• PBP'2023 Successful Finisher (88:12 Hrs) 
• 14 x Super Randonneurs Completed (She possibly is the only female cyclist in India to have reached this milestone as of 08/10/23, though this is yet provisional, we still believe what she has accomplished is incredibly amazing)
• BRM 300 Limdi .. in 2022 
• 75000kms+  
• 42700mts of elevation.. this is for 2023 year alone (pre PBP) 

• Being a home maker goes beyond more than 9:00am - 5:00pm job, but, still managing time to train on the bike, hit the gym and find time to recover demonstrates the tight rope she managed to walk in her quest to excellence.  

• Being a Women, challenging to be on lonely roads for training or be it brevets ( we salute to all the female cyclists doing brevets)  

• Demons from PBP'19, where she finished outside cut off time,  kept fueling her burning desire to feel the pride to Successfully cross the finish line for PBP'23.  

• She willingly slowed down her pace many times to stay with the team, making every effort to provide valuable support to her fellow teammates, who were facing rough times early in the event, which costed valuable time, while also leading little rest than what would have been ideal. 
• Sleep deprivation, is a challenge all ultra cyclists counter, all experienced ultra endurance athletes will know first hand on how it feels to keep pusing physically when your mind is snooze mode with sleep mode on. 
• Though running ahead of the cut-off time, did not think tables will turn, losing precious buffer time due to a Two+ hour sleep break at the 604-kilometer mark, when she had to more challenging climbs had her in pursuit to chase cut off times at few control points, being an experienced ultra cyclists she knew she had to go on and she ultimately managed to regain lost ground. 

• Chasing addition buffer time on hand incase of any technicals was always on her mind, until few kilometers from the finish line, she redeemed and accomplished success at PBP'23 with impressive 88 hours and 12 minutes, reminding her of journey in a flash, 

• PBP'2023 Successful Finisher (88:12 Hrs) debut with Brevet in 2022 
• 1000 kms in Delhi-LOC-Delhi in October 2022, sub 60hrs
• 2 x SRs Completed.. 
• More than 30000 kms and 55000m of elevation for some one who started cycling just in July' 2021 

• Balancing work life, with changing shift times and managing training at times riding long hours alone in in the moon light and starry nights 
• Migration orders from Baroda to Mathura, shifting process and challenges that come along, just about two month to PBP.
• HOT temperature in Mathura. 
• Managing long/intensity training indoor while trying to fit in outdoor rides in the night/weekends to beat the heat.

• Slowing down to stay along with the team, while being of help he could to support others in the team
• Taking a sleep break  for 2 Hrs at Loudeac which turned out to be 4 Hrs 
• Riding alone to Chase team members who had leaped ahead and Control points cut off time for buffer time.
• RRR was in his element in the final 450 kms, rocket had fired up (similar to his 1000/1200 kms trend) he clocked the finish time in 88:12H, 
• It's noteworthy that RRR showed not only physical strength but also exceptional sportsmanship by supporting and cheering on Jagruti Kumari Rathore during the challenging phase. Staying by her side, keeping her alert and motivated, especially when she was feeling drowsy, demonstrates his committment and dedication to fellow athletes. Together, they reached the Finish Line, reflecting the spirit of teamwork and mutual encouragement in the ultra-cycling community. 

Jagrup Gulia is an exceptional individual with a heart of gold ❤️  and a strong passion for cycling. His journey is truly inspiring and it's evident that he faced numerous challenges and overcame them with determination and support from his loved ones. 

A Guru (professor) for his students in Vadodra, India,  Cyclist with TCCB Club and Training with CycloZeal Vadodara Ultra Warriors Group, an initiative by Nimish Makadia Sir  

He holds a CA (Chartered Accountant) degree and is a professor by profession, heads Dharma Classes which has earned great reputation under abled team guided by Jagrup Gulia Sir, who on the bike is a power house when it comes to stomping his pedals.

