Congratulations to Amit Samarth for setting a new WUCA record of Chennai to Nagpur, India during Mar 13 -15, 2022

Riders Narrative Summary

Record Attempt: City to City: Lighthouse, Marina Beach, Chennai to Zero Milestone, Nagpur, India

Name of the rider: Amit Samarth, India 

Title of the ride: IndianOil Xtragreen Mile by Mile Mission Zero Mile 2.0

Start Date: 13 March 2022 

Start time: 23:00:46 (HH:MM:SS) (24 hour format) hours. See photograph taken at start location (Lighthouse on Marina Beach in the background is visible)

Start location: Lighthouse, Marina Beach, Chennai.

Lat / Long of Start Location: 13.039870, 80.2790080

Exact finish date: 15 March 2022

Exact finish time: 19:34:34 (HH:MM:SS) (24 hour format)

See attached photograph with time stamp. 

Exact finish location: Zero Mile Stone, Nagpur

Lat/Long of end point: 21.149741990, 79.080669150 (See map showing end location)

 

Note: Please note that the geographical co-ordinates (GPS locations) recorded during the ride will have an error of 3-5 meters. These errors are inherent in all GPS systems used by non-military usage / civilians. We did not have access to more accurate GPS systems such as WAAS etc. 

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Time taken for creating record: 44 hours and 34 minutes (Subject to confirmation by WUCA) (rounded off from 44:33:48 (HH:MM:SS). 

Table showing On-saddle and Off-Saddle time. 

Total Elapsed Time: 44:33:48

Moving time: 41:45:04

Off-Saddle time: 02:48:44

Above data as measured by Garmin Edge Cyclocomputer. 

Units Distance Average Speed
Kilometers 1126.72 kilometers 25.28168 kilometers per hour
Miles 700.1113 miles 15.7093 miles per hour

 

 What the conditions were like:  

Road type: The entire stretch was of minimum 4-lane divided carriageway standards with either surface made of either cement or bitumen/tar. In some places, we also had a six lane divided carriageway. The route was NH16 From Chennai to Ongole, NH167A from Ongole to Narketpalle, NH65 from Narketpalle to Hyderabad and NH44 from Hyderabad to Nagpur.

Terrain: The first 320 kilometers (approx) was through flat terrain as it was the coastal area. The next 140 kilometers is mostly rolling terrain. The next 210 kilometers was a long climb to ascend the Deccan Plateau. The last 456.72 kilometers was rolling terrain along the Deccan Plateau till Nagpur. Another feature of modern Indian roads is that every few kilometres, there are long ramps to climb the flyovers at every intersection of roads and in smaller towns which makes the ride very arduous. 

Total ascent during the ride was recorded as 4571 meters. 

Road condition: Over all the road condition was good, but due to ongoing road maintenance work in many places the traffic (Between Chennai ORR and Nellore) was diverted to one side of the road, as a result traffic in both directions was restricted to a single lane (often the wrong lane) and one had to be careful in such confusing conditions. 

Once we exited Chennai, the highway bypasses most towns, except the major metropolis of Hyderabad. We had to negotiate evening traffic through Hyderabad     

Traffic: There was heavy truck traffic from Chennai to Nellore, even at night. Traffic was heavy and frequently we encountered traffic approaching us from the wrong side. After Nellore, the traffic conditions were better with lesser traffic. The last 20-25 kilometres, (once we entered the city limits of Nagpur Urban area) there was heavy city traffic. 

Weather: We had initially planned the ride in the month of February. But due to COVID related restrictions which were not lifted till early March, we could not commence the ride as originally planned. 

As the summer season had set in, we expected the weather to be hot. The weather turned out to be very hot (more than anticipated) due to an unexpected heatwave in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Maharashtra. Heatwaves touching 400 Celsius were a little early for the season.  

(https://www.livemint.com/news/india/yellow-alert-these-states-to-see-heatwave-to-severe-heatwave-in-next-5-days-11647257997328.html)

The morning of 15th was very cold. Thus the weather was fluctuating between very cold at dawn to very hot in the afternoon. 

Wind conditions: 

We expected opposite winds in the coastal area (initial 300 kilometers), but as we covered the stretch during the night time, we faced lesser than anticipated winds in this stretch. During the daylight hours, we had crosswinds due to the extreme heat

Why did you want to do a record? 

At a strictly personal level, I wanted to do this record as a symbol of my individual ability as a sportsperson to excel at the world level and to explore the limits of human endurance. I have done multiple long rides such as the Race Across America, the Red Bull Trans-Siberian Extreme and the Golden Quadrilateral Circumnavigation (all >5000 kilometers). I had planned a series of smaller record attempts and the city to city record (Mission Zero Mile 1.0) from New Delhi to Nagpur was the first of these. Similar to the Mission Zero Mile 1.0, I wanted to do a relatively shorter route at faster speeds with minimal sleep breaks. 

