As recapped by: Rajesh (posted by Allison)
Date: Sun, Apr 3, 2011 at 11:00 PM
Date: Sun, Apr 3, 2011 at 11:00 PM
Today's ride and discussion was so good that it is worth two reports. I assume you read Larrie's report sent earlier today.
So here are more details and clarifications and photos on both the ride the first Socrates hour (which finds its way into the entire narrative)
11 of us -- Arun, Larrie, Madan, Rajesh, Rubi, Samik, Sanjay, Siva, Srini, Sunil, Vallari -- went for the ride this morning. The sole woman called it 10 boys who like wet muddy conditions and one girl who does not. We left at 6.15 am and returned at 10.10 am completing 31km for those who are numerically inclined.
As was commented we started out a bit late, though it had nothing to do with cricket. It is important to note that this is the 'slow movement' group. So we accept delays and wait for folks to catch up or wash off mud off their bikes. The folks in this group want to get exercise and fresh air but while enjoying the journey. The goal and speed and improvement are unimportant compared to the process and connections and observation. Not to say we don't have serious bikers and speeders.
The first part had many muddy areas and one long moment through a field of mist like watered milk (thank you Norah Burke).
Anyway, the photos show the interesting innovations in fixing and riding that accompany a bolt breaking.
Important observations when a 'calamity' happens. All got together and literally shoestrung the seat to the post. And before Sunil could figure out how to balance his rear on a moving seat mounted loosely on a steel post, Samik jumped onto his bike and rode for a bit. Siva tried to see how long he could bike standing up and be next in line. Sunil chose the option of inviting a couple of relatives to visit "The Katiyar Temple" (till this morning called the "River Temple") and get a ride home.
The big change was to include a 'Socrates Hour' where we sat around eating chevda and chikki (which is why the Shah's were late). The topic was broad "the importance of breakfast biking in Bharat - why were we doing it?" and the discussion ranged from the flippant ("to be aware of the connection between our lifestyle and the environment in which we bike" "how long can we bike before it is all 'developed'?") to the calculative ("how much exercise is need to detox?" "it was easier to keep up in this group than the fast group") to the profound ("the real India is in the villages" "we are harking for the beauty of Bangalore from years ago").
Of course, Larrie's farewell was a topic and he has already mentioned his riding for the past 2.5 years as one of the highlights of his stay in India. We need someone to take over his ride-leadership spot (Sunil's voice is ringing in my ears "don't say pole position"). Arun is expressing an interest in getting a GPS.
Speaking of Arun, a signficant amount of time was spent on honouring the Katiyar legacy (which some of us learned about today). "By accident" Arun founded this biking group. "By accident" Arun started TFN. "By accident" he finds himself at some UN agency researching footpaths and the future (and present) without them. The temple around which we sat had a bit of history. In addition to many memories, it was the gestation site for the Sunil's great endeavour. And now it will be known in this 'slow biker' community as "The Katiyar Temple".
Is it important to note that Arun and Larrie were the 2 who stood thru the entire discussion while the rest of us sat at their feet on the stones? That we observed a spider colony that loved breaking up with every burst of wind only to rebuild till the next gust? That what appears as an idyllic spot had a background noise of a loud diesel generator and not of birdsongs?
So 10 of us continued after the discussion, food, and awesome ("too homemade, not enough calories") tea that Sunil brought. We promptly had a flat and despite a goal of trying to fix it in 2 minutes, this group spent more time looking at comics on patches that Arun carries around and stopped keeping time after 15 minutes.
The rest of the ride was not as eventful but still very memorable as we had a few bursts of speed and waited till everyone gathered together again.
The 'aha' moment for me was at the Varthur dig, where the road had a 10 meter wide and 10 meter deep trench and we along with motorcyclists and pedestrians (in both directions) made a detour along a slippery narrow path. Larrie said, "This is not in Google Earth." And it hit me that we need to expand that statement to the entire ride: "This is reality, nothing virtual".
