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Why run a Marathon?

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In 2020, I turned 60. Greetings like “Welcome to the Club” soon followed. I moved on paying little attention to the new “senior citizen” tag. Till one day on public transportation, a youngish looking guy gave up his seat for me. I never realized that I was looking old with my few gray hairs.  Fast forward to 2023 and I was certainly not looking any younger. While browsing the Web, I came across an ad for the Bengaluru Marathon. Intrigued, I read further and realized that this was an ad for the full 42.1 kilometer run.  Although I could easily run a few kilometers without much difficulty, I knew running 42 kilometers was entirely different. Was I really too old to attempt such a long endurance run? Well, what better way to check than to try running longer.  The standard advice for running longer on the Net is to increase the running duration or distance by 10% over some period. Easier said than done. After 5 kilometers, I would be sweating profusely. A few people would look at me puzz
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A Bicycle Guide

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A Bicycle Guide Contents Table of Contents Chapter 1: Choosing a Bicycle Chapter 2: Riding Safely Chapter 3: Bicycling Benefits A Bicycle Guide Paperback, 100 Pages This guide answers questions like What are the different types of bicycles? What are the benefits of gears in a bicycle? Expensive vs. cheap bicycles How to avoid accidents and tips to ride safely Managing road rage and other threats What are the health and monetary benefits of riding a bicycle
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Lockdown Ride

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Thanks to Bengaluru's cycle Mayor Sathya Sankaran, who organized a ride to the airport on the once busy elevated road during the lockdown, we got to experience an unusual ride.    Entrance to the airport road Migrants on the road Bicycle parking at the airport Empty toll booths
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Performance and Physics of Bicycles

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Performance and Physics of Bicycles Contents Preface Chapter 1: Benefits of Cycling Chapter 2: Choosing a Bicycle Chapter 3: Drag Forces Chapter 4: Tyres Chapter 5: Wheels and Balancing Chapter 6: Brakes Chapter 7: Navigation and Tracking Chapter 8: Riding Safely Chapter 9: Training Appendix All Chapters Performance and Physics of Bicycles Paperback, 360 Pages A bicycle is an uniquely efficient machine, but elements such as the wheels, tyres, frame, and brakes will affect the performance of your ride. This book answers questions like
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Melukote 300 Km Brevet

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  This was my second Brevet, just a little longer by about 100 kms. than my first Brevet (200 kms.), but a totally different experience. Here we (80+) are at the start at Kantheerva Stadium on a chilly morning at 6:00 am.  The first few hours of the ride are the most pleasant of the ride. There is little traffic on the road and the kilometers keep ticking along on the odometer. After about 4.5 hours, I reached the first control point outside a Coffee Day. Trek also takes a short break before we head south to Melukote. After a few scenic sights of green sugar cane crops and lakes, disaster strikes at about 135 kms. It began softly with the sound of the rear tyre on the road and before long the tyre was flat. As I wheeled the bike to a good location to change tubes, a bunch of pesky kids found a trapped rider and began pestering me with questions. Wisely I took the bicycle to a tea shop and began the process of removing the tyre and replacing the o
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A Ride to Nandi

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 Nandi Hills, one of the popular scenic locations outside Bangalore was transformed into a peaceful oasis for a brief period thanks to the initiative of Chikkaballapur MLA Dr. Sudhakar and the cooperation of the local police. For a few early morning hours, about 10 Kms. of road near Nandi hills was closed to all traffic except human powered vehicles and runners. The change was noticeable - the thud-thud of the motor bikes and noisy buses was absent. The whirr of bicycle wheels was a pleasant change and the air was fresh and clear. With a tail wind and cool weather, the first 50 kilometers of the ride from Mekhri Circle was a breeze. The number of cyclists on the highway was definitely higher than the average number on a normal weekend. At the base, policemen welcomed cyclists / runners onto the road to Nandi hills and blocked all other traffic. This was my third ride to Nandi Hills and the changes were apparent - new hotels and a few residential developments. H
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