I had promised Dr.Rajat (Doc) yesterday evening that I'll report at 5:30pm. Thats for the Earth Day Run volunteering that I had taken up. It would take much more than a blog to explain who Doc is. He is a well-known sports doc and more importantly the man behind La Ultra (www.thehigh.in).
After getting all the sundry work complete, I hit the bed at 2330. It was late considering that I'll have to wake up by atleat 0415 to make it to Cubbon Park from my Brookefields home. I had second thoughts about setting up the alarm earlier than the 0440 as I was waking up any way.
As luck would have it, I overslept. It was 0430 when I woke up. Some replanning and the cycling to Cubbon park was still running on the back of my mind. I didnt make sense for me to drive to the venue, when I could bicycle all the way, that too on Earth Day. I made a mental calculation that if I am able to leave 0455, I'll make it by 0535, which is still ok. My only concern was any unruly traffic at this early hour. Today being a Sunday, all the cab drivers are out, and so, it is safer than other days.
I did get ready by 0455. However, I still had to run through my backpack and get it ready for the ride, which cost me a few minutes, and I was able to hit the road a couple of minutes past 0500.
Given that I was already behind schedule, I was pushing through the ride. The first hurdle was Marathahalli Bridge, which is a longish climb (atleast by my current endurance levels). Having got through that one, the rest of the rolling hills along the route (Marathahalli - Airport Road all the way upto Command Hospital - Trinity Circle - MG road ) were considerably easier. I had to take a few seconds break after Domlur as I was pushing all along.
Finally reached Cubbon park at 0540, where a few of them including Doc had already assembled. Quickly passed on the printouts that I was carrying. All of them appreciated that I had ridden all the way.
There wasn't anything worth mentioning in the return ride, except for the fact that my Garmin hung, and I couldnt use it for the ride. I'll have to look up in the manual on how to do a hard reset to bring it back.
I returned from Ananya's classes around 1-ish and was thinking whether to go to Decathlon or take my roadie to Wheelsports. Venky of Wheelsports had been out of town and the bike needed a minor tuneup after the 250-odd kms that had been covered. Venky confirmed that I could get the bike tuned today.
The plan was to complete the tuneup and go to the icycle event in Cubbon again at 1600. The time was 1400ish and the sun beating down heavily. It was a hot day. Taking the car out just for the bike service was ruled out.
Started by 1415 and clothed myself fully to protect from the sunburn. The Dri-fits are anyway good in hot weather. Also got half-a-litre of diluted Gatorade to cover me for the ride.
This time, the Marathahalli bridge climb still made its point. Otherwise it was a nice experience driving down the Airport Road on a bicycle. I made a lot of heads turn around with the cycle.
Particularly, one conductor on a bus asked the price of the bike. I replied, "just dont ask that one question".
He asked if the bike would do 40km. I replied, why 40, I have done 100 on the bike.
Later realized that he was asking about the speed!
The Mysore Road climb wasn't that difficult. Finally go to Wheelsports in little over an hour. Not bad at all, considering all the traffic stops that I had to make.
After finishing the tuneup, I checked the time. It was 1610. The icycle run was scheduled to start at 1600hrs. So, it had to be dropped. I wouldn't even have made a delayed start. Besides, it would get dark by the time I get home.
Heading back home, the sun had receded, and there was some cloud cover. So, the ride was mostly pleasant throughout. The only climb involved was the Double Road flyover, which was tough, but I had seen about four flyovers today, and I am getting better.
Both the rides put together was 64km. That's about 5 litres of petrol, and 11.5 kgs of less CO2 in the atmosphere. (Source of calculation: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_CO2_emission_per_liter_petrol)
Its a totally different experience riding on the bike on City roads. The roads are obviously good, and would support a roadie ride. Its the traffic that I would want to avoid.
Riding along with the traffic is a mixed experience. But that doesn't matter when you are keeping up with them. At most times, you have a good lead when you are starting off at a traffic signal. And who cares, when you are making heads turn, and having the time of your life!
A good end to the week, and swimming classes start tomorrow. I'll have to wait a few days before I get on the saddle again. The milage this week should make up for that.
Riding at a relaxed pace through the older parts of the city would be an excellent experience. I'll save it for another day...
Edit: Forgot to add the bit about
Casualty of the Day
As I was returning on the second ride, I was getting a clicking noise for every rotation of the crank. I looked down, and found that the Gatordate bottle on the cage had just popped out of the cage. When I tried to adjust it on the run, it just slipped off and fell to the road. Its a coincidence that it had fallen almost at the same place about four months ago.
