03. The Mighty 600 BRM -by Samanyu K
I had decided to do a 600 BRM on a whim and registered only 4 days prior to the event. I was relatively an inexperienced rider (being only a few months into cycling) - with a 300km under my belt previously,hence I knew I didn't have much time to improve my physical endurance so I decided to plan well and improve my mental endurance.
Plan: I divided the entire ride into 4 segments of 150kms each. My plan was to ride the first 150km in good speed with an average of >20km/hr- where the roads were gentle and the temperatures still mild( with intermediate breaks @ 63km, 111km and 150 km marks respectively). I knew that the first half of my second 150km segment would be a challenge with winds and the sun so i wanted to keep my cadence high and waited till the sun came down to reach the half way mark by 11 PM.I decided to catch some sleep at this point and use the night time to cover maximum distance before fatigue sets and reach the 400 mark. I was prepared for the final 200km which was the most gruelling part of the ride with winds,slopes,heat and sleep deprivation.I wanted to keep my average speed at 15km/hr at these final stretch to keep thinghs smooth. I was mentally prepared with this plan. My hydration mantra was to "sip every 15mins and have a bite every 40mins with a salt capsule"
Preparation: From my previous 300km night ride, I realised that sleep deprived riding was the biggest set back for me. Hence I knew I had to practise night riding and i did exactly that. As my cycle was due for a service I completed a 12 hour (200km) night ride on a borrowed cycle- which gave me the much needed confidence 3 days prior to the actual event. I was prepared to ride alone the entire ride.
Essentials I carried :
On my bike: Salt capsules, Lights, puncture kit, tool kit, spare tube, food, power bank, first aid kit,money,brevet card,route map, water bottles,helmet, plane sunglasses
Support Vehicle: Change of clothes,extra pair of socks,extra batteries, fruits, Spare tire, spare tubes,
Execution: We (8 of us) started off at 6:30 am from Vijayawada on 24/08/2019(Saturday), the weather was perfect-with ideal wind and temperature conditions.
The way to our first stop-which was at 63kms- was pleasant with meadows all around.
I rode alone being mindful that I don't lag behind the rest of the group and reached the mark at around 10am(10 mins after the first rider) and after a light breakfast and water refill started again. So far so good and as planned. I was still riding alone and kept myself preoccupied by admiring the landscape and we reached 111km mark on time.
After a quick stretch course, I started my ride again and rode for sometime with a fellow rider from Kakinada( who happened to be a friend of my father)and the winds favoured us and had an average speed of 23-24km-hr.
But an hour or so later it started to rain and I had to peddle with the drenched clothes but all my fatigue vanished and with renewed josh I reached the 150km check point @ Ravulapalem by 2:30 pm still soaked. After a light lunch , I started my ride again the weather was cool and the average speed was good.
After crossing another 20kms I encountered rolling hills( uphill gradients followed by downhills) It was slightly challenging. We were provided with some coconut milk by the organisers and with revived energy I started my journey again. The roads were getting steeper this time around and @250 mark, I took a coffee break and chatted with the lorry drivers for a while and started again, but my front light had been giving me trouble, it was discharging at a very fast rate and my charging cable was in the support vehicle and my spare light was not very powerful. So I stopped for a little while and luckily found a highway patrol vehicle and he let me charge my light in his car, I was all set and rejuvenated now. I reached the U-Turn point(300 mark) @Uddandapuram @11:05 well on schedule and was the first one to arrive(the other riders reached around 12:10) I got my brevet card stamped, cleaned my chain, stretched for a while and tried to get some sleep. I refilled water and ate a sandwich and after picking up a few essentials from the support car, I strated before the rest of them at 2:00 am . My strategy was to cover maximum distance before sun rise. A rider had pulled out at this point due to injury and another fellow rider DNFed at 350km. The lorry and volvo traffic made the roads dangerous at this point. The next 100 km till Rajhamundry was tough with hills and fatigue and sleep deprivation. We had a secret control point at 370km mark and I reached the 400km mark by 8 am. I took a 10min nap at a bus stop along the way. After a light breakfast comprising of idlis, I was on my way again. The sun had come up at this point and the winds were strong. The average had gone down drastically. But I kept my composure and concentrated only on the road in front of me and kept peddling, reminding myself to keep sipping water and taking salt capsules. I was exhausted by 450 mark and with lactic acid building up in my knees. I rested for 15mins with my legs against the wall. Another 2 riders had also quit by this time. As time was tight, I started peddling again and luckily met a fellow ride and we rode together till the 500 mark @Unguturu toll plaza- which we reached by 4pm.
We had exactly 100kms left and little less than 5 hours to complete. I was riding alone again and luckily was able to maintain an average of 20km/hr despite the knee burns(which came as soon as I stopped peddling) The last 100km were exciting as I was edging closer to completion. At 570 mark, I was again riding with my fellow club representative and were clocking good averages again. I took a pit stop at 596km mark as I had plenty of time to finish I had a meal and completed the brevet by 9 pm with another hour to spare.
