Having ridden Bangalore - Ranebennur - Bangalore 600 brevet
and made a trip to Devarayanadurga, when I saw the route map of Challakere 400 Brevet before the event, I found that I was already familiar with 300+ kms.
Also, since I was riding regularly alternative saturdays the last few months, I
was quite confident in completing the ride (successfully). But not always the
things happen in the way we expect. Here is the experience on such a ride.
Kalpesh and I started riding together from the new BHEL road
starting control by 0605 hrs, after getting our brevet cards stamped and wished
good luck, by Mustafa and Nirmal. Soon, Mr. Ashok joined us, and we three made
our move fast through roads to Hessarghatta. One thing to note about Mr. Ashok,
his age is 45+ and he rode 350+ km in this ride, that too, well within the time
limits allowed for most part of the ride. A salute to him.
We were stopped by Abhijit and Hari who were manning a
secret control, when we hit Hessarghatta main road. I wasn’t surprised of the
secret control as I expected one, after reading the reports from riders of Jan
2012 version of this brevet.
We resumed riding after having some biscuits offered by
them. We soon crossed Hessarghatta lake, Madhure, and reached Dodbelavangala around
0845 hrs where we stopped for breakfast of a plate of idly and some rice, with
bonda.
.
After breakfast, we continued through Doddaballapur Highway
towards Dabbaspete. This stretch of 20 km, was highly rolling, with headwinds.
We rode with Rafi and group in this stretch. After Dabbaspete, Kalpesh and I
slowed down where Rafi and group raced up and slowly zoomed out. In this
section, when I hit a pit, the back light got broken and fell down. I had to
ride then without the rear red light.
The roads were a bit patchy here, after Uradigere. We soon
reached next control at Koratagere with an hour to spare. On seeing the
distance to Madhugiri as 18 km, we decided to continue and take a lunch break
at Madhugiri.
With a tender coconut break and ride through a section of
fully patchy roads, we reached Madhugiri an hour later. We weren’t hungry then,
to have lunch. We thought of continuing till Sira but then decided to have
atleast some snacks in Madhugiri, as Sira was 40 km away and it was noon. This
decision really helped, when we were on the stretch to Sira. We stopped at a
bakery and had some nice sandwiches and cakes with Fanta. The shopkeeper said
that there were a group of cyclists who stopped there like us, before half an
hour. Yeah, Rafi and others it was obvious, and they should be going some 10 km
ahead of us then.
Hell started from there, in the form of completely bad and
non-existent roads. Most part of this section, till Sira was dug out for laying
newly and we slowly crawled through, afraid of sharp stones and objects. In
between, very light showers of rain tried to make us cool. After some 30 km
from Madhugiri, when I was thinking only 10 more km to spare, disaster started.
Yeah, I found it getting hard to pedal. I checked and found air in rear wheel
reduced. I just thought, air reduced because we were riding in some hard, bumpy
non-existent roads and was confident that nothing happened to tyre. So, we just
stopped, filled air and continued. When it was around some 6 kms to Sira,
somewhat good road started, along with heavy rain. Kalpesh insisted to stop and
wear rain gears, but I wanted to continue and so did till Sira as I found again
hard to ride. We became completely wet soon.
Bad stretch of road, to Sira - 40 km (Photo Credits : Nayan) |
In Sira, Kalpesh decided to take a break so that we could
take rest, avoid rain some time and have food. I decided not to waste time on
eating, and tried to replace tube. I carefully checked tyre for intruders and
tube for holes, but couldn’t find any. I checked the valve condition as well
but no hope. Then I found that, since the tyre and tube were wet, I was unable
to change tube in the dry area in front of shop, where the soil particles stuck
on tyre inner area and new tube. So I did the whole tube changing process in
rain, which I think may be the reason for next tube failure. We immediately
started riding after this.
After some 10 km from Sira, I got tired. So I decided to
take a break in a Dhaba for late lunch. Kalpesh also joined me though I
insisted him to continue. We found Shreeju in the Dhaba, and he was ready to
start after a break. Kalpesh joined him to continue, after 10 mins of break and when they were
about to start, Shreeju asked me to inform Nayan, the other MTBer who was
riding a bit behind, that Shreeju was riding about half an hour ahead of me. I
then started about 20 minutes later, after having a plate of egg-fried rice,
towards Hiriyur. I span hard to save some time for next flat, if any.
Some 10 km before Hiriyur, I found that once again the tube
was failing. Air was less but not completely out. Since it was getting dark, I decided to check
the tyre there itself. Again, tyre was clean, tube had no notable leak, and
time was ticking. So, I decided to put the next of 2 more extra tubes I had.
While doing that, Nayan reached. I informed Nayan about Shreeju. Then Nayan
helped me in putting the things right and we soon started. We rode fast and
reached Hiriyur by 1915 hrs.
In Hiriyur, I checked the air, it was ok. I couldn’t find
whether it really had reduced and didn’t want to waste time on that. It got
darker and we switched our headlights on. 13 more km and around 70 min to go, I
found again difficult to spin. This time, no stopping, searching or whatever as
I didn’t have camera to take good pictures in the photo controls in dark
condition and Nayan had. I kept up with Nayan though slowed him towards the end,
and we reached the first photo control by 2010 hrs.
At photo control 1 - fed up with tyre and dejected (Photo Credits : Nayan) |
After taking necessary photos, I checked the air, the tyre was
almost flat. I thought for a moment to quit, but decided to continue atleast
upto the next photo control which was 13 km away. I pumped air, and we started riding
without delaying. Anyhow, air reduced faster this time. I tried to push hard
without air and somehow managed to reach the next control at Aymangala by 2110 hrs.
