kalhatti ride report (trainin for MTB-HIMACHAL)

[sriram.bmsce]

monday nite,1st sept i suddenly  decided to leave for kalhatti next  morning...cos i happened to
know that college will not be there for 2 days..the plan was sudden and hence 
ravi/gaurav/navdeep/samim couldn accompany me,and it was solo trip


DAY 1 (2nd sept)
morning 9am volvo to mysore..reached mysore at 11:15,had bfast and started riding towards gundlupet
by 11:45..reached gundlupet by 14:15..proceeded towards bandipur,had a quick lunch at pugmark restaurant..
and continued towards MASINAGUDI(destination for day1) via Mudumalai..happened to encounter an elephant
with her calf..calf even gave a mock charge!!! NARROW Escape!! finally reached MASinagudi by 1800..total distance
being
mysore to gundulpet-60km
gundlupet to masinagudi-40km(approx)



DAY 2 (3rd sept)
plan was to climb the famed,intimidating,challenging,invincible,incredible KALHATTI (SEGUR) ghat not ONCE but TWICE
to reach TALAKUNDHA which is the top(more than 2000m above sea level)..i left my lodge at 7:50 reached the base
from where climb starts at 8:08..ghat has 36 extremely steep hairpin bends ;-))..since i had done it earlier,it was familiar.
nevertheless,first time i just wanted to get to the top,this time i wanted to time myself ;-))..i climbed till 18 of 36 hairpin bends
non stop..then had a cup of tea and continued  non -stop  till  the top..total climbing time 1hr:45m for an approx distance of 14km!!
since i had my left calf muscle tight,i didn climb again..also i had to ride back till gundlupet same day(from gpet i took a drop
frm a truck which was headin to mysore) which i did,and was at home by 22:00hrs..
total distance being
masinagudi to base- 7Km
base to TALKUNDHI(top)- 14km
base to gpet- 47km


---------------------
and by the way if anyone wants to ride and conquer kalhatti(segur) ghat,pls do call me as i will be more than elated to do it
again& again&again&...;-))
ciao
Sriram

[Gaurav Aradhya]

Good stuff! Great timing, not very long ago, ppl used to take same time to climb Nandi!

After this effort, Kalhatti seems like a Nandi ride :)

   

 

Cheers

Gaurav

 

[Rajat Agrawal]

Completely in awe and inspired to try the climb.

I have been thinking of practicing on extended climbs starting out with Nandi Hills or something less. I have a couple of questions regarding climbing techniques. I'll outline the scenarios I had in mind:

 Joe - is an average cyclist with average physical prowess and no special cycling training other than using gears and how to use them under normal (flattish) roads.

1. Typically hairpins are points of brief steep ascent with the approach and follow through being gradual. Now suppose that while climbing, the approach speed to such a turn is high but not enough to carry you up the climb, further assuming that the climb forces Joe out of the saddle.
So when approaching the gear is high, now what are good ways of making such a climb in a time/energy efficient and smooth manner.

2. Supposing there is a steep straight long ascent, that will force average Joe cyclist out of the saddle every now and then. When out of the saddle in a short burst its easy to regain some speed but as a consequence the cadence increases rapidly and beyond the sustainable rpm. Is there a trick to changing gears smoothly without getting back into the saddle and yet maintain a sustainable cadence.

Thanks
Rajat Agrawal

[Navdeep Singh]

Rajat,

To answer 1)
Follow the outer line - A efficient approach to tackle gradient at those steep curves.
With this approach, there is some risk involved if you happen to be on wrong side (as per traffic rules)
Sriram may have more to tell on this.

--
o__
_> / _
(_) \(_)...

[Sri.]

Thats awsum Sriram. Keep practicing . Btw. how did you manage to take
your bike in the bus?

