When wide-eyed Amitesh Kumar started off on his bicycle from Bengaluru last month, he had just ₹1,000 in his pocket and another ₹1,500 in the bank account. “Till date, I have hardly spent one-fourth of that money, thanks to kind couchsurfers and hosts all along. On days I don’t find a host, I pitch a tent under the skies and eat at thelas (carts),” says 24-year-old Amitesh, hailing from Sital Patti Village, East Champaran, Bihar. He’s doing a country-wide cycling trip on a shoestring budget. Hoping to ride through all the Indian states, Amitesh has marked off the next six months for the road.

A graduate in History and a cricket lover, he met with adversities in life early on. “Coming from a backward region, I was rejected everywhere. I came to Bengaluru in search of a modelling career but could land a job only as a pizza delivery boy and I soon became a dejected soul,” says the son of a farmer.

And then cycling came to his rescue! “I was always interested in travel and I felt the need to get out of home. Though motorbikes fascinated me, I could hardly afford them and decided to roam the country on a cycle instead. I watched YouTube videos on managing solo cycling expeditions and various road bikes,” he says. “I read experiences of cyclists and realised that cycling sure had its advantages. You can do it at your own pace, continue to pedal yet observe things at ease without having to stop. The bicycle can take you through the narrowest lanes. It’s healthy for the rider as well as the environment.”

So far, he has covered parts of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. “From Kanyakumari, I plan to ride along the west coast till Gujarat, before entering into the mainland and further up north. If my body and bike cooperate, I may try doing the trans-Himalayan route to reach the North East before entering Nepal and then will end the tour in my native village,” says an excited Amitesh.

But how did he zero-in on a suitable cycle? “Though many advised me to opt for a road bike, some suggested a hybrid. Weighing in on many factors, I found the Mach City iBike 21 Speed suitable for my requirement. Since I am not doing it for any record and there’s no target or time limit for the trip, I was only looking for a comfortable, affordable bike with a decent build and speed,” he says. “I find the iBike pretty robust and versatile. It’s a strong hybrid and carries me well. Along with over 40 kilos of luggage including a sleeping bag, tent and clothes and my body weight of nearly 65 kilos, the cycle rolls ahead quite effortlessly. I was lucky to bag it on a handsome discount from Flipkart, for just around ₹6000.”

“I believe, cycling has become a pursuit for urbane Indians in metros, apart from being a fitness activity. But for many in the rural areas, it’s a daily commute and a way of life. I had cycled to school every single day and it’s nice to see and experience an entirely different side to riding a bicycle,” he says. “I ride about 75 kilometres daily, not stretching my body too much and avoid night riding. I keep myself hydrated and eat biscuits and glucose powder if I feel low on energy.”

Above all, this trip is to build myself, says Amitesh. “I am living one day at a time and that gives me immense confidence. I think, this is real adventure when there’s nothing sure about tomorrow. It helps me overcome my prejudices and apprehensions, mingle with strangers, discover humanity in them and build bonds across borders.” He recalls how a nurse at a Government Hospital in suburban Chennai was kind enough to let him pitch his tent inside the compound and how his host in Tirupati gifted him a camera.