My other larger objective was to aid in the promotion of cycling as a sustainable means of transport and to inspire others that cycling is also a way to achieve physical fitness.  

Apart from the above one of my major goals to attempt this record was to raise funds for charity. I have been a philanthropist and raised money for charity through my previous rides as well and this time as well I wanted to raise money for ‘India Pedals’, an initiative to make Indian cities more bicycle friendly. 

What equipment did you use? Anything special? 

Bicycles: I had planned to use a total of 3 bicycles which we carried. These were a Scott Addict RC 2020 model, a Scott Addict 2016 and a Scott Plasma 6.  

I started on the Scott Addict RC 2020 considering a few bad sections in the city Chennai and then switched over to the Scott Plasma after the first 55 odd kilometres. I switched over to the Scott Addict RC 2020 towards the latter half of the ride. 

Overall, I used the Scott Addict RC 2020 the most (905 kilometers), followed by the Scott Plasma 6 (222 kilometers). 

Communication: The crew communicated with me using a Terrano Bluetooth radio which was mounted on my cycling helmet and used the radio for important communication regarding my nutrition and navigation. I also carried a cellphone in my cycling jersey back pocket which was a backup mode of communication in case I got separated from my crew / car in case of some unforeseen situation especially in the heavy city traffic.  

The cellphone was also useful for transmitting my live position using the Garmin Livetrack feature. My position was being live transmitted on my website www.amitsamarth.com as well as via my Instagram handle, so my supporters could track me live. 

Sensors: I had a few biometric sensors to record data on my biological parameters continuously.  

1) I was wearing a Garmin Heart Rate monitor mounted on a chest strap.  

2) I had Vector power pedals from Garmin which could measure my power output on the bicycle. The power pedal was installed only on the Scott Plasma 6. 

3) Globalstar Spot tracker to record and transmit my position at frequent intervals

3) I had a Garmin Edge cyclocomputer to record my speed and position as well. 

All the sensor data was collated on the Garmin Edge cyclocomputer and a cellphone that I carried in my back pocket most of the times 

What did you eat or drink? 

I had instructed my crew to ensure that I eat at regular intervals and hydrate me more since I expected the weather to be hot & humid. My crew tried to ensure that I eat at least 3-4 times an hour. To ensure that I can eat even if they are not in a position to hand-off food and drink items, the crew ensured I carried enough energy bars in my cycling jersey and bike cockpit. 

Macronutrients: Proteins, carbohydrates and fats:  

We had the following items in the crew car for consumption:

  1. Snickers energy bar
  2. Bounty energy bar
  3. Boiled potato
  4. Boiled sweet potato
  5. Gulab jamun
  6. Daal Khichdi (made with rice, cereal and ghee)
  7. Potato biscuits
  8. Bread with butter and chutney
  9. Coconut water
  10. Ice-creams

During my practise rides, I am used to eating the above food and I consumed the same tried and tested menu. 

Hydration, micronutrients and electrolytes: I used to drink plain water (bottled water) to ensure that I stay hydrated. I also consumed bottled coconut water and fresh lime juice was also consumed. At regular intervals, the crew mixed a commercial energy / electrolyte powder ‘Enerzal’ with additional rock salt & Vital Z dissolved in water, so that I had adequate electrolytes to replace the loss due to sweating. I also used ‘Fast & Up Reload’, another electrolyte supplement dissolved in the water.  

Stimulants: I drank Redbull which has a lot of caffeine and sugars which help to keep me alert and awake. I drank four cans of Red Bull. After the initial 16 hours, I also consumed one portion of another caffeine drink, ‘Five Hour Energy’. In the night of 14th, I also consumed coffee. During the morning of 15th, when the weather was cold, I had hot tea twice. 

Other: Continuous water spray on 15th afternoon when weather was very hot. The temperatures suddenly spiked from 20 to 45 degree Celsius in span of 2 hours due to the heat wave conditions. Early in the morning it was very cold at 9.20 Celsius. I was shivering and used 2 layers of T-shirts & a jacket. 

 What was the best part? 

Overall, I had prepared well for the ride at the physical level. This time, I had trained till the end with no tapering of effort before the ride. My crew consisted of many members with no previous ultracycling experience. They were led by a small group that has extensive ultracycle crewing experience. Support from the people for their generous donations towards the charitable cause was another highly encouraging factor. Support from the sponsors Indian Oil Corporation, Scott Sports India Pvt Ltd, Infocepts and Garmin was encouraging. Logistical support from the title sponsor Indian Oil Corporation Limited at fuel stations on the way was especially encouraging. 

