The Audax India Randonnuers (AIR) calendar runs from November 1st to October 31st every year. One who finishes 200Km, 300Km, 400Km and 600 Km in that calendar anywhere in India is called a Super Randonnuer (SR). AIR is the all-India organisation of randonneurs, which is recognised by Audax Club Parisien (ACP) for conducting and overseeing all Brevets de Randonneurs Mondiaux (BRMs) and Audax events in India.
It all started as a practise for riding in Spiti,which lead to participating in first 200 BRM last year in June. Soon after learning about 300 brevet and above to become SR, I have practised well to complete all the four rides before October 31 2015 to achieve the Super Randonnuer title.I felt very happy about it. It made me mentally strong and increased enthusiasm to take part in more and more brevets this season.
In the new season that has started in November, I have so far finished 3 X 200 Km's and one each of 300,400 and 600. When the new calendar is released in mid of October, I have carefully planned to achieve multiple SR's this year. After finishing 400 Brevet in Hyderabad, I have achieved first SR of the season. I was glad that I finished all rides within two months, while it took me more than three months to achieve it last time. Also there are many improvements in riding style, food and hygiene during and post ride.Most important among them being saddle sore.There is no saddle sore at all in this season. I still have to deal with numb hands post ride for 400,600 brms.
I will pen detailed reports of each rides in the same thread whenever I get time. Till then here is a very short summary of each ride. I'm limiting it to only the four rides involved in becoming SR.
Distances-Times
200 Km – 13.5 Hrs | 300 Km – 20 Hrs | 400 Km – 27 Hrs | 600 Km – 40 Hrs | 1000 Km – 75 Hrs | 1200 Km – 90 Hrs |
(click on distance to go to event page in AIR website)
200 : 14 th nov 2015 - Bangalore - Chintamani - Kolar- Bangalore :Expected a challenging route from Bangalore ranonnuers as they said it is a new route, but it turned out to be a simple and nearly flat/easy rolling terrain. I felt happy that I finished it in 11 hrs 15 mins. No exhaustion at end of ride and I rode in another 200 BRM in mysore the very next day and finished it sucessfully.
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Before entering 2nd CP at Chintamani.
300 : 5th Dec 2015 : Hyderabad- Marketpalli -Miryalaguda - Hyderabad : This is one brevet which I cannot forget for a long time. Chennai was submerged in floods. Transportation was not available to get out of city. My bicycle was struck at store for servicing. I have changed 5 vehicles to reach start point in time. I got a bicycle for rent, which I managed to arrange with limited communication facilities available at that time. To make things more terrible, I have forgotten my cycling jersey in Chennai as I left in hurry.
It was a night ride. It didn't get much colder then. Route was easy till 150 Kms. It became difficult from there with narrow state highways. At last control point near 270 kms, I got knee pain, due to which became very terrible for me to ride ahead. Last 30 kms took nearly three or four hours,else it was a decent finish at 17 hrs 30 mins.
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On ORR in hyderabad
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At finish point
600 : 25 th Dec 2015 : Bangalore- Chennarayapatna- Arsikere- Shimoga- Bangalore : After finishing 3 200's and a 300, I was confident and eager to check myself in a very long ride. The route is terribly rolling and return being very touch as it is a climb all the way from Shimoga to bangalore for 300 Kms. The head winds from Shimoga made life so difficult and terrible. Riders had to fight extreme cold as well as extreme heat in morning. It was thoroughly exhausting. Also to add more miseries , knee started paining terribly at 300 Km. Around 480km, I met with a terrible crash as I slept on bicycle. Luckily there are no serious injuries, but I fell on ribs. It made very difficult for me to get on and off the saddle. Only the my eagerness to be at finish line has taken me there just 10 minutes before the clock stopped ticking. My confidence levels boosted exponentially.
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At start point of 600. To my right is Mohan Subramanyam, who always rides on his MTB and is a inspiration for many. He is down to earth though he has achieved a lot. To my right is Shanmuganathan ( whom we call as Shun shortly). He is also from Chennai, and joined me in travelling to Bangalore for brevets. He is lightning fast on his roadie.
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After reaching the finish point
400 : 9 th Jan 2016 : Hyderabad- Kamareddy- Armoor- Pochampadu- Hyderabad : I was eager to be SR in this season, hence had to go for this ride even though there is a 300 in Chennai on the same day. It is a completely rolling terrain with fierce head winds and climbs in the return leg. Especially from Dichpally to Kamareddy. I rode with a group for nearly 75 % of the ride. Though we were very tight on time due to the extended breaks, we made it on time. I contacted a physio after 600, who suggested me to increase saddle height. Magically it removed knee pain. Also I managed well with food along the route.
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At 2nd CP.
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At finish point. ( the medals in these pictures are given by Hyderabad randonnuers and are not from Paris. Medal from paris will come nearly 6 months or 1 year after the brevet is finished)
PC : Pradeep Junnu Jordan ( Any brevet in Hyderabad is not complete without his Photography)
I realised that riding in brevets continuously, for working professionals is not easy. Continuous travelling in weekends,managing work, attending daily chores is little difficult. Yet I'm happy that I'm able to manage things and was able to finish all attempted rides so far.
