The rain is here and so is the biking season 2011.
The Biking Season Is here!!!
Hell yeah! The much awaited season (for me atleast) is here :D :D :D
It has rained in Mumbai.!!
Unfortunately last biking season there were not much trips due to ongoing health issues and work commitments. But this season is promised to be better, bigger and filled with more biking experience reaching new destinations!!
My this biking seasons resolutions
1) Safe Riding (like Always)
2) More Routes to explore....
3) More Destinations to reach.....
& Far more bigger biking experiences to blog with hundreds (if not thousands) of Pics!
........................Dolly(My Bike) & Jamppu (Myself) are ready for this season....to start there journey all over again and to bond forever with the tar & the route........
'This Season I am getting high on Life......down the never ending road....just jamppu , dolly & my ride......'
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Monday, October 25, 2010
Helmets are bikers ultimate buddies. But not many of the irresponsible bikers on the street road believes this. In fatal accidents, this can prove a thin difference between LIFE and DEATH or FATAL or MINOR Accident. Here i bring you a beautiful write up on WHY, HOW and WHICH of Biking Helmets. Please read on
Why wear a helmet?
The answer is very simple to Save Your Own Life.
Secondly it is mandatory as per Indian Laws to wear a helmet, though this law is not implemented in most cities and states in India.
Thirdly we are paying you to wear a helmet. We are paying you to save your own life.
We pray that you always reach home safely after driving, but just in case you met with an accident, helmet is life saver for you. It prevents fatal injuries to your head and face. It saves life...
Why should I wear a helmet?
* It saves your life by preventing fatal injuries to your head and face.
* It prevents you from sunlight, sunburns.
* It prevents you from dust and dirt.
* You actually look good with a helmet on.
* It prevents your head from getting wet when it rains.
* It even prevents you from recognition, though we do not endorse this reason.
We personally feel that only one reason is good enough to always wear a helmet when you drive a 2 wheeler. Is it not?
Riding a bike at 50 km/hr means you will hit the road at this very speed. Imagine the impact of it on your head and face when you hit it with this speed.
Compared to the lifetime cost of a head injury the cost of a bike helmet is cheap. Think about tomorrow, buy and wear a helmet today.
You may find it very cumbersome to wear helmets. Every time somebody insists on your wearing one, you may think it is a waste of time. You may feel that accidents can never happen to you. If you are a safe rider then why worry? A little care can save your life.. then why not take such a small precaution.
How does a helmet work?
A helmet works exactly like your skull. Made from fibreglass and thermoplastic it acts like a shell for protecting your brain. The inside of a helmet is lined with expanded polystyrene (EPS) of controlled density. When the helmet is struck with a hard surface, the inner lining acts as a buffer and absorbs the shock. It bears the sudden change in energy and pressure and keeps the skull intact. The EPS may crush but it still protects the skull. When the skull is hit it moves towards the brain, leading to brain damage. The helmet, by buffering the impact of shock and dissipating the energy, prevents the skull from causing an impact on the brain.
What makes a good helmet?
A good helmet is one that promotes your safety. Ensure that you check for these features:
* The outer shell of a good helmet must be made of fiberglass or thermoplastic. EPS is the best energy absorbent and is a must for helmets.
* Look for a strong chinstrap. Nylon or Tyrelene are the best. The chinstraps must be secured to the shell by steel anchor plates.
* Fastening by double 'D' rings, bars & buckles or an all metal clasps is also safe. Copper or brass is the best for fixing anchor plates to the shell.
Checklist before buying a helmet
You are ready to buy a helmet, but do not know where to begin. Here is a checklist that can make buying a helmet easier and meaningful.
* Check for safety standards.The safety standard that the Indian government has approved for motorcycle helmets is IS 4151.
* Check the fit. It should be comfortable, neither too tight nor too loose.
* Buy a helmet from an authorised dealer only. Never buy it from street side vendors
* Insist on a bill and a warranty card.
Treating your helmet.
To make optimum use of your helmet, treat it with care. The easy tips given here can help you use your helmet well.
* Get your helmet some fresh air everyday and avoid foul odours.
* Keep your helmet clean.
* Check if the straps are not worn out.
* If your helmet has faced an impact, buy a new one.
* Avoid pressing the inner lining of the helmet because it can impair its capacity to bear pressures.
* Avoid stuffing things in your helmet. It is not a carry bag.
* Take care not to drop your helmet as it might create dents on it.
* Keep it away from children.
* Change your helmet every two to three years.
Motorcycle riders are generally young and often sole bread winners of the family. Every time somebody succumbs to an accident, a country loses precious life. A family may lose an entire support system. Beyond economical reasons, there are also emotional threads tied to every individual's life. All you need to do to prevent this is, wear a helmet!
Myths n Facts
Myth: Helmets Break Necks
Fact: It seems logical—you put more weight out there on the end of your neck and when you get thrown off the bike, that extra weight will create more pendulum force on your neck. Turns out, it doesn't work that way. In fact, the energy-absorbing qualities of a helmet also absorb the energy that breaks riders' necks in impacts. Studies show that helmeted motorcyclists actually suffer fewer neck injuries when they crash compared to riders who crash without helmets.
Myth: Helmets Block Your Ability to See or Hear Danger
Fact: The thing you learn when you dig into the research is that riders who use helmets crash less frequently than those who don't. Maybe that happens because motorcyclists who decide to wear helmets have a better or more realistic attitude about riding. Maybe it's because putting on a helmet is a reminder that what you are about to do can be dangerous and the act of accepting protection puts you in the right mindset. Maybe it's because a helmet provides eye protection and cuts down wind noise so you can actually see and hear better. Maybe its because, by cutting wind pressure and noise, a helmet reduces fatigue. Whatever the reasons, wearing a helmet clearly does not increase a motorcyclist's risk of having an accident and wearing one correlates to reduced likelihood of an accident.
