Successfully completed 600KM cycling on September 19 !!
Happy that become 'Super Randonneur' for the season 2015 after completing all four events(200,300,400 & 600Km) in current season..First I heard about this event from my friend Arun. Later it was Prasanna who took the initiative and gathered all information about the event (200Km), when I set out for my 1st ride of 200KM on June 21, 2014 along with Prasanna, Nandu and Gopi. Considering the difficulty,
I never thought of doing 300,400 & 600. In our group Gopi took the challenge and struggle a lot ,he became Super Randonner' for the year 2014. Then I was little motivated that let me try once to see the experience !! I Cant believe myself I have completed all the four categories without much practice sessions.
Brief Summary of my Rides:
200km : Chennai - Marakkanam - Chennai : June 21
300km : Chennai - Tindivanam - Chennai : July 25
400km : Chennai - Vellore - Javadu Hills - Vaniyambadi- Chennai : August 15
600km : Chennai - Samayapuram - Chennai : September 17
My BIG Thanks to people behind my SR:
Vikram- Big heart to give his SCOTT for two months. It was wonderful Cycle and withstood all the terrain without a single failure. Used for 200,300 & 400
Prasanna- My all time well wisher !! Big heart to give his
Fuji Absolute 2.1 for 600 Ride.
Nandu - My mentor and Cycling Guru!!
His valuable guidance and company during 300,400 & 600 was amazing.
Gopi- Super Randonner!! For the super company during 400 & 600.
Prasanna & VJ - for receiving us at finish line.
CRPP Friends : your wishes and support was amazing !!
Let's share my 600Km cycling experience ..
Route : Chennai- Trichy- Chennai.
Cut-off Time : 40 hour.
The distance is almost close to my native( Tuticorin) from Chennai.. Never thought of doing this distance by motorbike but now I have done in Bi-Cycle !!
On Aug 15 completed 400KM cycling and almost had 30 days to next bigger and final event 600KM on September 18. Myself , Nandu and Gopi were planned initially to do some practice rides..Plan was that at least should do couple of fast 60KM ride. Finally before my event I did only one practice ride 60KM in 2:45 hr.. For me this is the final ride to conquer 'Super Randonner' title for the season and I was so confident that can try my best to do it. Last three events (200,300 &400) used Vikram's Scoot Speed 20 bike, this time thought of using Road Bike but last minute couldn't get rent and Prasanna helped me with his Fuji Absolute 2.1 Hybrid Bike. Very excited about the event and collected all the safety precautions and other stuffs from experienced cyclist Super Randonner Gopi..Below shared my checklist:
BRM 600 Checklist
I have kept following items with me:
1) Power bank
2) Garmin Charger Cable
3) Two triple A(small) Battery
4) One double A Battery
5) Btwin ToolKit
6) Swiss Multiple Knife Kit
7) Gatorade -6 packets
8) Plum Cake small size- 3 pieces
9) salted Cashew- 100 Gm
10) Dry Grapees - 200 Gm
11) Vaseline
12) Debit Card
13) Cash Rs-1000
14) Mobile Phone & Headset
15) Coolers
16) Two small Size Towel
17) one Spare Cycle tube
18) All the items packed in different size zip log covers to protect from Rain
19) Used Hyderabad Marathon BiB kit bag as Back bag!!
Sep 17, Friday : On the event day had good lunch around 1 PM , Nandu helped me to reach the venue , reached around 3:50 PM, quickly got into JBC, Velacherry and collected my Brevet Card and had Bike Check. Event flagged off at 4:00PM in the evening. Should reach the same starting point before 8:00AM (40hr Cut-off) on Sunday ,September 19. Myself, Nandu and Gopi started together , we were going around 26KM/Hr for first two hours, 35k in 1:30 hrs. At first pitstop - singaperumal koil took about 15 mins break. reached the first control point(87K) Accharapakkm at 8:15 PM..my thighs were paining little bit since i pushed little more beyond my limit, Next stopped for dinner at Tindivanum(120K) around 9:30 PM , Myself and Nandu did Vibaritha about 10 mins after that thighs are OK.Nandu set the pace around 22KM and we just followed him for the whole night ride..
