Dear all,
I thought some better writer should narrate the story of Abu Ascent.
But I guess people got busy.
What was important was done - sending emails in not important.
No one had anything to prove to himself or herself.
So, I take it upon myself to narrate this.
Here is a "brief" account of Abu Ascent Tour.
22 riders registered for the tour - many not knowing whether there was enough in them to undertake this journey.
Apprehensions were there even for the first part - the Abu Climb.
But, the determination was there.
Everybody egging each other on - sometimes the fears submerged by attempts at dry humour.
Whatever . . . .
These 22 decided to go - partly against their own good judgement, partly against against some family concerns.
Whatever . . . .
On 17th December, 5:00 pm onwards, riders started depositing their cycles at my hospital basement parking.
I kept count on how many arrived.
Almost all but a few, I thought.
All the drivers were summoned to my office on that eve to summerize their duties.
They were instructed where to wait, how to wait, how to make fluid, how to assist the riders in case of problem, what to do in case of emergencies etc.
The food packets prepared by Haresh Mewada, biscuits by Shravan and Mineral Water by Sunny were distributed in the cars.
Prepared power packs also positioned in the cars.
Each rider was given printed laminated tags of all important phone numbers, car details, locations etc in English as well as Gujarati.
The truck arrived at 8:00 pm and as requested - all riders came.
Few of us got into the truck and stated arranging cycles, padding with card board boxes and thermocol sheets and tying each cycle with each other using zip ties.
By now I had got the hang of how to combine two zip ties to make a longer one.
8 and 9 cycles in a row - 17 cycles were stacked into the truck.
One cycles - on loan from Gaurav Fozdar was kept as a standby.
Rest 6 cycles were loaded onto cycles racks behind cars.
The truck left for Abu Road around 9:30 am.
On 18th morning, all got together around 4:30 am at the Restore Clinic.
Jaikrishna reached just in time - thanks to his brother waking him up.
Final distribution of first aid kits and bananas completed.
As planned, sharp at 4:50 am - we departed for Abu Road.
I don't know what happened in other cars - whether people slept or talked.
In my car, we had Jayesh Modi - need not say more . . . .
By about 7 am, people started hogging on bananas and biscuits.
We reached the starting point - which was 15 km after Abu Road fly over on the highway. The base of climb was 7 km from this point.
It was 7:30 am.
We all changed into cycling gear.
It was freezing cold. Could see my fingers but could not feel them.
Put on a second layer jacket to stave away some freeze.
Cycles were brought down from the truck, air pumped, legs stretched, music players tuned, GPS satellites acquired and fluid bottles filled and secured.
We had our photo op of the start - relentlessly clicked by Shailendra on his professional camera.
We started off around 8:30 am towards the base.
As the last time, last set of instructions given just before the start.
The 6 riders with experience (Vivek, Sunny, Anand, Haresh, Vijay and Parth) yawned while others listened intently to what I and Gaurav had to say.
Then off we went. Each rider for himself.
No looking back, no time for regrets, apprehensions - yes, but no fear.
The initial part felt difficult as some thought - what have we got ourselves into.
The mental demons started playing tricks but they persevered.
Stopping, refilling, recovering - they pushed and prodded.
By the first 3 km distance, bodies had warmed up enough with the effort that almost everyone discarded their jackets in the first car they saw.
Sajan had a flat - but no spare tire and no puncture kit.
I caught up with him ready to put his cycle on the back of one of the cars.
But I was prepared. Had some puncture patches with me.
Got this sorted out and off he went like a rocket.
I could catch up with him only after another 5 km or so.
Happily - all 22 finished. No mishaps, no give up. Great feeling indeed.
As planned, Shailendra was ready at Hotel Hillock with a glass of high protein shake for everyone.
There was air of joy and elation.
Relief for some as they finished what they started with.
We rested in the lawns of Hillock with some tasty idly, bananas and fruit juice (that was all the riders were allowed to eat).
Then we had another photo op near the pool.
Shailendra again snapped away the group photo with the indomitable ABC banner in the front.
Everyone cheered as Shailendra clicked - someone commented - "is he recording voice also?"
After about and hour and a half rest, we got together again at Hillock entrance.
This was a time to warn everyone about dangers of carelessness on the descent.
Strict guidelines were given. Rules were reiterated. Everyone nodded.
I felt like a teacher blurting out to obedient students - but this was a matter of safety - not a competition for being "nice".
As instructed, we started the roll down at an interval of few seconds to keep a distance of 20 odd feet between the riders.
This was true wind in the face.
Hands cramping with continuous application of the breaks.
Watering rolling down the cheeks from eyes.
And all forgotten by the thrill of rolling down - a longest roller coaster ride you ever enjoy in your life.
I screamed with joy - wheeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
Fortunately - there was no one nearby to record the exasperations of a 50ish orthopedic surgeon. Someone could really have black mailed with such a recording.
