Cyclists roll out on Tour of Nilgiris

BANGALORE: Seventy cyclists rolled out of Bangalore on Friday on the 860-km, 8-day expedition Tour of Nilgiris through covering mountain ranges in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
The annual event is such a hit that registration closed within hours on June 1. The organizer, RideACycle Foundation, had to whittle down the 350 aspirants to 70 after taking into their physical fitness, biking experience, etc."Age is no bar - they range from 14 to 60 years," says Rajesh Nair, RAC-F trustee and co-founder of the tour.
Rajesh recalled that in 2008, five cyclists planned a long ride along the Nilgiris. They were joined by 45 others. In the next edition, the number climbed to 70 and hit the century mark last year. "Given the logistics, we restricted the entries to 70," he said. There are 67 men and 3 women -- among them are expats and foreign nationals from the US and Italy. The bikers are from different backgrounds: students, Army personnel and professionals from IT, corporate and health sectors.
From Bangalore, they will pedal through Mysore, Hassan, Madikeri, Kannur, Sultan Bathery, and Ooty before winding up at Kodanad View Point. Besides hitting a maximum height of 2,240 metres in Doddapetta (Tamil Nadu), they'll ride through three wildlife sanctuaries and amid the Western Ghats. Barring a rest day, they'll ride about 100km every day.
To make the breathtaking ride challenging, RAC-F has added a "race component" this time. Those finishing 30-40 km distance (on each day) first will win a diving package for couple in the Andaman Islands.
Mark H, who has come from Washington DC, says TFN is addictive: "I had fun last year and expect the same this year too. I hope to make it to the Top 10." Meera H V, who took part in the Malnad challenge last month, said: "Riding on rocky terrain gives me a high. The rides help me explore India and taste its culture." This mother of two and a PhD holder in life sciences hopes to see more women riders in future.
Another RAC-F trustee and TFN co-founder Sreedhar Pabbisetty said some riders will raise funds for the welfare of tribals.
SAFETY FIRST
TFN riders are accompanied by 30 support staff who have undergone a workshop in first-aid. The team also has three medical staff equipped with an ambulance. The riders are escorted by support staff on four motorbikes and three cars. Each rider is GPS-enabled, so the call centre can keep their track. And the device also has an SOS button, for summoning quick help.