What he said: Hello, 
Hope you guys are having a wonderful time!! So this story goes back to the time when I was supposed to do my First Long Ride on my New Harley Davidson Iron 883 – I was 18. I had ridden to Delhi for holidays and now it was time to come back to Pune. It was the Rainy Season – something that a lot of bikers had told me to be careful of, “our big bikes are not made for such weather” – they said. I remember looking at the clouds that morning and wondering, do i stay home and ride another day? Or does little Johnny really want to play?? – PLAY IT WAS!! I looked at my Fauji Father, who said to me, Don’t think too much, just push the start button and make it bloody [had to #FaujiLingo] happen!! And so i did! I personally am not a big fan of rains especially when i am riding long distance since fatigue tends to kick in earlier and also no matter what, water ends up seeping inside from some place or the other. Wearing glasses – not a good idea – FOG ALL THE TIME!
But this time it was all different! The roads were new, the motorcycle was new – the feeling somewhat familiar from my previous rides, but it all felt really really fresh, lush & green! After some time the rain drops were no longer pinching me like pins, they were more softer, the weather was super cool. There were times in between when i wanted to stop because of the rains, since it started raining super heavily, to an extent that one side of my visor broke from the mount in the helmet as soon as i opened it at a considerable speed. I am someone who really likes to plan my ride, but this time all the stops were unplanned, the views unexpected and the ride ? – UNPARALLELED! When i reached Home, my hands looked more like prunes and had turned black! The colour of the HD FXRG [that they so fondly call] were all on my palms and they were almost numb! It wasn’t a BIG BIG Achievement probably, but personally it was one of the rides that helped me build my confidence in riding long distance in that weather! Someone who always liked to be clean and precise now loves to ride in the muck and rains and doesn’t mind that extra stop to click a photograph or to savour the view. This is what got me out of my comfort zone of ride laid back and relaxed and turned me into someone who doesn’t hesitate in riding in no matter what, the weather, the time be!! It was then that i truly understood the essence of riding a motorcycle – RAINS were my new found Love! 

Cheers !!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What he said: #PowerTrip360 Castrol Biking Trip 360 xBhp #LoveToCruise #RideInOZ 

29 states + Bhutan + Myanmar (Tamu Village) ride has to be the most adventurous one i have taken so far. Breaking my comfort zone I started my ride from Delhi on my Pulsar 220 on 28th March 2016; covering 25000 KMS in around 112 days. It was this mega ride in which i explored every nook and corner of our beautiful country and extended to Bhutan and Tamu (small borderline village in Myanmar). 
Of course the biggest challenge was to convince the family for letting me be on road this long and with all good wishes they agreed to let me chase my dream. It was time to live through Forests, Villages, Cities, Valleys, covering small streams to rivers, nallas to slush and sleet. Crossing some of the most challenging mountain passes riding in rain, snowfall to zero visibility situations but then it’s all part of the game. Yes it was my time to live by them.
They say you make true friends when you are on road so this time I was ready to make to take all what comes for the best of the lot I would be meeting on my trip. Of course it had it’s own list of breakdowns from punctures (whose count I’ve lost by the end of trip) to changing tyres twice, replacing bearings, chain sets, cone set, servicing and engine oil change. Well the list can be really long. 

If all that was not enough then being a vegetarian tests your survival skills. Yes being a vegan it sometimes becomes really difficult to find a proper meal and you suffice with whatever is offered. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What he said: I opened my helmet and unzipped the jacket to take an easy breath, I looked up to the sky and saw the highest pinewood tree has nearly pierced itself half above the sky, the misty fog was pure bliss of breeze touching my closed eyes and taking away the pain i went through in my life. That’s when I was cruising around somewhere near Mirik and making my way towards Darjeeling, a hill station near to me. About 680 km approx. to the northeast lies the beauty of Bengal, queen of hills and bordering Nepal, Darjeeling. Hill stations around India has always been my ticket to freedom from the artificial world I reside in. I spent 12 hours of each day struggling with roads, jams and people with ideas that can may damage your life and, it does have the power to turn you into a robot. Every day I feel the same day like I spent my yesterday. And Indo-Nepal trip was some kinda similar to the motorbike rally I often watch on television. Yes it was a trip I could never forget. I own a KTM Duke 200 with few modification done for my disability I face due to my missing legs. I lost them in an accident few years ago but it never stopped me exploring mother nature. We started climbing the steep mountain roads from Manebhanajan the Indo Nepal border, the first few kms where very interesting cause the pumped up stones on the road gave that feeling of the quick gear shift and half throttle clutch hold on the rookie climb to Sandakaphu. Those last 9 kms to the end does remind me of the fear of falling down and the slippery black ice which was eventually freezing down with the sun. While crossing our Indian territory I was waiting for the inner line passes to be made, when I felt something wrong with my right leg, it has some belts and crape bandages to fasten the belts around my thigh. I sat down over there when i looked into the last light behind the Himalayas the falling sun and ambient light was really working as a healer, seeing the pride of our nation Himalayas I forgot all my stress my deeds my unforgotten memories and some twitched up pain from past. I did my last attempt to make the rest of the journey on that loosened up leg and at the last moment of the day I slipped out of the leg and I didn’t have any controls on my rear brake everything depended on the front brakes. It was a steep climb and i have to climb it because it was around 7.30  and everything depended on the headlight. I reached there and it took me around 20 min to come down from my motorcycle as i was fitting my leg a man passing by stopped to see the weird thing i was on i took out leg from the pant and the person got shocked and came by to inspect what happened, he was a generous guy who helped me to fit back my leg. I felt a slow pat on my back the man couldn’t stop himself and said “I wish I could also have that courageous heart to do these thrilling rides with my original legs”. Yes it was a proud moment for me, and only my motorcycle gave me that proud moment and the feeling. I saw my motorcycle and said beneath that yes you are the one I can always rely on. I came down from Sandakaphu next day completely blessed and refreshed, but while coming down on the same path was harder than I thought it tough and yet challenging because I couldn’t use my throttle and everything depended on the clutch, I came down half way and saw I my tyre has got flat. As it was a tubeless I didn’t have to worry much it effected on my handling which later resulted as soreness on my wrists, I rested with fever in Darjeeling for the day and after some medication I got the trip back. It’s an easy way to live life on a wheelchair for me but I have chosen 2 wheels rather than 4.

