Running and Beyond

Category: Cycling

  • Isn’t it Risky?

    Isn’t it Risky?

    In a scene from the movie World’s Fastest Indian, there was a conversation between Tom and the protagonist, Burt Monroe, played by Anthony Hopkins, Tom: Aren’t you scared you’ll kill yourself if you crash?Burt Munro: No… You live more in five minutes on a bike like this going flat out than some people live in…

  • Tour Diaries – Tour of Tamil Nadu 2022

    Tour Diaries – Tour of Tamil Nadu 2022

    A cycle tour, unlike other types of touring, is more about the journey than destination. My daily notes for over 8-days are presented here in a chronological order. I have added some references and other information to what was earlier published on my Facebook page for my friends. December 23, 2022 – Day Zero After…

  • தம்பிக்கு எந்த ஊரு

    தம்பிக்கு எந்த ஊரு

    Initials indicate town and parentage… But that’s for lesser folk who have to announce their antecedents. It’s not necessary for me. If you say Margayya, everyone will know. However, that’s not my name RK Narayan, The Financial Expert During my cycling trips through Tamil Nadu, the often asked question is, “தம்பிக்கு எந்த ஊரு” – Thambikku…

  • The Solitary Rider

    The Solitary Rider

    Will no one tell me what she sings?—Perhaps the plaintive numbers flowFor old, unhappy, far-off things,And battles long ago:Or is it some more humble lay,Familiar matter of to-day?Some natural sorrow, loss, or pain,That has been, and may be again? William Wordsworth, Solitary Reaper One of the eye-catching scenes of the Tour de France is watching…

  • Tour for Asha

    Tour for Asha

    Before you start reading the blog, please check if you have at least 10-15 minutes with high tolerance levels. An easier way is to to scroll all the way down, check the final part of the blog, and contribute to Asha. It would be more meaningful than the entire blog! It was in the year 2009…

  • Tour of Tamil Nadu – 2019

    Tour of Tamil Nadu – 2019

    During the first Tour of Tamil Nadu in 2010, I offered myself to be a blogger but never fulfilled that promise. Most of my writings remained in draft mode and on many days, I did not write anything other than the title. I redeemed some of the promise when I wrote this piece for The…

  • Coimbatore Randonneurs

    Talk about France and cycling, the first thoughts that comes to one’s mind is the prestigious Tour de France. Equally popular though is the Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP) Randonneur event, which unlike the Tour de France, is open to amateurs across the world. Started in 1891, older than Tour de France, the next edition of the quadrennial event is…

  • Tour of Tamil Nadu – 2018

    Tour of Tamil Nadu – 2018

    After riding in the 2010 (first edition of the tour), 2015 and 2017 editions of the tour, I registered for the 2018 edition of the Tour themed “Waterfalls”. My personal experience can be summed up the image below! In addition to riding in the tour, I also ventured to write about the tour for The…

  • The Independence Day Ride

    In 2007, after finishing fourth in the prologue of Tour De France, Sir* Bradley Wiggins took a dig on the most popular television show in UK around that time, “It is nice to be recognised for actually achieving something in life as opposed to spending seven weeks in a house on TV with a load…

  • Tour of Tamil Nadu 2015 – Preview

    Tour of Tamil Nadu 2015 – Preview

     Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get. A week back, my good friend, Srini was looking for someone to replace him in the Tour of Tamil Nadu as he is keeping himself busy with the ‘clean-up’ work in Chennai. The following day, as I was riding to my…