Enjoyed the Fourteen Poets 400km brevet, my first one with hill climbs. Completed it with 1:20 hours to spare. Hill climbing was a breeze, the village roads turned out to be the most difficult as there were no roads! In detail now…
Started on Friday @2200 with Mahesh Kumar and Parag Patankar from IISc Gymkhana jostling the BLR traffic for about an hour only to encounter a bunch of trucks blocking the entry at Hosur. That out the way, it was nice ride on the Hosur-Krishnagiri downhill stretch. Mahesh had a flat at Hosur, thankfully near a well lit place, we took 20 minutes to fix it.The white line on the highway was the guidepost for us on the dark highway, but the white lines missing on quite a few stretches posed a challenge, and this was compounded with the bright headlights from vehicles in the opposite direction. Took a break at Shoolagiri @0100, and could not resist a Choco Frappe at CCD. Sandeep Reddy and Aman arrived just a few minutes later. The caffeine & ice-cream (Yum!) boosted us, we reached Karimangalam the first control point (123km mark) at about 3AM. Got the time receipt from ATM, couple of minutes of stretching and we were back at the highway. After a brisk 25km ride, we stopped for Tea and biscuits at a roadside tea shop joint at the Krishnagiri turnoff to Chennai, it was delicious.
The weather was brilliant and we (Mahesh and me) had the best dawn ride reaching the Info control point at the highway turnoff and got the cards signed by Kalpesh/Abhijitwho were patiently waiting for the riders. Thank you guys! Reached Ponneri the base of Yelagiri at about 7:15AM. Hot idles, vada and coffee, refilling water and we were set to climb the Yelagiri Hills at around 7:45. The highlight of this ride “the climb consisting of fourteen bends named after Tamil poets” were great views, great weather and not-so steep climb. We reached the top in about 75 minutes.
Reached the control point ATM, took the time slip, took a pic and did a U-turn, stopped at the Aavin parlour where we palmed of two yummy flavoured milks each (Vanilla-Malt and Banana). Our good friends Vijay, Opendro, Venkat, Aman were having a hearty breakfast at a nearby open air restaurant. Bidding goodbye to them, we commenced our descent. Met Sandeep who was just coming in followed by Abhishek and Parag who were still climbing. Stopped at a view point, enjoyed the view from the top, took couple of pictures. Met Vijay and Aman and we all had a easiest 12 km ride requiring us to only brake. Later we saw Hari, Vignesh, Meera on the way up.
Back at the same Info control point, it was Abhijit who stamped our cards, The time was 10AM. We were happy about our progress and thought the next control point in about 75 kms should take about 3:30 hrs, in good time for lunch. Boy, we were to find out how wrong we were! The next 75 proved that the climb was a walk in the park!
The next 30kms of village roads (scenic though) was “rolling” with headwinds and took us forever. Thankfully the sun was not too hot. Around 11:45, we stopped at a roadside shop and drank “colour” (the local cola), Rasna drink in sachet, bananas and candy. Denzil had taken a nice hour’s nap having reached much earlier and we broke his reverie. After a 15 minutes break we were back on the road.
The next 25km was teeth-shattering as there was no road! Potholes, gravel/stones to prepare the road for tarring was what we had to ride on. A vibration test for endurance. We were later to find out Venkat who was riding cleats had absorbed all the vibrations and developed a ITB problem and the front tyre of Vijay’s road-bike blew exposing threads. Sadly Vijay who had a great ride had to abort after some time.
Reached Bethamangala around 5PM (the last control point befiore the end) and boy we were famished for Sugar! Had a cola, Mango juice, Ice-candy, Vanilla cream, ORS juice.
We have done about 73 KMS in last 7 hours – unbelievably slow. Endurance requires you to stay positive, and the we were hoping that the last ~25kms to Kolar (before NH4) would be better. Well it was at least a road! with potholes scattered along the entire stretch. And then about 7:30 PM we hit the NH4 and all vibrations came to a halt. Mahesh and me stopped for a dinner at Shanthi Sagar on the other side of highway. Mahesh was dehydrated and could hardly eat. I have a heartily meal of dosas. Twenty minutes later and we are back on the highway and Denzil joins us. About 8:45, we decide to have a power nap for 15 minutes and then a Coca-cola. It is a battle with the wind. NH4 from Kolar is about head-wind.
BLR is about 60KMS from there. We see Venkat and Opendro on the highway easting dinner. Venkat’s knee is painful requiring him to stop frequently. Amazing grit – Hats off to you Venkat. I am feeling good and decide to sprint. All of us (Mahesh, Denzil, me) rotate the pedals fast stopping every hour to hydrate. Reach K R Puram, wait for 15 minutes for Mahesh/Denzil. Did not know that they had taken a break for 15 minutes. I leave and ride fast to reach IISc at 11:40PM. Aman had reached earlier about 15 minutes ago and the of course Karthikeyan had reached 3 hours earlier!
Waited for Mahesh and Denzil who came in 15 minutes later and then leave, reaching home by 1:25AM. A hot shower and off to sleep at 2AM, to wake up at 6AM ready for a great Sunday.
Thank you Mahesh for the wonderful company. Denzil, it was pleasure riding with you. Venkat, delighted to have met with you, sorry all I could was give you was false positives of good road ahead. Vijay – a bummer that your tyre blew up. You were burning the road. Aman, pleasure to meet and ride with you. Opendro, glad to meet with you.
A great practice for the upcoming 1200 ride to Kolhapur this week. Getting better at readjusting sleep schedules.