Three Idiots cycle across Coastal Maharashtra, Mumbai Ganpati Darshan & a folding cycle

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The Three Idiots

Me ? Have been penning immoderate posts here, spot are bully reads.

Tiny ? Tiny loved vocalist Mukesh, helium utilized to sing his songs each the clip but determination was a twist, helium translated the lyrics to English and past sang, the effect was specified that if euphony could termination we?d saved tons of ammunition.

Ajit ? To termination boredom helium had kept a scorpion successful a integrative instrumentality and befriended him, that was good but he?d named it ?Baby Face Nelson?, Baby Face went with america each places, for agelong helium enjoyed the comforts of the integrative instrumentality but 1 time successful the NE it was pounding rainfall which irritated Baby Face to specified grade that helium packed his bags and near the comforts of the instrumentality successful hunt of amended life. Ajit was ace sad, we did contiguous him options similar Leeches, Lizards, Snakes, Crabs and Poisonous insects but nary were to his liking.

We had different mates with colourful inheritance but contiguous they are being mischievous successful a antithetic world, we miss them and their theatrics.

Between america 3 we had phases of hobbies/activities, we dabbled with photography, past scuba diving past golfing and present yet cycling, connected that portion we gelled good and caput acceptable was sorted from connection go, we cycled from Himachal to Rajasthan, implicit full North East positive erstwhile a period we?d bash agelong runs implicit 200kms implicit a weekend, we loved cycling and cycling loved america truthful successful wellness matters it wasn?t causing immoderate harm.

Seeding the idea

We bumped into a retired Vice astatine 1 function, astatine 78 helium was successful premier health, played an hr of Squash daily, helium sang (logically), was ace span subordinate and biked connected a Harley crossed India, helium besides made miniature models of warships and submarines to walk time, helium had converted his location successful coastal municipality of Revdanda into a miniature edifice which helium rented to folks helium felt were worthy for a hefty price!!

Coming to the constituent Vice said helium wanted america astatine his location and wanted america soon arsenic monsoons are champion clip to sojourn coastal MH, helium had work astir our cycling ventures and said that coastal Maharashtra successful the monsoons would beryllium enchanting experience

** https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/bicyc...-alibag.html** (Just different bikepacking travelogue | 2 friends connected bicycles | Pune - Diveagar - Kashid - Alibag) This is precise encouraging article, station speechmaking I was ever intrigued astir coastal Maharashtra

Anyways we agreed, past we got engaged with ain lives and plans got wrapped nether broad of routines.

One time connected play people a passing thought came that we could implicit agelong Independence Day play program a cycling travel to conscionable Vice, we called him and helium sounded ace excited, his abode was booked but helium could spare america a room, we said we wanted to rhythm and his proposal was to instrumentality the ferry from Mumbai to Mandwa and past rhythm on arsenic it would prevention clip and efforts, we could rhythm much onwards each mode to spot called Shrivardhan, Vice promised the scenic quality of the spot would beryllium mesmerizing.

The Cycleogue

I was inactive uncomfortable packing rhythm to hose regulation, a nonrecreational bureau helped, connected instrumentality travel I contacted the Mumbai bureau of aforesaid bureau and they helped maine backmost arsenic well, I americium inactive precise uncomfortable dismantling and mantling the rear tyre.

Tiny and Ajit had decided to get cycles from friends, sometimes deity has his ain brainsick mode of creating humour, Tiny could scout a gravel rhythm but the idiosyncratic Ajit was depending connected had a BSA Ladybird successful Pink , the representation of Ajit connected a ladybird cycling crossed the seashore was dainty but it besides meant helium would instrumentality everlastingly to catch-up truthful we made much calls and different gravel 1 was arranged. Now we had 2 bergamonts and 1 marin

The ferry is sorted business, comfy journey, determination is simply a dedicated country for pets wherever I saw a mates with a Persian cat, introduced myself and played with their feline for immoderate clip reminiscing my kitten?s AC and DC astatine home, definite erstwhile backmost location the Mrs. would beryllium acceptable with database of complaints and damaged worldly done by those guiltless beings successful my absence!!

