Ride 4- IITB- Uran beach- IITB

Total distance=120Km.

Total time taken= 8.5 hours including breaks.

Route taken
IITB- EEH- Sion Panvel highway- Vashi- Palm beach road- JNPT road - Uran village.


Rider: Sangeeth (Solo ride).

A description of ride

The ride commenced by 5.00am from IIT-B. This was my first experience of solo riding over such a long distance. Being a novice, I was extra prepared regarding many aspects of this ride.

• Firstly, I set up a SOS alert system with three of my friends. Since the ride route was premeditated, it was agreed that I would sent text messages to each of them about my condition when I reached certain already discussed checkpoints/ every 2 hours whichever was earlier.
• I had extra tools(allen keys, chain tool), spare tubes(2 nos) and pedals for any unforeseen difficulties.
• I included yogurt, white rice, oranges to my usual on-ride supplies of dates, raisins, chocolates, nutrition bar, biscuits, bananas etc. Trust me, they help big time.

As always, early morning rides are the fastest due to high energy content in my body and low traffic on the city roads. In 1.5 hours, I was at Vashi. My first set back arrived when I lost a water bottle(mixed with glucose!) as I navigated a dangerous bridge joint on Vashi bridge at relatively high speed. Though I searched for it unsuccessfully for some time on the road, I decided to move on without it and use my stocks wisely till shops start opening on the Sunday morning. 

The road turned  cleaner as I took a hoop turn from Vashi towards Palm beach road. Palm beach road is more like a expressway with elite residential complexes sprinkled around . On one side all along this road you have mangroves adjoining the roads. There was a pleasant peaceful atmosphere all around. At some point on the road, the peaceful silence gave away to loud disco music blaring from a programme organized by Times of India. A section of the road was barricaded and set free for people to use as play park (such is the elegance of the urban planning of our cities!). I rested here for a while observing all this rich people with privileges to block a public road and play badminton on it!

The road block at Palm beach road

Before I finished Palm beach road, I encounter a building which reinstills in me the idea that 'not all Indian government buildings are ratholes'- The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation headquarters. Surprisingly it also happens to be India's first 'green' government building ( with two bronze lions being probably the only security arrangements around! ).

Sometimes governments can get artistic about their buildings

After Palm beach road, the populace suddenly sublimates from rich to poor.  Its the land of truck drivers. For acres and acres all that you see are trucks and cargo containers. As I join the JNPT road, the roads once again widen and marshy barren lands spread out on both sides as far as my eyes could reach. By taking a quick short cut across a railway track at Karal near Jaskhar(which a local suggested), I cut across into Uran highway(NH 54) saving few kilometers of riding through a U turn.

Land of cargoes

A quite misleading factor which appeared out of nowhere was this huge hill on the canvass towards my left which made me ask " Could a beach exist near such a huge hill?". I blamed my geography skills and continued riding.

Confusing hill

After riding few more kilometers I reached the Uran village. Coming from an  world where 'junctions are intersections of roads adorned by traffic lights', it was surprising that in this part of the country junctions were places where people met, cacophony ensued and bazaars packed themselves up till the point of singularity of three dimensions .

Some things are still old school at Uran

Finally, Uran beach awaited me with her dirty looks and ugly smiles. 

Uran- another dirty beach?

While a small rest at Uran beach

My return journey had more to do with my will power than with the my health or the bike itself. I realized half an hour into the ride that I was tired and exhausted. My thighs were aching and knee joins grimacing. The sun was slowly roasting my flesh like on a barbeque feast. At some point it struck me " What the hell am I doing? Am I insane to cycle all this way alone to some strange part of the country?". What was more frightening was the notion of distances I had to cover before I reached back. The gargantuan distances that lay ahead of me demotivated me the most. I realized that I was failing at the mission. 

I realized that the only way I would ever get successful was by stop worrying and start focusing on one pedal at a time. I set shorter goals and reward systems to keep myself motivated. I sang loud along with my music playlist. It was a crazy phase of the ride when I was a different person all together- someone bordering insanity. On some later introspections, I realized that this was a much needed lesson for my PhD too.

After some time, the pain stopped and my worries ebbed. I simply kept pedaling at my own pace as if I had no particular deadline to keep. I was essentially touring. I started enjoying the experience of watching the country side passing by unhurriedly. I even treated myself to a burger and huge cup of vanilla icecream with chocolate toppings.  

Sometimes Ice creams can be great motivators in life

In the evening after the ride, as I sat popping beers and munching delicious chicken legs on a celebratory note, I realized how deeply memorable that day would be in the pages of my cycling adventures.

Lesson learned: Solo cycling can be a whole new ball game where you get to test your will power and fight your strangest demons.

Acknowledgements

I thank Deepak Malani deeply for his intent to push me beyond the borders of my comfort zone. Like he often repeats " How good is a friend who doesn't occasionally land you in trouble"?. Thanks for the quagmire buddy.