To Combat BP Kudla’s Cyclist Anil Shet took Up Cycling in 2014 & Completed 75K Kms on 15 Dec 2019
To Combat Blood Pressure (BP) and Diabetes, Kudla’s Cyclist Anil Shet took Up Cycling in 2014 & Completed 75,000 kilometers on 15 Dec 2019
Mangaluru : “Life is like riding a bicycle.To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” had said Albert Einstein- and this cyclist from Mangaluru 40-years-old Electronics engineer Anil Shet, an admin of Mangalore Cycling Club (MACC), has great passion for cycling that he has enjoyed this hobby by pedaling for fun and glory since 2014, and this sport has kept him moving in his life. Not only cycling has kept Anil healthy, it has also brought him name and fame. Bravo to a big achiever!
‘Forget Apples! Even if there is a saying that “A Apple a Day, Keeps the Doctor Away- but cycling a day keeps the doctor at bay .Cycling is low-impact exercise that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, from young children to older adults. Regular cycling has many physical and mental health benefits. It is one of the best ways to reduce your risk of health problems such as Blood Pressure, stroke, heart attack, some cancers, depression, diabetes, obesity and arthritis. To be fit and healthy you need to be physically active. Riding your bicycle regularly is one of the best ways to reduce your risk of health problems associated with a sedentary lifestyle. It is also fun, cheap and good for the environment. Also riding to work or the shops is one of the most time-efficient ways to combine regular exercise with your everyday routine.
Having started his cycling journey in 2014 for getting back to a fit and healthy lifestyle, and also to combat his Blood Pressure and Diabetes, Anil’s level of interest in cycling increased and has been pedaling since then, which resulted in a lot of change in his lifestyle and fitness. Moreover he has inspired many to take up cycling on a regular basis. When it comes to cycling for Anil Shet and his mentor Godfrey Pinto, (Anil’s Cycling Guru), they have always been encouraging themselves and cyclists around to be regular. Ït was Godfrey who inspired and motivated me to take up cycling, and his training in cycling has helped me in a long run, and also improved my health within three months after taking up cycling regularly, for which I am grateful to him” said Anil.
Anil Shet’s objective through this mission was to achieve overall fitness and discipline in his life. He always says “being regular on a bicycle is any day better and satisfying than being faster on it”. Ever since he started cycling in 2014, he has undertaken 1437 cycle rides to combat this emerging Blood Pressure and Diabetes conditions. Having clocked 75,000 kms as of 15 December 2019, made him the FIRST cyclist in Dakshina Kannada to reach this coveted mark. Besides his weight loss, Anil has gained a total synchronization of his personal, work and fitness space through this disciplined approach and dedication.
When all the Members of Mangalore Cycling club and other well-wishers and friends congratulated him on this great feat, he said, this is just the beginning and he is aiming at cycling all 365 days of this calendar year, and aiming to touch the coveted one lakh kms in December 2021. For all his achievements, Anil is grateful to his Guru Godfrey Pinto, who is a ace Cyclist, and what a coincidence, it was on 15 December 2019, the day Godfrey Pinto who works in Gulf, got married here on 15 December 2019, the same day Anil reached his coveted 75,000 kms cycling.
“Bicycling, along with being the most efficient mode of human locomotion, is also one of the best all-around activities for improving our health. From head to toes, cycling’s health benefits are hard to beat. Cycling is good for your heart; Cycling is good for your muscles; Cycling is good for your waistline; Cycling is good for your lifespan; Cycling is good for your coordination; Cycling is good for your mental health and Cycling is good for your immune system-it can strengthen your immune system, and could protect against certain kinds of cancers. It can reduce Blood Pressure and diabetes symptoms” adds Anil..
Whether it’s to boost your fitness, health or bank balance, or as an environmental choice, taking up cycling could be one of the best decisions you ever make, says Anil who never regrets for taking up cycling five years ago, and since then has benefited a lot from it-relieving himself from health problems, and also has brought him name and fame. He says, ” Cycling will get to your destination faster than other vehicles during rush hours in the city; Cycling makes you- Sleep more deeply; Look younger; Boosts your bowels; Increases your brain power; Beats illness; Live longer; Save the planet; Heal your heart; Lose weight in the saddle; Avoid pollution; Enjoy healthy family time etc etc. So, if you’re feeling tired, take a ride!”
Anil Shet seen with his Mentor and Cycling Guru Godfrey Pinto
Having graduated from Manipal Institute of Technology, Anil worked for Bharath Electronics in Bengaluru for a while, but later quit his job and started his own firm-Beetle Developers, where he has constructed quite a few structures and buildings in Mangaluru. His lifestyle and business related tensions resulted in Anil developing Blood Pressure and a spike in his blood sugar level, thereby declaring him as diabetic medically. Speaking to Team Mangalorean he said, “It was in 2014, I decided to take up cycling and rode 5-6 kms early in the morning to control my BP and help me keep fit. Before I took up cycling I weighed 110 kg, and within three months into cycling I lost 20-30 kgs, and presently my weight is under 80 kg. How much better can it get when you love your ride and at the same time get healthier. I am now fit and fine.This foray into small rides, having completed the 200 km, 300 km, 400 km and 600 km rides, has since then turned into addiction that turned me into a Super Randonneur at present”
He said even though he pedaled 7353 km in 2014, the following year he clocked 10,707 km. The year after, he clocked 12,130 km and this reached 13,901 km in 2017. This never stopped him, instead Anil reached 14731 in 2019 in 2019, and 16226 km till December 15. In the 1437 rides that he has undertaken, Anil as per Strava- a social fitness network app has logged 75,049 km and his single longest ride was 604 km. In February 2018, he rode from Mangaluru to Kanyakumari covering a distance of 750 km in five days.
“There are scores of people in Mangaluru who buy bicycles but hardly a few ride them. It is painful to see a good graph of sales of bicycles in the City, but not too many of them on the road. It is with this view that I decided to ride all the way to Kanyakumari from Mangaluru last year. If I am able to inspire at least a few people, I will consider my initiative a success. Many people have drawn inspiration from my rides, and many have contacted me about cycling and its benefits. I will be more than willing to help enthusiasts, and it is with this intention that MACC will train those who want to learn cycling, from basic to advanced lessons in cycling”.
“I start my cycle ride daily for two hours from 5.30 am on weekdays, and this goes up exponentially on Sunday, where I ride for a minimum of 150-200 km. Incidentally, my son, Adithya who is eight, shares my passion for long rides and yearns to join me in those rides”. In conclusion, when asked what would be his message for Mangalorean.com readers, Anil Shet said, ” All I have to say again is that Cycling makes you a better person, a positive person, a positive thinker. It also keeps you away from bad habits like smoking and drinking. Thanks to cycling which kept me busy and improved my health. By waking up early and start riding your bike will keep you fresh and healthy. If I can do it at the age of 40, anyone can do cycling. There is no age bar-anyone can take up cycling as their hobby- and you’ll be glad that you did it. Happy cycling to all of you- and one of these days I may even run into you on the streets. So if you are deciding to take up cycling or want to join Mangalore Cycle Club (MACC), call me at 9844001251″.