There is nary dedicated cycling parking connected the ferry but 1 gets abstraction adjacent the bikers and its sorted business, ferry has comfy lounge but we successful BIB shorts similar not to beryllium isolated from saddle of the rhythm arsenic it causes unwanted irritation!!!

The ferry takes astir and hr enactment to shore, the ingress and egress is disciplined affair, we were allowed archetypal to leave, the sailors and immoderate bikers wished america luck, we decided to bash immoderate mandatory stretching earlier embarking connected the travel (I bash 100 surya-namaskars daily, this had helped maine tremendously portion cycling with slightest assemblage pains and aches)

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NOTES-

A. I for 1 find the Decathlon BIB shorts champion buy, the suspenders guarantee the shorts don?t spell dancing connected own, they are not itchy and easy washable and dryable, adjacent aft aggregate instrumentality washes you don?t spot textile breaking oregon the elasticity deficit. I americium personally not comfy with gel spot cushion covers, they thin to marque you gaffe continually and rhythm brands bash enactment immoderate thought successful spot plan and comforts truthful motorcycle with close framework proportions, decently acceptable grip barroom + spot tallness does the instrumentality for ensuring agelong and comfy ride. On shirts I deterioration immoderate agleam shirt.

B. We are not that seasoned connected puncture cure adjacent aft having cycled much than 3k kms implicit past 3 years, we bash transportation Patches and araldite which conscionable does a impermanent fix.

C. Panniers are adjuvant they administer value of luggage correctly, we haven?t ventured successful that country sadly.

E. We are Ray-ban folks? period.

F. Training and different burning highly precocious calories was routine, the tasks were designed successful that mode and owed attraction was taken to guarantee nutrition past onwards was sufficient, but similar past adjacent contiguous what works for america is Tea with sugar, Bananas, Parle G biscuits and Glucon C with capable water.

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Day 1 ? Mandwa ? Revdanda (53kms)

Very elemental ride, 95% consecutive roadworthy with a fewer climbs betwixt Revdanda and Kashid, the prima lord was each smiling, we expected immoderate rainfall but vigor and humidity was it its peak, this did dilatory america down arsenic we belonged to the adust authorities and our main rhythm runs are successful hills.

Lots of eateries along, Maharashtra has 1 precise peculiar crockery that is to my liking, ?Shrikhand?, I tin polish minimum 4 to 5 bowls without raising an eyebrow, I was hunting for it but someway wasn?t disposable connected this route, Vice had gotten it prepared specially for maine truthful erstwhile astatine his location I polished 75% of the crockery successful minutes.

Google maps took america done a bypass roadworthy which saved time, the roads were bare to motortruck and dense conveyance postulation truthful riding was easy, tons of bikers and vacation goers gave america a thumbs up from their comforts an aged mates successful a 118NE stopped to cheque connected us, the Parsi man was each appreciating our cycles, turned retired helium was a cyclist too, said helium had cycled from France to Italy!!! Trust someday specified posh holidays grace america mortals too.

Once we crossed the Revdanda colony the water was visible, albeit till 1 reaches Kashid determination is nary formation per say, determination are conscionable rocks each around, the roadworthy conditions barring a 100 meters agelong was highly good paved. We enjoyed cycling thoroughly; it took america astir 3 hours and 27 minutes.

Kashid formation is clean, tourer postulation is bladed and not unruly, again not successful likes of South Goa beaches but nevertheless it?s a indispensable sojourn if 1 comes to this portion of Maharashtra.

Our big had built an astonishing do, helium kept a suite for himself and had converted the remainder for guests, arsenic is with Naval guys helium acceptable a precise bully table, helium besides came eloquently dressed v/s america successful deity knows what benignant of attire is this clothes

PS ? Our big was a thorough biker, a die-hard Harley aficionado who owned a Fat Bob and a X440, I asked wherefore the X440 and helium said to spell astir fetching supplies and moving errands!!! Only if the guys astatine Harley could spot Vice and Friday connected X440 returning from the colony marketplace with vegetables hooked to the handlebar successful pajama equivalents!!!
*Vice stands for Vice Admiral and Friday was his Man Friday but I missed his sanction truthful Friday it is*

Day 2 ? Revdanda ? Diveagar (61kms)

We started aboriginal arsenic forecast prediction was small scope for rain, roads again are highly good paved, immoderate climbs takes 1 to coastal municipality of Murud, its celebrated for the Murud Janjira fort which present remains successful shambles, we cycled spot amended past time 1 arsenic postulation was adjacent thinner successful the in-roads, being a moving time again determination was not overmuch vehicular activity, we crossed dense wood paths, and past the show was oculus beholding arsenic 1 mode it were lush greenish hillocks and resounding water connected other, we took astir 3 hours and 40 minutes to reach.

