This is my first 100 Kilometers ride on this new bike Schnell Crew 700c. The route planned is to first reach Thirukannur, and take a cross road that will connect to the bypass road that will take to Mailam. Then from Mailam, the road connects to a relatively more busy highway that connects Tindivanam and Villupuram, taking that road to reach Tindivanam. Then, from Tindivanam, taking the highway connecting to Puducherry and to reach the beach. Finally, from beach the return journey will be through city to home.
The ride started from my home at around 09:10 AM and reached Thirukannur by around 09:45 AM where I stopped to check the route to the connecting road. Then, as I am going through the connecting road, I came across the place called Thiruvakkarai where there are many shops that make sculptures out of granite rock. There were many beautiful sculptures, specially a peacock one saw in one of the shops.
On the way, I came to the bridge that crosses Sangarabarani river, the view was very beautiful. Also, I had the first dog chase in this ride with the new bike, in a local street at Thiruvakkarai. Later, I realized that I have already crossed the Puducherry border and came into Tamilnadu when leaving Thirukannur.
I reached the bypass that will take me to Mailam and proceeded in it. Mailam happens to be on a small hill and I saw two segments of Mailam, called as upper Mailam and lower Mailam. The road was having a good up and down gradients. For the first time, I saw the Mailam temple from the long view and it was very nice. But, I couldn’t get a good view compatible to take picture with my phone.
After crossing Mailam, I reached the busy Villupuram-Tindivanam highway and took it to reach Tindivanam. On the way, I stopped at a fuel station to get my water bottle refilled. I felt satisfied to see the Tindivanam bus stand that happens to be under a flyover. I came to Tindivanam after a very long time, saw not much have changed. I took the flyover to get back on the Puducherry highway and proceeded in it.
I stopped at a refreshment stall to get an orange juice and then proceeded back on the highway. No wonder I felt easy to travel from Puducherry to Kiliyanur in the same highway during my last ECR-Bypass ride, it was a mild but continuous downslope. This time, I was riding up slope towards Puducherry in the same highway. The route had a positive gradient almost the entire highway and it accompanied by the headwind as well. This reduced my average speed from 20 Kmph to 18 Kmph on the record.
On my way, I was seeing the milestones counting down the kilometers to reach Puducherry. I saw the old connecting road of my last ride near Kiliyanur and felt a good memory. It was also drizzled a bit on my way, that added a good weather pleasure to my ride. Finally I saw the Puducherry entrance arch being decorated for the New year celebrations.
The positive gradient had come to an end at the Puducherry arch and the negative gradient started. This downslope route is one of my favourites as it is a long downslope route that will connect to a main junction in the city. But, this time the traffic was huge and it prevented me from enjoying the ease downslope ride.
After reaching the main junction, called as Muruga theatre junction, I proceeded to the rock beach. I liked more to be on a bike this time, because It allowed me to ride into the road that is exactly on the shoreline where no vehicles are allowed. The scenery was very pleasing. I rid along the shoreline till the end and proceeded to get into the city. On the way I checked the distance covered and it was around 88 Kms. I guessed that I would be covering 100 Kms when I reach home, and indeed I had covered over 103 Kms.
Overall, It was a fun ride and it took over 6 hours, while the ride time is 5 and half hours. I took a couple of rest stops during the ride. The fuel stations offering free washroom and drinking water facilities is a plus for the riders like me.
Below are the images and videos that I took during my ride.
The Strava post can be seen below
