FromZeroto60Kilometres:MyFirstBikeforBrainHealthRideonaTrekMarlin7

A week ago, if someone had told me I would be riding 60 kilometres on Toronto's Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway, I probably would have laughed.

I wasn't a cyclist.

I didn't own a bike.

And I certainly wasn't planning to participate in one of Canada's largest charity cycling events.

Yet on Sunday morning, I found myself pedaling alongside thousands of riders at Bike for Brain Health, raising awareness and support for dementia research while experiencing Toronto in a way very few people ever do.

The Inspiration

This journey started with a simple conversation.

My friend Kshitij Mohan Lal encouraged me to sign up and take part in the event. What seemed like a casual suggestion quickly became a challenge I couldn't stop thinking about.

Sometimes all we need is someone to believe we can do something before we believe it ourselves.

Thank you, Kshitij, for the push. Without that conversation, I probably would have watched the event from the sidelines instead of becoming part of it.

The Bike Hunt

There was one problem.

I didn't have a bike.

I do a lot of camping and outdoor adventures, so I knew I wanted a mountain bike — something versatile enough for trails, gravel, and weekend exploring, but that could also handle a 60 km charity ride on city roads. Not a proper racing bike. Not a carbon fiber road machine. A mountain bike that could do it all.

What followed was a crash course in wheel sizes, hydraulic brakes, Shimano drivetrains, and Facebook Marketplace negotiations.

Over several days, I researched countless models:

• Giant ATX
• Cannondale Trail
• GT Aggressor
• Trek Marlin series

After meeting several sellers and learning more about bikes than I ever thought I would, I finally found the perfect fit:

A Trek Marlin 7.

A solid, well-maintained mountain bike that felt right.

I bought it only two days before the event.

Learning Everything in 48 Hours

Buying the bike was only the beginning.

Suddenly I was learning:

• How to clean and lubricate a chain
• How hydraulic disc brakes work
• Tire pressure basics
• Proper bike fit
• Nutrition and hydration for longer rides
• What to carry during a cycling event

Within a couple of days, I went from not owning a bike to researching drivetrain maintenance and debating chain lubricants in Canadian Tire.

It's amazing how quickly you learn when you're genuinely excited about something.

Event Morning

The atmosphere was incredible.

Thousands of cyclists gathering before sunrise.

Families.

Experienced riders.

Road bikes worth several thousand dollars.

Carbon wheels.

Professional-looking cycling kits.

And then there was me.

Standing there with my recently purchased Trek Marlin 7 mountain bike.

For a moment, I wondered if I had made a mistake.

But then I remembered why I was there.

Not to compete.

Not to win.

Not to compare.

Just to ride.

Riding Toronto's Iconic Highways

One of the most unique aspects of Bike for Brain Health is that participants get access to roads that are normally reserved for vehicles.

Cycling on the Don Valley Parkway (DVP) and Gardiner Expressway was surreal.

No traffic.

No noise.

Just thousands of cyclists moving together through the heart of Toronto.

I've driven these roads countless times.

Experiencing them on a bicycle was completely different.

You notice the skyline.

You notice the bridges.

You notice the city.

Most importantly, you notice how fortunate we are to have opportunities like this.

60 Kilometres Later

When I crossed the finish line, my ride computer showed:

60 Kilometres 2 Hours 50 Minutes

My first organized cycling event.

My first long-distance ride.

On a bike I had owned for only two days.

I wasn't the fastest rider.

I wasn't the most experienced.

But I finished.

And that's what mattered.

A Ride Dedicated to Nokia

This ride was also personal.

I dedicate it to Nokia and the incredible colleagues I've had the privilege of working with throughout my career.

Technology evolves constantly.

Networks change.

Industries transform.

Skills become outdated.

New challenges emerge.

Working alongside talented people at Nokia taught me the importance of continuous learning, adapting, and embracing change.

The same mindset that helps us navigate technology transformations also helps us tackle personal challenges.

You don't need to know everything before you start.

You just need to start.

Health, Community, and Family

A special thank you to Deepti Ramaul and Ashima Naval for continuously inspiring healthy habits and reminding us that investing in our health is one of the best investments we can make.

And of course, this ride was also for my son, Ved.

Every challenge we take on becomes an example for the next generation.

Children learn far more from what we do than what we say.

I hope one day he looks back and remembers that trying new things is always worth it.

Thank You to My Sponsors

This ride wouldn't have been possible without the generous support of everyone who sponsored my ride and believed in the cause. A heartfelt thank you to every individual and business that contributed — your support went directly to Baycrest Foundation for dementia research and brain health.

A huge thank you to my proud sponsors:

• Nokia — this ride is a dedication to Nokia and the incredible people I've worked with over the years. Nokia is a global leader in telecommunications, 5G networks, and enterprise technology, powering critical infrastructure across the world. The mindset of continuous learning, resilience, and adapting to change that I built working alongside talented engineers and leaders at Nokia carried me through every kilometre of this ride.

