Off Sarjapur Road, Bangalore

Date : Saturday, 04 April, 2009

Me on my Trek 6000 during sunrise. Image by Anand

Group : Anand, Ravi and me.

Ravi near the old Banyan tree with thousands of huge bats

Starting : We started from Sarjapur Junctions at Outer Ring Road at 0600. Few others were also supposed to join but after waiting for sometime, we decided to move on.

This is not a trail

The Ride: Ravi was having experience to lead us and he did the job very well. We took a left from the main road and after a short stretch of streets, dirt trail was under the bike. We crossed the Railway track and beyond that I have no idea where were we. Most of the times, I was just following Ravi because this was my first off road ride. But this does not mean that Ravi was knowing the way. :) Many times there were narrow trails which are used by village people.

Short break under the tree

There was no rule or map which was guiding us. We met few dead ends but then coming back was not at all a pain. Once, we reached at a place where we were covered by jungle on the three sides. Ravi suggested to cross it and we followed him. This was a good one.

Having idly as breakfast

Few pics from a place to have some good actions:

The Fall: I was following Ravi. There was sharp left turn required to escape a ninety degree fall. I did the the very common mistake. I was looking at the point where I was not supposed to go. The same old human mind played its role and I landed up side down with my bike on me. Got a small scratch on left knee and then a lot of flies on it. These flies got disappointed when I applied antiseptic spray on the scar.

The flat tire: Anand got a flat tire again. This happened with him two of the last three rides. Not sure what is happening with his bike. We thought that pumping some air into the tire will help us for few miles. But he again did a very common mistake. He did not support the valve while pumping the air. Result? The tube got a cut near the valve. I was having a spare tube which is used. I hope, he does not forget it and returns a new tube to me. :)

The Culprit

How happy he is after fixing the tire

Finally, after covering all the unknown trails, we were on sarjapur road. While returning, we stopped at the new Decathalon Store. Sharath escorted us in the store and I am really happy to see such a place in India where such a good variety of sports and trekking gears is available at a reasonable price. We also got a test ride of Rockrider 6.

Break along the Rose Garden

Then we dispersed to our homes. The ride was awesome and many thanks to Ravi.

Stats:
Total Distance: 59 KM
Max Speed: 50.7 KMPH
Avg Speed: 18 KMPH

Ride to Nandi Hills, Bangalore, India

Date: Sunday, March 22, 2009.

Me in red shirt along with ChosZang. Pic taken by another friend who visited Nandi on Motorbike

Group: We were around 30 riders all from Bangalore biker club. Few of them were on road bikes and others were on MTBs. few others drove their SUVs to Hebbal or Nandi Hill turn and joined from there.

Starting: I started from NGV, Koramangala at 0530. Reached Trinity Circle at 0545 and waited there for 10 minutes for other 3 riders. After reaching Columbia Asia Hospital at Hebbal, I again waited for 45 minutes for others to come.

The way: Around 20 of us started from there. Road bikes were fast and disappeared in a minutes. MTB riders were riding according to their own pace. After reaching Nandi Hill turn on the NH-7, I noticed that all other rides were having breakfast. I had Bananas and Tiger biscuits. Later I came to know that the breakfast was very delicious. Not sure why, but the food on road sides always tastes good. :)

From there I started and stopped at the base of Nandi Hill. I bought water from there and stretched my body. I had never been to Nandi Hill before. So not even knowing what was there in front of me.

The climb : I put my Trek 6000 in appropriate gear and started. It was 7 KMs of that deadly climb. I had nothing in my mind except one thing, that I am not going to give up. Breathing deeply and not loosing the momentum was the key. But soon, the roads were getting more steep and all such keys stopped working. It was very tough for me to convince my mind and then my body for moving ahead. Each and every 100m was looking like a huge pain.

