we discovered:1. Based on our rides between Yavatmal and Umri, along with our observations of the many bicycle riders along urban and rural roadways, we feel that we will be able to ride the 2000 miles in relative safety. There appear to be many more bicycles, motor scooters, and motorcycles on Indian roads than autos. I have noted that auto and truck drivers there are significantly more aware of and yielding to bicycles than in America.
2. We gained insight on a number of logistics issues, such as how to travel with our support vehicle (with supply trailer in tow), ways to communicate with each other on the road, access to Internet sources, lodging and camping concerns, connections with friends and supporters along the way, cell phone capacities, etc.
3. Joe charted distance estimates for each day and projected ways for us to be in communities with friends and contacts for public speaking on weekends. We estimate the journey will be over 3,500 kilometers (just about the distance for the Tour de France!).
4. We explored two possible routes: one takes us from Nagercoil in the south and up to New Delhi in the north; an alternative route moves us from Nagercoil to Mumbai, on India's west coast. Both routes would bring us through Umri, which is where we hope our efforts will be most helpful.
5. Our team also did some planning for fundraising, training and some upcoming rides together. Training begins in earnest now, with the ride to begin December 29, 2006.
Photo: Joe James dons a helmet before one of our rides between Yavatmal and Umri.
