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

MTB and 1000KMS?

I am dropping the plans of buying road bike then. Just slick tires and I'll start rolling

But man that needs insane amount of legs and enduance to do 1000kms on MTB tires atleast. What bike is it and what mods?

I am doing 40 kms practice these days for BRMs.

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

Wow..A 1,000 Km BRM!! . Master where are thy feet?

Seriously Hats off man. This is an amazing feat.
Congratulations Sayi.

Day-2 : Rajupalem- Ongloe-Vijayawada and back to Martur (611 Km CP) (314 km appx)

Day-2 : Rajupalem- Ongloe- Martur- Chilakaluri Peta -Vijayawada and back to Martur (611 Km CP) - 314 km appx


At CP, though there is lot of food there in drop bag, I chose to avoid it as I already got pissed of carrying weight on back. It felt refreshing after bath. I crossed Ongole without any issue, but then sleep started hitting me. After desperate attempts to have coke and washing face, which failed to keep me awake, I started recording my voice in my mp3 player. I liked the idea as it kept me awake for a reasonable 2 hours time in which I covered 35-40 km. After reaching Martur, some people didn't allow me sleep outside their shop. Finally I managed a 20 minute nap at tea stall in open cold air. (My life would have been in serious trouble if it is winter. It is very bad idea to sleep outside in winter) .I was refreshed with that nap.


A new dawn begin to appear. The scenery around is pleasant, especially with sunrise about to happen . I also started to get hungry , I stopped near a toll plaza to have chapati I brought from home. I'm happy that they survived. The only problem in stopping at public places is people will flock around you and start the usual round of questioning. Though not in a mood to answer, I had to answer them. Sun emerged out of the clouds once again majestically in his orange suit. It is very delightful to watch that, especially when highway is free and beautiful.




I started back with some energy and rode till Chilakaluri Peta. I stopped for breakfast there. The batter used for Idly and dosa in Andhra and Tamilnadu is different. After coming to Chennai, I missed the taste of dosa and Chutney from Andhra. So I thought CK peta will be good stop to get that flavour. After break fast and usual round of questions , I started to Guntur.


The fatigue of 400 km began to appear and stops became frequent. I used to look for reasons to stop. At some point when it was terribly became tough to go ahead, I looked at tires and realised that they are running with low pressure. I went a air refilling shop and was surprised to see that both tires are running on 30 PSI ! too damn low. I got the air filled as required 60 PSI (I'm not in a mood to fill it with hand pump) and moved ahead.


The challenge here is continuous flyovers. I'm keen on taking them, but Mohan warned me before the event that if I get on them, I will not be able to access any shops in between also he reminded that I have to ride 500 Km back and to save energy. I accepted his idea and rode on service roads. Stopped for a very brief butter milk break in Guntur and started to Vijayawada.


I was very happy in this stretch as this is what we are riding for, reaching Vijayawda,something that made me start dreaming but Sun, wanted to test my riding capabilities. Temperature increased for every minute. I stopped for many watermelon, lemon soda breaks. Headwinds became severe , but I was happy with that as it will just make me stronger. The target of reaching Vjy is moved from 8am to 10 am to 12pm now. I entered on Prakasam Barrage around noon. Krishna River is completely dry. After crossing bridge and enquiring I realised that I have another 10-15 kms to go ! The distance before control point is always long, how ever short it might be !


Gateway of Vijayawada



As soon as I entered city, it is more like playing road rash or GTA vice city rather than a BRM. Cars and bikes, that stop suddenly for no reason are the major obstacle. In that heat and in desperation for control point, I wanted to break the glasses from behind when ever someone stopped like that. There is signal for every 500 m and even roads became very narrow ! Most tortured moment in Brevet.


My happiness levels are recharged as soon as I saw Delhi Public school board and then a Km later, IOC petrol bunk - The U turn point. Angels and gods from Hyderabad and Vijayawada Randonnuers are waiting for us there. They have shown everyone how volunteers should be. As soon as I reached there, they took bikes from us, refilled water in bottles, gave sugar cane juice and made lot of food options available for us.It was like a buffet menu. Pleasant exchange of smiles from known faces took fatigue right away. I sat for a while, stretched and refreshed, used wash room and started back at 2.15 pm, with an hour still left for closing of control point. It is always a mental advantage when you leave control before it's closing time.



