This is my story.
A few years ago, in 12th beginning due certain reasons; I was going through the worst patch of my life. Constant depression; Anxiety Issues; Occasional Panic Attacks; Insomnia; were common for me.
All this is very distracting. There seemed to be no end. I wasn't scoring well in exams.
Which would add to the issues. It kind of a loop.
In all this, There was one place(*The Hills*) which would let me be alone. Now I have grown up more on the hills than in school or at home. So naturally I would love being there alone.
But the head still races. In fact even more than usual.
Like me there was another who spent most of his life in the hills. More Than me actually.
Places humans would think twice before walking through. He would ride a bicycle through fearlessly, Flying though the air, all along make it look easy.
I was intrigued. I wanted to be able to do that.
But to ride on the mountains, you need to have an appropriate bike.
All I had was a city hybrid. Not capable even in it's dreams. And buying a new mountain bike was impractical till I know what I'm doing.
So me and my oldest friend took to the spanners. We customized our bikes for 4 straight months; collecting money for the upgrades and Installing them with our no hands. We had no equipment. We would often use the wrong tool for the job. But who cares, we were having fun.
This where I got the interest in engineering.
Once we were done; we took the hills. We didn't even have the right equipment; hell not even helmets.
But we were stoked. Nothing else mattered.
Just me and my bike deep into the middle of nowhere.
It was meditative. i realized one thing. Even if my life was going through the worst days; I would go for a ride; and would find the will to push again.
I WAS ALIVE.
So 12th std. was over. I come to SIT. I meet a senior who is in third year. Who is one of the pro mountain bikers of India At this time I didn't even know what I am doing is an actual sport & is called "Mountain Biking".
I was speaking to guy and he invited me to come ride with him.
So 1 Saturday evening I turned up.
These were a bunch of racers. Freakishly fast on 2 wheels.
Not really my style. But yet I kept going back.
I met a bunch of new people. Made amazing friends.
The thing with mountain bikers is. Even if you don't know em' ; they will treat you like best friends.
It is addictive. Even more so than weed or alcohol.
The way addiction works is different. It's not the alcohol that's addictive.
It's the hormone in your body called dopamine.
Another way to release dopamine is to release adrenaline.
What is a better way to release adrenaline than extreme sports ?
Yet, whenever I have a big decision to make and I am confused. Or am having second thoughts. Or just feeling low, I take my bike and leave.
Nothing matters. Just me, my bike and the sunrise/sunset.