ONE MILLION PEDAL STROKES FROM HOME by Aditya E.S. Wicaksono

Jakarta, July 14 (Antara)- It was on a regular Friday evening in the fasting month of Ramadhan when some 40 cycling enthusiasts from Greater Jakarta rendezvoused at the Senayan Golf Driving Course. There, dozens of bicycles equipped with panniers, side bags, indicator lamps, and some flags bearing "Gowesmudik" tagline were parked next to the cycling enthusiasts wearing Lycra or cycling gear. After Iftar, or breaking their fast together, the members of Bike to Work Indonesia, a local cycling community, did a final check of their bikes before commencing on a journey spanning hundreds of kilometers to their hometowns to celebrate the Islamic festivity of Eid al-Fitr. While most Jakartans use cars or other means of transportation during their annual homebound exodus, cycling enthusiasts such as Poetoet Soedarjanto will be pedaling hundreds of kilometers away from Jakarta while heading to their hometowns. Since the journey is taken during the last week of Ramadhan, Poetoet, who is a Muslim, is still obliged to fast, abstain completely from foods, drinks, intimate intercourse, and smoking before the break of dawn until sunset. "We want to spread the syiar (greatness) of Islam. While fasting in the month of Ramadhan, we could still engage in productive activities. Fasting in Ramadhan is not a reason for being less productive," Poetoet stated during the departure ceremony after the Iftar. Poetoet will ride his Japanese-manufactured bicycle 850 kilometers away to his hometown in Madiun, East Java province, to celebrate the Islamic Holiday of Eid al-Fitr. "We continue to fast during the journey, and we want to show to the world that we can do this," the 47-year-old man affirmed. Before departing, Poetoet informed Antara's journalist about how he became addicted to cycling. The man, who lives in West Tangerang District, on the outskirts of Jakarta, has been riding his bicycle 25 kilometers every day to get to his office in downtown Tangerang for the last six years. "I have a car, but I rarely use it. The last time I checked, it had only covered around two thousand kilometers," Poetoet remarked. While some people do not view cycling to be a healthy option in big cities, as one can get stuck behind buses emitting diesel fumes and be exposed to choking air that can enter the lungs, however, Poetoet begs to differ. The father-of-three has a vision to promote the potential benefits of bicycling not only as a form of physical exercise but also as an alternative means of transportation, especially in big cities. Indeed, both cyclists and motor vehicle drivers are exposed to air pollution. While it might seem that car drivers are less exposed to airborne pollution as they sit behind their windshields, cyclists might be exposed to a greater extent to pollutants such as black carbon. "But here is the fact. Cyclists have more advantages. We certainly breathe more heavily, but we use our lungs and heart more than the people who are only seated behind the wheel," Poetoet pointed out. In other words, cycling offers manifold health benefits than not cycling, he stated. Riding a bike can also be much quicker than taking a bus in the city, which can reduce overall exposure. Experts also suggest a range of measures that cyclists can adopt in order to limit their exposure, right from cycling at particular times of the day to taking quieter backstreets, where the concentration of some pollutants can be considerably lower as compared to the main roads. "If only 20 percent of car users opted to riding a bicycle to work, I am sure that the congestion will reduce significantly," Poetoet emphasized. The Departure After some speeches and prayers, at around 8 p.m. local time, on Friday (July 10), the homebound cyclists departed from the rendezvous point in downtown Jakarta. Poetoet along with his group are taking the northern route, while some other cyclists are going to use the southern route. Poetoet embarked on his first journey home in 2011 when he rode a bicycle accompanied by one of his friends, who was another cycling enthusiast. This year's journey is his fourth, and he is riding along with five other companions, heading to several cities such as Cirebon, Yogyakarta, Blora, and Sidoarjo. The journey to Madiun will take around five days. Standard protective and safety gear such as helmet and head and tail lamps are being used during the journey home. "And we maintain a proper diet. We have a normal sahur (predawn meals). We drink eight glasses of water during the night and eat some fruits. We reduce the intake of fried foods, coffee, and tea to maintain a high metabolism during fasting. That is all. Nothing more," Poetoet revealed. On day one, Poetoet and his group made their first stop and rested in Cikampek and had sahur before continuing their next stage to Cirebon, West Java. Meanwhile, Mayang Widya, who joined Poetoet's group, is the youngest who is headed to the farthest destination, Sidoardo in East Java. "I just want to inspire my friends and the people," the 20-year-old girl noted. Borrowing a bike from a friend of hers, several months ago, Mayang rode more than 850 kilometers from Sidoarjo to Jakarta to pursue her dream. "I had no experience at all in cycling. I started the journey on April 19 and arrived in Jakarta in early May. I was going to apply for a scholarship in the Japanese Embassy in Jakarta at that time," Mayang, who recently graduated from a vocational school, stated. Mayang was featured in a television talk show "Kick Andy," thanks to her first cycling adventure. Although she failed to bag the scholarship, her hopes are still high that someday she will be able to visit the Land of the Rising Sun. "I want to do a tour of Asia someday, riding my bicycle from Indonesia to Japan," the girl with a pixie haircut said. Leaving Cirebon, on the third day, the group continued eastbound to reach Tegal and Pekalongan Districts in Central Java Province. Mayang, Poetoet, and the other group members rode three to four hours in the morning, two to three hours in the afternoon, and continued their journey three to four hours during the night. "We cycle for a total of around ten hours a day. We usually start at six or seven in the morning," Mayang noted in a text message when she and the group arrived in Pekalongan on Monday (July 13). Mayang is hoping to arrive home in Sidoarjo before Eid al-Fitr, which falls on July 17. There is something novelistic about a bicycle race or journey. Each stage is a different chapter. With each pedal stroke, Mayang and her companions are pushing the limits and inching closer to their homes to celebrate the joyous Eid al-Fitr.