What was the hardest part? 

Completing the ride in the extreme hot weather due to the unexpected heat wave with minimal sleep (only two 10 minute naps) was the hardest part.

Did anything particularly unusual happen? 

Nothing particularly unusual happened. 

 

Preparation:  

As an athlete and a fitness coach in my hometown, I have been maintaining a high level of fitness preparation with my daily workouts which consist of a mix of runs, strength training, flexibility training, indoor cycling, outdoor cycling and swimming.  

My specific preparations for the Chennai-Nagpur ride started approximately around January 2022, both for the logistics as well as my own physical preparedness for the 1000-kilometre ride. 

On the logistics front, I worked with a set of crews who have functioned as crew chiefs and have had significant experience in ultracycle crewing having been on my team in the Race Across America, the Trans-Siberian Race and the Golden Quadrilateral ride. They started working on the route, vehicles, equipment and the fund-raising elements of the larger plan.  Other crew members focused on crewing me in the practise rides. 

Apart from my regular training, I increased my training tempo from the 2nd week of February, 2022 till a week before the ride. 

I started focusing on cycling, a mix of outdoor road cycling and indoor cycling on a trainer. I also did a lot of strength training, running and swimming during this period and on increasing my body weight. 

Details of my training from January are summarised below

Activity Type Date Title Distance
Running 28-03-2022 05:30 Starting to train Run 15.01
Running 25-03-2022 04:44 Untitled 8.15
Running 22-03-2022 06:08 Untitled 1.89
Running 22-03-2022 04:45 Untitled 8.22
Running 20-03-2022 05:49 Just run  5.52
Virtual Cycling 10-03-2022 19:05 Zwift – New Workout in Watopia 21.33
Virtual Cycling 09-03-2022 17:19 Zwift – The Gorby in Watopia 36.37
Road Cycling 06-03-2022 15:31 204 km Ride 204.36
Running 06-03-2022 06:57 Run at Ajni Ground  12.18
Cycling 06-03-2022 05:18 Cycling with Ayaan 26.56
Road Cycling 05-03-2022 14:09 151 km Ride  151.1
Running 05-03-2022 08:56 8 km Run  8.03
Running 03-03-2022 12:04 14 km on Saoner Road  14.07
Road Cycling 03-03-2022 09:52 speed ride  71.8
Road Cycling 02-03-2022 06:02 100 km Ride with MnM Tribals 100.16
Running 01-03-2022 18:23 Untitled 5.14
Virtual Cycling 01-03-2022 10:15 Zwift – New Workout in Watopia 46.83
Road Cycling 27-02-2022 05:10 Untitled 200.03
Road Cycling 26-02-2022 16:59 Untitled 141.36
Running 26-02-2022 07:05 20 km Easy Run 20.01
Running 24-02-2022 17:35 12 km Run at Ajni Ground 12.02
Road Cycling 24-02-2022 07:06 85 km Time Trial  85.35
Road Cycling 23-02-2022 09:11 Untitled 37.35
Virtual Cycling 22-02-2022 20:06 Zwift – Watopia 35.08
Running 22-02-2022 05:05 1200 x 5  6.15
Running 22-02-2022 04:31 Run to Ajni Ground 5
Road Cycling 20-02-2022 06:07 Nagpur Multai Nagpur 250 km 250.1
Running 19-02-2022 15:45 Afternoon Run 21
Virtual Cycling 18-02-2022 17:04 Zwift – Watopia 150.1
Running 17-02-2022 07:16 15 km negative split 15.1
Virtual Cycling 16-02-2022 16:47 Zwift – New Workout 30.2
Road Cycling 16-02-2022 09:18 Endurance cycling 84.17
Running 15-02-2022 08:15 800 m x 9 times 7.52
Running 15-02-2022 07:52 Warm up Run  3.09
Virtual Cycling 14-02-2022 16:09 Zwift – Watopia 50.09
Running 12-02-2022 10:31 Abandoned 20 km Run 13.55
Road Cycling 12-02-2022 07:45 95 km Bike 94.18
Running 10-02-2022 06:30 Untitled 0.59
Virtual Cycling 08-02-2022 17:32 Zwift – New Workout 39.65
Running 06-02-2022 08:12 Long Run 30.01
Virtual Cycling 05-02-2022 17:07 Zwift – Watopia 125.08
Virtual Cycling 05-02-2022 08:24 Zwift – Watopia 21.89
Virtual Cycling 04-02-2022 18:49 Zwift – New Workout 52.44
Running 04-02-2022 06:50 Untitled 19.02
Virtual Cycling 03-02-2022 18:35 Zwift – Watopia 61.66
Running 03-02-2022 07:27 Untitled 8.43
Virtual Cycling 02-02-2022 18:36 Zwift – 6 intervals 50.71
Running 01-02-2022 09:19 Untitled 12.13
Virtual Cycling 30-01-2022 16:02 Zwift – New Workout 197.29
Running 30-01-2022 06:17 10 km with MNM tribals 10.01
Running 29-01-2022 08:06 Untitled 18.01
Virtual Cycling 28-01-2022 17:05 Zwift – New Workout 105.12
Running 28-01-2022 09:01 Untitled 7.11
Running 27-01-2022 10:07 Untitled 4.03
Running 27-01-2022 09:47 Untitled 2.53
Running 27-01-2022 09:35 Untitled 1.52
Running 27-01-2022 09:06 Untitled 4.04
Virtual Cycling 25-01-2022 17:37 Zwift – New Workout 59.61
Running 23-01-2022 17:38 25 km Longish Run  25.14
Road Cycling 23-01-2022 06:10 100 km with MNM Gang 100.7
Running 22-01-2022 09:36 Run over flyovers 8.01
Road Cycling 22-01-2022 07:22 77 km Speed ride on Saoner road 78.05
Running 20-01-2022 07:08 Untitled 14.54
Virtual Cycling 19-01-2022 16:59 Zwift – New Workout 40.02
Running 18-01-2022 10:13 Untitled 1.69
Running 18-01-2022 09:41 Untitled 4
Running 18-01-2022 09:14 Untitled 4.04
Road Cycling 16-01-2022 06:22 150 km on Saoner road 150.2
Running 15-01-2022 16:29 12 km run on Ajni Ground 12.16
Road Cycling 15-01-2022 07:22 Longish ride on Saoner road 125.21
Virtual Cycling 14-01-2022 17:11 Zwift – New Workout 31.09
Virtual Cycling 14-01-2022 15:21 Zwift – 1 34.21
Running 13-01-2022 16:28 Run 11 km 11.04
Virtual Cycling 13-01-2022 09:11 Zwift – Watopia 75.36
Running 12-01-2022 08:50 Untitled 8.03
Virtual Cycling 11-01-2022 17:22 Zwift – New Workout 37.96
Running 09-01-2022 06:28 Untitled 21.01
Road Cycling 08-01-2022 06:08 150 km on Outer Ring Road  150.62
Virtual Cycling 06-01-2022 17:31 Zwift – Watopia 75.31
Running 05-01-2022 16:32 Run 14.01
Virtual Cycling 04-01-2022 17:10 Zwift – Watopia 50.11
Running 03-01-2022 10:31 Run after Bike  12.02
Road Cycling 03-01-2022 07:55 85 km Ride  85.61
Virtual Cycling 01-01-2022 18:07 Zwift – New Workout 52.33
Virtual Cycling 30-12-2021 15:27 Zwift – Watopia 70.08
Virtual Cycling 28-12-2021 18:11 Zwift – The Gorby 35.75

