Boy Toy

Keeping with my long term plan to participate (may be compete) in a triathlon, I have just purchased my first road bike - Cannondale CAAD10 5 105. Did not think that buying a road bike would need as much research as buying a new car, although there is no haggling in this case. I have to say that all that research has allowed to me understand so much more about the sport of road biking which I would have probably learned the hard way. Of course, they sell bikes called as "Entry Level Bikes" which would have been a easy first choice but being a previous owner of a mountain bike and having rode that for a few years, I would consider myself to be a little better than a novice. This brought me to a classic dilemma of buying a bike that is not an entry level bike but is not something so advanced that I will have to give up an arm and a leg to own one.

The CAAD10 gave me the best bang for the buck - A super light aluminum bike, aggressive, snappy and responsive. A bike with the not-so-entry level Shimano 105 Groupset and a super light aluminum frame which keeps the costs low, renders the additional sturdiness for a starter but with a geometry that makes the bike competitive. I love the bike so far and will post more about my rides/group rides/competitions in the future

Check out details of my first ride here

World Champions!

For long as I can remember, playing cricket during my growing years has been my greatest sport. Thinking about it, its interesting because this is the only sport that I did not play competitively although cumulatively I have spent more hours with this sport than any other. I played it almost everyday when I got home from school on our gully (roads) in good ol' Bangalore. During summer, I played all day literally - those days we split ourselves into 2 teams and played best of 7 games on a single day starting at 9 in the morning and finishing at 7 in the evening. The losing team would then treat the winners with king size bottles of coke and snacks for the evening. My friends in my gully were lads who deeply enjoyed the game and had a certain feverishness for the game. We played till we dropped, we shared in our wins and losses and we backed each other during fights(physical) that we got into when we were challenged by teams from the neighboring gully or local school [I remember some of them vividly]

Cricket World Cup 2011

I think that there are many reasons why India has a very realistic chance to regain the World Cup this time(after 28 years).
1. Statistically, the blend of average age and experience favors India
Records and history are not predictors of the future but they are perfect indicators. There is always truth in the numbers because they are objective and real. Playing in a world cup game, I believe is not like anything you have played before and any experience the players can get in World Cup games can only make them better. India has 7 players coming in from the 2007 team. Tremendous.
2. The home crowd advantage is unbeatable
The upspring of T20 cricket has only made the crowds in India crazier, if they were not already.
India could be winning a certain percentage of the game even before it begins each time esp in some of the bigger venues like Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore
3. The team is a good mix of orthodox seniors(Tendulkar..) and the unorthodox youngsters (Y Pathan..)
When Sri Lanka won the 1996 WC, what they had in their arsenal which was difficult to find in others was the brute force and aggression of their openers and other youngsters, experience and cool head of the seniors and the never say never attitude of all the players -- All of which are back in fashion but this time in the Indian Camp!
4. There are 5 batting all-rounders(Sehwag, Yuvraj, Raina, Pathan,Tendulkar) and 2 bowling all-rounders(Harbhajan and Zaheer)
Time and again we have seen that the team that can bat deep, bowl variety & field well will eventually prevail even if these qualities are exhibited by players who are not record holders for anything. India is filled with players who can do just that-- some of them record holders too!
5.The leadership unit starting from the chairman of selectors to the captain is fearless and calm - terrific combination
Kris Srikanth in his days was known for bludgeoning the bowlers(sometimes carelessly) and its a sweet coincidence that he is the chairman of selectors for a team with a equally charismatic and gutsy captain.
6. All players are fit and rearing to go
The starting eleven for the WC had not played together until the warm up game 2 days ago where they showed they could unleash a game that would be entertaining and ruthless. They have all been circulated around the bench nicely enough to enjoy their game and the break.
7. They are enjoying their game
What more can I say...

GO TEAM!