Key Accomplishments: 

•  PBP'2023 Successful Finisher (89:05 Hrs) debut with Brevet only in Dec 2021

• R 5000

• 1200 LRM 87:15 hours (Surat to Mount Abu (out and back) BRM, truly reflect the gritty Jagrup Sir; for those who have ridden this route are aware of exiting elevations, that is so much fun, especially when you have to ride it being at 104 kgs ,mazza hi maazza!)      

• 4 x SRs Completed.. 

• 112kgs to 93kgs @PBP 

• 31900kms and 33216m of elevation

His Driving force to give 110% "Finish what I started on 26 Jan 2023 , Jhanda ghad ke aana hai buss". 

His Strengths and Motivation - His wife - Pooja Gulia, his Son, Vinayak (wanted to make him feel proud of his father), his students, Family and Friends.

Challenges Pre-PBP

• Balancing work life, with his students always on top of his mind 

• Hospitalization for his son, who is even stronger encouraging his father 'Papa, I am just fine, you make me proud,.' words that keeps giving Jagrup Sir strength in challenging times to bounce back riding on the rolling terrain of life.

• Faced visa rejections not once, but twice, before finally securing approval on the third attempt.

Challenges @PBP

• Slowing down to stay along with the team, while being of help he could to support others in the team, (quality of his that we love about him and apprehend too, as at times can result in sacrificing his chance of success, but, quality that reflects team player he is and man with a 🧡 heart of gold)  

• Steep climbs which would have been an easy cruise for a power house he is became a challenge, situnation demanded he takes his much needed sleep break.   

• Chasing cut off time after losing on the gained buffer time post 2 hrs sleep break at 604 kms, however, 2hrs of sleep was enough to get his mind to rest for some time, ultra cycling events will test your limits in many different ways and to continue pushing yourself being sleep deprived is just one of the many challenges.

• His mind being in sleep mode, but, situation demanded to chase the lost buffer time, his sons words kept him going strong, unfortunately one small slip on a turn got him down with a Fall during the return journey, experiencing disorientation due to sleep deprived and near hallucination state of mind. 

• Situation demanded for a power nap, which he intended to take for 20 mins, however, no sound, phone rings/alarm set, will reached his sleepy mind, power nap got extended to 2 hrs plus 

• Riding alone to Chase Control points cut off time 

• Riding easy to regain his confidence while his mind, contemplating if he is on correct route and thinking of team members who had asked to leap ahead, had to be chased back, while 'Papa make me proud' words replaying in his mind.  

• Ek barr Jagga bhai jagg gaya (he regained his energy and focus) there was no looking back, riding like a boss stomping his pedals on the climbs and descents for buffer time, which he did aaram se cruising to the finish line in 89:05H (looking at his Garmin files ride time recorded and overall time reflects capabilities of this power house , humm saab ke pyaare Jagrup Sir) 

What he liked about CycloZeal (feedback) "Cyclozeal coach & family who always encourage,guide n motivate me to do better and better" 

Areas he felt CycloZeal Process helped him - "Speed,elevation n endurance" 

Saab se important saval asked to all our riders Did you get Fast, Faster? "Yes"  

Jagrup Gulia's story is a testament to the power of passion, determination and the support of loved ones and a strong community. His cycling achievements, especially completing the grueling PBP event from having debut to Brevet in December 2021, demonstrate his commitment to pushing his limits and striving for excellence. He serves as an inspiration to all aspiring cyclists and individuals facing challenges in pursuit of their dreams. 

A big tight hug (jaadu wali jappi) Jagrup Sir ji, you made your son and us all feel proud! 

Jitesh Sheth, staying focussed, managing time, social life, pursuing your passion, purpose driven and methodical approach, are just few of the many attributes to describe him.   

