Around 2 months back Renny started a Discussion for Lonavala Trip on 
Weekend. People started posting their views & suggestions on it but no one came forward finalizing the date & time (everyone was concerned about the “May Heat” I guess…). Two weeks back Faisal opened the same discussion with some changes to it. He suggested to make 3/4 groups that will start from different locations & would meet in Lonavala. That day will be spent in Lonavala & next day everyone will return to Mumbai or their respective locations.
Weekend. People started posting their views & suggestions on it but no one came forward finalizing the date & time (everyone was concerned about the “May Heat” I guess…). Two weeks back Faisal opened the same discussion with some changes to it. He suggested to make 3/4 groups that will start from different locations & would meet in Lonavala. That day will be spent in Lonavala & next day everyone will return to Mumbai or their respective locations.I was also planning some long trip since quite long. So this was a good opportunity for me. I am not a hardcore rider, but I like to take challenges like these one. I am always ready for new adventures………………
Faisal was in touch with me since he posted this “Tour Da Lonavala”. Since day one I have decided that I will Ride till Lonavala. But Faisal was somewhat appreh
ensive about this long ride. According the posts; I though around 10/15 will join us for Lonavala Ride. But as we were approaching the ride day…the number started decreasing. Finally when Faisal called me the day before the ride; he told me that only 7 guys are ready for Lonavala (including Him & me………). He told me that he is arranging a small pick-up vehicle as a back-up for riders. I told him to start the ride as early as possible to beat the traffic & day heat. All agreed to leave Mumbai by 2.30 at night.
ensive about this long ride. According the posts; I though around 10/15 will join us for Lonavala Ride. But as we were approaching the ride day…the number started decreasing. Finally when Faisal called me the day before the ride; he told me that only 7 guys are ready for Lonavala (including Him & me………). He told me that he is arranging a small pick-up vehicle as a back-up for riders. I told him to start the ride as early as possible to beat the traffic & day heat. All agreed to leave Mumbai by 2.30 at night.Finally the day arrived & I left my home at 02.00 hours. The meeting
point was the end of Chunabhatti Bridge. I reached there at 02.25 hrs. Faisal was the second to reach there………………oh no, he was alone………………no back-up vehicle. One more young guy “Aman’ was waiting for us with his father. The young Gun of the group – only 16 years of age, just through with his 10th exams was ready to ride with us till Lonavala. To my surprise Faisal told me that we are only 5 riders leaving for Lonavala…..rest all that shown interest on Cyclists.in dropped because of some or the other reasons………..Santy was the 4th to reach …………….but with a snapped belt of his back-pack……….first bad omen I guess. Faisal had some wire tags for him to tie that. Noel had some problem with his cycle & told us to move ahead; so he will be joining us on the way.
point was the end of Chunabhatti Bridge. I reached there at 02.25 hrs. Faisal was the second to reach there………………oh no, he was alone………………no back-up vehicle. One more young guy “Aman’ was waiting for us with his father. The young Gun of the group – only 16 years of age, just through with his 10th exams was ready to ride with us till Lonavala. To my surprise Faisal told me that we are only 5 riders leaving for Lonavala…..rest all that shown interest on Cyclists.in dropped because of some or the other reasons………..Santy was the 4th to reach …………….but with a snapped belt of his back-pack……….first bad omen I guess. Faisal had some wire tags for him to tie that. Noel had some problem with his cycle & told us to move ahead; so he will be joining us on the way.Finally we left at 03.45 hrs from Chunabhatti. Ride till Panvel was an ok ok ride. Riding slow………………we didn’t know anything about Aman’s riding & he w
as quite new to group also. Noel reach Panvel before us…..he is really a pace rider & he took all the flyovers to reach fast. When I got a call from him, he had already left Panvel & heading ahead thinking that we have also crossed Panvel. We met him just ahead of Panvel ST Stand & then had a heavy breakfast at Welcome Hotel (courtesy: Faisal). Now sun has come up, indicating that we will be facing problems riding in the Ghats. We left Welcome at around 07.00 hrs. Faisal was riding with his bike, but due to t
he operation he did last night……………..his bike was gearless today. Noel, Santy & me were riding pretty fast to reach khopoli & start the Borghat climb as early as possible. Mean time I got a call from Faisal……………………good news for him& Aman…they got lift from a Tempo & decided to go to Lonavala directly. So now we were only three Musketeers really riding to Lonavala. We reached khopoli around 08.00hrs. Some rest & we started again. We were at the base of the Borghat at 08.35 hrs. The climb was too bad. Till we meet the express-way we had stopped 4 times. After that point there is no shady
place till you reach Khandala. Santy was far behind. Me & Noel were riding along……..everything in body was boiling due to heat. We saw a Huge truck standing on roadside. We took some rest in that Truck’s shadow………….it was so hot by that time, I took out my shirt for some time. Some was calling us……didn’t find anyone nearby………..the call was from Santy who also pick-up a small Tempo on the way. The tempo guy offered us lift…..but we decided to ride the last few kilometers. We crossed Khandala & then on the way to Lonavala we saw a “Neera Shop”. Believe us we had 4 glasses each (me & noel). We reached the RamKrishna Hotel, Lonavala by 10.55 hrs. The fully crowded hotel was shocked to see us riding all the way from Mumbai. The Ghat took around 2.30 hrs to climb.
