Long Bicycle ride - 6th Aug'16

Long Bicycle ride - 6th August 2016

 Cycling is a not a very new affair for me but I haven't gone on a long distance rides. It was my only way of transport to commute to my classes during my education at University of Hyderabad for almost 8 years. I stopped cycling in 2008, after I bought my scooty and I hardly use to ride my bicycle. I wanted to start again as part of cross training for strengthen my legs so gave a try by registering in cycling event in 2015. 13^th Dec 2015 I took part in Hyderabad cyclothon for 25kms bicycle ride and was able to finish successfully in 1: 30 min.

                                        

Later, I never got a chance to go for such an event. This year I saw an invite on FB for chak de India 2 ride for 10km ride on 7^th August 2016 and I registered for it but couldn’t take part because another big affair was on my list as a coincidence. Got an Invite from one of our RTP runner’s group member  Raushan ji (Raushan is an avid brevet and runner) to take part in The Pearl Ride on 06/Aug/2016. This was organised by Hyderabad Randonneurs who announced its first Club Ride in a whole new route called “The PEARL” on the 6th of August 2016. This was a 109kms ride organized as a stepping stone to brevet.

I was unable to decide whether to go for it or not as I recently recovered from foot injury. I took this brave step after struggling for hours with myself. Couple of friends supported and couple of them discouraged saying I shouldn’t do it without practice and I might have an accident or injury. I appreciate their concern for my safety at one end but at the other end I was mentally prepared enough to push myself hard and decided to go for it.

Even after registering I was warned by couple of people that I should not do it as it will be a risky affair, but I contacted Kiranmayee garu from Hyderabad runners group who guided me very nicely and boosted my energy. She gave me some tips and motivated me to go for it and do it at my own pace. Shiva Jujjavarapu garu and Raushan ji encouraged and helped me throughout the event. Finally I made my mind strong that I am going for it. I was confident that my body is flexible and ready for the task and this was only possible with my swimming practice for couple of weeks and with the help of our lovey abs trainer Mrs. Poonam Shravage, who is taekwondo black belt and an awesome women with full passion to teach her skills to others for free of cost. I have attend her few sessions and keep practicing at home almost daily at least for 20 mins.

Now having a perfect bicycle for the event was an issue for me, as I don’t have my own gear bicycle for the event so I borrowed my cousin’s geared cycle which he wasn’t using for 2 years. My brother in law got it repaired for me and practiced for 2 days for half an hour just to be in touch with pedalling. But I realised that this bike might not be sufficient for long distance ride. I contacted Raushan again and he kindly manged to get me a good bicycle for rent from The Bike affair Kondapur.

My anxiety started a day before the event as I was occupied entire day with Varalakshmi Pooja and its preparation, collecting my BIB kit, visiting one of my stakeholder who was hospitalised and later I went to collect my cycle from the shop and kept it at my faculty’s home with the help of Sampath, The Bike affair guy who was very kind to ride cycle to my faculty’s home. I decided to stay at my madam (Dr. Rajyarama’s )home that night as it is comparatively closer to the start point ISB.

Friday night after finishing Pooja I slept at 11 pm but couldn’t get a sound sleep due to anxiety. Every one hour I checked the time and finally woke up at 4 am to get ready for the event. I got fresh up and tried calling ola and uber cabs to carry bicycle to the event place but I was not successful as they refused to carry such a big cycle. Autos were also not available nearby, so I decided to bike to some point where I can find an auto and I ended up cycling till to the start point ISB. I was cheered at the gate entrance by Raushan and another organiser and went inside the event place. Already many cyclists were ready with their cycles and were doing some stretching and warm ups before the event. I met many known and unknown faces and was geared up for the event.

The race started at 5.36 am with lot of excitement and fun, I started cycling at my own pace and ease enjoying the pleasant morning. There were 3 check points (31kms, 59kms, 85 kms) and end point with a defined time frame. I thought of making possible to meet the time frame at least to one point and was enjoying my ride, which came to a pause when my cotton thin backpack got ripped off after tangling with my cycle’s seat and my water bottle and small lip guard fell down in middle of main road, I didn’t care for them and tied the bag with the strings and kept moving forward as I have no option left. Again after 25 kms my bag gave me hard time by ripping off completely and all my valuables fell down on the ground. Four other cyclists stopped and helped me collecting my wallet and energy bars. I gave them my couple of energy bars to have as I have limited space to carry them. I was happy to share with them rather than to throw them here and there. One cyclist Karthik understood that I was little nervous because of this pause and was riding beside me until I made to the first check point Vardhaman college at 7:31 am and got my sheet stamped. I thanked him and his friends and had my breakfast and started to my second point route. Route map was handed over to all of us and was explained very well before the event.

I start pedalling again enjoying the beauty of the green nature in the entire stretch of the narrow roads leading to Mamu Dhaba. But I started feeling tired at ups on the roads and heavy breeze and lots of cars and trucks were making their way in such a narrow lane. Also this is the first time I have ever used a 7 gear cycle and I literally learned to use it while riding. Finally made to second point at 10.10 am where we were supposed to reach by 9.30 am. I understood that I cannot match with time speed for now but I can try to finish as much as possible. I was unlucky again to lose my route and took wrong route to chevella and pedalled 5 kms and after a while I realised that I haven’t seen a single cycle, I stopped at a point where two security persons were sitting, I asked them if they have seen any cycles they said NO. I My doubt was correct that I got lost my route. I took back route again and started to reach my third point Tea stall with a little disappointment of going in wrong direction. But I was happy to get cheered by the school children and villagers on our route. Their smiles and enthusiasm was making me keep going and I finally reached 3^rd point at 12:30 pm.

I was knock off by then and was thinking to give up, but was boosted by fellow cyclists and volunteers. Volunteers were super awesome at all points with full support. I again pushed myself and made it to Aziz nagar cross roads near Himayat sagar which made my 95 kms at 1: 30 pm, where my body told me to stop J

I called volunteers saying that I have decided to give up and want to go back, George came to help me book a cab and made back to my home. I can say this was one of my wonderful experiences in my life where you feel and know your confidence level, strength and energy to push yourself to achieve your target. Believe in yourself and keep going.