Vadodara, India is his ghar while training with CycloZeal, Ultra Warriors Group Plan (we now call it our Bronze Plan) initiative by Nimish Makadia Sir  

Works with an renowned MNC as Director Operations, is a master at balancing work life, social life, frequent travel, to manage his passion for Ultra Cycling, getting into to smallest of nitigrities, planning and eagerness to adapt to gadgets, new tech, data/ process driven mindset with pragmatic approach comes naturally to him, while he brings along 6yrs of Brevet rich Cycling Experience, as a team players he is makes him immensely valuable asset to the team and each member of our Ultra Warriors Team who shared common goal to PBP'23 genuinely express their gratitude and respect for this top gun.

Key Accomplishments:  

• PBP'2023 Successful Finisher (88:47 Hrs). 

• 400 kms in 17 hours 

• 7 x SRs Completed. 

• 57000+ kms  and 2 times world in meters of elevation gains in his legs (do the math and let us know the answer in your comment on links shared below)  

His Driving force to give 110%   "Prepared physically and mentally to Just do it, just smash it...its today and not later.."  

His Strength and Motivation - His wife Sonal Sheth (who also has explored Brevet Cycling and both have accomplished Super Randonneur and have finished many BRMs, setting impressive couple goals) and fellow CycloZealians

Challenges Pre-PBP

• Managing Work/Social Life and saddle time to train effectively for the BIG PBP'23 goal 

• Unwavering commitment to his work responsibilities and the demands of travel sometimes limited his saddle time - He recognizes the importance of a well-structured training plan to maximize his riding time efficiently and intelligently. thats where CycloZeal comes in aligning his his preference for smart and effective training.   

• Mixing training indoor and outdoors (when you have a choice, choose the best Or do your best!)

• Hitting the road/ heading for the climbs at odd times

Challenges @ PBP

• finding his cycling rhythm from the start. Recognizing that he wasn't entirely in his zone, he often had to rely on teammates to make adjustment to their pace which they happily did, however, rolling terrain along the PBP route eventually separated them, though with comfortable buffer time in hand. 

• Riding alone to Chase team members who had leaped ahead and Control points cut off time to add sufficient buffer time, for the challenges unknown.

• Being Sleep deprived became one of those unexpected challenge when Jitesh bhai felt more sleepy than ever in similar distance BRMs.

• Which lead to state of hallucination while he was thinking all team members are drafting behind him and looking around after the fall to find them, only to realize later he had asked them all to leap ahead, leading to three falls, lucky to have survived with scratches and bruises.

• A fall resulted in a broken RD hanger, in the dark starry night, but, luck was on his side that night. A Japanese participant, who happened to be a skilled bike mechanic, came to the rescue during his own PBP Ride! (These moments of solidarity remind us that the cycling community is filled with incredible individuals who lend a helping hand when you need it the most)  

• After a fall wise decision he made was to catch up with some sleep before chasing his team mates and cutoff time

• Little sleep he could gather putting his mind to rest got all engines Fired up, with few CPs prior to Finish, it seemed he might miss the cut off and with final 2 CPs Jitesh bhai fired up, comfortably catching up with fellow team members and cruise to the finish line in 88:37Hrs

What he liked about CycloZeal (feedback) "Bidirectional communication" 

Areas he felt CycloZeal Process helped him - "Had good climb composition in training" 

Saab se important saval asked to all our riders Did you get Fast, Faster? "Yes"  

Kudos, Jitesh bhai! Your incredible dedication, relentless spirit, and meticulous planning truly shine. Your PBP'23 triumph is a proof to your enduring determination, whats commendable is value you added to all with your contribution helping us to succeed. 

Thank you for your unwavering  trust in CycloZeal's structured training process and an epic performance to #successfully #finish #PBP'23. Your dedication and faith inspire us all.

