The RIDERS!
L-R-> (Top) Ankit,Rishabh,Nikhil
(Bottom) Nayab,Rishabh,Navendu,Kashif

MG is missing.He is too shy to come in front of the camera.He'usually likes to be on the other side.

Before I begin this manuscript,there are a few people I am grateful too and would like to thank them for their support.



RohitLC - For his Cycle
TrustVishwas - For his Cycle and cycling helmets.
Nayab - For being a back up rider on bike + for all the pics
Navendu - For being a back up rider on bike + for all the pics.
Kashif - For being a back up rider on bike + all the pics.

Thank You,without you this ride wouldn't have been successful.

And so here I start,

Do you remember,which was your first ride as a kid?

Yes,without any 2nd thoughts...you guessed it right.It is a tricycle.I remember I throughly enjoyed each and every moment of my ride on my then prized possession.My stance with cycle is very old.Once,when I was around 3-3.5 years old...I even took my Tobu cycle on the road and rode my highest of 1 km on the main road.People recognised me and brought me back home to my worried mom.Little did my mother knew about this that this 1 km of has ignited a special passion for 2 wheelers within me.

As I grew up,got a bigger and a better cycle.I had always loved my cycle more than anything else in those times.Every Sunday, I would get up early,wash my cycle,wax polish it,clean it and then off to travel all the unknown roads of my city....Aahh! Those Beautiful memories!

As I grew older,my priorities changed and so did my passion.

My journey from "x"bhp to 0 bhp dates back to 6th March 2011 during the Mumbai Pune G2G.After enjoyng the MASSIVE G2G at Lonavala, we - MG,Rishabh,Inder,Kasif and I rode back home together to Pune.Cruel afternoon Sun made us to take a halt at Rishabh's place.While rishabh was busy on his laptop,rest of us were busy persuading MG to click profile pictures.During one of the fun talks there, Rishabh and MG mentioned their plans about going 0bhp.Plans were being made of which route to be taken,whom to approach for cycles etc.MG invited me for the ride.The original route we planned was from Hinjewadi Bridge to Kamshet and back.Kashif was a bit hesitant on this out-of-the-world planning while I was busy thinking that will my body allow me to take this up when I have just rose from a crucial knee ligament replacement surgery some odd 10months back.Plus I also havent been cycling since past 10 years or more.Cycling in gym was a diferent story altogether.

The Date was decided - 12th March would be the D Day!

All this talk in the afternoon left me in a different state of mind all together.Entire evening I was thinking to myself..Could I ,Should I, Would I? My body was present in 2011,butmy mind got teleported to days of my school during early and mid 90's.My eyes twinkled and I smiled thinking about those memories.Yes,I had got my answer.

Now,since decided I have to go now.There's is no backing off! Now came the biggest problem - to find a geared cycle for such a mammoth attempt.Quickly made down a list of who could I borrow it for and finally I zeroed down to my friend ,our friend G2G baba of Pune Xbhp chapter - RohitLC.

2 days before the event I met MG at our favorite "The Moto Cafe" where MG and I planned about how to get the cycles to our starting point - TMC.The plan was to procure cycles from Vishwas (for MG) and me (from Rohit) from FC road and ride it all the way upto TMC. I had already arranged my bag with all the necessary things which I felt would come handy - 1st aid kit,Crepe Bandage,Shorts,Towel,Biscuits etc. On friday,11th March, as predecided MG and I met and we picked up our cycles from FC road and started our journey from FC road to Moto cafe.We took this as a warm up exercise for next day's attempt.The 1st 20 minutes on the cycle was a little tough.I messed up gears a couple of times not understanding when to shift at which level.Slowly we picked up the momentum.It was fun..we rode smoothly...I am doing somethng finally which I had never imagined I would ever do.Cycling!!! We reached TMC earlier than we expected.Good 15-17 kms covered in 40 odd minutes.Hmmmph!So I am fit after all,I murmured! We recharged ourself at TMC and retired at Nikhil's (one of the 4 rider) flat for the night. We though we would rest peacefully at Niks place but his pet "Meeku-The Lazy Cat" seemed more than excited meeting us.It had diferent plans or us.Entire night was spend by me and MG trying to sleep but Meeku wouldn't let us do so.

