Re: 3 days , 3 nights- 1000 BRM- Chennai - Vijayawada - Chennai

No words sir. No words

You have moved on to the next level. PBP awaits you

Re: 3 days , 3 nights- 1000 BRM- Chennai - Vijayawada - Chennai

This is Extreme...Kudos on completing.

You are one with greatest passion for cycling.

Re: 3 days , 3 nights- 1000 BRM- Chennai - Vijayawada - Chennai

And here I am who gets tired after a couple of hundred kms on bike and you do this! Bravo man.

Re: 3 days , 3 nights- 1000 BRM- Chennai - Vijayawada - Chennai

My goodness dear me!
Where are your feet master?

Seriously, that's determination combined with skill combined with stamina and everything all lumped into a ball of awesomeness.
I get tired after a 10 min run on the treadmill for god's sake!

Re: 3 days , 3 nights- 1000 BRM- Chennai - Vijayawada - Chennai

Where are all those xBhpians who feel awesome about having ridden a motorcycle 1600km in 24 hours. You guys have no idea what saddlesore actually means

See this and let your accomplishments feel insignificant!

Re: 3 days , 3 nights- 1000 BRM- Chennai - Vijayawada - Chennai

Congratulations.

It is very tough Pedaling all alone completing this.

Re: 3 days , 3 nights- 1000 BRM- Chennai - Vijayawada - Chennai

Thanks Monk. It is definitely here in xBHP forum proper seeds of my cycling were sown and I'm happy that I'm able to do all this.
Yeah,excited about PBP, three more years to wait and lot of practise to do.

Thanks Santosh for your encouragement always.

Thank you. It is indeed a very special feeling. I wish you best of luck for you next attempt.

Thank you

And these are too many nice words put together .. Thanks Divya Sharan.

Thank you.

I'm all smiles reading this.

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I hope those who are reading this are already aware what randonnuering is ? if not kindly read about it here.
In short randonnuering is riding bicycle over specified long distances (starting from 200 km) in fixed amount of time.

A day after the event , sitting in silence , I couldn't figure out where to start penning down the thoughts of a journey that will last in my mind forever.Anyway, it has to start some where and here it goes.

Prolugue :


Going back nearly 11 months , when Nightfury came into my life, I was wandering through streets of Chennai looking for a way to get to small hill (St.Thomas) located in centre of city.I knew about the 200 BRM then, but has no clue how to register or what to do for participating in it. I then happened to meet Padma Priya (First woman to finish 1000 in India)on those streets, who not only has shown me way to St.thomas, but also told me the way to register for brevets (in facebook later). I was shocked to see in her profile that there are events ranging from 300Km -600km and then a 1000Km. I have read ride report of 1000, written by one of Madras Randonnuers volunteer Varun. I ended up in tears after I finished reading that and I have decided I should definitely take part in that as well as finish riding 1000Km to know what it feels like to be at the end. Since then, every time I used to read the report, I used to end up in tears and developing the will to definitely finish the brevet.


After the first 200 and Spiti trip, I gradually got into randonnuering finishing my first SR. In the excitement of PBP and four digit brevet, I registered for Bliss in the hills, a 1200 Km brevet. I could manage to ride only till 515 kms realising the amount of practise I need to do for being eligible to take part in such big events.


In the new season this year, I have planned carefully to earn multiple SR's which will make me ready as well as confident for finishing the big events like Bliss. In that course I have planned to ride in couple of 1000's this year. After riding in many outstation brevets, I started to hate the flat routes around Chennai as these appeared more easier and didn't want Chennai 1000 to be my first 1000. But I couldn't make it to either Pune 1000 or Goa 1200 , which ultimately lead to riding in this event.


I was definitely over confident few months ago, looking at the amount of riding I'm doing. Even planned to do an additional 400 after event as a practise for LEL(London - Edinburg- London a 1400 Km event to be held on July 30 2017). But talking with experienced Randonnuers made me realise importance of each brevet and challenges one can face in this route. Also Ashwin (2nd fastest Indian to finish PBP) suggested me to check upon my body conditions at end and aim for good finish rather than riding 1400 Kms.


Talking with Subash Jeyan, a veteran, who finished this 1000 last year and my inspiration Mohan Subramanyam ( He finished riding a 1200 just two weeks before this 1000 and also riding this 1000 for third time) made me feel very comfortable about the event and challenges rather than worry about it. As the date of event is nearing by, I'm getting excited, eager and enthusiastic to be there at start point. I didn't ask any one about route just to experience the thrill of enjoying everything for first time.


