MbC Butt Breaking Challenge 2019 accomplished
Mangalore Bicycle Club members are gearing up for their participation in yet another Ultra Spice Race in the coming calendar year 2020. In 2018 our team of 3 riders had qualified in the 1000 KM Relay category in Ultra Spice Race securing 1st place. Beginning of this year, we had set our next yardstick and have set the planning in full swing to start off with the preparation for 2020 Ultra spice Race. In January, MbC committee members came together to plan for 2019, and one of the agenda on the list was to start the preparations for Ultra Spice 2020 and get the team in place and we launched an event named “Butt Breaking Challenge 2019”.
Support crew was ready and the support vehicle was equipped with car rack, technical equipment required in case of emergency breakdown, spare pump, medical kit, water, refreshments etc. On March 1, 2019 team of 6 riders along with the support team started their journey from KPT at 4 am. Finish point for Day 1 was Mysore via Madikeri. We followed the Ultra Spice Format to keep the spirit of endurance riding on and had the entire route, pit stops, duration taken by the entire team to reach each point were all decided in the planning stage itself. We reached Puttur at 7 am which was our breakfast point. Riders fuelled up themselves for their expedition ahead. We had multiple stopover points for refreshments and hydration throughout the ride like every 30 to 50 kms or ~2 hours depending on the terrain. Stopover points were more during the climbs to Madikeri and once at Madikeri, we had our lunch and riders were all set for the second part of their day till Mysore. We reached Mysore on time as per our plan. Our stay was arranged at YHAI. We clocked 255 kms of riding over a duration of 13 hours and with an elevation gain of 4500 mtrs as per strava recording.
On Day 2, a couple of riders opted out and 4 riders continued their ride starting at 4 in the morning. For one-hour support vehicle was guiding them with light for the ride since it was dark and the ride was through the city roads till we reached the highway. We had our tea break around 5 am and continued as the weather was warming up and headwinds blowing. Despite all these obstacles, riders kept their spirits on and rode till Bandipur National Park gate, where the next obstruction was awaiting us. The forest officials conveyed that cycling is not allowed in the national park considering the safety of riders. We had in fact spoken to the forest range officials earlier and the communication to us was that we could cycle through the national park, since we faced this restriction, we had to call up the officials again and after giving a declaration that riders are responsible for any adverse events which may occur, the ride continued through Bandipur Forest Area to Mudumalai reserve and reached the base of Kalhatti ghats.
Riders were exhausted and as per the plan after climbing the 36 hairpin bends and reaching Ooty, the ride was to continue till Mysore on the same day. Fatigue had slowly started to take a toll on their body and minds and the thought of the steep climbs ahead made them rethink on their ride ahead. Even the motor vehicles find it difficult to maneuver through the terrains of Kalhatty and hence the trouble a cyclist has to take to climb the same is too high. However, the support crew reassured them of their wholehearted support by providing them nutrition, refreshments and rest at regular intervals and encouraged them to continue their ride reminding them of their capabilities.
With words of motivation and confidence on their endurance levels, they set out to climb the hills ahead. Once 4 hairpin bends were covered, one of the riders recollected seeing a tender coconut vendor and regretted not consuming it then. The support crew swung into action. They took a U-Turn and went down the hills to the spot where the tender coconut vendor was based. One of the water cans was filled with water and cream of 12 tender coconuts mixed with honey, pink salt and lime. This power drink was later renamed as ‘Amruta’ (Immortal nectar) by the riders. We rushed back with this drink to the riders where they had almost covered 10 to 12 hairpin bends, each of them at different points. We ensured all the riders had their share of the Amruta before proceeding and it had helped them conquer the mighty Kalhatty in style. The support crew did a few up and downs through the hills to make sure all riders were provided with sufficient nutrition and they stayed hydrated throughout their climb. Sreekanth Raja finished the climb first followed by Masood Teekay, Hariprasad and Gururaj. The sense of achievement could be seen on all 4 faces and the support crew had to acknowledge the tolerance levels of all these riders pedaling through the hot weather against all odds on their way. As the riders started to discuss amongst each other about hitting back Mysore on the same day, the support crew gave them a pleasant surprise by conveying that they earn a well-deserved rest for the remaining part of day 2 at Ooty. We checked into a hotel after about another 5 kms of the ride. All 4 riders completed their Day 2 riding with a cumulative distance of 380 kms with an elevation of 7250 mts and total riding time of 22 hours over the first 2 days. After freshening up at the hotel, all riders headed to Adyar Anand Bhavan for a sumptuous dinner and decided to resume the next day’s ride by 7 am only unlike other days, considering the chilly weather of Ooty. After a hot shower, all hit the bed by 9 PM.
On Day 3 all woke up and were ready by 7 am and reached Adyar Anand Bhavan for breakfast and started on the ride by 7.45 am with packed food and water for on the way consumption. Day 3 route was from Ooty to Gudallur to Gundalpet and then cross Bandipur. We were stopped at Mudumalai forest gate and the officials did not allow us to ride through the forest area due to safety reasons. We did not waste time and decided to transport all 4 bicycles on our support vehicle till Bandipur Gate for a distance of 35 kms. Day 3 was the last day of riding and we could not give way for any delays as all riders had to head back to their offices on the very next day. And to avoid night riding beyond 6.30 pm, we replanned a bit and took a deviation to H.D. Kotte skipping Mysore reaching Hunsur. By now we knew that riding till Mangalore to reach on the same day was not looking realistic and hence we asked one of our club member Gaurav Prabhu to come to transport couple of bicycles and riders back to Mangalore. We stopped at Hunsur until Gaurav reached and after dinner left for Mangalore reaching Mangalore at 3 am.
Riders- Sreekanth Raja, Masood Teekay, Hariprasad B, Gururaj Patil successfully completed the challenge, Gaurav Prabhu and Wilfred Pinto rode the first day. Support Crew included Hariprasad Shevire and Ganesh Nayak.
This was an awesome ride with a sense of achievement and a lot of learning for all participants. Meticulous planning by club committee, timely revision of strategies, positive attitude of riders with commitment, training and support crew all played a crucial role in ensuring the success of this ride. This is just the beginning of the Ultra Spice Race practice sessions. Riders are willing to do more till they are ready to take over……