We gathered at the base. Replenished our fluids.
Gaurav lead the way out of treacherous roads of Abu Road to get onto the highway again.
A small child of 2 years suddenly ran on the road and Tushar breaked suddenly to save him.
The child was saved unhurt. Tushar go a few grazes.
The adrenaline was pumping. He soon shrugged off the injury and pedalled ahead.
Me, Gaurav and Vivek got into a rhythm of drafting each other and kept up speeds around 30 km/h.
Cars were positioned at 15 and 30 km marks for support.
For safety, all riders were required to sign a muster when they passed the support cars.
We signed and cranked ahead.
Come the second support car and Vivek made a screeching stop - literally burning a hole in his tire going through into his tube.
There was no way he could have replaced his tube and still hoped to rider.
My habit of (over)preparing to the rescue. Had a spare tube with me. Quickly replaced the tire and tube and went ahead.
There were passer byes on the way who were curious.
Some were curious beyond comfort and tried to pester answers out of riders about the cycles, where they are from, where there are heading etc.
Some actually intercepted some riders to ask them to have a rider on the cycle.
But we live amongst some curious and some stupid people.
Whatever . . . we pedalled along and reached Balaram Palace resorts.
And there Shailendra was, ready with protein shake.
We parked our cycles in the court yard in front of the restaurant.
Parked our behind on the chairs laid out in the lawn and hogged on the "Bataka Pauva", tea and coffee.
It was time to find our ways to our allocated rooms. Balaram people were kind enough to provide Platinum size rooms for all - so big that the voices echoed.
Nishith had arranged for a masseuse and some of the riders got their legs massaged for a faster recovery.
All had long shower, rested and relaxed.
Got all the cycles in the room above the restaurant for safe keeping.
While waiting for dinner found out that the back tire of my bike had a flat.
Got into action and changed the tire.
By that time I had virtually opened up a cycle clinic.
A long line of riders trying to get their cycles checked.
I positioned myself strategically with my took kit, fixed gears, flats, brake shoes, seats etc.
As planned had a planned meal consisting of pasta, potatoes and rice.
I got quite a stick for arranging such a menu - but this was no time for a feast.
Had to make everyone stuff up on carbohydrates.
There was 160 km of ride still ahead the next day.
Having stuffed up the stomachs - everyone went off to bed early.
The glitch of the evening was that Gaurav had to rush back to Ahmedabad for some business emergency.
So were were left one car less - no issued.
Worked up the schedule again to redistribute work amongst 4 cars.
Shailendra was again upto speed with his print outs and notes.
We sat together and finalised the new schedule for the drivers.
Crack of 5:00 am - got everyone up.
There was packing, transferring of bags, breakfast, morning routine etc to be done before the scheduled time of 7:30 am.
Everyone was upto it.
Breakfast was again a lump of potatoes, eggs and bananas.
Got the morning behind us and everyone got together in the car park with their bikes.
Freezing cold, no feeling in the fingers, tip or nose and could not locate my ear lobes.
Somehow started pedalling towards the highway.
About 3 km ride to reach highway worked wonders to get the circulation back all over.
And the open highway was already bathed in morning sunshine - helped everyone to warm up.
Got the legs warmed up and got upto speed.
The day was going to be long.
The initial 80 km were more or less down hill with a few fly overs and small up climbs and almost no wind - if at all - some head wind.
Reached Shanku water park at 11:20 am.
Tushar Patel's wife Priti had already reached Shanku to coordinate lunch for all.
This was again potatoes and rice.
Had a quick lunch and started off again.
Just a couple of km down the road, I had a flat. Changed the tube - found that the changed tube also had a puncture.
So changed the tube again.
By that time the sun was up, the wind had changed direction and it was no longer downhill.
Vivek was still egging to go on - so I asked him to push and I kept a steady pace of 25 - 27 km/h.
At times it was so windy that the downhills of all the flyovers were no fun.
Had to really pedal in low gear to get to the bottom of all the fly overs.
After riding for 6 hours and 3 minutes, I reached Karnavati Club.
The welcome party was waiting at the gates.
Karnavati Club management had specially arranged for all the riders and their family members to enter the club.
We were seated in an exclusive area, served with juices and snacks.
One after one the riders started reaching back to Karnavati.
Each one as they entered the club were cheered and hugged by the fellow riders.
Sheetal had leg cramps on the second day, but she stayed all along with the riders in the support car to give assistance and encouragement to all.
To me - the rider of the tour were Anita and Rishi.
We jelled and bonded over these two days.
We laughed.
There was christening of new names.
Folklores of competition between Anita and Jayesh shall be written.
But we conquered the distance.
I felt a little pride inside me for pushing the non believers into believers.
This included the riders and their family and friends who looked at them with their jaws dropping to their knees.
Served everyone right.
Happy days are here again.
I can go on.
But as I said in the begining - I will be "brief".
Harsh Shah
Pedal to pride . . .