Myth: A Helmet Won't Help in Most Crashes
Fact: People look at the seemingly low impact speeds used in motorcycle-helmet testing and assume that if you are going faster than that, the helmet will no longer be up to the job. That ignores a few critical facts:
* Most accidents happen at relatively low speeds.
* Most of the impact energy is usually vertical—the distance your head falls until it hits.
* Helmets (or at least helmets that meet standards) perform spectacular life-saving feats at impact speeds far above those used in testing.
* When a helmeted rider suffers a fatal head injury, it frequently doesn't matter, because, to hit hard enough to sustain that fatal injury, he sustained multiple additional fatal injuries to other parts of his body. In other words, the fact that the helmet didn't prevent the head injury was of no consequence.
* The numbers clearly say that riders using helmets simply survive crashes more successfully than those without them.
Myth: A Helmet Will Leave You Brain Damaged in an Crash When You Would Have Simply Died
Fact: Of course that's possible—your helmet attenuates the impact energy enough to keep the injury from being fatal but not enough to keep all of your eggs from getting scrambled. However, that's rare, and if you hit that hard, you are likely to get killed by some other injury. It's actually the un-helmeted rider who is likely to cross from animal to vegetable kingdom, and often from a relatively minor impact that would have damaged nothing but his ego if he'd been wearing a helmet.
Myth: Helmets are just foam hats and foam isn’t going to protect your head.
Fact: EPS (Expanded Polystyrene Foam), the material used in helmets, car bumpers, and packaging materials is designed to absorb impact, which is what it does. Hint: Look at how fragile eggs are packaged in many areas. Any time you see someone using the "foam hat" shtick in an effort to convince someone that helmets don't work because, you know, they're just made out of "foam," it's an excellent indication that they're about to lie again. They have utter contempt for the concepts of facts, logic, science, and statistics because in contradicts what they want, but know isn't, true. There's an easy way to test their beliefs. Tell them you're going to throw a ten pound chunk of concrete at their head at 14MPH and ask if they'd like to put on a "foam hat" or not.
If you're in a vehicle crash and your airbag deploys, and nylon and nitrogen save your life do you claim that it's "magic nitrogen?" Or magic nylon. How could some gas and nylon possibly protect you? Oh wait, in a 60mph head-on crash, you'd still be dead even with an airbag, so clearly air bags are under-designed for the forces involved and are hence worthless. In fact the mere presence of air bags in cars has reduced the number of cars sold as people give up driving--just look at car sales figures for the last two years.
The "magic foam" and "foam hat" shtick are used by those that either unintentionally uninformed or intentionally dishonest, with the latter being more probable. No doubt they really do understand why EPS foam is used in a plethora of products, including helmets, where the need for impact protection and light weight are key requirements. They've lost the argument based on statistical and scientific fact, so being smarmy is their only choice.
Myth: I will lose hair and get bald.
Fact: This is totally baseless, infact wearing a helmet might even prevent hairfall as your hair are not exposed to dirt and other extremes. In any case living with few hair is better than being dead isn't it?
Content from external source.
Helmets are SAFE not FUN but the fun will be over if you don't wear one. Wear Helmets : Only thing that would save you in bad times.
Why wear a helmet?
The answer is very simple to Save Your Own Life.
Secondly it is mandatory as per Indian Laws to wear a helmet, though this law is not implemented in most cities and states in India.
Thirdly we are paying you to wear a helmet. We are paying you to save your own life.
We pray that you always reach home safely after driving, but just in case you met with an accident, helmet is life saver for you. It prevents fatal injuries to your head and face. It saves life...
Why should I wear a helmet?
* It saves your life by preventing fatal injuries to your head and face.
* It prevents you from sunlight, sunburns.
* It prevents you from dust and dirt.
* You actually look good with a helmet on.
* It prevents your head from getting wet when it rains.
* It even prevents you from recognition, though we do not endorse this reason.
We personally feel that only one reason is good enough to always wear a helmet when you drive a 2 wheeler. Is it not?
Riding a bike at 50 km/hr means you will hit the road at this very speed. Imagine the impact of it on your head and face when you hit it with this speed.
Compared to the lifetime cost of a head injury the cost of a bike helmet is cheap. Think about tomorrow, buy and wear a helmet today.
You may find it very cumbersome to wear helmets. Every time somebody insists on your wearing one, you may think it is a waste of time. You may feel that accidents can never happen to you. If you are a safe rider then why worry? A little care can save your life.. then why not take such a small precaution.
How does a helmet work?
A helmet works exactly like your skull. Made from fibreglass and thermoplastic it acts like a shell for protecting your brain. The inside of a helmet is lined with expanded polystyrene (EPS) of controlled density. When the helmet is struck with a hard surface, the inner lining acts as a buffer and absorbs the shock. It bears the sudden change in energy and pressure and keeps the skull intact. The EPS may crush but it still protects the skull. When the skull is hit it moves towards the brain, leading to brain damage. The helmet, by buffering the impact of shock and dissipating the energy, prevents the skull from causing an impact on the brain.
What makes a good helmet?
A good helmet is one that promotes your safety. Ensure that you check for these features:
* The outer shell of a good helmet must be made of fiberglass or thermoplastic. EPS is the best energy absorbent and is a must for helmets.
* Look for a strong chinstrap. Nylon or Tyrelene are the best. The chinstraps must be secured to the shell by steel anchor plates.
* Fastening by double 'D' rings, bars & buckles or an all metal clasps is also safe. Copper or brass is the best for fixing anchor plates to the shell.
Checklist before buying a helmet
You are ready to buy a helmet, but do not know where to begin. Here is a checklist that can make buying a helmet easier and meaningful.
* Check for safety standards.The safety standard that the Indian government has approved for motorcycle helmets is IS 4151.
* Check the fit. It should be comfortable, neither too tight nor too loose.
* Buy a helmet from an authorised dealer only. Never buy it from street side vendors
* Insist on a bill and a warranty card.
Treating your helmet.
To make optimum use of your helmet, treat it with care. The easy tips given here can help you use your helmet well.
