driverace

The Target: 1610 kms (+another 50 kms to cover for the speedo error)
Timeline ~ 24 hours or less.
Preparation: Well, I did take up some reading of Saddlesore attempts - here, on xbhp and tbhp, and couple of other blogs), and about a month of racking my brains, bugging some patient people over calls, sms, mails

Special Mention - Anil
Let me tell you all - he has been a patient soul (to say the least!).
Like a friend, an older bro, the check-list incharge, and the one, who always brought me down to earth - when I was flying, and helped me fly - when I was thinking low.. (hehe).
There were times, when I did not look at the watch while calling him! (and, neither did he say anything - till now that is.. hehe)

Thanks, for all the help, kind words, and strong planning, Anil!

Also,
members like - abhinav, rk_sans, n_aditya, swapitude from tbhp,
and Strider and some others at xbhp (named in order of their appearance! )
Thanks to you all for the help, the wishes, and ultimately making it a grand success.

So - here is my own episode of 24 (which got wrapped up in 23 hours , and off-stage continued till another 2 hours! Gah!)

__

It does feel good,
to start narrating a story when I know, the end is going to be a happy one..
It does!!

Something that I began, with a couple of months as mental preparation, and knowing so many things about driving and my motorcycle ( I wonder how else would have I learned!).

The kit preparation, and the bike preparation - by now, we all know, started around a month back.

The documents, the eatables, the drinks, safety, medicines, the bike, money and ME.

The documents -
Most important part of the drive -
since the only thing that the IBA guys are gonna "see" are these, apart from the story that you will write to them, about what happened.
Witness forms, and pockets (waterproof) - to carry the receipts from start to end.

The eatables -
Well, the kind of stature my body has, and knowing my diet - I was comfortable in this department - even after knowing, that not much could be eaten while on the drive!
All I needed was some quick munch - just to keep the small void in my tummy occupied - and something that couldn't be "processed" by the tummy quickly (lol)
7 packs of Snickers + Some dates were more than enough for me!
(Out of these 3 Snickers were consumed + some dates)

The drinks -
Well, I understood, this was crucial - and it is!
Initially, I was preparing with full water supply + Red Bull Cans.
But, I read a couple of blogs + Strider's ride report + After interaction with another forum mod, (about carrying Getorade - and it being a good supplement when we lose energy and water !)
I took 3 bottles of Getorade + 1 ltr Water + 1 Slice (for that updose of Glucose and sugar)
(Finished all of it by the end, wish I had another bottle of Getorade!)

Safety - pretty much everything I have collected over time, as in - gear, crash guards, some other tid-bits!

Medicines -
Paracetamol, Digene, Zandu Balm (regards - Malaika AK ), Vicks tabs (my throat was a bit off)

The bike -
Well, the autobot carried me!

Money -
Initially, I had thought, Card would be enough!
To avoid the surprises, A Friend told me to carry all cash - whatever I expect to put fuel of!
I took out some extra cash too - Just in case!
(Cash - around 5K)

Me -
Well, with all this preparation, and backing - I figured I have all the reasons to finish it - and well!


To keep in interesting I will narrate it in parts ~ not just hourly update ( I guess that would get boring!)


At the start line:

Well, I didnt want to be late to "this" occasion! (haha)
I had taken a half day from office the previous day- to take rest for the D-day

I came back to my place at 1 o clock (noon).
I had eaten well - so, just put all the material in place, and other stuff packed in bag, ready to pick up and go.

I just slept!
(that's one beautiful thing I got with me - anytime you give me a bed- I go to sleep *just like that*!)
Slept till clock showed 6 pm.
Woke up to have a Milkshake and some tummy-fillers at a bakery near my place - came back and slept another 2 hours!
Was pumped up and in josh at 9 pm.

Started my preparation - called a friend (who was coming at the start line)- then double checked the check list - and took off finally from my place at 10:40 pm

Reached the starting point.