The Barbecued me at Vijayawada


I some how managed to navigate through traffic and reach barrage again. I was out of city now. I was ow joined by Stephen. Poor guy, he got a puncture and his spare tubes were defective ! I felt very sad he had to wait nearly one or two hours for fixing them. We rode at slow pace bearing the headwinds. We hoped for a better life on road after we have crossed Guntur and it was about to become night.


This picture is taken from Mohan's FB. That terrible moment when roads are blocked by cows. Even myself and Stephen faced this, but I couldn't click a picture.


The sunset was romantic, with sun going down below hills. The patterns of lights were like garlands to already glowing sun. No matter how much this guy can trouble you, his beauty while coming and going makes you forget everything and just be lost in the moment.




We stopped for a small snack after Guntur. When we are starting back, there was a puncture in my rear tire. Effect of some rash riding and more PSI. We fixed it within 10 minutes. The old tube is filled with puncture resistant liquid and is supposed to fill the puncture itself when air is filled again.But I couldn't think properly at that moment and started dumping that tube there. It was sad throwing 500-600 rs on road just like that , but I was helpless.

We paced each other to reach very quickly till Chilakaluri peta.I stopped there for filing water and he went ahead, Here I got company of a Kulfi wala, from UP. He is riding hero jet with , kufi box loaded behind and faster than me, Young legs ! His name is Aakash. He pedalled faster than me, I have to become slow intentionally as drafting with someone outside brevet is against the rules. He again became slow to talk with and was surprised to know we are riding till Chennai. I laughed at his expression

" Chennai jaa raha hai, toh teek hai, par Cycle pein kyun ??? , bus milte hai na"
I had to explain him what is long distance cycling and all.

After one more hour, I reached the CP at Martur. It is a dhaba again. Mohan, Ramesh and stephen are already there. There was a facility to bath even. I ate food and slept for an hour. Mohan, Ramesh and Stephen started while I'm sleeping. I took bath after waking up, changed jersey and short, took cucumbers from drop bag and started again.

This time I got company of Satish (He is a PBP finisher ,as well as Bliss in the hllls 1st edition. My two dream brevets, also he finished this 1000 earlier). We rode together taking sleep breaks now and then.

Ahhh, The line I can never forget in my life. Thanks Monk.
If it is not for you, I would have been crying now with broken knees after trying to venture Spiti on a single speed :P

40 Kms per day will be sufficient. Try to go for 100's in weekends too and you will be all set.

Mine is a Schwinn Frontier Sport.I have put 26 X 1.5 Kenda tires, just to save my legs.
There is a person who has done this 1000 thrice on 2" tire too. At the end it all depends on rider and his choices.
MTB's save when terrain is bad.

Thanks Pankaj

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

It is always fun reading your experiences and I actually feel what are you going through.

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

Day-3 & the end : Martur-Ongole-Kavali- Nellore- Naidupeta- Tada - Chennai


I was too happy to start from here, as 600 is the maximum distance I rode before and every Km I ride from here will be my maximum distance. So I can break my own record 400 times in a day .

Me and Satish spoke about past events and future plans and were pedalling ahead. Sometimes we pedalled very fast and sometimes too slow to cope up with sleep at night. Nature is playing with us by altering temperatures even in night. It would become cold all of a sudden due to rice fields and then it would become hot when we are surrounded by small hills or towns. Stephen took nap at petrol bunk and joined us. There was still some issue with with his front tyre leaking air. He was strong and determined to fix it and finish the event on it. Myself and Satish took nap at a place where he is fixing that. Later I moved ahead , but Satish joined me quickly again. Man, he is quick !


While we are crossing Ongole, we are stopped by a police van. I went ahead to catch up with Satish as Stephen is talking with them. Later I learnt that one of the rider, was just touched by a truck and fell down on road. Helmet took the impact and broke into two. He survived with a hairline fracture on his left hand and few bruises. I felt too sorry for him after learning about the incident at finish point. It would be too sad even in rider's perspective to move out of event after 650 km, but happy that he survived with just minor injuries. That guy is too strong to show up at end point to receive riders.


