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okay. So here goes my first triplog of my first long ride. coimbatore-bangalore-coimbatore- A ride to the Summerstorm festival 2012. For those wondering what is summerstorm, its a metal concert and a band called Opeth headlined the festival.
So once i get the news in december that one of my favourite bands are playing in india, booked the tickets. Next comes the important part of reaching bangalore from coimbatore. Its been just 8 months since i learned to ride and only 6 months since i bought my first steed [cbz xtreme 2011]. Till now i had just done few short rides to ooty, valparai and such nearby places. So why not banglore.
And the plan was made.
On 3rd feb, i took my bike into service center, and told them to do a check up since i will be riding to banglore the next day. The fork was already loose, and got it tightened, got a free oil top up, chain and clutch lubrication. All of this done in just 30 mins and returned home. Bought a new pair of gloves, a balaclava and packed my stuff.
On 4th feb morning around 4.30, started from home, fueled up and i was ready to go. Decided to stick with the route fellow xbhp people suggested and started my ride. Let me tell you, i used to think what do these people get by riding for such long distances except sore bums and stiff necks and joints. But once i throttled angie [yeah thats what i call her
] it was pure music. A wonderful beginning to an awesome concert which was yet to come.
As i had mentioned, i''m very new to riding bikes, and i havent done more than 60 kmph on my bike. But the next 10 mins were awesome. Riding at 80s. But then bad roads hit. construction works for another 40-50 kms. Took a couple of pisstops [yeah. not pitstops. :P] and continued.
Then came the beautiful 4 lane roads. Beautiful roads. Last month during my goa roadtrip with my cousins in a merc, i used to wonder, how awesome it will be if i ride a bike in such roads. Yeah. I got to experience that now. And to be honest, i now knew, why people do long rides. The first time i touched 100 kmph, i felt strange. Dont know how to say that. Saw a guy without a helmet riding a pulsar with R15 fairings attached and trying to race. I let him pass.
Next stopped for a small tea/cig break and continued. Nothing to mention here. Just nice roads and me ripping at 90-100 kmph with frequent breaks for water in/out. After salem, stopped for a tea break, and i have to mention, the location was very nice and relaxing with a very nice cup of tea. I knew then. I had been bike'd.
Since I had nothing to eat from morning , my tummy started calling for food. While on my previous goa trip by car, we had stopped at a MacD after krishnagiri. Tried to spot it but missed it. So consoled myself telling that since we had travelled from chennai, maybe it comes on the chennai route and carried on. Nearing hosur, encountered a horrible traffic and got slowed down. Made a quick fuel stop and continued. As i was entering the outskirts of Bangalore, started feeling really drowsy. Made a stop n had a coke and a cake and resumed.
Reached banglore. The horrible part of the trip comes here. Finding my route to Palace grounds and from there to the hotel i had booked. After 2 hours of roaming here and there and asking autowalas, finally reached the hotel, checked in. I need to say, the hotel- Ivory Inn, was really excellent. Quickly freshened up, changed and went on to meet my friends in Bangalore.
Something very unfortunate happens from here on. First, my phone falls down from my shirt pocket, and a lorry ran over it. ok. now how do i meet my friends? I park angie in a nearby mall, request the guy giving parking tickets for his phone, use my sim card n call my friends. But unfortunately, i could meet only one. Other had to leave because it got late. Thanks to that lorry :| Next, while returning, i was at a signal. And a guy in some car comes and crashes on me from behind. Luckily, me n angie escaped unhurt, except a tiny scratch on the bumper.Finally reached the room, bought a couple of beers, dinner, finished them happily and hit my bed
Woke up at 10. Had a nice breakfast offered by the hotel, and started. Where? Summerstorm 2012!!! Finally.
A long waiting period, and we were finally let in at 4 pm. 2 Indian bands [Theorised,Eccentric Pendulum] opened the show, followed by Nothnegal [Maldives], SuidAkra [Germany], and finally, OPETH. One hell of a show that was. Mindblowing. An awesome experience.
Decided to head back home the same night. Had dinner, packed, and started. 2 friends decided to tag along. One was my pillion, and another friend was riding my pillion guy's bike[Yamaha SZ-R or X not sure]. Went at moderate speeds of 60-80 kmph, with few tea breaks and fuel stops till salem. The friend who was riding SZ, got down. The guy sitting behind me began riding his SZ.
The BIG DISASTER:
Only 20 kms out of salem, and i hear a noise. Looking at my rvm, saw this guy had fallen down. GOSH!! i was 500 mts ahead, stopped my bike, got down and sprinted towards him. Luckily, he was only slightly hurt. Bleeding from the toe, and a small scratch. But the bike's gear lever got bent.Footrest broke. Not rideable at all. Mudguards , Number plate broke and bent. Left the bike near a house, took him to a hospital, called couple of my ex-college friends for help. I have to thank them here, who readily came to help and assessed the bike's condition. Unrideable.
Parked it in a nearby house, reqested to keep it for a day, took my friend in my bike itself and returned towards coimbatore. By not, it had been 15 hours since i started riding. That too after a heavy headbanging session in a metal concert. I was super sleepy. Took breaks often, kept at slow speeds of 60s, kept washing my face, and continued. Somehow after a total of 18 hours of riding, inbetween all the disasters, finally dropped my friend in his home, reached my own place, and hit the bed.
I slept for 14 hours straight.