In total four of us completed the 600BRM out of the initial eight. Out of us 4, two riders had completed their maiden SR, hence we had a little cake cutting ceremony.
The overall experience was amazing. It was a true test of mind over body. I was extremely elated at the accomplishment as I had picked up cycling very recently (around 4 months) as a part of my weight loss/fitness journey and I realized cycling is thus far the most enjoyable and effective means to get fit.
Plan: I divided the entire ride into 4 segments of 150kms each. My plan was to ride the first 150km in good speed with an average of >20km/hr- where the roads were gentle and the temperatures still mild( with intermediate breaks @ 63km, 111km and 150 km marks respectively). I knew that the first half of my second 150km segment would be a challenge with winds and the sun so i wanted to keep my cadence high and waited till the sun came down to reach the half way mark by 11 PM.I decided to catch some sleep at this point and use the night time to cover maximum distance before fatigue sets and reach the 400 mark. I was prepared for the final 200km which was the most gruelling part of the ride with winds,slopes,heat and sleep deprivation.I wanted to keep my average speed at 15km/hr at these final stretch to keep thinghs smooth. I was mentally prepared with this plan. My hydration mantra was to "sip every 15mins and have a bite every 40mins with a salt capsule"
Preparation: From my previous 300km night ride, I realised that sleep deprived riding was the biggest set back for me. Hence I knew I had to practise night riding and i did exactly that. As my cycle was due for a service I completed a 12 hour (200km) night ride on a borrowed cycle- which gave me the much needed confidence 3 days prior to the actual event. I was prepared to ride alone the entire ride.
Essentials I carried :
On my bike: Salt capsules, Lights, puncture kit, tool kit, spare tube, food, power bank, first aid kit,money,brevet card,route map, water bottles,helmet, plane sunglasses
Support Vehicle: Change of clothes,extra pair of socks,extra batteries, fruits, Spare tire, spare tubes,
Execution: We (8 of us) started off at 6:30 am from Vijayawada on 24/08/2019(Saturday), the weather was perfect-with ideal wind and temperature conditions.
I rode alone being mindful that I don't lag behind the rest of the group and reached the mark at around 10am(10 mins after the first rider) and after a light breakfast and water refill started again. So far so good and as planned. I was still riding alone and kept myself preoccupied by admiring the landscape and we reached 111km mark on time.
After a quick stretch course, I started my ride again and rode for sometime with a fellow rider from Kakinada( who happened to be a friend of my father)and the winds favoured us and had an average speed of 23-24km-hr.
But an hour or so later it started to rain and I had to peddle with the drenched clothes but all my fatigue vanished and with renewed josh I reached the 150km check point @ Ravulapalem by 2:30 pm still soaked. After a light lunch , I started my ride again the weather was cool and the average speed was good.
After crossing another 20kms I encountered rolling hills( uphill gradients followed by downhills) It was slightly challenging. We were provided with some coconut milk by the organisers and with revived energy I started my journey again. The roads were getting steeper this time around and @250 mark, I took a coffee break and chatted with the lorry drivers for a while and started again, but my front light had been giving me trouble, it was discharging at a very fast rate and my charging cable was in the support vehicle and my spare light was not very powerful. So I stopped for a little while and luckily found a highway patrol vehicle and he let me charge my light in his car, I was all set and rejuvenated now. I reached the U-Turn point(300 mark) @Uddandapuram @11:05 well on schedule and was the first one to arrive(the other riders reached around 12:10) I got my brevet card stamped, cleaned my chain, stretched for a while and tried to get some sleep. I refilled water and ate a sandwich and after picking up a few essentials from the support car, I strated before the rest of them at 2:00 am . My strategy was to cover maximum distance before sun rise. A rider had pulled out at this point due to injury and another fellow rider DNFed at 350km. The lorry and volvo traffic made the roads dangerous at this point. The next 100 km till Rajhamundry was tough with hills and fatigue and sleep deprivation. We had a secret control point at 370km mark and I reached the 400km mark by 8 am. I took a 10min nap at a bus stop along the way. After a light breakfast comprising of idlis, I was on my way again. The sun had come up at this point and the winds were strong. The average had gone down drastically. But I kept my composure and concentrated only on the road in front of me and kept peddling, reminding myself to keep sipping water and taking salt capsules. I was exhausted by 450 mark and with lactic acid building up in my knees. I rested for 15mins with my legs against the wall. Another 2 riders had also quit by this time. As time was tight, I started peddling again and luckily met a fellow ride and we rode together till the 500 mark @Unguturu toll plaza- which we reached by 4pm.
Congratulations Samanyu
ReplyDeleteThis is brilliant. Proud of you my boy.
ReplyDelete