“First, you watch others do it, then you give it a try and see whether you can survive it or not, then you start to like it, you love it and finally you find yourself unable to quit.”
If you consider yourself a cyclist or a cycling enthusiast in general, you might relate to these stages of becoming one. I do not consider myself a cyclist, yet, but I sure have a certain inclination towards the sense of freedom and adventure long-distance cycling offers.
My name is Jyoti Tripathi and I have been a software professional for over nine years now. Alongside my job, I have also worked at gyms and cafés, and tutored kids on the side — all this hustle just to experience life, travel and go on adventures. I also happen to be a single parent to an adorable female Labrador who is a 30% shareholder of my heart. As far as cycling goes, what started as a 20 km weekend ride soon became a 200, 300, 400 km brevet. Cycling led me to motorbikes, and now I own a KTM and we go on travel dates every now and then. Travelling has taught me to doze off in a sleeping bag, spend a night under a tent or the open stars with mosquitoes for company, and not complain. Eventually, my interest in cycling got me in touch with experienced cyclists — and I ended up crewing for a few.
Becoming a “Serial Crewer”
My crewing career — if it’s a term — started in 2018, guided by an amazing woman named Solonie Pathania (a sports enthusiast). I was a total newbie with zero idea what being a crew member means, but I was committed to making the rider do their best and feel great at all times. It was a breakthrough moment, and it left me hungry for more of this world and its memories. Once, I jokingly said I can recognise Solonie better from her bum than her face — haha. I have also crewed for Kabir Rachure, a phenomenal cyclist. And so my friends now call me a ‘serial crewer.’
Crewing for Bharat was totally another kind of adrenaline rush. His expeditions spanned from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, Leh to Manali and even the Golden Quadrilateral. These events brought out the best and worst in me. They taught me valuable lessons, sharpened my senses, and took me to some exhilarating places. From having heated discussions with close friends to sharing beautiful moments with strangers, these trips were bliss. Overall, I worked with elders and teenagers, slept on roads, travelled across the country, went from −12°C to 38°C, begged and borrowed bananas only to throw them away later, washed utensils with mineral water, and whatnot.
Kashmir to Kanyakumari — the Baptism
My first crewing attempt with Bharat was the Kashmir to Kanyakumari event in 2019. It was his first WUCA and Guinness World Record attempt, and that event marked his comeback after an injury and a heartbreaking withdrawal from RAAM 2019. Although he appeared calm, I am pretty sure deep down he was nervous but also excited to bag this opportunity to be back on the saddle and gain his confidence back.
I was on trial, like all the other active members of the crew. None of us had any experience of a multi-day event like this one, and nothing in my past had prepared me for it either. It was quite brave and admirable of Bharat to put his faith in absolute newbies for such an important event. That made me nervous, but the team’s spirit kept me going. For the first few days my role in K2K was a little unclear, but then I was made Chief of Crew, to keep the team unified under one decision maker. The sudden coronation made me nervous and I felt the pressure every single day — but it did become a turning point in my crewing life. The event ended well, though we could have clocked a better time. The experience and the memories were priceless, worth every backache. To this day, talking about that time still feels good and refreshing. After this, there was no turning back for Bharat, and we were excited.
Leh–Manali and the Golden Quadrilateral
For the next two events — Leh to Manali and the Golden Quadrilateral — I was yet again the Crew Chief. Only this time I was both well informed and experienced. My job was to take all the major decisions and make sure every one of Bharat’s needs was met. Checking in with the bike expert and the physiotherapist, procuring and managing resources, maintaining documents, and taking care of the rider were my main responsibilities as Crew Chief on board.
The bike expert makes sure the bikes are in perfect condition for the rider, running basic checks and routine maintenance while the rider takes a break. A dedicated physiotherapist also travels with the team, running massage routines and keeping the rider physically fit throughout — staying pain-free and injury-free is physio’s whole focus. Above all, the job is to keep the rider happy, elated and motivated, while looking after his safety. We also lean on people who aren’t on the ground but are just as critical to the team — Bharat’s coach Tracy has bailed us out more than once, when we needed a fresh voice and a different perspective.
Now, for my crewing philosophy — here are my two cents, for anyone who thinks this life might be for them too.
Who Can Do It?
Only a flexible person who is selfless, calm and patient — someone who is a team player and, most importantly, loves rough outdoor adventures. You have to be ready to go all out and take whatever measures it takes to help the rider. This field is demanding but equally thrilling. If you can sleep in a box, eat wafers for survival, go days without bathing, don’t need to wear kickass clothes, and are immune to tantrums — you are gold.
What Are the Rules and Best Practices?
The only rule is to get the job done at hand while being extremely resourceful. Every rider is different, and in a multi-day event, every day is different too. Eventually, we must make the good days outnumber the bad ones, and make the good days the best they can be — both for the rider and the team.
What Is There for You?
Crewing is a selfless job, but that does not mean it has nothing to offer. It teaches a lot of valuable lessons no school or university can teach. It prepares you for life, tests your mettle, develops interpersonal skills, gives you that thrill, takes you to places, and turns you into an incredible storyteller. At times it helps you discover hidden talents and sharpen them. You make friends, find mentors, and meet inspiring people. Best of all, you witness the human body’s extremes — grit, determination, emotion and sheer power of will. Side perk: you get to be part of record-breaking events.
One fun memory from our Kashmir to Kanyakumari event — we were about to take over a shift and wanted to make porridge for Bharat. We had everything except the electric kettle. Just then, we spotted a small roadside restaurant doing brisk breakfast business. Sitting down to eat there wasn’t an option, so, desperate, we descended on the restaurant’s utensils instead. We asked the staff to let us use a stove and a few pots, since our own kitchen kit looked ant-sized next to theirs. We cooked about 50 grams of porridge in a 50 kg vessel! It was crazy, but we pulled it off. Surprisingly, it turned out yummy — said the rider.
Not Every Day Is the Same
Crewing is mostly a lot of fun, but not always. The key is to sign up only when your mind, body, heart and soul are all in it together — crewing drains you mentally, physically and emotionally, and recovery on all four fronts matters. You cannot do any good if you treat it like a job or a duty for any reason. You face constant challenges and have to make tough calls, often without knowing how they will turn out — all you can do is read the situation as best you can. It is like walking on a tightrope.
For a rider, choosing the right people is everything — it is what lets them ride in peace. A rider puts everything in the hands of other people, and it takes a lot of courage to do that — trusting a bunch of people with or without experience. A rider’s mindset and energy drive the team, and vice versa. The better the chemistry, the better the experience.
I look forward to such adventures, hoping to learn more and do kickass jobs. Being part of, and a contributor to, groundbreaking events and records brings a joy like no other.
That’s all I had to share, for now :)