Kerala Monsoon Bike Ride

Pretty much bored from riding in Hyderabad, it was the time now to explore new areas and top of the list was Kerala. Just because of monsoon season, smooth roads, lot of hills, beaches. Ride was planned to cover 350 k.m. in 4 days with a hill summit, riding through amazing country roads with a heavy load on bike pannier.

Day 1: Trivandrum to Ponmudi

This was the toughest riding day and to spice it up, flight was delayed making me spent a sleepless night. Ponmudi hill has climb of ~ 1000 m stretched over 15 k.m. It is not only difficult but dangerous to climb that hill due to 22 hairpin curves, weather changing from sunny day to fog, mist and heavy rainfall. This hill completely changed the way I use to cycle. From power to high cadence, from very high gears to 1-1 gear combination which helped me in climbing the hill.

I had lot of fear associated with this hill summit, fear of falling from hill, fear of not able to ride, fear of struggling to reach hill top, fear of taking lot of time than other riders and being left alone.

Riding on hairpin curves became tougher and tougher. Front tire started lifting up because of heavy weight in pannier bag and steep inclination on hairpin curve. I had to apply my body weight to put the tire stick to road surface.

5 k.m. before the Ponmudi resort, I was out of water, it was raining heavily, rain water tasted salty because of sweat mixed with it, rain coat not able to help in protecting from rains. After struggling, walking for few km's riding on lowest possible gear combination, hearing few comments from people passing by, people recoding videos and clicking pics of my riding and finally it was the time to say that you did something great today. It was the time to see the happiness which I got after climbing that hill with just pedaling hard and harder with each stroke. Another thing which could have been risky would be dogs barking on the hill but even dogs in Kerala in pretty decent in treating bike riders.

Day 2: Ponmudi to Kulashekaram
Kulashekaram is a town in Tamil Nadu, we had to cross borders from Kerala to Tamil Nadu and that to on cycle. It sounded pretty exciting to me. Moving to different state without paying tax was definitely an added advantage with bicycle.

Best part of this day's ride began right from k.m. zero, it was downhill for next 15 k.m. but whats spiced up was 1000 m elevation difference. It took us 2 hours to climb this hill a night before and now it was the turn to enjoy and give rest to legs. We were strictly advised by one of the riders who stay in TVM not to look back while riding downhill. The hill was so steep that without brakes you will be thrown out of the hill in no time. We rode down very safely and stopping after every few k.m. to capture moments of the scenic beauty which you can't see sitting inside a car.

After riding down, we reached and stayed for sometime at chittar dam. Dried up clothes which got wet due to monsoon. It was fun doing that.

Day 3: Kulashekaram to Kovalam

Most tiring day of the whole tour. All riders were too tired but a unplanned jungle ride came to me as a surprise and to add to it, I later got to know that it also had a climb of 900 m and I was left mouth open on seeing that never ending climb.

We took permission to enter the forest, riding on slightly bumpy roads but an amazing scenery and canopy of trees. Weather changed after every km from sunny day to heavy rainfall every time we switched on western ghats. We stopped at every damm place just to get some good clicks as you don't find such beautiful places while you look it from tourist's perspective.

On climbing the hill, we stopped for a good local lunch served on banana leaf with awesome fish fry (just 10 bucks per piece). I learnt how to eat fish with one hand at this place. Food was amazing and tasted really good. Over here they serve thick brown rice which helped us a lot on the ride with carbohydrates we needed at that time.

The place was so nice that we were already running late of our schedule and had to rush and ride fast to reach Kovalam.

Day 4: Kovalam to Varkala

Easiest ride of all days with mostly downhill highway and thanks to Kerala's extremely smooth roads with no pot holes making us ride without pressing brakes or slowing down unnecessarily.

Finally on reaching Varkala well before the committed time, we had lunch and then with our bikes crashed in the beach to get tanning, lot of water, sand, and awesome climate and weather at Varkala. And it was time to celebrate for riding ~ 300 km over 4 days with lot (I really mean a lot) of climbs.

Last but not the least we recollected all memories and flew back to Hyderabad.

Rain, Tents, Breeze, BBQ and Biking at Pargi Hills

A weekend well spent at Pargi Hills. Thanks to TBA and each rider who joined for such a wonderful event. I started the journey at 4:30 am from my home and on reaching TBA got first flat. To fix the flat, I lifted my bicycle and hurt my leg as paddle smashed. Finally flat was fixed, and cars were fully loaded with the stuff we needed for the camping at the night. We left and were joined by few more riders on the way.

Even after the warning of cyclone and heavy rainfall, we didn't cancel our plan and just moved on. We were welcomed by drizzle followed by heavy rainfall soon after covering 40 k.m. The greenery on the way made it even more beautiful place to ride bicycle. Thanks to Krish for stopping after every few k.m. to take pictures of all of us riding on hills, climbs in the rain. We stopped for breakfast along with hot coffee in rain. After sometime, we continued on the route with high speed on bicycle. By the time we were mid-way, all our clothes, shoes were wet and helmet was dripping water but the zeal to reach to camping place made me ride faster. On reaching Vikarabad, we planned to go to a lake for short ride of around 30 km and soaking feet in the lake water was truly refreshing. We ate puffs, drank badam milk for energy and finally had to climb 2 huge hills on way back to Vikarabad.

We stopped at fields full of thorns but a must go place for good photographs and scenic beauty. After struggling for over 110 k.m. finally we reached to Pargi Hills and after having lunch, we headed towards camping area. Before reaching Pargi, I just drove my bike on under construction road and fell down. Experienced my first fall from bicycle. Rain didn't stop and everyone lost hope that we will be able to Camp/BBQ. Some of riders slept, some still figuring our how to pitch the tents, searched for place to put shed for cooking, got water from reservoir, fighting against the cold climate to light up damped charcoal, searching for stones and sticks to hold tents. We were accompanied with "B" (German Shepherd) who guarded us for the night. Finally tents were pitched and we succeeded in burning some charcoal and enjoyed the awesome BBQ of chicken :)

After eating like hell, we started drying our clothes on the flames of charcoal and finally went for sleep. The tents were really warm and water proof which made all of us happy. Had an lifetime experinece of sleeping in tents with rain drops sounds because of heavy rainfall. I woke up in morning and started packing all the stuff. The weather was too good in the morning and we packed tents, bags and everything and soon started back towards home. Few left in car, few left to reach early but I and Sumit rided slow enjoying the food on the way. Cross winds and head winds were making it difficult to ride and finally we stopped for lunch after which I was fully recharged and finally after struggling for over 95 k.m. I reached home with my bike in poor condition and unforgettable memories of the ride and riders.

In two days, I rode for 225 k.m. and now recovering from the pain in legs and shoulders (mistake of carrying a heavy bag on my back for 100 k.m.). Now I hope that I will be able to prepare myself for brevet as well. Just making my mind :D