Bharat Pannu – Indian Golden Quadrilateral – Oct 16-31, 2020

Congratulations to Bharat Pannu who set the Solo, Male, Standard record for the Circumnavigation of the Indian Golden Quadrilateral on Oct 31, 2020

Bharat covered the 3692.2 miles in 14 days, 23 hours, 52 minutes for an average speed of 10.26 mph (5942 Km at 16.51 kph)

Here are the official way-points:

Way Points	est Km between way-points	est cumm Km
Indian Gate, New Delhi	0	0
Sarsaul (UP)	530	530
Machanipur (Bihar)	432	962
Bardhaman (West Bengal)	423	1385
Kolkata (1st major stage)	103	1488
Bhadrat (Orissa)	314	1802
Kanimetta (Telangana)	418	2220
Chebrolu (AP)	340	2560
Gudur (AP)	417	2977
Chennai (2nd major stage)	135	3112
Kulidikai (Tamil Nadu)	168	3280
Chikkanahalloi (Karnataka)	297	3577
Belgaum (Karnataka)	383	3960
Sirwal (Maharashtra)	287	4247
Mumbia (3rd major stage)	194	4441
Pardi (Gujarat)	190	4631
Prantij (Gujarat)	428	5059
Bhilwara (Rajasthan)	342	5401
Indian Gate, New Delhi	512	5913

INDIAN GOLDEN QUADRILATERAL – FASTEST SOLO CYCLING (MALE)

(16TH OCT TO 31TH OCT  2020) BY BHARAT PANNU

1. I, Bharat Pannu, have successfully completed the INDIAN GOLDEN QUADRILATERAL – FASTEST SOLO CYCLING (MALE) (16TH OCT TO 31TH OCT  2020) in 14 Days 23 Hours 52 Minutes 11 Seconds. The distance travelled by me on cycle from India Gate, New Delhi via Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai and back to India Gate, New Delhi was 5938.2 km (3689.8 miles) along with a cumulative elevation gain of 21,165 m (69,438 feet).
2. I am an Indian national of 37 years (Date of Birth – 08 May 1983) had attempted the Fastest Time To Travel The Indian Golden Quadrilateral By Bicycle (Male) record. I started from India Gate, New Delhi at 0028h on 16th October 2020 and reached back the same location at 0020h on 31st October 2020 via Kolkata, Chennai & Mumbai traversing the complete Indian Golden Quadrilateral. As per the rules for the record attempt given to me before the start of the event, I have abided by them in all throughout the event.

