THE RIDE! (THE FIRST 400 IN INDIA)

my house had 5-6 randonneurs and their bikes and equipment and food preparations littering it the previous night.

early morning gathering in front of Pune University gate. riders exchange greetings, joke and josh and check out each other's new mounts and gear!

old experienced randonneurs giving advice to newbies!! trilok in his shiny new pro-suit with the super powers!!

a grey gloomy wet ride all the way! kept looking at the direction the trees and crops had bent and hoping that something would stop the south-west monsoon wind from blowing right into us when we turned around!!
at the 2nd 100 km check point, socialising, exchanging war-stories while sipping on hot chai!!

An experienced randonneur shows us how to do it!!

ah food.... at the turn point at gangapur phata, 202 kms!! of course we over ate and regretted it later when we mounted up to turn back!

getting ready to leave, oil the drive-train, stretch, check lights etc......

and GO!!

into the darkening sky!! and the relentless wind! that just did not let up for even a minute all the way back!! at some point i found myself having to pedal in a LOW gear on a down slope!! aaauuurrrghhh!!

the wind and the chill took it's toll and 3-4 riders dropped out within the next 60 kms!

quick check on lights etc just before we leave a roadside dhaba. riding in the night without a break was by far a very very taxing experience. every moment of the way back i wanted to give up. i looked at every surface of road, pavement, grass, anything to lie down on!! finally we did snooze for just 10 mins on a pile of concrete blocks no less!! buddying up was the only thing that kept me going! i don't know if i could have done it alone, even from a safety point of view, we had some drunk motorcyclists ride along asking us questions!! for the most part though people along the way were most accommodating, curious and full of awe for our venture!

Early morning! the ride had taken it's toll! i know that i was emotionally ravaged too from the ride and it took this much time to be able to write with some objectivity!

and not just on riders! the bikes were in a dismal, squeeky, scrunchy mud encrusted state. in spite of our fatigue the next few days were spent giving T.L.C. (tender loving care) to the cycles!

AND YET WE WILL RIDE AGAIN!! 600.... HERE WE COME!