I had been hesitant to write this note for weeks. I knew that once thoughts were penned down, they would feel simplified, limited by the words chosen. I thought I could preserve the feeling by keeping it unwritten. But the river of time flows endlessly, taking away tiny pieces of memory every now and then. Slowly, I realized I was forgetting the emotions I wanted to hold on to. Writing this became my way to anchor the memory.

A Year of Riding

It has been a year since I joined the Chennai Renegades. The rhythm of rides seemed perfectly aligned with me, short ones leading into longer ones, and all of them preparing me for the endurance ride. The progression shaped me.

Until then, riding was mostly technical. I enjoyed the process, but my satisfaction came from reflecting on improvements, feeling proud of the discipline and effort.

The Turning Point

The endurance ride was different. Unexpected. Unexplainable.

The searing heat was one thing, but it was the crosswinds and downpours that transformed the experience. In those moments, we weren’t just riding machines, we were gliding alongside the elements. It felt liberating, as though nature had briefly allowed us into her rhythm. We barely scratched the surface of her extremes, yet we moved in harmony with her.

That ride was not just physical. It was something deeper, something that edged me closer to understanding what it means to be free and unrestrained.

The Meaning of Freedom

I’ve always been searching for the meaning of freedom. Over the years, I’ve read countless fantasy novels and a few biographies of adventurers, trying to step into their worlds. Through those pages, I wanted to understand why they chased mountains and seas, and what spirit drove them. And yet, even after all those stories, I still couldn’t fully grasp why sailors risked endless oceans, why climbers put their lives on the line for towering peaks, or why anyone would choose to live so close to the edge of life.

Now I think I understand. When you return from the edge, you are no longer the same person. Something at your core has shifted. The pain and pleasure of achievement mix into an exhilaration that defies explanation. This is the romance of chasing high winds, steep mountains, and powerful tides: it makes you feel deeply alive.

A Shared Realization

On the first day’s final break, I tried to share this with my captain. I told him it wasn’t a normal ride, this one felt different. The words came out imperfect, but the feeling was clear, with our bikes and gear, we pushed beyond human limits, and in that push, caught a glimpse of the vastness of nature. It was satisfying, humbling, and unforgettable.

Finally,

Language is limited. Words can’t contain the majesty of nature or the dignity of the elements. But on that ride, we experienced them. And in doing so, we learned to respect, to honor, and to be changed by them.

Time may wash away the details, but this ride was my dawn — a quiet awakening, etched eternally into me.