It had been long since I along with a friend of mine(Jagan) had decide to commence the training for a long distance cycling trip. We were gonna start it by riding to the bangalore airport (around a total of 60kms to and fro). The date was fixed at 07th Jan'12. Although, we had been planning this for a long time, some unforeseen incidents forced Jagan to to cancel at the last minute. So I was home on the Friday night (6th Jan) debating with myself about the possibility of me doing a solo ride to airport. All I knew was that delaying this would screw with our training. Besides, Jagan had already done a ride to airport. Unable to come to a proper conclusion, I set my alarm at 4:30AM and decided to go for it "if" I get up. :)
Well, the alarm chimed and somehow woke me up (This rarely happens). I took it as a good sign and started preparing for the ride. It was exactly 05:25AM when I left my house at Kormangla. The weather was just awesome. Chilled and pleasant.
At around 06:00AM I reached the ITC Windsor bridge. The Sun was yet to arrive on my side of the planet. I had covered about 16Kms which was longest distance I had covered on my Schwinn Searcher so far (my commute distance being 13Kms).
I pushed on to the Bangalore-Hyderabad highway. The initial slopes upto the Mekhri Circle kindda cheered me up. I was maintaining an average of 23-25Kms all the while. Along the way I saw a herd of about 10-15 Royal Enfields cruising the highway. They looked .... umm .... royal, I guess. I remembered the time I was cruising along this road on my Avenger at about the same time, with my girlfriend .... it was sssooo awesome.
Anyways, by 6:30 the visibility increased as I switched off my headlight. But it was still a foggy atmosphere and although there was a pleasant amount of morning light on the road, nothing beyond 10-20 mts was visible. I had been on this road a lot of times but never before had I seen it look so beautiful. I was busy pedaling and admiring the nature, that I was a bit distressed when all the cabs started pushing on the left side of the road. There in front of lay the diversion in the B'lore-Hyd highway that leads to airport. I had made it. I wasn't even tired. No fatigue or nothing. Atleast that's what I thought. I climbed down my beloved, stretched my legs, had some water and waited. It was only 07:30 AM. As per my speedometer I had covered about 40 Kms at an average of 21.0Kmph. My sweat shirt was all wet but not because of my sweat and I am quite sure it didn't rain. Must have been because of the fog, sheer awesomeness of the weather. Anyways, I took it off. As expected my white jersey was dry as sand.
A couple of cyclists passed me by, I guess they were going to Nandi Hills. I realized that I'll be home before 10:00AM if I started the return journey. Although, the Schwinn was looking at me curiously and mumbling more .... more .... more. I had not tested my endurance level ever before. My sane mind was screaming the facts like there was still a return journey to be made and my capacity was yet be assessed . But, my insane mind and the Schwinn formed a majority and I decided to move forward. I always used to love reading the posts of people doing their first century rides on BBC and I wanted to know the feeling. So, now the plan was to ride until my speedometer reads a distance covered of 50Kms and then turn back.
I climbed on my beloved and pedaled ahead and that's when it hit me. My butt just cried out in pain from parts I didn't even know existed. Scared the hell out of me. I stopped almost immediately did a few lunges. I had found my challenge and I knew I wasn't going to stop now. All of a sudden pedaling got really difficult and the pain .... well, I'll spare you those details.
The road to airport was beautiful but I don't know how to describe the road from airport to Nandi Cross. Refreshed some memories again, involving my special someone :) Soon I started feeling the shivers. It was chilly. Tiny water droplets had covered my bare hands. Again, a foggy trick. I got back into my sweat shirt. Nandi Cross came in almost no time. I was hungry and I knew that the nearest place for a decent breakfast is at nandi base. There is this family restaurant called Nandi Abhinandana, I just love the Idlis that they serve there. The only other time had them was when I was with my girl. A ride foreword promised refreshments for the memory too. I smiled at myself and started the 10 Km ride from Nandi Cross to Nandi Base.
This 10km patch really tested my patience. It is a loong straight road which just wasn't ending. Fog covered everything and nothing but a small patch of road in front was visible. It felt like the infinite loop train station in matrix. Everything remained same no matter how many times I pedaled (except a few bumps ofcourse). Finally reached the restaurant at about 8:30AM. It was an awesome feeling. I jumped at first then acted like I was exercising when people started staring. I also wanted to make a few calls but their was no network. One of the best things about nandi. atleast for aircel users. You are completely cut from everything else. Just enjoy the nature by choice or be forced to do so.
The breakfast was awesome. I took a few snaps and stayed until the sun was out. It was about 09:30 when the fog almost completely receded. A few cyclist started showing and I waved at them as they waved back. I climbed back on my beloved and started the journey back. I was so engrossed with all the memories that I din't realize when I neared my home.(Although, I did think of a few ways to let Jagan know what he missed.) I called up my roommate and asked him to switch on the geyser.
