Last Sunday (17 Aug), I was awake till 3 in the morning for some important work. At midnight, I realized that a partial lunar eclipse would occur at around 1. So I went out of my flat to have a glimpse of the rare celestial phenomenon. No one was around, but the street lights were illuminating the locality brilliantly. The air was still, and the ether was filled with clouds. I sighed, “I would not be able to see the eclipse.” Came back to my room and gazed at the computer monitor. At 1:30, I went out again. A drizzle had already started, and it gained momentum every passing minute. “OK, man, pack up,” I told myself. Completed the assignment, shut down the system (real quick this Ubuntu thing is, by the way), made the bed, and settled.
“Wait, why can’t try again,” my conscience persisted. At 2:30, I went out again. The sky remained shrouded, but from a corner of our flat I was able to see a near-total eclipse. The moon within the umbra was morbidly fascinating. A cloud hiding the moon is an everyday phenomenon, but the Earth shadowing the moon? Wow! I have seen total solar eclipses and lunar eclipses. But this was special. Nobody was around, it was well past midnight, and it was almost raining. Surrealistic, isn’t it? I tried capturing it with my Canon 7.1 mp digicam, and the shot was OK. (Please click the image to view its full size. The moon looks like a peanut up in the pitch black night sky 
)
Total Lunar Eclipse
It’s been a week since I started using the nonpolluting vehicle for commuting. The first day was indeed special; I was excited like a kid on a festival day. Got up early, put on the nicest clothes, wiped the nonexistent dust off the bike, and started. The sky was overcast, but the humidity was unbearable. I thought I was going to sweat like a dog (I sweat a lot, normally). Luckily, the weather turned good and a gentle breeze blew my predicament away.
When I ride my motorbike, I always lookout for errant pedestrians and cyclists. Now, the table had turned. I was careful to not make the same mistakes; I rode on the left end of the road, yielding to fast-moving vehicles. Slopes and elevations which hardly existed while I rode a motorbike now appeared like monsters on the horizon. But I showed them who the boss was. The dependable Shimano gears gave me the confidence I needed, and I conquered elevation after elevation with aplomb. It would seem silly, but for a guy who had taken to cycling again after 15 years, it was like the first day on the saddle. MEPZ SEZ (Madras Export Processing Zone), Chennai, a hilly area of sorts and where my office is situated, posed the biggest threat. Pedaling up hill was a daunting task; journey down hill was easy (should I tell that 
). In the evening, I regained confidence. I rode with elan. This time I chose the longest route possible and enjoyed every bit of the journey. Crossed the MIT (Madras Institute of Technology) flyover in a jiffy. Wow! I kissed my bike passionately. The remaining days of the week were happy days, too. So far, I have clocked 60+ kilometers. It’s a big deal for I always depend on my motorbike even for the smallest distances. Now, I have come out of the rut. I didn’t touch my Discover during the week (though it will remain a companion for weekend rides with my wife and kid). Overall, a wonderful experience. Thanks to all; I have turned a new leaf in life.
About the bike: It is easy to operate. Gears shift like a charm; V-brakes do their best. There are a few niggles, though. While riding down hill (without pedaling) as well as riding in the lower gears 1, 2 and higher gears 5, 6, a mild noise emanates from the front wheel as if the brakes scratch the tyre. This sound stops when I reach the planes. Also, the front tyre has been fitted (or factory fitted) wrongly. The tread pattern is in the reverse direction. If time permits, I will take my bike to the bike station to sort out these issues.
I have been riding all weekends with my better half and kid exploring the ancient temples of Thamizhnadu. Though I love motorcycles, I have always had my eyes set on a good cycle (henceforth referred to as ‘bike’).
I have cycled exhaustively (no pun intended) in my school and college days (a 60km ride was the high point 
). I haven’t ridden a cycle for the past 10 years or so. One fine July morning, I thought I would have to reignite my childhood passion.
Now was the difficult part of selecting a bike suitable for commuting. I did a bit of homework. I visited a lot of showrooms (and a bicycle forum) and contemplated all permutations and combinations: aluminium alloy rims, alloy frames, 6-18-21 gears, front and back shock absorbers, Indian and imported bikes, phew. But due to budget constraints (duh!), I had zeroed-in on Hercules ACT 103. Yeah the frame is steel (though rims are alloy), and it only has 6 speed Shimano gears and front shocks. But it fitted in my budget. The frame also made it easy for my wife to use it.
Finally, I got my bike Hercules ACT 103 yesterday. Got a nice-sounding bell and wire lock along with it. I was so desperate to ride the bike that I thought of egging on the mechanic to complete the fine-tuning part quickly. But the bike being a geared one (it is a 6-speeder), I wanted it to be perfectly tuned; hence, I waited patiently.
When the mechanic asked me to test it, I gleefully accepted the offer and went for a spin. Boy, how did I like the experience? Was it happiness, ecstasy, or bliss? I re-lived my childhood memories. It was down memory lanes, streets, and alleys of my hometown. I came back after the “test ride” smiling from ear to ear, and my wife who was waiting at the bike station was even more happy seeing her husband smile like an 8-year old.
After taking delivery, we went to the nearby Vinayak temple for the customary pooja. Then I rode back home (just 3km). Though it was the first time I rode a geared bike, I hardly missed any gears.
About the bike:
Hercules ACT 103: 6 gears, front shocks, alloy rims, unisex frame (my wife will also be using it occasionally). It retails at Rs.5350 here at Chennai. Gears are butter smooth (touch wood).
Funny part of the story:
I had put on my helmet when we went to the bike station. While riding back home, I asked my wife to wear the helmet. She felt it too heavy and promptly plonked it back on my head. So, I had to ride the bike wearing a motorbike helmet. Should I tell you that everyone’s eyes were on me rather than on my bike.
OK… here is a view of my bike:
my bike
