Day 1 climb to Kolli hills ended with the good effort and we even though cursing the climbs, learnt to embrace the same as always told by my ride mate siva, "Embrace the climb, be one with the climb and specifically talk through the climb". This is the skill i am trying desparately to get it while riding as well leave alone the climbs, most of the times Ram and Venkat were in the receiving end during the rides. What makes it special is, I am a non stop chatter box while i am not riding. So decided to shred this tradition of not speaking.
Ok with this gyan, after long chit chat and a protein recovery drink, a dinner at the end of cold evening among the bon fire, we kept on looking at the docket provided by TCC. This is to check and understand whether next day is moderate or tough or toughest. But to be frank, slightly underestimated the climb may be due to the Kolli hill climb. Just that feel of, "70 hairpin bendsaye paathutom, innum ennapa irukku (We have seen already 70 HP bends, what else is there". Lesser that we knew that we were going to hit a mini kalahatty during the yercaud climb via Kuppanoor and not via the normal traffic route.
And on the eve when we had arrived in Kolli, we kept talking about the climbs, road bikes, regular double and the compact gearings that we had in our bikes all through the recovery time! Once the dinner hogging was completed, slowly everyone settled down in the cozy rooms of Nallathmabi resorts for yet another long day towards yercaud the very next day. Bike check, Jersey and shorts check, Docket check, Route plan check, mind check, numbness check, sore parts check!!! Yup every other check is done and alarm is kept and went out dead tired. It is true that sleep is caught just like that when you are tired and given the first day of the Tour, slept really fast and peacefully.
Next day, seemed very busy and i already started to hear information about one of the best descender (he is DK as well - Draft King, a skill many of us picked up on the way in the tour to test it, but he remains the king) none other than our very own Siva. He was about to give me lessons on that and i said immediately without much thought process, "You teach me how to draft, you teach me how to be climbing with conversation, but descent is not in my checklist and never will i try it to reach faster". Siva i think said, fair enough!!! So after a short climb on the way to the descent, we stopped at the Tea stop in the near by town, where we got hold of few folks and started the ride again. As usual to his name, Siva went flying and we stopped in between for few snaps. After carefully descending around 70 hair pin bends in a slightly uncomfortable roads, we went towards Yercaud.
Myself, Venkat and siva were riding at pretty decent pace with Rakesh, Vaibhav, Bhaskaran, Sapeksh riding with us intermittently. We were riding through Kalapanayakanpatti, Mangalapuram, Vellalakundam, Ayodhiyapattinam enroute to Kuppanoor which is the base of the Yercaud on the other side. We had some confusions on this day and i guess Rakesh had ridden more distance today due to the wrong route he took and the flat on his tyre made him wait for long long time. After having food at just after Ayodhiyapattinam crossing, we started to pedal towards the base to stop for few moments in the time station. After that we started to enter the climb bit late and via kuppanoor its not helping as well. It was Siva, Venkat and myself who had started the climb and later Amol and Vaibhav joined. Heard Rakesh, Sapeksh, Bhaskar, Anjali, Sanjay and couple of others had fled already! We started to crank it up and as usual Venkat was steady in his climbs, with Siva screaming for breaks, we were climbing more carefully so that we reach the top. Siva did not even care, he just laid flat on the wall of the hills, we feared for his Mobile more than him:)
I thought Vaibhav's ripping climb the day before was not helping the cause without lunch as well. So we were slowly pulling towards the Team Mongrel pit stop at 10km mark. Man it is one hell of a climb and i started slowly to talk and converse and keeping up steady cadence of around 50 to 60. Know this is slow, but cant increase it further more as i have to train more. There was a welcoming drop for a km or more reaching the Team mongrel pit stop. Bala sir as usual was showing the way and we had reached there not before a small but super climb into the estate. Subbu, owner of that estate as well one of the members of Team mongrels in chennai, welcomed us with refreshments and sandwiches there are like plenty. Lots and lots. There we made our first mistake of the day. Took extra time and stayed there until 5:15PM. Prob, Doc were there. Had a hearty talk and laughed all the way. Little did we know the biggest climb was laughing at us above from that point. When Venkat asked Subbu, "You have jeeps and all, must be easy for the climbs. Subbu said in a devilish smile, even jeeps will struggle". We were laughing and Subbu was instructing us about how fast it will become dark etc.
So thanking everyone whole heartedly started the descent for 3 kms again which was bit dangerous due to the loose gravel in the road. Survived this descent and on the way, the point where the descent was completed, a wall or probably a roof was connected with the bridge. At that very moment i jumped off the saddle because for sure i knew i might fall since there was really less time for me to cut down gears! Fastly walked 50m and then hopped again to the saddle. Siva kept yelling, why did you jump off the saddle, was that steep etc etc, but he pedalled, he saw and got conquered. Oh boy that was a killer one and after 1.7kms into that wall, we were lying on the road, got some breath had few intro to Doc, which was hilarious due to Siva's queries to Doc's area of expertise!
