Ratish Bhalerao decided to give a whole new dimension to the WFH concept during their month-long cycling trip. They pedalled from Mumbai to Kanyakumari, covering a distance of 1,687 kilometres, stated a report in The Indian Express.

For work, the three professionals logged in from highway dhabas and lodges. Friends for more than two decades, they said working from home made travel and adventure enthusiasts like themselves feel stuck in a rut. So, instead of being caught up in negative thoughts and feeling frustrated in such trying times, they decided to make "Working from Cycle" a reality. Although it had its share of challenges, the trio said "it was worth it".

George (31) had made up his mind on going for his third long-distance cycling trip in November. He later asked his two closest friends if they were interested. But while George got plenty of time for preparation, others agreed to join in only two days before his journey started in late November, last year. The group of friends reached journey's end in December.

"It was worth it for sure. We enjoy both kinds of vacations and holidays. Family vacations have their charm, but adventure holidays are like a gift to yourself. Cycling doesn't feel like a chore. It's liberating and exhilarating," George said. While he agreed that travelling so much in heat and rain was tough, he said such challenges have to be faced and overcome even on regular vacations.

"The gadgets only added to the weight on our bicycles, which was the only downside. However, work gave us an excuse to stop by local dhabas, build our own makeshift workstations which was fun in itself," he added.

Explaining how they managed to complete the trip, Joseph said, "Our only goal was to reach the destination. The idea was to take one day at a time. We would typically start as early as 4 am and try our best to reach a commonly agreed destination by 11 am to start work."

The 37-year-old professional said that they clocked 80 km daily, on an average, with longer rides over the weekends. Adding that it was a little taxing in the initial couple of days, he said they soon managed to familiarise themselves with the routine.

Although their schedule did not allow them to explore everything around them as normal tourists do, they said that it was non-touristy stuff that captured their attention and make the journey memorable.

"The best part was experiencing different lifestyles, talking to locals and trying their cuisine. The overall experience of riding along beautiful scenic routes was beautiful and enriching," Bhalerao said.

Equating cycling to ‘meditating', he added, "Even though we were cycling, we got a lot of time to spend with each other, to think and reflect about life in general."

"Taking pit stops over grassy fields, lying on our backs, we would stare at the skies above in the silence of nature. Dusty, sweaty but at peace. These are the moments we got back with us," the 36-year-old added. For their nearly a month-long trip, they cycled through picturesque routes in Pune, Satara, Kolhapur, Belgaum, Hubali, Davanagere, Bengaluru, Salem, Madhuri and Tirunelveli.

The budget-travellers said that they spent around Rs 25,000 each for the journey, with most of it going towards lodging, which involved staying at hotels for over 26 days.

Asked if the COVID-19 situation posed any challenges while travelling, George said, "Apart from a few hotels denying stay due to Covid restrictions, we did not face any other major problem due to the pandemic." In fact, he said the pandemic presented an opportunity for them to chase this long-cherished goal while not compromising on office work.

The culmination of the journey was not just a delightful experience for the trio but even for their seniors and colleagues at work. "Our managers supported us, while telling us to make sure work doesn't get hampered. We respected that. Our co-workers were overjoyed and excited for us. When we completed our cycling trip, they were really happy and proud," Joseph added.

Although the trip was tedious, the group said it was rewarding and enriching as well. They said that with a proper mindset and even basic bicycles, a similar feat could be accomplished by anyone willing to embark on such a journey.