Leg 2 – Arriving in Asia

After some time resting up back at home and getting the bike fixed, it was time to continue the journey (you didn’t think a little crash would stop me did you?).

It was difficult to say goodbye to everyone again but pastures new lay ahead of me.

Quite a lot of people remarked about how much weight I’d lost on Leg 1 so I’d taken the unenviable job of putting it all back on again. Challenge completed, I am back to pre ‘Leg 1’ weight.

Flights to Delhi were either direct and expensive, or cheap with a stop over. I went with the latter and the 13 hour stop over was just as awful as you’d imagine.

The flight was (thankfully) uneventful and the stopover made easier by there being a McDonald’s open 24/7.

After what seemed an eternity, my bike made it through customs intact and after someone offering me the 30 minute drive to the hotel for almost £60, I decided to get a head start on the trip by putting my bike together and cycling to the hotel.

There was a serious need to perform under pressure when assembling the bike in the airport car park as I was being watched by 2 policemen who didn’t look happy.

Tired, jet lagged and hungry, I put set off on a shirt 20k cycle to the hotel and the first taste of Indian traffic.

Madness. It really is chaotic. It didn’t help that it was in the evening but the constant blaring of horns with motorbikes weaving between tuk tuks which were themselves weaving between cars.

However, somehow, the system with no apparent system just works. Everyone gives enough space, no one gets angry. Once you get over the Britishness of people only beeping when they’re angry and accept that people here beep out of politeness to let you know where they are, it’s a great place to ride.

Once settled in at the hotel, I went in search of some authentic Indian food. Conveniently there was a McDonald’s round the corner and not wanting to risk Delhi Belly on the first night, I stuck to the safer option.

Waking up in the afternoon, I headed off to for some food and to see some of the sights.

I had an early start planned with a 210km cycle to Agra where the Taj Mahal is situated. This would be the biggest ride that I’ve done in quite a while. On the one hand I was on fresh legs, on the other, I had been ‘out of the game my for a while and would have to adjust to cycling in India’s climate. Thankfully this area of India is incredibly flat.

Leaving the city was very busy but on the main highway out it started to thin out a bit. The smooth road was a pleasant surprise and keeping relatively close to the hard shoulder meant that cars would pass me leaving ample room.

So far, it felt safer cycling in India than it does in the UK and London.

The miles flew by, partly thanks to a new speaker that I’ve got to keep me entertained.

After some great food at highway restaurants (I have branched out beyond McDonalds now) the city of Agra was coming into view as the sun was going down. The hostel was on the far side just down the road from the Taj Mahal but sadly didn’t manage to get a glimpse of it that evening.

I tried for an early night but this jet lag was still kicking my ass especially with an early start planned to see the sunrise at the Taj.