The beginning -

2 of my friends came after some 5 minutes,
I was talking to the police guys there ( as in the photo shared before)

Police 1 - where are you goin' fella?
Me - Pune..
Police 2 looks with fish-hook-in-brow look
Police 1 - and what you do in Pune?
Me - Well, nothing much ,just turning around from Pune!
Police 1 & 2 share a look amongst themselves
Police 1 - how many guys are going?
Me - Just me, and my bike (gentle smile)
Police 1 - you plan to return immediately!?
Me - Sir yes Sir! ( I just said - yes..) (lol)
Police 2 - nahi ho sakta - bike ko rest chahiye!
(Abey bhai, tere ko bike ki padi hai!)
Police 1 - tell me one, what speeds you will do?
<Uh-oh moment for me>
Me- (Uh-ohhh - in my thoughts only ) Not much - just 60-70 as per speed limits (sheepish smile)
Police 1 - Shyaa, Fir to nahi ho sakta- how is it possible then
Me - I will try --
( I remember reading in another thread, about- the lesser we talk about drive- enroute -to people the better!
and here I am sharing plans with police guys! way to go man!! )

"Ok, I think my friends are here"
I also took a pic of my bike - and the cops wished me luck!

I talked with the guys - and I got all ready to start!!

Plan was to begin by 1 o clock, but, I thought, I am here - and instead of just waiting for 1 o clock - why not just begin the drive!

So, 0032 marked the beginning of my ride~

Now Playing (in my head)~Riders on the storm~*
[the radio version - the one in "The Motorcycle diaries"]


Let me take a quick break and come back for the other part!


<Boy, once I start writing, I write like, I am paid by the word!!>

Ace.

Part 1 of 2

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I wish, I would be paid by the word! :p

Noor

Thread approved

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Happiness is finding you have another Gear left....

Join xBhp On

tibby

Congratulations!!

No mention of the dates! So, when did you complete the SS?

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My views on the YZF-R15 V2.0: http://www.xbhp.com/talkies/news/198...tml#post699240

My test-ride experience of the YZF-R15 V2.0: http://www.xbhp.com/talkies/news/198...tml#post725556

The pleasure is when your rear wheel slides, and you bring it back; and when the front wheel lifts, you take your time bringing it back.

driverace

Oh - thanks!
@ Noor - for approving!

@Tibby - for the wishes,
and, (for the date part)
here is a part 2 of 2 to it!

<But, the prequel of this is in the Fz thread - I will try to add that here >

The date is 13th August 2011 (considering the long weekend at hand and all)
Independence - here I come!

___

Now Playing (in my head)~Riders on the storm~*
[the radio version - the one in "The Motorcycle diaries"]

Part 2 of 2

I started my drive with gears going up-wards.
The NICE road ( which now I read on the Toll receipts is the NECE road !), are such good piece of roads, they helped me start my journey on such a sweet note! - thanks to the K'nataka govt of thinking of such a brilliant idea! (yay!)

I could see Anil's Getz-Mid-night-black(!) following me closely in the RVM.
I revved the bike to check overall response of the bike -it was crisp..
The bike telling me - Autobot already in action, mission sequence initiated, and what not ( my imagination is as wild as the lil girl in "Ramona and Beezus"!)
(heck, now to understand that - you need to see some half hour of that movie- at least! excuse me for that!!)

I could also see a white-mildly-modded-Sparky infront (abhinav was leading there).
I felt so good, that these are my friends!

They came just to flag me off the starting line!
Not just that - Anil would be with me till Tumkur! (that's friggin' 60 kms of driving one way!).
I couldn't feel enough grateful towards that gesture - ( and all the little ones and big ones that followed since I discussed about the SS1000 plan!)


I had the backing of these guys-
Like said before- that's just one more solid reason for me to fight it till the end! and make it through..

Well, seriously - I had this feeling in the beginning of the ride itself!
That - this is ONE ride, I am GOING TO MAKE IT..

(again, If I were in your shoes, reading this thread now- I would say,
" Abey, ye shane Ace ko kya jaata abhi dialogue maarne mein.. abhi ho gaya hai na- isliye bol raha hai.." lolz, seriously! but as cheesy as it sounds.. its true!)

I had this gut feeling - I would MAKE IT FOR GOOD!

Autobot agreed as it whizzed past red lines at couple of gears to the top.


Within no time, I reached end of the NICE road!-

<Oops Moment Ahead>
What I did was, turned towards Hyderabad! (yikes!)
came to know after like 4 kms of going towards Hyderabad!!

Yowser! - I turned back like in a frenzy - as I was not only loosing time, but, farther I would go, I would be farther away from my target as well!

