Endurance and Glory

(Rahul has been riding with Discover on Wheels since the club's inception. On October 11, he completed the Super Randonneur series with Subhajyoti. Here's what he feels after the achievement)

While thinking of sharing my experience of BRM with you, words like fatigue, exhaustion, hallucination, numbness, cramps, injuries comes to my mind first, but then words like fitness, endurance, courage, willpower, fame, recognition, glory, over powers them all and inspires me to go on for BRMs again and again.

Instead of talking about how tough 400 BRM was, I would like to talk about the things that I have learned during Randonneuring.

At the starting point of 400 BRM on October 10, 2015, at 6am, I was oozing with confidence and energy. I think this confidence and resolute feeling was the result of my previous success at completion of 200, 600 & 300 BRM, consecutively.

The first 100km was a piece of cake. Me and Subho were easily able to maintain an average speed of 30kmph. After covering 160km in just 6 hours 30 minutes, we decided to take a lunch break at Panagarh, which lasted for 45 minutes. Now, the halfway mark was only 40km away. But because of traffic and scorching sun, we ended up spending 2.25 hours to reach Raniganj (200km). After lavishly spending 2 hours at Joy Da’s (a good friend) home, we took off to our way back. On the road, heavy traffic, dust and pollution welcomed us. After riding for 2.30 hours, we were only able to cover 35km only.

Lesson learned No. 1: Things like weather and traffic are never in your control. So while planning your BRM one must allot some time window, especially for such unknown variables.

Lesson learned No. 2: Never spend too much time resting. A 45-minute rest would be more than sufficient after riding 200km. Anything more than that is a waste of your precious time.

Riding in traffic and pollution was very tiring. Clock was showing 8.35pm and we decided to have dinner. After dinner we rode another 15km, after which we broke free form the traffic and rode at a very brisk pace for next 45km. Now the clock was showing 12.15am.

It has been 18 hours since we started and now we were left with only 105 km more to go. We took another 15-minute break, after which I decided to push my body to its limits. I thought let’s finish this as soon as possible. I was pedalling hard and was cruising at above 45kmph and covered another 18km in just 25 minutes. The confidence and energy that I spoke of earlier were now replaced by fatigue and exhaustion. I was completely drained out and was struggling. I had a sharp pain at the left side of my chest. I was not certain what exactly it was but I suspected it was my heart. I got scared and hence was taking breaks after every hour or so. Riding speed came down to 20kmph. The only thing that was moving at a brisk pace was time. Now that’s what I call irony (LoL). Every 10km now felt like a BRM in itself. I was hallucinating. The last 50km was the toughest 50km of my life.

Lesson learned No. 3: Pushing yourself at the start of the line is a good thinking but doing the same after covering 300km and spending 18 hours with the elements is certainly a bad idea. It was not just the heart but every organ in my body was rejecting my decision.

Next time when I checked my watch it was 4 in the morning and we were still 35km behind the finish line and in front of us there was a traffic jam I had never seen before. Thousands of trucks were standing one after another. Nothing was moving at all. Standstill traffic for next 13km! That reminds me of the first lesson I learned.

It took us 2 more hours to reach the finish line. I and my fellow rider Subhajyoti Sen Sharma (Subho) arrived at City Center 2 (the final check point) at 6.11am on October 11, 2015. That was the last event of Audax India Randonneurs (AIR) Kolkata for the calendar year 2014-2015. And on that note I and my good friend Subho both have successfully completed our goal of nailing all four BRMs.

And the last lesson that I learned is that BRMs above 300km are always difficult no matter how well trained or how may BRMs you have nailed in the past. Good amount of planning and execution are required to have positive results.

I Would like to thank my mom, dad and my wife Deepika for supporting me.

Also a big thank to Subhajyoti SenSharma. He and I have done all the BRMs together. I couldn’t have done this without him.

Thank you Supratim Pal and Nishant Maheshwari for bringing Brevet to Kolkata and hence making all this possible.

And thanks to all my good wishers, friends and fellow riders for the support and appreciations.

A Journey of a Randonneur

(For Kuntal Kuilaya, an IT professional, cycling has been a passion, which has inspired him to touch new horizon everyday. In his first blog for Discover on Wheels, Kuntal comes up with his bicycling diary that has now scribbled with brevet jottings)

It was someday in December 2013. Checked Facebook as usual and somehow my eyes got hooked to a post that some guys are going to the Sundarbans from Kolkata on bicycles and there was an open invitation for anyone who want to join. Out of curiosity, I contacted the person organising the ride and after some discussions, planned to hook up. That was the first day when Subhajyoti and my paths crossed. We got to know that we have some more like-minded fellows of this little tribe called “cyclists”. It was a sudden decision to travel that far on my BSA Photon and I did not regret for that decision from that day.

