“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man”
George Bernard Shaw, 1903
I can’t imagine a more unreasonable thing for someone like me – an unemployed, recently divorced, third-generation immigrant, mother-of-two in my mid-30s – to do than to cycle solo across a continent. But as of the 1st January this year, when I went to lay flowers on my grandfather’s grave on his birthday – chosen, perhaps, to symbolise his fresh start when he arrived in this country and was asked his date of birth – that’s what I decided to do.
Blame George Bernard Shaw, whose words – displayed on my bedroom wall, cross-stitched in an act of micro-rebellion as a teenager – give me comfort that there might be some benefit to being stubborn.
Blame Dervla Murphy, whose account of her solo cycle journey from Ireland to India in 1963 has long inspired me to undertake a similarly epic adventure of my own one day.
Or Adventure Queens, whose generosity in awarding me one of their three grants for 2024 gave me the confidence to do this now, and will provide further support in route finding, mentoring, equipment and an injection of cash.
But most of all, my decision begins with my grandfather, who left his wife, two young daughters and the world he knew behind in Pakistan – the year after Murphy completed her ride, but travelling in the opposite direction – to chance his luck in Britain as an economic migrant. He took a leap of faith that changed the lives of his whole family forever; exactly 60 years on from his momentous journey, at a crossroads in my own life, I am attempting to take charge of my life and seeking my own fresh start.
At least, that’s the plan! I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that fear is creeping in the closer I get to my start date – missing the kids too much, staying safe, being attacked by stray dogs, colliding with a careless driver… BUT it also feels like if there was ever a time to do this, it is now.
I grew up in my grandparents’ home just outside Glasgow, itself a mirror of the Pakistan they came from. Urdu is my first language; desi beats were the rhythm of my childhood. But my connection to these roots gradually frayed. I moved away for university, married outside of my culture, and am now raising children who don’t speak my mother tongue. The stripping away of my identity has accelerated in recent months as I shed the conferred respect of my former titles of Mrs Permall and Director for Scotland for a children’s charity. This has set me free to ask: who am I now and who do I want to be in the second half of my life?
Follow me? I will record here my journey from Glasgow to Istanbul this spring in Part 1 of this epic adventure. Part 2 will take me from Istanbul to my grandfather’s ancestral village in Pakistan – but that’s for another day.
As my legs spin and the wheels turn week after week, I want to truly feel the magnitude of the cultural distance my Grandad travelled as I retrace his steps and witness how culture shifts across a continent. I hope this reverse migration on two wheels with a microphone in hand will offer me important insights into questions that I and millions of others grapple with daily: who am I? Where do I fit in? What should I let go of and hold onto as I navigate change?
Departing in April, I will cycle over 2,800 miles to arrive in Istanbul by the end of June, inshallah, passing through Scotland, England, France, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia and Bulgaria before arriving in Turkey.
On the way, I plan to revisit all the places that I have called ‘home’ – North-East England as a Maths teacher, Cambridge as a student and Greenwich as a financial regulator – to reflect on how my cultural identity has changed over time.
I hope to meet others along the way who are grappling with these questions and whose stories I resonate with and learn from, be they mothers of young children, Pakistani or other immigrants, or simply the restless of spirit trying to forge a way forward in their lives. If you are – or know – someone I should speak to, please get in touch! I’d love to speak to you. And thank you for reading so far.
SASA on the move 
24 responses to “An Unreasonable Decision”
How exciting! I’m sure it will be an amazing, life-affirming experience. Keep safe and good luck. We’ll look forward to following your adventures!
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What an adventure. Be sure to read or listen to Jenny Graham’s – Coffee first, then the world; the Inverness lass who cycled the world. A truly inspirational account.
So glad to hear you are grabbing life now and not waiting, like do many of us, until you retire. Good luck with your training and I look forward to following your story.
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What a life experience to embark on! It’s easy to forget the steps into the unknown that previous generations did, with much less information and support than people have today, so it is really amazing you are honouring your grandfather’s memory in this way.
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As a mother, I completely agree with the title “A very unreasonable decision”!
However, I fully understand the need for you to undertake this adventure at this time. I am trying to look on the positive side so I am hoping that the stress and worry that I will experience while you are away will result in shedding those kilograms in body weight at last!