* Get your helmet some fresh air everyday and avoid foul odours.
* Keep your helmet clean.
* Check if the straps are not worn out.
* If your helmet has faced an impact, buy a new one.
* Avoid pressing the inner lining of the helmet because it can impair its capacity to bear pressures.
* Avoid stuffing things in your helmet. It is not a carry bag.
* Take care not to drop your helmet as it might create dents on it.
* Keep it away from children.
* Change your helmet every two to three years.
Motorcycle riders are generally young and often sole bread winners of the family. Every time somebody succumbs to an accident, a country loses precious life. A family may lose an entire support system. Beyond economical reasons, there are also emotional threads tied to every individual's life. All you need to do to prevent this is, wear a helmet!
Myths n Facts
Myth: Helmets Break Necks
Fact: It seems logical—you put more weight out there on the end of your neck and when you get thrown off the bike, that extra weight will create more pendulum force on your neck. Turns out, it doesn't work that way. In fact, the energy-absorbing qualities of a helmet also absorb the energy that breaks riders' necks in impacts. Studies show that helmeted motorcyclists actually suffer fewer neck injuries when they crash compared to riders who crash without helmets.
Myth: Helmets Block Your Ability to See or Hear Danger
Fact: The thing you learn when you dig into the research is that riders who use helmets crash less frequently than those who don't. Maybe that happens because motorcyclists who decide to wear helmets have a better or more realistic attitude about riding. Maybe it's because putting on a helmet is a reminder that what you are about to do can be dangerous and the act of accepting protection puts you in the right mindset. Maybe it's because a helmet provides eye protection and cuts down wind noise so you can actually see and hear better. Maybe its because, by cutting wind pressure and noise, a helmet reduces fatigue. Whatever the reasons, wearing a helmet clearly does not increase a motorcyclist's risk of having an accident and wearing one correlates to reduced likelihood of an accident.
Myth: A Helmet Won't Help in Most Crashes
Fact: People look at the seemingly low impact speeds used in motorcycle-helmet testing and assume that if you are going faster than that, the helmet will no longer be up to the job. That ignores a few critical facts:
* Most accidents happen at relatively low speeds.
* Most of the impact energy is usually vertical—the distance your head falls until it hits.
* Helmets (or at least helmets that meet standards) perform spectacular life-saving feats at impact speeds far above those used in testing.
* When a helmeted rider suffers a fatal head injury, it frequently doesn't matter, because, to hit hard enough to sustain that fatal injury, he sustained multiple additional fatal injuries to other parts of his body. In other words, the fact that the helmet didn't prevent the head injury was of no consequence.
* The numbers clearly say that riders using helmets simply survive crashes more successfully than those without them.
Myth: A Helmet Will Leave You Brain Damaged in an Crash When You Would Have Simply Died
Fact: Of course that's possible—your helmet attenuates the impact energy enough to keep the injury from being fatal but not enough to keep all of your eggs from getting scrambled. However, that's rare, and if you hit that hard, you are likely to get killed by some other injury. It's actually the un-helmeted rider who is likely to cross from animal to vegetable kingdom, and often from a relatively minor impact that would have damaged nothing but his ego if he'd been wearing a helmet.
Myth: Helmets are just foam hats and foam isn’t going to protect your head.
Fact: EPS (Expanded Polystyrene Foam), the material used in helmets, car bumpers, and packaging materials is designed to absorb impact, which is what it does. Hint: Look at how fragile eggs are packaged in many areas. Any time you see someone using the "foam hat" shtick in an effort to convince someone that helmets don't work because, you know, they're just made out of "foam," it's an excellent indication that they're about to lie again. They have utter contempt for the concepts of facts, logic, science, and statistics because in contradicts what they want, but know isn't, true. There's an easy way to test their beliefs. Tell them you're going to throw a ten pound chunk of concrete at their head at 14MPH and ask if they'd like to put on a "foam hat" or not.
If you're in a vehicle crash and your airbag deploys, and nylon and nitrogen save your life do you claim that it's "magic nitrogen?" Or magic nylon. How could some gas and nylon possibly protect you? Oh wait, in a 60mph head-on crash, you'd still be dead even with an airbag, so clearly air bags are under-designed for the forces involved and are hence worthless. In fact the mere presence of air bags in cars has reduced the number of cars sold as people give up driving--just look at car sales figures for the last two years.
The "magic foam" and "foam hat" shtick are used by those that either unintentionally uninformed or intentionally dishonest, with the latter being more probable. No doubt they really do understand why EPS foam is used in a plethora of products, including helmets, where the need for impact protection and light weight are key requirements. They've lost the argument based on statistical and scientific fact, so being smarmy is their only choice.
Myth: I will lose hair and get bald.
Fact: This is totally baseless, infact wearing a helmet might even prevent hairfall as your hair are not exposed to dirt and other extremes. In any case living with few hair is better than being dead isn't it?
Content from external source.
Helmets are SAFE not FUN but the fun will be over if you don't wear one. Wear Helmets : Only thing that would save you in bad times.
Friday, July 2, 2010
2010's first trip to Malshej.
' Summer was too hot to roam, monsoon is to tempting not to sit at home'
Distance on Meter: 250kms (2 way)
Roads Strip : NH8 (Mumbai Ahemdabad Highway)
Day and Date: Sunday 26-06-10
It was long time that I was out on my bike to a distinct destination. After a delightful season last year the gap of 3 months was gallingly long. The wait was monsoon was on. Early June the first rain ignited the thought of going out for season's first Biking trip. It was difficult for me to plan as I was touring a those days. But finally with a initiative by Rachit we all plan to go for a one day Malshej Trip.
Though the destination was not too long but want made us all excited was that it was 2010's first biking trip of many to follow. On the other had my best friend's brother Smit was on follow up to join me for a biking tour. Shared the plan with him and he was instantly game without a second thought.
