Why do I ride?

I started to ride when I was in the 9th standard. I remember the time in October of 1995, I think, when I got on my aunt's 50CC Luna (which she wasnt using cos she had recently bought a new Kinetic Honda) and rode around Wanowrie, Pune. (It was my aunt who arranged for me to learn how to ride a bicycle, so in a way I owe her big time :-). Thanks Reenechi.) The thrill of riding on an empty piece of road at 40kmph was intoxicating. I would've loved to do it all day, but I was afraid of getting busted by the traffic police. So my rides used to be short but frequent. And I would long to ride my aunt's Kiney. But she's not let me, not cos she was possessive of her new bike, but cos she was worried about my safety. (Isn't she the sweetest :-) ).

Well, after that, it was my cousin's Hero Puch. He'd come home some times, and I'd get him to let me ride it. It was a new experience, riding a geared vehicle, required a lot more thinking than I was capable of :-)). Nevertheless I soon got the hang of it. But it wasnt very often that I'd get to ride the Puch cos my cousin didnt come around much.

Somewhere in between I got to ride a Yamaha RX100. It was after my 10th standard exams. It belonged to an acquaintance of mine. Before I got on the bike I was warned that it was very powerful and I ought to be careful with the throttle. That psyched me out, and I ended up dumping the bike around 100m from where I started. But, hey, no wheelie!! ;-) :-D

After that I didnt ride much. Then I passed into the 12th standard, and with it came the tutions everyday. I needed a vehicle to get around. Dad was not going to buy me a bike, so I managed to get them to buy me a geared cycle. 18 gears of pure fun!! I miss that cycle *sigh* :-(. Three months after I bought the cycle, my grandpa managed to convince my folks to buy me a motorized two wheeler. I was given a choice between a Hero Puch and a Kiney. I picked the Hero Puch -- it was geared, it was not a choice of most females (ok so maybe I was a little sexist at that time), so the choice was easy. But I screwed up the bike the moment it took it out from the showroom by ripping it to 60kmph (well, I was late for my tution classes). It got back at me by giving me bad mileage for the rest of the time I had it. Still, it was a lesson well learnt.

After my 12th standard exams, I got to ride my family friend's Hero Honda Splendor. That was a fine bike! I remember the day he gave me the keys and said, "All down". I loved it! It felt better to ride than my Hero Puch (of course it did!! 7.8 horses are better than 3.15!! duh!!). Still, I did like my Puch. It was zippy and fun to ride. Four years and I clocked 9500kms on it. But I yearned for a bike, and dad seemed to understand. (I think, cos with my dad, I can never be sure).

It was around this time that my uncle got a promotion at work and was given a car by his company. Which meant that his Splendor was lying unused. I tried getting my folks to ask him if he wanted to sell the bike. Dad did ask him one day, and my uncle refused to sell. However, one day, he asked me if I'd like to use the bike for a year (I was in my final year of my Bachelors), until I bought a new one. I gladly accepted!! I was back with a bike I loved to ride. I enjoyed the 17 months I spent with the bike. I clocked around 10000kms on it, which included a ride to Chinchi Falls with the PUGs. It was my first long ride on my bike, and that did it for me! I was hooked to riding!!

Then came December 4th, 2003 and it brought the love of my life into my life, my brand new Bajaj Pulsar 180 DTS-i, or Blurr, as I like to call her. I fell in love the moment I thumbed the starter for the first time! Ran her in for 2350kms, (I actually planned to do 5000kms of running in, but I just couldnt hold myself back :-D), and then let her rip!! She's fast, steady, consistent, and a whole lotta fun to ride. I've been to Nandi Hills (thrice), Doddaaladamara (Big Banyan Tree), Ramanagaram (Sholay was shot here), Hogenakkal Falls and Munnar with her. Someone asked me if I was done riding. My answer was, and still is, "I've just started!!!" There are a whole lotta roads in this country that are beckoning. And who knows, maybe someday I will ride on foreign soil too.

Which now brings us to the question, why do I ride? Well, I cant really explain it. Why dont you join me for a ride and find out for yourself?? :-). I'm going to Kemmanagundi this weekend, join me!