I quickly screeched to a halt, and turned back to pick it up. Just then, it got run over by a Volvo. RIP Gatorate bottle. This one had served me for almost five months.
After getting all the sundry work complete, I hit the bed at 2330. It was late considering that I'll have to wake up by atleat 0415 to make it to Cubbon Park from my Brookefields home. I had second thoughts about setting up the alarm earlier than the 0440 as I was waking up any way.
As luck would have it, I overslept. It was 0430 when I woke up. Some replanning and the cycling to Cubbon park was still running on the back of my mind. I didnt make sense for me to drive to the venue, when I could bicycle all the way, that too on Earth Day. I made a mental calculation that if I am able to leave 0455, I'll make it by 0535, which is still ok. My only concern was any unruly traffic at this early hour. Today being a Sunday, all the cab drivers are out, and so, it is safer than other days.
I did get ready by 0455. However, I still had to run through my backpack and get it ready for the ride, which cost me a few minutes, and I was able to hit the road a couple of minutes past 0500.
Given that I was already behind schedule, I was pushing through the ride. The first hurdle was Marathahalli Bridge, which is a longish climb (atleast by my current endurance levels). Having got through that one, the rest of the rolling hills along the route (Marathahalli - Airport Road all the way upto Command Hospital - Trinity Circle - MG road ) were considerably easier. I had to take a few seconds break after Domlur as I was pushing all along.
Finally reached Cubbon park at 0540, where a few of them including Doc had already assembled. Quickly passed on the printouts that I was carrying. All of them appreciated that I had ridden all the way.
There wasn't anything worth mentioning in the return ride, except for the fact that my Garmin hung, and I couldnt use it for the ride. I'll have to look up in the manual on how to do a hard reset to bring it back.
I returned from Ananya's classes around 1-ish and was thinking whether to go to Decathlon or take my roadie to Wheelsports. Venky of Wheelsports had been out of town and the bike needed a minor tuneup after the 250-odd kms that had been covered. Venky confirmed that I could get the bike tuned today.
The plan was to complete the tuneup and go to the icycle event in Cubbon again at 1600. The time was 1400ish and the sun beating down heavily. It was a hot day. Taking the car out just for the bike service was ruled out.
Started by 1415 and clothed myself fully to protect from the sunburn. The Dri-fits are anyway good in hot weather. Also got half-a-litre of diluted Gatorade to cover me for the ride.
This time, the Marathahalli bridge climb still made its point. Otherwise it was a nice experience driving down the Airport Road on a bicycle. I made a lot of heads turn around with the cycle.
Particularly, one conductor on a bus asked the price of the bike. I replied, "just dont ask that one question".
He asked if the bike would do 40km. I replied, why 40, I have done 100 on the bike.
Later realized that he was asking about the speed!
The Mysore Road climb wasn't that difficult. Finally go to Wheelsports in little over an hour. Not bad at all, considering all the traffic stops that I had to make.
After finishing the tuneup, I checked the time. It was 1610. The icycle run was scheduled to start at 1600hrs. So, it had to be dropped. I wouldn't even have made a delayed start. Besides, it would get dark by the time I get home.
Heading back home, the sun had receded, and there was some cloud cover. So, the ride was mostly pleasant throughout. The only climb involved was the Double Road flyover, which was tough, but I had seen about four flyovers today, and I am getting better.
Both the rides put together was 64km. That's about 5 litres of petrol, and 11.5 kgs of less CO2 in the atmosphere. (Source of calculation: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_CO2_emission_per_liter_petrol)
Its a totally different experience riding on the bike on City roads. The roads are obviously good, and would support a roadie ride. Its the traffic that I would want to avoid.
Riding along with the traffic is a mixed experience. But that doesn't matter when you are keeping up with them. At most times, you have a good lead when you are starting off at a traffic signal. And who cares, when you are making heads turn, and having the time of your life!
A good end to the week, and swimming classes start tomorrow. I'll have to wait a few days before I get on the saddle again. The milage this week should make up for that.
Riding at a relaxed pace through the older parts of the city would be an excellent experience. I'll save it for another day...
Edit: Forgot to add the bit about
Casualty of the Day
As I was returning on the second ride, I was getting a clicking noise for every rotation of the crank. I looked down, and found that the Gatordate bottle on the cage had just popped out of the cage. When I tried to adjust it on the run, it just slipped off and fell to the road. Its a coincidence that it had fallen almost at the same place about four months ago.
I quickly screeched to a halt, and turned back to pick it up. Just then, it got run over by a Volvo. RIP Gatorate bottle. This one had served me for almost five months.
