Cochin to Trivandrum ride ideas

[Raghuram Krishnan]

Hi guys,

Has anyone cycled from Cochin to Trivandrum . I guess the distance is around 200Kms. We have a company event at Kovalam and hence Zaheer and I thought of cycling the above mentioned distance to the venue. Idea was to reach Cochin by train and then cycle. We plan to cycle on the 29 or 30th July

 I would like some assistance on the following

1. Is the stretch from Cochin to Trivandrum safe for cycling, unlike the typical kerala narrow highways (Understand the buses are very rash on this route)
   
2. It might be raining but guess should be still fun cycling in the rain
3. Any other tips from experience there would really help
4. Does anyone have or can provide a google map with markings that would help track the route
5. Our estimated time to ride we guess should be around 10hrs, are we correct on this......
   

Raghuram Krishnan
Mobile +0 98450 51064

[Shree Kumar]

Hi Raghu,

Not sure how bad the rains are. You may safely discount 20 km/hr if it is raining (which is more than likely)

I've ridden this stretch in 2003. The roads leading in & out of Kochi were very wide & should be good. But 5 years is a really long time to say anything...

I don't know your definition of "safe", but I don't see safety as a factor. You can always ride with your helmet & other accessories :-) Hopefully Sriram (who rode on this route recently) can say more about this.

Regarding the map, I think a safe bet is looking at Yahoo maps, or maybe Eicher Road Map.

HTH
-- Shree

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

[Bobby Kunnath]

I have driven the entire route on NH 47 and can tell you thats its been resurfaced and widened and would make  for excellent biking conditions. I didnt think traffic was that bad esp once you leave the bigger cities along the way. Also a fairly flat ride if memory serves me right.

bk

[sriram sriram]

hmmm..

i have done this route while doin mys-k'kumari..theres  is a by-pass road u can take,if u dont wish

to ride in hellishly busy kochi(ernakulam)...while entering city from north,bypass comes just after

EDAPALLY cross..kochi-kollam will take u one whole day,then kollam-t'drum will be 4hours..

here are the distances-

kochi to kollam will be bit of stretch wid respect to distance,its abt 150km and u will have to ride before evenin as there is no big town enroute..there is allepey just 60km after kochi..for me no sense to stop there..road is great,almost always flat..

kollam-tri'drum should be a breeze after a long ride,and will be like cooling down..road is good,extra traffic nothin to worry..dont miss VARKALA Beach,comes just before tri'drum and need to take right..since distance is 90km,do 120km by visitin varkala enroute,take frequent breaks..

ciao

Sriram

 

[Zaheer Kazi]

Sriram & shree

Thanks for your inputs. Today myself and raghu were busy planning for this trip. Couple of challenges we felt....facing the wrath of the Kerala monsoon & the headwind. If the wind is with not against us it would be great. 

We got the route markings done on the google maps. We are pretty excited about the scenic route ... Hopefully would give us enough chances of getting some good snaps of "gods own country"

Cheers

Zaheer 

[Shree Kumar]

Hey Zaheer,

A couple of months ago, I rode from here to Madikeri - most of it in the rains. IMO, rains automatically slow us down - headwind will only add to the slowdown :-)

Why don't you guys chill out and do the ride over two days ? I'm sure you'll find that much more enjoyable. You'll have more time to take the snaps too.

I'm generally cool about riding in the dark, but I'd think twice before riding in the dark when it is pouring.

Given that you'll surely get drenched, plan to securely cover your bag with a big plastic cover.Also protect your camera, mobile & purse. (I've taken my laptop & dSLR + lenses this way. )

Happy riding,
-- Shree

[prasmoh...@gmail.com]

any dates guys ????

[sriram sriram]

guess u guys can think of riding 3 days,instead of 2days..tht way u get to experience backwaters after kochi close to allepey(vembanad lake) and u wont be exhausted..

sriram

 

[Zaheer Kazi]

We plan to take the train to ernakulam on the 28 july evening. . Arrive at ernakulam at 430 am on 29th and cycle the whole day and reach Trivandrum by night. This was the thought till now

Incase of crazy rain we may break journey and spread it over 2 days. Plans still kinda fluid

Zaheer 

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