On Sep 4, 2:19 pm, "Rajat Agrawal" <rajatagra...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Completely in awe and inspired to try the climb.
>
> I have been thinking of practicing on extended climbs starting out with
> Nandi Hills or something less. I have a couple of questions regarding
> climbing techniques. I'll outline the scenarios I had in mind:
>
>  Joe - is an average cyclist with average physical prowess and no special
> cycling training other than using gears and how to use them under normal
> (flattish) roads.
>
> 1. Typically hairpins are points of brief steep ascent with the approach and
> follow through being gradual. Now suppose that while climbing, the approach
> speed to such a turn is high but not enough to carry you up the climb,
> further assuming that the climb forces Joe out of the saddle.
> So when approaching the gear is high, now what are good ways of making such
> a climb in a time/energy efficient and smooth manner.
>
> 2. Supposing there is a steep straight long ascent, that will force average
> Joe cyclist out of the saddle every now and then. When out of the saddle in
> a short burst its easy to regain some speed but as a consequence the cadence
> increases rapidly and beyond the sustainable rpm. Is there a trick to
> changing gears smoothly without getting back into the saddle and yet
> maintain a sustainable cadence.
>
> Thanks
> Rajat Agrawal
>

[Pradeep B V]

Sriram you are the Carlos Sastre of BBC.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Sastre
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climbing_specialist

- P

[Shree Kumar]

Hey Sriram,

On Thu, Sep 4, 2008 at 1:08 PM, sriram. bmsce <sriram...@gmail.com> wrote:
> and by the way if anyone wants to ride and conquer kalhatti(segur) ghat,pls
> do call me as i will be more than elated to do it
> again& again&again&...;-))

Good to see your ride report. Next time hopefully we can do it
together. I've never
climbed Kalhatti (have ridden down once), and it's on my TODO list :-)

BTW, which gear combination(s) did you use to climb ?

Cheers
-- Shree
http://www.shreekumar.in/

[Gaurav Aradhya]

>Follow the outer line - A efficient approach to tackle gradient at those steep curves.

Outer line : If you have right hand hair pin bend, Out line is on the left side. Which right way to go as per traffic rules. If you have left hand hair pin bend then to take the outline you will have to go on the wrong side of the road, which is very very risky! Not worth it!  But sriram swears that it works for him :)

 

>When out of the saddle in a short burst its easy to regain some speed but as a consequence the cadence >increases rapidly and beyond the sustainable rpm. Is there a trick to changing gears smoothly without getting back >into the saddle 

Change to next higher gear (rpm will come down) and see if you can sustain pedaling standing up on this gear. (You can change the gears while you ride, just be gentle on the peddle till you finish changing gears )

 

Cheers

Gaurav
 

[Mallik]

superb!
will join u next time.

On Sep 4, 3:37 pm, "Gaurav Aradhya" <gaurav.arad...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >Follow the outer line - A efficient approach to tackle gradient at those
>
> steep curves.
> Outer line : If you have right hand hair pin bend, Out line is on the left
> side. Which right way to go as per traffic rules. If you have left hand hair
> pin bend then to take the outline you will have to go on the wrong side of
> the road, which is very very risky! Not worth it!  But sriram swears that it
> works for him :)
>
> >When out of the saddle in a short burst its easy to regain some speed but
>
> as a consequence the cadence >increases rapidly and beyond the sustainable
> rpm. Is there a trick to changing gears smoothly without getting back >into
> the saddle
> Change to next higher gear (rpm will come down) and see if you can sustain
> pedaling standing up on this gear. (You can change the gears while you ride,
> just be gentle on the peddle till you finish changing gears )
>
> Cheers
> Gaurav
>

> On 9/4/08, Navdeep Singh <navdeepth...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > Rajat,
>
> > To answer 1)
> > Follow the outer line - A efficient approach to tackle gradient at those
> > steep curves.
> > With this approach, there is some risk involved if you happen to be on
> > wrong side (as per traffic rules)
> > Sriram may have more to tell on this.
>

> > On Thu, Sep 4, 2008 at 2:49 PM, Rajat Agrawal <rajatagra...@gmail.com>wrote:
>
> >> Completely in awe and inspired to try the climb.
>
> >> I have been thinking of practicing on extended climbs starting out with
> >> Nandi Hills or something less. I have a couple of questions regarding
> >> climbing techniques. I'll outline the scenarios I had in mind:
>
> >>  Joe - is an average cyclist with average physical prowess and no special
> >> cycling training other than using gears and how to use them under normal
> >> (flattish) roads.
>
> >> 1. Typically hairpins are points of brief steep ascent with the approach
> >> and follow through being gradual. Now suppose that while climbing, the
> >> approach speed to such a turn is high but not enough to carry you up the
> >> climb, further assuming that the climb forces Joe out of the saddle.
> >> So when approaching the gear is high, now what are good ways of making
> >> such a climb in a time/energy efficient and smooth manner.
>
> >> 2. Supposing there is a steep straight long ascent, that will force
> >> average Joe cyclist out of the saddle every now and then. When out of the
> >> saddle in a short burst its easy to regain some speed but as a consequence
> >> the cadence increases rapidly and beyond the sustainable rpm. Is there a
> >> trick to changing gears smoothly without getting back into the saddle and
> >> yet maintain a sustainable cadence.
>
> >> Thanks
> >> Rajat Agrawal
>

