Nixon Xavier (1990)
If life ever gave me a chance to go back to REC Calicut — to those red-tiled hostels, the smell of rain on Kattangal roads, and the wide open fields where we once learned who we were — I know exactly what I would do first.
I would start a cycling club.
Back then, I had my Roller Skating Club. It gave me speed, balance, and a sense of flight. But life has its own timing. Only decades later — after crossing continents, losing loved ones, facing my own battles, and rediscovering myself on two wheels — did I understand that cycling is far more than movement. It is a form of meditation. A quiet classroom. A lifelong teacher.
And if I had known this earlier, I would have planted those seeds right there on that campus I still call home.
Why Cycling Matters — Especially for Students
When a student cycles, something subtle but powerful starts shifting inside him or her.
The heart beats in a steady rhythm.
Breath falls into a natural pattern.
The world outside moves… but the noise inside begins to settle.
Cyclists call it “moving meditation.”
It is the moment when the body is working, but the mind is healing.
When the road is rolling, but the thoughts are calming.
When your legs burn, but your heart finds peace.
For me, cycling rebuilt parts of my life that I did not even know were broken.
It gave me discipline without pressure.
Strength without ego.
A community without judgment.
And clarity without seeking it.
Imagine giving that gift to students — especially during the most defining four years of their lives.
REC Was the Place Where We Learned Life — Not Just Engineering
We studied engineering at REC, yes.
But we lived life in those hostels, canteens, MC, Auditorium, and evening walks to the Happy Valley through Girls’ hostel.
Every one of us was trying to understand the world — and ourselves.
A cycling club would have been more than a sport.
It would have been:
- A way to explore the hills and water bodies around campus
- A break from academic pressure
- A bonding space beyond departments and backpapers
- A healthy escape from habits that creep in during hostel life
- A daily reminder that physical movement fuels mental clarity
And most importantly — it would have taught us consistency.
One pedal at a time.
One climb at a time.
One habit at a time.
Today, that same principle guides my life, my work, my health, and my emotional balance.
What Cycling Has Taught Me — Lessons I Wish I Learned Earlier
If I had started cycling in REC, I believe certain lessons would have found me earlier:
1. Pain is not an enemy; it’s a signal.
Every climb burns. Every ride tests you.
But pain teaches patience and presence — qualities engineering couldn’t.
2. Progress matters more than success.
Cycling does not reward sudden brilliance.
It rewards quiet consistency — a mindset every student deserves to learn early.
3. The mind resets when the wheels move.
Some days, the world feels heavy.
But a 20-minute ride can turn storms into drizzle.
4. Community is built kilometer by kilometer.
Cycling partners become life partners in growth.
You learn to pace someone, support someone, and sometimes allow someone to carry you.
5. Movement is medicine.
Not metaphorically — literally.
It sharpens focus, reduces stress, builds resilience, and heals emotional clutter.
Moving Meditation — A Gift I Wish I Had Given My Younger Self
When I cycle today — whether it is under the vast Texas sky or through the slushy monsoon streets of Kerala — I often see someone riding with me: my younger self.
Curious. Reckless. Energetic.
Full of dreams, but also full of noise inside.
A bicycle — simple, steady, honest — would have changed so much for him.
It would have created structure.
It would have created clarity.
It would have created space to think, breathe, and grow.
And maybe that is why this thought keeps coming back:
If I ever get a second chance at REC, I will walk straight to the circle in front of the main building (MB) on Rajpath, gather a group of students, and start a cycling club with them.
No speeches. No ceremonies.
Just a group of young minds learning the art of moving meditation.
Once a NITCian, Always a NITCian
REC taught us how to stand on our own feet.
Cycling taught me how to move forward.
And today, as I share this with Kattangal Chimes, I hope one student — at least one — reads this and decides to pick up a cycle and ride.
Because cycling is not just exercise.
It is a conversation with yourself.
A space where your thoughts settle, your heart strengthens, and your spirit becomes lighter.
On our campus, where friendships are formed, dreams are born, and futures are shaped — a simple bicycle could become a lifelong companion.
And maybe, one day, that student will say:
“The ride changed me.”
Just like it changed me.
************
About the Author
Nixon Xavier is a dedicated cycling athlete who has logged more than 15,000 miles on the road within two and a half years of disciplined riding. He graduated from NIT Calicut (Electrical & Electronics Engineering, Batch of 1986–90) and currently resides in Austin, Texas, with his wife Shaigy and their daughters Anna, Nandhana, and Namitha.
He is the founder of CIVA Technologies, and a business partner at Stitch Control India Pvt. Ltd. and Webaune Solutions Pvt. Ltd. Nixon is recognized for his contributions to technology innovation through products such as EpicStitch, MagicForce, StitchControl, and Clubsview.