On 4th October 2020, TriGoa Randonneurs organised a 50kms and 100kms cycling event with simultaneous starts in Margao and Panjim. The ride which was self supported, attracted over 100 cyclists and I participated in the 100kms ride which was from Margao to the Pollem check-post which is on Goa’s south border and back. The 100kms had to be completed in a maximum of seven and half hours.
The ride was flagged of at 6.30am from the Govt. Multipurpose School in nice cool morning weather. Around 7kms into the ride at Sirlim it started raining, drenching all the riders, it kept raining intermittently till Balli when the sun finally came out. It took me three and half hours to reach Pollem a distance of 55 kms. After an half hour break for breakfast which was provided by the organisers at a nearby restaurant, the return journey started.
On the way back on the Galgibaga bridge tragedy struck – the back tyre got a puncture. I managed to fill air with the hand pump I was carrying. Fortunately the air remained and I managed to reach back to the end point – a minute before the cut of time of 2pm. All the participants who completed the ride were awarded a finisher medal and a certificate.
