Hyderabad Randonneurs -
Audax Centenary 200K BRM: 11 Sep 2021
A Personal Account by PV Sivaram, AIR #0957
First things first; That an enormous cycling event of this magnitude requires a huge amount of planning, tremendous coordination, willing and highly committed volunteer team and an implementation on ground on the D day is a given. Proof of the pudding is in the eating, as they say- Verdict is out and and it is unanimous - it was an experience nonpareil as vociferously vouched by each and every rider who chose to be on the saddle on this momentous occasion. So the organisers can and rightly should feel immensely proud on what they achieved. And the riders can keep recollecting their ride, those unforgettable brevet moments of 11 Sep 2021, with great fondness and nostalgia for a long time to come (and for a moment, without a tinge of sadness associated with this notorious date in history).
Having been quite irregular in cycling over an year, thanks to COVID (that favourite whipping boy for all the stuff one very much wanted to do but wouldn’t) and totally out of brevet riding, I couldn’t say an outright yes, when Rajeev (Rajeev Kalva, the face of Hyderabad Randonneurs) called up and asked me to ride the Centenary Brevet. But couldn’t resist the temptation and started going for rides of forties and fifties just to gauge myself. Did a couple of Narsapurs too to get feel of longer stretches and, to let a secret out, finally a solo full route too (albeit, initially declared one) and soon it was a no brainer to opt in considering the great opportunity to link up once again with the innumerable fellow randonneurs of my earlier two dozen odd brevets.
It’ll be a mega understatement to say that atmosphere at the start point, St Martins Engineering College, was just festive; parking lot full to the brim (rode to the event, so not applicable to me), football field filled with cyclists with more pouring in (quite a number being cheered on by family members), huge dais with music blaring out, intermittently stopped for friendly announcements and the whole place agog with excitement. Stations for bike check, brevet card entry and finally a QR code scan to make an entry to starting zone were all manned with volunteers and the transition was just seamless. Wisely, staggered timings were put in place- a six’o clock and a six thirty start- first one hundred twenty five riders being on the earlier start and the rest later. Over 270 riders registered (full list : https://www.audaxindia.in/event-e-5405 Fellow Riders tab ), including a sizeable number from outstations, a mammoth number by any standards and just goes on to show how popular randonneuring has become over a period of time. Water and plantains were there for taking at start zone and so was time to catch up other riders. Got an opportunity exchange hellos with Gautham Narne, Paddy, Sai Harsha Kalburge and the legendary Dr Adalat Ali (who would be completing 1,00,000 km - yes, one Lakh kilometers of cycling during this event). Route briefing was going on through the audio system, but not many were paying attention.
Dot at six am the ride was formally flagged off by Shri Laxman Reddy, President St Martin group of Institutes, who besides making the whole premises available to the Hyderabad Randonneurs, encourages and supports all types of sporting events. Up on the saddle and off to a start in a crowd, pedaled a little harder just to wean away. Kompally fly-over, ORR junction and Medchal soon pass by (complete route : https://www.audaxindia.in/route-card.php and https://ridewithgps.com/routes/37404700 ). Ideal conditions for cycling - cool breeze, a bit cloudy and rolling terrain. Some speedsters zip past me with a nod of head or a wave of hand- I stuck to medium to high pace just to enjoy the thrill of breeze rushing onto face as well as exploit conditions and fresh legs. Vehicular traffic started to thin down and only risk was of two wheelers coming on the wrong side, so was watchful of them.
In a 200km brevet, as experienced many times, first fifty goes off in a jiffy, second fifty is sheer momentum based, third fifty is a bit of drag and last fifty is a challenge and will power based (a sort of reversal to Rohit Sharma’s batting). True to this before one realised one was at first Check Point, CP1 (69.6 Km from start point), Aadhya Grand Family Restaurant to the welcome beats booming out from the big screen mounted on the side of a minivan. Friendly volunteers did their bit. Met up with Krishna Kunam, Rajesh Krishnamaneni and Sunder Kumar Ravella all super riders of repute. Quick refill of water bottles- add on glucose in one and FastUp tablets in the other and on the road again skipping breakfast as sandwiches from home were just enough for me.
