Biking Log_10_SEPTEMBER_2011

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Hi Fellow Bikers,

Had an awesome Weekend Evening Biking session today!!! It was too exciting!

Biking Objective: Recuperation Training and focus on recreation.

Equipment: BSA SLR Photon Ex Single Speed Bicycle, a set of wrist guards, a set of elbow guards, a biking helmet, a pair of biking shoes.
Precondition: Normal air pressure in the front and rear tyre air tube.
Time Line: 1815 IST.
Time Elapsed: 60 minutes approximately.

Weather condition:
   Humidity: Cool and Dry.
   Wind: None.
   Temperature: 31 deg C
Road condition: Dry tar road.
Distance covered: 12 Kilometres.

Biker's experience:  It was dark already when I reached the track. But since it had been nearly a week without biking, I needed to complete at least 12 km of distance. Started to pedal. After a couple of minutes it became too dark to continue further. The mind directed to stop and return back home but the heart was pumping Oxygenated blood for the run! The visibility levels were low and I could judge a probable foreign object such as a stone or a dry branch on the track only 10 metres further from the current position.

I had to maintain the speed below the idling levels of 35 kph maximum in order to have a control over the bike, in these conditions. The leg muscles had to be restrained from pedalling in the ranges of 35-45 kmph where the breaking power of the bike loses effectivity(to reach a complete stop, it takes at least a 10 meters range, so accident prone).

After a while the eyes were accustomed to the darkness and I could reach a stable cruise speed. I looked a bit upwards and found the lovely Moon staring back. I could see it through the interruptions of the tree branches on the side of the track. Whoosh!!!! Another bike from the opposite side passed within a couple of inches from me. Saved! We both were wearing dark coloured clothes, therefore were nearly invisible in this darkness. None's mistake :). I had to concentrate on the track. The foliage on both the sides of the track was adding to the darkness at the track. I could see the tail light of a motor-bike at a distance and was assured that if that has passed though the track then it must be free from any fell branches in the path.

A person was jogging on the track in total darkness! Cool, I am not alone in this pursuit :)

Reached home all sweaty and the blood running through the brain! After all, this is how we bikers live and enjoy life!



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Pre-Biking Custom Warm-Up Exercises

Hi Bikers,

Following a pre-biking warm-up exercise is a must! Non-observance of such causes a number of body pains and discomforts, leading to disability to carry on biking as a sport. The exercise regime should always be customized according to one's own preference and liking to make it affordable and to maintain continuance for a long time. I would like to share my customized exercise routine followed by me:

1. Tadasana and Uttanasana
• Method: This a standing total stretch of the body. Stand straight, interpose the hand-fingers and stretch both the hands upwards and at the same time looking upwards at them. Now slowly balance the body on the toes. Stretch the body as far as it does not cause any discomfort! Return the balance to the entire feet and bend forward to touch the toes with the hand finger-tips.
• Benefits: Stretches the maximum amount of muscles all around the body. Releases tension in the muscles caused during sleep hours. Starts/Enhances flow of blood. Straightens the spine.
• Repetitions: 8
2. Wall push-ups
• Method:  Stand straight a foot away from the wall and position both the palms on the wall. Bring the upper-body near to the wall. Change the position of the palms on the wall to put stress on different parts of the hand and chest.
• Benefits: When doing the regular push-ups, most of the times, puts a huge amount of stress on the hands and chest. While performing the wall version of the same, one can customize the stress and bring in a number of variety. This exercise strengthens the muscles of the fingers, wrist, forearm, biceps, triceps, upper, lower and deep chest. 
• Repetitions: 20
3. 45-degrees Uttanpadasana
• Method: Lying down, inhale and lift both the legs(joined together) to an angle of 45 degrees above the ground. Stay in the same position for 5 seconds and come back to the starting position.
• Benefits: It builds the upper pelvic and lower abdomen muscles and gives stability to the hip muscles.
• Repetitions: 20
4. Sit-ups
• Method: Lying down, position the heels to touch the hips. Keep the hands, crossed on the chest and lift the upper body(without straining the neck) to 30 degrees above the ground.
• Benefits: It builds the upper abdomen muscles and gives flexibility to the spine.
• Repetitions: 20

By following the above four exercises, one can gain the maximum! All the fours, combined, takes care of the entire body, from head to toe!

Happy Exercising!!

Biking In The Drizzle!

Hi Bikers,


After 3 weeks, finally I could go back to the thing I love, yeah that is biking! I have been touring from past few weekends, mostly in the southern parts of India. Visited some awesome places. On the list were the Indian Metropolitan, Chennai, the Indian Union Territory(earlier under French Control) Pondicherry and finally the scenic Srisailam (The Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Temple located in here is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga temples dedicated to Lord Shiva). Enjoyed a lot and at the same time missed the rejuvenating biking sessions every morning!


The day was this week's Thursday! I woke up early in the morning before the Sun could rise. Gulped down the lukewarm-Lemonade, prepared the breakfast(French Toast and Filter Coffee). Dressed up in the biking-suit, did some warm-up exercises(starting with Tadasana, "Wall" push-ups, 45-degree Uttanpadasana and finally Sit-ups).


Opened the door and Lo! It was drizzling outside! My mind immediately started its work to convince me to not to go for biking and add one more day to the already 21 day stretch of non-biking! But the love for biking in my heart was stronger than the mind's willingness to stop me and I picked up the bike and started off!


The drizzling, proved to be beneficial for me as there was a thin traffic and the absence of the school-going children on the road in the morning hours added to the achievable speed of the bike. But the same was diminished by the reduced breaking capability of the calliper breaks of the bike. Also the drizzle had made it difficult to watch the road continuously!