And most of us ended the ride at top speed around the lake section in temperatures warning of future discomfort, but today being completely in line with a full experience of reality. Coconut water for most of us provided another moment to chat and socialize before heading home.
Goodbye Larrie - we will deeply miss you!
So here are more details and clarifications and photos on both the ride the first Socrates hour (which finds its way into the entire narrative)
11 of us -- Arun, Larrie, Madan, Rajesh, Rubi, Samik, Sanjay, Siva, Srini, Sunil, Vallari -- went for the ride this morning. The sole woman called it 10 boys who like wet muddy conditions and one girl who does not. We left at 6.15 am and returned at 10.10 am completing 31km for those who are numerically inclined.
As was commented we started out a bit late, though it had nothing to do with cricket. It is important to note that this is the 'slow movement' group. So we accept delays and wait for folks to catch up or wash off mud off their bikes. The folks in this group want to get exercise and fresh air but while enjoying the journey. The goal and speed and improvement are unimportant compared to the process and connections and observation. Not to say we don't have serious bikers and speeders.
The first part had many muddy areas and one long moment through a field of mist like watered milk (thank you Norah Burke).
Anyway, the photos show the interesting innovations in fixing and riding that accompany a bolt breaking.
Important observations when a 'calamity' happens. All got together and literally shoestrung the seat to the post. And before Sunil could figure out how to balance his rear on a moving seat mounted loosely on a steel post, Samik jumped onto his bike and rode for a bit. Siva tried to see how long he could bike standing up and be next in line. Sunil chose the option of inviting a couple of relatives to visit "The Katiyar Temple" (till this morning called the "River Temple") and get a ride home.
The big change was to include a 'Socrates Hour' where we sat around eating chevda and chikki (which is why the Shah's were late). The topic was broad "the importance of breakfast biking in Bharat - why were we doing it?" and the discussion ranged from the flippant ("to be aware of the connection between our lifestyle and the environment in which we bike" "how long can we bike before it is all 'developed'?") to the calculative ("how much exercise is need to detox?" "it was easier to keep up in this group than the fast group") to the profound ("the real India is in the villages" "we are harking for the beauty of Bangalore from years ago").
Of course, Larrie's farewell was a topic and he has already mentioned his riding for the past 2.5 years as one of the highlights of his stay in India. We need someone to take over his ride-leadership spot (Sunil's voice is ringing in my ears "don't say pole position"). Arun is expressing an interest in getting a GPS.
Speaking of Arun, a signficant amount of time was spent on honouring the Katiyar legacy (which some of us learned about today). "By accident" Arun founded this biking group. "By accident" Arun started TFN. "By accident" he finds himself at some UN agency researching footpaths and the future (and present) without them. The temple around which we sat had a bit of history. In addition to many memories, it was the gestation site for the Sunil's great endeavour. And now it will be known in this 'slow biker' community as "The Katiyar Temple".
Is it important to note that Arun and Larrie were the 2 who stood thru the entire discussion while the rest of us sat at their feet on the stones? That we observed a spider colony that loved breaking up with every burst of wind only to rebuild till the next gust? That what appears as an idyllic spot had a background noise of a loud diesel generator and not of birdsongs?
So 10 of us continued after the discussion, food, and awesome ("too homemade, not enough calories") tea that Sunil brought. We promptly had a flat and despite a goal of trying to fix it in 2 minutes, this group spent more time looking at comics on patches that Arun carries around and stopped keeping time after 15 minutes.
The 'aha' moment for me was at the Varthur dig, where the road had a 10 meter wide and 10 meter deep trench and we along with motorcyclists and pedestrians (in both directions) made a detour along a slippery narrow path. Larrie said, "This is not in Google Earth." And it hit me that we need to expand that statement to the entire ride: "This is reality, nothing virtual".
And most of us ended the ride at top speed around the lake section in temperatures warning of future discomfort, but today being completely in line with a full experience of reality. Coconut water for most of us provided another moment to chat and socialize before heading home.
Goodbye Larrie - we will deeply miss you!
No comments:
Post a Comment