The
last two attempts ended up just being base visits as I wasn't too
comfortable with the rest of the climb. My mind simply gave up within
the first km marker. Finally today turned out to be the one with quite a bit of
excitement and fun filled. The original plan was to start at 5.30 then
it was decided that we meet at 6.15 as Tusker (Kiran) had to pick up his
bike from office. Ended up watching a couple of movies and managed to
get 2 hrs of sleep for the night. (had plenty of sleep the last
afternoon). Being a cyclist one can really fathom the sheer toughness of the gradient of any hill climb. The word tough and steep really doesn't paint the picture well when uttered by anyone driving/riding a motorized means of transport.
So here goes my story of the account opening at Nandi for this year.
Alarm - Check !!
Gatorade - Hmm Check...!!
Spare tube, pump patch kit - Check !!
Rain Jacket ( Heck.. yes I did check the weather report and guess what it said.. to my surprise ... mostly cloudy)
Woke up on time, put on the contacts, but then got a call from Kiran saying it is raining. I initially thought he is hallucinating then I looked out to only find a wet tarmac. I still couldn't believe it was raining so went to stairs and a pleasant surprise. Cool winds and RAIN!! Lovely conditions for an awesome day of cycling. Just as this thought hit my mind I managed to rub my right eye with my hand and returned home. Only a few mins later did I realize that I can't see properly via my right eye..!! Not a good start this...!! Didn't make sense going back to look for it as they were a pair of annuals and just had about 2 months left on them before discarding. Put on the pair of glasses and then it was wait n watch till the rain was reduced to drizzle which happened about 10 mins later. Informed Kiran and started for KR puram bridge. Missed taking my mp3 player along as I lost the sponge on one side and it wouldn't stay snug without it. Rain had stopped and I maintained a steady avg 35kph while I headed towards Inner Ring road. Love for the road-bike simply multiplies in proportions I can't explain. Soon I entered Old madras road and the wait started for Kiran and a new rider Deepak on Giant TCR1. A quick round of intro followed and I topped up the PSI on my kenda's from 60 to 90 with the help of Tusker. Adjusted the bike fit to ensure the ride is comfortable for Deepak. Also feasted on almonds and apricots that Deepak shared, which are cyclist's reserve fuel (so are Dates and nutri/energy bars). Lovely, lovely, lovely, is just how the weather turned out to be all the way till the Nandi turn off after which we got a glimpse of sun god. A lot of discussions, tips and tricks shared with Deepak as he just got his road bike recently and this was his first long ride and the first Nandi climb on this bike. Soon enough we reached Nandi base and started the stop watches and I bolted as usual trying to maintain a good cadence throughout. the 5th km was kinda tough which actually shouldn't be, however this being the first Nandi climb for 2012 felt elated when i looked at the stop watch at the arch. 30 mins 43secs... 4 mins slower compared to my personal best but I'm happy to achieve this after a 70km ride till the base. Every nandi climb can't be a personal best. Moreover with the recent showers the aroma of eucalyptus trees and fresh earth were tantalizing and soothing for the mind. Deepak managed to finish at 35 and Kiran finished in 38. Kiran's old nemesis right up against his face... HILLS... CLIMBS...!!! Just the opposite in my case...!!! I almost always begin with the following thoughts..
Damn the gradient ain't helping the cause...
Why the heck am I doing this...
I should probably head back (at the thought of maggi at the base)..
But then the cheers from the incoming and outgoing traffic keeps you going if not for the beauty around..!!! I was laughing when the kids sitting in the rear seat in a Honda city quipped as they saw me take on the penultimate curve. Their comment "Aye cycle ya.... !!!". As I finished early, I waited for Deepak and Kiran to capture some pics. I managed to get down the penultimate curve just for a photo oppurtunity while I was off the saddle taking the last curve and Deepak Mhvasade did a fantastic task of clicking at the right moment. My best pic is what I'd like to rate it..!! The return was getting better as I had quite a slow descent and enjoyed wind on my face. Stopped at the restaurant at the base when I thulped two idlis while it was egg maggi for Kiran and Deepak. Soon we were joined by a hoard of cyclists, Dr.Arvind, Venkat(bikey venky), Vasu, Dipankar and Siva sai. I must say that this is a road named after a cyclist found its existence and this is a road well known cyclist community and yet another cyclist took the pain of adding it as Siva's road in Google maps. :-)
After the looong breakfast I got a chance to try Siva Sai's Fixie. This was my first ride using fixie and it was funny exciting and scary at the same time. The pedals are in constant rotation and there isn't a time where you can stop pedaling. Bid Adieu to the folks and started the ride back home and stopped at the NH intersection for a tender coconut stop. It soon became a competition as to who had a higher tank capacity to feast on tender coconuts. Kiran and Bikeyvenky stopped at 4 while Deepak, Dipankar and I stopped at 2. I just wished there was a recliner at that place so I could doze away to glory but I still was about 50kms away from home and hadn't had breakfast or lunch. About 5 kms into Siva's road Bikeyvenky ended up with a flat and that gave us another 20 min break while he fixed the same to allow the tender coconuts to settle in. We parted ways once we entered city and the last 10 kms was a solo ride back home and I rode along the Metro and took a diversion at MG road and left at bangalore Central then onto the hosur road and finally onto the bannerghatta road. A huge sigh of relief at the sight of my home as a luncheon awaits and a sound sleep after. :-)
Trip statistics ::
ODO - 158.65kms
Nandi climb :: 30 mins 43 secs.
Fuel :: Banana, a few almonds, Gatorade, 2 Idlis and 2 tender coconuts....!!!
