First Century Ride on Hybrid – Part 2

Ride to Lonavala is a concluding post on my first century ride.

Post ride to Kapurhol, I decided for a rehearsal ride to Lonavala which is around 120 km from my place to and fro and I planned it for a Sunday on 9th April 2017.

After effects of Swimming Class

Around the same time, I also got enrolled for swimming classes around 2nd April at Society’s swimming pool. I considered it to be an alternate aerobic exercise to further strengthen my leg muscles. The first two days i.e 2nd April and 4th April, the focus was primarily on breathing exercise while on day 3, i.e, 7th April the instructor introduced me to some leg exercises as I was not able to get into the lotus pose to kick from the hip but instead was kicking from the knee.

On the morning of 8th April, I felt some violent contraction of muscle on the leg going up to the butt area and some portion of the back producing little contortion in the right limb. I ignored the pain as it wasn’t that severe but repetitive. I was excited for the next day ride to Lonavala.

Preparation for ride to Lonavala

It was to be my first long ride and eventually the first-century one. I checked my bike and tightened some loose screws/nuts and filled the air in both the tires. Enerzal, Banana, Apple and Dry fruits all were ready to be loaded. Having changed the tire and tube very recently and with no flat tires in recent past, I was high on my confidence level.

Next day morning, I got up around 0330 hrs and with some warm up exercises and getting a quick morning snack, I left home around 0445 hrs sharp and started the ride around 0453 hrs.

On the Way to Lonavala

And what a great feeling it was to start a day little before 0500 hrs, full of excitement bubbling inside while calm and serene nature at its best outside.

The road up to Vadgaon was now known and felt like I was cruising little more than normal in the first couple of hours. I took my first break at Kiwale junction for stretching and to sip some water.

After crossing Vadgaon, I felt some pain in my right leg especially thigh muscle, a similar pull that spread up to my butts that I faced in July last year. But I ignored it and continued pedaling. Mind was in a different emotional zone today.

With comfortable pace, I moved steadily and reached Kamshet upslope. I took another break before the Kamshet climb for an enerzal drink and munched some dry fruits.

Aggravated Pain

When I climbed the slope, the pain got aggravated a little bit. I was pedaling and pushing my limits with extra efforts now. Though I was able to push the pedals, it was pinching and very much uncomfortable feeling while on the saddle. I was still around 18 km away from the destination.

Just then a herd of motorcyclists went past, it was the HOG for their weekly rides. The HOG riders reminded me of earlier rides on CBZ (apologies for the comparison) but early morning rides on a two wheeler with the speed the machine can offer is beyond expressions.

The HOG riders zooming with staggered formation further inspired me. The intensity of the pain somewhat faded with such positive vibrations around and I decided to go slow and made a point to celebrate incremental milestones on the way to the final destination.

By the time I reached Karla I was feeling uncomfortable but even then I decided to reach the ‘0’ milestone at Lonavala somehow as it was the only thought hovering around the mind.

When I stopped to check the ride status, I realized Strava app crashed on account of network connectivity. Getting down from the cycle and seating back on saddle further aggravated the pain making it more difficult for me. The pain in the knee especially patella region was hurting a lot.

“No pain without gain”, I said and hopped onto the saddle for the last mile.

“0” milestone at Lonavala

With stabbing discomfort in the knee area, I somehow reached Lonavala ‘0’ road milestone. With no one to celebrate along and Strava untimely renouncing, I looked at my watch and checked the time. It displayed 0735 and I was little shocked. Shocked because I covered a lot more distance than I anticipated. It was a great insight of covering around 60 odd km in less than 2:45:00 including breaks and little slower speed after Kamshet climb in spite of knee and back pain.

But returning back to Pune seemed next to impossible, a daunting task for me.

I started exploring options for getting the cycle in a local train, calling a friend with a four wheeler from Pune, renting a tempo to carry the bicycle all the way to home and much more. When you are in trouble, you get multiple options which are easy but not the right ones.

Feeling of Giving up the Ride

Just a thought of getting back on the saddle was pulling me back mentally and every crawling moment was directing me to give up.

And that’s precisely I didn’t want to do.

“Feed the stomach than the mind”, inner soul said and I agreed to the suggestion.

I got down from the cycle and started walking to calm my fickle mind.

The sumptuous treat to myself included a vada pav breakfast (Yes!, after a pretty long time) followed by tea and some biscuits. I charged myself and called my wife. I informed her about my riding experience and also that I was on my return journey.

It was almost 0805 hrs now. I started slow.

Return Ride

After 10-15 minutes of the ride, I reached Karla and wanted to take a break. After getting down stretched my body and explored scenery around. While getting back on saddle, I lowered the cycle maximum possible to put my leg on the other side. I did it with much toil and strain and somehow started to pedal again, half of running thoughts worried about completing the ride. The patch of plain roads was still manageable though with agonizing back ache and the increased knee pain.