> --
> Gaurav

[Rajat Agrawal]

Will surely try to follow the outer line...tx

found this informative article, not about gear technique but body size dynamics during up/down hill
http://www.sportsci.org/encyc/cyclingupdown/cyclingupdown.html

still looking for effective gearing techniques, but it looks more of a personal approach depending on individual power, comfort and style.

-Rajat

[sriram.bmsce]

hey rajat,

             yep..see i am myself not a very good climber...taking the outer

line is just one of the many things we need to follow while climbing..

keeping in mind that a person has the necessary stamina(endurance) i.e.

 mental strength as also good physical strength to power up..let me list a few

things:-

 

1)before you start a tough climb,be fresh(sleep),take in proper food,warm up

 

2)if the altitude gain is considerable,then use paper to cover ur upper body,so

that it absorbs ur sweat while u climb,prevents u from freezing once u reach top!!

 

3)when u climb,be in a gear which will help u maintain a relatively high cadence,

need not be always,sometimes getting up and pedallin in higher gear helps

 

4)TAKE the outer line always,it means u travel longer distance but thats

small price to pay..i take it and signal cars comin down my intentions..

 

5)sit upright on ur saddle,so that ur arms don carry any weight,and chest is open.

this will make you relaxed,and the climb enjoyable..

 

6)stop for a breather if you wish,but not for too long..kalhatti is so beautiful that

 u feel like stopping after every hairpin bend..

 

7)most impotant keep taking liquids,chocolates,water,bananas..

 

8)i have one more secret,that works for me:climb a given peak N number of times,

this gives personal confidence and a sense of taming it and achieving SUPERIORITY!!

 

 

ciao

Sriram

[sriram.bmsce]

hey shree-initially i started cimbing in front 2,rear 3..

then i changed to rear 2..when even that was tough to sustain,

i used front 1,rear 3/4 and kept toggling..i have a trek 4300 now..the

gear ratios are much better than my old 3700..

 

hey Sri-i take my bike everytime i leave bangalore in a KSRTC VOLVO(AIRAVATA)..

but not advisable if u are goin in a group and need to fit more than a couple of bikes..

 

[Sri.]

Sriram dude , do you stack your bike in the luggage compartment ? wont
it get damaged inside the compartment?
And do the bus guys allow u to do so ??

[Raghuram Krishnan]

Sriram,

You are amazing, congratulations on this feat... its really amazing how you plan to do these alone... great going

Raghu

2008/9/4 Sri. <srikanth.hn@gmail.com>

--
Raghuram Krishnan
Mobile +0 98450 51064

[sriram.bmsce]

hey thanx guys..raghu u are surely comin to kalhatti next time,

no excuses..

 

hey muthu-yes i do remember you..gr8 to know that u will be buying a bike..

see i was mighty happy wid my trek 3700..just recently picked up 4300 which

is much much better..so i suggest u go in for the 4300,cos its got better components

all round and more bang for ur money!!..BUT before buying,also check out MERIDA

as they have good bikes for amazin prices..contact Venky on 9844020861

hey Sri-takin bikes in a KSRTC volvo is our right,and don need to ask anyones permission..

as for damages.make it stand upright as usual, and tie it(wid ur lock) to some fixed bar,etc

sometimes the driver will insist that you pay half the price of yur ticket..WHICH IS NONSENSE..

according to rules you need to pay 20rs fr blore-mysore,abt 40rs for blore-mubai..
 

[Raghuram Krishnan]

Sure buddy, if the timing suits me i shall  (but need to practice a bit on my fitness) Gaurav, Mallik, Ashish have experienced my troubles during  Ooty climb.

 

Raghu

2008/9/7 sriram. bmsce <sriram...@gmail.com>

[N S Muthukumaran]

Thank you Sriram for your suggestions. Will take a look at Merida too. But I thought they were very expensive even compared to Trek.

Regards

Muthu

 

[sriram.bmsce]

no no ..its same price bracket  as trek..