Congratulations to Manisha Waghmare & Meera Velankar who set the Unsupported E-W Tandem WUCA record in the following categories during this attempt: Female Tandem bike, 18-49 age group, Unsupported.
During this attempt – they also set a new WUCA Kibhitoo to Agra Taj Mahal – as an embedded record.
Riders Narrative
Manisha G Waghmare.
I am Dr. Manisha, a practicing eye surgeon, a mother with a busy schedule, and a cyclist primarily focused on BRMs. Within just two years of my cycling journey, I achieved a Triple SR in one Audax year and completed both 1000 km and 1200 km LRM rides. All this energy, dedication, and perseverance come from my Yoga practice, which I have been following since 2020.
Every cyclist dreams of doing K2K after their LRM, and I feel lucky to have got this chance – that too for a Guinness attempt 
Due to the war-like situation in the northern valley, our plan changed from K2K to East to West. Having full faith in Meera, I simply said, “Whatever you decide, I am there with you,” and this trust is what’s required for tandem rides.
Actual Ride
Crossing the country from one end to the other is no joke, especially as we chose the summer season, which also had rains in some parts. This was the only time I could spare for such a long ride due to my practice commitments.
In Arunachal Pradesh, the terrain was rolling, roads were under construction, there were landslides, mud, and very few people around. Early sunsets at 4 pm forced us to halt rides early, and twice we stayed overnight in local villagers’ houses by requesting shelter.
In Assam, we faced bad roads and rainfall but were lucky to spot wild rhinoceros, elephants, and deer along the way. Temperature changes, poor roads, and safety issues were constant challenges. In Uttar Pradesh, temperatures touched 46–47°C, making it impossible to ride between 11 am and 4 pm, so we compensated by riding late evenings. We passed Ayodhya, the birthplace of Bhagwan Shriram, and metro cities like Lucknow and Jaipur, where traffic reduced our speed.
We were lucky to cycle through the Rann of Kutch, the ‘Road to Heaven,’ though we struggled against strong headwinds and crosswinds, heavy rainfall, and mechanical failures. Repeated mechanical issues were a big concern on this ride; we even had to purchase an entirely new bike in Bihar. But again, due to the high temperatures, tyres would stick to the rim, making puncture repairs difficult.
Despite so many difficulties, we two strong women handled all situations calmly, with full faith in each other. Along the way, many people, especially from poorer communities, offered us tea and food and prayed for our safe journey. These blessings gave us the courage to keep moving towards our final destination – Koteshwar Temple of Lord Shiva.
Om Namah Shivay
Narrative – Meera H Velankar.
The Idea: Having experimented with tandem riding for the last 10 years alongside 22+ individuals of diverse age, size, shape, interests, ethnicity, and socio-economic backgrounds, my tandem story was already rich and full of experiences. I had previously done the route on a road bike, so the recce was already complete. What had changed over the last 3 years was the temperature, traffic, and brutality of the highway.
When I thought about how I wanted to celebrate turning 49 and stepping into 50, one sweet idea was to finally set a Guinness World Record in the “2-women tandem, unsupported” category. Initially, we considered the more common Kanyakumari to Kashmir route, but due to the war-like situation in the valley, we chose the lesser-known but more challenging K2K route — Kibhitu to Koteshwar. Getting to the start line itself was a nightmare, involving 5–6 days of travel and costs around ₹60,000. Thankfully, we managed to get a sponsor.
Partner and Practice:
Choosing the right partner for a ride like this is critical. You need someone who is a team player, has solid family support, can afford to spend up to ₹2 lakhs on the (all costs shared) expedition, and most importantly, is passionate and goal-oriented enough to dig deep when challenges hit.
I was fortunate to meet Manisha. During our practice rides in Konkan four months ago, we bonded well and ironed out any differences that could affect the project. That’s when our team truly came together.
Who is Captain and Who is Stoker :
During our practise ride , we both did try both positions , our height has almost 5 inch difference so entire time in the ride we both kept adjusting seat – heights. It became part of our daily routine.
Initially I enjoyed riding in the front and on technical sections and busy roads , but Manisha was very quick learner she quickly adapted to riding on heavy handle bar due to bike bags , she also did great job managing 15-20 kms extra everyday , specially in last 15 days and after my elbow fracture . Last 10 days Manisha did wonderful job on the Captain seat and with her admirable fast cadence . I enjoyed most of the flyover climbs that time and added some additional power in support. It was great teamwork and last week , we literally propelled 20 km each , inching towards Finish-line.
The Actual Ride:
The route was approximately 3,800 km of highway, cutting across the country from one end to the other. The first and last 300 km were especially isolated, with poor road conditions. We opted for this season due to our respective schedules — a big mistake in hindsight. The transition from summer to monsoon was brutal. We lost over 5 days to extreme heat, strong winds, and water-logged roads.
The Tandem Bike:
This deserves a thesis of its own. Initially, three of us women had built a custom steel frame tandem with road bike wheels to go faster. with the help of Pedaltech Chennai- Dinesh and Sekhar. But four months of simulations were not enough. We lost valuable days due to rim dents, tyre bursts, crank issues, and frequent flats. We endured all of it.
Agra Accident and a New Tandem :
Ten days into the ride, we realized we needed a different tandem with wider tyres. Polygon India stepped in, and by June 5 — nearly 20 days into the ride — we had a new bike. Just as our speed started improving, a drunk motorcyclist hit us near Agra. We both suffered injuries. I had an elbow fracture that continued to trouble me throughout the ride, with daily fever and hand pain. Having Manisha, a practicing surgeon, as my partner made all the difference — her medical background and mindset helped us move forward.
A Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience:
In the end, two mothers — two women over 45 — came together to create history. That was more important than the 10 days lost to setbacks and challenges. We cherished every state, every hour, every dish, and every stay. People on the road became our extended family — urging us to stay safe, offering us food and shelter, and praying for our journey.
Conclusions and Contentment : Was it a Bikepacking , bike touring or setting a Guinness record by two mothers on tandem , quite unique for a country like India and a continent like Asia. Averaging around 90 kms a day carrying everything they need , when they are not able to venture out on lonely highways past sundown.
Manisha, my partner on the frame – very hardworking , mature , currently in practice for BRMs and LRMs , past 2 years. Ambitious and aggressive when required , follower and listener when needed for the team.
States and Stats :
AP – 15 th – 19 th -May – 5 days
Assam – 20 th -29 th May -10 days
WB – 30 th and 31 st -2 days
Bihar – 1 St -7 th June -7 days
UP – 8 th -15 June – 8 days
Rajasthan -16 th – 22 nd 7 days
Gujarat – 22 nd – 27 th June -5 days
With some overlap , few days in transition , one state to Other.
Approximate weekly mileage is 650 kms
Event average is 90 / per day
Tyre flat : 17 times
Event Sponsors:
Polygon India – Tandem cycle
Meneki Nutrition – Salts /Protein
Vikrant Alekar : Cycling Jersey
Aareen Healthcare : Start-line logistics and Travel