I recieved a mail from mike in feb asking if i would like to join him and his friends for two days in kuttikanam. They were riding the hills cross country (xc) from Kuttikanam to Munnar and back. For those who are'nt jumping around yet, thats over 100 kms of backcountry. I did not think for another minute; telling that i needed to attend a really important pooja in Kerala, i took leave and left Chennai. Reached CoK aka Cochin by 9 am and ran out the station took a bus and headed home. Washed up real quick and mom had already prepared breakfast so that was a real time saver. Chappati's and mashed bringal. I went to the ksrtc bus hoping to get a bus to kumily, which is like 4 hours from cochin (thats 6 hours indian time ). Unfortunately all i got was a kottayam bus, so three hours of swerving, swearing, jumping, screaming and praying - later reached kottayam. Luckily there was a kumily bus waiting, but the ravan (no offence) was laid back and in no hurry. I was to make it that afternoon for a ride, and i did not want to miss it.
After two unwanted pitstops we reached kuttikanam. Mike was calling me to double up so i took an auto to the yatri niwas. Mike was already filling his camel back, checking tyre pressure and all. A very pleasent guy, a real joy to be around with. He was riding a kona caldera, me bob and nevil were on the kona hoss's (Clydesdale class but dont' guess my weight). It was great riding marzoochi's, Hayes disc brakes and all. Soon we hit the trail. Mike knows the trails around here like the back of his hand. He has been riding trainls in India for over 12 years' and had just returned from his yearly Himalayan oddyesy. We were about to enter single track country amid tea gardens - Lots of downhill. I was going fast but the shifters slowed me down. Soon i regained control, just before the real downhills started. Man that was a great feeling. Three hours of track riding later we took a more passive singletrack to a nearby church. A dirt rode laid with the best of Indian potholes gave me an opportunity to try some jumps. At top speed if you push down on a Marzoochi fork, its gonna push back at you for a real big air. Mike was happy with the riding and we headed back up the hill on a good road to our hotel. But wait, there is more.
Mike knows Malayalam. He has learnt it in the years he has been in India, especially those in Kerala proposing to local tea plucking lasses. He takes us to a fav hangout of his, a local thatukada aka road side eatery. We gorge on puffs, cakes, pepsi, mango juice and parottha with curry. Not the healthiest food but hey i am not complaining. Just as the sun was setting we ended our day by taking a jungle road back to our pad. The rooms at yatri niwas is good value for money. Rs 300 per room will give you three king sized beds, balcony with a view of a squirrels butt, TV that works on its own will, 24 hour self service hot water and beer on demand. We all got our own rooms and soon landed up in mike's for a pint, fingerchips and chit chat. We further introduced ourselves and got to know the differences in culture of mountain biking in our respective countries. Soon we were lost in deep discusions of mountain biking in ecuador and burma and other places i cant recollect cause i was so woozy. 
Next morning at 5 am I woke up to walk the jungle road we had taken last evening. It was really pleasent with the sky just about to be lit with the morning sun, bird calls, children waking from their slumber and the clean air which was really something i missed living in cities. soon i began to jog and then run just to get my legs heated up. Ok i did not run, just jogged. Getting back, all my companions were awake and already into their third black tea's each. (Throughout this journey i would wonder if mike and friends have so many tea cause this is prime tea land, or is it because they are british ??? what an irony!) We got to see mike's mechanichal geniousness when he disentegrated an entire bike to check the components. Then he cursed himself and everyone around and put it back together.
The second day's ride was tiring, but somehow i was always there in the front eagerly waiting for the next downhill. The problem is, if you wish to ride down, sooner or later you got to climb up. Instead of complaining to your own self about the toughness of the climb, it is better to suck it all in and await the next downhill. Its a great pleasure to be going somewhere by the sheer force and action of mother earth and gravity aka downhill. Just gotta keep track not to launch yourself off the mountain. Cause then you would guess how gravity is a bitch. Riding deep into the back country, we would often stop in tribal settlements and tea shops to get a bite, refuel and rehydrate. The only thing i regret is not packing in a sun screen, and by noon my skin was baked.
@ night it was time to chat about the days happenings. I really wanted to explore the trails and routes that make up most of the back country in the Western ghats and Himalayas. Mike was encouraging me to take it up seriously, to train myself and find newer and better trails to ride in. So thats what i am going to be doing now. Unfortunately, as they left for their munnar trip, i had to head back to cochin for my train to chennai.
Upon reaching here, friends ask me how i could tan so much in two days ! Poojas' my friend. Very tiring. I reply with a big grin. Pics in facebook
