It was the month of October last
year , was reading an article in Deccan herald Supplement. The article read “
The women on the machines “. A short write up on enthusiastic women from the
Bikerni Club , Bengaluru who gushed out of their routine norms to try the
exciting and the free spirited art of biking. Why do I call it art, you will
get to know in the next few minutes if you are not bored and still reading this
blog of mine.. J
Now coming back to what happened
, post reading the article thru the day the whole thought and urge to do
something similar kept me occupied. A little bit of flash back to my life..
just to remember that I rode a Luna first when I was in Grade IV , 10 years old
and I took to my fathers Bajaj Chetak in Class IX .. but as life progressed
with its many twists and turns,and a major accident leaving me badly injured
made riding as a passion take a back seat .. The norm of life took precedence
over my inner urge to just set free and hit the rubber on the road..
Coming back from work that day,
spoke to Vinayak , my husband on what was going on in my mind. He suggested
that I should reach out to the club and get myself to be part of the group..
Next day I was just doing that and was fast enough to be welcomed to the group
.. and here I am now writing my first experience .. I think its all about
timing and will of the super power to make things happen at a time destined..
At home we had an RE thunderbird
for the last 3 years, but mostly being used by Vinayak and me riding shorts
trips within the city , NECE road … due to the phobia of injury still haunting
with confidence levels of myself and my people not being great L. I nominated myself
for two trips of the club earlier but could not make it for both due to work ..
the third one I was clear that I was not going to miss .. come what may.. and there I was all
set on the 10th Jan for my
first experience of a long ride ..
Morning 5.30 Am and Sunday… did not
matter.. spirits were high .. got ready started from home.. still dark and
barking dogs running behind.. but was
there at the said meeting point before time. .
We then moved on to our point 2 which was IPC… I did not know until I went
there, which I am sure most of you would know that IPC is the Indian Paratha
Company on NH 7 .. we reached there by 7.15 and waited for the others ..
Weather was chill and still limited visibility . Ordered for some hot parathas and Chai .. that
was like heaven.. We then had our
briefing session on what to expect, rules to follow during the journey, while I
always understood the regular hand signals of riding, communicative signs were
interesting to know and that is why I call it an art.. and then we started off
on the journey with some happy smiling pics and selfies.. but with butterflies still in my stomach roaming freely
screaming .. “ Can you do it ? “.
We started with about 60 Kmph and
varied till about 90 Kmph on our onward journey. It took us about 2+ hours to
reach Lepakshi . Few of us parked ourselves happily under the shade at one part
of the temple while other enthusiasts went around the whole temple with a guide
to understand the story of each of the pillars.. ( J ) kidding.. but really appreciate
their patience as by now the weather was super hot in Lepakshi with the sun
right above our head.. . We then headed to AP Tourism hotel, had our lunch with
some spicy food and then decided to take the return journey with no breaks till
we hit IPC again. From the time we started it was just focus with speeds varying.
Few of the rider were much ahead of me
and I was trying to catch up with them with now my confidence levels slowing
rising from the last few hours .. I started to accelerate to see at a point my
Speedometer had hit 120 Kmph .. a sudden child like joy .. wondering “ is it me
“… I continued the stretch on the same speed .. a feeling hard to express.. can
I say liberated from my own inhibitions..
We then reached close to IPC , to
a Dhaba close by .. again some snacking time, introductions , debating on how
the day went and understanding what could be done better.. basically expressing
yourself on how the day went.. post which we all left to reach back to our
homes …
Had a midway comedy too with the
police with me and a few girls.. , hard
to narrate though.. but the girls if reading this can have a hearty laugh..
At the end of the day , had it
not been for these vibrant women I wound have still lived longer just thinking “
CAN I “, WILL I “ and moved on with
life.
Its more realizing your dream and releasing
yourself from inhibitions to make way for living up to what you have loved just
being there , doing it and saying Ah!!!!
Just on another note.. this experience has also help trigger my blogs again.. let me do my best to keep this alive for this year.
have a fantastic year..
