Quad-Nandi-10-Sept-2011

I try to figure out the pros and cons of the adrenaline rush and the excitement of hill climbs as i pen this blog. I think i've mentioned in my earlier blogs that I wanna stay away a good 6 months or maybe even a year from Nandi after a personal best timing of 28:30(mins:secs). Little did I know that the bull will get me with such fury...!!! 

As usual the rant, euphemisms of How? what ? when and where? on Facebook, 3 warriors were at Nandi on 10Sept. Another day of personal bests. Opendro clocks 40 mins on foot from the base to the arch. This came as a surprise as many cyclists struggle to make it sub-45. Kiran finished strong in an hour. As I had forgotten my running shoes, I didn't fancy a run with the cleats. First attempt to climb was in a Fiat Linea and parked the car at the summit. A relaxed downhill ride for Opendro and Kiran but I timed my descent and reached at 9:16(mins:secs). Touched 57kph at some stretches..!! Also got to experiment with aerodynamics. Opendro is faster on 23c but I got down on the drops and swooped down to reduce the wind resistance and it certainly made a HUGE difference. I no time i was ahead Opendro on the descent. But the real timing was on the way up. So puris and some bread omlettes later we started of on the first attempt. I had to clock my best and give it the beans to clock the quickest and the result 26:50. Opendro also completed the climb on cycle with 27:59. Kiran relaxed in the support car while I could see the wicked smile on Opendro (One more troops.. as he's the Vice Captain of Cleated Warriors). I was ready for more so off we go and started back again. This time it was a slow and relaxed climb or should i put it a better averaged pace throughout the climb. We made it to the summit in 35mins. Kiran was wide awake and the tender coconut was no where to be seen so we left the Nandi exploration to the monkeys. Oh yeah there was a couple on a bike and a monkey saw them holding a frooti and the girl promply handed the juice over to the guy who then with hand gesture managed to stop the monkey in its tracks. The guy almost finished the juice and as it waited patiently. Never have I seen one so obedient. Anyway time for a third climb. At the base for a snap showing the third attempt. This time again a steady average but the last 2 kms fooled me with every curve and I look up each one expecting the arch only to realize it was just a few more bends away. Saw the tender coconut being transported which was a refresher to the mind. Finished the third attempt in 33:50 and we descended yet again for lunch and the last climb for the day. Downed a fried rice and took a nice relaxed hour. Soon we saw Team shift and they were to start their 5 laps. Samim is going to attempt Nandi sub 20 and in my head ( that was way off limits and not my turf) 24-25 seems a decent target to achieve considering the fitness levels. Moreover a lot of work needs to be done to shave the couple of minutes of time). Once a threshhold is reached it takes a lot of fine tuning and consistency to beat the current personal record. The surprising fact was we started 5:30 AM and were there whole day. Reached home at 7pm.
Some snaps from today's practice. Nandi-4climbs

Green Contribution :: Some gatorade/electral for the ecosystem !!

Kiran, his first attempt to complete the Nandi, running and for me it was just relaxed drive in Opendro's car.

 Confusion as to what numbers are covered ;-). Actually Opendro and I were on the third run while Kiran was on the second run. (excluding the run).

Opendro and I sharing the personal best.

Koti-Lingeshwara :: Divinity Quantified..!!!!!!!!

Trip to Koti-lingeshwara (Divinity quantified…!!!!!)
Date::18-Jan-2010

The entire Sunday (17th) Jan went by just getting the car checked as there was a radiator leak. Unfortunately the radiator repair guy “in shift” and was expected to be present only early next day. Came back to the garage with hope from the mechanic that he would try and fix the radiator. ( put a smile on my face so I don’t have to visit him again tomorrow for another wasted weekend.)


Now to the main part .. oh yes.. the trip..
How ?? Now that the car had to be tested, I just couldn’t just make rounds for a couple of kms and say “AAL EEZ WELL!!!!! So Koti-Lingeshwara, here we come.

Who ? My mother, brother and I. Brother had college late morning so distance mappings had to be done and I also was worried about the road conditions. I had been there once on bike with my friend but the roads were horrid after the right at the level crossing just beyond Hosakote on the way to Bangarpet. Wondering about the alternatives and covering this notorious stretch, we started by 5:30am.



Route
Kavalbyrasandra >> Outer Ring Road >> Old Madras Road >> towards Kolar/Hosakote >> Right at the first level crossing >> Bangarpet >> Kammasandra >> Kotilingeshwara.
Hand on heart, I feared the worst and headed for the highway. For the next couple of kms the roads were giving a good fight to my car’s handling ability and my driving skills. Then voila!!!! the road turned out as smooth as Makkhan. Newly laid tarmac was an absolute treat. I was seriously considering reaching Mulbagal and taking an alternate route from there though, it is a longer detour. But I’m glad I didn’t. So we reached Kotilingeshwara at 7:00am. As per google search results a couple of websites mentioned the distance to be within 70kms. But what was the final Odometer reading ?? 200Kms.


Why Koti-lingeshwara? My mother’s request to see the temple.
Quickspecs on Kotilingeshwara - As on 2008 there are about 87 lakh lingas. You could do a Linga Pratishtapana for Rs.3,500. (Installing a linga within the premises. Please pardon my technical jargon.) Now a trick with the count of the linga.





In the picture to the right, each linga contains smaller lingas embedded on the main structure, so each one counts.














This is the big statue of Nandi facing the giant linga.














Goddess Santhoshi's shrine inside second partition of the main temple.












This is the big nandi facing the giant linga.











Started for bangalore by 9:30AM and reached home within 11:30AM. Stopped on the way to shop for vegetables. Was a little tired so relaxed for a while and watched a telugu movie Oye. ( remake of A walk to remember) and slipped into a deep slumber. A nice place for a half a day out!!!!