as quite new to group also. Noel reach Panvel before us…..he is really a pace rider & he took all the flyovers to reach fast. When I got a call from him, he had already left Panvel & heading ahead thinking that we have also crossed Panvel. We met him just ahead of Panvel ST Stand & then had a heavy breakfast at Welcome Hotel (courtesy: Faisal). Now sun has come up, indicating that we will be facing problems riding in the Ghats. We left Welcome at around 07.00 hrs. Faisal was riding with his bike, but due to t
he operation he did last night……………..his bike was gearless today. Noel, Santy & me were riding pretty fast to reach khopoli & start the Borghat climb as early as possible. Mean time I got a call from Faisal……………………good news for him& Aman…they got lift from a Tempo & decided to go to Lonavala directly. So now we were only three Musketeers really riding to Lonavala. We reached khopoli around 08.00hrs. Some rest & we started again. We were at the base of the Borghat at 08.35 hrs. The climb was too bad. Till we meet the express-way we had stopped 4 times. After that point there is no shady
place till you reach Khandala. Santy was far behind. Me & Noel were riding along……..everything in body was boiling due to heat. We saw a Huge truck standing on roadside. We took some rest in that Truck’s shadow………….it was so hot by that time, I took out my shirt for some time. Some was calling us……didn’t find anyone nearby………..the call was from Santy who also pick-up a small Tempo on the way. The tempo guy offered us lift…..but we decided to ride the last few kilometers. We crossed Khandala & then on the way to Lonavala we saw a “Neera Shop”. Believe us we had 4 glasses each (me & noel). We reached the RamKrishna Hotel, Lonavala by 10.55 hrs. The fully crowded hotel was shocked to see us riding all the way from Mumbai. The Ghat took around 2.30 hrs to climb.We had some light food………no place in stomach to eat much because of th
at Neera. Then we headed in search of a Rest Point nearby. We found a good green spot near the Lonavala Dam. Some guys were busy with their cricket match. (this play ground was actually water reservoir area of the dam……..but now totally dry because of summer season. We took some rest in a good woody & shady area for an hour. Faisal used some Hot magazine papers to sleep. Then we left for Mumbai again. As we entered Lonavala again, we met some cyclists from Pune (these guys were supposed to meet us at 09.30 in morning & now it was 13.30). This was a great moment…….cyclist’s Meet………..riding from Mumbai & riding from Pune meet at Lonavala.
at Neera. Then we headed in search of a Rest Point nearby. We found a good green spot near the Lonavala Dam. Some guys were busy with their cricket match. (this play ground was actually water reservoir area of the dam……..but now totally dry because of summer season. We took some rest in a good woody & shady area for an hour. Faisal used some Hot magazine papers to sleep. Then we left for Mumbai again. As we entered Lonavala again, we met some cyclists from Pune (these guys were supposed to meet us at 09.30 in morning & now it was 13.30). This was a great moment…….cyclist’s Meet………..riding from Mumbai & riding from Pune meet at Lonavala.We started our journey back to Mumbai at 14.30 hrs. The climb do
wn to khopoli was an awesome experience of the ride. I actually managed to reach the speed of 60kmph (on my TREK 3700). When we reached khopoli sun was in Full-on burning mood. We had a prolonged drink break….again Courtesy: Faisal. We left khopoli & immediately stopped for lunch. The lunch session was also a good experience. We had full 3 course meal….with soups, rice, cold drinks. Now we were full, & no one was ready to start again. We started & rode till Chowk phata. Faisal again got bac
k in a Tempo & left us behind. This time he had planned to get down at Turbhe. Aman Gun was still riding with us…….with no signs of retiring. All four were riding with a good pace. As we were approaching Panvel Santy took lead & I was behind him. Noel & Aman were riding along. Santy stopped at Datta Vada-Pav corner (Palaspe Phata). I reached there & got a call from Noel……he had flat tire. He & Aman came after some time dragging their bikes. Luckily we found a cycle shop nearby & Noel got the puncture cured. Now it was Aman’s turn. This young gun was now pretty tired & not ready to ride any more (this was his longest ride ever). He got a Tempo lift & Santy also stayed with him for a company…….as Aman was not familiar with the roads.
