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Ride to Manori – 43

Average speed: 14.3 kmph

Last night the old group pinged me to come to Manori ride. It’s been a while I met these guys and I been to this place, so decided to go along. Most of the guys canceled, just 3 of us ended up going to the ride.

As usual it’s a pretty nice route, very less traffic and total country side feeling. We ate some Tadgola (Palm Fruit) and on return had tasty double omelet with bun pau. All in all a good relaxing easy ride with friends.

Total distance covered: 43 kms
Total distance so far: 1564 kms

Ride to Nariman Point – 60 kms

Average speed: 18.7 kmph

Today being Republic Day for India, I was suppose to join the flag hosting ceremony ride. But the venue was changed at the last moment. I came to know about it from another cyclist who caught up with me near Juhu circle. We rode together till Bandra flyover, but I was stopping and checking the rear tyre to make sure it doesn’t have any puncture. The last 2 frequent punctures have made me a bit more conscious. That guy pedaled away. I saw some more guys ahead of me as I was approaching Siddhivinayaka temple. I halted to bow down at the temple and continued but by that time no one was in sight. I must have then taken a different route as I didn’t see any other cyclist en route.

Once again ended up riding solo till Gateway of India and came back without stopping as they had tight security everywhere and didn’t allow cycles past the security check point.

Total distance covered: 60 kms
Total distance so far: 1521 kms

Ride to Sewri – 45 kms

Average speed: 17 kmph

Today being a low tide, there was a group event to Sewri. I have never been to this place and on top of that this time of the year migrating Flamingo visited Mumbai coast @ Sewri. I wasn’t sure if I will wake up early, but the bio-alarm woke me up just in time and so I went with 4 other riders to visit the place.

Flamingo were a little less in no.s this year (I don’t know as I never saw them live and was even surprised to learn that they come to polluted city like Mumbai), but none the less when I watched through binocular they appeared quite large no., though scattered across huge low tide area.

As soon as we started the return journey once again the back tyre punctured and with the help of fellow cyclists friends managed to fix it ourselves. And then halted for a quick breakfast.

Total distance covered: 45 kms
Total distance so far: 1461 kms

Ride to Haji Ali – 46 kms

Average speed: 17.3 kmph

Another uneventful ride to Haji Ali.

Total distance covered: 46 kms
Total distance so far: 1416 kms

Ride to Dadar – 35 kms

Average speed: 16.0 kmph

Resuming cycling after almost a month. Rode till Dadar market at leisurely speed.

On return the rear tire punctured near Santacruz. Tried to look around for LBS but it was too early for them to start the business. So decided to replace the tube myself. With a bit of struggle managed to get the old tube out. Inspected the tire and pulled out the culprit, a very small and sharp broken piece of metal. Then put the new tube in and with a bit of help from an onlooker (people come and start helping whether you ask for it or not, India is great). That guy was amazed to know that I was fixing the puncture by my own.

Then rode to the LBS where I usually go for repairs, got the punctured tube fixed and also the other tube was not put up properly, which he fixed as well. After returning back to the building, my daughter was waiting for me to ride the bike with me. We rode one round at the Lokhandwala back roads and then 10 rounds around the building complex.

Total distance covered: 35 kms
Total distance so far: 1370 kms

Ride to Nariman Point – 85 kms

Average speed: 19.0 kmph

Back after a break of almost 2 weeks.

Another (almost) uneventful ride to Nariman Point.

When I was riding through Chota Kashmir, suddenly out of nowhere a pack of about 4 dogs started barking and chasing furiously. All my barking and shouting back didn’t help and I had to eventually stop and alight from the bike to end the drama. I had to alight 3 more times beforehand when I saw other dogs chasing 2 wheelers during the ride.

When coming back from Nariman Point I realized I had plenty of time as I had started early in the morning. So cycled to CST station and from there to Churchgate station and back to almost end of the Nariman Point.

Total distance covered: 85 kms
Total distance so far: 1335 kms

EDIT: Hit by the recurrence of Malaria, which apparently first hit on 02-Oct-2010 but that time Malaria tests had come negative. This time Malaria tests came positive. Ugly disease, never experienced anything like this… fever went to 104.5 with constant chills and shivering which only subsided using ice water draughts.