If being a mother is a difficult job, then try running your own marketing firm, and somehow still manage to devote several hours riding a bicycle, then you will understand what it is to be Aarthi Srinath.
Mother of a 9-year-old boy — Ishaan — she spends 200-250 kms/week pushing the pedals of her bike.
How did her interest grow in cyclingIJ Aarthi gives an honest answer.
"It was like a hobby, I didn't know anything about cycling. I always want to do something related to fitness. And this idea of cycling came up and it sounded interesting so I decided to try it," she says. "And then one thing led to another and before I could realize, I was spending like 8 hours a week on cycling."
Now she goes into the details.
"I have always been in some form of fitness or the other. Two and a half years ago one of my friends who works with TI cycles, said come let's go for a ride from rental cycles and that's how it started.
"March 2015, I had my first rental cycle ride," she started before adding, with a smile in her face, "I haven't rode a cycle since school days. Then I went and bought my first bike."
After that she started driving with a group called 'Chennai Joy Riders'.
"I used to ride 2-3 days a week. Before I knew it I got in pretty fast," says the 39-year-old rider, who is running a marketing consulting firm called Inception Business Services headquartered in Chennai.
Next was a racing group in Chennai — Madrascals.
"When I joined I was the only girl in the team. I started riding fast. I started riding and winning a lot of local events. Then I started participating in several more.
"I used to finish first and once you start getting excited, then you want to ride more and more and it sort of becomes a combination of hobby, therapy, exercise, adrenaline rush and all of it put together," stated an excited Aarthi.
As a mother how does she manage everythingIJ
"It's about picking and choosing what you want to do and time management is absolutely everything for me. My day is very planned.
"I wake up early at 4am and start my ride at 4:45am. Since I wake up early, I can't be awake late at night. So I am in bed by 9:30pm. My day unfortunately cannot accommodate any surprises. Only at weekends I get to socialize with friends," says Aarthi, before adding how her husband Srinath Sridevan — a lawyer — and her son are very helpful in allowing her lead this hectic lifestyle.
Her first race was in July 2015 — it was a time trial, organised by Tamil Nadu Cycling Club. Recently, she went on her maiden tour. It's a 4-day cycling tour in Madhya Pradesh, where they covered 400kms.
"I'm just looking at 120-130km rides. I prefer a brisk quick ride. I can't be riding over many days. I don't have that kind of patience. I don't think I will ever do anything more than 150-200km rides," she explains.
Ashish Thadani, CEO, TI Absolute Concepts (Ciclo Café) also had a role to play in her life.
"I met Ashish on the road in May, 2015, when I was riding with Madrascals. I borrowed his bike and went on a ride. Only after that I went and bought my first bike," she elaborates.
Since then she has been in regular touch with Ashish and they have participated in several races together.
"I have been to Ciclo cafes so many times. I have been to both Chennai and Gurgaon cafes. The one in Chennai we regularly visit. It's fabulous, it's the closest to a sports bar in India, you can say," she concludes.