Reached the track. It was waiting for me, all washed up, wet and devoid of any morning-walkers and stray dogs :). Biked for a net 18 km. Enjoyed the entire time. During the completion of a lap one of the overhead electric wire pole boomed and generated huge amounts of spark. I was lucky to be at a distance. It brightened my day LOL.


When I reached home, I could not make out whether I was drenched more by the drizzle or the sweat! Anyway, this is how we bikers live the life, once lived!

Getting Normal With The Drops

Hi Fellow Bikers!!

Since last week biked around 100 km after the modification! As earlier blogged that I was quite apprehensive about the new posture, but now it has become indispensable! The stability of the bike has increased and it is now easier to take turn at higher speeds. Also I am able to use the upper body weight to add to the speed and lower centre of gravity.

Some of the problems which I am still facing are:
1. The metal bell is out of the reach of the right thumb.
2. The calliper breaks on the drop handle bar is not effective. So I have to ride at lower speeds while on the normal roads to ensure safety and avoid crashes!
3. The thigh and the lower calf muscles which were trained to perform at the highest strength in the earlier posture are now not that effective and are again learning to adapt to the new posture!
4. After breaking the speed, because of the traffic at an intersection in the track, it is quite difficult to quickly regain the velocity!

I hope to get ways to overcome the above. But this is the way we bikers live and like it that way!!

Best wishes!!

Experimentation And Experience With Drop Handlebars

Hi Fellow Bikers,

Recently I had modified my beloved, bike. I let the straight handle-bar go for the new shiny steel drop handle-bar. Now the bike is looking like a bull ready to horn you.

After the modification, during the test-drive, I was so scared Man!! Since, if you are accustomed to the straight ones,  now due to the drop handlebars, the upper body becomes completely parallel to the ground and head is nearly near the handle joint!! It was scary!

I took my baby to a ride on the next morning and spent about an hour with her!!! At first a few of the thigh and calf muscles were put to strain, which were not used much in the earlier posture. After a while one becomes used to the new posture and all the inhibitions slowly goes away!! One of the advantages of riding with the Drops is that the weight of the body is now distributed between the front and the rear tyres and also the upper body gets a good support -- required for the long races! Also due to the lower posture the centre of gravity also lowers and therefore the bike feels more heavy while riding it. The air drag is reduced and therefore more speed can be attained!

But one cannot deny that the loss of control on the bike with drop handle-bars is freaking! Also the bell is now out of the reach of the thumb, making it difficult to ring and alert while cruising at higher speed, without losing the rhythm.

Every posture has some advantages and therefore disadvantages along with it!! Enjoy it!! This is how we bikers live!! and will continue the same!!!

Awesome!!!

The Glory Of Biking

Hi Readers,

When we talk about the greats like Lance Armstrong, Miguel Indurain, Bernard Hinault, Eddy Merckx, and Jacques Anquetil, we reckon their sheer strength and determination to push the human body to its extreme.

The life-achievements of Mr. Lance Armstrong excites me the most. He is the one who is best known for winning the Tour de France a record seven consecutive times, after having survived testicular cancer. The comeback is just unmatchable just as his determination.

The thrill of speed and agility solely by the combination of a Man and a Simple Machine. The fuel is the blood of the rider and breath rustling through its nostrils.

The feeling of having the full control of the machine, with each push of the pedal accelerating it and the wind gushing by the pair of ears, makes the rider exhilarate and renders her/him breathless. Even on a day when the air is still and silent, the rider can make the same happen at her/his whims and fancies.

A rider, owning a MTB (Mountain Terrain Bike), goes off the track and takes the road less taken, traversed and traveled. The rider readies itself to tackle the narrow roads, the muddy and slippery ones, or the sagging sandy ones, or the patches of grass and rocks. The rider encounters quick turns and wins them over by executing quick and impromptu manoeuvres.

When a rider stops to catch the breath, the sweat, already overloaded on the pair of eyebrows, drips on the eyelids and flows into the eyes. It burns, yeah, it surely does, but this is an experience which only the bikers know and they cherish it! The clothes are wet with salty sweat from the collar to the socks and from one cuff to the other.

After the biking session, with an electrified mind and overcharged senses, the rider takes careful and tiny sips of the lava-hot filter coffee and start a new day!!

Such is a life, we bikers love and lead!!

God Was Watching!

Hi Readers,

It was 18:00 hours yesterday. A perfect weather for Biking. So I set out. God was watching!
A few minutes on the road and it started to rain. Before I write further, one fact to share!

Fact_1: Here, in the non-rainy seasons, it generally rains for only a few minutes!

I thought, "o.k., no problem, I will keep on pedalling, anyway it is going to stop". I was wrong. God was watching!

When even after a few minutes it did not stop, and I lost hope, I took shelter under a shed of a closed shop. Eventually the rain subdued! I continued. God was watching!

Fact_2: Here at a residential area, there are many a blind perpendicular lanes connecting to the main street.

While I was on such a street, suddenly a rider on a Scooty appeared from such a lane.

Fact_3: The Rubber Stump breaks on a bike stops functioning after the bike is subjected to rain as they slip against the metallic rim due to the rain water on it.

This fact slipped my mind. I was on a positive slope and therefore at a breakneck speed. I applied the breaks but the application failed to provide expected results. I saw the Scooty and thought, this is it. This is how the story ends. God was still watching!

I observed that the Scooty was in a range of a few inches from the bike. Then in a split second, it happened. I was through. It was as if the scooty turned into air. God was watching! Nothing really happened. I cursed and pedalled along again in a breakneck speed.

This is how I live. God is watching!