TFN09 Day 5 | Rest day at Irpu

Walked 7 odd km to Irpu falls takin pics all the way, and faced the maddening tourist crowd....... Dint get into the water..... But managed to get some nice pics,,,,,, The rest of the day went into showing some love to the bike, striving for a a glittering chain and cassette

Current mood: Waiting for tomorrow
Currently listening to: someday - Flipsyde

TFN09 Day4 | Madikeri -> Irpu

Distance: 129km
Saddle time: 7hr 58 min

A real tough ride, considering the killer gradients amidst such pathetic roads, although the greenery around was beautiful.... The climb up Talacauvery and the rewarding descent thereafter was the best part of the ride.... Hitched a ride in the suoport truck for 12 km, to ensure i made it before dark... And as the light got low, all i did was follow Srikar's wheel closely as he zipped around potholes and patches

Current mood: Sleepy
Currently listening to: Gudugudiya sedi nodo - Raghu Dixit

TFN09 Day3 | Hassan -> Madikeri

Distance: 123 km
Saddle time: 7hr 19 min

Bad to moderate roads...... Took it slow...... The rolling ascents and descents weren't easy on the bad roads.... But the cooler air with the scents of eucalyptus, cardamom and other trees made it all worth it
Currently mood: happy
Currently listening to: nothing

TFN09 Day2 | Mysore -> Hassan

Dustance: 143 km
Saddle time: 6hr 54min

A drizzling start, which i blitzed through sucking a friend's wheel (i.e. drafting behind him)..... Then out came paddy fields, one prettier than the other....... Took it slow and took a lot of pics..... Reached Hassan for a late lunch.... Then went on a local ride and enjoyed the setting sun by the countryside

Current mood: excited
Currently listening to: nothing

TFN09 Day 1 | Bangalore -> Mysore

Distance: 170 km (from home)
Saddle time: 6hr 47min


Blitzed past the highway, and spared myself for a few photo breaks and food breaks. Some slight drizzle en route , adding to the perfect weather for riding. Muthu and me drafted each other for a long while, and helped keep the pace, in an dull route. Reached the hotel at 3pm and relaxed the rest of the day.



Current mood: Waiting for Day2 to officially begin
Currently listening to: nothing

wanderlust

I just wanna keep wandering.... Staying in one spot is so tiring...... But the world doesnt like vagabonds....

Current mood: preoccupied
Currently listening to: Open road - Bryan Adams

Cycling to Bevinatta (20 Nov 09 and again on 22 Nov 09)

I cycled the longest single day ride.... and i am too lazy to post it..... And i do the same ride again, with just a day's gap.... A feat for sure to do two 190 km rides almost back to back..... But yet, it felt so normal... so un-blog-worthy while doing it.... no huge sense of accomplishment.... But yet, the route was nice..... the company was nice while i rode the second time round.... And it definitely needs mention in my blog.

Route: Sarjapur ->Attibele -> TVS Rd -> Anusonay -> Bevinatta -> Denkanikottai -> TVS Rd -> Attibele -> Sarjapur..... Route was 190 km roundtrip for me, starting from home

One fine Friday morning, at around 8 am, i just head off to drop a biker to territory she knew.... Just continued riding on, until i found myself at Attibele (50 km from my house)...... Thinking arbit things, and monotonously moving forward pedalstroke after another.... just a 700 ml bottle of water in the holder.... Tender coconuts en route helped a bit too..... Finally i realized i was absent mindedly heading to Bevinatta, where i had been to once with vinay (but by boarding random buses).... Nice empty roads amidst vilages, greenery, fields and hillocks....... Until the chaos of Denkannikottai.... A quick 20 min lunch, and off to Bangalore on another nice low traffic road..... At the end of it, dint even feel that i had done 190 kms

A coupla days later, i herd a bunch of folks training for TFN (www.tourofnilgiris.com), on the same route... this time with a camera, and more water! We got down the stream near Bevinatta, picnicking around.... then we ate sugarcane right off the fields, as they were being harvested.... And a tired but good ride home..... Only few of them did the complete ride (which was upto 160 kms for the others).... But those who did, went home with pride, and joy



I was numb throughout the ride, mentally that is.... and a storm was underway..... Thats where i got all the energy to ride!

Current mood: preoccupied
Currently listening to: Bulla ki Janam kaun - Rabbi Shergill