• YourFormSux — Physiotherapy & Wellness Clinic, Toronto — for bringing me back from my ACL and meniscus injury. YourFormSux is a comprehensive wellness clinic at 11 Capreol Court, Toronto, offering physiotherapy, chiropractic care, massage therapy, acupuncture, osteopathy, pelvic floor physiotherapy, custom orthotics, and functional medicine. Their team of certified practitioners has treated over 50,000 patients across the GTA. Without their rehab and recovery program, this ride wouldn't have been physically possible.

• DeRamaul Yoga — Mindful Yoga Studio, Toronto — for bringing back my flexibility through breath-centered yoga. DeRamaul offers Hatha yoga, Vinyasa flow, Yin yoga, restorative yoga, pranayama, outdoor park sessions, and corporate wellness programs at 11 Capreol Court, Toronto. Their classes are designed for all experience levels — beginners to advanced practitioners. The flexibility and body awareness I rebuilt through their sessions made 60 km on a bike feel achievable.

• Fit Factory Fitness — Strength & Conditioning Gym, Downtown Toronto — the coaches at Fit Factory gave me the strength training foundation I needed to take on this challenge. With locations at 373 King Street West (Downtown), 161 Eglinton Avenue East (Midtown), and NRG Haus in Liberty Village, Fit Factory offers expert-led group fitness classes, personal training, Reformer Pilates, HYROX race preparation, boxing, and mobility sessions. Their 10,000 sq ft downtown facility is where I built the endurance and leg strength that carried me across the finish line.

• Musee Living — Boutique Hospitality & Art, Dehradun — a venture close to my heart. Musee Living is a curated hospitality group in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, operating Musee Art Cafe (Dehradun's first gallery cafe featuring rotating exhibitions and a community of 600+ independent artists), Ark Inn (a 16-room boutique hotel with garden restaurant), Kaksh Villa (a private luxury villa near Sahastradhara), Musee Banquet (a 300-guest event venue), and Kalacube (a digital art marketplace connecting independent artists with collectors). Real hospitality, not processed.

• StonedAge — Himalayan Retreat, Tosh Village — where this entire journey of building things began. StonedAge is a boutique mountain retreat in Tosh Village, Parvati Valley, Himachal Pradesh — the last motorable village in the valley, sitting at 7,874 feet elevation. Stone cottages, a wood-fired cafe serving Himalayan cuisine, fresh baked goods, stargazing, trek coordination to Kheerganga and Pin Parvati Pass, and artist residencies. Part of the Musee Living hospitality group. Where the Himalayas haven't changed — and neither have we.

• Adventhrill — Mountaineering & Expedition Company, Dehradun — guided mountain expeditions and treks across the Himalayas and beyond. Adventhrill organizes climbing expeditions to peaks like Mt. Satopanth (7,075m), Mt. Thalay Sagar (6,904m), and Mt. Shivling (6,543m) in India, plus international expeditions to Mt. Kilimanjaro, Mt. Elbrus, and Mt. Aconcagua. Led by mountaineer Vijay Pratap Singh from Dehradun, Uttarakhand, they run treks across Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Nepal, and Africa for adventurers of all skill levels.

• MySleepyTale — AI Bedtime Stories for Kids — personalized bedtime stories for children, built with love. MySleepyTale uses AI to create culturally rich bedtime stories featuring your child's name, drawing from Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Buddhist, and Jewish storytelling traditions. Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars by parents. Because every child deserves a story that feels like home.

• Pratts and Paws — Pet Care, Canada — dedicated to pets and the people who love them. Pratts and Paws provides pet care services and community support for pet owners across Canada. Because our furry family members deserve the best too.

Whether it was $5 or $50, every dollar made a difference. You helped me cross the finish line knowing this ride was about more than just kilometres.

Supporting Brain Health

The true heroes of the day are the organizers, volunteers, sponsors, and researchers working to advance brain health and dementia research.

Thank you to:

• Mattamy Homes
• Baycrest
• Volunteers
• Sponsors
• Thousands of participants

for creating an event that brings people together for an important cause.

What I Learned

Looking back, the biggest lesson wasn't about cycling.

It was about saying yes.

Yes to discomfort.

Yes to learning.

Yes to looking inexperienced.

Yes to trying something new.

Most of the things we want to do in life don't require perfect preparation.

They require action.

Two days before the event, I didn't own a bike.

Today, I can proudly say I completed my first 60-kilometre cycling event.

Sometimes the hardest part isn't the ride.

It's deciding to start.

And once you do, amazing things happen.

---

Ride Statistics

• Event: Bike for Brain Health Toronto
• Distance: 60 km
• Time: 2h 50m
• Bike: Trek Marlin 7
• First Cycling Event
• First Long-Distance Ride
• Cause: Brain Health & Dementia Research

"Sometimes the biggest challenge is simply saying yes."