I saw, Hawk - had followed me too! - he understood I had missed the road to Tumkur - but, I caught up with that fact sooner than he could catch up with me
So, I turned around- and saw Hawk too - gestured him that I understood, I goofed up - by smashing my glove onto my helmet and moved on -

Now, moving - towards Tumkur.

That was a small mixup there - my bad.

But, I caught on - well and fast.
I was on Tumkur Road, and NH4 was marked clearly with km-left-till-next-destination on the Green boards.

__

It was pitch dark outside (my helmet!)
Only a V-shaped light showed me the way ahead

I had just begun!

I was suddenly thinking about so many things in my life that I began with the same enthusiasm, and heart filled with dedication.
So many things - we all start - with passion as well!
Not many - we carry till we master them, not many we pursue till more than a years' time!
So many things we begin with a feeling that, this is it - this is BIG.
how much of it, do we do justice to?
how much of it, do we do with all our heart put in it?

I could only imagine what would happen, if we did our "real" best in all such endeavors of life!?


Wofffoooooooooooooooo~
Wind was blowing through my sides like crazy.

I was looking at the dark, but slightly lit up backdrop on either sides of the road. The moon was lighting them just well to be seen at 3 AMish of a time in the morning.
I felt like it was dawn already, but, it wasn't.
Its just that my vision was adjusting to the surroundings!
I could see clearer.
Also, I thought, it was a good idea to change the visor just before the ride week - It was free from scratches - meaning - crystal clear vision..

I stopped for fuel - for the bike and the rider as well.
I drank some Getorade, and treated the bike with Indian Oil version of her drink.

Electric Starter - brought the 153 ccs to life - and We resumed our journey..

The road moved from Tarmac to cement to Tarmac, good quality - to bit more road noise kind - back to good quality again.
I found the bike very very stable - and rock stable at all times.
It was amazing to see the stability - especially since I have graduated from scooter->CD100SS->Pulsar150UG3->Fz16, I guess, I can appreciate that stability - bike offers, much better..

I saw, it had dawned - and it was getting brighter..
I could see clouds behind me, and the skies got clearer, more with the distance I covered..

Well, the saying was right indeed..
When you actually proceed in the direction you chose,
more clear it becomes - where you are - and where you are going!

I had filled my mobile (2nd walaa) with all songs - motivational + All parts of Rocky music and all
Never had to take out the mobile for any of the motivation.
Figured it mid-way..
If I needed motivation - externally - I didn't have it a 100% in me..

Another fuel stop and some more Getorade for me + a Snicker bar chomped down in 3 bites flat.

I was watching the sun rise from my right side.
If you see the sun rising while your ride - It sure pleases you in some un-explainable way!

I dont know, but, I was feeling good!
The soft yet warm rays of the sun came in slant from the side - to light up the road, and everything around.
Before I knew much about the distance, I had almost crossed Kolhapur and was heading towards Pune..

Few more kilometers Me and Autobot passed to come near Satara - around 750 kms from my start point,


That's the first time, I really looked back at the distance I had covered already!
I felt good - it was 11 ish AM.


There was a certain mellowed chill in the air, but, it was getting warm too.
Still, I was in really good shape.

All I could complain was- the visor was getting dirty with dust! ( that's all I could think of!)
I had put the Domino'z Pizza tissues to good use - finally!
( the ones that I have been collecting for apparently no reason since last couple of months!)
Little damp - and they make for good helmet-visor-wipes!

Okay- So half way through - almost.

So many things in my life have been fine till just this point..
After which most of my rides have gone from scary to plain-jane-disasters
Cannot count enough!

Something happens half-way..
Something baddd happens when things are midway from success.
Many a times, things take detour, somethings get suspended or just plain go on standby..

Believe me you, I was driving and subscribing to some Baba channel at the same time (you may feel like that!) - but, all these were random thoughts from within!



I saw, the sun was right above my head, and I was stuck in damn-mad-mad-traffic at Pune ( near my turn around point - at Shindewadi - just after Shivapur Toll Plaza.
I did not believe it!
I couldn't do a thing!
No left -right-bypass- mud road! nothing moved!!

I decided, I could not let this be!..
I had to do something..

I started talking to drivers of cars - and let me pass through!
I was looking like an alien already - talking like this - could have only urged them to take out weapons ( if they had any!)
But, to my good luck, and pretty face - (lol) none of them seemed to have any weapons - and almost all of them were kind enough to make some way for a Bike riding -geared guy - who looked like just arrived from a dust-storm!