Myself and Subash quit caffeine from 3 weeks before the event to have the effect of coffee during the ride.


I left early from office the day before. In office many were surprised, wished me luck and gave me a good send off. I packed the drop bags and prepared food. My plan is not to stop anywhere for food during the first day.This one of the experiment which worked only to an extent. I also started surviving on cucumbers during brevets. So I dropped three of them in each drop bag. (Organisers offered three drop bag facilities one at 297 control point, 611 CP and 786 CP ). I have chosen to use two at 297 and 611 CP.

The small back pack I'm carrying, the handle bar bag, the 297 km drop bag, everything is filled with food. I made sandwiches with Marmite and peanut butter and also with bread and jam, then made a vegetable fried rice to have as lunch on day-1 apart from grapes, bananas and cucumber.

That was a lot of food and 40% of it got wasted, which taught me lesson-1 about food planning.


I did many other experiments too for this ride, which I will mention later.

Re: 3 days , 3 nights- 1000 BRM- Chennai - Vijayawada - Chennai

Awesome bro 🚵. You are becoming an inspiration to everyone. Kudos to your efforts, stamina, determination and patience.

Re: 3 days , 3 nights- 1000 BRM- Chennai - Vijayawada - Chennai

congratulations and all the best

Re: 3 days , 3 nights- 1000 BRM- Chennai - Vijayawada - Chennai

Sayi, Congratulations.
This is one heck of a ride again.
Way to go bro, just get the 1200 PBP medal too. Its just an ounce away from your current status.
One day i will join you for sure
regards

Re: 3 days , 3 nights- 1000 BRM- Chennai - Vijayawada - Chennai

Congrats Sayi - kudos for achieving this feat.

Day-1 : March 10 th : Chennai - Rajupalem (1 st CP) (297 Km)

The excitement was a lot that I couldn't sleep properly and just managed to sleep for three hours. After a quick bath , I dressed up and started. It was chaos of happiness and confusion at the start point. 38 registering for a 1000 is a record. It is such a big number that sometimes in other cities it is hard to find similar turnout even for a 200 BRM. Many families and friends of riders showed up and cheered riders. It makes us feel very comfortable and pushes through halfway already.


I had too many aspirations before the event, to complete in 60-65 hours, as I have plans for much tougher events in other cities.The remaining time could be used to compensate for climbs and headwinds there. Subash advised me atleast to aim for a 68 hour finish as 65 may not be very easy and gave me confidence that if I'm at 780 Km CP, I have almost finished the event. Logically, one will have 15 hours in hand from there to finish remaining 220 Kms. Finally I ended up with a plan of covering each 100 in 5 1/2 hours, which is a decent time even if one is exhausted and does give time to appreciate the scenery around.



After the ritual of bike check and stamping brevet card is done everyone is all set to embark the journey. Mohan was very tired in the last 300 at Bangalore, the week before 1000 . He started flying right from the start. I was quite surprised with that. Mohan rides a 6 year old trek MTB with 2" tires.( This one line might be enough to tell about all his capabilities). I was suggested by a wise randonnuer to start at the pace which I'm going to finish. So I started very slowly. I got to ride with Subash for 3-4 Km's. first time we rode together. He reminded me the 68 hour dream and asked me to go ahead.

The Chennai bypass road is a pleasant route and having ridden many times in that route made it very comfortable at start and even at end.The 10000 Mah power bank I brought became my new trusted partner and I turned on music in my mp3 player right away without hesitating about battery. Every time I fill it with dubstep, EDM ,insturmentals mostly with regional songs,but this time I wanted to try listening to carnatic music (as I have a heart to appreciate it) and also as it soothes mind even in heat.


Maintaining a steady pace I reached highway and then started riding towards Andhra. The main thing to remember in endurance event is not to push or get exhausted initially and also not to stop unless necessary. So I maintained steady pace and was riding within time limits I have set to myself. I reached first control at TADA around 10 am. Clicked a selfie as proof of time, stretched ,soaked bandana and soft towel in water and started right away.




