Biking Fiesta : The Great Indian Riding Festival 2016

What’s the buzz
For all the travelers who love to have adventure and new experiences, there is a new festival in the town.
And yes how can I forget the awesome bikers, especially the bullet gang who love to explore new destinations.
Ok, not taking much of your time here I reveal the mystery; RootsVida.com proudly announces the launch of “The Great Indian Riding Festival 2016”.

What is “The GIRF”
The GIRF is a six month long biking fiesta starting from 1 April to 30^th September 2016 that runs with everything that bikers love. It is a tale of four destinations – Ladakh, Bhutan, North East and Spiti involving 25 tours from New Delhi. The festival gives you the freedom to choose the group, date and time as per your convenience. The festival has opened for registrations from 23^rd February.
 For more details click here.

About Rootsvida.com
Rootsvida.com is a travel based platform founded in 2013 offering experiential trips with a touch of local flavour. It is an upcoming marketplace for unique travel organizers hosting budget group travels. Roots is a passionate group of travellers who explore offbeat places experimenting with different concepts to experience adventure and travel.
At present the two year old company, primarily based out of Delhi, has executed 34 trips involving over 500 travellers. With such a great response the company is expected to grow manifolds with the like-minded people.

From the Founders alley
“With the growing passion for motorcycling and exploring vivid terrains, India gives an opportunity to explore such landscapes to a great extent. I see India as a growing hub for riding tours and we are going to contribute continuously towards this mission,” says Rootsvida’s co-founder Anurag Chauhan.

“Rootsvida.com will soon be rolling out a new program for travel organizers – a platform that provides bloggers, travellers, and passionate people to discover offbeat places,” states Rootsvida’s co-founder Shally Makin.

And now the most important question, Why to go for “The Great Indian Riding Festival”.
So here are some questions for you -:
1. Do you love to wander and reincarnate away from the busy roads?
2. Does travelling offers salvation to your soul?
3. Are you always looking forward to a fascinating experience of exploring the unseen, musing on solo travels and penning down your memoirs?

If answer to any of the above question is yes, you should definitely go for this amazing festival which will take you to the land of yaks and yetis, stupas and sherpas and some of the best biking roads on earth.
You will get to meet other riders on your journey, make friends, camp together and live some of the most memorable moments in the world’s most iconic places. Biking, adventure, camping, food and festivities! If these words excite you even remotely, then you should Join the TRIBE!!!

Here is a glimpse of the schedule

Not convinced yet?
Don’t worry the best part is here.
I have Rs 500 off just for you applicable on any trip you choose in GIRF.

Enter the below code and enjoy Rs 500 off.
Isn’t that an awesome deal?
So book now and Join the TRIBE..!!!
Click here to check all the amazing trips

Buying a second hand bike in Ahmedabad..!!

Bike Market in India

India is one of the fastest growing market for the automobile industry especially cars and bikes.
All sport bike companies and big names of the biking industry are eager to launch their bikes in India.
Whether it’s a new bike or a second hand babe, craze for speed demons have increased manifold among the youngsters of India.

Fastest growing Bike hubs in India

Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Pune, and Chennai are among the fastest growing bike markets in India but the city that leads the pack is Ahmedabad.
Today’s market is full of amazing bikes having all the features which can make anyone go crazy hence the desire to get your hands on different sexy speed demons have increased a lot./
As a result the second hand bike market is on a boom and Ahmedabad has evolved as the biggest second hand bike market in India.

Factors considered while buying a second hand bike in Ahmedabad -:

There are 4 different categories which can help you choose the best second hand bike according your needs.

1. Budget

    There are bikes less than Rs 30,000 which are the basic models known for giving the best mileage.

    So if you are just looking for mileage, go for these bikes.

    Then there is the middle category from Rs 300,000 to Rs 80,000 which includes the most popular
    bikes by volume. These bikes for known to have decent mileage and looks and also can satisfy
    your speed craziness to some extent.

    Finally the speed demons above Rs 80,000 which are known for their awesome looks, powerful

    engine and an experience of adrenaline rush when you ride them.

2. The age of bike

     Basically a bike which is purchased within 5 years from the date of sell is preferred.

3. The Kms Driven

     A bike if driven more is not much preferred as it is more prone to issues and troubles.

     According to me 50,000 kms should be threshold limit.

4. Bike Manufacturer

    The most important thing people check out before buying a bike is it’s manufacturer.

     Some of the popular brands are Hero, Bajaj, Honda, Hero Honda, Yamaha, Royal Enfield,

     Harley Davidson and TVS.

Popular bikes of Ahmedabad second hand bike market

Some of the popular bikes are as follows

1. Bajaj Pulsar
2. Hero Honda Splendor
3. Bajaj Discover
4. Royal Enfield Bullet
5. Hero CBZ
6. Hero Karizma
7. TVS Star City
8. Honda Shine
9. Honda Stunner
10. Yamaha Fazer

From the Diary of a Biker

There is nothing quite like the joy that comes from riding a bike. Whether its on highways , through dirt or over the rocks , biking is one of life's simple pleasures. Bikes are a way to get around the town, to relax, to have adventure , to stay happy.
I have been riding bikes since I was 12 years old. My biking journey started with hero honda Splendor, than followed Bajaj Pulsar and finally came the love of my life Royal Enfield Bullet.