Then we further started the climb towards Yercaud, Yes that guy had not come. Venkat started pulling away slowly fearing the disappearing light by every minute. Along the way, we met Prob and i guess Kaushik who were catching breath. Prob that day found how criminal was it to check with Venkat, especially about the distance and the climbs ahead. Seemed Venkat had uttered his famous monologue:) (Cos he wont care for the other party to react, before that he would flee), "Flat only, just flat after this". I heard some yelling, "Yov, you told flat &(*&^(*&(, and slowly turning that Yov into Dei, you told (*^&^%&". While crossing prob, i asked what happened and he explained the story. I confirmed with Venkat's Jersey color and i said don't believe him and pulled away. Siva and myself were pretty much riding together and everytime siva asked for a minute break, i said, "Siva, you take rest and come, anyway you ll catch me, And i will not stop for the same". So siva stops and catches me again and this continued for 2 more times.
This time, light has almost disappeared fully and we are riding in the narrow ghat section of Yercaud and construction going on the other side. I was laughing thinking that we either finish today or hit by a lorry coming down. Lot of songs are coming out and every end we approach, Siva used to tell, do you see the treeline at our level, which meant we were done with the climbs. Absolute nutcase we were. Usually Brevet riders of 600 or 1000 would be experiencing this, of course they would have lights etc etc. We were having nothing and after few moments, we got accustomed to darkness and every time we ask a villager, distance remained constant and it is half a km. After few bends again, we spotted sign boards and we were happy to see distance as 5km. And this was the time, where Siva and myself declared each other as Best friends and started to call Darling and sweetheart etc. Such was the state of our mind, without both of us supporting each other we would not have survived that climb in pitch black night.
When we were nearing the end, worst i was fearing happened. Three dogs started barking and started to circle around! I shouted to stop and siva promptly stopped. At that moment my only prayer was, "This guy stopped right there since i had yelled, hope those dogs dont bite him". Luckily few gaurds have come and taken the dogs into their control saying that we were real close. On the way met an Innova with Praveen and i guess Gokul they too said we are close, but there is a sweep vehicle also. Sorry folks, i understood your concern but i almost started to slang you! Then we had a nice descent to Montfort school and Siva mentioned that we were very near. Finally found our way to the Hotel, yelling in joy. Found our way through the toughest climb and we became best friends and we declared it as well. We braved it together and thats the end of Day 2 story! Rest of the story to continue!
Day 2 Stats:
Destination: Yercaud
Distance covered: 136kms
Elevation Gain: 1918m
Elevation Loss: 1717m
For Lunch: Egg Dosa, Omlette!!!
Also Read:
Day 1 and Day 0 : Into TOT and to Kolli
_MJV_
Ok with this gyan, after long chit chat and a protein recovery drink, a dinner at the end of cold evening among the bon fire, we kept on looking at the docket provided by TCC. This is to check and understand whether next day is moderate or tough or toughest. But to be frank, slightly underestimated the climb may be due to the Kolli hill climb. Just that feel of, "70 hairpin bendsaye paathutom, innum ennapa irukku (We have seen already 70 HP bends, what else is there". Lesser that we knew that we were going to hit a mini kalahatty during the yercaud climb via Kuppanoor and not via the normal traffic route.
And on the eve when we had arrived in Kolli, we kept talking about the climbs, road bikes, regular double and the compact gearings that we had in our bikes all through the recovery time! Once the dinner hogging was completed, slowly everyone settled down in the cozy rooms of Nallathmabi resorts for yet another long day towards yercaud the very next day. Bike check, Jersey and shorts check, Docket check, Route plan check, mind check, numbness check, sore parts check!!! Yup every other check is done and alarm is kept and went out dead tired. It is true that sleep is caught just like that when you are tired and given the first day of the Tour, slept really fast and peacefully.
