[ringoism]

Yesterday was my first morning back in the saddle after injuring my knee... I'd gone up the river on foot the two previous days to collect some (waterlogged and heavy) firewood... first day at that work completed with no pain, second day first trip absolutely fine, and second trip my knee got bad again... I kinda know my body though, and that once it's on the heal, things tend to improve quickly and not get significantly re-injured... or so it has normally been.

So felt fine the next day, rested some, and following morning proceeded to the high point of my usual loop, albeit by a new and very different route...

Village link road turned into a little lane in the midst of the apple orchards



...then to a cement footpath



...and then something too narrow (with stacked-roundstone walls on either side) to get my pedals between... So carried it for a couple hundred meters to the next paved road... the steep shortcut/bypass to Palchan which I normally coast down but this time pedaled slowly up.

The new 34T "Megarange" freewheel on back made it all quite do-able, though in truth I could probably go a bit lower and am looking forward to a 22T small ring up front as soon as I can procure one.

All in all encouraging, and am sincerely thanking God my earlier folly didn't end up haunting me for months or even for life. Two weeks of pain was enough to teach me the lesson I needed to learn, I suppose...

Doing some exercises for knee strengthening now and plan to keep doing them indefinitely.

Not sure I'll ever be able to do Rohtang, but hope I can build up to significantly more than what I'm doing now.

-Eric

[dragntailonfire]

WE GOT TRACK YO! WE GOT CYCLING TRACK! WE GOT CYCLING TRACK IN FREAKIN THIRUVANANTHAPURAM!

Saw it last week, but today I stopped to click some pics.







But in typical Indian fashion, saw several cars parked over some section of the track. TBH, I don't blame them. These were traditional parking spots. I have also parked in some of the spots, occasionally.
These pesky cyclists ruining everything for motorists.


Is this a pan India initiative? I see the Aazadi ka Amrit Mahothsav logo on the banners.

[amol4184]

Did my longest ride, and right in middle of the day. Plenty of stops, and had to buy water bottles twice. A detour to visit final resting place of Sharif Raje turned into an off road ride. Hopefully no punctures and cruised home safely. Got so tanned, my friend with whom I had gone for a jog same morning couldn't recognize me and said its like I am seeing you after years.








Kittens were nonchalant.

[AutoIndian]

Originally Posted by amol4184

Did my longest ride, and right in middle of the day.

Congratulations Amol on completing your longest ride

This weekend, it was no cycling for me but a trek to Tikona fort (near Pavana dam) & then spend some quality time with friends on a night out. Clicked hundreds pics, but sharing just a few over here, which according to me stand apart.

[amol4184]

Originally Posted by AutoIndian

This weekend, it was no cycling for me but a trek to Tikona fort (near Pavana dam) & then spend some quality time with friends on a night out. Clicked hundreds pics, but sharing just a few over here, which according to me stand apart.


Attachment 2214635

Thanks, and fantastic pictures! The last one is best of the lot. How is the climb? Difficult?

[AutoIndian]

Originally Posted by amol4184

Thanks, and fantastic pictures! The last one is best of the lot. How is the climb? Difficult?

It doesn't take more than an hour to reach the top from the base. However the climb is very risky as the passage is so narrow at most of the places that only one person can pass at a time. On one side is the rock patch and other side is deep valley, so one has to be very careful. Rains and water flowing over the rocks made the steps very slippery. But the breath taking views from the top was worth taking the risk.

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by amol4184

Did my longest ride, and right in middle of the day. Plenty of stops, and had to buy water bottles twice. A detour to visit final resting place of Sharif Raje turned into an off road ride. Hopefully no punctures and cruised home safely. Got so tanned, my friend with whom I had gone for a jog same morning couldn't recognize me and said its like I am seeing you after years.

Very good but please be careful not to overdo it in the October heat. Very easy to get a heat stroke on the open highway with zero shade.

[Mi10]

Originally Posted by amol4184

Did my longest ride, and right in middle of the day. Plenty of stops, and had to buy water bottles twice.

Great going but as they say riding in heat can suck the life out of you ! If you are anyway stopping to buy water bottles, consider stopping for coconut water as well. It replenishes lost body salts due to fatigue and also cools your body. This might not be needed if you are riding in early morning or evening but definitely recommended in mid day / high heat rides

[Mi10]

Here are couple from yesterdays rain hit ride







On Saturday ran a 10k with timing chip (nearly after 30 months) and got a decent time as well!

[dragntailonfire]

Morning beach ride.

[amol4184]

Originally Posted by ebonho

Very good but please be careful not to overdo it in the October heat. Very easy to get a heat stroke on the open highway with zero shade.

Yes, will keep that in mind. It is rather humid (100% per the weather reports) and that saps a lot of energy. Going to have Glucon-D in another bottle.

Originally Posted by Mi10

Great going but as they say riding in heat can suck the life out of you ! If you are anyway stopping to buy water bottles, consider stopping for coconut water as well. It replenishes lost body salts due to fatigue and also cools your body. This might not be needed if you are riding in early morning or evening but definitely recommended in mid day / high heat rides

Good point! But coconut-wallahs are a rare sight here. I do see small stalls selling orange and other juices. Or just carry ORS pouches?

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by amol4184

Yes, will keep that in mind. It is rather humid (100% per the weather reports) and that saps a lot of energy. Going to have Glucon-D in another bottle.

Good point! But coconut-wallahs are a rare sight here. I do see small stalls selling orange and other juices. Or just carry ORS pouches?

Any fluid is good. Obviously not Thums Up! Old habit from my BRM days was to carry a small pishvi of rock salt in my saddlebag. In a pinch just stop at any dhabha and ask him for some sugar and salt and mix it in your bottle, as well as gulp down a glass of it while doing so. When the cramps start it's already too late. You will not recover from there and will keep cramping (very painfully) every 50-100 meters

[narayanang76]

Originally Posted by amol4184

Or just carry ORS pouches?

ORS has worked good for me and I feel its more convenient than creating our own drink for the ride. I keep ORS mixed in one bottle and other bottle having normal water. I also carry one extra ORS sachet with me, just in case. The ORS sachets bought from medical stores.

Some of my friends use FastnUp mixed in their drinks.

[promit]

Mid week ride 😃.

[vb-saan]

Morning ride – just short of 72kms.