Dr. Meera Velankar, a mother of two with a doctorate in life sciences, embarked on a transformative journey over a decade ago. Feeling unfit and discontent, she turned to cycling, becoming a seasoned endurance athlete since.
Her achievements include completing numerous running and cycling events, earning the title of an Ironman 70.3 finisher, and conquering the Super Randonneur norm three times, with a podium finish at the Tour of Nilgiris.
In 2022, Meera made history by setting a Guinness World Record for a self-supported cycling journey from Agra to Umlingla, covering a distance of 1,835 km in 19 days, 7 hours, and 18 minutes. This remarkable feat, accomplished with Utkarsh Verma, traversed five passes with an elevation of 19,000 meters, equivalent to climbing Mount Everest twice.
During this podcast, Meera shares insights into her journey, emphasising the importance of setting goals and pushing boundaries. Drawing inspiration from fellow cyclists, she advocates for spending more time outdoors and pursuing dreams.
Learn more about Meera's adventures and her passion for motivating other mothers by listening to her story on the Tough Girl Podcast.
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Show notes
Who is Meera
Getting her doctorate in life sciences at 26
Having 2 daughters
Realising that she was obese
Starting to walk and to get into running
Setting her first cycling challenge
Cycling 800km in 8 days with a lot of off roading and climbing in 2011
Receiving support from the male participants
Wanting to take her cycling further
The importance of working towards goals
Taking part in stage events
2012 getting involved in Super Randonneur
Getting use to cycling on her own
Taking on new challenges every year
Wanting to move away from organised events and create her own challenges
Deciding on challenges/events and the planning and preparation involved.
Using her research skills from her PhD to plan her routes
Being inspired by Cat Dixon and Raz Marsden. The women’s tandem around the GWR holders. (You can listen to Cat and Raz on the TGP)
Meeting Laura from SteLa Tandem - Around the word - mixed pair GWR holder.
You can listen to Laura Massey-Pugh on the TGP - Her Inspiring Journey Around the World - 180 days on the back of a tandem.
Taking on 3 different routes/challenges with different partners, self supported.
Riding Kanyakumari to Kashmir Route (K2K) 3,800km in 18 days, self supported.
Riding The Golden Qualdilateral (network of national highways connecting Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai in four directions) 6,000+ km in 41 days
Riding East to West - known as the "the other k2k" in cycling circuits.
Having a supportive husband
Social issues of riding a tandem bike with a male partner who is not her husband.
The challenges of tandem cycling
Riding Umling La Pass on a tandem bicycle, which is the highest motorable pass (19,024ft) in the world.
The many names of the tandem bike
Having support from the Indian Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)
Communication and needing to rely on local people and their local knowledge
Fitting in cycling around her life and family
Focusing on high altitude cycling and the lessons she’s learned
How to connect with Meera
Final words of advice to encourage you to spend more time in the outdoors and to follow your dreams
Take the first steps to pursue your dreams
Social Media
Website: www.pedalmummy.com/meera/index.html
Instagram: @meeravelankar
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