With Motto ‘Age Is Just a Number’ Duo Men in 60’s on a Cycling Mission to Cover 2500 Kms
With Motto ‘Age Is Just a Number- Enjoy Cycling, Enjoy life’ Duo Men Ramalingam Rajipillai aged 67, and Karpagam Sivaraj, aged 62, both from Chennai are on a Cycling Mission to Cover 2500 Kms, including three States-Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka, and one Union Territory-Pondicherry, in about 18 days
Mangaluru : As they say “Old is Gold!” and for that matter, “Age is Only A Number1” .We don’t believe age is any more than a mere number. Not with the present seniors in the twentieth century, in the glorious age of white hair and senior citizen benefits, their inner children are not only alive and well, they’re shaking things up to… literally. They are getting with the groove and having some fun and frolic at get-together, social gatherings and other fun occasions. And as they say that “Ageing is not ‘lost youth’, but a new stage of opportunity and strength”- there is no age limit when you are capable of having some fun and want to get into activities or try new ventures, even at the golden ripe age.
And to give an example to “AGE IS JUST A NUMBER”, here we have two young men in their sixties who have taken a challenge to travel three states and one union territory, not by car, bus or any other vehicle, instead cycling where they will pedal nearly 2500 kms in about 18 days. Team Mangalorean is proud to present Multi Grand Super Randonneur, Ramalingam Rajipillai, aged 67, and his co-rider Karpagam Sivaraj, aged 62, who has won the 2017 Super Randonneur” title, both from Chennai, who during a exclusive interview with “Yours Truly” talked about their challenges and pleasures of pursuing endurance cycling in their young ages of 60 plus.
With the motto “Age Is Just a Number- Enjoy Cycling, Enjoy Life’ both Men started their fun cycling journey from Chennai on 9 August 2019, on their journey towards Kanyakumari-Thiruvanandhapuram – Alaphuzha – Kochi -Kozhikode – Kannur – Udupi- Mangaluru – Mysore – Coimbatore – Salem, and culminate back in Chennai, probably on 26 or 27 August 2019, depending on the weather conditions. Covering three states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka, and one Union Territory-Pondicherry, they will cover nearly 2500 kms in about 18 days. “We are doing this cycling expedition fully self supported, however, we will be thankful if any of our cycling fraternity could offer some assistance for stay enroute during night. IOur journey is purely to spread the joy of cycling and convey that old age is nothing but an attitude!” said 67-year-old Ramalingam beaming with a smile and pride.
When the present generation of youngsters are commuting to school/college or other errands by different kinds of vehicles, they need to follow in the footsteps of these two seniors, who are on a mission to spread the word especially among the seniors that even after retirement or when they are into their old-age there is still much they can do, either involve themselves in co-curricular activities, yoga, exercise- but the best way to live a long, happy and healthier life is to take up CYCLING! “Age is not a barrier to be active. And for that matter, Cycling is the best way to keep oneself fit, physically and mentally and also keep them alert. Cycling also controls Blood Pressure, and health related symptoms. Therefore, I encourage the seniors to take a bold step and start cycling. If I in my 60 plus of age can do it, why not others in that age?” said Rajipillai.
“In your Retirement or old-age you should not be a couch-potato, thereby wasting your time sitting on the easy-chair or plush couch, or flipping the channels on TV Serials or just lying on the bed like a lazy person. 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. 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 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” added Ramalingam.
“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. 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; 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. Lose weight in the saddle; Avoid pollution; Enjoy healthy family time etc etc. So, if you’re feeling tired, take a ride on a bicycle!” said Ramalingam’s co-rider Karpagam Sivaraj
For 67-year-old Ramalingam Rajipillai, life has come full circle. There was a time when as a young man in the Chennai of the 60’s, Rajipillai rode a cycle to work everyday. And now, he cycles hundreds of kilometres between cities across tough terrains, pushing himself to complete some of the toughest endurance cycling events. Four years ago, he was gifted a hybrid cycle by his son-in-law. Today, the man holds multiple Super Randonneur titles.
“Last year, I developed pain in the thigh and the physiotherapist advised me to drop out of cycling, citing my age. But that failed to deter my spirit for sports. I gradually relieved myself of the pain and here I am, cycling in this expedition of over 2000 kms” said Ramalingam. A marathoner, Ramalingam has been following an active lifestyle throughout. “I was always into sports. Since I needed cross training for marathons, I chose cycling. And now, this has become my first love. I am more into cycling than running these days. I started off with 10 to 15 km a day and within a couple of months, I completed a 200 km BRM event. Successive events built my confidence levels and I went on to complete 600 kms within a year, bagging Grand Super Randonneur,” said Rajipillai, who rode from Kashmir to Kanyakumari in November 2016, as part of a 19-member team, covering 18 States in 22 days.
“I was the oldest in the team and managed to keep pace with the youngsters, sometimes even ahead of them. That propelled me to go for the Road Beast event covering 1000 km in 75 hours. I rode from Chennai to Vijayawada and back. In 2017, I signed up for the Road Harrier event and successfully rode 1200 km in 90 hours. I was fighting a stomach disorder, yet I pushed myself mentally and physically and my efforts thankfully paid off,” says the man who has become an inspiration for young and old alike in the cycling community across the country.
