My experiences with 2-wheelers

I learnt to ride the bicycle when I was about 8-9 years old. In a couple of years I graduated to the BMX styled bicycle. Sooner than I realized I was doing power skids, racing friends, handsfree riding and in general being bonkers.

"Only a Biker knows why a dog sticks his head out of a car window".

It was one such incident when I was not supposed to be out on road but had sneaked out of the building compound. My dad saw me in the neighborhood and I raced like hell to reach the building compund going scarily fast on the wrong side of the road. The purpose I narrate this short incident is this was the reason my dad gave me when he put off buying a bike and bought a geared scooter instead - "tu bau rough chalave che" (You ride very rash … and a scooter will keep your speed in check).

I lost that argument and sulked for weeks when the scooter arrived. In fact I remember I didn't even touch it for the first few weeks. Gradually I had to concede that I have to make do with it. The scooter in question was a one off offering from Honda, being the only geared scooter offered by them in India. The Honda Eterno came home on 9th July, 2004. Slowly and steadily it made a place for itself in my heart. The creamy Honda motor was too good to be ignored. Its 150cc engine produced only 8 bhp and due to the non-aerodynamic nature of scooters, I was skeptical that it would be very slow. But soon I realized I could leave 100cc bikes in the dust and even 125cc bikes to didn’t seem like a distant dream. I soon learnt to pull wheelies and race 150 cc bikes on short stretches upto 60 kmph.

"Respect the person who has seen the dark side of motorcycling and lived."

If you have ever ridden a 2 wheeler (motorized or non-motorized) and never fell off it, then IMHO you haven't yet learnt to ride.

I have had my share of crashes. First was due to a daydreaming cyclist riding across the road without bothering to look behind. Honk-Brake-Skid-Slide-And_Back_Up_Again. Injuries … Meh!!.

The next one was a bit scary, happened in 2009. I was riding on the highway, coming back from work with a friend riding pillion. It was around 9 PM at night near Malad. There was a patch of oil which was not very visible. I rode into it only to realize I was losing traction. In a split second we were tilting and about to hit the ground. For a brief period, everything blacked out (this is the body's natural mechanism to save us from the trauma).When I opened my eyes I realized my friend had got off and I was dragging with the scooter for some 20-30 feet before I let go off it. The scooter went some 30 feet further before it stopped. Got up. But this time instead of Meh!! kind of response I was shaken up. No physical injuries, only a mental  block.

Ditched the scooter for a couple of months before I regained the confidence to ride again. But I was still to conquer my demons. The story can be found here .

First 2-wheeler excursion

Prelude : http://baboo1985.blogspot.in/2013/08/my-experiences-with-2-wheelers.html

I was still reeling from the effects of the previous accident and had taken to riding only on smaller familiar routes. My friend "Ojo" prodded me into an excursion ride. I sought permission from my father as he had his inhibitions. But being  a rider himself (Honda Cub, Royal Enfield) he understood the joys of open road riding. With some pointers and sanctification I got the go ahead.

It would be four friends (Ojo, Golu, Vishy and me) and three 2 wheelers. Simple plan: Mumbai-Alibaug-Murud-Janjira-Alibaug-Mumbai. Ojo hails from Alibaug so was the definite leader for the trip. We zeroed in on the 23/24 July 2010 weekend. Golu and I (starting from Borivali) would travel the previous night to Ojo's place in Panvel. We would leave next morning by 6 AM and Vishy (Dombivli) would join us.

The night leg of the journey from Borivali to Panvel, I rode pretty cautiously (with Golu as pillion), covering a distance of 70 km in 2 hours.

Gang* [* - Apologies : our state of mind doesn't necessarily reflect in our expressions ;) ]:

The next morning there were heavy rains. We suited up in overalls and set out for Alibaug. Initially I faced some problems, as the accelerator would just go dead. After a while I realized the engine had not heated up well. Stoped and started again this time waited for a fairly reasonable time.

Moving steadily we reached Vadkhal Naka 50 km from Panvel, where we stopped for breakfast.

Yup!! Yours truly, Baboo.

Tanked up on Food and Fuel and continued further to Alibaug. We  reached Ojo's place and dumped our bags. The journey ahead was us riding on beautiful coastal roads lined with colourful fishing villages. In a short while  we started again southward to Korlai. 25 km from Alibaug lies the sleepy fishing town of Korlai. It has a lighthouse and a fort that was built by the Portuguese in 1521.

After a spending a short while there we moved further 35 km southwards to Murud-Janjira. Murud and Janjira are twin towns. There is a fort of Murud-Janjira which is in the middle of the sea and one has to take a ferry to the fort. The view of the fort from the town is breathtaking.

We reached the jetty but were told that due to high tide we would have to wait for a couple of hours before we could go to the fort. We didn't have the luxury of time so we proceeded to the Murud beach instead. We had lunch and chilled off before starting back 60 km to Alibaug.

We reached Alibaug and dead tired as we were cleaned up and lay lifeless till dinner time. We headed out for dinner at 8 PM (everything closes shut by 10 PM), roamed a bit and had dinner. We all were so tired that we bunked into the lovely beds Aunty had prepared for us and slept like babies. Next morning we  got up leisurely, had breakfast and went to the famed Alibaug beach for a stroll.

On the return leg of our journey, Ojo stayed back home and the rest of us started onwards to Mumbai. Golu and Vishy were taking turns on his Unicorn and within an two hours we were at Sanpada. We parted ways Vishy taking the Thane route and we the Sion route. Golu and I made one last stop at the Sanpada Bhagat Tarachand before hitting home at 4 PM.

No hiccups. No close calls. My total round trip ride was 400 km and the joy of the trip was beyond my heart's content.

Finally!! Inner Peace.

There haven't been any rides after that but watch this space.

UPDATE: I haven't done enough justice to the beauty of the Konkan region. The Konkan region is at its majestic best during the monsoon. You have beautiful greenery all around. The weather is to die for. Only spanner in the wheel is the State highways don't hold up against the rains, marring part of the experience. The other wonderful aspect was the ride along the coastal roads. No words can do justice to that.

Add to your bucket list: Travel on a coastal road till you hit a deserted beach and just revel and soak in the Sun, Sand and the Sea.