Baruipur Round The Corner

Baruipur in our mind is a very distant place. You needed a full day to go there and come back. You went by train and it was a long journey. I suppose it still is. Even going to Sonarpur, a few stations on this side of Baruipur, was such a big deal. But last Sunday (yesterday actually) Baruipur didn't seem so long down the Eastern Bypass. 

It's less than 30 km from my home actually. I went via Anwar Shah Connector and then down the Bypass (I think it's called the Southern Bypass which is nothing but an extension of EM Bypass). First you cross the Kamal Gazi bridge. Then the nice new road on either side of the Adi Ganga comes. While going up the road surface is pretty nice. What's more, the road is totally devoid of any traffic, unlike the old road which is frequented by small pick up trucks in perpetual hurry. The road on the other side of the river, used for coming down, is in a really bad condition, particularly for cyclists. 

This road created some controversy while being constructed, as it passes beside CKBS - the only bird sanctuary in this part of the city. We had feared this road will lead to a lot of road kill for creatures that depend on the Adi Ganga for survival. But given the colour of the river that I saw, almost jet black, I doubt it has any marine life left in it. Of course I saw a few cattle egrets and pond herons but didn't see anything else. Someone must have cleared the water hyacinth, for the water was visible. It looked stagnant though. 

I didn't realise I had reached Baruipur. Seeing a large tree with a concrete seat at the base I stopped for taking a photograph. I asked a curious local motorcyclist where the station was. From what he said I had crossed the point from where I should have turned left. He said Sashan is just a stone's throw. 

Even a few years ago Sashan was a terrible neighbourhood, made famous by the infamous Majid Master, the local thug come Left politician. I couldn't resist the temptation but went to Sashan. Actually it is Sashan Road Station. This is a T-junction where this new road ends. I suppose if you turn right from here you can go to Diamond Harbour Road. But I didn't want to take that route in my outlandish dress. I will come another day to explore that route when I am in my trousers and shirt. 

 I turned around from Sashan and came back home, clocking a decent 60k plus. I had started really late. But my average speed was better at close to 20kmph. 

I am thinking of attempting a century next Sunday. Let me see. 

Another thing to note here. Before the journey I adjusted my seat's alignment ever so slightly, moving it a few mm to the left. Handling improved dramatically. I could leave with hands off the handle effortlessly. The other day I was finding it difficult to maintain balance. Small adjustments in the saddle position goes a really long way. 

Riding with hands off the bar has a major advantage. It allows you to relax your shoulders and hands. I think my week long exercise to strengthen the core also paid some dividend. When you ride hands off the bar you are actually engaging your core more. So it helps to have more strength there. 

I remember - in my childhood I could ride for miles with my hands off the bar and even in pitch dark on known roads. I cannot imagine doing that even for a few seconds now.

A Long Sunday Ride

I had planned to go out as early as possible. But then lethargy set in. I had watched a football match the previous night. So was feeling sleepy. I decided to sleep despite waking up at around 5 am. Finally I managed to go out at 7 am. Monisha made me a couple of sandwiches with chicken salami and cheese. The front handlebar bag from Via Terra had come the previous afternoon. I could easily fit the largish tiffin box in it and off I went.

It turned out to be the longest ride on the Surly so far. I went way beyond the new St Xavier's University. Up to where the 4 lane road ends. A few years ago we used to come here for birding when this road was being built. Lots of pipits, munias, zitting cisticolas, not to speak of the Bengal Bushlark. The new 4-laned road ends at a T junction, where the upper arm of the T is an old road. To the left are places like Lauhati, Polerhat and Bhojerhat. To the right is Ghatakpukur. I have no idea how far Ghatakpukur is from here. But that narrow road didn't give me enough confidence to want to explore. These roads are frequented by dangerous pick up trucks belonging to the fishery industry. They don't mind killing pedestrians and cyclists in their hurry. They themselves also routinely get killed.

I felt fairly good and strong during the ride. But I never tried to speed up. Maintained what is known as a conversational speed. Finally at around 11 am when I was near Chingrihata, I started getting bored and came home.

The next morning is important. I think I had some ulnar nerve problems the next morning but that is perhaps more because of sleeping posture than from cycling. If it was due to cycling I would've felt it during the ride itself - like I did last time when I went for a 90 km ride. I could barely change gears with my fingers. It wasn't like that this time at all. But then I have ridden 75 km plus before and never got any ulnar nerve issue. So probably 90 km is what I need to ride on the Surly and see how the ulnar nerve reacts. 

Here are a few pics from the ride. I had initially intended to go to Dalhousie. But then found Red Road was closed. Possibly some marathon was on. So turned around and went off to New Town area. Had half a mind to cross the bridge and go past Satragachhi. Learnt two important things about route selection. The route via Chingrihata right turn is bad for a few hundred meters after the bridge merges with the road, which in itself is a dangerous point. Also, VIP Road is really bad once the sun is up, especially on the way back. So it makes sense to go via VIP Road and come back through New Town. 

While coming back, I cut my shin (blame the metallic MKS pedal) due to bad handling of the cycle at a tea stall. Not a major gash or cut. Just the top few micro millimeters got scraped. No bleeding and it is almost cured now.