Adding another feather to his cap, Rajipillai also completed a Fleche, a team cycling event, riding from Chennai to Yercaud in 24 hours in the scorching summer temperature of 40C. “It was challenging, as it involved team coordination apart from riding stamina and skills,” he says. “My next target was the Deccan Cliffhanger, which was one of the toughest endurance cycling events in India. And it was also the qualifying event for Race Across America, my dream event.”
Rajipillai says that a protein-rich diet and a good sleep are imperative for endurance cycling. “After such tough rides, depleted body proteins need to be rejuvenated.” “However, much of it is in the mind and determination is the key to finish events. I enjoy the pain that comes along with the sport and never complain.”
Rajipillai’s day starts at 3.30 am with stretching exercises, jogging and gym. “My wife is my biggest support at home. Though she’s apprehensive of me riding on highways in the night, she motivates me to perform better each time. My wife understands my cycling passion and encourages me for more cycling. I am having one daughter and one son both are married and settled in life. I just want to live the second innings of my life actively. Cycling also gives me clarity of mind. Whenever I feel mentally disturbed, I go for a ride and get refreshed,” says the retired food technologist.
Ending this column with few thought-provoking words of wisdom on “old age’ – “The tragedy of old age is not that one is old, but that one is young. The complete life, the perfect pattern, includes old age as well as youth and maturity. Old age has its pleasures, which, though different, are not less than the pleasures of youth. The old are in a second childhood. When we’re young we have faith in what is seen, but when we’re old we know that what is seen is traced in air and built on water. No one wishes to grow old, to outlive their illusions. The young are beautiful – but the old are more beautiful than the young. To keep the heart unwrinkled, to be hopeful, kindly, cheerful, reverent–that is to triumph over old age. Looking at these two young men in their sixty plus, I don’t think they looked old, but looked young, energetic and cheerful.
ABOUT RAMALINGAM RAJIPILLAI :
Ramalingam Rajipillai, aged 67 years, a Retired Central Govt. Officer is a long distance Endurance cyclist (Randonneur) and Marathon Runner! His Achievements in cycling are – Successfully finished “Kashmir to Kanyakumari” Cycle Rally sponsored by Govt of India and Madras Mid town Rotary Club, Promoting Prime Minister’s “Swach Bharat” and conferred with the title of “Swacha Grahis”; Finished “Deccan Cliffhanger” India’s one of the toughest cycling event covering 648 km from Pune to Goa, on the Sahayadri Hill range in Maharashtra. I am the oldest cyclist to finish that event till date; Finished the 1200 km non-stop cycling event “Road Harrier”, conducted by the Madras Randonneurs (MR), an affiliated club of Audax India Randonneurs (AIR) which in turn the Indian Chapter of Audax Club Parisian (ACP)
Finished 1000 km non-stop “Road Beast” cycling event, conducted by MR; Successfully finished and three times title holder of the Grand Super Randenneur (SR), Conducted by the Madra Randenneur. ( These are called Brevet Rides. To get the SR title, one has to successfully finish 200 km, 300 km, 400km and 600 km cycling within a calendar year. Each ride has to be completed within a specified time and which are governed by international rules; Two times Finisher of Fleche rides; In the year 2016, I finished a self-supported Chennai – Kanyakumari – Chennai self supported solo cycling expedition. He is almost known by many of the established professional cyclists of India, having more than 50000 km of cycling to his credit.
ABOUT KARPAGAM SIVARAJ :
Karpagam Sivaraj is a retired state government employee, who worked as a Traffic Investigator in Metropolitan Transport Corporation in Chennai. After Voluntary Retirement in the year 2012 from the govt job, he worked as a project co-ordinator in a private company. In 2016 he quit and stayed at home. To overcome the boredom he took up cycling initially with a single speed cycle. By the end of 2016 his daughter gifted him a geared cycle- a “Montra Blues”. With this geared cycle, all his long distance cycling became much easier for him. By the same time he came across a club named “Audax India Randonneurs” which conducts BRM events. He participated in many of this club endurance events. And for practice he rode daily 40 to 50 KMS.
Sivaraj got the “Super Randonneur” title in 2017 and he also did a 1000km event in the same club. He also joined with some of the local cycling club and rode many events. He did a cycling event for Andhra Pradesh tourism in 2018, cycling across eight districts of AP promoting tourism, named “Tour De Andra Pradesh”. He wrote a blog about the same : https://mytravelat.blogspot.com/2018/12/aptour-de-heritage-l-ife-throws-us.html?m=1
After all these adventures, Sivaraj wanted to do some thing more and new, so he planned this 3 state and 1 union territory tour along with his senior cycling friend, Ramalingam Rajipillai, thereby promoting cycling and telling people of senior age that age is just a number. And enjoying the life. Married, his wife encourages him to go after his passion of cycling. Sivaraj has One daughter and a son both are married and settled. One grand son through daughter. All are supportive of his cycling activities. Till now Sivaraj has cycled 35000 km in the past 3 yrs