Then happened a strange experience. There was a car full of crazy guys. They had music on at high volume and shouting aloud. I noticed them and thought that this must a group of friends having fun. But then the car passed me throwing a lot of water on my face. It hit hard to me. The car was descending down at least 60-70 KMPH. I was already struggling and added to that was this sharp pain on my face. I was not able to see anything because of water on my glasses. But stopping was out of question. If I had stopped and lost the momentum, it would have been very tough to start again. I continued... and with in 2-3 minutes that ridiculous act of those insane guys helped me. Due to the water my body became cool and I was happy for that finally. The only wish is, next time they throw the water in a gentle manner. :)

Moving ahead, I realized that I cannot move anymore now. I stopped and filled my stomach with one packet of Tiger biscuits. Drank half a liter of water. Just at this time, I saw road bikers were coming down. Looking at them was another confidence boost up. I started again. The ride was very tough ahead. I had never pushed my mind that much in the whole of my life. Then I noticed the 1 KM mile stone. I was so exhausted that every 100m was a pain for me. Doing 10 such 100m was out of question. After around 200m I almost gave up. But then I saw the gate for Nandi. This was another boost up for me. I stood on the pedals and used whatever I was left in my ass. Finally, reached Nandi and joined other three riders who were waiting for me.

Downhill Ride: Riding down was a great fun. While climbing above, I was thinking that why people do this tiring ride again and again? I had the answer now. I was able to touch 50 KMPH, which is highest for me. The return journey was not that easy because the sun was high in the sky. But I did not stop. Finally, reached back to home at 1345.

Stats:
Max Speed: 50 KMPH
Av speed: 21
Distance: 134 KM

============================================================
Nandi Hills - II

Date : Saturday, 18 April, 2009

Group : Alone

Whats next : It rained Friday night and I thought it would be good to ride in this weather. But today morning, the sky was crystal clear. I was riding on NH-7 and saw the sun rising. Even at that time the intensity was high. I was feeling hunger and decided to go to Nandi Hill turn on the NH-7, where idly is available as breakfast. But there was nothing today and thus I had to ride further to eat something. After reaching the Nandi Hill base, I thought if I have come so far, let go up then. :)

I met another road biker and two guys on their MTBs. The MTBikers were looking very tired and I saw them dragging the bike up when I was coming downhill.

The good part this time is, my max and avg speeds are better than the last time. :)

Stats:
Max Speed: 56.5 KMPH
Av speed: 22.9
Distance: 134 KM

Ride to Yogavana Hills, Bangalore, India

Yogavana Hills:

For Pic (These are not mine):
http://picasaweb.google.com/prashantgy/YogavanaHill#
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31390098@N03/
http://picasaweb.google.com/deeprb/TourDeYogavana?feat=directlink


A total of 12-15 bikers decided to ride to Yogavana Hills on Saturday, 14 March '09.

I met Peeyush at Airtel Office, near HDFC Bank at 0545 on 20090314. Then we waited for CPK for 10 minutes. But there were few issues. CPK's friend, Manish was waiting for him on the other entrance of Bosch and his bike was having less pressure in the front tire. All the attempts of filling up the tire were waste. All four of us rode till Jayanagar and it was already 0640. The meeting time at Merida Junction was 0630. Then CPK asked me and Peeyush to leave. We started and reached Merida Junction but No one was there. I tried calling Prashant but he did not pick up the call. Assuming that we would be able to catch other rides, we started to ride on the Kanakpura road.

This is where I and Peeyush met others in the group.
http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=12.8218444&lon=77.5144887&z=18&l=0&m=h&v=2

This was my first ride, so I introduced my self to all other. After waiting for some 5 minutes, we started.

This is where Prashant fell off from his bike.
http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=12.7968249&lon=77.5055784&z=18&l=0&m=h&v=2

He was trying to take pic of others while riding. The road was in turn and he did not notice a pot hole. It was good that he was not badly hurt, his camera was safe and no big vehicle was coming from behind.


This is where, Anand got a flat tire.
http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=12.76564&lon=77.4876881&z=18&l=0&m=h&v=2

Peeyush and Chos tried to fix it but there were many punctures. At this point, Pradeeep and Ashish also joined us. Pradeep had an extra tube which was used finally.

This is the right turn that we took:
http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=12.7592884&lon=77.4860144&z=18&l=0&m=h&v=2

Another Point on the route:
http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=12.7619253&lon=77.4699801&z=18&l=0&m=h&v=2

The route is straight and not the right turn
http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=12.7621503&lon=77.4631459&z=18&l=0&m=h&v=2

Took the left on the rocky way uphill:
http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=12.760293&lon=77.4612093&z=18&l=0&m=h&v=2

Destination:
http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=12.7576613&lon=77.4605173&z=18&l=0&m=h&v=2