Meeting Time: 6.45am Meeting Place: Thane Kalyan Highway
Keep the tradition on, the killers were late out of the bed changing the meeting time from 6.45am in the morning to 8.00 am. Just like always I along with Smit as a pillion were the first one to reach the meeting point. Scanning every bike passing by I was was very much excited to meet the Killer Group. While waiting for Rachit and group I was talking and sharing some recent trip experience with Smit and explain him how difficult it can get at times for a biker to complete the tour successfully. Waiting for almost 1 Hour as rachit and gang rode into us. It was nice to see that good old friend and college was also with his all new Yahama FZ. With a quick introduction of Smit with the gang off we went.The Reunion....
Riding at 50-60 kph at the start on NH3 the greenery on both side of road was a brisk. The expectation from the mother nature was raising as we passed kalyan to head straight to Malshej continuing on the NH3 way.
All rode at a steady speed as we entered the green lands with a road tearing them apart. It was all lushed green as the panoramic view from the visor was totally astonishing. The speed was constant as I rolled back into the memories of my previous ventures on the road.
As we continued riding on the clean roads the green was greener, there was fuzz on the trees and pretty flowers popped out from behind every green hedge. There was nothing we could complain for expect the semi-clear sky and no signs of rain. With Smit: The sensation of pleasure was very physical. He was continually admiring the mother nature and was clicking all the way as we reach Murbad.
We were into formation and as we entered the town roads braking our formation. Just as I overtook Jayesh from the right I heard a bumping sound from behind my helmet. I looked behind to realize that Jayesh accidentally bumped into Bob :D………and Jayesh’es all new Bike was scratched!!!! :D :D :D :D We all broke into laughs stopping for the morning meal…….it was fun watching Jayesh and Bob converse on the BUMP!! :D :D :D :
Jayesh'es all new SCRATCHED bike :P
Munching on all famous ‘Misal’ and fuming on cigarettes we halted for 30 mins. Few Pixs
Smit and Ajay munching on.....
as others checked out Jayesh's Bike
'KOW'
Thashan istyle....
Our machines
The distance was not long and this gave us a chance to take quite a few breaks in-between.
Zooming for another 80Kms at 70-80 Speed we entered the foothills of malsejh ghat.
Picture perfect 
It was nice to see tight security around as many reckless and fools are expected to drink and drive during this season. The security checked every alternate vehicle checking for B-Bottles. Even we were stopped for a check.
Continued riding a the awesome curvy road, smit was continuously helping PINKU save a glimpse of the blessed nature.
Happy pillion Smit....
Carefully riding on the ghat we reached at the top. I checked on the time to notice that it was still 12.45pm and there is a too much of time to ride back to the city.
Mandir at top
Everything was smooth until now and how can we not do something that would make the tour memorable. So here it was: Taking a brief halt at the Hanuman Mandir we decided to visit the famous back water. (Location where the beautiful ‘Tujh Mei Rab Dikhta Hai’ song from RNBJ was shot)
Moving ahead on the other side of the ghat surprisingly there was not much water there in which forced us to move inside. Ajay was the first one to enter the bank. With a view to reach the water we entered the soft mud there.
Back water
Just as we three Ajay, Myself and Rachit rode in we realized that we are in a shit trouble! The rare tiers were digging deep into the wet mud as we lost control and balance. Looking at us others stop but we had no option but to keep going and there was no looking back. The rare tier slipped as we were stuck into the soft mud.
We tried a lot staying on the bike but the soft mud jammed both the wheels and we had to push our machines onto a place which was dry.
It took us all our strength to come out from there. We 3 were all by ourselves as others were laughing on our situations.
Back on the road but we were exhausted and a break was definitely needed atleast I wanted one. We rode into the dhaba and filled our tummy. The laugh on our situations were still on and without a shame we too joined in. There was not much time left in the day to get dark we decided to run without taking much breaks back home. As we glared from our visor to the dark clouds ahead we knew rains were on. There was nothing we could ask more for. All were happy to ride in the rains and turn back home. I think more than anything else Smit was the happiest as it was his first ever biking trip. I lead the way to ride constantly on 70-80 kmph. Soon passing beautiful ghats, valleys and plains we reached kalyan. Riding another 30 kms on high speed to thane we all stopped as it was the junction where i and smit had to depart from the rest of the group. Wishes and greeting all we rode another 25 kms on high speed to reach home by 8.00pm in the night.
The sense of achievement was evident from our faces I was more happy because Smit really enjoyed his first encounter with the road on two wheels. With excitement he promised me that he would join me for our next not as a pillion but as a Biker on his Honda Unicorn.
Looking at the pics and rethinking on the whole day the eyes went into new dreams of bikes and routes that night...........
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Sudden Break Away to Surat (586kms Solo)
An unplanned Solo trip to Surat.....great experience.......read on to know what it felt to face all the relatives on living a passion which is not famous among them.
Distance on Meter:586 Kms
Roads Strip : NH8 (Mumbai Ahemdabad Highway)
Day and Date: 21 Nov(Up) 23 Nov (Down)
Date: 21st November- Saturday
Due to a family function on Sunday 22nd of November, mom already left from mumbai 2 day before on thursday. I was not sure to go as saturday was a working for me, but i still kept my chance open. Until saturday afternoon, i wasnt sure on weather i would be going to attend the next day function at surat. Mom suggested, i should for which she told me to catch a train to surat that evening which would help me reach surat in just 4-5 hours, but frankly i was not too keen on the same.
Just as I woke up and got ready for office on saturday, the mood was in making, and as i was on the way to office that that i thought of taking the favroite way to reach Surat if i decide to go there by any chance. Tardily the though grew as i reached office and started to search on the net for the distance and other details. The biker in me was urging me to go for it, but i knew if i had to there were 2 hurdels to be crossed. First to get a half day from the office and 2nd the obvious one to convince mom that i am coming with dolly(my bike) there. Trying for the first hurdel, i managed to get a half day and i was quick to make an exit from the office at some 1.30pm in the afternoon, and for the second i decided to reach Surat and disclose the same so as they all there(ma mom and relatives) are left with no options but the accept it.
