Cycling & me
In India, cycling is mostly associated with school going children or blue collar workers.
I however, got into cycling after I completed my post graduation & started doing a desk job.
I started cycling on the occasion of Gudhi Padwa (4 April 2011). It was a great fun & I did many amazing rides with my friends. Those rides were fun rides as well as endurance rides.
In Diwali of 2011, I went on cycling vacation. I discovered the scenic beauty of Kokan with the help of my cycle. On 18 November 2011 I did Mumbai - Pune cycling on my Schwinn. Some accidents also added lot of value. I had accidents on 1 August 2011, 1 January 2012 & 19 May, 2012. But there was a great learning with those accidents. I am very fortunate that I had them!
I later came to know about BRM & thought I will also participate one day. But I was not comfortable to ride in rains. In fact it was a mental block. On 6th August, 2012 I came to know that BRM 200 is scheduled on 12th August. I was in double mind whether to attempt or not. I was out of practice since last 2 months. But still I was confident that 200 will be a cake walk for me. I was only worried about monsoon.
Suddenly a decision was taken - let's do it. I came back from work on 7th August & then repaired my bike. Went to domestic airport for a ride around 9 pm. Decided to practise for at least 3-4 days before BRM. I had decided to do Powai - Sion - Vile Parle loop on 8th August. But on 7th night only my front wheel got punctured. I guess there was more air filled in the front wheel. So I couldn't practise on 8th. Also till 11th August I didn't get time to practise.
But still I was confident that 200 is going to be a cake walk for me. I am an educated person. I must do smart work. Not hard work. So I had designed all my strategies accordingly.
Finally the day came! I got up at 2.20 AM in the morning. Did some breathing exercises. Since, I am asthmatic since birth, took inhalers in the morning to be on a safer side.But I didn't carry that with me. It was limited space which I had. I had taken 7 nutritional, cash, my hand phone, 4 electoral satches, ONLY ONE sipper, spare tube & glares.
Started my BRM at 5.34 AM from National Park after completing all the formalities. After few minutes I saw Pullu. He was removing a puncture near Kashimira flyover. I prayed to myself that let Rajesh remove the puncture soon. Also prayed that no punctures for me today. Continued..
Passed Fountain. Then it was a very straight road. Started at good pace. It started raining. and the experience was just awesome. I regretted that why I had this mental block in my mind about monsoon. It was so much ease to ride in rains. I enjoyed it to fullest.
I passed Sativali. Then gradually my hands started becoming numb. Before 5 Kms. I saw Hotel DECENT. I decided to stop there for 10-15 minutes. I had chai & one Rs. 10/- packet of Parle G. Filled up my sipper with fresh water. Had electrol as well. And continued.
The weather was just awesome so it was a fun and enjoyment. Later I saw Asherigad peak on the way. Somewhere after Palghar. In 2009 I had done a monsoon hike there so the area was familiar to me. This gave me some Deja Wu moments. I stopped had a nutribar & then continue.
My bike had some problem as it was not properly oiled. When I shift the gear on lower chain ring then it easily doesn't move on the upper chain ring. I knew this. So decided that last few Kms. from Vasai I will do on lower chain ring. But till then I am not going to shift on lower chain ring. Hence, I was compelled to do all the climbs on upper chain ring!! But that was a part of strategy & hence no regrets.
I continued. Saw many riders over taking me. Sunil, Kailas Patil, Sherezad, Prabuddha & some riders over took me post Charoti toll. I thought it would be hardly any distance from Charoti toll naka. But in realty it was more. Also, I had observed that post Manor there were lots of climbs. I was smiling while doing them as I knew these are going to be descends for my return journey. Around 10.30 AM I reached ARAM Hotel.
I had Idali & coffee with Kailas, Prabuddha, Sherezad & Sunil. I left immediately post that. I guess others left 10-15 minutes later than me. I left around 11.50 AM.
Return journey was nice as well. I stopped near Manor once. Then near Vasai. And several times in between. I don't have much physical power. I knew that I should eat continuously. And that's what I did.
Post Vasai, I put my bike on lower chain ring & then road some Kms. I knew that I am going to complete it. But I don't wanted to test myself with no practice at all. So some climbs I walked with my bike. I even stopped at flyover just before Borivali national park. I saw Dhairyash over taking me. And also I saw Mahesh Nambiar who was coming under the flyover. But I was bit tired at that time. So took it very easy. Finally I completed BRM 200. Signed on the sheet.
And my maiden BRM 200 in my first attempt only because of my strategic planning & execution :)
Guys do comment if you feel worth..
