It has been quite an eventful hibernation away from writing posts. Have been wanting to restart for over a month now, finally I am out of the slumber.
I visited the blog after a long gap and read the last post dealing with my maiden experience of cycling to work. A lot has happened ever since, for better or otherwise. I switched jobs, concentrated on completing a documentary film on our Kullu-Manali-Leh-South Pullu ride which was shown at Girimitra 2010 and well received, and caught up with monsoon trekking after the film (in that order).
It was the last activity which proved to be really awful and has left a void. A dear friend, all of 24 years, met his end in a pond while both of us had gone out for a day hike at Taavli near Kalyan on September 5, 2010. I saw through the day, the long night of formalities and the weeks ahead somehow.
Having lost my buddy, there was no motivation to indulge in any kind of adventure in the weeks that followed. I took to the mountains again on December 25, after a hiatus of 3 months with the endurance testing single day Nali-Chi-Waat Harishchandragad trek, but cycling was off the radar.
Some more treks followed, notably Salher-Mulher, Dhaak, Prachitgad-Kandhardoha, but I was yet to take to cycling.
On cycling, my association was limited to participating in preparatory meetings for an expedition in Sri Lanka (where I could not go ultimately) and local rides in Thane. However, all changed in May 2011 with the arrival of my new love - Trek 4300.
I visited the blog after a long gap and read the last post dealing with my maiden experience of cycling to work. A lot has happened ever since, for better or otherwise. I switched jobs, concentrated on completing a documentary film on our Kullu-Manali-Leh-South Pullu ride which was shown at Girimitra 2010 and well received, and caught up with monsoon trekking after the film (in that order).
It was the last activity which proved to be really awful and has left a void. A dear friend, all of 24 years, met his end in a pond while both of us had gone out for a day hike at Taavli near Kalyan on September 5, 2010. I saw through the day, the long night of formalities and the weeks ahead somehow.
Having lost my buddy, there was no motivation to indulge in any kind of adventure in the weeks that followed. I took to the mountains again on December 25, after a hiatus of 3 months with the endurance testing single day Nali-Chi-Waat Harishchandragad trek, but cycling was off the radar.
Some more treks followed, notably Salher-Mulher, Dhaak, Prachitgad-Kandhardoha, but I was yet to take to cycling.
On cycling, my association was limited to participating in preparatory meetings for an expedition in Sri Lanka (where I could not go ultimately) and local rides in Thane. However, all changed in May 2011 with the arrival of my new love - Trek 4300.
My cycling friends were brimming with confidence post their 1,234-km expedition in Sri Lanka. This, coupled with my new bike, made a lot of things "do-able" and we have achieved quite a lot in the last 3 months and aspire for more.
My first task was to take the Thunder to my brother's place in Alibag, which was done in a respectful 6 hours in spite of the break away from cycling. Thunder, my first love over which the URL to the blog has been derived, continues to be in a good condition.
I am definitely not starting a new blog and entering the URL in the address bar will always remind me of my humble beginnings in the pursuit of this exhilarating hobby.
However, owning a bike like this comes with its set of disadvantages. Biggest of them all is the public gaze a bike costing Rs 25,000 attracts. Many people accidentally end-up tinkering with the bike by changing the gear levers just for fun, while those with sinister objectives also have a lot of potential damage to do. (it has quick releases on both the tyres and saddle. All the 3 items being removed can take me back by around Rs 13,000)
So, now, I am left with this piquant situation. In spite of considering cycling as 'the best alternative' in urban transport, I am reduced to indulging in the hobby only for the rides which assure of safer parking, of which there are a few. So, should I change the title of the blog? Calling it something like "diaries of an evangelist" crossed me, but being an Indian, I have decided status quo to be the best solution.
Btw, as a long-term solution, I have started looking for a deal on a used ungeared bicycle for commutes within Thane for errands. Preferably inside Rs 1,000 :)
Posts on trips I have undertaken and other audacious plans being under works follow.
No comments:
Post a Comment