At the end of the first month of cycling, I can categorically state that riding is fun and I have been officially addicted to cycling ...
In the month of April I completed rides totalling 501 km in and around Pune! What an awesome experience to get up in the morning fresh air and go out for a ride on the bike. Wind grazing your face drying out the sweat as quickly as it forms, unlike running. The cool wind is heavenly in the summer climate here. Plus the distances I can cover and time I can ride the bike has increased quite rapidly.
I started my cycling journey with a couple of 1 hour rides around my house. Unlike running where the routes I had to figure out were closer to the house and smaller, I had now to figure out longer distance routes. Was lucky in that aspect as living in Baner I had easy access to Pashan NCL area and the ride through the DRDO and Pashan area is quite beautiful in the morning.
Everything wasnt all bliss though ... Initially the 1 hour + on the saddle was quite a challenge and I had a lot of pain in the saddle bones after the ride. Quite uncomfortable if you ask me. Tried a gel padding on the seat. Helped a bit but not much. I was told by the guy I bought the cycle from that I would get used to it in some time. But I had little patience. So quickly bought a few padded cycling shorts and cycling shirts on eBay and Amazon. Set to be delivered to UK where I would be visiting on a trip in May. So first month I had to make do with the gel padded seat.
Another challenge with cycling was that I did enjoy cycling alone but given the distance one covers and the road and traffic condition in India, my wife thought it best that I partner with someone while cycling. Luckily found a few good partners for the ride in our society. Started doing some good longer rides with the group.
As the month progressed and I got more comfortable with the cycling, I started doing slightly longer rides. I had checked a few loops on strava from fellow riders in Pune and figure Pirangut - Lavale/Ghotawade - Hinjewadi and Wakad to be a good route. Indeed a great route ... couldnt believe that such a real rural place existed just 4-5 km from my house in Lavale and Sus! Checkout the pictures below ... quite serene and calm atmosphere in the villages I was riding.
As the month progressed I stretched my comfort level from 25 upto 30-40 and then onto 50km rides. Ended up with 3 50km+ rides this month. Also initially even the Chandani Chowk climb of 1/2 km with 3-5% gradient was a reasonably tough one ... By the end of the month the 50km rides had a reasonable climb - Pirangut ghat climb - about 3 km 5% gradient climb.
All in all a great first month of cycling and something I can be proud about. :-) Cycling for me is no longer a cross training effort, but it is a semi serious sport I can follow...
In the month of April I completed rides totalling 501 km in and around Pune! What an awesome experience to get up in the morning fresh air and go out for a ride on the bike. Wind grazing your face drying out the sweat as quickly as it forms, unlike running. The cool wind is heavenly in the summer climate here. Plus the distances I can cover and time I can ride the bike has increased quite rapidly.
I started my cycling journey with a couple of 1 hour rides around my house. Unlike running where the routes I had to figure out were closer to the house and smaller, I had now to figure out longer distance routes. Was lucky in that aspect as living in Baner I had easy access to Pashan NCL area and the ride through the DRDO and Pashan area is quite beautiful in the morning.
Everything wasnt all bliss though ... Initially the 1 hour + on the saddle was quite a challenge and I had a lot of pain in the saddle bones after the ride. Quite uncomfortable if you ask me. Tried a gel padding on the seat. Helped a bit but not much. I was told by the guy I bought the cycle from that I would get used to it in some time. But I had little patience. So quickly bought a few padded cycling shorts and cycling shirts on eBay and Amazon. Set to be delivered to UK where I would be visiting on a trip in May. So first month I had to make do with the gel padded seat.
Another challenge with cycling was that I did enjoy cycling alone but given the distance one covers and the road and traffic condition in India, my wife thought it best that I partner with someone while cycling. Luckily found a few good partners for the ride in our society. Started doing some good longer rides with the group.
As the month progressed and I got more comfortable with the cycling, I started doing slightly longer rides. I had checked a few loops on strava from fellow riders in Pune and figure Pirangut - Lavale/Ghotawade - Hinjewadi and Wakad to be a good route. Indeed a great route ... couldnt believe that such a real rural place existed just 4-5 km from my house in Lavale and Sus! Checkout the pictures below ... quite serene and calm atmosphere in the villages I was riding.
As the month progressed I stretched my comfort level from 25 upto 30-40 and then onto 50km rides. Ended up with 3 50km+ rides this month. Also initially even the Chandani Chowk climb of 1/2 km with 3-5% gradient was a reasonably tough one ... By the end of the month the 50km rides had a reasonable climb - Pirangut ghat climb - about 3 km 5% gradient climb.
All in all a great first month of cycling and something I can be proud about. :-) Cycling for me is no longer a cross training effort, but it is a semi serious sport I can follow...