Off the highway, onto the Medak Road and with surroundings turning more scenic, ride becomes a lot more enjoyable. Still solo but not for long. At a railway crossing, Rajendra Prasad Boddapati (Raju) joins up with me and we start riding together and conversing. An engineer from Osmania, Raju is 55 and is at a senior level in a firm dealing with nano satellites. We discuss satellites a bit, generally shoot the breeze and going becomes a lot more smoother- reach turn point towards Pocharam, proceed ahead, ride on under canopy of trees for a while, land up at CP2, Pocharam Wildlife Sanctuary (102.4 Km) by about 10.40 AM. Half the distance in under five hours was kinda good going! Eager volunteers do the formalities quickly, lunch was on offer- tasty curd rice was gulped down while catching up with Naveen Kommukuri, Sandeep Vanga, Vamseedhar Bezawada- all friends of yore.
Back on the saddle again at about 11.10 AM and with adequate rest, going was good, initially- lot of riders coming up in opposite direction for their rendezvous at CP2 - pass through Medak (115 Km) - guide couple of riders looking lost as to the whereabouts of CP2- pleasantly surprised by the water and drink refreshment point on the outskirts of Medak. Gladly hydrated and got onto the task ahead.
With Sun no more under the clouds, midday heat coupled with a bit of head wind and gradual and seemingly never ending up-slopes make the ride a bit challenging. One might think if there was uphill then there must a down hill too so what’s the big deal- put in effort to go up the gradient but sure to roll down later- but it doesn’t work that way I guess, so called ‘downhill’ when coupled with other elements for a tired rider is simply an absence of uphill and a prequel to another climb-up. But negotiate one must- only with more hydration, frequent stops, if at all. So we take stretch breaks at a road side Kirana shop (130 Km)- where cool drinks were no more cool, as the riders ahead snapped up all the refrigerated stuff. Another brief stopover at a petrol pump (150 Km) for a bio break and water and then it was CP3, BVRIT College (161.8 Km). Well, that sixty kilometer stretch of Medak - BVRIT was something.
An array of spread of fruit juices, plantains, biscuits, fruit cakes and butter milk await at CP3 and volunteer team headed by Vijay Viswanadha had more than pampered us with all the goodies. Got to meet Prakash Sankhla after a long time and exchanged notes. Nice extended break at BVRIT, charged up and onto the home stretch. Traffic on the road moderate, monkeys quite grouped up all along forest patch- trick is not to look at them in the eye in order to obviate their threat of a pounce at you- and it being Saturday, lots of visitors at the Narsapur Forest Urban Park, looking at the puffing and huffing riders amusedly. Self and Raju continue the ride and negotiate the uphills, roll downs as long as they lasted, later dangerous two wheelers on the wrong side in the populated areas of Shapur Nagar, Domadugu, Gogillapur, and soon at ORR (190.2 Km)- took another stretch break on my insistence (though Raju, terrific rider that he is, wasn't exactly in need of it).
Bad patch of road, once off Medak Highway towards Kompally (195 Km), as cautioned abundantly, lived upto its ill-reputation. Despite being an important connecting road between two major highways, little attention is paid to improve it. Jostling for space and saving ourselves from crushed stones, potholes and other pitfalls we finally make it the finish point, St Martin Engineering College (200.2 Km), but not before Raju discovers a rear wheel flat just about a hundred meters short of finish line.
Finish point zone was abuzz with plenty of activity. Clapping for the incoming riders, finishers medal being presented by the lovely school kids, plenty of refreshments, photo op with elegantly designed archway, zippy music blasting out and rider community ready to mingle. One is more than happy to finish a very special brevet.
Before signing off, I must express whole hearted gratitude to Hemanth, Rajeev, Krishna, Vijay and the entire team of organizing committee of Hyderabad Randonneurs, whole bunch of volunteers (extremely sorry for not knowing them personally) who time, energy and put in so much into it to ensure this event go with clock work precision and made it truly exceptional. So once again a big Thank you.
PS: Please do visit: https://www.facebook.com/HyderabadRandonneurs/ for all pics, videos and more.
