Biking @ Gotham City - New York

I never imagined that the dream would come true to bike in country outside India. On my first trip to New York I had in mind to bike here but was not able get motivated and dream didn't convert to reality. I went back to Hyderabad with little addition on weight and found hard to get back to my routine of biking. 

Pretty soon I got a call again to work for few months in New York. This time I was not sure either that what will happen to biking again. On first day itself I saw notice of "TD Five Boro Bike Tour" to explore NYC on bike including all 5 boro's (Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island) but here came the tragic thing, it was on the date when I was flying back. Lucky enough that my trip got delayed and I was encouraged by my manager in NY to participate in the ride.

At last I went to bike shop and got the awesome machine "Specialized Roubaix SL4 Sport" road bike. A light weight carbon bike which took 4 days to come and waiting for that duration was not at all easy. I use to call up the bike shop each day (sometimes even twice/thrice a day) to know the status. Finally I got a call that bike is built and ready for pickup. I had lot of things to be resolved post I checked in to the shop:

1. Find out if hotel will allow me to keep my bike in my hotel room (Well thats where I keep my bikes in India :D )
2. Look for various bike rides in New York (It is not that easy as we have in India)
3. Learn bike rules (This scares me even now as bike can also get you a ticket if you don't follow rules)
4. Make your mind understand that left is right and right is left (Hope you get what I mean)
5. Get the fear of speeding cars hitting you out of mind since you ride in middle in some lanes and that can be dangerous if you are shaken by high speed car passing by you.
6. Figure out if airlines allow carrying bike and traveling with bike needs some research.

I kept resolving the above things one after the other but is was a good experience. First ride was bit difficult since all routes in Manhattan are one way and for a person like me who keeps forgetting the path it was even more difficult. Slowly I started going out on my bike and ride few miles, explore the beautiful city and places which you can't do on car/foot. 

Best route for me was Hudson river greenway which involved riding in lane dedicated to cyclists with river on a side, cool breeze blowing, entering into basketball city area, watching out all sorts of bikes I can imagine that exists in world. One key difference from riding in India - people will say sorry if they forgot to yield way to cyclists while in India they will scream at you if you didn't stop. Rides increased day by day helping me eat all junk food without worrying about weight gain. I started riding on Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park, Queens, Brooklyn, etc areas. post my office hours. It was interesting to train in cold weather which lasted for few days and finally spring was in. Best weather I would say to bike anywhere. 

My longest ride was exploring 5 boro's of New York City from where this all started where I added few miles to ride to/from start point. Overall it was experience of the lifetime to ride in Gotham City.

Its time to head back now to Hyderabad. Getting bike boxed for traveling is challenge in itself.

Few rides which are still not checked:

• Nyack/Piermont
• Bear Mountain
• Rosevelt Island
• Staten Island loop
• Westchester

Hopefully I will come back again and finish of my pending list :)

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.

Foodie ride in Bangalore

I started with my first ride outside Hyderabad at one of the finest place to ride bicycle none other than Bangalore. Weather conditions, less steep climbs, more cyclists on road make Bangalore more lucrative for people who love biking.

I didn't had much time, so went for a short MTB ride (my first MTB ride) ~ 18 k.m. That day I realized riding MTB is much harder than riding Hybrid but all thanks to roads in Bangalore for make my riding experience great. I could see lot more people riding cycles in comparison to Hyderabad. 

And as usual, ride is incomplete without food. Stopped at one of the dosa giants for my favorite breakfast Kesari Bhath and Idly. I simply love the sweet halwa in breakfast that too when I eat after riding and burning calories.

First crash on bike

I use to hear riding bicycle in rainy season is risky and I experienced it today. I went to take my bike from the shop where I had given it for service. It rained heavily before that, roads were wet but I thought it is hardly ~2.5 k.m. from my home and I will ride back home.

First time I didn't wear gloves and helmet that too on wet road. On reaching home safely, I wanted to ride around the compound of my society for sometime. I was riding at ~ 20 k.m.p.h and sudden crash happened while taking turn on totally wet area. Those few seconds was a total blackout, I don't even remember how it all happened, who lifted me up and again my bike is ready for repair :(

Hurting my hands and legs badly, I could have saved my hands if I was wearing gloves, now finding it even difficult to walk. Hope I will recover soon :)

First century of 2014

After missing a foodie ride to Charminar and a long ride of 100 k.m., I decided to do a century again to start adding some miles and burn out fat. The route decided for this was the same done before couple of times but each time you visit, you find interesting places. This time after riding ~ 60 k.m. and doing off road, we reached place with scenic view of open fields, place full of greenry. Took some nice snaps :).

For the first time in long ride, I was happy that no one on bike came by and rode with you for couple of minutes to ask you the patience testing questions "Why are you doing this? From where are you coming? You must be kidding that you rode 100 k.m.?" and lot more. The roads were empty but lot more bad patches then we had earlier. I was able to maintain a good pace of 21.3 kmph over the ride.

As all our other rides, we stopped for a hot breakfast at Shakarpalli, eating idly, vada and the best coffee I had in hyderabad is at this place. We drove pretty fast till this point, post breakfast, I started riding bit slow to enjoy the scenic beauty and country side view watching trains going at railway crossing, people waiting for the poles to be lifted after train crosses. These things you don't get to see in cities full of crowd. 

You feel you are riding when people start starring at you, watching out when you ask them the route, cool breeze passing by and acting as a cooler to your body, when you make new friends on the ride, when you slow down after seeing the inclination of any steep climb, when you help your fellow rider in fixing flat. It is an awesome feeling when your 2 wheels gets you speed over 60 kmph and makes you feel as if you are in heaven. Finally, I completed 2280 k.m. on pedal and saddle after this ride. Waiting for my next century ride on eve of republic day.

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.