Interesting day for sure... started off on the bike around 6:15 for a regularish 30-40 km ride. Wanted to get used to the highway feel in order to prepare for the approaching BRM 200 km ride on Nagar road. So headed off on NH4 bypass from Baner.
Overall was maintaining a really good speed and felt quite refreshed ... not too cold either. Reached Talegaon which is about 20 km from my place. Felt that was too short ... so decided to continue till Kamshet ... that would have been a good 75 km ride in under 3 hours. By now the fear of NH4 had disseminated and the rolling route was feeling good. The speed was at a good 27-28 kmph which was my highest on my hybrid.
Came close to Kamshet - total distance of around 37 km, and saw a sign - Lonavala 18 km. Ok thats quite tempting ... should I go all the way? I didnt have any money with me. Also had carried only 1 Gatorade bottle and no snacks or protein bars. It was 7:45 and the weather was great so far .. Sun had just started peeking in the sky ... I was doing 26.5 kmph average so far. Legs were quite fresh and so was mind. Can I test if I can finish the 100 km ride in under 4 hours so I am ready for those same times for the BRM? Ok lets do it ...
Decided to brave it and go all the way. Post Kamshet there are a couple of reasonable climbs ... Crossed a few riders on this slope .. was quite surprised to see them. Passed Karla and then Lonavala was only 10 km. Continue cruising along and soon had expressway exit at Lonavala in my sight.
Went all the into Lonavala which is about 2 km from this point and turned around at the Lonavala 0 km mark.
Crossed another Giant Starkenn rider... really curious - was there a ride to Lonavala on Wednesday by Giant today? Asked the guy ... he said yes. and apparently Milind Soman was also part of the ride. Some riders went all the way to Mumbai - probably accompanying Milind Soman. That would have been interesting ... Anyways ... that was my first and only break of 3-4 minutes to chat with the guy. Made it in 2 hours and 1 minute to Lonavala at speed of 26.5. Now isnt that something ... was feeling quite confident by now. and thought the ride back would be a breeze and in another 2 hours I would be home.
The hopes were dashed soon ... on the ride back faced some serious headwind till Kamshet. Probably this is what Divya Tate has been saying about the Pune - Supe and back route as well - headwinds from hell ... ooh that is going to be nasty then! Also with the sun now shining brightly mouth was parched. I only had 1/2 of the gatorade left. So had to conserve whatever was remaining.
I started paying attention to the landmarks now as needed to distract myself. Noticed quite a few nice and big temples on NH4. Didnt note down all the names, maybe next time. Also came across these Warkaris on the way back ... not sure where they were headed to though ...
Was really feeling the lack of hydration now and has started cramping a bit around 70 km near Kamshet. Another 35 km to go. Speed had slowed down to average of 21-22 kmph naturally with fatigue also setting in. All slightest climbs was slowing me down to 15 or so and had to come down to 2nd. My entire journey to Lonavala except for the couple of climbs near Kamshet was done on the 3rd. Now just wanted to reach home.
Crossed Vadgaon and then Talegaon. Then near Dehu Road finished the last drops of Gatorade. Still 15 km to go. Cramping had increased. Just had to push myself with whatever energy left in the body. Finally reached home around 10:45 am.
As soon as I reached home, downed a full Gatorade and half a litre of water. And crashed on the bed and slept for half an hour.
Total distance as seen above - 106 km in 4:26 @ 23.9 kmph.
Baner to Lonavala - 53 km in 2 hr 1 minutes @ 26.3 kmph.
Lonavala to Baner - 53 km in 2:25 hrs @ 21.93 kmph.
Effect of dehydration and fatigue is clear in the numbers above. This was a long ride with no adequate preparation. Huge lesson learnt ... always carry emergency money on you .. you never know when the mind tells the body to march along ahead for longer distances.
Overall satisfied with the time though as am now confident of doing the 200 km BRM in 10 hours or so. And with the fact that I was able to push myself with pure will power for almost 35-40 km or so.
Countdown of 3 days now to the BRM!
Overall was maintaining a really good speed and felt quite refreshed ... not too cold either. Reached Talegaon which is about 20 km from my place. Felt that was too short ... so decided to continue till Kamshet ... that would have been a good 75 km ride in under 3 hours. By now the fear of NH4 had disseminated and the rolling route was feeling good. The speed was at a good 27-28 kmph which was my highest on my hybrid.
Came close to Kamshet - total distance of around 37 km, and saw a sign - Lonavala 18 km. Ok thats quite tempting ... should I go all the way? I didnt have any money with me. Also had carried only 1 Gatorade bottle and no snacks or protein bars. It was 7:45 and the weather was great so far .. Sun had just started peeking in the sky ... I was doing 26.5 kmph average so far. Legs were quite fresh and so was mind. Can I test if I can finish the 100 km ride in under 4 hours so I am ready for those same times for the BRM? Ok lets do it ...
Decided to brave it and go all the way. Post Kamshet there are a couple of reasonable climbs ... Crossed a few riders on this slope .. was quite surprised to see them. Passed Karla and then Lonavala was only 10 km. Continue cruising along and soon had expressway exit at Lonavala in my sight.
Went all the into Lonavala which is about 2 km from this point and turned around at the Lonavala 0 km mark.
Crossed another Giant Starkenn rider... really curious - was there a ride to Lonavala on Wednesday by Giant today? Asked the guy ... he said yes. and apparently Milind Soman was also part of the ride. Some riders went all the way to Mumbai - probably accompanying Milind Soman. That would have been interesting ... Anyways ... that was my first and only break of 3-4 minutes to chat with the guy. Made it in 2 hours and 1 minute to Lonavala at speed of 26.5. Now isnt that something ... was feeling quite confident by now. and thought the ride back would be a breeze and in another 2 hours I would be home.
The hopes were dashed soon ... on the ride back faced some serious headwind till Kamshet. Probably this is what Divya Tate has been saying about the Pune - Supe and back route as well - headwinds from hell ... ooh that is going to be nasty then! Also with the sun now shining brightly mouth was parched. I only had 1/2 of the gatorade left. So had to conserve whatever was remaining.
I started paying attention to the landmarks now as needed to distract myself. Noticed quite a few nice and big temples on NH4. Didnt note down all the names, maybe next time. Also came across these Warkaris on the way back ... not sure where they were headed to though ...
Was really feeling the lack of hydration now and has started cramping a bit around 70 km near Kamshet. Another 35 km to go. Speed had slowed down to average of 21-22 kmph naturally with fatigue also setting in. All slightest climbs was slowing me down to 15 or so and had to come down to 2nd. My entire journey to Lonavala except for the couple of climbs near Kamshet was done on the 3rd. Now just wanted to reach home.
Crossed Vadgaon and then Talegaon. Then near Dehu Road finished the last drops of Gatorade. Still 15 km to go. Cramping had increased. Just had to push myself with whatever energy left in the body. Finally reached home around 10:45 am.
Total distance as seen above - 106 km in 4:26 @ 23.9 kmph.
Baner to Lonavala - 53 km in 2 hr 1 minutes @ 26.3 kmph.
Lonavala to Baner - 53 km in 2:25 hrs @ 21.93 kmph.
Effect of dehydration and fatigue is clear in the numbers above. This was a long ride with no adequate preparation. Huge lesson learnt ... always carry emergency money on you .. you never know when the mind tells the body to march along ahead for longer distances.
Overall satisfied with the time though as am now confident of doing the 200 km BRM in 10 hours or so. And with the fact that I was able to push myself with pure will power for almost 35-40 km or so.
Countdown of 3 days now to the BRM!