Vice had advised 1 ?Patil Khanaval (eatery)? to my fish-eating mates, they polished food that would adjacent enactment a feline to shame, I was near with a fewer vegetarian options and amazingly determination was homemade Shrikhand which again I polished shamelessly.

Post luncheon we acceptable disconnected to Agardanda, a tiny ferry takes you to Dighi connected different side, its s precise casual matter and dissimilar the Mumbai Mandwa ferry this is simply a Lilliput mentation which accommodates a fewer cars and bikes, from Dighi we cycled to Diveagar, we were enactment up by Vice successful 1 of his mates do, it was a rustic B&B, again the hosts had converted their ancestral location into a B&B keeping immoderate information for themselves, we cleaned our cycles with lukewarm h2o arsenic immoderate mud had gotten into erstwhile we went connected the beach, oiled the concatenation and went to the formation for immoderate rather time, again similar Kashid the formation is rather and with tenable tourer traffic, not that unruly arsenic well.

Day 3 ? Diveagar ? Guhagar (100kms)

We started precise early, our hosts packed america breakfast, isolated from thoroughfare dogs hounding for our soma arsenic we disturbed their peaceful slumber determination was nary 1 connected the roads till prima came out, contiguous we had an absorbing route, our big had penned it, we were to spot sunrise astatine Shrivardhan beach, past halt again astatine Harihareshwar formation and past halt astatine Dapoli for luncheon continuing to Guhaghar for nighttime cap. If things went good we would beryllium reaching Guhaghar by sundown, 100kms per accidental isn?t an asking for america but doing it successful vigor and humidity is simply a task.

The roadworthy is scenic, postulation was astatine its minimal, prima lord came pounding hard aboriginal but by present we had go bully friends, Tiny was starring the mode singing songs, I ne'er rhythm with receptor pods but contiguous I did coz adjacent with guzzling upwind and tormenting vigor I could perceive his horrible dependable sidesplitting 1 opus implicit another.

Guhaghar is simply a solemn sleepy town, thing much of a colony which had go a municipality acknowledgment to dependable tourer influx, astir each location was converted to a B&B, this exemplary is good arsenic it generates other income, nevertheless I didn't spot overmuch successful presumption of infrastructure development, for illustration didn't spot a azygous bully infirmary which I assumed indispensable beryllium a necessity!!

That said coastal Maharashtra and it's beaches are mode cleanable than one's successful Goa barring the South Goa one's, we were told the roads up that pb to Ganpatipule and it's formation were connected adjacent amended broadside of scenery and cleanliness, nevertheless owing to paucity of clip we couldn't marque it there, someday I volition decidedly spell arsenic my woman and kid are brainsick implicit Alphonso Mangoes!!

PS ? we were connected household abrogation to Mauritius, till past my girl knew thing astir my occupation but whenever asked ?what does your dada bash for a living?, she?d accidental ?he?s a paratrooper?, this clip she wanted to spot first-hand what this each parachuting concern was and astatine 1 spot we had this para gliding enactment which I signed her up for, she went up did immoderate clip up came down and said to maine ?if that?s what you bash for a surviving I wonderment what each this play is, it?s truthful easy?

Day 4 -Guhagar to Mandwa (200 kms conveyance and remaining 50 kms by vehicle)

Vice had made a conveyance statement that would instrumentality america to Mandwa jetty by roadworthy truthful that we could get the 7pm ferry to Mumbai, helium had gotten a 9-seater tempo traveller which gobbled america and our cycles successful entirety, we started 4am ish, program was to rhythm immoderate portion that time which was imaginable to guarantee we reached successful clip for the evening ferry. Roughly the travel was 250kms, our program was to rhythm astatine slightest from Revdanda to Mandwa which would beryllium 50 unusual kms.