Pics shared on Facebook albums :: Facebook Albums
So here goes my story of the account opening at Nandi for this year.
Alarm - Check !!
Gatorade - Hmm Check...!!
Spare tube, pump patch kit - Check !!
Rain Jacket ( Heck.. yes I did check the weather report and guess what it said.. to my surprise ... mostly cloudy)
Woke up on time, put on the contacts, but then got a call from Kiran saying it is raining. I initially thought he is hallucinating then I looked out to only find a wet tarmac. I still couldn't believe it was raining so went to stairs and a pleasant surprise. Cool winds and RAIN!! Lovely conditions for an awesome day of cycling. Just as this thought hit my mind I managed to rub my right eye with my hand and returned home. Only a few mins later did I realize that I can't see properly via my right eye..!! Not a good start this...!! Didn't make sense going back to look for it as they were a pair of annuals and just had about 2 months left on them before discarding. Put on the pair of glasses and then it was wait n watch till the rain was reduced to drizzle which happened about 10 mins later. Informed Kiran and started for KR puram bridge. Missed taking my mp3 player along as I lost the sponge on one side and it wouldn't stay snug without it. Rain had stopped and I maintained a steady avg 35kph while I headed towards Inner Ring road. Love for the road-bike simply multiplies in proportions I can't explain. Soon I entered Old madras road and the wait started for Kiran and a new rider Deepak on Giant TCR1. A quick round of intro followed and I topped up the PSI on my kenda's from 60 to 90 with the help of Tusker. Adjusted the bike fit to ensure the ride is comfortable for Deepak. Also feasted on almonds and apricots that Deepak shared, which are cyclist's reserve fuel (so are Dates and nutri/energy bars). Lovely, lovely, lovely, is just how the weather turned out to be all the way till the Nandi turn off after which we got a glimpse of sun god. A lot of discussions, tips and tricks shared with Deepak as he just got his road bike recently and this was his first long ride and the first Nandi climb on this bike. Soon enough we reached Nandi base and started the stop watches and I bolted as usual trying to maintain a good cadence throughout. the 5th km was kinda tough which actually shouldn't be, however this being the first Nandi climb for 2012 felt elated when i looked at the stop watch at the arch. 30 mins 43secs... 4 mins slower compared to my personal best but I'm happy to achieve this after a 70km ride till the base. Every nandi climb can't be a personal best. Moreover with the recent showers the aroma of eucalyptus trees and fresh earth were tantalizing and soothing for the mind. Deepak managed to finish at 35 and Kiran finished in 38. Kiran's old nemesis right up against his face... HILLS... CLIMBS...!!! Just the opposite in my case...!!! I almost always begin with the following thoughts..
Damn the gradient ain't helping the cause...
Why the heck am I doing this...
I should probably head back (at the thought of maggi at the base)..
But then the cheers from the incoming and outgoing traffic keeps you going if not for the beauty around..!!! I was laughing when the kids sitting in the rear seat in a Honda city quipped as they saw me take on the penultimate curve. Their comment "Aye cycle ya.... !!!". As I finished early, I waited for Deepak and Kiran to capture some pics. I managed to get down the penultimate curve just for a photo oppurtunity while I was off the saddle taking the last curve and Deepak Mhvasade did a fantastic task of clicking at the right moment. My best pic is what I'd like to rate it..!! The return was getting better as I had quite a slow descent and enjoyed wind on my face. Stopped at the restaurant at the base when I thulped two idlis while it was egg maggi for Kiran and Deepak. Soon we were joined by a hoard of cyclists, Dr.Arvind, Venkat(bikey venky), Vasu, Dipankar and Siva sai. I must say that this is a road named after a cyclist found its existence and this is a road well known cyclist community and yet another cyclist took the pain of adding it as Siva's road in Google maps. :-)
After the looong breakfast I got a chance to try Siva Sai's Fixie. This was my first ride using fixie and it was funny exciting and scary at the same time. The pedals are in constant rotation and there isn't a time where you can stop pedaling. Bid Adieu to the folks and started the ride back home and stopped at the NH intersection for a tender coconut stop. It soon became a competition as to who had a higher tank capacity to feast on tender coconuts. Kiran and Bikeyvenky stopped at 4 while Deepak, Dipankar and I stopped at 2. I just wished there was a recliner at that place so I could doze away to glory but I still was about 50kms away from home and hadn't had breakfast or lunch. About 5 kms into Siva's road Bikeyvenky ended up with a flat and that gave us another 20 min break while he fixed the same to allow the tender coconuts to settle in. We parted ways once we entered city and the last 10 kms was a solo ride back home and I rode along the Metro and took a diversion at MG road and left at bangalore Central then onto the hosur road and finally onto the bannerghatta road. A huge sigh of relief at the sight of my home as a luncheon awaits and a sound sleep after. :-)
Trip statistics ::
ODO - 158.65kms
Nandi climb :: 30 mins 43 secs.
Fuel :: Banana, a few almonds, Gatorade, 2 Idlis and 2 tender coconuts....!!!
Pics shared on Facebook albums :: Facebook Albums
On Siva's road and headed towards Nandi...
Kiran and Deepak on Siva's road heading towards Nandi...
My photography at skills put to test..
Probably my best pic describing all interests in one, in the Velo-world..
Maggi ordered and waiting while my Nokia gets a task. Vasu Kiran and Venky
The cyclists meetup at Nandi Base with the famed maggi restaurant .
Bikeyvenky busy fixing flat.
Vasu Mishra, Kiran kumar (The Tusker and I)
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