Devanahalli

Date: 9 August 2015

Total distance: 97 Kilometers

Start Time: 4:50 am

Return Time: 1:30 pm

With: Priya & Gaurav

Altitude Profile:

It started off as a trip to Nandi Hills again. After considering Shiv Ganga and Savandurga, we decided that we would try Nandi Hills only since Gaurav had not been there. Cycles were rented and we picked them up on Saturday. Gaurav and Priya went for a small warm up ride as well.

None of us were able to wake up on time and instead of the 4:00 am start we woke up at 4:00 am, thanks to Priya who managed to wake all of us. We got ready and left at 4:50 am. It was cold and windy. We went through the city albeit at a slow but constant speed and took a break after we crossed the Hebbal flyover. It was 6:00 am. Saw a lot of cyclists mainly on road cycles crossing us at pretty high speeds. After a 10 minute break we resumed the ride. Climbed the flyover and by the time we reached the Yelahanka air force base, Priya and Gaurav were struggling with butt sores and Gaurav was reconsidering the destination. He wanted to reach the Airport Road toll bridge and then take a call based on his condition. We stopped for another 10 minute break at the Yelahanka air force base.

Progress was slow, however, we were still going forward and about a kilometer before reaching the toll bridge we had to stop again. The butt sore was worsening and now Priya’s thighs were also hurting. We charged our batteries with, Glucose and chocolate before starting again. We had decided to go to the Indian Paratha Palace, just before the turn off to the hill, for breakfast where we would reassess the situation and then decide on going further.

We reached the Paratha Place at 8:10 am and took a leisurely breakfast. We had one Paratha each as we were being conservative since we still had to ride J. Priya was feeling better and was ready to ride to the hill, however Gaurav was not for it but he agreed to go towards the hill. We started off at 8:45 am and rode approximately 2 kilometers when Guarav said that he could not go any further. We decided to call it a day and turn back since we still had to ride back 50 kilometers and did not want to worsen the situation by riding further.

The ride back was slow and very difficult since both Priya and Gaurav were struggling and were pushing the cycle up all the climbs. We made it to the flyover which overlooks the airport and took a long break there, i.e., almost 20 minutes when we just sat on the parapet and did not have any thoughts of getting back on the cycle.

Finally got on the cycle and by the time we reached the airport toll, Gaurav was exhausted and wanted to take a bus back home. Checked with a couple of taxi’s whether they would load cycles and take us back, but they did not agree. Managed to convince Priya and Gaurav that it was not too difficult to ride back, we would do it slowly. We broke the journey down into small distance of 5 kilometers and thought of making it to the smaller destinations rather than think of the whole journey.

Priya and Gaurav gamely rode on and hats off to them for getting back on the saddles and riding in spite of being in considerable pain. It was definitely mind over body at that time. Slowly we made it to the Yelahanka air force base, then Yelahanka, Hebbal as we ticked off the places home was getting closer. We made it past Windsor Manor underpass which was the last climb and from there the road was pretty much flat or downhill which made life a lot easier. Another thing which had helped us significantly was the clouds, due to which the heat was not too much. If the Sun had been out in its entire glory guess we would have taken another hour before we reached.

The ride from Windsor Manor was pretty quick and we made it home by 1:30 pm. Gaurav and Priya were mighty relieved to make it back. They stretched their muscles, hot water bath, lunch and then sleep followed to re-charge their batteries. Gaurav does not want to ride anymore, not sure about Priya.