 

I wanted to shout out loud that yes I have came out of my comfort zone and made me #loveToCruise

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Ride of Hope” by me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What she said: My aspirations about travelling the world took a little hiatus when I was told by the doctors that I would not be able to walk, this was after two knee dislocations and over a short period of time – 12 other dislocations. That did not stop me as I had found a new set of limbs, with my first bike. It was magic! But as all life stories go I studied, graduated and found an ideal safe desk job. The turning point of my life was when I took a leap of faith to take a sabbatical from work to ride around India for a show, however unfortunately that opportunity was short lived but instead of returning to my old life I decided to build a new one. I stepped out of my comfort zone to continue with the ride alone. The experiences of that opportunity, the memories on that road, though short lived kept me going and I discovered my new-found love for long distance riding. It helped fuel my motivation to cruise and I could continue the ride on my own for the next 6 and a half months. If I hadn’t had the courage to leave my comfortable job and the routine life I would have never gone on that ride and been exposed to new ideas, personalities and ways of life. To me riding is the symbolism of stepping out of the comfort zone, it took me out of the fear of not being able to walk, it helped me test my boundaries and finally embrace a new way of life, an exciting one at that!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What he said: During our Kutch ride this year, after a round of photography in the Rann, one of the bikes got stuck. It took a lot of time trying to get it out, which left us dehydrated completely. I had some protein bars, which was our only source of energy, as we were out of water.
With great effort, we reached a rock formation, which landed us in deeper trouble. We were officially lost. Also, another bike got entrenched in the brittle sand, adding to our woes.
It was especially serious because this time it was the front tyre that had gotten stuck. All of us were in dire straits, with one of our riders nearly unconscious.
We sent two of our riders ahead to get some water and help, while the rest of us stayed back, trying to extricate the bike.
In the searing heat, we got a call from the guys we had sent in search of help. They had found a villager, who came with a rope and some much-needed water. He was driving a tractor, and never did we feel more relieved than on seeing that old machine wrestle its way over and around the sand dunes
The driver helped extract the marooned bike, and was gracious enough to take us to his hut, where we spent 2 hours recovering from our ordeal. We played with his kids, who were awestruck seeing us and our bikes. That’s my story.
#PowerTrip360 Castrol Biking Trip 360 Smk Helmets 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What he said: My first trip to Spiti valley in March 2011. Extremely cold and entirely covered with snow. Each day was a challenge to ride in those harsh circumstances and each night was hard to pass in unfriendly living conditions. But the beauty of the place and pleasure of riding in isolation, were enough boosters for me to carry on. It triggered the love for cruise and Spiti since then has become an annual riding destination for me. The most recent being two weeks ago which also introduced my wife to the world of cruising.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What he said: All my bike trips have been amazing, because this is what I always wanted to do. I have always quenched for riding to places.
Out all the memorable trips I would like to mention 2 of my trips: 
1) R15 was my first bike(bought it from my own money; else Papa zindabad before that) and it got stolen just after few months of purchase. But by God’s Grace I got it back within 2 months and the very next long trip was ride to Leh covering all the way from Bangalore (in 2013). Memories didn’t stopped here, as when I reached Leh I got hit by AMS(though it was my second time in Himalayas and Ladakh). One distinguishing thing I observed which even my co-rider found that whenever I was riding bike I was not having any symptoms of AMS or breathlessness but as soon as I used to get down from the bike, I was found sleeping on the ground. This one memorable journey just kept me pushing and my instinct to ride helped me in completing my ride to and fro without any mishap. Post that I have worked on my health and fitness and I have been more disciplined and dedicated to my preparations for my journeys.
2) Kutchh Ride(2015)
Firstly this was the  first time when my Ammi was actually seeing me to go on a ride and that too Solo Ride. She always want us to be safe and doesnt stop from riding(though now she raises questions how much more do you want to ride), but letting me go for solo ride was most difficult decision for her and I never wanted to trouble her or let her worry everytime thinking about my well being. I calmed her down and told her will call her daily thrice and update her about by well being and location(Never in my life i used to contact my parents while I am on my trips).