My 200 KM Brevet

Hyderabad Stake

My 200 KM Brevet

On 21^st February 2015, I participated in my first 200 KM Cycling. This ride had taught me 2 great principles.

I prepared everything that requires on this long ride on Friday a day before the race. My preparation included food (soaked Almonds), hydration, proper clothing and tuned my bicycle to be in good condition.

I Left home by 4.30 am after having family prayer to have safe journey and reached Saroor Nagar stadium by 5.15 am. At the starting point 44 cyclists had already gathered and were having their cycles checked by the organizers. I took my cycle, and joined all the riders and got all the necessary check-ups done.

Saroor Nagar

After checkup, we were given bib number, route map, so we are on correct path, and cue sheet to get stamped at check points.

At sharp 5.30 am, the ride flagged-off. I was still setting up few things like bib, lights. Almost all riders left and I was the last person to leave the stadium gate and soon joined the last batch of riders and got to know the initial route details from experts.

I had only one goal in mind that I want to complete the ride and consistently maintain average speed and a flash of thought came into my mind “last shall be first and first shall be last” I smiled at it.

last shall be first and first shall be last

After riding 25 KM I was able to meet the larger group who left on time. I soon left them on my way and after riding for another 16 KM I met a rider (Sanjay Sharma) with whom I almost rode around 120 KM changing positions from 1 and 2. At check point 2 we got some juice, banana’s and got to know that there are 2 more riders ahead of us. We completed 85 KM by now and took 5 minutes break and then got back. The next check point was around 55 KM away. This route from Chityala to Bohngiri Fort was deserted as it was thinly populated. The ride through this area turned to be boring. We passed another rider after 10 KM who stopped for water and then after 5 KM we saw the first rider who stopped to get refreshed. We also took a break along with him, I washed all the salt from my face while they had chai, after 5 minutes we got back on road.

It was around 11 am I started to feel the heat and continuously getting thirsty I guess it was because of biscuits that I had at checkpoint 2; on top of that I filled my 2 water bottles with electrolytes which was not satisfying my thirst as my body is was craving for pure water.

Sanjay took first position and I followed him and reached Bohngiri town, I told him that I was very thirsty and he gave me a hint that you always carry one bottle of water and another for electrolytes, and then we planned to stop for coconut water or at a store to have a cool drink. I suggested we continue as were close to Bohngiri Railway station which is checkpoint 3 and then we can stop for some drinks. We reached checkpoint 3, we were the odd folks at the railway station in different outfit, this attracted the locals who were excited to see us and our gear cycles. One youth was requesting me to have a ride on my bike to which I had to say no as I had more kilometers to ride. The experience was fun though. I refilled my bottle with only water and then started from checkpoint3. We were like good friends after riding this long together, we realized Bohngiri town was past, our dreams of having cool drink there remained a dream. We were just 55 km away from our destination, then Sanjay gave me the shocking news that he got a flat tyre and asked me to continue. I had to leave him with an unwilling heart as I was leaving good company.

As I moved, other 2 riders joined me, I kept my pace and left them behind, it was one long stretch on Hyderabad highway, I was riding alone, no cyclist was ahead of me and destination was not even in sight, my music got turned off as all songs were played and I did not want to stop to fix it and it was getting tedious as I was cycling for more than 7 hours and it was very hot, my body was pulling the plug asking me to stop and then I remembered Sanjay and his flat tyre and I became scared thinking what would happen if I have a flat tyre and moreover I did not have equipment to fix flat tyre. After cycling 150 odd kilometers I did not want to be stopped due to flat tyre. I became more cautions and kept my eyes wide open to avoid anything on road that could puncture my tyres and my heart sank in prayer to my GOD to help me not have a flat tyre. More than fear my body became weak and mind was unwilling to encourage it. Then I was inspired to remember and hum a hymn:

“Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.”

Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.

As I was reciting this hymn, a new current passed into my body and I sensed Goosebumps all-over me and heard one command “don’t look back.” I became free from fear and felt light and felt I was not alone. As I was pedaling in my strength my thoughts lingered around these lines of Hymn and never had it made such difference and promise as it did on this ride. Each and every word of this hymn had been fulfilled.

“I learned a great and 1^st principle of this ride that at times of distress or discouragement or disdain or loneliness in life if we turn to our Lord with true intent he will aid us, strengthen us, and cause us to stand whatever the situations might be.”

I completed my ride safely in 9 hours 8 minutes and without much fatigue above all I was first.

After 15 minutes 2^nd rider joined and soon third and soon my friend Sanjay completed. I was happy to see him. We congratulated each other, I called my family and to share the good news and took few pictures and packed my cycle in car and was ready to leave.

At this instant, a scene flashed from the New Testament of 10 lepers who were healed on Jesus’s word and only one returned to thank him. My inner sense shouted at me you are same as those nine lepers who did not return to thank Jesus.

I then made up my mind to thank my Lord but by then I came out of stadium and was on highway, I decided to pull-over to pray, somehow I was diverted towards a coconut seller and I drank coconut water and gave him money, as he did not have change he went little further to another shop to get it, instead of waiting for him I did drive towards him and collected change and it was still shot of one rupee, I felt sorry for him as I couldn’t pay in full as I did not have change and thinking about him I started on my way.

Suddenly 10 lepers scene from the New Testament flashed again, this time I seriously pulled over my car to kerb and just immersed myself in prayer to thank my Lord for all the protection and strength throughout the ride. As I was praying my eyes filled with tears and I was crying like a kindergarten child and never had I felt such strong overwhelming presence of sprit in my life. It was wonderful. I felt the love, warmth of Lord and presence of holy angels. It was one wonderful moment of life.

“I learned the greatest 2^nd lesson on this ride, that is to be grateful and thankful for Lord for his tender mercies and respond to HIM immediately in prayer and He will express his love back to us in a unique way that we may never forget. When we pray with real intent to thank God he will be very happy and will express that to us in a unique way. I felt it and will never forget it.”

Naveen Kumar Kommukuri, Hyderabad Stake