 

Route: The complete route taken as well as other stats can be viewed in detail using the below hyperlink

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/8461948531

Sponsors

Title Sponsor: Indian Oil Corporation Limited

Bicycle partner: Scott Sports India Pvt Limited

Equipment support: Garmin

Website development and maintenance: Infocepts

Crew:

  1. Dilip Warkad (Crew Chief)
  2. Mukul Samarth
  3. Bhavesh Patre
  4. Parth Manapure
  5. Bhushan Deosarkar
  6. Vishwas Naitam
  7. Mohd. Mohsin

 

Media team cum Crew:

  1. Priyadarsh Bhabda
  2. Mahesh Umredkar

WUCA Officials cum crew

  1. Sudhir Baldota
  2. Pradip Deshpande
  3. Aniket Shegaonkar

Backend & other logistical support team

  1. Aarya Sinha: Social Media
  2. Arushi Nayak: Social Media
  3. Jeetendra Nayak: Crew Director
  4. Ravindra Paranjape: Media,VIP Co-ordination and event management
  5. Atul Bhojraj: Media,VIP Co-ordination and event management
  6. Milind Pariwakam: Maps, Navigation and data management
  7. Sheetal Kolhe: Maps, Navigation and data management
  8. Vivitt Walve: Maps, Navigation and data management
  9. Prafulla Jamdar: Logistics
  10. Ansh Dhopte: Bicycle Maintenance
  11. Sachin Sahu: Bicycle Maintenance
  12. Prashant Jambhulkar: Logistics facilitation
  13. Ritu Jain: Social Media and creative
  14. Rajasi Sengupta: Medical Advisor
  15. Sambasiva: Route Recce & Logistics Hyderabad
  16. Gupta Kandula: Route Recce, Hyderabad
  17. Haricharan Kumaraswamy: Local Coordination Chennai