My First Experience of Endurance Cycling

I always wanted to attempt a 200km in a single day distance on cycle in order to get an experience of how endurance cycling feels like.

My friend Ambarish informed me about the cycling event in the month of May and I got an opportunity to attempt the same.

It was a Devotional ride from Pune to Pandharpur to and fro in 2 days. The total distance was 480km approx from (Dehu village to Pandharpur).

The event happened in the month of June (22 and 23) and it was organized by Indo Athletic society (IAS) Pune.

For the ride, they have given us 3 options

• Oneway Devotional ride on cycle. While coming back  Tempo facility for cycle
• Bothway ride on cycle Devotional ride ( no tempo facility for the cycle while coming back)
• Oneway Devotional ride without tempo for cycle for the return journey

Initially, I was not sure about whether will I be able to do it because it was the first time at a stretch I was going to ride 200km in a single day. Daily I’m habitual of doing 10km and some weekends I do ride with friends or solo and cover approx 50-70km. In the past, I have done a century ride ( read my blog of Parla to Vasai century ride) but it was a year back. After thinking about all the option I decided to go ahead with ‘both way ride on cycle’. I thought that on day one if I can manage to complete day two is also possible. Its all about how my body and mind gonna react to the situation.

When Ambarish sent me an event link I asked him that will they allow me to participate as I ride the non-gear cycle. He said there shouldn’t be an issue and when I read about event information they haven’t mentioned anything about the type of cycle one has to carry. However, they had mentioned the accessories such as safety equipment one has to bring and I always carry the same every time I saddle.

Before the ride

I was overwhelmed by seeing the distance and was started doubting the capabilities of me but then eventually thought of giving a shot.

My daily routine of workout helped me a lot with the main event. Normally I do 2 days of running a week and daily cycling to work. I decided that my body needs more practice so I had added plank and squats after the running session. As a part of the practice, one week before the main event I went for a ride to BKC and covered approx 69km. I wanted to do more practice ride but somehow managed to do one ride but somewhere in my mind, I knew that I can cover 200km Target.

IAS organizers had also created what’s app group for the event where they used to post the event updates and information. They had also conducted practice cycle rides before the event. I couldn’t go for the same as it was in Pune but used to keep a tap on what’s happening in the group. One thing kept me motivated about the group slogan. It stated TEAM means ‘Together Everyone Achieves More’. That appealed to me the most because it talks about practicality and teamwork.

The event started on 22 June but in order to collect the bib and event formalities, we had to reach a day before.

On Thursday I started packing the stuff to carry for the ride. I carried two bags – one was the hydration bag given by cousin Poonam and the other one includes the bag with clothes. I also carried the following items

• cycling lights (Front & Rear / Tail)
• Fast & up energy gel + energy tablets ( I asked my friend Shriniwas about gel and he recommended the same.)
• Energy bar
• Cycling jersey + bib shorts
• Reflective vest
• Arm cover sleeves
• Cycling gloves
• 2.5Ltrs of water
• Cycle Tubes + Maintainance kit
• Bicycle pump
• Spare cycle tubes ( 2 minimum)
• Basic Medicine
• Bandana
• Clothes

Backpacking for the ride

Waiting for Shivneri bus at Dadar

On Friday I met Ambarish and Mukund Joshi at Dadar and we took shivneri bus to Pune. We placed our cycle in the luggage compartment and the journey of my first endurance ride begun. We reached Hadapsar in the afternoon. Friday went on relaxing and roaming in Pune and preparation for the next day. we had also collected the bib number given by IAS.

At Hadapsar finding our way to Hotel stay for Friday night Hamiltion- my cycle Scott- Ambarish Cycle

During the event

The event started with The flag off from Dehu Temple at 3 o clock. We joined the participants from Hadapsar around 5 o clock in the morning. It was very pleasant to watch so many cyclists at the same place at that time which created different vibes altogether.

While riding I had carry hydration bag with 2.5 liters of water capacity and it helped me a lot throughout the journey.

1st halt of the day was after 30km around 7 o clock in the morning where we stopped for the water & hydration break, then we headed for the breakfast stop at ‘Shree Gurudutta vada pav’ around 8.30 am after saddling 48kms. The taste of vada pav and tea in the early morning was incredible indeed.

Vada pav + Tea best combination

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The next halt was a lunch break at ‘Hotel Mauli Prasad’ near Indapur bypass road. By then I had covered 128km and it boosted my confidence that I can manage to do the remaining 72km and can cross 200km mark for the first time!!!

During the journey, I got mixed reactions from the people. Some people asked us where we were going on a cycle. Some couldn’t believe that we were going to Pandharpur in one day. Some congratulate us by saying ‘Jai Hari Vitthal’ and some thought that we are crazy.

One of the locals told me an interesting fact. In earlier days in the village, there were no bikes people used to travel by bicycle only. As time change and people started shifting from cycle to motorbike. So then someone purchased a motorbike from the village all the small children used to get excited about it. Today’s scenario is different. There are a majority of bikes in the village and when someone travels to Village on bicycle children get excited and happy.

chill scene and mandatory pic

When we reach the for tea break halt it was 6 in the evening. The destination was only 24 km away. I was very thrilled to reach there. We got to know from people and organizers that the last 10km patch was really bad and the pickup truck will come for riders. After chilling on the roads for some time we decided to saddle. The remaining road except the one last patch was so beautiful and full of greenery. After the sunset it was dark and there were no lights in the village. That patch was really scary. Because you are riding on the left side in pitch dark view along with dealing with speedy vehicles. The tail and headlight of the cycle played a major role at that time. Also, It reminded me how important the role electricity plays in our day to day life and we tend to ignore the luxury that we get in the city. We are really fortunate to have such things. We managed to reach the point where we decided to stop and wait for the truck.

