Ever since I bought my new road bike I wanted to do a bike road trip. And a solo one for 2 main reasons. Firstly to enjoy the experience to the fullest, un-diluted. And secondly, to save myself from the disappointment, as I knew most people will not be game to come across on a road trip with me that too one a bike and on a summer day.
Ride was pretty smooth and I took various breaks for water, pics, rest and chit chat with locals. I remember a stretch which was kind of bumpy and it took its toll on my handle bar and it just got loose. I knew I set out for this trip un-prepared. Worst, the nuts on my Hercules needed Allen keys (hex keys) and I was pretty sure a road side repair shop just might not have it. But I didn't wanted to ride on as keeping the bar in place was tiring my hands and also I stood the risk of loosing the nut and be in a deeper soup.
I pulled up by a road side repair shop in a busy village. It was time for early morning shoppers and also a by election going on. So quite a crowd was on road and shops were open early on a weekend too. Luckily, the repair guy recognized the groove and got out a set of Allen-keys which were hardly used. While he worked, a small crowd gathered around my bike. Perhaps they were not used to see these modern bikes on village roads which was understandable. I also let them have a look and gave some inputs on geared bikes and its advantages. The thing that took them by surprise was the price and they all wondered why a sane person would pay so much just for a 'cycle'.
Road Condition: For a cyclist I think it will not matter much as we can make our way through and avoid potholes. That said, it was not a very rough ride but some patches were definitely rough and its advisable to have a bike with shock absorbers for a more comfortable ride. At least it was not as bad as to recommend a mountain bike. Repaired, I resumed my ride after taking a mental note of the same shop, incase I needed an adjustment on my way back too. But that, eventually, was not required. I reached diamond harbor and pulled up on a road side bench next to ganga.
I don't remember last time I did this before and after till date. You have to be there to experience it, no pics can capture the pure beauty. And for people living in the city this is, and has to be, a quick getaway. I just relaxed on bench and just next tot I truly love about road trips. Just took some of the pictures below to remind me of trip. Even today when I look at them, I can feel the cool, moist wind on my face and its out of the world, how do I say it, aroma? smell? But you got it what I'm trying to say, right?
These are some pictures I took while waiting with the hero of the ride.
Ride back was good too. But by now sun had come up and it was hotter. I was also tired, and hence took more breaks. I filled up my water bottle at many places but the weirdest was at a petrol pump. I think the pump guys had never anticipated a cyclist to pull up at a fuel pump. He was gracious enough to let me use the loo and fill up my bottle. At one point I started feeling a bit dizzy and stopped to have some sweet and nimbu pani. That spike of sugar lasted me till I reached home.
I reached around 12 noon and my wife's reaction was......
well that's a different story :-)
Ride back was good too. But by now sun had come up and it was hotter. I was also tired, and hence took more breaks. I filled up my water bottle at many places but the weirdest was at a petrol pump. I think the pump guys had never anticipated a cyclist to pull up at a fuel pump. He was gracious enough to let me use the loo and fill up my bottle. At one point I started feeling a bit dizzy and stopped to have some sweet and nimbu pani. That spike of sugar lasted me till I reached home. I reached around 12 noon and my wife's reaction was......
well that's a different story :-)