Driving through spaces - given by kind car drivers, and spaces stolen from other stubborn drivers (lol), I managed to cut through the whole mess on the road to find some real good 3 car pileup on the road, and the drivers reluctant to move their vehicles!

But, I as-it-is did not have any time
( not like I would have brought the drivers to their senses if I had all the time at my hand!)
- I decided to keep my cool and move on..

It was like, I had done the half part of going all the way- out there..
Now, only part left was of making it back - safe and sound.
and, of-course in time!

I had lost some advantage I had gained in time due to this traffic.
Plus a few more things running on my mind-
Its gonna get dark in the last few hours of my drive!
There are all chances I would see rain in the final leg of my drive- though not at Bangalore - definitely before that!
that would definitely slow me down considerably!
Morever- all I had read in the blogs- was common - at the end- it gets reallly tough! reallY tough!!

I had just begun to feel uncomfy with respect to my After-Sales-Service (lol).
It had started getting stiff and all wrinkled up ( I guess!) (hehe__)

I was very determined to do with a well deserved end to it.

The year I flunked at college - how the heck did that happen?
What happened midway? What led to that?

What happens, when you loose steam mid-way?
What makes you loose it?

So many things shooting past my mind, I cannot even recall, right now..

Why am I in a relationship which is not going anywhere!?

Why am I not going anywhere NOW?? (lol)
I look at my speedo -and I see, I am doing 70 kmph!??

Why?
I look at the visor and realise - its damn raining now!
Just what I need!
Its fortunately not dark yet! maybe just around 3 pm.

I was just planning a few things- which involved getting as much distance covered till evening ( late -evening) till the visibility is good, but - now here comes the rain.

Rain gods played hide and seek for nice hour or so, and then decided to bless me with even more dense rain - there you go buddy - they said!!

I accepted, graciously!
"Why don't you bless me with thunderstorms as well?" I was itching to yell!

But, then, the rain neither grew, nor subsided..
It was there to stay.

I guess, it symbolised the point where many give up.
Many lose steam, when it's time they are really tested for their metal.

I seemed to find, that I grew stronger in the rain, now..
I saw, that the fuel meter showed me, I could RIP as much as I wanted for another 2 hours for sure!
So, I adapted for the rain, into much more aggressive stance -
Balls of feet on the footrests, heels on the heel-guard-(Aluminium piece) - Me crouched and my Jacket almost covering the tank.

I unknowingly - screamed for power - "Aaaaaaargghhhhhhhhhhh"
I felt different.
I felt like a toonami character from some death-match or some different scene altogether!
( I mentioned before, right? I have a wild imagination!!)
I was super dry under the helmet - the best thing about it!
Another plus point was - I could just swipe across my visor- with my glove-index finger - and It would be squeaky clean to look through!
( I again smiled at my decision of replacing my helmet-visor before the ride - and thought - no scratches - does indeed help a lott! )

Somewhere after entering the Karnataka border-

I was lost in thoughts - (as usual)
and, I felt something at the handle bars -and next thing I knew -
Me and Autobot were Airborne! could have been a feet and a half in air for sure!!
I was like (fack- this is the moment of test) ~ really - I am in a "Clear-vegetable-soup"!!
Me, the bike, the bungee corded-backpack and everything on bike - landed 0-0 angles to the ground!
~Bang~

I did not believe that, neither that, nor my luck!
But, hey, there was more to luck at work today!

It was the bike too!
The well maintained tyre pressure ( Nitrogen in them), the tyre sealant in the tyres, placebo effect - whatever you call it - or the well balanced bike in itself, with the huge 140 A$$ saving rear section of the bike - with a well complementing 100 section in the front!

Again, I say -
let the mileage go to dogs
- If this is what I am being offered in exchange!

I have heard of saves - people had on highway-
I was one of them now!
I was the one, who experienced the stability of a bike, of a quality bike which offered this kind of rock solid drive-ability.

I really dont mind!

I kissed my hand and transferred my feelings to the bike on the Tank-head.
I said, " My friend, you have saved my A$$ today .." or something to that effect!



We moved on - like nothing had happened.
I was in awe of the bike, now on.

And, yet, one more reason not to screw up this ride !!
My Autobot deserved to be in the books as a bike that kept upto its name and lived upto its expectation -even on the highway - which it is supposedly not built for!

