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Completed my first 1200km BRM event (Kodanad 1200 - https://www.audaxindia.org/event-e-2385 ). This route involved a 2200+ mts climb within the first 100km (i.e, Metupalayam to Kothagiri hill climb for 30km and a 30+km of rolling terrain to-and-fro Kodanad). Happy to have achieved this milestone! Wanted to share a few experiences. 

*What was I confident and not confident about this BRM*
*Hill Climb: Zero confidence*: Frankly, I never felt I am ready for the hill climbs required for this 1200K BRM. The earlier hill-climbs I did were only for 300mts and that too, I did them with both ITB as well as cramps in either of the legs. But, wanted to challenge myself on such hill-climb requirements. 
*Saddle Time: Great confidence*: I knew that I can withstand any long distance cycling without pushing myself. Thanks to my Gurus: Saju sir who made me carry only one water bottle and time the breaks appropriately; Mahabarath bro who made me constantly think about enjoying the ride rather than riding fast like a ghost; Raja Partha who always comes to my mind for boosting my confidence - he never has a word in his dictionary that limits one's capability.
*Sleep Management: Great Confidence*: To be on top of the game in BRMs, you either need good speed to get time for sleep or have a longer time riding and sleep less (or none). Having been in IT industry for 16 yrs now and someone who likes driving long distances in car especially during nights, I never felt deprived of sleep during BRMs. But, this is my first BRM experience going through a very less sleep on the third night. 
*Food and Water: Great confidence*: I love the water at the tea-shops that are kept in drums; prefer the local food as well as water. This is important for you to sustain in any situation during BRM. 

As you can see above, I was very less in confidence on this BRM due to the hill-climb, but awesome confidence of riding 1200km distance (if it was a flat road). 

*During the BRM:*
*Hill Climb*: I got a great start with a youngster (Vishweswaran from Bangalore, 21 years old) who was probably ~50kgs and was really a mountain goat. I was struggling hill climb with 180bpm heart rate at 10+kmph and he would ride with ease. Soon, he got another Company (siva Balaji, another speedster in the hills). I started climbing alone, but by this time, I understood the limits of my body and knew what limit I can push my heart-rate as well as the cadence. In around 3h11m, I climbed to Kothagiri with an overall elevation of ~1700mts completed. I knew now that I wasn't slow in the hills and now, I am really in the game and don't need to push myself beyond this point. While my relations warned about the cold climate in the hills, i was thoroughly sweating; I didn't need any protection for cold. I ensured that every-where I stopped at the hills, I don't spend more than 5 minutes, there-by, I didn't allow my body to cool down. 
*Descent from hills* : This was a pleasure. I felt the bike had good brakes, Garmin really helped me know where the turns were so that I can apply brakes and be ready for the hair-pin bends. 
*Coimbatore to Hosur*: This stretch has two small clmbs (or rolling terrain). One is in Thoppur and another is the ride from Krishnagiri to Hosur. Both of them were very nice and challenging. Overall, till hosur, the distance I covered was ~470kms and I was riding all alone. These smaller climbs were a pleasurable ride. I reached Hosur (470kms) in around 27 hours. This was the first time ever in my BRM history that I rode a full night without any sleep as well as without any other company to ride with (just for the first night of the BRM). *Chennai riders* are missing these good climb and rolling terrains and we are used to riding flat roads. 
*Hosur till end of the ride*: I got company of Siva Balaji from then and went along with him chatting in the remainder of the BRM. 

*Things I learned during this BRM*: 
*Riding at comfortable pace*: Having done 2 SRs already, I knew this is the key for long distances. I was always tempted to ride with the first group of riders (Galin, Mahesh Chaudhary, Vishweswaran and Siva Balaji). These guys were mountain goats and whenever they see a small elevation, they start riding like crazy. With me having enough body weight, I found difficult to climb the very long fly-overs. What I told these guys was to just go ahead and not wait for me. I knew that I will catch them during a flat section of the road and even If I didn't catch them, I will atleast be near them. 
*Learnt riding in rolling terrain*: A rolling terrain is a terrain which has continuous ups and downs. The way I dealt with rolling terrain is to push myself during the down so that I create enough momentum and this momentum will be good enough to climb the rolling terrain. When the momentum was not enough (which would be just for a few meters), I get up out of the saddle and pull myself to complete the up climb. Rolling terrain gives you a chance to rest while descent and be ready for the power burst you need for the next climb. 
*Timed food/hydration management*: I timed the breaks as well as my food stops. I never ate spicy food during the ride. Even with that, we had a moment where we didn't get water for more than 20kms in the high-way. I think this was near Bhavani. I had some water and the other two riders who were with me didn't. Glad that I was able to share the water with them which made them go somem more time till we found the coffee/tea shop. 
*Riding in the night*: Having ridden alone the whole of the night in the first day, I knew that no climate will affect me if I plan for no-more than 5 minute break. This made me not lose my body temperature.
*Salt/Lime*: I kept sipping the salt/lime water whenever I think about cramps (which would be once every hour). I think the cramps thing is more a mind block for me and will need to come out of it. 
*Never to draft too close*: I had a close moment where I was very closely drafting one another rider. I took my water bottle and was drinking during riding. Suddenly, I found that the cycle hit a reflector on the road and it lost balance. Glad that I had the gloves in my hands and the handle-bar was still under my control. Didn't fall, but it was a close one and would have been badly injured if I fell (was certainly at 25+kmph). If i maintained good distance, might not have been such a nightmare. 
*Never to tell anyone where you are going*: I was tempted to tell everyone whom I met that I completed XYZ distance and I will be coming back in the same direction, etc. One of my fellow riders warned me not to tell any such thing. What if I am telling my complete route plan to someone who can arrange for gundas during the way!! This very example from my fellow-rider (Siva Balaji) made me think a lot. From then on, whenever someone asks me where we are headed, I just say the name of the next town and that is it. 
*Warm clothes*: With 1000+kms, you will certainly ride for 2 nights and in most cases, the 3rd night as well. If you are riding with a group, for sure, there will be someone in the group who might want to sleep in the night (including you). During such times, it will be good to keep warm dresses to keep you warm and away from shivering when you get up after the sleep. If you are with a group who doesn't sleep in the night, you won't require this. 


Finally, a huge thanks to our WCCG Tambaram group. I learnt about discipline and coming regularly to group rides from the first month of joining itself. I got both the 25x10 as well as 50x10. I also got the Star of the month in Apr'18. All these made me stronger and ready for longer endurance rides. It also made me think about my commute to office and now, I mostly commute to office by my cycle. My first person to admire during my initial WCCG rides was Nikhilesh, he used to (and still is) lead the pack of our WCCG riders with his MTB and give a strong competition to roadies. I love the speedurance as Nikhilesh coins it! 
What next? There is so much activity happening in WCCG and BRM groups and pumped up to do lot more activities. 


Adding a separate line: 
There was a college student who was going in a bike who asked me : "Thambi endha oorukku pa pora". Hence proved (that I am still a student :) ). 

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Deepak Manohar

1200km ride with Kodanad Climb completed!

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