After crossing Ongole , me and Satish stopped at a food joint. When Satish is still feeling sleepy I moved on. From here it is a game of Satish catching me and me catching him, until a point where we both got exhausted and slept at a road side tea stall in open cold and fog filled air. The tea stall owner is playing a drama in very loud volume, which didn't stop me from going into a very deep sleep. We thought of taking just a 5 minute break but it turned out to be an hour long nap. We both are fresh and energetic when woke up.

Fog even at 6 am in March !



Another good Morning


We moved ahead to see that many riders have passed and stopped for breakfast. I happened to see Mohan and Ramesh Palani again. I wanted to ride with them so I stayed and Satish went ahead, I saw him only at control point point again. After refreshing at a road side dhaba, we three moved ahead. Stephen joined again and narrated us about the accident of rider , I mentioned earlier. We four later stopped ahead for breakfast and then continued at moderate pace. I took flyovers wherever I can. As day started to begin heat also started to increase,as well as the headwinds and cross winds. Cross winds that could push me and my bike too ! We weigh 90 kg together.


Me, Ramesh and Mohan


Fun in crosswinds


The watermelon break


We took frequent breaks for drinks,water and fruits. We had a tummy full of watermelons at a place.It had a bad effect on my belly ,which resulted in me hunting for a place for loo. When two hotel owners didn't let me in, I had to answer the nature call in nature again. The group went ahead. With music playing in my ears, I didn't mind riding alone and went ahead to hunt the last CP (780 Km). Anyone who reaches here before closing time has a very good chance of finishing the event.


Satish is leaving as soon as we are entering. This is a special CP, where organizers have chosen a open area with lot of trees. They arranged a tent and open air lunch under trees. It was truly relaxing breathing the fresh air there after inhaling lot of dust and smoke.Also though the ride is in Andhra, I couldn't have a proper Andhra meal till now, but organisers provided a full pledged Andhra meal,which refuelled me completely. We all had lunch, refreshed and started back real soon as riders stated to come in, it was more chaos there.


Me, reaching 780 Km CP


Stephen was looking for a spare tube from fellow riders at CP while we three left ahead. I felt very very sleepy at start. Mohan told that he knew a big Banyan tree where we can all rest. I pedalled very fast ( he eh it is only 20kmph) to go ahead of them both and sleep under the tree. As I moved on heat reached to an unbearable level, but I moved on looking for the tree. Forget about the tree, I found no shade at all. At Nellore. I stopped for a very brief break to take a ice water head bath. It is too hot but I didn't want to rest, not with just 200 km to finish.


Another 20 km ahead there is a Cafe coffee day, so I thought of stopping there and rode at a good pace. I got refreshed in CCD, used wash room. Chaffing till now is under control because of the coconut oil I'm applying continuously throughout the ride, but under groin, due to rubbing it became very sensitive and made it hard for me to sit on saddle sometimes. So I had to appy oil/vaseline very frequently.


I had a King size Latte to celebrate coming so far. It was a celebration coffee as it is the first coffee I had after three weeks, which reminded me of Subash and all the talk we had everyday about resisting our temptations to have a coffee. Mohan arrived there in mean time. We both had small discussion on how we planned to ride actually in event and how it turned out to be and I told him my plans of 65 hour finish and all. We found that I can still do it in 68 hours,if stops were minimized. It was strange that I felt sleepy even after a big cup of strong coffee. So I had a nap of 20-30 minutes and I have set out when Ramesh reached CCD.




Refreshing sights in hot sun


Celebration begins



It took me around 10 hours in morning of 1st day to be there, so I wished for same thing.But as I moved on headwinds picked up, testing even in last leg of event. I continued to ride in my pace enjoying the views of green fields around. Sky had beautiful patterns of clouds on that day. I stopped at places just to click them.






There are crosswinds even in night. I stopped for a brief break in Naidupeta and moved ahead to Tada, I thought of finishing the food I'm carrying but most of it is dried under sun and I didn't feel like eating them. The thought of fresh food at Tada, motivated me to ride quick. I stopped in between to have a look at moon set once again for third day in a row. The sky is too beautiful with twinkling stars, which is a very rare site in city, So I stopped to enjoy the view.