Next We stopped at 168k @1:00AM rodeside teashop for small break. We reached the next manned control point 185K , A2B Ullundurpet @2:30 AM. Had some snacks , Took about 20 mins break and started our ride. Within 10K again stopped for break, Gopi started taking nap and i just sitting on the chair ,didn't get sleep just looking the road almost we spent about 40 min here. Reduced our pace and started our slow night ride, around 6 am slightly sun came up , ya we have managed one whole night without sleep . next we stopped at 240K @6:40 AM..60k more to U-turn, decided to take morning breakfast at Perambalur its about 24k more to go.. Around 8AM we crossed Perambalur but couldn't find any good hotels , AriyaBhavan was about 8 more km to go but I couldn't control my hungry , I stopped one roadside hotel and had few banana, two glass lime juices after that I got some energy and started riding towards the AriyaBhavan..Reached the hotel at 272K @ morning 9 AM.. Had our breakfast , i had Appam with coconut milk , filled my water bottle and mixed with Gatarode. 28k more to go U-turn and should reach before 12noon. Had sufficient time to reach and last 25k was very tough with strong headwind. Reached the U-turn 300K point @11:20 AM..ya we have done half way!! Spent about 1 hr there ,just refreshed and had our lunch ..
Started from U-Turn point at 12:30 PM, next control point at 418K should reach before 6:42 PM, should do 118KM in 6 hrs I was little afraid about the next point ,average should maintain 20k/hr including break then the riding Speed should maintain around 24k/Hr then only could reach the next control point before 7:40 PM, In some places I pushed myself about 26k/hr and Nandu was insisted me to slow down the pace and he was very accurate about the riding pace to reach the next control point. Return was pretty easy with Tail winds. Stopped for tea break at 383K @ 5:50 PM, 32k to next control point A2B Ullundurpet in 1:50 hrs, next 32k was very thrill and I just followed Nandu ,after crossing 410k we were looking for control and time also about to deadline, reached the A2B control point 418K @7:30 PM. had two idlys and one glass salt lime juice. After dinner Started from the A2B at 8:10 PM, Next checkpoint at 525k should reach before next day early morning 3:00 AM, we have 7 hrs..440k about 9:30 Pm stopped for coffe-break , Nandu was feeling sleepy and he decided to take sleep about 30 min, planned to meet next control point (525k) we left Nandu there, myself and Gopi started riding. It was very disappointing moment to leave Nandu considering the risk of riding in sleepy mode. Around 11:30 PM I was very sleepy ,stopped immediately and had power nap about 20 mins after that felt refreshed , maintain Speed around 20k/Hr . Reached the 525k control point @2:50 AM. Another 10 min I started from control point and tagged along with Deepan gang , Gopi waited for Nandu to catch-up but he quit @460k itself.. Deepan gang riders were very cool ,they ride very speed the same time they stopped and take long breaks, during night ride we took break about 5-10 min for every 25km ride. Around 550k I was sleepy and slow down my speed and the Deepan gang went ahead of me, going alone after crossing Chengalpattu stopped one shop and had sleep about 20 min..suddenly woke up and checked the timings its morning 5:50 AM, I'm alone now , go 35km in 2:10 min again neck to neck timing and was afraid of going alone in case if any mechanical break down or Puncture..pushed myself little bit maintain the speed about 26km reached Tambaram around 6:50 AM, surprisely joined Gopi again and took madavakkam road.almost done just 20 more to go , he wised me for super Randonner' title.
Prasanna and VJ waitied for us at finish line !! finally reached the finish point at 7:40 AM !! Journey Ends Here!!
Garmin link : https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/903911714
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