Twelve-year-old Aanoash Chichgar was the youngest member of the Life Cycle Group to complete the 182-km stretch from Surat to the 182-meter-tall Statue of Unity at Kevadia in 11 hours.
The 52 cyclists of the Life Cycle Group started the Unity Ride in Surat on January 6 at 5.30 a.m. and crossed Bardoli, Mandvi, Netrang and Rajpipla. The stretch from Netrang to Rajpipla was the toughest as the cyclists had to maneuver steep slopes, rough roads and strong winds, mentions his mother Maharukh.
Besides his regular five kilometers routine on his Hybrid cycle, Maharukh believes that "Kudo taught him discipline, determination and stamina” that helped Aanoash complete the ride. Studying in seventh standard at St Xavier’s School, Aanoash also enjoys acting, swimming and basketball.
Top: members of the Life Cycle Group at the Statue of Unity at Kevadia;
above (from far l): Burzin Dordi, Zubin Olpadwala, Yezdi Dapotawala; Aanoash Chichgar
The other cycling champions from Surat who completed this trip were Yezdi Dapotawala and Burzin Dordi. These two cyclists, along with Zubin Olpadwala were among the 18 cyclists of the Life Cycling Green who undertook a treacherous route over icy roads in the desolate regions of Arunachal Pradesh from January 22 to February 5, 2019. They covered a distance of 500 km and climbed up to a height of 14,500 m, noted a press release sent by erstwhile cricket umpire Keki Doodhwala of Surat who also sent a brief on these three cyclists.
Dapotawala, who has been cycling for the last eight years, regularly rides 28 km five times a week. He has completed The Impossible Race (151 km of unchartered forests) in 2015, 2016 and 2017, the Spiti Valley (Manali Shimla) expedition in 2016, and other trips from Surat to Saputara (175 km in eight hours), to Manor (200 km in 10 hours). Being a good athlete, Dapotawala has also participated in the 10 km, 21 km and 25 km marathons, and he represented the Zoroastrian Club, Surat at the All Parsis Athletic Meet in Bombay last month where he earned a silver in shot put and bronze in 100 m run and long jump. Further, he represents the Surat team at the Jiji Irani cricket tournament each year.
Dordi, who has been cycling for the last four years, regularly rides almost 38 km five times a week. He had undertaken The Impossible Race in 2015 and 2016. He too is a marathon runner. Olpadwala, who has taken to cycling in the last three years, rides 25 km three times a week. All three of them have participated in cycling events at night in the forest of the Dang region.