Ok - here goes..first of many.... I think this is the first write up I ever wrote.... I'll try to post in as choronological order as I can.....
Feb 7, 2003.
To ride, out in the open highway, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, cruising along with the wind in my face, the sun shining on me and doing a cool 90 on my old trusty bike is really an experience that one has to go through to truly appreciate the beauty of this thing we call the Bullet.
I learnt riding on a bullet, with my dad owning one and me at the tender age of 16, being 5 foot 10, and weighing a cool 75 Kilos, this did not seem like a very huge task. Under the able guidance of my dad who had been brought up with Army discipline, I learnt to ride the all-powerful, 18bhp, 350cc monster.
Since then onwards, it has been one ride after another that itself is so exciting that it makes me want to do it again and again and… yet again. My true long distance riding started when I was in college in Vellore, a couple of friends and I decided to go to Trichy and so we went by bike (amidst a lot of probing questions and agitation at home as to how I had managed to lose my mind!!) but we went and that long 8 hr journey has been the spark that got the flame going!
I stay in a place called Vellore about 130 Kilometres from Chennai and after college and since I started working, this has become a routine ride for me; I used to finish work at 11Pm and leave immediately to Vellore. What used to take me 3 – 4 hours now can be accomplished in a cool 2 ½ primarily because I can say I have become a lot more mature (in terms of my riding at least!!) and have realized that the bullet is no ordinary bike, it is something that has a life of its own. A life that one must learn to recognize and therefore treat in a special way. This is something that does not come easy, but loving one’s bike is the first step to attaining harmony with your bike.
I then had the opportunity to meet up with a bunch of motley young riders who call themselves the Madras Bulls – the bullet club of Madras and with these guys, my riding has moved to another stage completely. We discuss the technical, business and social (yes there are social!!) aspects of the bike as well. Apart from all talk we also ride a lot, Pondicherry and Mahabalipuram are now almost like evening rides for us. We have done Bangalore many times and are seeking newer roads, newer places to visit and basically ride to have a helluva time.
One of our recent long rides was when a few of us from the club decided to go to Coorg. This was one of our longest as a group and I must say that riding, as a group is a totally different experience from riding alone. In a group, one has to take into effect the riders behind and ahead of you, one has to realize that you are no more 5 or 6 individual entities but one unit, moving together at high speeds all concentrating on keeping formation and moving through the cities as one. We reached Mysore and from then the weather was against us, I could no longer have the sun in my face, rather we had rain and fog and poor visibility, but then again to be able to ride up the hills and finally reach our destination still riding and feeling your heart beat so loudly due to the extra adrenaline involved is amazing. From then on it has been ride after ride and a lot more planned for the days to come. I know that as long as my mind and my body can do it I will ride (albeit pocket willing!) The Bullet – my trusty steed has let me down at times as well - life aint all that good! – But she always comes back, more rejuvenated than ever to give me more… I was so enthralled by the power involved in a 500cc recently that within 4 days I had made and executed a purchase decision. But the thrill of riding a 350 is matched by nothing else than a 500.
Here’s to all you riding enthusiasts who like me have found something unique in your steed.
Cheers
----------------------------------------
No comments:
Post a Comment