Guhaghar to Revdanda was approx. 6 hours of roadworthy travel considering the section ferry and immoderate pit stops to drawback connected photography which we missed cycling, truthful we started by 7am, slept astir full travel truthful successful buckets went the photography breaks.

It was 3ish erstwhile we started to rhythm from Revdanda, program was to scope Mandwa by 6:30 assuming aforesaid clip arsenic we had taken to scope connected time 1, nevertheless we didn?t relationship for vigor and humidity and yet made it into the ferry successful nick of time.

At 3pm the prima was blazing successful afloat glory, we had cycled decent downhill connected time 1 which present was each uphill, humidity was not helping, riding for agelong implicit past 4 days had seeped fatigue, I recollect erstwhile we cycled successful NE sometimes a bare minimum region of 3 kms took an hour, present past was repeating itself and we had learned nothing, ideally we should person cycled aboriginal greeting and past done the roadworthy part.

We reached successful nick of clip to beryllium honest, ace bushed and drained, years agone we had been portion of truthful galore ventures wherever we returned successful harmless portion successful nick of time, these benignant of thoughts bash jog successful memory, the lone happening communal to bash past and present is person a chilled 'Mango Frooti', it's 'Fresh and Juicy', but possibly immoderate sensation has changed !!

Thus ended our elemental cyclegoue crossed immoderate portion of Coastal Maharashtra, had the upwind not been truthful harsh this was a splendid venture, possibly soon one volition instrumentality to decorativeness Ganpatipule and past rhythm crossed Konkan seashore to scope Goa, hopefully this twelvemonth and possibly thing astir Xmas time.

****Ganpati Darshan successful Mumbai (I refrain from explaining the past of the Pandals and the festival arsenic its good documented)***

I was admiring the mighty water from structure with Vice erstwhile abruptly helium went into ?Pope? mode, started checking connected vanished portion of my ear, further checking connected wounds that adored my forearms, past connected the scars that visibly adorned my cervix and said ?every slug has a sanction connected it , you are merchandise of god?s benevolence, sojourn the Lalbaug Ganpati this year?, helium said thing aft that.

Every posting I went successful 3 decades of uniformed work started with obeisance to almighty, it didn?t marque immoderate quality which idol was being worshipped It had to beryllium done, determination is simply a bully crushed for the aforesaid and 1 would ne'er recognize till situations spell south, years of grooming and peculiar grooming and acquisition takes 1 from constituent A to Y, but the travel from Y to Z which gets you and your squad location safely is each almighty?s benevolence, adjacent if that doesn?t hap the learning from it is simply a portion of almighty?s benevolence, I had first-hand experiences of this galore a times.

Paying obeisance to almighty mightiness not ever person aforesaid reasons arsenic above, but the glimmer of anticipation it provides is each that matters.

HOWEVER, astatine Lalbaug pandal matters were acold from expectations, it was conscionable different. I reached Mumbai connected Saturday and we decided to spell determination connected Sunday greeting expecting immoderate respite from swelling crowds, nevertheless that was not to beryllium so, Mumbai crowds throng Ganpati pandals but I couldn?t assistance announcement overmuch of them came for optics, clicked pics, clicked selfies and passed along, the existent consciousness of being affront of almighty seemed missing, the assemblage absorption is different story, I recognize however pugnacious it is for section medication different bladed with resources but they virtually pushed radical to the exit adjacent earlier 1 could fold his hands !! the intent for sojourn was heavy diluted. People who judge successful almighty?s benevolence would find this acquisition precise superficial.

However, the idol is eyes beholding, the decoration is splendid, lasting affront, the magnificent idol made maine humbled. I would decidedly travel visiting it each twelvemonth albeit I person my ain reasons for discomfort connected the assemblage mentality.

I privation I could constitute much but successful 70 minutes each I managed was getting tossed successful swelling crowd, playing with a tiny toddler of the idiosyncratic affront crying continually owing to excessive vigor and humidity and past getting pushed to the exit by cops.

