Cycling in Tamil Nadu in October--how much planning?

Question

We must be in India for a wedding in Delhi early this October. After that, we were thinking of flying south. A decade ago, while being driven through Tamil Nadu, I noticed it seemed a good place to bicycle. We now have folding bicycles that can be taken on a plane / train / bus / car as luggage. These are small-wheel bikes, so they do not do well on loose gravel or potholes that cannot be avoided. They have 8 speeds, so we can do grades of under 6%.

How stupid would it be to fly with the bikes to Chennai and bike to Mahabalipuram, Pondicherry, maybe even inland to the rock fort, without making advanced plans? i.e. what are the chances to reliably lodgings with mosquito net and food suitable for traveller stomachs? We prefer not to camp, and would travel very light. The budget is 4000 rupees/day (on average) for 9 days. Comments on roads, traffic, and whether it's remotely reasonable to try to bike inland to Trichy would be very welcome, as would comments on cost for lodgings or specific lodgings suggestions.

Answer 1

Biking from chennai to mahabalipuram  is a nice idea as the ECR (east coast road) is on par with international standards.

would be advisable to pack your own bottled water and sandwiches from a good hotel in chennai.

Pondicherry has good roads.

Lodging is available in good hotels with your budget. There are YMCA's available. check website for details.

biking to trichy is a bit risky as the highway has heavy traffic and there are no bicycle lanes. There are towns on the highway with reasonable lodging and food with bottled water.

But onroad discipline is very poor on the highway to trichy. so use your own discretion.

Traffic have increased tenfold from a decade back. So factor that in your biking plans.

There are no gangsters but standard precautions apply. dont flaunt your money, have change in local currency, have a local guide and eat food in good hotels.