Being an unplanned trip, on my way from office to home i halted a local shop to change on my helmet visor. It was almost 2.30pm that i reached home and changed into my usual biking fits with the protection kit and stuffs. Time was less but i had to make sure that the bike for fit for a quick 550 odd kms , so went to my usual Dolly Doctor- Javed. Listing to my sudden plan, even he was schoked and inspected dolly quickly. It was almost 3.30 by then.
I knew covering 260 kms would be not less than 5 hours task and that ment that dark riding was surely on! Moving quickly on the wheels i had no target other than reaching Vapi (some 170kms) before it turned dark. The excitement was there as I moved along on 80-90\hr on the speed-o-meter to reach on vapi before day turned gloomy. The road so far was amazing with long strech cartless all the way from mumbai till vapi.
While i was on my first halt, i also informed MOM that i was on my way, lieing that i was coming by train. It was some more 100kms night riding to be done and i knew i had to be careful to reac there safely. Moving ahe
ad below 60km/hr on the meter, i rode for another 2 hours to enter Surat taking a left from the highway. I was almost there and the excitement was raising to meet all the relatives there, moreover i was also worried on reaction to know that was on my bike there- it was sure to be negative one and i was preparing myself to listen to all the scoldings from all there. But the proudness of the biker inside me ade me face the music. And as expected I was greeted with lot and lot of scolding by each and every one of them there. THere concern was understandable , but it was then I realised that living a passion like BIKING is not easy.
They were all aggitate on my action, but they had no option but to accept the truth that i was there.
Date:22nd November 2009
The next day was good as I attended the wedding as i danced my heart out after long time. The whole day i met more and more relatives to hear more and more why it is not advisable to come this long on Bike.(No one knew of my MUmbai Goa trip ;) )
The day was over and now it was time again that i sat down with all there in the night. I knew the topic was about to burst , of me going back to Mumbai next day on my bike. All my relative specially MAMA logs had this strong opion that the I should not return back on bike and take a train instead. As for the bike, that would be sent via transport the next morning. I strongly objected! for which no one supported accept my 1-2 Bhabhis and my loved MAASI. After a strong discssion on this for some 30min, i finally managed to convince them to trust me and let me off on my bike.
Date:23 November 2009
Sleeping arond 2am that night, i decided to start the journey back at 4. Waking up in just 1 hour, i was all set to leave by 4 as planned. It was some 3 hours of dark riding and i had to reach mumbai by 9 so as to reach office on time that day. With only one focus on my mind, i moved along on a constant speed of 60-70km/hr on my meter to cover some 160-170kms in the dark there by increasing it to 80-90km\hr for the next two hours. As i rode the 250 kms all the thoughts of some 30 hours spent there in Surat rolled across and few strongs comments made raise doubts on my trips in future, SPecially the one made by MOM. I knew if i had to live this passion long I will have to take some break out as in the recent past there were many biking trips made.
It was 9.00am and i reach. Safe and sound! Just as i reached,i called up MOM to inform of my reaching. I was proud of my doing but was also worried on my future for this passion.
Sori friends for no images for this blog due to the lack of time during the strech. But i promise there would be lot many from the next trip that i make. Thanks again for reading this blog.
“Nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion.”
Distance on Meter:586 Kms
Roads Strip : NH8 (Mumbai Ahemdabad Highway)
Day and Date: 21 Nov(Up) 23 Nov (Down)
Date: 21st November- Saturday
Due to a family function on Sunday 22nd of November, mom already left from mumbai 2 day before on thursday. I was not sure to go as saturday was a working for me, but i still kept my chance open. Until saturday afternoon, i wasnt sure on weather i would be going to attend the next day function at surat. Mom suggested, i should for which she told me to catch a train to surat that evening which would help me reach surat in just 4-5 hours, but frankly i was not too keen on the same.
Just as I woke up and got ready for office on saturday, the mood was in making, and as i was on the way to office that that i thought of taking the favroite way to reach Surat if i decide to go there by any chance. Tardily the though grew as i reached office and started to search on the net for the distance and other details. The biker in me was urging me to go for it, but i knew if i had to there were 2 hurdels to be crossed. First to get a half day from the office and 2nd the obvious one to convince mom that i am coming with dolly(my bike) there. Trying for the first hurdel, i managed to get a half day and i was quick to make an exit from the office at some 1.30pm in the afternoon, and for the second i decided to reach Surat and disclose the same so as they all there(ma mom and relatives) are left with no options but the accept it.
Being an unplanned trip, on my way from office to home i halted a local shop to change on my helmet visor. It was almost 2.30pm that i reached home and changed into my usual biking fits with the protection kit and stuffs. Time was less but i had to make sure that the bike for fit for a quick 550 odd kms , so went to my usual Dolly Doctor- Javed. Listing to my sudden plan, even he was schoked and inspected dolly quickly. It was almost 3.30 by then.
I knew covering 260 kms would be not less than 5 hours task and that ment that dark riding was surely on! Moving quickly on the wheels i had no target other than reaching Vapi (some 170kms) before it turned dark. The excitement was there as I moved along on 80-90\hr on the speed-o-meter to reach on vapi before day turned gloomy. The road so far was amazing with long strech cartless all the way from mumbai till vapi.While i was on my first halt, i also informed MOM that i was on my way, lieing that i was coming by train. It was some more 100kms night riding to be done and i knew i had to be careful to reac there safely. Moving ahe
ad below 60km/hr on the meter, i rode for another 2 hours to enter Surat taking a left from the highway. I was almost there and the excitement was raising to meet all the relatives there, moreover i was also worried on reaction to know that was on my bike there- it was sure to be negative one and i was preparing myself to listen to all the scoldings from all there. But the proudness of the biker inside me ade me face the music. And as expected I was greeted with lot and lot of scolding by each and every one of them there. THere concern was understandable , but it was then I realised that living a passion like BIKING is not easy.They were all aggitate on my action, but they had no option but to accept the truth that i was there.
