Many would dread driving during the night, especially on highways, fearing glaring headlights of oncoming vehicles, rain and other reasons.
However, these 26 cyclists from Mangaluru and Udupi braved the odds and pedalled 200 km on National Highway 66 between Mangaluru-Maravanthe-Mangaluru in 13.30 hours to become Randonneurs after completing a brevet on Saturday night.
As many as 18 out of 26 riders, including Udupi Superintendent of Police K. Annamalai and dental surgeon P.N. Ramaraj, were taking part in a brevet for the first time.
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Though 33 had registered for the 200-km Karavali Night Brevet being organised by Mangalore Cycling Club, 30 participated while four left the event midway due to heavy humidity.
MACC in association with Audax India Randonneurs (AIR) under the banner of Audax Club Parisien (ACP) organised its third brevet of 2016 calendar. Since it was a night brevet, organisers had cautioned riders to be equipped with necessary gadget; the riders did follow and were equipped with reflective jackets, head, tail lamps etc.
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Leaving Mangaluru at around 5.25 p.m. on Saturday, the riders moved in groups as advised by the organisers via Surathkal, Padubidri, Udupi, Kundapura before reaching midpoint Maravanthe and returning to Mangaluru.
Anil Shet, Ashok Lobo and Ajith Cherian were the first to arrive at Mangaluru at 3.54 a.m. on Sunday.
The last to arrive before the cut-off time (6.50 am) was Hare Krishna Maheshwari, who reached Mangaluru at 6.45 a.m.
About six to eight volunteers, including Dheeraj Hejmady, Prajval Baglodi and Samarth Rai, ‘covered’ the riders throughout the ride with their emergency back-up on three vehicles. They took care of riders at turning points and various water and food points.
Mr. Annamalai said it was the best event he ever participated and thanked the organisers.
Dr. Ramaraj was all ecstatic after becoming a Randonneur and credited it to daily rides with MACC members. He said he never tried to push; his mantra of endurance riding was hudration, nutrition (took break after every 20 minutes for munching) and cadence.
He rode along with Danny Simon, another first timer, and both completed together.
Fifteen-year-old Suraj Samaga, son of ace cyclist Sarvesh Samaga and 14-year-old Smith Javia, son of Bhavesh Javia, another ace cyclist of Mangaluru, were among the younger lot who completed the event.
Barani Radhakrishnan, Deshnath Reddy Palagiri, Sarvesh Samaga, Deepak Hebbar, Ganesh Nayak Bantwal, Shyamprasad Nayak, Anil Shet Raikar, Dhanaraj Karkera, Harivijay Kudva, Zihan Mohammed, Ravi Shankar, S.I. Mubeen, Shivadeep Jaideep, Sahshwath Gowda, Raghavendra Ram, Shubhananda Rao, Pranay Kini were the others to complete the brevet.
numbers
Thirty began the race, but four persons left the event midway owing to heavy humidity
Eighteen cyclists were taking part in a brevet for the first time
Six to eight volunteers took care of the riders at various points
A 15-year-old and a 14-year-old were among the younger participants