Cycling to Srivardhan

14-17 Feb 2009

The cycling event was too good an experience. Chears to the entire team. The team along with the bikes were well prepared & this helped us sail through the entire activity very swiftly. We went through as per the plan. The no. of small ghats were quite challenging & we managed to ride through them without getting out of our seats!

Cycling - Day1 ~ 76 kms upto Nandgaon, Day2 ~ 50 kms to Shrivardhan, Day3 ~ 40 kms to & fro Hari-hareshwar.

The average speed while during the activity was ranging between 8 to 12 km/hr. Max speed touched on one of the slopes was 50-60 km/hr. We cycled for 6 hrs during day1 & day2 while around 4 hrs during day3. Day4 was return journey by bus. It was more of a cycle safari. We used hunt for food locations whenever hungry & some lodge towards the day end for resting.

We could not include the Janjeera fort since the ferry timing was such that it did not allow us. So it was only the beaches which we went by ie. Kashid, Nandgaon, Murud, Borli, Dive Agar, Shekhadi, Konville, Shrivardhan & Harihareshwar.
We caught glimpse of the Korlai Fort, Lighthouse & the Janjeera forts.

We felt the distance covered was fair enough. The terrain is not absolutely flat. Also with the mountain bikes (as compared to other bikes, such bikes are very safe), its really tough to go beyond this. The day temperature was also quite high. Being along the coast, the climate is quite sultry too. Perhaps, next time we can select the activity during the cooler part of the year.

Photo Link

-- Kiran Sarode


Team members experience:

Cycle Tour to Shriwardhan - My first cycle tour (15th to 18th Feb. 2009) This was the first activity for me for which I had done quite a bit of prior regular practice. I had practised for one & half month. Practising for a target was really a nice experience. All of the team members also had a meet on the cycles & did some cycling together 15 days before the tour to get an idea.

We started on 15th Feb 2009 from Gateway of India & travelled to Mandwa port by ferry. Then cycled from Mandwa port to Alibag. After having some breakfast, tea & some rest, we headed towards Murud at around 12'o clock. Travelled across Aakshi, Nagav, Chaul, Revdanda, Korlai, Borli & haulted at Borli for lunch break after 2.5 hours. Left Borli at 4'o clock & travelled to Kaashid & then to Nandgaon till 6'o clock. Decided to take night hault at Nandgaon. The total running for the first day was 65 km. Nandagaon was a quite scenic place with a nice beach.

Next day we started at 8 in the morning, & travelled to Murud. Spent some time on the beach & then travelled to Raajpuri jetty. Having lunch there, we got into the ferry for Dighi & again got onto our bicycles at Dighi at around 1.30 p.m. Travelled to Dive aagar via Borli panchatan & then towrads Shriwardhan taking the coastal route via Shekhaadi. Shekhaadi marge Shriwardhan was the most beautiful route though the road condition was not very good. On this route we had to cross around 5 to 6 small hills.
Reached Shriwardhan at sunset & stayed there. The total running for the day was 50 km.

On the third day we started at around 6.45 a.m. for Harihareshwar. Reached hareshwar in 2.5 hrs after crossing some ghats. Had breakfast, had devdarshan, did a pradakshina & travelled back to Shriwardhan by the eve. Enjoyed the Shriwardhan beach in the evening. Total running was around 50 km. for the day. Returned to Thane by S.T. bus next morning with the cycles on the roof of the bus thus ending a nice tour & a nice experience.

Photo link:

Ajay Gokhale