One notable instant - All 3 of us had been sleeping for 20mins or so , when MG realised something touching his ears..and suddenly a big "MEOWWW"n his ears!MG jumped and saw Meeku sittng besides him.Now you can realize how rest our night passed.While nikhil was busy snoring, I and MG were busy asking "Oye,jaga hua hai kya?Agar Meeku aa gaya to?"


This is our - MEEKU,the Great!

We started our ride in the morning at 5.30 am.Navendu (Navs) had also joined us on his bike.All excited, all 3of us took our cycles out in the dark dawn.It was cold...very cold.Just in tee shirt and shorts, I thought I am gonna freeze to death today and considering that we would be riding in the open NH4,I though this will be my end. I was more than excited to start the ride.Our next stop would be below Hinjewadi FLyover.It was 11 kms from TMC. Niks was smoothly gliding on the NH4 on his cycle while me and MG were struggling behind him.Nav was tailing us. There was not many mortal souls on the road besides us and few dogs.Few trucks did pass us by with a who-the-hell-are-these-fellows look on their faces. I wouldn't say that this initial 11 kms was a very tough one but certainly in no way it qualified for an easy one too.Niks reached at the spot first.30 mins is all it took us to reach the Hinjewadi flyover.Rishabh,Kashif & Nayab were to join us there.After 7-10 mins I reached and in a few mins MG too reached.Both of us were huffing and panting grasping for more air.All the stuffs were tied onto the bikes and after a brief lessons on gear shifting, route and stops we started not wanting to waste more time. It was Nikhil,Rishab,Me and MG on the cycles while Nayab,Navendu and Kashif as our back up on the bikes.

A moment just before we started the ride at Dawn!

By this time it was starting to get feebly bright by the morning sky.It was cold but we were warm...cycling made us so. Next Stop - 16 kms ahead at Dehu Road junction. Rishabh and Nikhil were seasoned cyclists.Me and MG were the odd birds out.Nav was tailing us while Nayab riding his bike along us and kashif ripped off away to get his perfect location to take pictures.

Nikhil was comfortably riding at around 30kmph on his cycle.Yes,we have measured this against the bike's speedometer.He soon vanished into the horizon and slowly I lost sight of Rishabh too.I was riding comfortably.My mind was focussed on the road and trying to put the gears at correct position on the correct road level.I was enjoying the ride,the fresh morning air,the cool breeze against my hairs...Yes I was.The feeling was orgasmic.I was feeling proud of myself that I took this up.I was reliving my childhood passion. MG was having a tough time though.No,nothing on the part of his stamina but cycle he was riding was at fault.The gears were not as smooth as the rest and also had the the uncomfortable seat compared to other cycles. We reached Dehu Road Junction well within 45mins.Though we reached quickly but this stretch was definitely not an easy one.There were a lot of up hills.It was tough.We were sweating very hard!

That's me!


"Look Mummy- No hands " - Rishabh


"Cycling- Thats so easy.Look, I can ride with my eyes closed" - Nikhil


Nayab

By now, the sun had already rose.We rested at a nearby tapri to have tea and waited for rest of riders to join.We took a break of almost 30 mins here.While some rest were having tea,others were trying their hands on all the 4 bicycles each one judging it and quitely planning which one to ride next.By now Kashif, unlike earlier had decided to try cycling. Nayab too gave a different look on his face.The route was replanned.Just plain old NH4 would be too boring.We wanted to have more fun.So we decided to head to Kusegaon Dam via Prati Shirdi Road at Somatane Phata.The road had no resemblance to a road.I would rather prefer calling it "Potholes with Road in between". MG now rode on Kashif's steed while Nikhil preferred to rest on Nayab's bike. Now we had a new set of riders - Kashif,Nayab,Me and Rishabh. Unfortunately,I had to ride MG's cycle now.I knew this time its gonna be tough for both me and my butts.

The Chai Break at Dehu Road junction.

