I am currently home alone.
While I passed the weekdays, I had no idea what to do on a Friday night.
Was not interested in a regular night out and was thinking of something fun.
That is when I saw the Night Ride post on
http://www.facebook.com/TheBikeAffair
I called up Krish and got it confirmed if 8:00 PM was start time from the store.
I left office by around 5 PM. Reached home. I had had a heavy breakfast and an equally heavy lunch. So decided to skip dinner.
I left home at about 7 PM. It was a nice ride along the service road of the ORR. In 40 minutes I crossed the Gachibowli flyover. But then started getting stuck in traffic. Stopped at Kothaguda and called up Krish. He told me to continue to the store and not worry about the time.
Reached the store and met some more riders waiting for the trip.
Krish lent me a light. As my bike did not have one.
We took off from the store around 8:30 or so.
I have not ridden on this road before. It was a mix of mud roads and tarmac. It was also the first time i was cycling in the night.
It takes a little time to get used to a bright light on the handlebar.
If you look at the light and then at the road, the glare gets to you.
Also the first time I am riding without being able to see which gear I am in. So it kinda makes you more aware of the cycle. Its a lot of fun when you realise you might me doing some weird combination. But these confusions last just a few minutes. You slowly rely on your other senses and they compensate quite well.
Till the Polaris junction on the ISB road, I was making some really good speeds. I was riding along with this young guy who also happens to be a colleague. We then waited under the flyover to regroup.
The road after this was very interesting. We started climbing a short hill. The view from the top in the night was very good.
Now I was one of the slowest riders in the group. So everyone was waiting for me. Luckily Krish was along for company.
We then continued on to the Gandipet Lake aka Osman Sagar.
It was a very humid night. We then stopped on top of the bund for some time. Had a few chocolates and shared some stories.
This lake is halfway between my home and TBA. So I decided to ride back home. This would be a ride back alone at around 9:45 PM.
On a road I have not used. Luckily one of the guys used his phone and showed me the route. I needed to ride straight till VIF college and then turn left.
Riding till that college on a dark road with trees was a little scary. I am used to the comfort of my car or the loud exhausts of my bike.
The silence when riding a cycle is so eerie. Having been watching a lot of horror movies did not help either.
I reached home and stashed the bike away. Its a initiative by TBA. Thanks guys. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Total Distance was about 44 kms.
Left home at about 7 PM.
Back by 10:00 PM.
Time on saddle, I guess was about 2 hours and 15-30 minutes.