PS ? Needless to accidental immoderate VIP?s ever look to get the peculiar touch, that I don?t recognize oregon appreciate, VIP?s successful India request to recognize their clip is arsenic precious arsenic the communal man?s, almighty doesn?t springiness blessing successful hierarchy of wealthiness and status.

We visited different pandals wherever assemblage absorption was acold better, hoards of volunteers were managing the amusement professionally with due enactment successful picture, the manifestation of his lordship was again eyes beholding, each idol was unique, each taxable was unsocial and I couldn?t assistance wondering what astonishing artistry would person gone successful making it each hap and making it each enactment intact for 11 days, its ode to the mastery of sculptors, they and the section volunteers request to beryllium felicitated successful each trueness.

PS- we near the pandals and arsenic it was reasonably crowded I asked my woman to instrumentality by my side, I mightiness person walked a fewer steps successful thoughts of my ain lone to cheque my woman was inactive behind, she was petting a stray feline seated connected a motorcycle, my woman adjacent astatine location doesn't bash this with our kittens. Even a elemental enactment of kindness is simply a merchandise of almighty's benevolence. One doesn't request to ablution his lordship with golden crown worthy millions.

As I made my mode to my sisters flat I saw a folding rhythm successful the corridor, belonged to their neighbor, present I seen the Brompton and Decathlon folding cycles and a fewer much Chinese ones erstwhile successful Japan but thing similar this one, I ridden them excessively and feels similar you connected an ostrich but the folding rhythm present seemed different.

I americium good known and a mini personage astatine my sisters though treated arsenic an mean Joe backmost location truthful Mr neighbour was rather funny to explicate his folding cycle, helium worked successful an country wherever parking was a sucker, truthful helium got this rhythm which sat successful the footwear of his car which helium parked successful a designated wage and parkland and past from determination to bureau and backmost helium cycled, this saved him clip and gave a bully 6 unusual kms of regular cycling workout, I was intrigued, this could beryllium the solution to my rhythm packing apathies truthful requested a trial tally which helium obliged.

Now the folding mechanics is rather elemental and easy, pedals folding is not a caller conception but handlebars folding was archetypal clip for me, erstwhile unfolded and each bolted riding the rhythm was similar riding immoderate different Hybrid, it had each the paraphernalia of a hybrid, it didn?t squeak erstwhile enactment done immoderate potholes, it did decent connected atrocious tarmac arsenic casual connected bully one, it went uphill sans a task and erstwhile folded the quality is specified that it tin beryllium pulled connected its wheels little immoderate effort, the spot doesn?t interaction the crushed and nary request to assistance it up each the time. It sat snug is his Harrier arsenic overmuch arsenic it did successful his wife?s Wagon R and adjacent successful my sister?s Swift.

and it?s a fantastic 1 astatine that, I volition astir decidedly bid 1 erstwhile location and this so solves truthful overmuch of my question woes. Never thought the travel would extremity successful specified astonishing manner.

** Hornback marque is simply a task by 2 IITians , it's website has each details, I americium told they present the rhythm each assembled, they besides designate a work technician if request be**

Some pointers from my side

1. Cycling if to beryllium done for wellness benefits oregon touring is simply a superior concern truthful rhythm marque to beryllium considered should lucifer with requirements, MTBS? are comfy but slow, Hybrids are fantabulous for metropolis scapes, Road cycles don?t spell good connected atrocious roads and Gravels are expensive. Agreed 1 sees radical connected regular Atlas rhythm doing agelong runs but that is necessity and affordability.

2. Established brands bash enactment a merchandise aft capable research, hence if a rhythm is selected successful close dimensions, fatigue connected relationship of merchandise volition beryllium minimal; if it comes it would beryllium effect of little stamina, improper diet, incorrect covering and deficiency of practice.

3. Smooth cycling successful India is proportionate to upwind much than thing else, we cycled 3k kms from Himachal to Rajasthan successful wintertime erstwhile upwind was conducive, cycling akin region successful NE was mode tougher owing to precocious humidity.

4. Folding cycles and E Bikes are for convenience, they should beryllium considered likewise, I person seen the E MTB from Trek and it?s different satellite merchandise but it is aimed for circumstantial genre of riders, successful wide consciousness the supra cycles should person a large aboriginal arsenic our cities are getting messier with postulation and wide consciousness connected contamination harm increases.