Having taken enough break, we pushed ahead.While Rishabh as usual was comfortably riding,Nayab too seemed pretty cool while Kashif and I were struggling behind.Slowly,my butts gave way to the insensitive seat of the cycle and became senseless to the pain of the uncomfortable seat of MG's cycle.By this time traffic started to grow on the NH4.I was trying to be more careful as I could see reckless drivers trying to overtake each other and I was trying hard to stick on an inch ahead of end of road. I knew cyclist would be hardly cared about in this busy road.Soon we crossed the Dehu Road toll gate and after a km or 2 took a left to Prati Shirdi.This road was a living hell,a Biker's Nightmare!There were a lot of uphill here.I was cursing Rishabh all the way for choosing this road and chucking out the smooth NH4.Both sides as far I could see was grasslands and fields. Traffic was too rare.We had a tough time riding in this road.Hardly did anyone cross us and if they did,they would give us such a stare as if we had trespassed some forbidden land. Slowly, I could see no one behind and ahead of me and this left me wondering if I am on the correct road.I continued to ride alone when suddenly I realized that my towel which I had carried was not there on my cycle.It had fallen somewhere on the road.The last time I had used it to wipe my sweat was at the start of this road.I didnot want to go back on this road and start all over again but I had to go back.I had no choice.I thought of taking a chance till a km.Fortunately,riding back just after half a km I could see it lying on the road.Picked it up and resumed my ride.I could soon spot the rest of the riders waiting ahead for me.BUT WAIT! Where are the rest who were on bikes?Did they not take this road? Did they miss us?



"Cyclers, aa rahe hai, hume ready rehna chaiye" - Nikhil to MG



Safety First! Thats Navendu.



Hum topi mai bhi mast hai - Kashif

We waited for 10 more mins and finally they caught us.The ones on bike (MG,Nikhil,Nav) missed the prati Shirdi turn and had rode ahead on NH4.By this time my butts were in intense deep pain and I rebelled.Finally, Nav volunteered to ride the cycle and I rode his bike.But,hardly did we ride for 1 km when the next stop was decided.We had reached some Sai Sugar Factory .The place had an amazing sight.On both sides of the road were plain vast meadows with lots of makeshift hutments made of dried sugar cane.As far as I could see were all these huts and sugarcane filled trucks.It was a typical village scene.Smoke arising from the chulhas of these huts,bullock carts, cow dung cakes dried on the grounds. We stopped by a some tapri where we cared to have breakfast. While rest were hogging on the breakfast,I and nayab went back to take capture this village scenic beauty in the lens.We interacted with lots of small kids there and also with the locals.After enough clicks we went back to have our breakfast.It was here were the riders changed again.It was now - Me,Nikhil,Nayab and Kashif,while MG,Rishabh and Nav prefferred riding bikes.The next stop would be - Kusegaon Dam.The total distance from our last stop,Dehu Road to Breakfast point near the Sugar Factory would be around 20-22 kms roughly. The Dam was more 2-3 kms from our present point. The road was mostly uphill.I was silently praying to the almighty that we should be greeted with a damn full of water and not a dry one.After all this cycling,I did not want to see a dry lake.Somehow we managed to ride all the uphills and reached the dam.And aha!!! what a pleasant sight it was.The lake was full.Everyone face grew bright with smile.The brightness of our smile was more brighter that the cruel sun.We managed to reach the Dam by 9.45-10.15am roughly.It had started to get hotter.We couldn't wait any single minute more to touch the water.


We are , We are - YOUTH OF THE NATION!


Mehnat,Mazdoori!


The BAND!


Gimme an X




The entire terrain around the Kusegaon Dam and the lake was pretty stony.It was way too rough.Suddenly,someone shouted "Lets do offroading" and the next second all 4 of us were seen offroading riding our cycles down towards the lake.All the DSLRs were out.Everybody wanted to get themselves clicked doing offroading,playing in the water etc.We went and sat along the bank of the lake.Few water birds was too spotted in one of the small island in the middle of the lake and this drove our two photographers (nav,nayab) crazy.They wandered off in search of most suitable position to get their prized click of these birds while Kashif,Me,MG,Rishabh and Nikhil were busy having fun around water.










