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The tale of single speed ride :
Ride start time : 0445hrs
Ride end time : 1445 hrs
Distance covered : 135 kms + 15kms
Bicycle used : Btwin My bike.
After spending 13 days in the hilly terrain, I was very desperate to ride on the tarmac and on the plains. Also it is a long time dream to go for a long ride on my single speed. After finishing chores and getting settled on Saturday, the idea of this ride struck suddenly in my mind and I executed it.
The start was delayed by 45mts. than planned. I started at a slow pace and passed through Guindy,Porur and Madhuravoyal joining the bypass road and finally the NH 5.
It is such a great feeling to ride on a national highway, where you just see the ocean of black ahead of you. I got a beautiful show of colours before the sunrise. Watching pink sky with orange in middle and yellow shades here and there is such bliss.
My pace also is increased slowly. At 0825hrs I reached Gummidipoondi and had breakfast there. I came across a 14 lane toll gate on the way. I was amazed to see such a big one . I carried a transparent bottle and in the hotel while I'm mixing Gatorade, a guy was so curious to know what I'm mixing and why it is yellow. I told him it is just glucose. He was after me for the empty sachet!
It was 0900hrs when I resumed ride again. Both wind and sun have started to show their full powers which made me completely exhausted! My pace steadily decreased. I was recharged by the refreshing green fields now and then, simultaneously getting exhausted with the enormous heat. In between, I had to use rest room . All these combined with the gradually increasing head winds made me take two hrs to complete the last 15 kms to Tada.
At 1100hrs I finally reached Tada. I was very happy to see that I'm only 46 kms away from the destination. I thought I will reach within two more hours. That stretch has separate plan laid out for me !
As I have taken left to proceed for Sri Kalahasti, the hills started getting closer. The sight of green fields below the hills is just amazing. The road which bends very frequently added much beauty to the whole scene.While I'm lost in admiring the scenery, the wind and sun made their plan and showed their power. The heat began to increase much further, the head and cross winds will hardly let me pedal . I had to take breaks very frequently.At a point, I completely stopped riding and slept for a while in a bus shelter. The heat and wind never gave up. I pedaled slowly and was moving ahead.
The landscape is beginning to turn more and more beautiful. After a while, trees started to appear on both sides. The occasional cow and sheep herds added beauty to the barren fields too. I couldn't recognize all the crops but, the leaves of sugarcane stood tall as if they are proud of themselves. There are many varieties of trees on the way. I wished I was a botanist. I have even seen the route to the Tada waterfalls, on the way.
The mistake I have done in my 200brm is skipping food. I have decided that it should not be repeated this time. Since I had breakfast at 65kms, I planned to have lunch after 100kms. But sarcastically, there is hardly any hotel in the route. I carried few snacks but they were all heated up and I didn't feel like having them. So hunger also added up to my existing miseries!
I got lot of stares on the way. Countless number of people scanned me top to bottom, giving a look - What the hell is this guy up to? I was sad that none of them waved at me. In Himachal, all the children and many adults used to wave the hand while I'm riding which used to boost my spirits.
After so much of pedaling hard and hard ,taking so many breaks , I finally reached Sri Kalahasti at 1445 hrs ,which is exactly 10 hrs from the beginning.
I saw a hotel there and had lunch. Smile appeared on my face after a long time. Luckily, I found a lodge nearby. I took bath there, changed to traditional dress and went to temple. It was 1630 hrs by the time, I completed everything.
Now it is war between mind and body. Mind says to go ahead and ride back to Chennai with an idea to get practice of night ride. Body points the already crying muscles in thighs and the exhaustion throughout. Apart from these, I was also very worried about the office next day. Then, I have decided to give up.
I have reached bus stand, only to find every bus heading to Chennai is completely occupied, ruining the idea of travel by standing too ! Without thinking much, I got into a APSRTC bus going to Tirupathi. Ticket is Rs 45 for me and Rs 100 bicycle. I instantly got respect over Haryana and Himachal RTC'S who charge nominally for the bicycle. In this ride bicycle was also given a ticket.
I had to struggle a lot in Tirupathi for finding a bus. Being weekend all the buses are full and no private operator is plying bus to Chennai.
I was determined to have a night ride and reach Chennai by 1100 hrs next day, but as a last try I have asked the cleaner of last APSRTC volvo ( Garuda) to see if he can help me out. He thought I was resident of Tirupathi, planning to carry bicycle to Chennai. I have clarified him that I rode all the way and was exhausted to ride back. Now ticket for me is 250 ( floor seating) and for bicycle it is 300. This time it is a bribe!!
To conclude, I was very happy for all the pedaling through the beautiful landscapes and lush green fields. I was sad for the improper planning, which led to unnecessary costs. The ride back home from CMBT to my room is wonderful. Throughout the 15km ride, I was challenging the wind to come now and see if it can stop me from riding fast. That small ride gave a happy ending to a tiring day.
All the pictures were taken from my mobile phone.
