Long Bike Ride

This Sunday past, I took my longest cycling ride ever. I started from home at 530 AM and reached home at 12 Noon, having covered 83 KM on the cycle in the interim. It was a scenic ride through villages and pristine nature outside Bangalore. In that sense, cycling is very similar to paragliding that I used to do in Mumbai- in both cases, I am in a machine that doesn't intrude between me and the environment...no mechanized noises, no smoke...just the sound of air rushing past me.

The route was interesting also from the challenges offered: mostly undulating, with a 15 KM steep stretch on the way back that convinced me that Bangalore is a hill station! Some parts were too steep to pedal, so I had to get down and walk. I have a new found respect for the athletes who participate in the Tour De France, a 3500 KM, 21 day bike race that has a quite a bit of Alpine climbing as part of it.

Took 5 hours of biking time, which translates to an average of 16 Kmph, which isnt too bad. I am now looking forward to my next such ride, whenever that is.