Comprising some more people from our own city, Discover on Wheels was formed after a few days from then. It was inevitable to happen someday. With days, I got to meet with its founder-members like Supratim, Nishant, Subhajyoti, Joynath’da and it was a homely atmosphere from the very beginning. Being part of Team DoW from the initial days is a nice memory to cherish. Time passed on and the tribe started growing. I had little bit of knowledge regarding bikes, their use, what are required and what not among others. I also bought an MTB as off-road-pedalling attracts me always.

In July 2014, we decided to get into something more serious, more constructive — the BRMs. At that time, Kolkata had no club organising BRMs. Some of us decided to attempt 200km BRM in Hyderabad. I talked with Abhishek for the first time to plan it better and within a short span, I got to meet another humble human being. The planning was done with Supratim, Nishant, Subhajyoti, Joynath’da, Abhishek, Ashis, Chandranath. And there came the disaster. One over-excited mason with his roadster pounded on me from behind on one fine evening just two weeks before the event. Achilles tendon of my left leg got partially torn resulting no more cycling in the next four months. The recovery took a painful seven months and then I could concentrate on pedalling properly and the BRMs again.

  

Maiden BRM: 300km on January 23, 2015

I never rode more than 100km at a stretch in the last six months due to injury then. So I was a bit sceptical whether I can do it or not. Accompanied by three fellow riders, I started the journey. And boy, what a journey that was! I did enjoy every bits and pieces of it. Accompanied by RakeshAgarwal from Rourkela, I dusted the whole route together in a nice way.

Bike used: Fomas Roadking

Time: 15.20.00

Lessons learnt: In BRMs, you need a speedometer to measure your speed. It is not about pedalling fast. It is about pedalling calculative as per the situation appears. If the speedo has a backlit display, it is good to measure at night too

Second BRM: 400km on February 21, 2015

The success of 300BRM in the previous month made me confident and I did proceed with an undersized hybrid bike this time. As an inevitable result, due to lack of proper saddle height and wrong frame size, this BRM took a toll on me. Accompanied by three other riders, we started in the right pace. But after midway, while returning from Raniganj to Kolkata, knee pains and saddle sores became literally intolerable and slowed down myself and Justin David Neal. Physical exhaustion and mental exhaustion took place heavily and our strong willpower fought with our bodies to keep up pedalling. Finally, I completed just 20 minutes before the cut-off time.

Bike used: Fuji Absolute S

Time: 26.40.00

Lessons learnt: For riding long distances, bike fit is one of the most important things. Oversized and undersized bikes can take a toll on you on long rides

Third BRM: 600km on March 21, 2015

It was an amazing brevet for me as I had to ride solo more than 90% all through the route. In the first 200km from Kolkata to Raniganj, the terrain was almost flat. Then the next 200km starting from Raniganj to Topchanchi (Jharkhand) and back tested me rigorously under the scorching sun as inhuman gradient was a part of Jharkhand’s landscape. Added to that, chilly cold at night from Topchanchi to Asansol was second round of torture on the skin. I also saved myself once as sleepiness took over me for fraction of second and got unbalanced and about to hit the temporary dividers kept on the road. Thankfully, no crash or puncture happened. Then reaching Raniganj, I took a power nap of two hours at Joynath’da’s place after completion of 400km. On a short and sudden notice, he and Joyanto arranged for so much including post-ride exercises for me in the middle of the night. Then the last 200km comeback happened on the flat road. I took almost six hours to complete the final 100km with my exhausted muscles.

I wish to extend special thanks to Justin David Neal (in picture above) for his Scottie. Amazing bike he gave me. And Joynath’da and Joyanto for their hospitality. It was a gala ride for me in terms of having food also. Along the highway, I stopped at many places and got chance to taste locally made dishes. Brevets are good for foodies too, but you should have hygienic foods only which will not give you any trouble on the way.

Bike used: Scott Speedster 50

Time: 36.00.00

Lessons learnt: One more thing I’ve learnt in this brevet that each and every petrol pump on the highways has water filters. People over there are enough kind and hospitable to let you fill yours and they love chit-chats. And never ride with empty bottles.

Fourth BRM: 200km (yet to plan)

With this BRM, I will get the Super Randonneur (SR) title for this 2014-15 season. BRMs are not only for personal achievements. It is a teamwork indeed, helping fellow people on road, motivating others when they have given up, accompanying them till the end. It’s all about joy, fun and frolic on the road. Behave well with the locals, interact nicely with the curious people of the road, do chit-chats with the bikers who show interest in this sport and you will never feel the exhaustion happening.

Chiro’da once gave us a very useful advice — eat before you are hungry and drink before you are thirsty. Those words are apt unless you fall in those situations.

Cheers!

New Dawn, New Beginning

Around a year ago, when some young enthusiasts began Discover on Wheels as a cycling club, they hardly had any thought of hosting brevets in Kolkata. But some months down the line, six of its members travelled all the way to Hyderabad on a monsoon morning to taste brevet and test their endurance. 