Would I spell for a Folding cycle?

1. Nope, for maine cycling isn?t related to convenience, I rhythm arsenic I find it proportional to wellness benefits, I bash agelong tours arsenic it successful engrossing concern and either cannot beryllium done with a folding rhythm which is merchandise of convenience

2. Doesn?t convenience matter? It does successful places wherever you can?t halt a rickshaw oregon wherever determination is nary Uber oregon wherever nationalist proscription is invisible, successful India we person that successful abundance, prime of aforesaid is questionable nary uncertainty but let?s spot a information I bash get a folding motorcycle which I happily enactment successful footwear of my car but I inactive request to thrust my car to the spot from wherever I mean to cycle, past I request to parkland my car. It?s excessively galore variables.

3. A folding rhythm successful India?s nationalist proscription volition inactive beryllium a headache; I work adjacent successful Metros determination are dedicated clip slots to transportation a cycle.

4. The tech is casual but if it were I inquire wherefore haven?t established brands done much connected it. (an acquaintance got an Omo Hybrid albeit my reservations, astatine aforesaid outgo of an established marque similar Firefox that it outgo has fixed him thing much than headaches owing to bittersweet lawsuit service)

5. I person personally been incapable of packing my rhythm to hose specs, others person mastered it.

Would I spell for a E Bike (This is different mode that I stumbled upon, I person done immoderate riding connected it arsenic well)

1. Nope arsenic constituent 1 supra remains same

2. A bully rhythm should measurement betwixt 10-12kgs, an E Bike with artillery volition beryllium accidental 14-15kgs, present the statement is however does that other value substance we get the electrical powerfulness arsenic substitute, successful situations erstwhile the artillery has tally adust and an incline is connected anvil that other value does a satellite of difference, it causes unnecessary strain connected wellness which defeats the intent of cycling.

3. I did spot galore E Cycles (majorly with detachable batteries) successful Japan, radical parking them sans immoderate worry, we astatine location haven?t reached that ?Zen? mentality arsenic yet, I treble fastener my gravel adjacent contiguous and adjacent enactment a tag connected it.

4. Hero Lectro website has a twelve of models, sojourn immoderate trader successful adjacent tier 1 cities and metros maximum variants they volition person successful banal won?t beryllium much past 3 oregon 4, and they get into pushing inventory, quiz connected aft income work and modular reply is ?Hero hain, negociate hoga?. Gets maine worried.

5. E-Motorad adverts I saw a batch and tested their E bikes, arsenic a merchandise they are good enactment past Hero, being a caller brand, they volition person amended work and possibly springiness amended margins to distributors who support pushing them implicit Hero Lectro, question is what if E-Motorad goes Tork motors way, Tork had Bharat Forge arsenic a promoter. (I americium not saying it will, but I worry)

6. A bully mate of excavation down nether became politician of his town, helium started niche ideas similar ?No cars Thursday?s?, ?E motorcycle Friday?s, and what not, gained him popularity to re run, won him votes till manufacturers saw business, abruptly E bikes got costly, spares were being sold astatine premium and a cycling t garment which came astatine a penny costed a dollar. That?s however system works.

7. In India my acquisition says convenience cycling months wherever 1 picks his rhythm to spell to enactment oregon spot of survey are 4, ROI of E cycles volition tally long, moving professionals tin cough much to get E scooters oregon bikes arsenic they get further pillion rides, much retention and amended tally range. Students volition cough little for a hybrid which successful metropolis postulation is arsenic convenient arsenic an E-cycle.

That said I genuinely admit Hornback arsenic overmuch arsenic E-Motorad, they thought thing different, clip volition archer however overmuch occurrence comes their mode and IF I was a convenience seeking cyclist I would person decidedly chosen both, an E-Cycle for metropolis runs and a folding rhythm to instrumentality for leisure arsenic some of them enactment unneurotic would person costed maine little than a due Gravel cycle.

Now I request to truly get assured connected dismantling and mantling my rhythm to marque it merchandise of convenience.

Last edited by tatafanatic : 16th September 2024 astatine 23:11.