Some people take up cycling to stay fit. Others discover, somewhere along the road, that the bicycle can take them much further than they ever imagined. For Rakesh Garg, an Income Tax Officer posted in Nangal, Punjab, that discovery began in 2015, amid the mountains of Himachal Pradesh.
Posted in Mandi at the time, Garg initially took to cycling as a hobby and a way to maintain his fitness. The surrounding Himalayan landscape offered an irresistible setting. What began as morning exercise gradually drew him towards longer rides, unfamiliar terrain and the simple pleasure of moving through the world on two wheels.
The mountains of Himachal became his early training ground. As he explored different routes and terrains, cycling began to offer him something beyond physical fitness: an escape from the pressures of everyday life and a way to clear his mind.
“It started in 2015 when I was posted in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh. I began cycling as a hobby and for fitness, but as I rode through the Himalayas and different terrains, I started enjoying it more and more. Over time, it became a passion and a wonderful stress buster for me,” Garg shared in an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds.
More than a decade later, that initial hobby has taken him across Ladakh, Spiti, Rajasthan and the Konkan coast, among other regions. His cycling journey has crossed the 1,10,000-kilometre mark, a distance built through years of regular rides, demanding expeditions and a commitment that has continued alongside his government service.
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The 3,000-Kilometre Beginning That Became a 10,000-Kilometre Habit
Garg’s achievement did not begin with an extraordinary annual target. In 2015, his first year of cycling, he covered approximately 3,000 kilometres. The following year, he set himself a more ambitious goal: ride at least 10,000 kilometres in a single year.
He achieved it. Then he decided to make it a yearly commitment.
From 2016 onwards, completing at least 10,000 kilometres annually became his personal benchmark. Repeated over the years, that modest-looking number on a calendar accumulated into an extraordinary distance.
The scale of the achievement lies not only in the kilometres covered but also in the routine behind them. Garg cycles for one to two hours in the morning, five days a week, fitting his rides around the demands of his profession. Longer expeditions require more planning, including taking leave from the office.
For him, the secret is less complicated than it might appear. The activity has never felt like an obligation that needs to be endured.
“If something is your passion, you do not feel tired of doing it. When you love an activity, you enjoy the effort that goes into it. That is how I look at cycling. We enjoy our trips and our rides, and that makes the entire experience refreshing and rewarding,” he says.
How ‘Cyclewala ITO’ Became His Identity
As Garg began sharing his cycling experiences on social media, friends and colleagues noticed that this was more than an occasional weekend hobby. His rides, photographs and growing mileage became a familiar part of his identity.
The nickname followed naturally: Cyclewala ITO.
The name combines his professional designation as an Income Tax Officer with the passion that increasingly defined his life outside the office. Among those who encouraged him was IRS officer Rohit Mehra, his former boss during his posting in Ludhiana.
Mehra recognised Garg’s enthusiasm, appreciated his cycling achievements and helped arrange newspaper interviews and organised rides. One particularly memorable outing was a 300-kilometre ride from Chandigarh to Jammu. Garg recalls that the ride was supported by his senior, who arranged sponsorship, a support vehicle and other logistical assistance.
Such encouragement helped bring his cycling journey to a wider audience. Yet the nickname represents more than recognition. It captures the unusual balance of a government officer whose working life revolves around official responsibilities, while his free hours are often spent planning the next road, climb or expedition.
Manali to Leh: A Ride Through Heat, Thin Air and High Altitude
Among Garg’s most challenging expeditions was the Manali–Leh cycling journey in 2017. It tested him in ways that ordinary road rides could not.
The roads were far less conducive to cycling than they are today, and the conditions were punishing. Daytime temperatures reportedly climbed to around 40 degrees Celsius, exposing riders to scorching heat as they progressed through difficult terrain.
The challenge did not end with the heat. The ascent towards Khardung La brought a different test: high altitude and thin air, where oxygen availability is significantly lower than at sea level.
For any cyclist, climbing at such elevations demands careful pacing and physical preparation. The consequences of altitude-related illness can be serious, making such expeditions far more than a test of stamina.
Garg and his fellow riders completed the journey, turning a formidable challenge into one of his most rewarding cycling memories. Reaching Ladakh by bicycle had been a dream, and the landscape at the end made the effort worthwhile.
Interestingly, Garg believes that cycling into the region gradually helped his body adjust to the changing altitude, unlike travelling there quickly by road or air. Although gradual ascent can support acclimatisation, high-altitude cycling still requires caution.
For him, the Manali–Leh expedition remains a reminder of why he continues to seek out demanding routes: the satisfaction comes not just from reaching a destination, but from experiencing the journey in its entirety.
A Rajasthan Ride Through Fog and the Unknown
Not every memorable ride is about altitude or physical endurance. Sometimes, it is the unexpected that makes a journey unforgettable.
During a cycling expedition through Rajasthan’s Thar Desert, Garg and his fellow riders travelled from Bikaner towards the Longewala border area. After spending the night among the sand dunes near Jaisalmer, they set off early the following morning, around 5 or 5:30 am, during winter.
Fog covered the route, reducing visibility to an estimated five to ten metres. The group continued riding through the low visibility until they reached the area around 10:30 or 11 am. As the sun rose and the fog lifted, they discovered just how different the surroundings looked in daylight. What had appeared to be an ordinary stretch of road was surrounded by dense forest, with the possibility of encountering wild animals along the way.
The riders had travelled through the stretch without fully appreciating the challenges concealed by the fog. It was an experience that stayed with Garg precisely because of the uncertainty.
Another adventure took him to the Konkan coast. Recently, he completed a cycling expedition from Mumbai to Goa, riding through the region over six or seven days.
From the Himalayas to the Thar and the coastal roads of western India, Garg has experienced the country’s changing landscapes at the pace of a bicycle. Each region brings a different combination of terrain, weather and surprises.
The Dream That Remains: Kashmir to Kanyakumari
Even after covering more than 1,10,000 kilometres, Garg has one major expedition firmly on his bucket list: cycling from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, commonly known as the K2K ride.
It is a journey that would take him across the length of India, linking the country’s northern reaches with its southern tip. Unlike a short expedition, this undertaking would require approximately 30 to 40 days on the road, along with the planning needed to manage such an extended ride.
For now, his responsibilities as an Income Tax Officer and commitments to his family make it difficult to set aside that much time. The dream, however, remains alive, and he hopes to undertake the journey when circumstances allow.
There is something fitting about that unfinished ambition. For a cyclist who has already spent years crossing mountains, deserts and coastlines, the next destination is not simply another place to reach. It is an opportunity to experience India as one continuous journey, one pedal stroke at a time.
Garg’s story is not about abandoning a profession to pursue an adventure. It is about making room for a passion within the life he already leads. His mornings begin with cycling, his working hours belong to public service, and his leave days sometimes lead to roads that stretch far beyond his everyday surroundings.
The name Cyclewala ITO may have started as a fond nickname among colleagues, but it now describes a remarkable part of his life. And with Kashmir to Kanyakumari still waiting, his journey is far from over.
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