At Tada, I stopped for dinner. I celebrated with Biryani and had coke to be awake. The severs in restaurant were too glad to serve me, knowing about the details of brevet. After Tada, I had 10 hours to cover 100 Kms. I could even sleep and 2-3 hours and go, but I wanted to wrap it up now. I have only 3 hours time for my 68 hour target, so I pushed the target to 70 hours and planned to finish by 5. Though I'm excited of finishing, I was scared that any small puncture or any mechanical issue can ruin the whole fun, so I was careful.


As soon as I started, a dog suddenly came out of no where and barked. I have braked very hard to stop, which made the bike nearly fall. My heart stopped for a second. Last time I did , something like this my derailleur hanger was broken. I was about to cry and too scared to look at what actually happened. It was nothing, just chain got struck between guard and large crank ring.


Few Km's later another dog chased and few kilometres later another one. It became a ritual for dogs to chase and me to get down from bike. It gave me an impression that the ride is going to last forever. At some places I switched off tail lights for not attracting dogs. My eyes started looking for the bypass road, even it is not appearing. Legs started to feel the fatigue for first time,I stopped for stretching I got a feeling that it will never appear. My mind nearly gave up and just then , it appeared. The by pass road, the road to the destination, the road to happiness and cheers.


I was told by Organisers during lunch that there is a secret control. Since no one stopped me till now, I got a bit hesitant and called them. They asked me to move on and just then, Sundar Rajan sir ( A veteran and respected cyclist in Chennai also ,finisher of this route last year) and Varun showed up. They refilled my bottles and offered me a very hot tea. It refreshed me and I was back on bike.


Me @ 960 Km


960 Km... I was literally on cloud 9, murdering songs of A.R.Rahman in top of my voice. There was little chaffing at near groin making me nearly unable to sit on saddle,but it was nothing compared to the happiness I'm enjoying. For every pedal I'm reaching one step closer to home and much closer to glory. As a friend said, it is a zen feeling, a moment of self realization.

The last 5 kms to start point are too longer. I was desperate to see it and finally after 71 hours 45 mins, I'm there. I have done something in life which I can cherish for a long time

When I started randonneuring in June 2015 and came to know about a 1000BRM, I wondered if it is even possible. When I reached there within 9 months , it was just like a new born coming out of womb, this time being born as randonnuer once again. I had no words. I enjoyed sitting for sometime in silence enjoying the moment .




Finisher's brevet card.


Me @ finish - PC : AJ Darphynit


Me ,posing with nightfury


A new dawn in lives of 22 riders


This person needs a special mention. His name is Jayaraman. He celebrates finish of every brevet by either bringing tea or home made sweet or both to finishpoint and giving it to finishers. More than Medal or stamping on brevet card riders at endpoint in Chennai will look for him !


Satish


Stephen


Shunmughanathan , Shun as we all call him. (My travel partner for brevets in Bangalore)
The person in blue tee is Vallabh,Physio and a reason for me to ride in brevets continuously.


Baskaran (PBP finisher)

These both machines have completed brevet in 61 hours.


Celebrations


Last year, when I saw finishers picture I dreamt of being there and here I'm in that picture. A dream come true.
22 out of 38 riders finished which might be a record for sure in a 1000 Km event.


Even now while typing , it was very emotional. I'm thoroughly enjoying the pride in finishing a 1000 km, but careful enough not to be taken away by the pride. I realise that many more tough events with much curel headwinds and climbs are awaiting me.

Two things I'm very happy about in this brevet is , at the end I'm strong enough to ride another 400 Kms (1400 Kms to be ridden for LEL ) and the way I have managed time throughout the brevet.

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

Lovely leading the entire Brevet log Sayi. Do mention the things you did wrong and what you got right, so that someone else might benefit from your experience

Congrats once again!

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

Congrats bro 🚵

As mentioned by Monk you should put those as well so that it would be a benefit for many rider's.

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

Congrats and hats off to you!