MC's Cycling Diary

Date: 14 May 2016 Total distance: 303 Kilometers Start Time: 3:00 pm Return Time: 9:20 am With: - Altitude Profile: Lavelle Road – Palamaner – Lavelle Road Bangalore Randonneurs are organizing the 300 kilometer brevet ride, Bangalore – Palamaner - Bangalore on 14 May 2016. After completing the 200 kilometer brevet, this was the next ride that I was looking forward to. The route was Bangalore - Palamaner - Bangalore, a route which I have not done, more than not done it is a route on which I have not covered any part so there is no knowledge about what to expect on this route. I have gone to Kolar, however, that was through Chikka Tirupathi - Malur and not on Old Madras Road. The ride is going to be on the Old Madras Road all through. I have not made any preparation for this ride. It's just been office commute on a daily basis for 2 weeks covering 14 kilometers every day. I have covered 300 km in a day when I did the ride to Mysore, however, I did not complet...

Date: 25 March 2016 Total distance: 200 Kilometers Start Time: 5:45 pm Return Time: 4:05 am With: - Altitude Profile: Lavelle Road – Mandya – Lavelle Road Bangalore Randonneurs are organizing a 200 kilometer brevet ride, Bangalore – Mandya-Bangalore on 25 March 2016. As soon as I saw the ride, I registered for it since it was a 200 kilometer ride and it was being done on a route with which I am familiar. From the past experience, the route is not a difficult one, however, the challenges that I foresee for the ride is the recovery from the Achilles Tendon Rupture, hope that it will hold, next being that I will be riding in a group in which I do not know any of the riders, and that it is going to be a night ride. I have not done a full night ride and this would be the first time that I will be riding through the night. It is exciting and at the same time there are doubts in my mind about being able to do it. I am confident that if it was a day ride, I would have been...

Date: 13 March 2016 Total distance: 142 Kilometers Start Time: 3:30 am Return Time: 1:00 pm With: - Altitude Profile: It’s time to test the fitness levels and also to know whether the leg can handle the climbs. Madhu Mandanna got his cycle ready a couple of weeks back and we have been going on night rides together. We ride approximately 30 kilometers and do at least 3 rides in a week. I have been aching to go on a long ride, however at the same time I am apprehensive about the leg holding up. Though I do not feel any discomfort when riding, after every ride the leg gets swollen and there is mild pain. The Chikka Tirupathi ride went well and also the city rides are also regular, therefore there is confidence that I can handle long distances. I dabbled with the idea of doing Yercaud and Mysore before settling on Nandi Hills. The ride will be a precursor to long rides and am hoping that I can make it back unscathed. I would have preferred riding on Saturday; however Ma...

Date: 27 February 2016 Total distance: 70 Kilometers Start Time: 7:00 am Return Time: 10:30 am With: Sushanth Altitude Profile: Finally, it was time to test my leg after the Achilles Tendon Rupture. The injury has set me back and it has been a difficult 4 months post the injury. I am able to walk with heel support and have gone on a few 20-30 kilometer rides to get back to cycling. Medical advice is that I can walk and should cycle without resistance. However, I have been aching to get back to cycling and see if the leg will hold. I am still unable to run as the leg feels very tender and without any strength. Am looking to cycling as a physio activity to help in the strengthening of the leg. Chikka Tirupathi is a small ride and wanted to break in with this ride. Had planned to ride 2 weeks earlier, the leg was still feeling sore and did not want to risk it, so postponed it by a week, then had a bad fall when cycling and hurt my left knee pretty badly and had to postp...