A journey was made — not just to the Deccan but to another world of cycling. And, another journey started after they came back home completing 200km successfully in an unknown terrain. This journey was more of determination than just cycling. This one was to bring brevets to Kolkata. 

One fine evening in September, we got a mail from AIR that Kolkata will be added by Audax Club Parisien in the century-old club's international list of cities offering brevet from November. The time was too short to prepare among ourselves yet we selected routes keeping every other possible aspect in mind. And, we just rolled out our plan online for a great brevet season!

(The Times of India coverage on November 29, 2014)

And, following is what two of our most enthusiastic riders had to say on completing the maiden BRM in Kolkata.

Nishant Maheshwari (who successfully took the challenge of 300 km with hours to spare):

If you want to beat the fear of dark unlit roads with heavy trucks and trailers zooming past you... then BRMs are a must do for you.

The first 300 km Kolkata Brevets started just past midnight at 00.30am and in less than about 20 minutes, we were on the national highway — only the blinding winter fog and may be half asleep truckers for company... 

I had never cycled in such conditions and i would be lying if i said i was not scared. But i think it was the passion to perform and the thrill of a BRM which helped me overcome this fear in couple of hours. Then those curious eyes of the truckers and dhabawallahs were not threatening. They were just looking for an answer that what on earth is this crazy cyclist up to. 

BRM is about everything which your parents will tell you not to do. Riding on dark unlit highways, forest reserves, long enduring hours on the saddle with no back-up....but still why do we do this? Because that is the challenge. 

Peope who set out to conquer Mt. Everest on foot have a negligible chance of survival. Ultra-marathoners run 100s of kms; Iron man participants endure so much just for a finishers medal... what is making these people strive so hard and put their bodies go through so much pain and exhaustion. It's the self-satisfaction, inner peace and happiness.

Sitting on a couch watching TV or winning stages of a video game was and will never be a challenge. All expeditions come with its own adventure, fear and challenge but the joy of achievement is unmatchable. BRM is just one such expedition — on cycle!

(The Statesman coverage on December 8, 2014)


Richard Fernandes (who finished 200 km in just nine hours):

This was my first-ever ride for more than 100 km.

A 200 km straight away would have been devastating without preparation. In an endeavour to keep the average speed at 30 km/hr through out the 200 km, I hurried it up in the initial 100 km with a varying speed of 30 to 35 km/hr. 

After 50 km, the average speed which I maintained was 25 to 27 km/hr. After 100, it was never below 25 km/hr. Clocked a satisfying nine hours, an additional 30 minutes attributed to the rush hour traffic while entering Kolkata.

I plan to complete 400 before 20 hours. Happy riding!!!

Journey friom kick-boxer to cyclist

(Subhajyoti Sen Sharma is a founder-member of Discover on Wheels. A former national-level kick-boxer, he took up cycling as a passion, which took him to places from Sunderbans to Hyderabad.) 

I started cycling when i was in Class V, and certainly it was not easy to keep the balance initially as it happens with every other person. 

Back then, my cycling was primarily for going to school and tuition but when i was in Class XI, i started to fall in love with my age-old Indian cycle. Lately, i found it enjoyable to the core and most importantly the freedom during my rides.

When i learnt that it maintains blood pressure, sugar level, and also build our legs strong like steel, i made a determination to not leave this --- as a mode of transport or as a sport. Before taking up cycling as a sport, i was a kick-boxer at national level. I completed my kick-boxing career and converted my stamina and endurance into cycling. 

On a sultry summer morning in 2013, i met Supratim Pal, a senior cyclist in our city and we had a good ride in various terrain in and around the city. Our common love for bicycles made our journey enjoyable and smoother.

After some days i met Nishant, who also is a good cyclist. Both of us rode several long kilometres to build our health and stamina better. We love to travel and tour on bicycles. I pedalled on to various places like Bakkhali, Bhalkimachan, Jharkhali, Sonakhali (Sunderbans), Bandel, Bansberia and several other places regularly. 

In the first part of my bicycle touring, my touring partner was Biplab with whom i rode all the way to Bakkhali. Later, i found good company in Joynath'da, Supratim, Nishant, Chandranath, Anirban and my brother Sabyasachi.

After some successful trips beyond the boundaries of Kolkata, we decided to open an active cycling club in the city late last year. Thus born Discover on Wheels on the first day of 2014. As i said my focus has always been on sports. With Discover on Wheels, we added cycling to my sports career. In March, we thought to start duathlon in Kolkata. Planning went on for hardly 10 days before we launched it at New Town on April 6, 2014.

Kolkata Duathlon has been our flagship event. The main criteria of the event is that all participants have to run 5 km followed by 15 km of cycling. In the first event only, we got very good response. We continued the duathlon spirits in May also, when i had a podium finish! 

