Brevet-ing the road

The Hyderabad Randonneurs group conducted its signature brevet cycle ride last Sunday and saw its largest turnout yet — with over 100 riders taking part in the long-distance cycling event. The 200-kilometre ride, aptly known as the Heaven N Hell, is the group’s flagship ride. It was flagged off at the Hyderabad Bicycling Club’s Gachibowli Bike Station at 5.30 am, and riders moved on from there towards Shankarpalli.

Sachin Dhondi, one of the participants, said that it was a typical brevet, with five-six checkpoints. “You can take your time and breaks but you have to reach each checkpoint within a particular time,” he explains, “To make sure no one cheats, there are volunteer cyclists and photo graphers who start early on.” Krish Agarwal from the Hyderabad Randonneurs says these events are officially approved by the Adux Club Parisien, a French cycling body that was founded 1904. “They organise the Paris-Brest-Paris, a 1200-km race, every four years,” Krish says, adding, “It’s like the world cup of the cycling world. Most riders take part in brevet rides like these in preparation for Paris-Brest-Paris.”

Krish adds that the brevet is not for the faint-hearted. While anyone over the age of 18 can take part in these races, Krish advises that participants stock enough water to keep the body hydrated. “There was this one person who had tried a 100-km ride on the Wednesday and ended up with body cramps He wanted to quit the ride on Saturday,” Krish shares, “But he finally managed to finish the whole race!”