My sky, my limit…

The goal. PC: Bangalore Randonneurs fb page

A year ago, I rode my first BRM. Just September this year I competed my first ever SR (one each of 600k, 400k, 300k and a 200k) series.

I used to look at the BRM calendars during the earlier seasons. I saw one week SRs that used to happen in the Delhi circuit. I seriously thought it was for the crazy. Even when the schedule for this season was announced and I saw one week SR appearing in the Bangalore calendar (it was actually a five day SR). I didn’t imagine I’d do it. May be I just jokingly mentioned it to my wife that I’m going for it. She, in her very own signature modesty said, go ahead.

The registration dates were announced I simply couldn’t get the thought off my head. Eventually registered for the full series after giving it a good thought.

PC: Bangalore Randonneurs

I gave my bike the final clean up and a last minute look, when I realised that the side walls of both tyres were starting to bleed. I went searching for tyres to many local bike shops a.k.a LBSes. I finally got what I wanted just two days before the ride.

With the format not allowing much time to rest in between the rides, staying close to the flag-off point was a better option than to ride home each time to rest. I booked a bed in a dorm nearby.

I set my bike up, a day in advance. Skipped my morning exercise routines to make sure I was not short of sleep.

Honestly, I would have been happy to just finish the 600 and 400 and go home, that way, I would have done my ‘longest’ brevet distance. Anything more, I would take home as a bonus.

Ranibennur 600

The ride started as usual. Thick traffic as we left the city. I was feeling nimble with the new pair of rubber on my wheels. As the hours slipped the noon got hotter and the tender coconut vendors were life savers.

Windmills blowing

The day was mostly sunny, and as we approached Chitradurga, the huge windmills appeared to be blowing us back to Bangalore, the gradual climb assisting the windmills. I somehow managed to pass through and past the historical fort city. It was dark by the time I reached the u-turn point gorged on the yummy Puliyogare.

Far from the city pollution, the night sky studded with stars, looked lovely. The clear night skies also meant plenty sunshine the next day.

As I rode into the morning hues. I was greeted by the same set of windmills. Which at this time appeared to be making clouds. The windmills industriously kept milling more and more clouds and blew them over the course, almost as if apologetic for pushing me back the previous day. The sky remained overcast for a long time, until finally the windmills were too far to blow clouds over my head. I took shelter in cafés when the sun was too bright, and continued when it was easier to ride.

Making clouds

Rest of the way back was a rolling ride on the highway. By the time I returned to the city, it started pouring. Truly, all seasons in one day.

I finished the ride, may be an hour to spare. When Mohan asked me if I’ll be back the next morning. I gave him a firm yes.

I came back to the dorm to rest for the night.

Lepakshi 400

Fewer riders were at the flag off the next day. And we were to go back to the highway we rode for the 600. Being closer to the weekend, the road was busier and it was also a bit more hotter.

All the similarities to the previous day ended with the right turn at Kyathasandra.

I have usually trained myself like a cricketer not to think too much ahead in the ride. Just one session at a time, or just till the next meal. But this ride was different. I couldn’t afford to jeopardise one session and hope to make up the pace and time in the next. Planning for the next session, I felt, was equally important.

I had done the Devarayanadurga climb just a month or so ago. I knew the two kilometer wall I’ll have to climb. The climb will eat away the buffer time I build and plan to build.

Scenic

After paying due respects to the DD hill climb, I almost went back to Bangalore before course correction.

The road ahead was flanked by beautiful rocky hills. Eventually welcoming me to the face of the largest monolithic hill of Asia – Madhugiri.

The rolling terrain from Madhugiri to Pavagada along the country side was poetic at it’s best. Pavagada to Penukonda though was nightmarish. Heavy headwinds and a lot of climbs. The down hill few kilometers before Penukonda was the saving grace.

The monolith

I reached the Nandi at Lepakshi just in time to get the last plate of vegetable fried rice, had I missed this plate, it would have been curtains to my SR5 chase. After downing the plate of rice reaching Chikkaballapura became the next target and then, Nandi cross, Airport road toll and eventually Bangalore. Although reaching Bangalore is always a climb, may be the home city calling makes the ride back a lot easy.

Horsley hills 300

With no planned break between the 400 and the 300. It became a virtual 700k. I had to cope with the lack of sleep.

A 7 AM start on a Sunday in the direction of Hoskote meant two things. One, lot of traffic. Two, Hoskote biriyani.

