Many would dread to drive during the nights, especially on highways, fearing glaring headlights of oncoming vehicles, rains and other such reasons.
However, these 26 cyclists from Mangaluru and Udupi dared all those odds and pedalled 200 km on National Highway 66 between Mangaluru-Maravanthe-Mangaluru within 13.30 hrs to become randonneurs after completing a brevet on Saturday-Sunday. Randonneuring is a long-distance cycling sport where riders attempt courses of 200 km or more.
Still interesting was the fact that about 18 out of 26 riders, including Udupi Superintendent of Police K. Annamalai and dental surgeon P.N. Ramaraj were participating in a brevet for the first time. Though 33 had registered for the 200 km Karavali Night Brevet being organised by Mangalore Cycling Club, only 30 participated while four left the event midway due to heavy humidity and other reasons.
MACC in association with Audax India Randonneurs (AIR) under the banner of Audax Club Parisien (ACP) organised its 3rd Brevet of the 2016 Brevet calendar, which also became the first night brevet. Since it was a night brevet, organisers had cautioned riders forehand to be equipped with necessary gadget; so did the riders follow and were equipped with reflective jackets, head and tail lamps etc.
13.30 hours duration
Leaving Mangaluru at around 5.25 pm, the riders moved in groups as advised by the organisers via Surathkal, Padubidri, Udupi, Kundapura before reaching midpoint Maravanthe and returning to Mangaluru. Anil Shet, Ashok Lobo and Ajith Cherian were the first to arrive at Mangaluru at 3.54 am on Sunday. The last to arrive before the cut off time (6.50 am) was Hare Krishna Maheshwari, who reached Mangaluru at 6.45 am.
About six to eight volunteers, including Dheeraj Hejmady, Prajval Baglodi and Samarth Rai, ‘covered’ the riders throughout the ride with their emergency back-up on three vehicles. They took care of riders at turning points, various water and food points and clicking pictures.
Endurance and cadence
Mr. Annamalai, after completing his first Brevet, said it was the best event he ever participated and thanked the organisers. Dr. Ramaraj was all ecstatic after becoming a Randonneur and credited it to daily rides with MACC members. He said he never tried to push; his mantra of endurance riding was hudration, nutrition (took break after every 20 minutes for munching) and cadence. He rode along with Danny, another first timer, and both completed together.
Fifteen-year-old Suraj Samaga, son of ace cyclist Sarvesh Samaga and 14-year-old Smith Javia, son of Bhavesh Javia, another ace cyclist of Mangaluru, were the younger lot who completed the event.
Barani Radha Krishnan, Deshnath Reddy Palagiri, Sarvesh Samaga, Deepak Hebbar, Ganesh Nayak Bantwal, Shyamprasad Nayak, Anil Shet Raikar, Dhanaraj Karkera, Harivijay Kudva and Zihan Mohammed were some others who completed the brevet.