"Haan, Bhaaiya chalna kidhar hai?" - Nikhil



MG,I tell you, has this great affinity towards water.I hardly remember any ride to a any nearby lake,dam and where MG haven't went out in water.Makes me think whether he was a fish or something kind of water creature in his previous life.He was keen on persuading rest of the junta to take a dip along with him in the lake.Finally after failing to convince any of us he moved ahead to all by himself to take a dip in to the water.It took a test of all our persuasion skill to convince MG to not do so.


"I can go further" - MG



It had been more than an hour since we stopped at the dam.The sun was getting more ferocious by this time as it was almost 11am. Everyone had started to get restless by this time. While rest of us were getting ready,Rishabh suddenly started stunting on his cycle trying to pop a wheelie and pull a stoppie.Had a fall,got up did again and fell down again.Nikhil too had this sudden adrenaline rush and jumped in and by now .Even camera starting facing them now.Not able to bear the heat any longer, we quicky took group pics and started towards the end of the trip. But before we could begin...a major setback happened.We had a flat tyre in one of the cycle.Call it to be fortunate enough or unfortunate but it was MG's cycle that had the flat tyre.It was infact a good thing as this was the toughest cycle to ride and no one wanted to ride this one. We put this cycle on the bike beautifully sandwiched between Rishabh and Navendu,followed by Kashif and Nayab on the bike while Me,MG and Nikhil on the cycle.




Mazdoor!!!


"Gentleman, here comes my Stoppie,Woops" - Rishabh


Humpty Dumpty had a great fall!


The sun was getting on us.It was jut overhead.Next stop was Hinjewadi Phase 1,it was a km ahead of Rishabh's home.Kusegaon Dam from this place would be roughly around 10-11kms.This was the most difficult phase of the ride.Everyone was heavy exhausted and the afternoon sun made it difficult to ride ahead and also traffic on the road grew.Somehow,we managed to ride ahead, sometimes by clinging on to a tractor coming from behind,sometimes cycling and sometimes even walking. I wanted the ride to come to an end asoon as possible.Even a km seemed like 10km.Finally,I somehow managed to reach hinjewadi phase 1 and spotted Rishabh was standing besides the shop where the flat tyre was being fixed here.While Nayab and Nav had already bid goodbye.After sometime rest 3,Kashif,MG and Nikhil too reached. (Kashif had stopped somewhere on the way, which i had missed). We picked up the repaired cycle and dashed to rishabh's home.It was becoming unbearable for us stay in the sun any more.We were hungry,thirsty and exhausted. My butts were insensitive by now.I could hardly feel them.I was more comfortable to sit on the uncomfortable seat of that cyle rather than on sofa like seat of the bike.

Finally,we reached reached Rishabh's home and everyone just lyied down beneath the fan as dead bodies.There were no words exchanged for quite long.No one was able to speak.Later,after regaining enough energy and coming back to sense after our crazy attempt We finally had our lunch.Rested for an hour and half more.By now we had covered almost 52-54 kms.

The ride was not over for me here.I had to return the cycle to Rohit back at FC road and this place is further 26 kms from where I am rite now.The very thought ran a chill down my spine.But I couldn't evade this.the cycle had to be returned...it had to be done.Nikhil and kashif were ready to leave when I too joined them.It was 3pm by now.I looked out in the sky, the sun had grew a bit easy.Kashif offered to tow us.The typical picture if taken would have kashif riding the bike while Nikhil clasped on the left handle o the seat & I caught hold of the right hand side of the handle.I left the clan around Pashan Sus Road as I had to go a different way.We bid goodbye to each other and continued my ride ahead.I did a total of 78 kms that day.My "Career Best"

And thus came end to end to an ever lasting memory.I would prefer calling this as "Begining" rather than "End" beacuse we have now decided to go to 0bhp from our "x"bhp every once a month.This ride made me test my stamina of which I can now proudly boast about.That one small decision of mine to relive my childhood dream has re-ignited my passion of cycling and I am glad I took it.

BEEN THERE,DONE THAT!




The GROUP PIC!


P.S- Called up everyone in the evening to check if all were fine and everyone were doing fine and found everyone actually in better spirits too!