Goa Bike Trip - Bikomaniacs 2014 - Part 1 Build Up

“Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must live” – Charles Bukowski.

Normal, routine, monotonous – these words themselves sound and smell of boredom!

Taking breaks, deviating from normal routines – rejuvenate. Pushing hard not only applies to professional hard work; it fits naturally into adventurous activities too; pushing hard to re-invent oneself. There is a different world waiting for you to explore. Sometimes these trips, breaks -change your perception about life. Would change the way you live, forever.                                                                                                                                                                                               

For most of us 24 hours have become insufficient, to earn money to meet our basic needs; don’t get time to explore beyond. We just work, work and work. There is a huge difference between existing and living. Many times I feel we just exist, don’t live.

If I express my feelings, people call me crazy! (enna kodumai saravanan idhu)

You cannot blame me for this since I am genetically prone to do crazy things! (So, have the birth right)

Crazy Bikomaniac buddies- learn from me, how to escape from direct blame!

It’s not a joke. People saw us differently (ennachu ivanukku- netthu varaikkum nallathane irunthaan) when we came up with a plan of bike trip to Goa.

Long distance biking is still in early years in India. Many asked us – at this age? Felt like a sixty years old when I heard such statements. Someone said life starts at forty.

What a wonderfully true statement that was! Reasonably settled, financial freedom and midlife crisis adds to it and urge you to break free. Only time factor needs to be defeated.

When I sit back and analyze – this passion for biking has been there since my childhood. It took me almost thirty years to realize it and to make an attempt to accomplish.

MY First Ride

I was in fifth standard, when I started learning pedaling adult bicycle.  I hope my contemporaries know about “Korangu pedal” –the only way kids ride adult bicycle: cross pedaling through the triangle bar. It was difficult and awkward for a small child to have control over adult bicycle.

One day I noticed a small bicycle had been given for rent on hourly basis from a cycle shop.

Those days you don’t dare to ask your parents. Once school got over, used to throw my school bag to a corner and frenziedly run to that shop. Secretly started taking away 25 paisa daily from my hundial (a coin collection box, made of clay) savings for an hour clandestine small bicycle ride. Taking out coins from a Clay Hundial without breaking it – is an art!

Clearly I could recall the pleasure I got during my first ride. Doing things secretly brought me some extra pleasure. First time sat on the seat of a bicycle, felt like I was on the top the world. Pedaled fast. Bicycle was cruising along. Blowing wind embraced me and caressed my head with love. The first time feeling of controlling a machine completely on your own- the power of Freedom, was awesome. First true ride. Like - first love, first kiss ... First ride too unforgettable. You don’t get the same feel, again!

First Motor Bike

I never thought I would own a bike one day, till I got my first bike at final year of graduation. Never dreamed about it. But my First bike – Yamaha Rx 100 arrived after a painful waiting period of four months. If you get something after a long waiting time, you realize the importance and cherish it more. Without pedaling moving faster effortlessly was a different enjoyment altogether.

One year later my baddie brother wanted the same bike. But by that time Rx 100 model was stopped. I had to budge and gave it to him with tears.

Love for Royal Enfield

The love for Royal Enfield (RE) started after seeing a programme on NDTV good times – Himalayan Odyssey- bike ride to Leh Ladakh. Motor cycle diaries pored oil into that burning desire. 

Simultaneously the RE bike manufacturers also made lot of changes, to suit current generation – mainly the gear came to Left side. Older Bullets had gear on Right side, brake on the Left side.

With a big dream of going for long drives I bought Royal Enfield in January 2009. God had other plans. Joined CMC Vellore in 2009 October. Driving that macho in a city traffic was uncomfortable. Commuting by bikes in Indians cities, may be considered as extreme sport. Your adrenaline reserve will get drained. Mostly my bike was left to rust. My wife started laughing at me whenever OLX add came on television – badi badi batein karte the (indirectly instructing me to sell it). But I could not do it. Sentimentally attached to it. I knew, one day my dream would come true.

When I came back to Chennai in 2012, again I started actively searching for company to go for long trips, mainly to Himalayas. Never happened. At least to satisfy my craving partially, went to Goa by car last year.

Did not get the feel what I wanted.

With frustration decided to join Leh Ladakh Himalayan odyssey 2015- trip arranged by RE.

Yercaud Batch Meet 

Finally, God heard my prayers. Yercaud meet happened.

When hang over was getting over- when we started seeing things clearly- the second day of the meet, I expressed my idea of going to Leh Ladakh. Surprisingly I got overwhelming response from Shankar and Karthikeyan. Within minutes we finalized Leh Ladakh trip, 2015 July- March.

Zindegi Na Milegi Dobara – You don’t get life a second time (ZNMD)

A few days later I started a whatsApp group called “Zindegi Na Milegi Dobara” for our adventurous activities with four members (Shankar,Karthi,Arvind and I). Gradually it expanded to near ten members. To attract more people we announced it on our main group too.