The final word from my mom- 'One more such trip and You(Me) will never know, when and to whom your bike was sold'
GOD those were strong words!
GOD those were strong words!
Date:22nd November 2009
The next day was good as I attended the wedding as i danced my heart out after long time. The whole day i met more and more relatives to hear more and more why it is not advisable to come this long on Bike.(No one knew of my MUmbai Goa trip ;) )
The day was over and now it was time again that i sat down with all there in the night. I knew the topic was about to burst , of me going back to Mumbai next day on my bike. All my relative specially MAMA logs had this strong opion that the I should not return back on bike and take a train instead. As for the bike, that would be sent via transport the next morning. I strongly objected! for which no one supported accept my 1-2 Bhabhis and my loved MAASI. After a strong discssion on this for some 30min, i finally managed to convince them to trust me and let me off on my bike.
Date:23 November 2009
Sleeping arond 2am that night, i decided to start the journey back at 4. Waking up in just 1 hour, i was all set to leave by 4 as planned. It was some 3 hours of dark riding and i had to reach mumbai by 9 so as to reach office on time that day. With only one focus on my mind, i moved along on a constant speed of 60-70km/hr on my meter to cover some 160-170kms in the dark there by increasing it to 80-90km\hr for the next two hours. As i rode the 250 kms all the thoughts of some 30 hours spent there in Surat rolled across and few strongs comments made raise doubts on my trips in future, SPecially the one made by MOM. I knew if i had to live this passion long I will have to take some break out as in the recent past there were many biking trips made.
It was 9.00am and i reach. Safe and sound! Just as i reached,i called up MOM to inform of my reaching. I was proud of my doing but was also worried on my future for this passion.
Sori friends for no images for this blog due to the lack of time during the strech. But i promise there would be lot many from the next trip that i make. Thanks again for reading this blog.
“Nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion.”
Friday, December 11, 2009
K.O.W turns Holy......
Many days that we K.O.W did a trip together, well we planned and went for one last week.
Distance on Meter: 750 Kms
Bikers: Myself (Unicorn Sporty) ; Rachit (KZM) ; Ajay (Unicorn Sporty) and Nitin (Avenger)
Roads Strip : Unknown Road(To) NH 50, SH 10 and NH222
Day and Date: Saturday and Sunday, 14th and 15th November 2009
After evaluating various places and 3 hour long group chat supported by a long tread of mails, we decided to go for a holy tour to which included Trimbak-Nashik-Shridi-Shani Shingannapur-Ahemadnagar other places holy stops fitting in the route.
The route was interesting because we were not repeating the roads leaving a nice round mark on the map. Personally, I had already done half the route some 40 days before with my good friend Hemant(Blogged previously). So it was set, the GOA Killers was on for yet another tour……this time a HOLY ONE….
For me, the mammoth task was to convince loved MOM. After a many heated discussions for few days and few promises I finally managed to win over her. One of the reasons which worked in my favour I think was the fact that we were doing a Holy tour and not a Biking Tour :) That was it! It was a herculean task that I just completed and I knew I had to stand on her trust, to complete the tour safely.
The day was here, Meeting Point: Fountain Hotel which is some 7 Kms outside Mumbai on
the NH8 road. Time: between 5.30am 5.45 am. But Killers!! How can you expect them to be on time??? I was late but first one to reach and then came the other 3..around 6,25am. So were already late by 45Mins to the plan. The plan was to complete 70% of the route and not resting before Shani-Shingnapur.
Fueling up, we all started our journey towards Manor on NH8. The excitement was clearly evident on all of our faces as we did 60kms in quick time to reach Manor Wada Junction. It was cold as stopped for a quick breakfast. Here are few pics @ the pit-stop :D
Moving ahead to Wada, the next 30 kms was full of Potholes forcing us to be below 60km\hr as we rode in formation. Bypassing Wada the road to trimbak was narrow and full of curves. Rachit (KZM) and Nitin (Unicorn) zoomed ahead with Myself(Unicorn) and Nitin(Avenger) trailing behind. And just as we were about 11kms out from Wada i realized that the front wheel got punctured. We were in the middle of the forest with no idea on how much ahead we would get a mechanic.
Asking few local, we found a uncle who claim to be the doctor to Dolly. What was more amazing was that the place the uncle was discovered no-way looked as a garage or service station- It was actually his house.
Just before the uncle could actually touch dolly I ensured myself asking uncle on his knowledge to fix up the complicated Disc break wheel. We knew we had no option but to trust him as he came out with all his out dated tools and fixtures. Amazingly it worked….Here are few of pix while he was fixing the puncture…
The next few minutes while the uncle was busy fixing the front wheel, we got restless moreover because of Rachit and Ajay who we know would we worried, waiting for us ahead. The mobile networks were down making it more problematic. It took almost 45 mins for us to get back on the wheels and moving.
Riding another 30 Kms we finally met Rachit and Ajay who were waiting for us at Khondale Village. I was welcomed with few BCs MCs, as we all cracked into laughs and few clicks….
We were already late by almost 2 Hrs now so we knew we had to rush but the curves of the road would not allow us the same. We continued riding the curvy roads, plains, mountains, bridges for some 50-60kms to reach Trimbak at around 11.45am. I maintained good speed to match up with Rachit and Ajay as Nitin was left few spaces behind.
We were there Trimbakeshwar- One of the 12 Swayambhu Lings of Lord Shiva. Visiting first the famous KUND there . I personally believe that the KUND is a perfect example of Blind-faiths that we Indians have as I saw people bathing in the filthiest water of the KUND.
The water was smelling like anything but people there were still happily bathing, considering it to be a holy water. We opted just few sprinkles of the KUND Water just to ensure that we accustomed the Holy Spirit.
Finishing with the Shiv Darshan we were quick to head straight for lunch.