Next day, seemed very busy and i already started to hear information about one of the best descender (he is DK as well - Draft King, a skill many of us picked up on the way in the tour to test it, but he remains the king) none other than our very own Siva. He was about to give me lessons on that and i said immediately without much thought process, "You teach me how to draft, you teach me how to be climbing with conversation, but descent is not in my checklist and never will i try it to reach faster". Siva i think said, fair enough!!! So after a short climb on the way to the descent, we stopped at the Tea stop in the near by town, where we got hold of few folks and started the ride again. As usual to his name, Siva went flying and we stopped in between for few snaps. After carefully descending around 70 hair pin bends in a slightly uncomfortable roads, we went towards Yercaud.
 |
| At the tea shop before descending |
 |
| Kolli Descent |
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| Kolli hill descent |
 |
| Scenic ride enroute |
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| Much of sunscreen to attack climbs. Lols |
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| Venkat and Siva planning the attacks! |
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| Lonely and blurry image speaks it all! |
I thought Vaibhav's ripping climb the day before was not helping the cause without lunch as well. So we were slowly pulling towards the Team Mongrel pit stop at 10km mark. Man it is one hell of a climb and i started slowly to talk and converse and keeping up steady cadence of around 50 to 60. Know this is slow, but cant increase it further more as i have to train more. There was a welcoming drop for a km or more reaching the Team mongrel pit stop. Bala sir as usual was showing the way and we had reached there not before a small but super climb into the estate. Subbu, owner of that estate as well one of the members of Team mongrels in chennai, welcomed us with refreshments and sandwiches there are like plenty. Lots and lots. There we made our first mistake of the day. Took extra time and stayed there until 5:15PM. Prob, Doc were there. Had a hearty talk and laughed all the way. Little did we know the biggest climb was laughing at us above from that point. When Venkat asked Subbu, "You have jeeps and all, must be easy for the climbs. Subbu said in a devilish smile, even jeeps will struggle". We were laughing and Subbu was instructing us about how fast it will become dark etc.
 |
| One last smile before miles of Hell! |
 |
| @ Team Mongrels pit stop like kings! |
Then we further started the climb towards Yercaud, Yes that guy had not come. Venkat started pulling away slowly fearing the disappearing light by every minute. Along the way, we met Prob and i guess Kaushik who were catching breath. Prob that day found how criminal was it to check with Venkat, especially about the distance and the climbs ahead. Seemed Venkat had uttered his famous monologue:) (Cos he wont care for the other party to react, before that he would flee), "Flat only, just flat after this". I heard some yelling, "Yov, you told flat &(*&^(*&(, and slowly turning that Yov into Dei, you told (*^&^%&". While crossing prob, i asked what happened and he explained the story. I confirmed with Venkat's Jersey color and i said don't believe him and pulled away. Siva and myself were pretty much riding together and everytime siva asked for a minute break, i said, "Siva, you take rest and come, anyway you ll catch me, And i will not stop for the same". So siva stops and catches me again and this continued for 2 more times.
This time, light has almost disappeared fully and we are riding in the narrow ghat section of Yercaud and construction going on the other side. I was laughing thinking that we either finish today or hit by a lorry coming down. Lot of songs are coming out and every end we approach, Siva used to tell, do you see the treeline at our level, which meant we were done with the climbs. Absolute nutcase we were. Usually Brevet riders of 600 or 1000 would be experiencing this, of course they would have lights etc etc. We were having nothing and after few moments, we got accustomed to darkness and every time we ask a villager, distance remained constant and it is half a km. After few bends again, we spotted sign boards and we were happy to see distance as 5km. And this was the time, where Siva and myself declared each other as Best friends and started to call Darling and sweetheart etc. Such was the state of our mind, without both of us supporting each other we would not have survived that climb in pitch black night.
When we were nearing the end, worst i was fearing happened. Three dogs started barking and started to circle around! I shouted to stop and siva promptly stopped. At that moment my only prayer was, "This guy stopped right there since i had yelled, hope those dogs dont bite him". Luckily few gaurds have come and taken the dogs into their control saying that we were real close. On the way met an Innova with Praveen and i guess Gokul they too said we are close, but there is a sweep vehicle also. Sorry folks, i understood your concern but i almost started to slang you! Then we had a nice descent to Montfort school and Siva mentioned that we were very near. Finally found our way to the Hotel, yelling in joy. Found our way through the toughest climb and we became best friends and we declared it as well. We braved it together and thats the end of Day 2 story! Rest of the story to continue!
Day 2 Stats:
Destination: Yercaud
Distance covered: 136kms
Elevation Gain: 1918m
Elevation Loss: 1717m
For Lunch: Egg Dosa, Omlette!!!
Also Read:
Day 1 and Day 0 : Into TOT and to Kolli
_MJV_
Hahaha.. "Flat only, just flat after this"...! "Dei, you told..." Brilliant!! :)
ReplyDeleteI also agree with you about your best friend, Siva being very good at descending. I had a blast descending with him from Ooty to Mettupalyam during TFN 2012! :)
Thanks Venky, Siva said about a video of you and him descending, will check it out soon.
DeleteLOL!!! actually I dint realize who was behind but badly wanted company to climb, so was being optimistic and hence those statements!!;-)
ReplyDelete