• PBP'2023 Finisher (91:47 Hrs)* debut with Brevet about 1.5 yrs back (when he met Mehul Joshi, Himatnagar, who also happened to successfully finish PBP'15, while training with CycloZeal and North Cape few years later, after scaling the highest peak on Earth Mt. Everest Summit)   
• 1200 kms comfortably cruising to finish in 82:30 hours 
• 2 x SRs Completed.. 
• 22000 kms and 75000 feet in 2023

• Being a Doctor by profession, call of duty has been his top priority.
• Balancing work life, with travelling to Himatnagar and Back daily, managing professional/personal commitments and managing time to train on the bike.
• Managing long/intensity training indoor while trying to fit in outdoor rides in the starry nights/weekends
• Dealing with Visa Rejection in first attempt, fortunate to get approval in second attempt. 

• All was going as per plan, Dr Ketan along with his cycling buddies Himanshu and Tushar Trivedi, all cruising comfortably with sufficient buffer time.  
• Unexpected medical emergency of a fellow rider during the event On the Return Journey while about 20kms from Loudeac, group decided stop for a power nap, as planned, until it was wake up time, Tushar ji, would not respond to wake up attempts, soon being Doctor came to rescue, investigating it further it was certain dear friend was in trouble in need of urgent medical attention (later upon investigation it was due to hypoglycemia). 
• Ride had to Stop, to make arrangements for ambulance, calling the emergency number provided by PBP organizers, communicating in English to French speaking nation was a task, however, with some hassle Ambulance was on its way, took about 60 mins to finally hear the sound of ambulance from the time incident occurred.
• Rushing to the Centre hospitallier du Centre Bretagne (luckily, with Garmin still on, which captured the route to the hospital and back)  
• Admitted in the hospital while Junior Doctors at night time investigated and gave preliminary medical attention to Tushar ji, still on the hospital bed.
• On the other side tracker was still ticking, not seeing Dr Ketan in anticipated time, I had dropped him a message, soon my phone rang informing me about the medical emergency, he would not leave his friend in the state he was at the time, respect him and Himanshu bhai for being true to their friend in need. Later again in few minutes we connected when he informed Tushar ji, was stable by then, with lot of hesitation asked him, only if he is convinced Tushar is doing well to decide to Ride, in next 5-10mins, and send a thumbs up 👍
• Nearly 3.5hrs time had passed, with no ride, no food, no sleep,  while being mentally stressed for friends well being and physically drained. 
• After consulting with Mehul Joshi - (his cycling club head, following the protocols) I saw a thumbs up notification from him, it was an affirmation that Tushar ji was doing well and Dr Ketan and Himuanshu were to resume the ride, getting to the point they had to stop.
• Now on, It was a race against the clock while being sleep deprived, hallucinated (describing the incidence Dr Ketan Shared on call - 'while passing through field of sunflower enroute, his mind saw weird things and faces (animals/human) in sunflower), in normal circumstance speed that he was riding at was an easy Zone 2, felt like a drag, it was the commitment to finish what he started and give his best shot, got him closer and closer to the Finish line, completing the 1219 kms in 88:47Hrs 

• 1200 kms in 88 hrs, debut with Brevet in 2018 
• 2 x SRs Completed..
• 90kgs to 84kgs (in 4 month to PBP'23, combo of dedication to custom training plan and diet plan, by our expert dietician Meghana Surve)   
• 15300 kms since Sep 2019 
• 12765 m Since Sep 2019 

• PBP'19 did not go as per his plan when navigation error had him tour around French countryside he had no plans to explore in  2019, that failed attempt kept huating him until he had this second chance.  
• Limited time (4 months we had)  with time constraints due to work commitments in highly demanding job, we had to ensure making every pedal stroke counts, leaving no stone unturned in our prep for PBP'23.
• Missing out on important training blocks with climbs, due to work demand and mothers illness taking priority above everything else.   