wn to khopoli was an awesome experience of the ride. I actually managed to reach the speed of 60kmph (on my TREK 3700). When we reached khopoli sun was in Full-on burning mood. We had a prolonged drink break….again Courtesy: Faisal. We left khopoli & immediately stopped for lunch. The lunch session was also a good experience. We had full 3 course meal….with soups, rice, cold drinks. Now we were full, & no one was ready to start again. We started & rode till Chowk phata. Faisal again got bac
k in a Tempo & left us behind. This time he had planned to get down at Turbhe. Aman Gun was still riding with us…….with no signs of retiring. All four were riding with a good pace. As we were approaching Panvel Santy took lead & I was behind him. Noel & Aman were riding along. Santy stopped at Datta Vada-Pav corner (Palaspe Phata). I reached there & got a call from Noel……he had flat tire. He & Aman came after some time dragging their bikes. Luckily we found a cycle shop nearby & Noel got the puncture cured. Now it was Aman’s turn. This young gun was now pretty tired & not ready to ride any more (this was his longest ride ever). He got a Tempo lift & Santy also stayed with him for a company…….as Aman was not familiar with the roads.Back to square-one, again only two guys left behind for riding…..me & Noel. We started from Palaspe Phata……but we go too pissed off by the traffic. Finally
started rash driving through the traffic…..sometimes Noel took the lead & some time I took the lead. We were moving very fast & riding tyre to tyre. We reached Vashi & Santy called me to ask our status. These 3 guys were having their dinner at Chembur. I crossed the Vashi Bridge & immediately got call from Noel saying that he had one more flat……….bad luck. I was waiting for him near the Octroi Naka police chowky. Surprisingly he came riding on his bike. He said; there is a small hole in the tube. He took out his hand-pump & filled his tube. Now you know friends ………..this guy Noel came till Sion the same way. Riding for some time, then getting down for pumping the tube & riding again.
started rash driving through the traffic…..sometimes Noel took the lead & some time I took the lead. We were moving very fast & riding tyre to tyre. We reached Vashi & Santy called me to ask our status. These 3 guys were having their dinner at Chembur. I crossed the Vashi Bridge & immediately got call from Noel saying that he had one more flat……….bad luck. I was waiting for him near the Octroi Naka police chowky. Surprisingly he came riding on his bike. He said; there is a small hole in the tube. He took out his hand-pump & filled his tube. Now you know friends ………..this guy Noel came till Sion the same way. Riding for some time, then getting down for pumping the tube & riding again.We reached Sion at 2200 hrs. Noel left for bandra & I moved towards Dadar. SMS’ed Anil regarding the Sunday morning ride that he had arranged. I had prom
ised Anil to attend the ride (Matunga & Wadala ride). Then I headed to Shivaji Park…….my regular spot. Met my friends & shared the Chikkis that I brought from Lonavala. Finally headed to my home. The speedo was showing 196kms & wrist watch was showing 22.35hrs. This was the longest distance that I have covered on my bike in a day. My previous was 175 kms in a day in Karnataka (on my Mumbai to Bangalore ride).
ised Anil to attend the ride (Matunga & Wadala ride). Then I headed to Shivaji Park…….my regular spot. Met my friends & shared the Chikkis that I brought from Lonavala. Finally headed to my home. The speedo was showing 196kms & wrist watch was showing 22.35hrs. This was the longest distance that I have covered on my bike in a day. My previous was 175 kms in a day in Karnataka (on my Mumbai to Bangalore ride).It was an endurance test of riding in such a worst condition of heat. But now I am happy that I managed it well & also attended the Sunday ride with Anil & gang the next day.
02/06/2009.
02/06/2009.
