Heat wave in Mangaluru does not dampen adventure of cyclists

Heat wave in Mangaluru does not dampen adventure of cyclists

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Apr 25, 2016: While normal people were resting indoors with levels shooting up on the coast, it did not prevent the adventure spirit of cyclists in Mangaluru and surrounding regions who made the best use of a Apr 24, Sunday by participating in the 200-km Mangaluru-Kukke Subrahmanya-Mangaluru Brevet organised by Mangalore Cycling Club (MACC) and a 100-km league Mangaluru-Katapadi-Mangaluru organised by Mangalore Bicycle Club (MBC).

While 16 cyclists, including five from Manipal, participated in the brevet that started at 5 a.m., two backed out, and the rest completed the event at different time records.

Panambur Abdul Khader from Mangaluru was the first one to complete the event at 3 p.m.  Khader, using a single-speed bicycle clocked an average speed of 23 kmph.  While planning the brevet, MACC had hoped that summer showers would bring down the temperatures; but that did not happen.

The route passed along the Netravathi and the Kumaradhara even as the participants sweated it out to complete the event. MACC had organised the 200-km Karavali Brevet between Mangaluru-Koteshwara-Mangaluru on February 28 this year.

Brevets De Randonneur Mondiaux are rides of fixed distances that are to be completed within specified time limits, having successfully passed through pre-determined time controls. The recognition is equal regardless of the finishing order. Each rider, who finishes the event within the cut-off time, is awarded with a certificate and a medal. The 200-km brevet had to be completed within 12 hours.

The successful cyclists in their order of completion are:  Khader, Shyamprasad Nayak, Ashok Lobo, Sarvesh Samaga, Anil Shet, Sudhir Albuquerque, Nishant Chand, Samarth Rai, Joseph Nishant, Shivashankar, Ravishankar, Arvind Kumar Yadav, Shameem Shaikh and Sagar Kalaburgi.

100-km league  :  Meanwhile, about 38 members of the MBC ventured on the 100-km league from Mangaluru to Katapadi and back. More of an informal and leisure ride, the league had three women cyclists too, Smitha Rao, Reny D’Silva and Maria, who successfully pedalled the distance.

There were young high school students such as H.S. Sushil and Gaurav Rao as well elders Gopalakrishna Baliga, Maxim Menezes and Ashoka Vardhana pedalling the distance.  The team started its journey at around 5 a.m., had a regrouping at Padubidri, before reaching Katapadi. It left Katapadi after the participants had breakfast and reached Mangaluru at 10.30 a.m. Kudos to the adventurers.