- Cyclivist Nachiket Marathe
In India, cycling is mostly associated with school going children or blue collar workers.
I however, got into cycling after I completed my post graduation & started doing a desk job.
I started cycling on the occasion of Gudhi Padwa (4 April 2011). It was a great fun & I did many amazing rides with my friends. Those rides were fun rides as well as endurance rides.
In Diwali of 2011, I went on cycling vacation. I discovered the scenic beauty of Kokan with the help of my cycle. On 18 November 2011 I did Mumbai - Pune cycling on my Schwinn. Some accidents also added lot of value. I had accidents on 1 August 2011, 1 January 2012 & 19 May, 2012. But there was a great learning with those accidents. I am very fortunate that I had them!
I later came to know about BRM & thought I will also participate one day. But I was not comfortable to ride in rains. In fact it was a mental block. On 6th August, 2012 I came to know that BRM 200 is scheduled on 12th August. I was in double mind whether to attempt or not. I was out of practice since last 2 months. But still I was confident that 200 will be a cake walk for me. I was only worried about monsoon.
Suddenly a decision was taken - let's do it. I came back from work on 7th August & then repaired my bike. Went to domestic airport for a ride around 9 pm. Decided to practise for at least 3-4 days before BRM. I had decided to do Powai - Sion - Vile Parle loop on 8th August. But on 7th night only my front wheel got punctured. I guess there was more air filled in the front wheel. So I couldn't practise on 8th. Also till 11th August I didn't get time to practise.
But still I was confident that 200 is going to be a cake walk for me. I am an educated person. I must do smart work. Not hard work. So I had designed all my strategies accordingly.
Finally the day came! I got up at 2.20 AM in the morning. Did some breathing exercises. Since, I am asthmatic since birth, took inhalers in the morning to be on a safer side.But I didn't carry that with me. It was limited space which I had. I had taken 7 nutritional, cash, my hand phone, 4 electoral satches, ONLY ONE sipper, spare tube & glares.
Started my BRM at 5.34 AM from National Park after completing all the formalities. After few minutes I saw Pullu. He was removing a puncture near Kashimira flyover. I prayed to myself that let Rajesh remove the puncture soon. Also prayed that no punctures for me today. Continued..
Passed Fountain. Then it was a very straight road. Started at good pace. It started raining. and the experience was just awesome. I regretted that why I had this mental block in my mind about monsoon. It was so much ease to ride in rains. I enjoyed it to fullest.
I passed Sativali. Then gradually my hands started becoming numb. Before 5 Kms. I saw Hotel DECENT. I decided to stop there for 10-15 minutes. I had chai & one Rs. 10/- packet of Parle G. Filled up my sipper with fresh water. Had electrol as well. And continued.
The weather was just awesome so it was a fun and enjoyment. Later I saw Asherigad peak on the way. Somewhere after Palghar. In 2009 I had done a monsoon hike there so the area was familiar to me. This gave me some Deja Wu moments. I stopped had a nutribar & then continue.
My bike had some problem as it was not properly oiled. When I shift the gear on lower chain ring then it easily doesn't move on the upper chain ring. I knew this. So decided that last few Kms. from Vasai I will do on lower chain ring. But till then I am not going to shift on lower chain ring. Hence, I was compelled to do all the climbs on upper chain ring!! But that was a part of strategy & hence no regrets.
I continued. Saw many riders over taking me. Sunil, Kailas Patil, Sherezad, Prabuddha & some riders over took me post Charoti toll. I thought it would be hardly any distance from Charoti toll naka. But in realty it was more. Also, I had observed that post Manor there were lots of climbs. I was smiling while doing them as I knew these are going to be descends for my return journey. Around 10.30 AM I reached ARAM Hotel.
I had Idali & coffee with Kailas, Prabuddha, Sherezad & Sunil. I left immediately post that. I guess others left 10-15 minutes later than me. I left around 11.50 AM.
Return journey was nice as well. I stopped near Manor once. Then near Vasai. And several times in between. I don't have much physical power. I knew that I should eat continuously. And that's what I did.
Post Vasai, I put my bike on lower chain ring & then road some Kms. I knew that I am going to complete it. But I don't wanted to test myself with no practice at all. So some climbs I walked with my bike. I even stopped at flyover just before Borivali national park. I saw Dhairyash over taking me. And also I saw Mahesh Nambiar who was coming under the flyover. But I was bit tired at that time. So took it very easy. Finally I completed BRM 200. Signed on the sheet.
And my maiden BRM 200 in my first attempt only because of my strategic planning & execution :)
Guys do comment if you feel worth..
- Cyclivist Nachiket Marathe