Bike enthusiast Arvind felt uneasy about Leh Ladakh trip because of the long duration – at least 15 days.

Actually all others except me would hesitate to take long leave because of the nature of their medical practice( Karthi- a freelancing ENT surgeon at Salem, Shankar- Freelancing anesthetist at Karaikkudi, Arvind – Runs a busy Nursing home at Coimbatore).

Arvind proposed an idea-“short trip to goa???”

We all thought that would be a good test for physical and mental toughness and help us to understand about long bike tours.

Preparation

Our preparation started. You would be astonished to know how much planning is needed (edaiyum plan panni pannanun, vadivedu sonna madiri!). If you fail to plan, then you are planning to fail. If I had this enlightenment during my college graduation, I would have avoided few cups (Hope you know what cup means- failing in a subject)!

When we started, only four of us were sure about the trip. Another four showed interest (Kathir, Chinna, Siva and Jayendran) but had different plans of coming, like by car or by air. Due to different reasons finally we were left with only four.

Finalizing Dates and Accommodation

First we fixed the date- November 1^st week, after considering so many factors. The mains were, by that time the monsoon rains should have been over and we did not want to visit during peak season that is in the December. Then almost two months before the trip we booked Goa accommodation. Started buying essential things one by one like Riding Jackets, Gloves, Camera, Head buffs, Saddle bags and many more.

By seeing my online shopping spree, home ministry sent me a warning letter saying your expenditure might reach up to a lakh by the time you finish the trip. Could not argue against the government! Had to compromise on few things like – riding trousers, boots and a new helmet.

Fitness

We all had doubts about out fitness levels. It is not a joke to ride 8 to 10 hours a day nonstop, that too after enjoying comfortable car commuting life.

Mainly we wanted to improve our aerobic exercise tolerance and strengthen our back muscles. Started hitting fitness centers for running and core muscle strengthening work outs. Shared our progress on whatsApp –ZNMD. Before starting the trip, we achieved a reasonable progress and felt happy about it.

Test Drive

None of us ride bike on daily basis. You tend to lose confidence over time. A week or two before the flag off day, we wanted to have test drives- to test our endurances and bikes’ as well. Shankar and Arvind had it together between Karaikudi and Coimbatore. Karthi went to Erode. I drove on ECR, Chennai. But unfortunately due to monsoon rains I could do it only five days before the start.

We felt happy and we were ready for the big day.

But I had a problem. Did not want to tell others and make them tense. In fact they would come to know the details only after reading this. That secret follows…

Last Minute uncertainty about My Bike

 When I finished my test drive on a Sunday that was five days before the trip day, felt happy about everything other than my bike’s rear brake. Was not responsive at all, it was sluggish. It was not a disc brake. Tried to adjust it but felt insecure to go for a long trip with that poor braking system. Approached RE service center at Vadapalani regarding installing disc brake for the rear wheel. They said that cannot be done there or in any other official service centers. One of the mechanics suggested me a private workshop specialized in all these alteration works. I called up the in charge, Mr. Munian, he said normally it takes one week to do that, but if I pay extra ten percentage he would give it on Thursday evening (Friday early morning was the Ride Day). Took that risk. Was on tenterhooks. Kept calling Munian and reminding the importance of giving it at least on Thursday. In spite of repeated requests he said only at 7 pm on Thursday, it would be ready. That means I would not be able to test the new braking system. Huge risk before a long drive. Had no other option.

Thursday 6 pm I reached the service center. My bike work was still going on. Was waiting restlessly.

At 7 30 pm, he finished installing the new disc brake and took it for testing. After testing Munian felt, it was too tight, the alignment needed readjustment. My mind started thinking-“if I don’t get the bike today, what should I do?” I was left with only one option, getting a rental bike from Bangalore. Half an hour later he tested it again – this time he found a squeaky sound coming from the rear wheel, again alignment issue. I started praying God. In the meantime got calls from Shankar and Karthi. Acted naturally, did not tell any of the things happening over there. Told them we would meet as we planned. At 9 pm somehow Munian managed to solve the issue and asked me to drive and check. When I tested still the brake was not that perfect but better than before. Munian promised me that by the time I reach Bangalore the brake would be perfect. Again, no option other than trusting him. Actually Munian was correct. Second day onwards the brake became flawless.

Midnight Packing

Reached home. And started packing in the saddle bag. First bike trip. Struggled to accommodate so many things in that small storage space. At 1 am finished packing.

Morning six, I needed to start driving to Bangalore. The feverish excitement of going for a long bike ride caught me in the midnight. Could not sleep. With exhilaration I was sleeplessly waiting for the next day’s dawn, Our Goa trip’s Day -1.

Part 1 ends here. Will meet you with Part 2…

Cheers,

23-11-14,

12noon.