Rohan R. Rao

Some points that a stumbler would like to extract out of this post -

• Prepare your bike (bicycle) well before the ride
• Study the route to be undertaken for the bike ride and have a proper schedule charted
• Set realistic targets – or just beyond it
• Prepare well and try hard – but hot harder to achieve the target
• Chuck rigidity – Always be flexible with your plans; be prepared for a U-turn when deemed necessary
• Stay hydrated and have energy-rich food stuffs to munch on
• Keep in mind about the return journey

Now that you have required excerpts from the below-mentioned blog post – you may or may not want to read further -

My first weekend with the ACT is coming and I am really concerned about getting my front derailleur adjusted before weekend knocks. Well, I will get it done today or tomorrow and then my bigger concern would be finalising on a destination for the weekend ride.

I would be cycling long distance after a gap of many years and hence I wouldn’t be setting myself unrealistic targets – Malshej ghat surely is an unrealistic one.  So I will set myself a target of Naneghat milestone – around 60 kms from Kalyan. To and fro 120 kms – again seems unrealistic for me. Well, I will try and give it a shot – but I’ll also remember not to stress out too much and will be prepared for a u-turn whenever prudence gets the better of my grit.

The most important thing herein would be to start early and try and cover Murbad (30 kms) well before the Sun begins to get harsher – before 8.00 AM; I just cannot afford to start post 6.00 AM. After a refresher of no more than 15 minutes, I should try and cover the remaining distance in another 3/4 hours, considering that involves considerable up hill gradient. When the sun is shining hot overhead at around 12.30 – 1.00 AM I would have reached my target (hopefully) and would be totally exasperated.

I will have a relaxer and will thoroughly replenish myself with lot of fluids and some energy stuff before embarking on the return journey. Brimming my Camel-bak before the return journey is cardinal – I will be riding back in blazing heat and staying hydrated would be important, more so when I would be riding alone. I would most probably make it back in 8.00 PM.

I hope that the schedule works out well and that I can execute the planned stuff. The immediate task is to get the front derailleur adjusted tonight – prior to that wrap up the office work at my desk.

Cheers ~