Everytime Vijayawada shows up there was a pride and hapiness


I wrapped soft towel around neck not to feel heat and it worked well, but bandana used to dry instantly. The beautiful retention of carnatic music inn my ears gave me the necessary relaxation to move on in the increasing heat. I did not stop for breakfast and was surviving on the sandwiches I brought. The beautiful rice fields, pleasant air and fresh fragrance from them gave a grand welcome to Andhra. For a while it was never ending rice fields on both sides and it kind of made sense now why Mohan and Subash are riding for third time in the same route.


Welcome to Andhra - At Sulluru Peta


After some time I reached a point where I cannot survive on sandwiches any more and stopped at a road side food joint and asked the lady there if I can have the food I brought. She happily agreed, got the cot arranged for me to relax , cleaned a plate and gave me water. Cyclists mostly get these kind of great unasked help from strangers , acts for which we will be indebted for ever.. She felt very pity for me to ride in such a hot sun and asked my whereabouts. This is Nellore District and they have a different accent of Telugu than what I speak(I am from East Godavari). It is so good to hear them talk in that accent.


Food stop. (The lady I mentioned about is shy to be in picture, Old lady in picture is different)



Without realising I made fried rice very spicy, but it tasted good. So I had it. But it had effect on me right away. As soon as I left that place I had to stop for open loo. (Thanks to wet tissues). But it was a blessing in disguise as legs were stretched in Squatting position and I was refreshed as well as relaxed. Another lesson learnt about food.I started again and reached Amaravathi Hotel, where too many riders are resting. I was surprised to see Karthik Padmanabhan still being there (Who finished in 60 hours last time), even Mohan and Ramesh Palani. Mohan advised me again not to waste time till 611 CP and went on his way. I had to go to loo again. I took my time to make things clear with my belly and started back. I resisted myself not to go into hotel as it will be cosy with air conditioning.


I started back again at my own pace towards Nellore. I stopped occasionally to have a bite of sandwich or to stretch. Heat didn't bother me at all, which made me very comfortable. Around 4 pm I reached Nellore. It was around 80 Km to reach next CP from here. Stopped few minutes there, refilled water bottles and got back on saddle. I tired not to have coffee or tea to save my belly from blasting again !


From Nellore the landscapes changed dramatically. It was lush green with coconut tress all around. A sight that fills anyone with happiness. To add beauty to that sun started to wrap up his duties for the day in his own style of vibrant display of colours. It is such a pleasant sight to watch reflection of sun in small waterways, and watch him hide under tress, slowly going down under the blanket of sky. I continued to ride slow and watch this spectacle.


Notice that in this picture there is some different bright light to the right. I was too confused how it might have come, but was lost in the beauty created by nature




Do I need anything more in life than to just look at these spectacular sights ?.


I wore the reflective vest, had a quick bite of sandwich , turned on lights and started again.I ordered rechargeable 4 X AA batteries for this ride to stop buying many Duracells again and again. Also Subash gave another 4 at start point as a back up.


As the previous day is a Solar eclipse, which means a new moon day, I got to see a crescent moon set for first time in life. The moon was like some has drawn a tiny line with a pencil yet so beautiful and majestic. Moon Set timings vary everyday and day after new moon it will be around 7 Pm. So it was such a delight to see moon in white and then red as he too is going below horizon. After they both went down,it is show of stars.


The highway traffic is less, except for road construction at few places. Thanks to my Nightfury, I was never worried about roads.This gave me lot of independence to stare at sky many times and enjoy the view completely. With around 20 Kms more to Checkpoint,I got bit bored as there is no mile stone or any marking to specify distance, I took too many breaks and finally around 10 pm, I reached CP. Mohan started having dinner already. I was shocked to see Karthik Padmanabhan sitting happily there, later learnt that he had quit. Mohan and Ramesh started again soon. After food, I tried to have a nap, but it didn't work out. I was surprised to see there are open baths at all Dhabas. So I took a bath there, go refreshed and started again.


Thanks Bro, Thanks for your support before, throughout and post event.

Thank you sir.

Thank you very much Phani. Sure, I'm eager to ride with you now in Vizag. Hope I will make it there sometime.

Thanks Kaushik. The discussion in other thread about being happy and strong while riding, by you and Monk, helped me maintain a good attitude in riding and get most of it.

Re: Day-1 : March 10 th : Chennai - Rajupalem (1 st CP) (297 Km)

What a log. The most amazing part of your rides are that you enjoy yourself, clicking pictures appreciating the scenery and the people around. You ride it like a ride and not a competition. Lovely

I also just saw your post on FB, thanks for the mention, but it is you who inspires me to ride more