Pedalling through the Heartland – 500 km Pune to Shegaon

Our cycling group planned an expedition to Shegaon, covering about 500 km in three days from November 29 – December 1, 2024. Although the trip was planned well in advance, I couldn’t participate in the practice rides due to other commitments. This left me uncertain about joining the expedition. However, I finally decided to give it my all and complete the ride.
Day 1: Pune to Devgad (206 km)
On November 29, I started at 3:00 am, and our group of eight cyclists began our journey from Gajanan Maharaj Math at Saharkar Nagar at 4:30 am. Unfortunately, within the first 10 km, my friend’s cycle got punctured, and it happened again in the evening, costing us an hour. Despite this, we reached Devgad around 8:30 pm, covering 206 km on the first day.
Day 2: Devgad to Deulgaon Raja (145 km)
We woke up early, had darshan at Datta Mandir, and resumed our journey. We started late and reached Jalana by 6:00 pm With another 30 km to go, we were quite tired. The last stretch was challenging due to the darkness and constant uphill climb, but we finally reached Deulgaon Raja around 8:00 pm after a 145 km ride. We enjoyed a good dinner and relaxed with friends.
Day 3: Deulgaon Raja to Shegaon (140 km)
The final day was crucial as we needed to reach Shegaon on time. We started at 5:30 am and arrived in Shegaon by 5:00 pm, covering 140 km. We first enjoyed the famous ‘kachori’ and then loaded our cycles into a hired tempo to send them back to Pune. After freshening up and having darshan, we quickly finished our dinner and caught our Purple sleeper coach bus at 9:30 pm The journey back was much more comfortable, especially after such an exhausting ride, and we reached Pune at 8:00 am on December 2, 2024.
This was my longest ride to date, and the challenges we faced made the experience all the more rewarding. Cycling in cold mornings and enduring hot afternoons taught me patience and perseverance. Regular breaks every 20 km helped us pace ourselves, and timely meals kept us fuelled. My cycling friends, including a few inspiring individuals over 60 who maintain their fitness through daily practice, proved that age is no barrier to staying active.
I have been cycling for six years and have learned that taking at least one hour for yourself and investing the same in exercising daily is essential. Last year, I even completed three half-marathons, adding to my journey of self discipline and fitness.
Be determined, stay consistent, and keep moving toward your goals. No matter how tough the road gets, perseverance and teamwork can lead you to the finish line.
Here’s to more adventures and the friendships that make every ride unforgettable!
Sandeep Mandke
Head – Group Treasury & Enterprise Risk Management, Finance,
Thermax House, Pune