The beauty of cycling is such that if one keeps on saddling they can cover maximum distance as one gets the momentum. But if you stop for long-duration the flow breaks and that’s what happened. There were 6 trucks, 5 of them had bags of 500 participants and other things and they reached the destination. One truck was carrying people and it reached after 1-1.5 hours. The truck journey was really epic. One has to hold something in the truck for grip otherwise they will fall. The jerks from the not so awesome road were indeed painful than the distance that we covered. The truck journey took 30-40 minutes. Ideally, we should have reached in 14-20 minutes. We got to know that we lost the way. There was the road ahead with the tunnel but the size of the truck couldn’t fit in there. So we decided to cycle the remaining way and finally we reach Pandharpur.

I was so happy because it was an achievement for me. IAS had made a superb arrangement for stay and dinner. The stay arrangement was at Bhakt Niwas- a huge palace looking place with big clean rooms + shower and washroom facility. After the workout that’s all one needs. By the time I finished dinner it was around 11 o clock in the night I thought I will take Darshan To Vitthal temple the next day early in the morning as anyway, I had to get up 4.30 as the flag off for returning journey was around 5.15am.

Day 2

Day 2 On my way back to Pune from Pandharpur

I got up at 3.30-4am but thought let’s sleep for some half an more. But I slept and when I woke up again it was 6. I packed my stuff prepared cycle and started cycling around 6.45am.  I was behind by 1.5 hours and it was a huge margin. Sadly I couldn’t take the Vitthal Darshan. Knowing the direction and route map is very important. I got lost for around 15 minutes as I didn’t take the correct road. I asked local people that have they saw any cyclist as we wore one common orange jersey. Few people told yes they saw them an hour back when I was going on the direction then I asked again some said they didn’t see It was slightly panic moment but I tried not to get panic and kept myself calm. Then I asked one person who was working out I asked him which route goes to Pune. He guided me and I kept saddling. For 10-15 minutes in the morning, I was alone and then I heard someone calling my name. It one of the new friends that I met on the first day of the ride. I was so relieved and relax seeing Arun and others as it got me a sense of comfort and confidence that I was going on the right track. One lesson for me was knowing the route is very very important. In long-distance, every rider goes with their own speed. During these 2 days, I rode with the friends that, a new group of rider friends whom I met during an event, with some random stranger who is traveling on his bike & a local villager with cycle who accompanied me for some duration as he was heading towards the same direction. Riding with them taking to them added and a different experience altogether.  When I was riding alone I used a lot of self-talk and also with cycle (some will think that this is crazy but it works when you have to go for long duration). When I had neck pain during the ride I kept telling my self that distance is not so much. These conversations helped me a lot. The roads we traveled were a mixture of uphill and downhill that gave variation in the ride. I was fortunate that I didn’t have any puncture and it was a smooth ride for both the days. During the journey, may riders fixed the puncture on their own and I was amazed to see how easily they did the same on their own.

Hamilee, (Cycle) also needs a break in between the rides

By the time I reached for the lunch break, it was in the afternoon and had covered the distance of 101km. The first 80km was smooth but another 25km was a bit tiring. when I reached to the halt at ‘phaltan’ it was around 2.50pm. We had an amazing lunch and the food was so delicious it set energy level sky-high. Till 3 I managed to ride 105km and was about to saddle the remaining 100km but I was amongst the last guys to the venue. The organizers advised taking the truck lift to the next hydration point so everyone in the event would be in sync and can complete the journey on time
I happily agreed (HahahHa 😂😂) and when I reached the hydration stop there were strong winds. I witnessed such strong wind first time in my life and then it started raining heavily. It was risky riding in that weather condition So eventually we decided to stop cycling for the second half of the day.

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We reach Hadapsar in the night around 9-9.30pm. We said goodbye to all co-travelers and Ambarish and I decided to go back to Mumbai (by bus). We started cycling towards Pune station and one city cyclist guided us towards the station road. By the time we reached the station, it was 11.10pm. The in-charge person told us that the last bus left at 11 o clock. I was sad and disappointed that I had to wait until Monday morning. I and Ambarish made up our mind that it will be a matter of 6 hours and will spend the night in the waiting area. But Around 11.50 pm one shivenri bus came. I was very relieved and so happy to see that. We left Pune around 12 o’clock and reached Dadar around 3.30 am in the morning. We said goodbye to each other and I started cycling from Dadar to vile-parle. The roads in the night are so empty and cycling in wee hours adds different vibes altogether. I reached home around 5 o clock in the morning.

Overall I managed to saddle 200km in day one and 105.6 km in day 2
Overall 315km of cycling and I’m really happy about it.

I’m really glad that I could ride among some pro cyclists. Made new cyclists and friends like Arun, Sachin Sunil, Sanjay and many more!! Hope to attend many more events in the near future. I truly believe that I managed to complete the ride by god’s grace only.

Thank you, IAS. Jai Hari Vitthal!!

P S

Indo Athletic Society (IAS) the organizers are located in Pune and they managed this event flawlessly. Managing 500 participants is not at all easy task.  The hydration, food & logistics arrangement was on point. Total there were 6 trucks and 2 ambulance van for the entire ride.  Hats off to all the guys and riders associated with this group & thank you for such a lovely event.

My office colleague and family & friends gave the best wishes for the ride that meant a lot and motivated me for the ride. My manager Devanshi gave me the energy bar for the journey it was really a sweet gesture of her. My best friend Manoj gave me his power bank for the ride and told to share the live location in case of any help. Shriniwas offered me to take his bike for the ride he was very kind enough to do that. These small gestures not only help to achieve the set target but also makes a lot of big positive difference and it makes the journey memorable.