3. Introduction. Indian Golden Quadrilateral Expedition was a challenge which I had been looking forward to attempt. I had to undergo a strict training regime, immaculate planning before the event and relentless efforts by my support crew members. It tested my determination and all the endurance cycling experience. It was a wonderful event and the complete team had a wonderful time in covering the length and breadth of the entire nation. The route was mostly flat interspersed with rolling terrain in about 20% of the entire stretch.  I had covered a total distance of 5938.2 km with an elevation gain of 21,165 m. Out of the total time of 14 days 23 hours 52 minutes 11 seconds of the expedition; my riding time was 10 days 13 hours 14 minutes 33 seconds.
4. Run-up Towards the Event. I had not faced any medical or physical issues during the event; and I owe this to my coach Tracy Mckay and my physiotherapist Dr Aarti Nagrani who had relentlessly worked upon me after my collar bone fracture in May 2019 which happened during a training ride just before my solo attempt at RAAM.  Getting back in shape within 05 months of the collar bone fracture, I attempted K2K Expedition in Oct-Nov 2019 for WUCA Record, and successful completion of this event boosted the morale of the complete team for RAAM 2020. Due to COVID-19 pandemic, RAAM 2020 was cancelled and Virtual RAAM was organized in Jun 2020 where I secured overall 3rd place and 1st in age category. 
5. Preparations Towards the Event. Our team was well prepared for the event and we arrived at the start point (New Delhi) on 13 October 2020. I was following a strict routine as part of preparations for the event which was being repeated every day and nothing was left to speculations. Our team had 05 support crew members which included Katha Sonaniskar (Crew Chief), Aarti Nagrani (Medico & Physiotherapist), Abdul Ahad Shaikh (Bike Expert), Ajay Bakshi (Navigator) and Vishal Nagrani (Rider Care & Nutrition). Apart from their routine duties, everyone was multi-tasking to leave no stone unturned in making this an event a success story. Jyoti Tripathi, Arham Shaikh and Sushant Jadhav were the 03 officials for the event. The team will be remembered for the relentless and cheerful effort in making this journey possible with no unpleasant incident. The credo of our TEAM was -“Full Power – 24 Hour”. 
6. Bike. I had used SCOTT FOIL 20 for this expedition and it proved it`s prowess in helping me cruise through the 5938.2 km long journey without even a single breakdown. The terrain was mostly flat throughout the route and the mean machine suited best for it. I faced no mechanical breakdown during the event. I found the aero geometry with the positive angled stem best suited for my long pulls, as this combination provided me utmost comfort along with good cruising speed. I used a single saddle for the complete event and I was glad that I didn`t face any issues of chaffing/saddle sores. The credit of this goes to the Physiosaddle which has been designed by Edge Cycling Technologies. The PhysioSaddle combines cycling with biomechanics to improve comfort for bicyclists. 
7. The Journey – Indian Golden Quadrilateral Expedition
8. a)    Day 1 – (16th Oct 2020) India Gate, New Delhi to Sarsaul (UP) ahead of Kanpur.      The weather was very pleasant during daytime with temperature around 25o C and nights  were comfortable with cool breeze. Our first halt was after crossing Agra after covering a distance of 230 km. We covered 530 km on the first day while took five breaks of short durations cumulative of about 02 hours for physiotherapy, massage and power nap, etc. The road condition were good. 
9. b)  Day 2 – (17th Oct 2020) Sarsaul (UP) Machanipur (Bihar) ahead of Sasaram.       The swift ride was continuing on the second-day recording mileage of 432 km as the roads were good and the weather was pleasant. I took sleep and massage breaks of four and half hours during the period. We crossed the Holy Sangam of three rivers at Prayagraj in the morning while Bhole Nath Nagri Banaras in the evening. 
10. c)  Day 3 – (18th Oct 2020) Machanipur (Bihar) to Bardhaman (West Bengal).         Since we crossed the state of Bihar mostly during night, the entire way was lightened up with sign boards and hoardings of political parties as the elections of state assembly were in process. The temperature was a bit high during days while crossing state of Jharkhand but the night was pleasant.  We covered 423 km on this day with a break of about five and half hours.
11. d)  Day 4 – (19th Oct 2020) Bardhaman (West Bengal) to Bhadrat (Orissa).       The roads were awesome and the night temperatures were now more conducive to ride with light gear. But during day time I felt a little bit uneasy due to hot weather and had to use water shower during the ride to keep the body cool.  We covered 417 km on Day 4 with three breaks of short durations for bath/massage etc and two sleep breaks of two and half hours each. We crossed Kolkota in the afternoon i.e. our first stage of Golden Quadrilateral expedition was complete.   
12. e)  Day 5 – (20th Oct 2020) Bhadrat (Orissa) to Kanimetta (Telangana). The going was smooth and we saw one of the most beautiful places on earth i.e. Orissa. The weather was great to ride and we got the updates that it`s raining heavily in the southern parts of the country. We covered 418 km on Day 5. 
13. f)  Day 6 – (21st Oct 2020) Kanimetta (Telangana) to Chebrolu (AP). The weather was great but the headwinds were giving us a tough time in maintaining the pace. The roads were good and my next target of Chennai i.e. 2nd stage of the expedition, was only 600 km away. We covered 340 km on Day 6 with two sleep breaks of five and half hours and four breaks of short durations for physiotherapy, massage and power nap etc.  
14. g)  Day 7 – (22nd Oct 2020) Chebrolu (AP) to Gudur (AP).  We were able to cover 417 km with three breaks of about four and half hours.  The cool breeze of costal sea was very pleasant throughout the day and night and kept the spirit of rider and as well as the crew members very high.  
15. h)  Day 8 – (23rd Oct 2020) Gudur (AP) to Kulidikai (Tamil Nadu). As the weather was a little bit warm and humid, the effect was visible on the mileage covered by us i.e. 303 km on Day 8 with a four breaks of about eight and half hours. However we crossed our 2nd stage of expedition i.e. Chennai in noon and covered more than half of distance of our expedition.
16. i)  Day 9 – (24th Oct 2020) Kulidikai (Tamil Nadu) to Chikkanahalloi (Karnataka).       The team enjoyed the hospitality of my parents at Bengaluru. The toughest stage of the expedition started with maximum amount of elevation gain and it was made even tougher by the rains throughout the route. The headwinds proved to be more brutal than anticipated and we covered 297 km on Day 9. 
17. j)  Day 10 – (25th Oct 2020) Chikkanahalli (Karnataka) to Belgaum (Karnataka).    The weather was pleasant as it was raining from past few days and made the going comfortable. The signs of the fatigue were clearly visible on the rider and the support crew as well. I covered 383 km on Day 10.
18. k)  Day 11 – (26th Oct 2020) Belgaum (Karnataka) to Sirwal (Maharashtra).         We as above to cover just 287 km on Day 11 as took three long sleep breaks of about nine hours and also three breaks of about one and half hours for massage and physiotherapy etc. The weather remains clear with fair air and crossed Khandala Ghats.  
19. l)  Day 12 – (27th Oct 2020) Sirwal (Maharashtra) to Pardi (Gujarat).        The weather remains pleasant while we approached our 3rd stage of the expedition i.e. Mumbai in the morning.  A total of 384 km were covered on Day 12 with four breaks of about eight hour. 
20. m)  Day 13 – (28th Oct 2020) Pardo (Gujarat) to Prantij (Gujarat).         The moral of the team was very high as on are on the last stage of our expedition. 428 km were covered on Day 13 with a break of about four hours. 
21. n)  Day 14 – (29th Oct 2020) Prantij (Gujarat) to Bhilwara (Rajasthan).     342 km were covered  with  four breaks of about  four and half hours. 
22. o)  Day 15 – (30th Oct 2020) Bhilwara (Rajasthan) to New Delhi.      The going was smooth and the team was in high spirits as the finish point was in close proximity.  The last day of the expedition was a fast paced ride and the reasons were obvious. The complete team was in upbeat mood and we enjoyed these final km with a bit of tailwind to support us. We covered 512 km to finish off the final stretch at 0020 hrs on 31st Oct 2020 with only a sleep break of 2 hours and massage break of just 22 min during the day. So, the expedition was successfully completed just 08 minutes before the end of day 15.
23. Off-Saddle Time. My total off-saddle time was 04 days 10 hours 38 minutes in the total time of 14 days 23 hrs 52 minutes which included physiotherapy sessions, bath, massage, nature`s call and sleep. The bike was getting its routine maintenance checks whenever I was off-saddle. Every time I used to stop, the crew used to be ready beforehand with all the requirements to minimize the off-saddle time. Our navigation was immaculate and as a result, we never went off-route avoiding any additional distance. The event was well documented on paper as well as on camera by the team. 
24. The Indian Golden Quadrilateral Expedition for WUCA Record was a memorable experience and its memories will be cherished by all of us. 

My Strava Profile – https://www.strava.com/athletes/15927816