~Woooofoooooooooooooo~
Wind was blowing fecking crazy!
(sorry- I lack the vocab to express the feeling by any other word than the one between "blowing" and "crazy" )
I was feeling like I was flying somewhere!

I have been parasailing before (in Goa), but, I tell you, the wind here was atleast 4 times the magnitude of what I felt even while parasailing!! (no exaggeration)

It was growing dark, too dark to see.. (knock Knock knocking on 'Bangalore's door)

Again, I thanked my decision of changing the helmet visor!!
(It was night, and all the insects were interested in playing a suicide-game and they decided to use Fz-rider-helmet-visor as their landing spot / splattering spot! )
Even my gloves could not clean the visor!
I had to stop like every 30 mins to clear the visor now!

I noticed, it was close to 10 pm and I was very close to Bangalore.
Rain gods, finally blessed me with no rain altogether!

The final lap of victory was here..


All the works of mine, which left undone at the last leg came haunting to me..
All the PC game installations which crashed at "99% done" also were in my mind! (it has happened so many times, I swear!)
All the times, these Cricket guys have choked in finals came to my mind too!! ( even though, I dont watch much cricket!)

But, like I had sensed this morning-
It was a beginning of something different.

This is where I prove- that its not what everyone takes you for granted.
It is what you think you can..

I had topped up my fuel one last time.
I was going to make it without any stop now.

I went all guns firing like I was not worried about the ammo.
I went with all the glory of bike through the toll booth - just a few more kms left.

I was literally overjoyed with the feeling, that I am going to achieve it..
I have achieved it!!

I was telling my Fz - We did it mate - WE did it..

I did not even look at the watch now..
I raced my dear Fz into the final circle-turn to come to a NICE (oops - NECE) toll booth.

I asked the guy at toll -

Me- kaunsa bhi toll ticket de do!! ( in all enthu voice!)
Toll Guy - Oye? kaunsa de do?

Me- (removed the helmet-F1 style) Bhai, give any ticket - next exit, give me next exit ticket - I will give you the money - just give me the toll ticket fast!
Toll Guy - (gettin the crazy vibe, moved his hands faster on the keyboard, than he normally would have ) Magadi Road ka de raha hoon, chalega?

Me- ( removing the Balaclava - in slowmotion) Yes, bhai jaroor, daudega!

Toll Guy (smiling) - here it is.. (handing over the receipt)

Me-(took the receipt, and looked at it for like a minute ) - took out my camera(s) and took photos of it! with the Odo reading.
then, I took out a 10 INR note - handed over to the guy.
"24 hours se chala raha hu main bike!!" and you have marked end to my journey with this ticket -
I raised my hand for a handshake-
Toll guy ( seeing my gesture - involuntarily) shook my hand with a smile!

Me- Is it ok, If I sleep here in the grass for a while?

Toll Guy - Sure! (expression like - Go Nuts!!)

I came ahead- looking at the receipt - like a girl who looks at her own marriage invitation card with awe and happiness!..

Parked the bike.
And literally lay in the grass - for a while..

"Did it man- WE did it"

I called up Anil - ( again, my bad to keep you waiting at Tumkur! hope you forgive me for that!)
and, gave him the news - FOA that I had completed my drive -- he told me to wait there -- and in matter of another few minutes he was there to greet me!)

He came - and gave me a heartful of hug rightaway!
Will never forget that gesture of his..

( then, gave me an earful of how wrong it was of me, not to convey where I was - while he was waiting for me--)
Though I was sorry for that - I was getting lost in my dreams and thought of sleeping a content soul-
After completing a journey of this proportion.

Godspeed,

Ace.

__________________
I wish, I would be paid by the word! :p

HellRa1SeR

Amazing..!! Helluvac trip you made. Congrats mate.

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.Rider for Life.

rajeshmushtang

congo bro!!!!

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rajeshmushtang

full to dhamaal post bhai awsome Narration!!!!!!!

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http://https://www.facebook.com/rajesh.mani3

bilalans

nicely written and entertaining ... congratzz buddy....

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Bilal Ahmed
FZ - S

AKAlOgAN

congrats bro ....

__________________
Whatever doesn't kills me only makes me stronger....

Sunjay Kumar

hey the documentation over or any formalities left