City woman, friend do 75km cycle trek to Manali

OFF-ROAD CYCLING
Ludhiana: Hers was a dream that even mountains could not stop. For, she knew how to manoeuvre through them, tirelessly.
City’s Roopali Beri went to Manali with her Mumbai-based friend on a 75km bicycle trek. She claims to be the only woman from the city to have done the trek, which filled her with thrill and much-cherished experiences.
Roopali, a resident of New Aggar Nagar who works in a private firm as general manager, says, “I have been cycling for the past three years, but on plains. During lockdown, I developed interest in off-road cycling. It is more adventurous. I made a plan with my friend Anurita Jha, who is an actress and part of a web series. Earlier, we were planning to go towards Shimla, but then decided to cycle to Atal Tunnel-Rohtang Pass and Manali.”
She says they had started early morning on October 18 and finished by evening. About the trek, she says it is difficult to describe the experience in words. “I have seen Switzerland, but the beauty of this off-road trip was so much better. It was so beautiful and serene. It was a new kind of experience passing through Atal Tunnel on a bicycle. We could not click pictures inside the tunnel as photography is not allowed due to security reasons.”
Regarding her future plans, she says she has decided to go on the Manali-Leh route in June and July. She says being a woman, it was quite challenging to do off-road cycling, and she will encourage others to do it but with all safety measures.
Her friend says she will love to do some more adventure trips in the coming days. Both of them are still in Manali and will be back in the city by Thursday.