Hyderabad Brevet - 2 lakes heaven and hell of 200 k.m biking

For those who are unaware of Brevet, let me start by giving a brief introduction. Brevet Cycling also known as "Randonneuring" where riders attempt to ride long distance on bicycle and passing through controlled checkpoints every few k.m.

After thinking over 2 weeks and being encouraged my friends who ride with me, I decided that I will go for it. Worst case I won't be able to complete it in time or I may give up before completion. It was a tough decision for me as I started cycling 3 months back and going for such a long distance and on one of the toughest route reminded me that I should skip. Finally I took a day off from office to buy the stuff as this was the self support ride, still I forgot to purchase saddle bag. To manage the spare parts of cycle on ride, I prepared a one myself :) I got my bike cleaned and serviced, checked the lights and I was all set after putting the bib (HYD-050) on my bike. I couldn't have a good sleep on friday night because of excitement of participating in brevet, thinking about waking up at 3:30 a.m. and riding in cold, fear of riding such a long distance with lot of hills.

After reaching starting point, I saw over 35 riders with few beginners serving as source of encouragement for me and finally got my "Brevet Card" stamped and ride begin. After crossing Movie towers hills which became easy to climb without sunlight, we took turn for shankarpalli where I stopped for breakfast. By now I had covered ~ 40 k.m with cold breeze making my nose running and foot numb that too after covering myself completely. I stuffed my empty stomach with 2 plates of idly and 2 plates of vada with lot of water, some biscuits, etc. And we started again to reach our first checkpoint in time which was still 32 k.m. away. On reaching first manned checkpoint and getting our brevet card stamped again, I ate lot of bananas (instance source of energy) and continued.

Now sun was shinning, I started getting exhausted, riding becoming slow, mouth dried up even after having few litre's of water. On struggling hard and covering few more k.m., the heaven part begin. It was downhill of Anathagiri hills (125 m steep climb of 2.5 k.m.). Climbs with sharp turns, great speed, no worries of pedaling, pretty soon after taking dirt trail, I touched second checkpoint, kotepally reservoir where I got to eat lunch. Thanks to the great food by deccan trails. After taking rest for few min, the thought of hell part of ride started striking my mind. We had to go to hill top via same way from which we came down. After riding hard, waling for few meters, cycling in lowest gear possible and thinking if manufacturer would have given one more lower gear, I was at the top again and then one more downhill :)

By now 125 k.m. were completed and legs were not agreeing to pedal anymore. After reaching manneguda by slowing pushing the pace of ride, eating a banana every few k.m. and getting my card stamped again, I suddenly got enough energy and courage after thinking that only 70 more k.m. left. Enroute people were testing the patience by asking questions like "Why are you doing this? From where did you came? Where are you going? And lot more Why, When and Where :P". Finally just 35 k.m. away from reaching end point and with lot of time remaining, suddenly a voice came "Booommmmmmmm" and my back tire bursted. I couldn't replace tube as tire was in bad shape and tube won't last even for few more k.m. Finally thanks to person who gave up brevet and whose bicycle I took to cover my last few k.m.'s. Finally reached the last checkpoint Movie Towers Hills top well in time after walking for few k.m. as cycle was lower in height and making it difficult to ride on hill climb. 

Covering few more k.m. and crossing microsoft hill which doesn't seem to be tough as I was seeing victory on the way just few k.m. away. I rushed up and reached my destination point completing journey of Heaven and Hell with visiting two lakes, awesome scenic view and riding with riders without their support I wouldn't have completed it. I am now eagerly waiting for my medal for 200 k.m. BRM.

Tour of HCU (Hyderabad Central University)

After rides to places in Hyderabad, now came the turn to visit college days back on bike. I went out for tour of Hyderabad Central University last weekend. What an amazing campus it is, greenry, lakes, hills, rocks and much more. Biking inside the university was refreshing experience with no traffic, pollution, smooth roads with trees sideways. 

It was bit chilly morning and you feel more cold in college areas because of open fields and less number of buildings. With help of one of our cyclist friend, we got permission to ride inside the campus. He walked us though various departments in campus, going up to Mushroom rock, visiting peacock lake, off road biking, watching students reminded of my college days where we use to search for hangout places. This was a beginners ride which covered ~ 25 k.m. of distance with meeting lot of new people this time.

Best part of each ride is food and to add more, we went to college food court. Standing in queue, cheap priced products, hostels utensils were all pointing few years back when we use to study. an awesome ride to largest university in Hyderabad.

Food, Long distance ride and Charminar !!!!

Charminar of Hyderabad - A place everyone must visit not for the scenic beauty or monument but for the taste of food you get nearby. I too planned for a bike ride to charminar to eat Idly, Dosa along with Irani Chai and Karachi biscuits.

Last weekend I along with my cycle gang went for ride to Charminar from Kondapur to eat at a famous stall "Govind ki Bandi" which I also came to know last weekend after living in Hyderabad for long time and then have Irani chai at Nimrah. The ride will full of traffic, congested roads, people starring and thinking "What an idiot who drove on cycle to Charminar" :P
After riding for around 25 k.m. we reached Charminar and went straight to Govind ki Bandi. The idly looked lovely while being cooked. See the immense amount of butter put on Idly and Dosa while preparing it. My mouth is watering till now and will definitely plan for another ride to this foodie's heaven. Everyone was hungry by the time we reached and see more after watching the stuff being cooked.

The idly were very soft and full with masala, the best idly I had tasted in my life. Dosa was even more tempting with Butter flowing out. The food was finger licking good with lot of calories but who cares, we burnt them on the way and will also be burning on way back.

See the pool of idly's which were finished off by the riders in couple of minutes. Finally we headed back to our home. Because of more speed, I went ahead with few other and had to take Movie towers route which I didn't expected on this ride. Climbing Movie Tower hill, the a big climb of Microsoft Hill burnt all the calories intake I did in morning and also increased the distance to my home by ~ 15 k.m. After covering 75 k.m. I finally reached my home with Butter Dosa/Idly still in my mind.