Switching from pulsar to bullet was smooth except the starting part. During the initial days I was hurt a few times while starting it,but as we became intimate I learned the art.
I used to ride it everyday, even rain, wind  and darkness couldn't stop me.

There is an incident that made be fall for my bike and brought us together.
It was last year of my college life. I and my friends had got placed in top IT companies of India and wanted to enjoy the remaining time having lots of fun and adventure.
Our college was in Indore. We all had a dream to visit IIM Indore once ,before actually getting admission into it...:P
One day our college got over before time and we decided to visit IIM Indore.
We took our bikes and reached the destination in some half n hour. After trying all our ways to convince the security guard to let us in and explore the campus , we finally gave up.
But 2 of my friends had something else on their mind.After strolling outside the campus for some 5 mins they drove their bikes right through the open gate. We kept shouting but till than they rode their bikes well inside the campus.Security guard roared angrily at us and started dialing numbers from his landline phone.
After 10 mins we could hear the sound of a police siren which was slowly becoming loud.
I quickly analysed the situation and called my friends to come outside ASAP as police was coming to arrest us.
All of us sat on our bikes and waited for 2 of our friends to come outside. The people jeep was right in front of us and at the same time 2 of them came speeding outside.

We rode our bikes as speedily as possible as if it was a run for our life. I was rushing through ,at the top of all speed limits. The feeling was incredible. Gust of cool breeze flowing through my face , blowing my hair.
My mind became numb just focusing on nothing else than the endless highway and the speedometer.
It was than when I became a speed demon and adventure crazy. The feeling of floating in air, sometimes even flying, while riding my bike made me fall for it..:)

I love riding my bike because of the following reasons.
1. Thrill
2. Adventure
3. Self Reliance
4. Freedom
5. Passion
6. Speed
7. Feeling of Brotherhood
8. Cool Factor
9. Single Mindedness
10. Sensation and lastly
11. Light on pocket when compared to driving a car.


But why people love their bikes even more than their spouse or girl friend.
To get the ans I met many bikers from different runs of life,belonging to different age categories. I asked what is that reason they ride for? Why is bike the first love of their life?
Here comes the replies.

Some say that riding is the closet thing to flying. The excitement, thrill and freedom while riding is beyond description.

For lot of them riding a bike tends to focus the mind in such a way that is eliminates all other mental distractions and creates a single mindedness.Thoughts and worries about the common stresses of everyday life , such as pressures from work and home disappears from our mind during the ride.As a result mind becomes refreshed after the ride.

Biking is about being a speed demon. Cruising on highways with the rush of adrenalin when we go in full throttle ,with the wind rushing on your face is magical.So the speed and sensation is what they ride for.

Motorcyclist often feel like they belong to a big community and that sensation give them something in common.So for many the reason to ride is for the bond that they share with other bikers.

                              

Many women said that they are fed up been a pillion rider. Now they want to own a bike and fell the sensation, the adrenaline rush while riding a bike..So for experience and thrill of lifetime women ride bikes.

Riding a bike makes a person look cool..When a gal or guy walks into a restaurant with leather jacket, gloves and helmet under arm they invariably exude a swagger and sense of cool just isn't the same as rolling up in a car.  So the cool factor associated with motorcycle make them ride it.

Fuel saving at pump takes priority for some people. As bike can get more than double the fuel economy of car, it make them serious money savers.

                                                     


But there is also a  different part of this story. There are many people who carry a wrong perception about bikers. They consider them violent thugs of some gang which can harm them anytime. But this is totally a misconception. Bikers follow a code of brotherhood not only between themselves about also with others.
Here are my words on behalf of bikers all over the world for all the people who consider us wrong.

I saw you pull your child closer when we passed each other on the sidewalk
But you didn't see me playing with the kids at the local park.

I saw you stare at my long hair
But you didn't see me and my friends cut ten inches off for locks of love.

I saw you roll your eyes at our leather jackets and gloves
But you didn't see me and my fellow bikers donate the old ones to those that had none.

I saw you look in fright at my tattoos
But you didn't see the names of parents written in and out of my heart.


I saw you complain about how loud and noisy our bikes can be
But you didn't care about the volume of your DVD player


I saw you change lanes while we passed by
But you didn't see that I was rushing fast so that I can be with my family.


I am just a biker with friends a family, but you didn't see me.

I have written this with the hope that people will understand the bikers and will befriend them.


This post is written for The Castrol Power1 Blogging Contest on Indiblogger...:)

Savior On Harley Davidson...