After a short walk we came across a hotel where we were more than happy to gorge as it served “unlimited food”. Post refreshing our mud stricken faces we sat down to lunch with Myself and Rachit k molesting the Gujarathi Thali and Nitin & Ajay polish off the Rice Plates.
While we munching on our Lunch, the depression caused due to the PHYAN (cyclone) resulted in for the sky to turn dark. It is not this time that rains are expected we were still worried as we headed towards Shridi our next holy stop. Staring the dark clouds from the visor we could literally see the rain marching towards us.
Caught unprepared, we were forced to stop till it continued drizzling. Baffled! We waited and waited as the precious time was passing by.
Knowing that it was already 4 and just 2 hours for the times to get dark, we hashed out to change the plan. We had no option but to drop Shanishingnapur resting ourselves in Shirdi.
Resumming our journey on wet roads on a considerably slow speed of 30-40 kmph to avoid slippage. Smiles were back our faces as the sun came out from behind the clouds. Zooming ahead ,we reached Shirdi not before the light is dismissed totally.
SHIRDI- Famous not only for the SAI TEMPLE but also for the No Of Hotels that it has. In spite of this fact it took us more than a hour to select a hotel balancing our requirements and budget both. Finally we manage to find Sai Chaitanya which was at some walking distance from the SAI Temple.
Getting fresh we all went for the Sai Darshan and then the dinner. On the way, the shops were too tempting to commit us for some shopping. It was almost 11.30pm by the time we finished all this and all our body was asking for a Bed to rest. Reaching back in the hotel, we were straight on the Bed. Many jokes and stories shared aas slowely we all went into depp sleep dreaming of more bikes, more routes more kilometers to cover......
Late Sleepers will Get Up Late….8am planned but got up in reality by 10am. Quick Bath and Breakfast we were on our wheels to Ahemadnagar.
The initial plan to visit few places in Ahemadnagar, had to be drop as we By-Passed it to be on 222 road which heads through long stretched plains till Kalyan.
Out of Ahemadnagar about 9-10 kms, we stopped for our first official Photo Shoot. Down came the bike stands and out came the cameras….
A break of 30min was enough to kick start a ride for another 6 hrs. After the above posses we were on our best that is Riding. Enjoying the scenic beauty & green
patched that surrounded the roads from Both sides, we all zoomed pass each other over 85-90kms/hr. The target was to reach Malshej Ghat before it is dark, keeping that in mind we could afford to take any prolonged breaks in between even passing the astonishing & beautiful scenaries comming across.
The PHYAN pressure continued as we could see clouds beleaguering the Malshej Mountains. So we expect catch up the coulds somewhere near Malsejh Ghat. Just as we reached malshej ghat the climate and surrounding was really at its best. The backwater on the right and naturally carved mountain on the left we reach the start of the ghat.
We zoomed trough the dense fog at the tip of Malsejh Ghat. While riding came the thought that the fog we were cutting through that it was actually Nature’s Cloud Manufacturing Unit (Yes I am too imaginative here)
Reaching the top, we then took a halt at the small Human Temple posited at the top of the ghat. This was probably our last temple on the Holy Trip.
Moving ahead quickly, our tummies were empty so was time for another halt down the ghat at a newly opened hotel(don’t remember the name).
It was dark & raining now and we had still more 100+ kilometers to reach Mumbai so we continued the there onwards…
Our machines were thirsty for fuel so we refilled our bikes once we reached Kalyan;
It was the amazing feeling of returning back after a successful journey… Once we
reached our place all the pain & agony had transformed to pride & excitement
with all our friends waiting to meet at hemant's place.
I thank all for reading this blog written as per my best capabilities…m sure we
would be back with another interesting experiences very soon!!!
“Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.”
Thanks again!
Distance on Meter: 750 Kms
Bikers: Myself (Unicorn Sporty) ; Rachit (KZM) ; Ajay (Unicorn Sporty) and Nitin (Avenger)
Roads Strip : Unknown Road(To) NH 50, SH 10 and NH222
Day and Date: Saturday and Sunday, 14th and 15th November 2009
After evaluating various places and 3 hour long group chat supported by a long tread of mails, we decided to go for a holy tour to which included Trimbak-Nashik-Shridi-Shani Shingannapur-Ahemadnagar other places holy stops fitting in the route.
The route was interesting because we were not repeating the roads leaving a nice round mark on the map. Personally, I had already done half the route some 40 days before with my good friend Hemant(Blogged previously). So it was set, the GOA Killers was on for yet another tour……this time a HOLY ONE….
For me, the mammoth task was to convince loved MOM. After a many heated discussions for few days and few promises I finally managed to win over her. One of the reasons which worked in my favour I think was the fact that we were doing a Holy tour and not a Biking Tour :) That was it! It was a herculean task that I just completed and I knew I had to stand on her trust, to complete the tour safely.
Mom helping me to get the gears on...
Coconut Breaking for the good luck.....
The day was here, Meeting Point: Fountain Hotel which is some 7 Kms outside Mumbai on
the NH8 road. Time: between 5.30am 5.45 am. But Killers!! How can you expect them to be on time??? I was late but first one to reach and then came the other 3..around 6,25am. So were already late by 45Mins to the plan. The plan was to complete 70% of the route and not resting before Shani-Shingnapur.
@ 6.00am
when other killers came in...
Fueling up, we all started our journey towards Manor on NH8. The excitement was clearly evident on all of our faces as we did 60kms in quick time to reach Manor Wada Junction. It was cold as stopped for a quick breakfast. Here are few pics @ the pit-stop :D
It was too cold you see... ;)
:)
Moving ahead to Wada, the next 30 kms was full of Potholes forcing us to be below 60km\hr as we rode in formation. Bypassing Wada the road to trimbak was narrow and full of curves. Rachit (KZM) and Nitin (Unicorn) zoomed ahead with Myself(Unicorn) and Nitin(Avenger) trailing behind. And just as we were about 11kms out from Wada i realized that the front wheel got punctured. We were in the middle of the forest with no idea on how much ahead we would get a mechanic.