It all started as a practise for riding in Spiti,which lead to participating in first 200 BRM last year in June. Soon after learning about 300 brevet and above to become SR, I have practised well to complete all the four rides before October 31 2015 to achieve the Super Randonnuer title.I felt very happy about it. It made me mentally strong and increased enthusiasm to take part in more and more brevets this season.
In the new season that has started in November, I have so far finished 3 X 200 Km's and one each of 300,400 and 600. When the new calendar is released in mid of October, I have carefully planned to achieve multiple SR's this year. After finishing 400 Brevet in Hyderabad, I have achieved first SR of the season. I was glad that I finished all rides within two months, while it took me more than three months to achieve it last time. Also there are many improvements in riding style, food and hygiene during and post ride.Most important among them being saddle sore.There is no saddle sore at all in this season. I still have to deal with numb hands post ride for 400,600 brms.
I will pen detailed reports of each rides in the same thread whenever I get time. Till then here is a very short summary of each ride. I'm limiting it to only the four rides involved in becoming SR.
Distances-Times
200 Km – 13.5 Hrs | 300 Km – 20 Hrs | 400 Km – 27 Hrs | 600 Km – 40 Hrs | 1000 Km – 75 Hrs | 1200 Km – 90 Hrs |
(click on distance to go to event page in AIR website)
200 : 14 th nov 2015 - Bangalore - Chintamani - Kolar- Bangalore :Expected a challenging route from Bangalore ranonnuers as they said it is a new route, but it turned out to be a simple and nearly flat/easy rolling terrain. I felt happy that I finished it in 11 hrs 15 mins. No exhaustion at end of ride and I rode in another 200 BRM in mysore the very next day and finished it sucessfully.
Before entering 2nd CP at Chintamani.
300 : 5th Dec 2015 : Hyderabad- Marketpalli -Miryalaguda - Hyderabad : This is one brevet which I cannot forget for a long time. Chennai was submerged in floods. Transportation was not available to get out of city. My bicycle was struck at store for servicing. I have changed 5 vehicles to reach start point in time. I got a bicycle for rent, which I managed to arrange with limited communication facilities available at that time. To make things more terrible, I have forgotten my cycling jersey in Chennai as I left in hurry.
It was a night ride. It didn't get much colder then. Route was easy till 150 Kms. It became difficult from there with narrow state highways. At last control point near 270 kms, I got knee pain, due to which became very terrible for me to ride ahead. Last 30 kms took nearly three or four hours,else it was a decent finish at 17 hrs 30 mins.
On ORR in hyderabad
At finish point
600 : 25 th Dec 2015 : Bangalore- Chennarayapatna- Arsikere- Shimoga- Bangalore : After finishing 3 200's and a 300, I was confident and eager to check myself in a very long ride. The route is terribly rolling and return being very touch as it is a climb all the way from Shimoga to bangalore for 300 Kms. The head winds from Shimoga made life so difficult and terrible. Riders had to fight extreme cold as well as extreme heat in morning. It was thoroughly exhausting. Also to add more miseries , knee started paining terribly at 300 Km. Around 480km, I met with a terrible crash as I slept on bicycle. Luckily there are no serious injuries, but I fell on ribs. It made very difficult for me to get on and off the saddle. Only the my eagerness to be at finish line has taken me there just 10 minutes before the clock stopped ticking. My confidence levels boosted exponentially.
At start point of 600. To my right is Mohan Subramanyam, who always rides on his MTB and is a inspiration for many. He is down to earth though he has achieved a lot. To my right is Shanmuganathan ( whom we call as Shun shortly). He is also from Chennai, and joined me in travelling to Bangalore for brevets. He is lightning fast on his roadie.
After reaching the finish point
400 : 9 th Jan 2016 : Hyderabad- Kamareddy- Armoor- Pochampadu- Hyderabad : I was eager to be SR in this season, hence had to go for this ride even though there is a 300 in Chennai on the same day. It is a completely rolling terrain with fierce head winds and climbs in the return leg. Especially from Dichpally to Kamareddy. I rode with a group for nearly 75 % of the ride. Though we were very tight on time due to the extended breaks, we made it on time. I contacted a physio after 600, who suggested me to increase saddle height. Magically it removed knee pain. Also I managed well with food along the route.
At 2nd CP.
At finish point. ( the medals in these pictures are given by Hyderabad randonnuers and are not from Paris. Medal from paris will come nearly 6 months or 1 year after the brevet is finished)
PC : Pradeep Junnu Jordan ( Any brevet in Hyderabad is not complete without his Photography)
I realised that riding in brevets continuously, for working professionals is not easy. Continuous travelling in weekends,managing work, attending daily chores is little difficult. Yet I'm happy that I'm able to manage things and was able to finish all attempted rides so far.