• Confidence was high upon reaching France, had checked in in the same place in Versaille he stayed back in 2019, to be in the comfort of the known, easy spins to free up the legs and all was fine with two days to the start line, when infection bug bit him to get sore throat and next day before ride starts, 102°F  
• Borrowing few more antibiotics and paracetamols from a friend, started PBP'23 at 19:45 start time. 
• Ride goals were simple to keep riding come what may, legs were feeling good, however, breathing was compromised coz of sore throat and infection, despite knowing average speed was lower, finishing PBP'23 was only thing on his mind, kept the cruise mode active, kpet popping medication every 3hrs, only until he ran out of stock on his return leg to stop at Loudeac i.e 800 kms from the start line.  
• Getting medication on the counter without doctors prescription in France is a near impossible, and for a good reason, compelling Manoj ji to call his doctor friend in India. 
• Determined to continue with his ride, which came to an end on doctors strict advise, compelled him to stop the ride to not complicate health further, which he adhered to after clocking 800kms.  

Colonel Santosh Reuben 

Based in Shillong, India, (was based in Vadodra, India before recent new posting when he was Cyclist with TCCB Club and Training with CycloZeal Vadodara Ultra Warriors Group, an initiative by Nimish Makadia Sir.  

Colonel Santosh Reuben, a dedicated Indian Army officer, is passionate about ultra-cycling and also enjoys playing golf. He combines his military discipline with his cycling passion, participating in challenging brevets and training consistently. 

His ability to surprise and surpass faster riders during events like a 1200-kilometer ride from Vadodara to Pune and back demonstrates his physical and mental strength. 

Colonel Reuben's commitment to his goals, including preparing for events like Paris-Brest-Paris, while managing his professional responsibilities, is truly inspiring. He serves as a shining example of dedication and determination, both in the army and the world of cycling. 

Colonel Santosh Reuben, an Indian Army officer and avid ultra-cyclist, set his sights on the challenging Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP) event., he had been preparing for, He left no opportunity to train, even while traveling for work (different cities for few days), ensuring he stayed disciplined and committed to his cycling goals. Balancing his military duties and passion for cycling, he exemplified dedication and determination in his pursuit of success at PBP. 

Key Accomplishments:  

• 1200 LRM in 85h 45min 

• 5 x SRs Completed.. 

• 49610km recorded actual should be >60K 

• 1,45,025m this yr 

His Driving force to give 110%     Short 1 stg tgts, Belief in God and  my self. Keep pushing regardless. 

His Strength and Motivation - his Wife, Family and Friends, Cyclozealeans and Indians  (Being from Indian Army no shortage of strength)

Challenges Pre-PBP

• Balancing work and active social life along with cycling, long walks, golf, but, he surely fond a way to do it all and have find a balance in life and on the bike.  

• Considering his job profile he had his new  posting to Shillong though mesmerizingly beautiful place, unfortunately with less than 2 months before PBP disrupting, his training and weight targets leaving him a little unprepared, missing important blocks of training. 

• Rains and Finding a route that will suit training objectives

• Adapt to manage training on rolling terrain and higher than usual elevations.

• Primary Bike technical failure with electronic shifting, compelling him to take his other bike, which he hardly used, for PBP. (as a rule of thumb we don't want to make last minute changes to our bike set up, here situation demanded he takes his chances)   

Challenges @ PBP

• Determined to do well at PBP Col Sir started marching (riding) towards CP 1, when he had his first puncture, loosing valuable time at an early stage, fixing the flat he started rolling 

• CP to CP he kept riding, while he was loosing time, it was later we got to know, he had to halt many time to readjust the seat post which kept sliding down. 

• Position on this bike and handle bar on this bike was different to the one used in preparation for PBP, shoulder discomfort progressively got amplified to pain with every kilometer he added on his way to Brest 

• Carhaix-Plouguer to Brest he started showing sings of recovery riding at higher average making us hopeful with the second surge (like he had done in past brevets) 

• Clocked at Brest CP just before CP was about to close, with the technical issues he was troubled with all through his 604kms he decided to take a train back to Paris 

What he liked about CycloZeal (feedback) Updated training schedule 

Areas he felt CycloZeal Process helped him - Cadence, Cardiac fitness and endurance 

Saab se important saval asked to all our riders Did you get Fast, Faster? Yes  

As he moves forward, setting new targets like PBP 2027 and LEL 2025, it's evident that he possesses the spirit of a true fighter, always looking ahead to the next challenge. His continuous practice and maintenance of fitness reflect his unwavering determination.