Stopping for breakfast early in the ride means, putting a lot of pressure at the first CP timing. Add to that the delirium of sleeplessness. So, it happened, I was falling behind the required time. A familiar car stopped me on my way, Mohan’s pep talk was a much needed boost at that hour. Chasing the sparse clouds, riding in their shade. I started playing a game with the clouds. I used to look up to predicted how long the cloud would cover me, how long before I got under the sun. Pacing with MC later that noon made sure the CPs were not missed.

Food after the climb. PC: Bangalore Randonneurs

Of all of the last four days, the road to Horsley was not so great. With a lot of gravel patches, it added a lot of strain on my palm, shoulders and on our clock chasing. As I started to fall behind the required time, I got out of the saddle with the chants of “SR5-SR5” out loud. I put a lot into the climb to Horsley. It showed on the next day’s ride. Although I didn’t wait much to rest after the climb. I couldn’t escape the dark.

Alone and out in the wilderness listening to the crickets and toads, blinded by the oncoming traffic sometimes, and guided by the traffic coming from behind. It even rained, poured rather, for some time, that made the road judgement even more tricky. I received sympathies of some motorists who felt sorry for my choice of transport at this hour on this road.

Organiser’s version of power nap. PC: Bangalore Randonneurs

Once I reached Gownipalli cross, the road although still dark got a little better. Things felt a little more comforting. I was joined by MC , Arvind and Swamy-Prasada. After a quick dinner at a restaurant by the highway. I joined back the rest of the pack towards finish line, screaming songs whose lyrics I half remembered half made up, all in an effort to stay awake on the road. I must truly appreciate the patience of MC for putting up with my singing venture.

I reached the end control and the dorm, got fresh, took a much needed nap and woke up somewhat fresh to hit the road one last time in pursuit of the SR5 title.

Chinthamani 200

After 4 days and 1300k, my body started to scream. It was a painful start, but I didn’t want the effort that I had already put in so far go in vain.

The 200 also saw a lot of fresh blood at the start line. A lot of first timers and in good numbers.

Let’s do this. PC: Bangalore Randonneurs

An early stop for breakfast and super heavy headwinds put a lot of pressure to chase the first CP at Kolar.

Holding on to the required average speeds was not easy. The idea was to get through the first hundred with some difficulty and the second hundred would follow.

The plan right from day one was to ride within my limits, not get overawed by the pace of other riders.

For the first three days of the ride, I used to spend time on the saddle making mental notes of the ride, even clicking an odd picture or two on my. Day four and five gave me no such luxury. All that went out of the window for the next two days.

I drew a lot of inspiration from the cycling couples for my ride to Chinthamani and from there to Chikkaballapura.

I couldn’t hide my sleep deprivation any more. Neither did I have time to stop and nap. I fought my drowsiness with a bottle of coke with no success. I then found some wings in a couple of cans of Red Bull.

A whole lot of crazy! PC: Bangalore Randonneurs

I called home to let them know my probable finish time, and took a plunge into the teeming choking traffic of my beloved city. I was greeted by my fellow randonneurs and my family at the finish.

1500km in distance, 9500m in elevation, 110 hours on the road later, I achieved my SR that had not even given a thought even a month ago. Although I’m pretty happy with the accomplishment, a lot could be done about the way I went on to achieve it.

People I met during the ride

Santanu Chakraborthy, also my dorm mate. He is a motor cyclist turned cyclist. Who held the Guinness world record for the most number of kilometers done on a motor bike. He had also done the golden quadrilateral on his bicycle.

Sanath Rath and his tandem partner-wife Pramita, the super couple did the 200 on a tandem bike. It was such a lovely sight to watch.

PC: Bangalore Randonneurs

Vinuth and Shilpa, just six months into cycling and Shilpa was already riding her first BRM. Very passionately being paced by her husband Vinuth.

Thanking note

I would like to dedicate this ride to my friends Vivek and Giri who took me home when I was stranded in the middle of the road with a broken shoulder after a crash around four years ago. If it wasn’t for them, I would have given up cycling long ago.

A big thanks to my parents and my wife for allowing me to be crazy.

Forever in debt to the lovely organisers Jins and Mohan, without the timely planned food, refreshment and advice, this would have been an unfulfilled wish. My ride buddies Swamy, Prasad and Monish Calappa (the MC I kept referring to all this while).

What kept us going. PC: Bangalore Randonneurs

And like the promos for the event went, it was my sky and my limit. It was up to me to decide how far I went. And if someone asks me how far can I go to lose 2kg, I’ll say 1500km.