TfN: 20 Things I Didn't Know About Tour of Nilgiris

Less than a week to the start of TfN and I'm all excited. It's time to start blogging TfN :)
To prep for the trip I've been reading up on TfN, Cycling and Places we're passing through on the tour. So, that's what I'm going to be blogging about over the next few days. Starting with my list of 20 things I Didn't Know About TfN. How many of these do you know?

1. The first TfN in 2008 was just a few friends who got together and decided to combine their passion for cycling with a mission.


2. The Supermarket chain Nilgiris was the first - title and main Sponsor in 2008.


3. The most number participants on a tour was in 2010 with 100 riders.


4. 2009 had the most number of women riders - 12!


5. Oldest Rider on TfN in the last four years was Peter Clarance Smith [aged 60 in 2009]


6. In 2010 Rishi Nair (8 years) became the youngest rider on tour ever.


7. The maximum kilometers ever done in a day across events is 180km in  2011 on Day 3 from Hasan to Medikeri.


8. The furthest any rider has come to join TfN is  USA.


9. The most competitive section in  2011 was Day 5 - The Climb on the CS was Category 1, with some heat and humidity :)


10. Most expensive bike ever at TfN was a  Pinarello Dogma ridden by Rajesh Nair.


11. The coolest cycles ever at TfN are Venky's Fixie (2011), George's  Moulton (2008), Mark Anderson's Bike (2011)


12. The most difficult cycle to cycle on TfN ever was a full suspension Hero Octane in 2008.

8 Things You Should Know About TfN 2012

1. You get to ride on the NICE expressway. Cyclists are not allowed on NICE road during rest of the year. :D


2. Three states are covered on the route -  Karnataka,  Kerala, Tamil Nadu


3. The tour also goes through three National Parks  - Bandipur National Park, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary and Nagarhole National Park.


4. An average day's ride at TFN ranges between 100 and 180kms.


5. 70% of the tour is non competitive. There are separate categories for Men and Women.


6. The most competitive section this year will be on Day 6 - The day involves a lot of climbs,  and the CS is at the end with some 30 more km to climb to reach home.


7. The results of each competitive section are announced at EOD and the accumulated time for the 6 days is summarized at the end of the tour.


8. The leader for each day of the tour gets a Blue jersey that can be worn by the cyclist the next day.

How many of these did you know?

I'm looking forward to TfN and I'm all butterflies. It's going to be a fun ten days in the mountains. :)

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