This is my first Decathlon’s event ride. They are celebrating 50th anniversary this year, and for that they have organized a morning ride event which is about 20km in distance. The registration link to this event was shared by Bharath and it is free. I registered and planned to go there, it happened on a Saturday.
I started from campus by around 5AM, because the event was starting by 6:30 from Decathlon, Uloor. I went through Vembayam, Vattapara, Kesavathasapuram route. even though the Nedumangad-Vattapara route is short, it was dark and climby and I don’t wanna take risk with the street dogs. I reached Decathlon and was surprised to see almost no one in the entrance, for a moment I thought like I came to a wrong place thinking it as the starting point. Then, I saw Bharath and few other riders from Cyclotrivian there.
Totally over 10-15 riders were there. We were lead by a pro rider, I don’t know his name. Initially we did some warm-ups and left for the ride. Its a short route, and this is the first group ride with Bharath. I was keep on asking him for a group ride but his timings and mine didn’t align well. This ride cannot be considered as a group ride with Cyclotrivians as the same split ups happened like it was in Tour de Kanyakumari 200km event.
I was riding behind the pro-rider in the aim of learning any new techniques. Indeed I learnt few things like we have to ride in a smaller chainring during climbs, even though others may move faster. This I am implementing during my solo rides, but with group it is a bit difficult, which is not good to the drive train as well.
We reached first and was waiting for others to come. In the mean time, a lady rider was also there, I think she is a part of Decathlon or so. She is a pro-gymnastic. Her friends in Decathlon told her to demo her flexibility skills for us while we wait for all the riders to come. Man, she is great! I don’t know if she has solid bones or what.
Every riders arrived back, and we started doing stretches. After that, the Decathlon people told that they will show us some bike maintenance tips. We attended that, and I came to know that my chain has already worn. But, the Chain checker was showing it as good (or thats what I thought about it). Later, I realized that I am reading it in a wrong way. My chain has gone, and later the same day in my room I replaced it with a new chain that I already had.
After bike checking, they gave breakfast. A plate of fruits, a boiled egg, a steamed banana and a juice box. Since, the number of people were less than they thought, we got to go as many rounds as we want with the food. After that, we said good-bye to each other and I started to get back to campus. Later, Bharath told like the Decathlon people kind of cheated us! Because, he attended a similar event that they conducted for 47th anniversary, and the food, coupons and other goodies were so good. Also the riders count was also huge it seems at that time. Anyways, this is what I supposed to experience and thats ok to me.
For this ride, Bharath took his foldable bike that he got in Decathlon a few years back and I got a chance to try it too. It was nice, I felt like I was riding a small kid’s bike that is adjusted to my height.
Below are the pics and videos I took on this ride.
Below is the Strava log of this ride.
