Goa, April 22 -- Doing anything over a long distance requires patience and a strong mind. Cycling over a thousand kilometres without formal preparation might seem foolhardy to most. But that's exactly what 16-year-old Silavia from Goa did - riding from Siolim to Velankanni, a distance of 1,066 km, over 12 days, alongside her father, Albert Rodrigues.

Preparation

Typically, such a journey would involve months of cycling to build stamina and strength. But Silavia was in the middle of studying for her class 10 board exams. Her only physical activity was playing basketball every alternate day - and she played hard. "That gave me the confidence I needed," she said.

Why did she do it?

Albert Rodrigues, a 47-year-old businessman, who rents s...