In June, when the duathlon was put on hold because of monsoon, i started preparing for 200 km brevet in Hyderabad. Brevet is nothing but long-distance bicycling that has to be completed within a stipulated time. On July 11, we landed in Hyderabad as a team of Discover on Wheels --- Nishant, Supratim, Abhishek, Chandranath, Ashish and me. That evening i tasted what success is all about --- i learnt i am on the right tracks in cycling as i promoted myself to a randonneur. 

I like speed and hopefully one day we shall witness many more youngsters taking up performance cycling as a serious sport like me. 

STARTING AT 30

(Nishant Maheshwari is the founder-member of Discover on Wheels, the first bicycling club of Kolkata. He comes up with a fascinating story on why and how he started chasing his passion — bicycling — at the age of 30)

I used to be active in sports in childhood days and continued playing cricket till my graduation days. It was only during one winter morning after graduation when I went for light jog, I felt a sharp pain in my back because of wrong footing. Blame the bad roads or whatever. Strangely, after that incident I seemed to have lost shoulder strength. I couldn’t throw a ball properly. Believe me or not, but a casual yawning gave me a stiff neck. So, I had to yawn keep my head straight. Funny!!  

I could not run or play cricket for the next six years. I was detected with problems of frozen shoulder and cervical slip disk. Doctors advised no forward bending and weight-lifting. Pillows were a big no no. I was doing neck exercises and going for physiotherapy with 80-year-olds for company. The acute pain gave me many sleepless nights and off days from office. No sports but weekend parties started making me a big fat miserable shit. I consulted few more specialists but they just prescribed pills which gave me relief for few days but never cured me. It was a waste of years which I could never get back.  At 5'5" weighing 84kg, I was nothing but a pumpkin. 

It was only on my 30th birthday when I was watching a documentary on Discovery about a man who was celebrating his 30th birthday in pub with friends just gets up and started running. He went for a 30-mile run and broke down. He had to call his wife to pick him who thought his husband had lost it. Dean Karnazes today is a ultra-ultra marathoner and continues to inspire millions worldwide. Aahhh!! No I didn’t go running right after watching this on TV. But it certainly shook me up and I decided to give it a try. So it was January 2013 I started doing light short-distance runs and a few stretching yoga exercises. And believe me, I started feeling better. There was no pain after a few days. Still, I was not losing weight because I had no diet control. But the pain was not there and only came back when I was not running. I realized that exercising was warming up the muscles and helping my spasms. 

Once a doctor explained me that going on and off a particular exercise regime gives muscle spasms. Say for example, if you are working out in a gym and then after few months you discontinue because of certain reason. The muscles which you had worked on again become weak and go into slumber. Then after few months again you decide to hit back the gym and start working out. This on and off exercises, especially weight training, can give you muscle spasms – which had exactly happened with me. Adopt a exercise which you can continue for a long term and without breaks. It could be a simple brisk walk also but has to be regular.

Nevertheless, the running which I had started made me active but not fit. I started scouting the blogs, videos, journals for research to do it right. They said – cross-train. The only activity which I could think of was cycling. In younger days, I used to be on my saddle all the time. I used to cycle to school which was 15km away when I used to miss my school bus and sometime I used to miss it on purpose because I loved to RIDE. Yes I loved riding too. And yes I got my first bike in March 2013. An entry-level MTB bike.

Initially, I used to do solo 15-20km rides until I met Subhajyoti Sen Sharma in April 2013 who not only helped me understand biking better but introduced me to the concept of touring on cycle. The first tour was a 120km trip to Diamond Harbour — a port town in south Bengal. I had been there only once before in school days for a day picnic. It was a shocker for my friends and others who just wouldn’t believe that a person could go so far on a cycle. But that was just a beginning.

People's awe was a motivation for me. It was the jaw dropping, believe it or not expressions on people’s face which inspired me and made me a serious rider. Social networking helped me connect with more cyclist nationally and internationally. I am a randonneur today and planning to complete the Super Randonneur series in 2015. 

In India, cyclists, those are mostly 30+, used to ride in a group and adopting cycling as healthy lifestyle. Kolkata at that time did not have any riding group and no riding culture. Cyclists were riding in their colonies or apartment compounds. We wanted to fill the void and give all Kolkata cyclists an opportunity to come together and have some fun in riding. This thought transformed in a Kolkata cycling group called Discover on Wheels which I started in January 2014 with my buddies Supratim Pal, Subhajyoti Sen Sharma and Chandranath Banerjee. On 1st September, 2014, the Facebook group page of Discover on Wheels had 1,500 members, including cyclists and non-cyclists. 

The enthusiasm of the cyclist in Kolkata has continued to inspire and motivate us till date to continue to do something new and fresh. Hope to see Kolkata soon on cycling map of the world.