It was exactly 01:02PM when I reached home and thus an awesome journey ended. I had averaged at 22kmph covering a total of 112kms. My first century ride!! :)
Well, the alarm chimed and somehow woke me up (This rarely happens). I took it as a good sign and started preparing for the ride. It was exactly 05:25AM when I left my house at Kormangla. The weather was just awesome. Chilled and pleasant.
At around 06:00AM I reached the ITC Windsor bridge. The Sun was yet to arrive on my side of the planet. I had covered about 16Kms which was longest distance I had covered on my Schwinn Searcher so far (my commute distance being 13Kms).
I pushed on to the Bangalore-Hyderabad highway. The initial slopes upto the Mekhri Circle kindda cheered me up. I was maintaining an average of 23-25Kms all the while. Along the way I saw a herd of about 10-15 Royal Enfields cruising the highway. They looked .... umm .... royal, I guess. I remembered the time I was cruising along this road on my Avenger at about the same time, with my girlfriend .... it was sssooo awesome.
Anyways, by 6:30 the visibility increased as I switched off my headlight. But it was still a foggy atmosphere and although there was a pleasant amount of morning light on the road, nothing beyond 10-20 mts was visible. I had been on this road a lot of times but never before had I seen it look so beautiful. I was busy pedaling and admiring the nature, that I was a bit distressed when all the cabs started pushing on the left side of the road. There in front of lay the diversion in the B'lore-Hyd highway that leads to airport. I had made it. I wasn't even tired. No fatigue or nothing. Atleast that's what I thought. I climbed down my beloved, stretched my legs, had some water and waited. It was only 07:30 AM. As per my speedometer I had covered about 40 Kms at an average of 21.0Kmph. My sweat shirt was all wet but not because of my sweat and I am quite sure it didn't rain. Must have been because of the fog, sheer awesomeness of the weather. Anyways, I took it off. As expected my white jersey was dry as sand.
A couple of cyclists passed me by, I guess they were going to Nandi Hills. I realized that I'll be home before 10:00AM if I started the return journey. Although, the Schwinn was looking at me curiously and mumbling more .... more .... more. I had not tested my endurance level ever before. My sane mind was screaming the facts like there was still a return journey to be made and my capacity was yet be assessed . But, my insane mind and the Schwinn formed a majority and I decided to move forward. I always used to love reading the posts of people doing their first century rides on BBC and I wanted to know the feeling. So, now the plan was to ride until my speedometer reads a distance covered of 50Kms and then turn back.
I climbed on my beloved and pedaled ahead and that's when it hit me. My butt just cried out in pain from parts I didn't even know existed. Scared the hell out of me. I stopped almost immediately did a few lunges. I had found my challenge and I knew I wasn't going to stop now. All of a sudden pedaling got really difficult and the pain .... well, I'll spare you those details.
The road to airport was beautiful but I don't know how to describe the road from airport to Nandi Cross. Refreshed some memories again, involving my special someone :) Soon I started feeling the shivers. It was chilly. Tiny water droplets had covered my bare hands. Again, a foggy trick. I got back into my sweat shirt. Nandi Cross came in almost no time. I was hungry and I knew that the nearest place for a decent breakfast is at nandi base. There is this family restaurant called Nandi Abhinandana, I just love the Idlis that they serve there. The only other time had them was when I was with my girl. A ride foreword promised refreshments for the memory too. I smiled at myself and started the 10 Km ride from Nandi Cross to Nandi Base.
This 10km patch really tested my patience. It is a loong straight road which just wasn't ending. Fog covered everything and nothing but a small patch of road in front was visible. It felt like the infinite loop train station in matrix. Everything remained same no matter how many times I pedaled (except a few bumps ofcourse). Finally reached the restaurant at about 8:30AM. It was an awesome feeling. I jumped at first then acted like I was exercising when people started staring. I also wanted to make a few calls but their was no network. One of the best things about nandi. atleast for aircel users. You are completely cut from everything else. Just enjoy the nature by choice or be forced to do so.
The breakfast was awesome. I took a few snaps and stayed until the sun was out. It was about 09:30 when the fog almost completely receded. A few cyclist started showing and I waved at them as they waved back. I climbed back on my beloved and started the journey back. I was so engrossed with all the memories that I din't realize when I neared my home.(Although, I did think of a few ways to let Jagan know what he missed.) I called up my roommate and asked him to switch on the geyser.
It was exactly 01:02PM when I reached home and thus an awesome journey ended. I had averaged at 22kmph covering a total of 112kms. My first century ride!! :)
congrats Sushie....enjoyed reading it, nicely written, as fresh as your century ride....wish you many such rides and the ride reports also!!!!
ReplyDeleteanil s kadsur
Will You Please Marry Me ASAP
ReplyDeleteSo that i'll enjoy cycle riding better than enjoyed reading ... Cogos!!!
YES!! :)
ReplyDeleteKya baat re Sushie!!! machaxx :)
ReplyDeleteabe geyser on to kar diya... off karna to yaad rakh :P