Book launch | Grit, Gravel and Gear: A bicycle journey from Arctic to Andes


Mr Dhruv Bogra, outdoorsman, adventure cyclist and retail CXO launched his first book ‘Grit, Gravel and Gear’ at the India Habitat Centre. The book chronicles his bicycle journey from the Arctic to the Andes. His journey spanned over 400 days from June 2016 to July 2017. The book aims to be an ode to the wondrous natural habitat on our planet, the indigenous people and the culture of the Americas and extraordinary experiences that enriched his life along the way.

The book is published by “The Write Place”, a division of Crossword Bookstores. It has a total of 387 pages and it comprises of a collection of 22 stories and many poems that detail his solo expedition across the fascinating 15,000 km stretch of land – spread across 10 countries on his bicycle; fondly called ‘Quest.’

The launch event showcased Dhruv’s journey via a short film that will be accompanied by a visually delightful presentation with Ms Deeya Suzannah Bajaj, a known adventurer and accomplished mountaineer graced the event with her presence and addressed the audience.

During the launch of his book Grit, Gravel and Gear, Mr Dhruv Bogra said, “Writing this book has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life so far and there is nothing that makes me happier than seeing it come to life today. I am extremely grateful to all the fellow travellers I met on the way, friends and family who supported my journey, and to Crossword publishers and Manish Purohit who displayed belief and faith in a book on adventure on a bicycle in lands far away from our country. I am grateful to the Universe and to all those who enriched my life and opened my mind and heart to enduring life lessons on this long and arduous journey. I hope this literary work will inspire others to embark on their pursuit of raw freedom and create their own stories of grit and determination”.

Talking about his journey across the Arctic to the Andes, Mr Bogra further commented, “This journey was a life-changing experience. It made me realize that the people and eco systems of the planet are truly interwoven with invisible threads, that we must fiercely protect nature, wildlife and our indigenous cultures and people. I was able to experience raw freedom, gain unusual wisdom, explore faraway lands and find true love”.