This was our 3rd consecutive trip in a row..First we had traveled to Mahabaleshwar, Khandala, Lonavala, Goa and Mumbai. Second one was to South India..
This time it was a call from the Goddess Vaishno Devi herself and no can deny her call so we packed our bags for a trip to Vaishno Devi.

                             

It was organised and financed by my Nanaji . We booked a bus as there were around 30 people ready with their packed bags. We started our journey from Indore and than it was going to be via Rajasthan , Amritsar, finally to Katra. We were enjoying a lot by playing, singing and eating that we even didn't realized when did we reach Bikaner. It took us some 13 hours to reach there.
But there was no stopping by , our next destination was Amritsar.
Some 10 hours later we were at a DHABA in Amritsar and the time was around 2 a.m .
Driver had stopped to bus to eat something and take some tea to himself awake in the night.
It was summer season so we children also got down from the bus to take some fresh air on the KHATIYAS of the dhaba. It was me and two of my elder brothers who were enjoying the cool breeze on a full moon.
The moon was shinning bright with the stars glittering like diamonds. I was amazed to see such a sight , but in no time I fell asleep as we were continuously traveling for last 24 hours and were very much tired and exhausted.

In the morning when I got up, I saw myself sleeping on the Khatiya with none of my family members around.
It was like a bolt from the blue. I was only 14 at that time and was not that strong mentally. Feeling very lonely and scared I asked the Thabe wala where did the bus that stopped around 2 a.m in the night had gone?.
He told that it went away in the night itself. "Were you from that bus", he inquired.
Yes I was from that bus only and we just got down to have some cool breeze as it was hot inside.
Me and my brothers were watching the moon and the sky full of sparkling stars, but than I fell asleep. It was dark and everyone was half asleep, so I think they forgot to wake me up before boarding the bus.

At that time I didn't had a mobile, also I didn't remember my Nanaji's no who alone was carrying a mobile on the trip.
I started crying like a child , when a man in his 30's came near me and asked me what happened?.
We was wearing a black leather jacket with a skull printed T shirt inside.
Levis jeans with leather boots to top up. Sunglasses, helmet and a french beard completed the look.
He seemed like a biker to me.
I told him everything , but than rather asking for help I asked him whether he was a biker?

With a nod in yes he showed me his bike which was parked at the roadside. WOW man...I didn't believe my eyes. It was HARLEY DAVIDSON. I was very crazy about bikes from 5th class itself. Infact I had tried my hands on Royal Enfield also.

I actually forgot that I was lost and anything can happen to me the next very moment . What I was looking forward to now was a ride on Harley Davidson.
I asked him whether I can ride his bike and I would take only a small turn and come back.

He laughed on my questions and told me ,"little champ it will be Harley Davidson all the way now".
Next he introduced himself.
Hi, I am Rajiv Rathore, Architect by profession and a biker by passion. Thrice in a year I take leave from my work and travel to different parts of India on my Harley. Fortunately this time my destination is also Vaishno Devi.
I will definitely help you, so trust me ,we will reach there sound and safe.

I told him about my craziness for bikes and how I also wanted to become a biker and purchase a Harley Davidson someday.

He was impressed by my knowledge about bikes. There were lot of amazing experiences he had while traveling on bike and it was so much fun listening to them. He also told me how crazy he was for bikes at my age and fantasied in the same way for Harley Davidson as I did now.

I have to contact your parents as soon as possible because they might me madly worrying about you.
Do you remember which company's sim did your nanaji had.
Yes I do, its BSNL, i affirmed.

We went to the BSNL office which was situated in Amritsar city and told them about my plight.
I gave them the details about Nanaji, his name and address mainly.
As nanaji lived in a small town called Neemuch it was easy for them to locate his no.
Within half an hour they found the no and contacted him.
Rajiv told him about himself and that I was safe and sound, so they need not worry.
He also told him that he too was travelling to Vaishno Devi so he will drop me there.

It was 10 in the morning and the bus had reached Katra( base camp for Vaishno Devi) at 8 only.
All were very much tensed and worried when they got down at Katra but couldn't find me.
My mother was weeping like anything, but got appeased on listening to my voice.

Katra was only 180km from Amritsar so it was just a 4 hours journey for us.
I really enjoyed Rajiv's company, the ride on Harley , but it was those breathtaking experiences which he had on his bike trips to different parts of India which frenzied me.
He was by far the most amazing and interesting person whom I had met on my travel to different parts of India.

We reached Katra at 2 p.m. where everyone was waiting for me.

My mom hugged me tightly and became very emotional. She also slapped me lightly because of been so irresponsible and careless.

I was very happy to see everyone again as if I was meeting them after ages.

Also I was glad to have a ride of my life on Harley Davidson and find a biker friend like those we have seen in Hollywood flicks.

Today I am 23 and I have my own Royal Enfield Thunderbird.

                            

I also have my biker group "The Titans". We have a bike trip once in a year to any place within India.

It's awesome fun , thrill ,with many mind blowing experiences.

This entry is part of contest Around the world with Expedia on Indiblogger