
It's time for more fun(Trip from Kalka to Kasauli)
June 13, 2009
It’s been a long time for us (Manasij, Aadhar and I) travelling to Greater Noida from Noida via our terrain bikes. It’s a round trip of 32miles each day and we were getting bored of our daily routine. We always wanted cycling to be fun and don’t want to get anchored it as a boring activity. This was the thought that engendered the cycling trip to Kasauli (Himachal Pradesh, India), a small town nested at Shivalik range of Himalaya.
Two cars loaded with three bikes and amateur bikers were rushing down to reach Chandigarh (from Delhi) before 9.00pm, so as to have ample amount of time for dinner and sound sleep before they could head to Kalka next day. It took 4 hours to reach Chandigarh from New Delhi, attributed to Manasij’s super duper driving.
Two cars loaded with three bikes and amateur bikers were rushing down to reach Chandigarh (from Delhi) before 9.00pm, so as to have ample amount of time for dinner and sound sleep before they could head to Kalka next day. It took 4 hours to reach Chandigarh from New Delhi, attributed to Manasij’s super duper driving.
Cycling is fun but getting early in morning is like shit. We need to
reach Kalka railway station at 6.00am and assemble our bikes to get started. We just missed our schedule by 35 mins:-), of course nothing new for a lazy guy like me. While Manasij was busy assembling his bike, I and Aadhar had a photo session for pics to be uploaded on Orkut. Later, we too got our bikes assembled and were ready for action.

ON THE MARKS JET SET GO…
Someone whistled and we moved ahead. Except 10mts from railway station any thing and every thing seems to be climbing. Never trained for HIGH hills (uphill), but THE Confidence was high above the head which didn’t lasted more than a mile and need to break for tea. This break had something special that made our trip a complete fun. We received a STRESS BUSTER, and Aadhar heard the weirdest ever thing in his life. A baba at dhaba in his typical style (raising his hands up in the air) advised Aadhar, “HAVE LESS SEX AND REST BE ASSURE THAT YOU WILL HAVE WONDERFUL LIFE A

Parwanoo provides two options, take a route via Dharampur or directly clim

I started with gear combination of 2(front) * 3(rear), and had a comfortable ride for next 2 miles. Later, I went to 1(front) * 3(rear), as it was getting tougher and tougher. We were continuously breaking after every 2 miles and I was second throughout the trip, and use to stop where ever I find Manasij waiting for us. He was carrying a borrowed GPS with him and was testing the precision of the device against the stats mentioned at number of places enroute ;-).
Just 4 miles before Kasauli, my bike broke (flat front tyre) and we decided to move back. Breaking

ANOTHER TOUGH SITUATION…
Where to find a cycle repair shop?
All you can find there were air pumps with nozzles to supply air to bus, trucks, scooters, mo-bikes, cars etc etc but not to bikes. Some one advised me to move to a small village name Garkhal, about 2 miles downhill. With no other option left I had to. People at height are most of the time helpful and correct with their advices. I knew the exact problem with my bike, but needed air pump any how. Valve of my front tyre had a cut, needs replacement.
After getting my bike repaired, I had to move uphill again to meet the guys with me. This time gradient was toughest, and only one thing that motivated me was, “I will earn 17 miles of downhill after reaching up the crossing at Kasauli”. This means a pedal free journey back to Kalka. I reached the crossing where the truckee left me and called up Manasij and Aadhar to reach the same place before we could move back. If you are inquisitive about what Manasij and Aadhar did when I was busy getting my bike repaired, do read out Manasij's Blog.
After getting my bike repaired, I had to move uphill again to meet the guys with me. This time gradient was toughest, and only one thing that motivated me was, “I will earn 17 miles of downhill after reaching up the crossing at Kasauli”. This means a pedal free journey back to Kalka. I reached the crossing where the truckee left me and called up Manasij and Aadhar to reach the same place before we could move back. If you are inquisitive about what Manasij and Aadhar did when I was busy getting my bike repaired, do read out Manasij's Blog.
