Ajay Joshi

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, December 2

From pedaling bicycle to reaching his work to running his own bicycle store, Arjun Thakur has come a long way. However what’s more special about him is his ‘never quit mindset’, despite having 60-70 percent disability.

Thakur (27), born with a congenital problem, that results in stunted growth of legs, is also a renowned para-cyclist. He is notably the country’s first para-cyclist ‘Super Randonneur’ who finished cycling brevets of 200 km, 300 km, 400 km and 600 km within one year. Unlike any normal kid, he took his first unsteady steps, when he was eight.

“Like my twin brother, I wasn’t able to move anywhere without someone else’s help. Even to use the washroom, someone had to carry me on his shoulders. But with the support of my family, I started walking, with my weak legs. Around 6-8 surgeries in Jalandhar and one in Delhi, helped me develop some strength in my legs. After almost half a year of bed rest, I started moving slowly using a pair of crutches; I was given after the treatment. Somehow, I finished my high school. I used to experience extreme tiredness after even walking for 100-200 meters. Hence, my father bought me an Atlas bicycle. To support my family, I used to cover a distance of around 10 km to reach a medical store, where I used to work. Using the same cycle I used to go to my school at Ladowali road,” said Arjun.

Before he could pedal on his own, his brother used to carry him around on a cycle as a pillion rider. “This is one of the most exuberating experiences of my childhood,” says Arjun. A resident of New Jawahar Nagar, Maqsudan, Thakur is a native of Hoshiarpur. But before he was born, his father came to Jalandhar to work in a factory.

Cycling journey

“I was 16, when I first started earning. Seeing me cover kilometres on cycle, Rakesh Sharma, my boss at medical store asked me to join him for cycling on day offs. One weekend, two of us rode around 48 km from Jalandhar to Kapurthala and back. It was a big confidence boost. After that journey, every weekend, I would ride 40-45 km. Meanwhile, on June 13, 2015, I participated in my first 200 km brevet event, which was organised by Punjab Bikers Club, Hoshiarpur. While everyone was riding bicycle with gears, I had a normal cycle. Considering my disability, the organisers suggested me not to participate, but I insisted and finished the brevet from Jalandhar-Hoshiarpur in the scheduled time. After that, there was no looking back, the Garrari Riders of Ludhiana also gifted me a mountain bike, which helped me complete all four brevets – 200 km, 300 km, 400 km and 600 km — between November 2015 and October 2016 to become a Super Randonneur. Along with Sharma, we also formed Hawk Riders Club and conducted various events,” Arjun added.

First interstate voyage

Along with British cyclist Adam Paxtom, Thakur finished around a distance of 2,334 km from Wagah Border to Bangladesh Border in 30 days in 2017. Adam was on his India tour when, the Punjab Bikers Club chose Thakur to cycle with Paxton. After working with various sports and cycling companies, Thakur now runs, The Bike Masters store in partnership with Jaswinder Singh Pawa, a fellow cyclist.