Leisurely ride with Friends
The Covid-19 pandemic has been really dynamic and unprecedented for all of us. During these challenging times, it’s really important to keep ourselves strong, healthy and most importantly motivated. So what best then a weekend cycling ride with your friends. As you are reading this blog either you have already taken up cycling or thinking to ride one soon and if you are from Pune then as a beginner you would be wondering which is the best weekend cycling routes for a leisurely ride. So here are the details of one of the best cycling routes I experienced today.
An Evening Before Ride
Normally we all from CCG Group meet an evening before the long ride to discuss the cycling routes, weather, start time etc. but due to rains, we started discussing the Saturday morning ride on WhatsApp. A suggestion came for ‘Lonavala’ then our Guruji said Rahul will suggest, whenever someone asks me for a route the first thing comes to my mind,
‘Idhar ja rahe ho yah udhar ja rahe ho … kidhar bhi ja rahe ho … sab raasta God ke paas jata hai’ (all the roads lead to God)
a dialogue from popular Bollywood movie.
We did not conclude on the destination. Weather predictions were for heavy rains with the thunderstorm. Finally decided to start at 5am based on rain conditions.
Ride Day
As usual, I woke up at 4.30am, looked outside the window, the road was wet but it wasn’t raining. Dropped a message on the group if we are heading for a ride, it was decided to meet downstairs at 5am. Had my black coffee (must for me before the ride) and went down. I was late by 10 mins tho, thankfully it wasn’t raining.
Four of us (Sumit, Chirag, Ritesh & I) started from our society around 5.20am, Tanmoy, our new and youngest member joined on his brand new Road bike at Wakad. Then it was announced by our Guruji (Sumit) that we are heading to Khadakwasla. I am sure Ritesh must have been disappointed as he would not get to complete his 100km today.
Route Details
We started from Pimple Saudagar – Wakad – Bangalore Highway – Warje – Shivane Village – Khadakwasla Dam. In past, I have always visited this place by car and took the Nanded city route which takes us to the backwaters but this unplanned cycling route took us to the dam.
Khadakwasla Dam
Every Punekar knows the place Khadakwasla & I also thought that I knew it very well. I have been staying in Pune for 18 years and today I actually found the Khadakwasla Dam. All these years I had only seen the backwaters and enjoyed the Vada Pav and Bhel there. I now wonder why I never thought that its just backwaters and the dam is somewhere else. Thanks to my new found love ‘cycling’ I could rediscover the Khadakwasla Dam.
We reached there at 7.00am Due to the good rainy season, the dam was almost full and some water was released. The scene was just mesmerising. On one side the Sun was just rising, the water was freely flowing, the sound of water was music to ears. It was a moment to experience and cherish.
We captured some of the best moments in our mobile cameras and headed toward the backwaters, due to Covid-19 all stalls had disappeared. While returning we took the Nanded City route. On the way, we saw many cyclists of all age groups.
Summary
The ride to Khadakwasla dam from the city is short and enjoyable. Most of the riders prefer this cycling route on weekends. If you want to rediscover Khadakwasla once again you must ride on the route I mentioned above, head to the small bridge on Kudje Khadakwasla link road, from there you get the full front side view of the dam.
Then head to Sinhagad road and enjoy the infinity view of backwaters, hopefully after Covid-19 the food stalls will reopen and you may enjoy hot Vada Pav and Bhaji.
Happy Riding!
Nice one dada keep it up and keep posting new things
All the Best RD for your cycling and may you discover more and more interesting 👍 places to be visited
Amazing Rahul !!
This cycling route is nice.
… Nice experience.
The discipline, the choice of destination and the group-camaraderie.
Thanks for sharing.
Yes Rahul, to experience good things one need to reach at right place at right time by walk or by cycle only.
Yes, rediscover the world.
Thanks, Abhiroop. It encourages me to share more experiences.
Let’s ride together when you are back!
Thank you, Shashi.
Sukdeo, thanks for your encouragement.