Tour-of-Nilgiris-2016 on Sauvik Biswas

Day 9: Epilogue: Back to Bangalore

Sat, 24 Dec 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Today, I woke up with a sore throat. I am happy that it happened after TfN was over. Most of us are leaving for Bangalore at 10 am. I will collect my bike at Taj, Yeshwantpur and go home.

Here are my thoughts on the whole experience.

A note about the organisers and volunteers #

I am yet to see a tour better organised than this. If the notion of a guided tour springs to your mind, please throw that notion away. The organisers and volunteers worked day and night to make sure that our rides are safe (there was an ICU on wheels and doctors on patrol), signs on the road were painted to help us out at the crossings (so that we do the Tour of Nilgiris and not a detour of Nilgiris), extra hydration and electrolytes were stocked with with official motorbikes and four-wheelers, food, water, drinks and physiotherapy support were available at each support station, and we had prepared food and shelter (with our luggage all ready) once we had exhausted ourselves to reach the day’s destination. Also, there were the camera guys and girls who went around shooting innumerable photographs and videos.

Day 8: Valparai to Pollachi (and then to Coimbatore)

Fri, 23 Dec 2016 00:00:00 +0000

One final luggage drop, one final briefing, one final climb #

We were asked to get ready for breakfast and drop our luggage by 7:00 am. Satish gave the day’s briefing and sang a song.

Siddharth packing his bags for one last time. This had become our daily routine.

Satish briefed us about the day, the cut-off times at each support station and stuff we had to do after we reached Pollachi.

Day 7: Palakkad to Valparai

Thu, 22 Dec 2016 00:00:00 +0000

A constant uphill #

Palakkad heat was uncomfortable even at 7 O’Clock in the morning. The temperature wasn’t that high but the humidity made me slightly uneasy. We had a challenging course ahead. After dropping off my luggage and having a sub-par breakfast, I patiently waited for the trip to start. I did not want to bear the brunt of the heat.

Riders getting ready for a long day.

Day 5: Ooty to Thiashola and back

Wed, 21 Dec 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Before the round trip #

I woke up quite early and felt rejuvenated after the much needed rest day. The weather was also very good and the sky was clear.

The beautiful sunrise in Ooty

Yesterday, Amit Goyal, a fellow rider had lent me his spare bottle. It was one of the most useful things somebody had lent me in the entire ride. I need at least one and half litres of fluids in forty kilometres, roughly the distance between two support stations.

Day 6: Ooty to Palakkad

Wed, 21 Dec 2016 00:00:00 +0000

A deadly descend #

After three days at Hotel Accord, I was already sick of the food. It’s not that it was bad. On the contrary, they had served excellent meals. The problem is that I had to cycle after having all that food. I kept a Digene (Aluminium and Magnesium Hydroxide tablet) in my mouth and sucked it for he first ten minutes of my ride.

I did not make yesterday’s mistake of bearing the cold with just my cycling jersey. The temperature was 7 degrees when we left. I wore my jacket and scarf. Still, the chill, and the constant drop-handle position made my fingers numb frequently. I got down from my bike at least thrice to warm them up and restore circulation.

Day 3: Kalpetta to Ooty

Mon, 19 Dec 2016 00:00:00 +0000

A late start #

Kalpetta was fully covered with dense fog. Nothing was visible outside the hotel. After a brief session of cleaning my drivetrain, I sat down and waited for the flag-off. We started at 8:00 am.

The riders waited for a long time for the flag-off!

We passed the beautiful tea plantations multiple times at multiple places.

Day 4: Rest day at Ooty

Mon, 19 Dec 2016 00:00:00 +0000

The official photoshoot and the red jerseys #

There was an official photoshoot in the morning. We also got to know the Kings and Queens of Kalahatty. The Queen of Kalahatty, Lena, is an impressive rider. She rides a Surly steel racer and rides hills like its a piece of cake. The King of Kalahatty, KKR, was in tears while receiving the red jersey.

Lena receiving her Red Queen of Kalahatty jersey.

Day 2: Mysore to Kalpetta

Sat, 17 Dec 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Flag-off and the importance of being safe #

We started at around 7 today. Before that we had to deposit our luggage by 5:30 pm. We had about 1 hr 30 mins to take care of our bikes. I had already degreased and lubed by drivetrain yesterday. I pumped my tyres up and I was good to go.

Bikes parked at the basement.

During flag-off Satish reiterated about the importance of safety. Yesterday, Mayuri, one of the riders, had a crash and had to be taken to the hospital. Although the injury wasn’t that bad but she had some muscle inflammation. After diagnosis, she was ordered complete bed rest for the rest of the week. She would be flying off to Delhi.

Day 1: Bangalore to Mysore

Fri, 16 Dec 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Re-check and Flag Off #

I had to leave at 4:00 am in the morning in order to make it to Taj Yeshwantpur in time to drop off my luggage. Luckily Mogit was with me and taking care of some of the logistics became easier with the extra pair of hands. The race organisers fitted our bikes with the bib number.

The luggage van that left at 5:30. I received my stuff at Mysore once I had checked into the hotel. Also visible are cyclists doing last minute check-ups and race organisers fastening bibs to the cycle. My bib number is 80.

Day 0: A preparation and a briefing

Thu, 15 Dec 2016 00:00:00 +0000

An unusual source of motivation #

Let me put the most obvious thing out first - I don’t think that I have trained enough for this tour. The reason why I had decided to participate in this tour can be attributed to the blogs of Mr. Venkateswara Rao Navasi (also known as Lord Venky or BikeyVenky). He has participated in all TfNs since 2011. You have to look no further but visit www.govenkygo.com and read through the December entries of the respective years to get a feel of what to expect.