Not everyone is a prodigy, not everyone knows riding since birth.
My first lesson on ‘driving’ a bike was from my younger brother: “don’t apply breaks on potholes while riding fast”. He actually taught me how to drive a bike. My college mates and school friends did their part to enlighten me with bike-driving skills. A year later when my yet-to-ride-a-bike friend took me as a pillion and asked how he did do, “Now I know how the others would have felt as pillion, when I was learning to drive a bike” was the spontaneous reply.
Achtung! |
Mumbai brought me the passion of Riding! Initially torn between a just another Indian cruiser and the mighty Bullet, advices and the old default charm of possessing a Bullet led me to buy Achtung, Thunderbird TS - the Best cruiser available in India. I still remember how Prathmesh, the guy I took to ride my bullet back to my place safely, ditched me to let me experience the feel of my Bull, and yes to start learning it! Thanks!
I started riding with office-mates, did a few solo rides, and then joined Inddiethumpers to ride with similar minded people. Some 5000 kilometers on my first official club ride and earned there honourable membership. A year or so, things changed and I had to move on to the BisonsRideHard with the riders I rode most in my previous club. Riding with Inddiethumpers and BisonsRideHard not only earned me friends but also enriched me with knowledge of machine, the enthusiasm to ride a rider’s way i.e. hard but safe and the passion of being a part of Bullet-brotherhood! Riding to RM consecutively two years, magnified the glory of riding a bullet with the fraternity!
Over 15,000 miles, hundreds of friends, an elevated passion, tanned chicks and neck, few minor accidents, a lot on riding long and safe and the Brotherhood of the Oil-Brothers - is what came as Bonus to me in my last 2 years of riding!
With a few experiences of my own, memoirs of the road-rajas I met, speed and the miles I’ve clocked, and with due disclaimers for sure, I though can say, have learnt a few lessons of the Art, nurtured with utmost care and obviously under no roof on tar and dirt of the whole World, the Art of Riding; but, undoubtedly a lot more is yet to learn!
Ultimately it’s about riding to your inner-self, whichever mean you choose! Wish to ride till i die.......
very nice read!!!
ReplyDeletehttp://sushmita-smile.blogspot.in/
Hi Punit!
ReplyDeleteTotally understand your story! Even I find it hard to believe that even 3 years ago, I did not know how to ride a bike and now am I am on a solo trip across India with my "Beauty in Red"
May the passion prevail and take you to places that you never knew existed.
Cheers
Ride safe
Venkat Ganesh
Thanks for stopping by Sushmita :) Do visit again....
ReplyDeleteIt's always encouraging to be visited and Liked by someone who actually shares the hobby and dreams :)
ReplyDeleteI saw your Beauty in Red, it's indeed :)
Such a passionately written post, Punit! Loved every word of it, from the start to the end! Your love and passion for your bullet is striking! Keep the flame burning and all the best!!! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Arti ji! You know, your comments mean a lot for many a bloggers including me :)
ReplyDeleteWell, Riding is one of the very few hobbies that I could actually follow religiously. But, I have met such a great and shy riders, that it needs a lot of courage to say m a Rider... So, m just still trying to be one... :)