At Aymangala photo control - Too tired coz of riding with almost flat tyre, and even more dejected (Photo Credits : Nayan) |
We found Kalpesh waiting there. We came to know that,
Kalpesh had difficulty in eating, and threw up once when he tried to eat a
banana. He decided to quit. On seeing his condition and my problems, I also
decided to quit, and had a chat with Nayan. Nayan tried to motivate us to
continue till next control at Hiriyur which was 22 km away and then decide as
there is no need to hurry after that, as the final control, the only left
control, is 150 km away from Hiriyur and we would be having 10 hrs to go, had
we reached Hiriyur control in time.
Kalpesh here offered me his bike and insisted me to continue
and finish the brevet. But I didn’t want to leave sick Kalpesh with my sick
bike as it would be difficult for him to manage. Also, whatever I do, I wanted
it to be with my Rockrider. Seeing the
people heartily wishing me to continue, I decided not to give up till the state
when I couldn’t really do anything. Bid a bye to Nayan wishing him to reach
next control in time, I took out my last spare tube to replace the sick tube
with it. When I removed the tube from tyre, I found that, rim tape was torn.
So, this could be the reason for continuous failure. I got an insulation tape
from the shopkeeper there and pasted the ends of torn rim tape together with
two layers of it. I then replaced tube. Kalpesh helped me put the things
together. Meanwhile, Mr. Ashok made it to the photo control just in time and
continued to ride further. I saw the time, it was 2205 hrs.
Alright, I had to ride 22 kms in 55 minutes. I asked Kalpesh
to look for and take with him anything I left there, asked him to ride atleast
till Hiriyur, prepared my mind for yet another crazy push, and started riding. A
nice highway, with very light winds, I rushed like anything. I noticed Mr.
Ashok walking with his bike near Guilalu tollbooth. Waved a bye to him, and I
raced ahead. After some furious minutes, I reached the SBI ATM control in
Hiriyur, I took out my mobile and saw the time, it was 2246 hrs, well within
the time. I then tried to take out my wallet for ATM card to get a time slip. Ah…
the next shock, I couldn’t find the wallet. I searched bag and couldn’t find in
that as well. I suddenly was sweating as I was helpless there though I made it
in time.
I then called Kalpesh and asked him to look for my wallet in
previous control, but he had already left.
When I was standing in the ATM cabin helpless, Nayan reached there. I
was surprised to see him there. He said, he wasted time in getting the right
way into Hiriyur. Having a company, I was boosted a bit. I called and informed Mustafa
about loosing the wallet and took a time slip from Nayan’s ATM card, and had a
photo in Nayan’s camera with time stamp as a proof for my being there in time.
A loser, lost his wallet, angry on himself and awaiting further more shocks (Photo Credits : Nayan) |
I checked the air in my tyre, and it was full. I was damn
happy, and we went to a nearest hotel for a late dinner. We had then 10 hrs to
finish 155 km, which I had previously done with 7 hrs 30 mins of riding,
excluding 3 big breaks. We were eating with mind relaxed and soon Kalpesh
joined us. I found out that he haven’t noticed my wallet there in Aymangala. It
is lost. I then checked my bag for other things I missed in previous control in
hurry. Well, my pair of gloves were also missing. I was not feeling sad much
then for missing as I still could ride
and make it to final control and complete the ride bagging a load of experience.
After dinner, I came out to check air. The tyre was
completely flat and rim tape again torn and came out of tyre. I was shocked
seeing that. Just sometime before, it was healthy. Now nothing I could do. No
spare rim tape. No spare tubes. No way to find a hole in any tube to patch and
continue ride. All left with me were, confidence to ride, energy and
willingness to ride, and time more than what I need to complete it successfully. Kalpesh once again
offered me his bike and forced me to continue, but I was not ready to leave him
with my sick bike. I informed Nayan that I quit, and called Mustafa as well to
inform quitting.
Then things happened in relaxed manner. We took a room in a
lodge there, had a nice sleep for 4 hours, went to Aymangala by early morning to
search for and confirm that I idiotically lost my wallet and cloves, came back
to Hiriyur, again rest for 3 hours, took a small tempo to return back till
Nelamangala, a minidor from there till some 3 kms before Yeshwantpur, walked
till institute from there, bla bla bla….
Yeah, this ride gave me loads of experience with a heavy
blow on my dream of becoming super randonneur this season. Thanks to Mr. Ashok,
Kalpesh and Nayan for making this ride quite eventful despite the problems we
had. Nayan was motivating me at the times I really needed. I am happy to know Nayan finished the ride successfully with an MTB with stock tyres, at the same time, I
feel sorry for Mr. Ashok as he had to quit because of a flat near Guilalu toll
booth, later I came to know. Greatly inspired when I knew though he
dropped, he rode till the end. I would have been more happy had Kalpesh also finished ride, but hats off to
him, as all in a sudden he rode 255 kms without riding out for last
four months (last long distance trip he did was to Muthathi by March 1, 2012,
with Jitendra and myself). Also, Kalpesh offered his bike dropping his ride and
asked me to continue, in the critical time. A true spirit of helping a friend in
trouble and need.
I gave a thought on going to Delhi and doing 400 km in October
end. I don't want to go that far just for a medal. Also, good thing is I can do every brevet again here with the same spirit as I will have to do them in next season to become super randonneur. Hope to become super randonneur along with Kalpesh.
Here is Nayan’s report on the Brevet.
Awesome write up Karthik. And a great ride too.
ReplyDeleteGreat to know that you decided to do all the Brevets next season! Looking fwd to ride with you on my MTB :-)
Thanx a lot Nayan.... Yeah... We'll do all the rides once again, especially, Tristate 600.... This year I planned to do that but unfortunately both the times I had to miss....
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