Asking few local, we found a uncle who claim to be the doctor to Dolly. What was more amazing was that the place the uncle was discovered no-way looked as a garage or service station- It was actually his house.
Just before the uncle could actually touch dolly I ensured myself asking uncle on his knowledge to fix up the complicated Disc break wheel. We knew we had no option but to trust him as he came out with all his out dated tools and fixtures. Amazingly it worked….Here are few of pix while he was fixing the puncture…
Come on uncle....
Poor Dolly... :(
The next few minutes while the uncle was busy fixing the front wheel, we got restless moreover because of Rachit and Ajay who we know would we worried, waiting for us ahead. The mobile networks were down making it more problematic. It took almost 45 mins for us to get back on the wheels and moving.
Happy to be back on wheels....
Riding another 30 Kms we finally met Rachit and Ajay who were waiting for us at Khondale Village. I was welcomed with few BCs MCs, as we all cracked into laughs and few clicks….
We were already late by almost 2 Hrs now so we knew we had to rush but the curves of the road would not allow us the same. We continued riding the curvy roads, plains, mountains, bridges for some 50-60kms to reach Trimbak at around 11.45am. I maintained good speed to match up with Rachit and Ajay as Nitin was left few spaces behind.
We were there Trimbakeshwar- One of the 12 Swayambhu Lings of Lord Shiva. Visiting first the famous KUND there . I personally believe that the KUND is a perfect example of Blind-faiths that we Indians have as I saw people bathing in the filthiest water of the KUND.
The water was smelling like anything but people there were still happily bathing, considering it to be a holy water. We opted just few sprinkles of the KUND Water just to ensure that we accustomed the Holy Spirit.
Seeking much wanted blessing..
Finishing with the Shiv Darshan we were quick to head straight for lunch.
Outside the Shiv Temple
After a short walk we came across a hotel where we were more than happy to gorge as it served “unlimited food”. Post refreshing our mud stricken faces we sat down to lunch with Myself and Rachit k molesting the Gujarathi Thali and Nitin & Ajay polish off the Rice Plates.
Yummy...
While we munching on our Lunch, the depression caused due to the PHYAN (cyclone) resulted in for the sky to turn dark. It is not this time that rains are expected we were still worried as we headed towards Shridi our next holy stop. Staring the dark clouds from the visor we could literally see the rain marching towards us.
Caught unprepared, we were forced to stop till it continued drizzling. Baffled! We waited and waited as the precious time was passing by.
Knowing that it was already 4 and just 2 hours for the times to get dark, we hashed out to change the plan. We had no option but to drop Shanishingnapur resting ourselves in Shirdi.
Resumming our journey on wet roads on a considerably slow speed of 30-40 kmph to avoid slippage. Smiles were back our faces as the sun came out from behind the clouds. Zooming ahead ,we reached Shirdi not before the light is dismissed totally.
SHIRDI- Famous not only for the SAI TEMPLE but also for the No Of Hotels that it has. In spite of this fact it took us more than a hour to select a hotel balancing our requirements and budget both. Finally we manage to find Sai Chaitanya which was at some walking distance from the SAI Temple.
Getting fresh we all went for the Sai Darshan and then the dinner. On the way, the shops were too tempting to commit us for some shopping. It was almost 11.30pm by the time we finished all this and all our body was asking for a Bed to rest. Reaching back in the hotel, we were straight on the Bed. Many jokes and stories shared aas slowely we all went into depp sleep dreaming of more bikes, more routes more kilometers to cover......
Late Sleepers will Get Up Late….8am planned but got up in reality by 10am. Quick Bath and Breakfast we were on our wheels to Ahemadnagar.
Gearing up for the exciting route ahead....
The initial plan to visit few places in Ahemadnagar, had to be drop as we By-Passed it to be on 222 road which heads through long stretched plains till Kalyan.
Out of Ahemadnagar about 9-10 kms, we stopped for our first official Photo Shoot. Down came the bike stands and out came the cameras….
Anna(Ajay) doing Jadi ke peeche.... :D
Rachit preferring to do Jaadi ke Aage :()
Awsome road isn't it?
Village boy.....proudy of his bike....
Sun peeping out the clouds starring us....
Howzzz that??!!!
A break of 30min was enough to kick start a ride for another 6 hrs. After the above posses we were on our best that is Riding. Enjoying the scenic beauty & green
patched that surrounded the roads from Both sides, we all zoomed pass each other over 85-90kms/hr. The target was to reach Malshej Ghat before it is dark, keeping that in mind we could afford to take any prolonged breaks in between even passing the astonishing & beautiful scenaries comming across.
The PHYAN pressure continued as we could see clouds beleaguering the Malshej Mountains. So we expect catch up the coulds somewhere near Malsejh Ghat. Just as we reached malshej ghat the climate and surrounding was really at its best. The backwater on the right and naturally carved mountain on the left we reach the start of the ghat.
We zoomed trough the dense fog at the tip of Malsejh Ghat. While riding came the thought that the fog we were cutting through that it was actually Nature’s Cloud Manufacturing Unit (Yes I am too imaginative here)
Reaching the top, we then took a halt at the small Human Temple posited at the top of the ghat. This was probably our last temple on the Holy Trip.
Moving ahead quickly, our tummies were empty so was time for another halt down the ghat at a newly opened hotel(don’t remember the name).
It was dark & raining now and we had still more 100+ kilometers to reach Mumbai so we continued the there onwards…
Our machines were thirsty for fuel so we refilled our bikes once we reached Kalyan;
Happy to be almost there...
It was the amazing feeling of returning back after a successful journey… Once we
reached our place all the pain & agony had transformed to pride & excitement
with all our friends waiting to meet at hemant's place.
I thank all for reading this blog written as per my best capabilities…m sure we
would be back with another interesting experiences very soon!!!
“Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.”
Thanks again!
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