Wishing you every success and looking forward to following you every turn of the wheel xx
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Being true to ourselves is the biggest life challenge. Congratulations Sahir – exciting, brave, scarey, mad – all of the above. Briilant, and inspiring most of all!
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Amazing and inspiring! I have no doubts the best will come out of this journey xx
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What an amazing adventure look forward to seeing your progress 🚴🏼♀️🚴🏼♀️
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What an adventure awaits! I cannot wait to read the next instalment- to hear about your progress, your thoughts on the people you meet, and places you visit… and the impact your journey has on you. You certainly don’t do things by halves! You write beautifully too… I can’t wait to immerse myself and travel and adventure vicariously through you!
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Courage: You have this. Contentment: You will find this. Enjoy, there is no rush. 🚲
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You grabbed my attention! Looking forward to hearing about your travels. Good luck.
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You are inspirational! I’d love it if you could drop by a cycling organisation I’m part of in Glasgow on your travels. We’d love to have you and hear about the adventure you have planned.
https://womenonwheels.org.uk/
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Salma – echo your thoughts exactly.
Sahir – what a beautiful blog. I must admit I did not connect the dots. You emailed into us ( Women on Wheels) and I forwarded it to my colleague Holly who runs the touring programme…..then my colleague and dear friend Salma forwarded your blog on a whatsapp group and I was proabably rushing between work and school run ( also being a single mum of 2) and did not read it. Then my othe colleague Katherine was on the phone to you yesterday and I briefly heard some snippets as I had my head phones on for a call…..the universe gave me 3 chances to connect with you. Why didn’t I? I am reaching out now. I really hope you take us up on our invitiation and pop into see us at Women on Wheels before you go. Can you?
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Congratulations and good luck. I cycle a very similar route almost 10 years to the day ahead of your journey. I’m sure you’ll find it a rewarding experience – I’ll be following along.
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What a fantastic opportunity. Looking forward to reading of travels and adventures.
Accommodation in Notts if you want it! ( No stray dogs here 😎)
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Looks like you will follow the Danube – I live in Ingolstadt, Germany. Drop me an email, you are welcome to stay. Good luck! it will be awesome
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Bravo pour cette décision irraisonnable, continuez dans cet esprit ! Bonne route à vous.
Well done for making such a decision, your quest for your roots is a very honourable one. Have a safe trip
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Amazing and truly inspirational. I look forward to reading your updates. Safe travels, enjoy and the very best of luck!
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Looking forward to reading more about your adventures.
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Amazing and hugely inspirational. Looking forward to reading all your updates. Safe travels, enjoy and the very best of luck.
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What fun lies ahead of you!
I wish you all the best luck on your trip.
If you find yourself near worcester on your way let me know and your welcome tk syay with me and my partner.
I strongly reccomend using warmshpwers.org for meeting people and accommodation.
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Hi Sahir,
Your blog was recommended on the Twitter (X platform) by Alastair Humphreys. I am very riveted by your story of what has led you to embark on this amazing cycling adventure. The George Bernard Shaw quote, and of course your grandfather.
This expedition will carry much purpose and meaning as you travel the opposite direction that your grandfather did so many years ago. And like your grandfather, it truly is a leap of faith. Thank you for sharing. I look forward to following your journey.
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Sahir,
All success to you on your great journey and in your whole life. You definitely need to do something like this in order to help you raise your children, show them the world, and instill in them their own understanding of their identity and how to determine it.
I hope that you find what you are looking for, as well as plenty more wonders that you had no idea would or could be in store for you.
Keep the rubber side down.
richard (erstwhile ICBM = intercontinental bicycle man)
[Thanks to Alastair Humphreys for the linkage.]
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Congratulations, what a wonderful plan. My own cycle tour took a similar route. I know that time will be limited, but if at all possible I’d really encourage you to try and incorporate some of Romania into your route, either to cycle through Maramures in the north, which is like a land lost in time, and has a great campsite called Babou, and/or to cycle the incredible Transfăgărășan pass. Romania was my favourite of all the countries that we passed through, for both the landscape and the people.
Also, if you haven’t read it already, a perfect accompanyment book (or audiobook) for your trip would be “A Time of Gifts” by Patrick Leigh Fermour (and its sequels) about his walk through europe following a very similar route.
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Wishing you every good wish on your journey, both physical and psychological. you have my total admiration. Eithne
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