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