Magadi - Savandurga - Ramnagara

Waiting of ages at endless traffic signals, or weaving through slow trucks, inhaling their toxic spew isn't exactly what I like. But, that is exactly what I have had to go through, every time I've taken the Nellamangala route towards Hassan. I don't favour potholes either!

That's why, last November, Kudz and me decided to "explore" other options. This was on the Diwali ride to Mangalore. And we "discovered" the Kunigal-Magadi-Ramanagara section. In July '08, we "discovered" the Bangalore-Magadi route. It was perfect announce ride material. Short, beautiful, and well laid.

So, when someone on the RTMC forum wanted to know if we would have an announce ride this September, and if yes, then where to, I had no hesitation in suggesting our "discovered" route. And, that is the route we took today.

We started from ISKON at 0630, with the almost customary 30 minute delay.

Took the Chord road - Modi Road - 1st/9th Cross Road route to join Magadi Road.
Since we were moving that early in the morning, we did not face the usual hustle bustle that one normally associates with the narrow Magadi Road. The road opens up after the intersection with the NICE road. A few patchy stretches here and there, but nothing one feels like complaining about. The road has enough and more turns, blind curves and even one hair pin bend! The environs were green and the cool air added to the feeling of being somewhere in the western ghats :) Ok, now maybe that was a bit too much...

The first regroup point was the old bridge on a right hand turn. The photographers got out their equipment and did their thing. The people who had to pee peed. Those who wanted to smoke smoked. Those who did not want to do anything did just that. Those who spotted the chai-shack had the chai. One micro-mini cup of chai for Rs 2. I remembered that "singular" event involving a similarly priced coffee while riding back from Belum, and the subsequent refund.. hehe... Anyways, we resumed after the Kutti chai break.

The 2nd regroup point was the at the left turn off towards Savandurga and the 3rd at Savandurga. At Savandurga, we didn't trek or do anything very Savandurga specific. It was just another regroup point. We found a clearing a couple of hundred meters away from the temple at the base and had our announce ride intro session.

What happens at these sessions, is that a regular RTMC rider introduces RTMC, gives the usual gyan about how we are a non-profit, non-affiliated, non-political, only-for-fun biking group. The two step eligibility criteria etc. etc. Then all the riders introduce themselves, after which the new riders ask their questions which range from who is the best mechanic to where do I get that riding gear :) Ditto for this ride. The other highlight was the distribution of - "Bharat Parikrama" DVD (A journey around India). Kart got a bag full of these DVDs to give away.

We decided to have breakfast at Kamath Loka ruchi, so headed towards Ramanagara on some more kickass windy roads. We halted before the Ramanagara - SH13 junction to allow everybody to regroup. We reached Kamath at 10.30 am. Breakfast was nothing out of the ordinary. A couple of glasses of watermelon juice, puri bhajji and some gup shup.

We left Kamath Loka Ruchi at around 11.30 am, and regrouped at The NICE road-SH 13 intersection. We were waiting in the boiling heat (in our boiler suit) when we recieved an SMS from Menon- "Vijay's bike tyre punctured. you guys proceed." So, we took a group snap, Ok! a couple of group snaps (Will post that up once I get it), shook hands and thanked each other for the safe ride, and went our separate ways.

The route -
Start: Bangalore, ISKON temple 0630 hrs
Via Point 1: Old bridge on Magadi Main Road (38kms)
Via Point 2: left turn off to Savandurga on Magadi Main Road
Via Point 3: Savandurga
Via Point 4: 500m before merge onto SH-13 at Ramanagara
Via Point 5: Kamath Loka Ruchi on SH-13 CAUTION: Turn right towards Mysore!
Via Point 6/End: SH-13 - NICE intersection (Kengeri)

The route was a little over 150 kms, including the city riding.
The good things - no one rode dangerously. No one belted the usual patrang way. One rider had a minor fall. But, we all got home safe. And that, is very important!

Magadi - Savandurga - Ramnagara