Congratulations to Manickaraj Muthuwho set the new record for Clockwise Circumnavigation of the Golden Quadrilateral in the following categories: Solo, Upright bike, 18-49, Self-Supported.

This is also a new Guinness (non-age group) record.

Riders Narrative Summary 

Record Attempt: Golden Quadrilateral Highway Network, India- Circumnavigation (Clockwise)

 Name of the rider: Manickaraj Muthu, India 

Start Date: 02nd November 2024

Start Time: 05:50 hrs

Start Location: Just Buy Cycles, Velachery, Chennai  

What the conditions were like:

The Golden Quadrilateral is a network of highways in India that connects the country’s four major cities: Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata. The roads are a mixture of tar roads( around 40%) and concrete roads (around 30%) and 30% of road construction works. 

The conditions of the elevation was 50-50 of flat roads and rolling terrain which includes some ghat elevation roads. 

The climate was slightly cold during the evenings and mornings, with warm to slightly hot climate during the days. Luckily, there was no rain during the entire ride. 

As the entire ride was through the highways, it was constantly being busy with traffic throughout the day and night. 

Why did you want to do a record?

Firstly, I would like to promote endurance cycling in our country. Also I want to promote cycling as a better means of transport, especially in today’s environment as it has zero carbon footprint.

Finally I want to check my endurance level and challenge myself to pass through such a mental/physical barrier.

What equipment did you use? Anything special? 

My bike is a road bike, Cannondale CADD12 2018 model (personally aka MERI PYARI BINDU)  I have done all my rides till date on this bike only. My saddle bag was stuffed with one spare jersey/ bib shorts, spare tubes, multi tool, spare sandals, chargers and charging cables, power bank, jacket, towel and toiletries.  

For communication, my mobile was good enough with navigating maps using google maps, mapmyride, ridewithgps. 

I used a gps tracker, QUBO wireless GPS tracker. It was mainly used for the safety of myself, which was being tracked by family and friends. It was a feedback equipment rather than used for navigation.

What did you eat or drink?

I mostly survived on staple foods which were available on the go, like curd rice, rotis, dal fry, lots of curd(plain yogurt), chicken(wherever i got it), lassi, fresh fruits, lemon and salt.

Tender coconuts were my main source of electrolytes as I insisted on relying only on natural foods/drinks rather than chemicals. Every night after my ride I used to take a protein shake which I carried with myself. 

What was the best part? 

The best part was the whole ride itself. I enjoyed each and every moment of the ride. Every day was a new beginning and got some new challenges like head winds, bad roads owing to road construction/extension, elevations, heavy truck traffic to name a few. These challenges and the way I steered through these challenges was the best part. 

What was the hardest part?

The tough road conditions due to the road widening process posed a big troublesome ride.

Did anything particularly unusual happen? 

Nothing unusual happened. 

Exact finish date: 22nd November 2024 

Exact finish time: 05:42 hrs 

Exact finish location:  Just Buy Cycles, Velachery, Chennai

Sr. No.DateStart PointEnd PointDaily DistanceCum. DistanceStrava link
111/2/2024Chennai, TN, IndiaHosur, TN, India323323https://www.strava.com/activities/12807052300
211/3/2024Hosur, TN, IndiaRanebennuru taluk,Karnataka, India323646https://www.strava.com/activities/12815302239
311/4/2024Ranebennuru taluk,Karnataka, IndiaNippani taluka, Karnataka, India290936https://www.strava.com/activities/12821461068
411/5/2024Nippani taluka, Karnataka, IndiaMawal, Maharashtra, India2921228https://www.strava.com/activities/12830467441
511/6/2024Mawal, Maharashtra, IndiaPalghar, Maharashtra, India1921420https://www.strava.com/activities/12836690131
611/7/2024Palghar, Maharashtra, IndiaVadodara Taluka, Gujarat, India3381758https://www.strava.com/activities/12846403951
711/8/2024Vadodara Taluka, Gujarat, IndiaBichiwara Tehsil, Rajasthan, India2732031https://www.strava.com/activities/12853748027
811/9/2024Bichiwara Tehsil, Rajasthan, IndiaBanera Tehsil, Rajasthan, India2882319https://www.strava.com/activities/12861393914
911/10/2024Banera Tehsil, Rajasthan, IndiaShahpura Tehsil, Rajasthan, India2782597https://www.strava.com/activities/12869180862
1011/11/2024Shahpura Tehsil, Rajasthan, IndiaMathura, Uttar Pradesh, India3172914https://www.strava.com/activities/12876826912
1111/12/2024Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, IndiaAkbarpur, Uttar Pradesh India3023216https://www.strava.com/activities/12884867766
1211/13/2024Akbarpur, Uttar Pradesh, indiaGyanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India3063522https://www.strava.com/activities/12892894851
1311/14/2024Gyanpur, Uttar Pradesh, IndiaDehri, Bihar, India1963718https://www.strava.com/activities/12899246125
1411/15/2024Dehri, Bihar, IndiaAsansol Kulti Township, West Bengal, India3274045https://www.strava.com/activities/12907993495
1511/16/2024Asansol Kulti Township, West Bengal, IndiaDebra, West Bengal, India2814326https://www.strava.com/activities/12915542925
1611/17/2024Debra, West Bengal, IndiaDharmasala, Odisha, India2884614https://www.strava.com/activities/12924357538
1711/18/2024Dharmasala, Odisha, IndiaIchchapuram, Andhra Pradesh, India2604874https://www.strava.com/activities/12930288297
1811/19/2024Ichchapuram, Andhra Pradesh, IndiaTuni, Andhra Pradesh,India3365210https://www.strava.com/activities/12938019628
1911/20/2024Tuni, Andhra Pradesh,IndiaChilakaluripet, Andhra Pradesh, India3325542https://www.strava.com/activities/12946771026
2011/21/2024Chilakaluripet, Andhra Pradesh, IndiaOjili, Andhra Pradesh, India2575799https://www.strava.com/activities/12953149296
2111/21/2024Ojili, Andhra Pradesh, IndiaChennai, TN, India1285927https://www.strava.com/activities/12955493315