From Missing Cabs to Becoming a Non-Geared Cyclist

From Missing Cabs to Becoming a "Non-Geared Cyclist"

Ushakiran Vaddepalli 🗓️ 3/06/2026

People often ask me, "How did you get into cycling?" The answer is simple: inspiration, necessity, and consistency.

My biggest inspiration was Radhika, a Director at Micron. Seeing a senior woman confidently cycling to the office made me think, "If she can do it, why not me?" Deep down, I already had an interest in cycling, but I needed that final push.

At the same time, I was struggling with daily commuting. I was missing cabs frequently and never really enjoyed traveling by cab because of motion sickness. I even considered walking to work, but the distance was simply too much. Instead of buying a scooter, I thought, "Why not invest in something that benefits my health as well?"

That was the beginning of my cycling journey.

I bought a non-geared Stryder cycle from Dr. Cycles, Nallagandla, and started riding to work every day. My office commute was 8 km one way, making it a total of 16 km daily.

The first few weeks were tough.

My legs hurt. My body ached. There were days when I questioned my decision. But I kept going.

After two to three weeks, something changed. The pain started reducing, and cycling slowly became a habit. More importantly, it became my time. I would hum songs, observe people around me, enjoy the fresh air, and simply be present. What started as a mode of transport became a source of happiness.

My journey soon started inspiring others too.

My roommate saw my consistency and decided to buy a cycle herself—this time, a geared one. Riding together made the experience even more enjoyable. We became cycling partners, sharing conversations, laughter, and miles.

A few months later, I started exploring weekend rides. I discovered several cycling groups, but honestly, I was scared to join them. I had convinced myself that everyone with geared cycles would be much faster and would leave me behind.

Eventually, I gathered the courage to join a few short rides with a group called Bike-O-Holics.

To my surprise, I was able to match their pace.

That's when I realized something important: consistency beats assumptions. While others had better cycles, my legs had already been trained through months of daily commuting. The strength and endurance I had built unknowingly became my biggest advantage.

From there, my cycling journey took off.

The distances became longer. The confidence grew stronger.

One day, I completed a 150 km ride, the Tour of Ananthagiri. That achievement opened my eyes to what I was capable of. It motivated me to push further and explore more. I also discovered that cycling with a group is far more fun and encouraging than riding alone.

Later, I changed companies, and my new office was around 11–12 km away. That meant cycling 22–24 km every day, which became part of my lifestyle.

Over time, I started participating in cycling events and races. One of my proudest moments was participating in the HCL Cyclothon 2025, where I secured 2nd place in the Women's Race and won a cash prize of ₹15,000.

That achievement gave me the confidence to proudly call myself:

"The Non-Geared Cyclist."

Looking back, I never started with the goal of participating in events or completing a 150 km cycling tour. I simply wanted a better way to commute to work.

What began as a solution to missed cabs became a journey of fitness, confidence, friendship, discipline, and self-discovery.

Today, I strongly believe that you don't need an expensive cycle or perfect conditions to start. You just need the courage to take the first ride.

Yes, a good geared cycle can help you grow further and cover longer distances more comfortably. But the real engine is not the cycle—it's your consistency.

A special thanks to Bike-O-Holics and everyone who inspired and supported me along the way.

If my journey proves anything, it's this:

You don't have to be a cyclist to start cycling. You just have to start.