The strategy changed as per the varying terrain, road conditions and the sun’s position over the sky. Whenever I encountered an upslope climb wherein it required to pedal hard even on low gears, I decided and preferred to walk than being on the saddle. It worked for while but for how long I was not sure. I hopped back on the saddle.

Intermittent Breaks

The moment I saw the bridge just after crossing the Bisleri Kamshet Plant, I got down and pulled cycle on the side. I decided to give up. I know the increased level of pain will not allow me to pedal back home.

The solution was to be found now since body started giving discouraging signals while the mind still in the fighting mode. I decided to climb the slope on foot.

Sometime later, I walked for a little while and then without a second thought called Sushant, my brother in law who resides in Pimaple Gurav with his friends.

Calling for Help

I realized it was Sunday and he must not have got up early today. It was 0830 hrs when I looked at my watch but then he was the only one who could provide the required support. I tried the second time but no response.

He responded during my third attempt and sounded weary, “Hello….” as if woken up with a jolt.

Before he could say anything, I explained him my situation. Getting the XUV so that I can put the cycle in the boot and travel back to Pune was the only option, I told him.

“I will keep walking towards Pune and call me once you reach Somatane toll plaza”, said I and hung the call. I got up on the saddle to push the knees once again.

Increased Pain Now

The struggle continued for next 15 minutes.

I got down on the next slope just near the Crossway where one road passes adjacent to Indrayani river towards Kamshet railway station. The pain was starkly unbearable as I walked up the terrain. After a little while, I got a sigh of relief when I saw the downhill. I got back on the saddle and felt so relieved rolling down the hill. Kamshet was conquered.

Next destination was now Vadgaon, another 10 km from this place. I called up my wife and told her that she may expect Sushant asking for the XUV keys. I told her about my condition and she sounded worried. She promised to coordinate with Sushant and update me.

I made my journey traversing the way up to Vadgaon, while I kept pedaling intermittently with increased pain in the back now.

When I called up Sushant to check on his whereabouts, I realized, he was yet to reach home to get the 4 wheeler keys. I wanted to tell him that I would be waiting for him at Vadgaon.

Last leg of Painful Journey

With a resolute air and nothing exciting to do till Sushant turns up, I mounted myself back on the saddle and rode ahead towards Somatane toll plaza now. The knee pain traversing to the back while riding made it little long every passing second and every meter that I pedaled.

My eyes filled with hopes when I finally approached Somatane toll plaza. The summer heat was now scorching a bit even at this hour but fortunately, I was still up with my stock of the enerzal, water, and some dry fruits. I was further relieved since the road had a downward slope and I managed to stay in the saddle for some more time.

Help on the Way

When I reached the Dehu road junction for the right turn towards Mumbai-Bangalore bypass, I called up my wife this time to check if Sushant reached home to collect the keys.

Body cells got recharged and rejuvenated with a new life when she said, “he left 20 minutes back. He is already on his way to pick you”.

I called up Sushant to know where exactly he was.

“I have crossed the Hinjewadi flyover and somewhere near hotel Sayaji but don’t know how to reach the old Pune-Mumbai highway”, He admitted with a timid sound. Of course, he never explored this part of Pune and was unaware of the geography after Wakad.

“Just follow the straight road and don’t take any turns”, I guided him. “And stop at the juncture where the road turns left for the expressway”, I continued.

“Ok”, he nodded in agreement.

Sigh of Relief

The last leg of the pedal on saddle started with some a positive thought of getting some aid finally.

I kept pedaling with the excruciating pain in the leg and realized that this time I was unconsciously generating power from my left leg only. Right leg was in an inoperative state with its capability to generate power literally become defunct and just followed the pedal movement all the way.

Somehow, I reached Kiwale junction much before Sushant could reach. I finally decided to get down as I couldn’t manage to pedal. I sipped some water and looked at my watch, it clocked 1130 hrs.

Just then I saw a familiar looking vehicle slightly slowing down heading towards me with Sushant on the driver seat. “Ah, finally the support is now available”, I felt ebullient just the sight of the XUV that uplifted my spirits.

Extreme Painful but Excited

“I can still go after a couple of kilometers before I retire hurt”, an inner voice said.

Since strava app was still showing errors, I checked on google maps how much distance I had covered by now and it displayed 101.2 km.

“This is good enough”, the inner voice responded back.

Sushant helped me put the cycle back in XUV and then safely took me back home.

Was I happy? Definitely YES.

The feeling of getting retired hurt was there but same time I was equally contented to complete the first-century ride in the given circumstances and most importantly without giving up.

I decided to come back and nail this route fully on the saddle in my next attempt. And I did complete it later on 14th May after a month long physiotherapy sessions and some medication. Glad to share the statistics below.

Happy Cycling!!!

Anand Kumbhare

Takeways