If life grants him a second chance, there's no doubt that Colonel Santosh Reuben will approach it with all his strength and determination, ready to give his absolute best. His indomitable spirit is an inspiration to us all.

Anita Gupta, is a huge inspiration to Women in Ultra Cycling 

Based in Mumbai, India, Cyclist with @MumbaiRandonnuers and part of our Silver (HR/RPM based) customized action plan

Working women with a full time job, in a leading position in General Insurance company, multi tasking with many roles and responsibilities, while managing time to hit the gym or hoop on the saddle indoor/outdoor, we like to call her one of the most 'ziddi' lady, she will never say quit until she had to quit, this time.

Key Accomplishments: 

• LEL'22 Finisher, debut with brevet in 2017 

• 3 x SRs Completed.. 

• Virtual Half Eversting - 9:11Hrs (4424m of elevation gains, first attempt failed due to technical glitches falling 100m short of 4424m, compensated the same in following week grinding indoor for 9:11Hrs doing 4666m this time not taking a chance) 

• 400 in 22 hr 

• 34965kms of blood sweat and tears 

• 41812m of elevation gains, only in 2023 

• 63kgs to 58.5 kgs at PBP start line

Her Driving force to give 110% 

His Strength and Motivation - 

Challenges Pre-PBP

• Being a Women, its challenging to be on lonely roads for training or be it brevets 

• Balancing busy life and responsibilities at times training with little sleep possible  

• Climbs were a mental block and a challenge at the time when she enrolled with Cyclozeal in 2021, (here we see her doing the unthinkable Half Eversting and 41812m in 2023 alone.)

• Visa Rejection x 1, approved in second attempt.

• Reaching France fixed the bike and took it for an easy spin to free up the legs, got lost in the maze of roads in Paris, with some help from locals was able to find her self riding back to Versaille where she stayed. Ride that was suppose to be easy 60-90mins got extended to 3.5hrs plus to add to it she had a fall while walking with cleats through the woods hurting her knee,  while was lost.

Challenges @ PBP

• Started rolling from Rambouillet with 18:00Hrs Flag off time, not very far in about 40kms knee started showing the signs of niggles, which got aggravated to pain, but knowing the Ziddi Anita, she kept riding and cruising setting short milestone goals make steady progress.   

• Just when body started to accept and tolerate the knee pain and slow down, disaster struck from behind, when a rider hit her from behind, hitting her with his aero bar on her back and wheel rolled up, got her injured with her own frame which she realized,. kept pushing with Adrenaline rush to reach CPs. 

• Adding more to her challenges, worse happend when she lost her gps and restarted, taking her in different direction and was lost in a forest for more than 4 hr, KBC phone a friend came to play when a friend helped her with Google pin location

• Quite unarguably she was superbly frustrated and couldn't enjoy beautiful location Brest. 

• She reached midway CP at Brest, and realised there is something wrong...and after few mins break at CP, couldn't climb back on the bike, she had severe internal injury as impact of bike during accident, pain started getting worse with every pedal stroke. Took a pause at bus stop in completely hopeless situation and kept asking should continue with this or quit, after convincing a lot to herself, decided to quit for now and come back with more strength.  

What she liked about CycloZeal (feedback) Coach knows what we are capable of 

Areas she felt CycloZeal Process helped her - Continuous push, gave dream and confidence to become better cyclist (which we think she surely did, from a person who dreaded climbs is find ways to do more climbs doing 41812m in 2023 alone)   

Saab se important saval asked to all our riders Did you get Fast, Faster? Yes  

Anita, wishing you a speedy recovery and a stronger come back, you truly are Ziddi and an Inspiration Power house, like calling you ''मूर्ती लहानपण कीर्ती महान'' ('Idol is small but fame is great)', its been an honour knowing a fighter like you and being part of your Cycling journey.