Ride start time : 0445hrs
Ride end time : 1445 hrs
Distance covered : 135 kms + 15kms
Bicycle used : Btwin My bike.
After spending 13 days in the hilly terrain, I was very desperate to ride on the tarmac and on the plains. Also it is a long time dream to go for a long ride on my single speed. After finishing chores and getting settled on Saturday, the idea of this ride struck suddenly in my mind and I executed it.
The start was delayed by 45mts. than planned. I started at a slow pace and passed through Guindy,Porur and Madhuravoyal joining the bypass road and finally the NH 5.
It is such a great feeling to ride on a national highway, where you just see the ocean of black ahead of you. I got a beautiful show of colours before the sunrise. Watching pink sky with orange in middle and yellow shades here and there is such bliss.
My pace also is increased slowly. At 0825hrs I reached Gummidipoondi and had breakfast there. I came across a 14 lane toll gate on the way. I was amazed to see such a big one . I carried a transparent bottle and in the hotel while I'm mixing Gatorade, a guy was so curious to know what I'm mixing and why it is yellow. I told him it is just glucose. He was after me for the empty sachet!
It was 0900hrs when I resumed ride again. Both wind and sun have started to show their full powers which made me completely exhausted! My pace steadily decreased. I was recharged by the refreshing green fields now and then, simultaneously getting exhausted with the enormous heat. In between, I had to use rest room . All these combined with the gradually increasing head winds made me take two hrs to complete the last 15 kms to Tada.
At 1100hrs I finally reached Tada. I was very happy to see that I'm only 46 kms away from the destination. I thought I will reach within two more hours. That stretch has separate plan laid out for me !
As I have taken left to proceed for Sri Kalahasti, the hills started getting closer. The sight of green fields below the hills is just amazing. The road which bends very frequently added much beauty to the whole scene.While I'm lost in admiring the scenery, the wind and sun made their plan and showed their power. The heat began to increase much further, the head and cross winds will hardly let me pedal . I had to take breaks very frequently.At a point, I completely stopped riding and slept for a while in a bus shelter. The heat and wind never gave up. I pedaled slowly and was moving ahead.
The landscape is beginning to turn more and more beautiful. After a while, trees started to appear on both sides. The occasional cow and sheep herds added beauty to the barren fields too. I couldn't recognize all the crops but, the leaves of sugarcane stood tall as if they are proud of themselves. There are many varieties of trees on the way. I wished I was a botanist. I have even seen the route to the Tada waterfalls, on the way.
The mistake I have done in my 200brm is skipping food. I have decided that it should not be repeated this time. Since I had breakfast at 65kms, I planned to have lunch after 100kms. But sarcastically, there is hardly any hotel in the route. I carried few snacks but they were all heated up and I didn't feel like having them. So hunger also added up to my existing miseries!
I got lot of stares on the way. Countless number of people scanned me top to bottom, giving a look - What the hell is this guy up to? I was sad that none of them waved at me. In Himachal, all the children and many adults used to wave the hand while I'm riding which used to boost my spirits.
After so much of pedaling hard and hard ,taking so many breaks , I finally reached Sri Kalahasti at 1445 hrs ,which is exactly 10 hrs from the beginning.
I saw a hotel there and had lunch. Smile appeared on my face after a long time. Luckily, I found a lodge nearby. I took bath there, changed to traditional dress and went to temple. It was 1630 hrs by the time, I completed everything.
Now it is war between mind and body. Mind says to go ahead and ride back to Chennai with an idea to get practice of night ride. Body points the already crying muscles in thighs and the exhaustion throughout. Apart from these, I was also very worried about the office next day. Then, I have decided to give up.
I have reached bus stand, only to find every bus heading to Chennai is completely occupied, ruining the idea of travel by standing too ! Without thinking much, I got into a APSRTC bus going to Tirupathi. Ticket is Rs 45 for me and Rs 100 bicycle. I instantly got respect over Haryana and Himachal RTC'S who charge nominally for the bicycle. In this ride bicycle was also given a ticket.
I had to struggle a lot in Tirupathi for finding a bus. Being weekend all the buses are full and no private operator is plying bus to Chennai.
I was determined to have a night ride and reach Chennai by 1100 hrs next day, but as a last try I have asked the cleaner of last APSRTC volvo ( Garuda) to see if he can help me out. He thought I was resident of Tirupathi, planning to carry bicycle to Chennai. I have clarified him that I rode all the way and was exhausted to ride back. Now ticket for me is 250 ( floor seating) and for bicycle it is 300. This time it is a bribe!!
To conclude, I was very happy for all the pedaling through the beautiful landscapes and lush green fields. I was sad for the improper planning, which led to unnecessary costs. The ride back home from CMBT to my room is wonderful. Throughout the 15km ride, I was challenging the wind to come now and see if it can stop me from riding fast. That small ride gave a happy ending to a tiring day.
All the pictures were taken from my mobile phone.
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