End of one heck of a roadtrip; one filled with disasters. But i loved riding.I will ride more. Again. Also, Opeth were worth a million such disasters.
A few pics from mobile cams.
So once i get the news in december that one of my favourite bands are playing in india, booked the tickets. Next comes the important part of reaching bangalore from coimbatore. Its been just 8 months since i learned to ride and only 6 months since i bought my first steed [cbz xtreme 2011]. Till now i had just done few short rides to ooty, valparai and such nearby places. So why not banglore.
And the plan was made.
On 3rd feb, i took my bike into service center, and told them to do a check up since i will be riding to banglore the next day. The fork was already loose, and got it tightened, got a free oil top up, chain and clutch lubrication. All of this done in just 30 mins and returned home. Bought a new pair of gloves, a balaclava and packed my stuff.
On 4th feb morning around 4.30, started from home, fueled up and i was ready to go. Decided to stick with the route fellow xbhp people suggested and started my ride. Let me tell you, i used to think what do these people get by riding for such long distances except sore bums and stiff necks and joints. But once i throttled angie [yeah thats what i call her
] it was pure music. A wonderful beginning to an awesome concert which was yet to come.As i had mentioned, i''m very new to riding bikes, and i havent done more than 60 kmph on my bike. But the next 10 mins were awesome. Riding at 80s. But then bad roads hit. construction works for another 40-50 kms. Took a couple of pisstops [yeah. not pitstops. :P] and continued.
Then came the beautiful 4 lane roads. Beautiful roads. Last month during my goa roadtrip with my cousins in a merc, i used to wonder, how awesome it will be if i ride a bike in such roads. Yeah. I got to experience that now. And to be honest, i now knew, why people do long rides. The first time i touched 100 kmph, i felt strange. Dont know how to say that. Saw a guy without a helmet riding a pulsar with R15 fairings attached and trying to race. I let him pass.
Next stopped for a small tea/cig break and continued. Nothing to mention here. Just nice roads and me ripping at 90-100 kmph with frequent breaks for water in/out. After salem, stopped for a tea break, and i have to mention, the location was very nice and relaxing with a very nice cup of tea. I knew then. I had been bike'd.
Since I had nothing to eat from morning , my tummy started calling for food. While on my previous goa trip by car, we had stopped at a MacD after krishnagiri. Tried to spot it but missed it. So consoled myself telling that since we had travelled from chennai, maybe it comes on the chennai route and carried on. Nearing hosur, encountered a horrible traffic and got slowed down. Made a quick fuel stop and continued. As i was entering the outskirts of Bangalore, started feeling really drowsy. Made a stop n had a coke and a cake and resumed.
Reached banglore. The horrible part of the trip comes here. Finding my route to Palace grounds and from there to the hotel i had booked. After 2 hours of roaming here and there and asking autowalas, finally reached the hotel, checked in. I need to say, the hotel- Ivory Inn, was really excellent. Quickly freshened up, changed and went on to meet my friends in Bangalore.
Something very unfortunate happens from here on. First, my phone falls down from my shirt pocket, and a lorry ran over it. ok. now how do i meet my friends? I park angie in a nearby mall, request the guy giving parking tickets for his phone, use my sim card n call my friends. But unfortunately, i could meet only one. Other had to leave because it got late. Thanks to that lorry :| Next, while returning, i was at a signal. And a guy in some car comes and crashes on me from behind. Luckily, me n angie escaped unhurt, except a tiny scratch on the bumper.Finally reached the room, bought a couple of beers, dinner, finished them happily and hit my bed
Woke up at 10. Had a nice breakfast offered by the hotel, and started. Where? Summerstorm 2012!!! Finally.
A long waiting period, and we were finally let in at 4 pm. 2 Indian bands [Theorised,Eccentric Pendulum] opened the show, followed by Nothnegal [Maldives], SuidAkra [Germany], and finally, OPETH. One hell of a show that was. Mindblowing. An awesome experience.
Decided to head back home the same night. Had dinner, packed, and started. 2 friends decided to tag along. One was my pillion, and another friend was riding my pillion guy's bike[Yamaha SZ-R or X not sure]. Went at moderate speeds of 60-80 kmph, with few tea breaks and fuel stops till salem. The friend who was riding SZ, got down. The guy sitting behind me began riding his SZ.
The BIG DISASTER:
Only 20 kms out of salem, and i hear a noise. Looking at my rvm, saw this guy had fallen down. GOSH!! i was 500 mts ahead, stopped my bike, got down and sprinted towards him. Luckily, he was only slightly hurt. Bleeding from the toe, and a small scratch. But the bike's gear lever got bent.Footrest broke. Not rideable at all. Mudguards , Number plate broke and bent. Left the bike near a house, took him to a hospital, called couple of my ex-college friends for help. I have to thank them here, who readily came to help and assessed the bike's condition. Unrideable.
Parked it in a nearby house, reqested to keep it for a day, took my friend in my bike itself and returned towards coimbatore. By not, it had been 15 hours since i started riding. That too after a heavy headbanging session in a metal concert. I was super sleepy. Took breaks often, kept at slow speeds of 60s, kept washing my face, and continued. Somehow after a total of 18 hours of riding, inbetween all the disasters, finally dropped my friend in his home, reached my own place, and hit the bed.
I slept for 14 hours straight.
End of one heck of a roadtrip; one filled with disasters. But i loved riding.I will ride more. Again. Also, Opeth were worth a million such disasters.
A few pics from mobile cams.
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