Around the City in 6 hours

After an all-night-out project work, thriving on 3 cups of coffee, a bar of Dairy Milk Silk and a plate of Aaloo Paratha, I had made up my mind to heed to Manmohan's call for a group ride around the city. Manmohan, had posted a couple of days ago, both on XE (Xtreme Enfielders) and ASR (Awadh Spirited Riders) FB groups, about an event this Sunday: a 130 odd km ride around the city. The route map posted is shown below. 14 members had confirmed to participate. I wasn't sure, whether to go or not to, till dawn, when it dawned on me the need to reward myself for the night-out.

Route-map posted by Manmohan

7.10 AM - 355 km - Left IIML Campus
The traffic was sparse, and I could easily glide to Badshahnagar. Reached Royal Enfield Brand showroom by 7.30 AM, just in time to leave. There I met Piyush, Rastogi ji, Farook, Manmohan & his brother Govind, Rajeev, Rizwaan, Sumit and Ajay. After a small chat that included Rastogi ji's private routine reminder of our most cherished and nourished NE trip(!), we rode off to Chinhat from were we would be team up with a few more riders.

At RE Showroom [Photo Credit: Govind Bashera]

Our Resident Photo/Videographer: Govind Bashera [won't get to see him again in the pics]

Mounted on the bulls [Photo Credit : Manmohan]

7.50 AM - 369 km - Left RE Showroom
Heading to Chinhad. By 8.00 AM - (376 km), we reached Chinhad where the group slightly expanded to include Som, Anand, Capt. Akhilesh, Deevaashis and his son Debanshu, who was very excited and looking forward to the Sunday Ride with his Big Brothers.

At  8.05 we started towards Dewa Shareef Shrine, a famous pilgrimage spot near Lucknow. Som was our lead rider and Manmohan was our sweep rider.

Manmohan shouldering the responsibility of the Tail/Sweep Rider in Style

Govind took a beautiful video of our ride to Dewa Shareef  -Video # 1

We drove in a single file formation as the roads were narrow at some places especially while passing through some villages on the way. Following are some pictures of riders driving in vogue.

Farook blazing away on his Desert Storm

Rizwaan in a cool orange helmet

We reached Deva by 9.00 am - (401 km). Parked the motorcycles outside the shrine and bought a shawl as offering.

Royal Enfields parked at Dewa

After walking along the alleys with shops on both sides, selling colorful artwork, saris, pottery, sweets and eateries we finally reached the Shrine.

A shop selling different types of earthen utensils

The First View of Dewa Shareef Shrine

We entered and gave our offerings. The place was buzzling with people, deep in prayer, some enjoying the nuances of the fine architecture, while others singing the celebrated Qawwali.

The Qawwali Group outside the Shrine

After clicking a few snaps, we were ready to continue our trip, next to Itaunja, but before that we'd have to stop to have some breakfast.

A group photograph outside the Shrine

By 9.25 am we left Dewa and were on the way to Itaunja. At 10 o' clock - (414 km), we stopped by a Dhaba for some breakfast. I filled petrol for 500 bucks in a nearby pump. While we were waiting for some egg burjia and aaloo paratha, we chatted about some riding adventures in border areas. Capt. Akhilesh shared his experiences during his time in the Army. Sumit, who is a certified fitness trainer, offered us some tips on body building and diet routines. The breakfast took some time, that was filled in with a much animated discussion with many viewpoints from all riders.

The motorcycles parked in front of the Dhaba

By 11 am, after breakfast, we pushed off to Itaunja. Got trapped on the unlucky side of a railway crossing. It was about 11.40 am - (434 km). Meanwhile, Som got a call from home, informing him that his dad was ill. So Som along with Anand returned back to Dewa. Manmohan took the position of the lead rider.

On the way to Itaunja

Pitstop on the way: Deevaashis, Farook and Ajay

The ride to Malihabad was beautiful. Driving through a narrow strip with lush green maize fields and mango orchards and nicely maintained boulevards on both sides. Govind too a video of the journey to Malihabad.

Video # 2 - Click Here!

After Itaunja, by about 12.30 pm - (462 km), just before Malihabad, Sumit's motorbike started fuming. He stopped, turned off the ignition. We looked for the cause of the problem. The ignition wire had heated up and the insulation had burned off. Deevashish & Manmohan were hands-on with the job of fixing it. They removed the circuitry, and then re-insulted it with tape, and finally connected it back to the battery unit. The motorcycle was back in motion.

Deevaashis and Manmohan in Action

A buffalo was enjoying a clay bath right next to where the motorcycle started fuming

We started to Malihabad by 1 pm but luck was again not on our side, got trapped on the wrong side of  yet another railway crossing. This time it was funny. We moved in a integrated group with a 1 second gap between the riders. But the guy closing the gates made it sure that that some of the riders passed through, Manmohan and few others were behind the gate, while Ajay and I were in between the gates, but still a good amount of space for the trains to pass by without our interference :-)

By 1.15 pm - (464 km), we reached Malihabad and from then on it was a pretty smooth ride. By 1.45 pm, we entered IIM Road (10 km to IIML campus), by taking a left cut. The road widened up to a nice 6 lane.

Burning the Turf of IIM Road

Lining up in a single row spreading over the full span of IIM Road

Video # 3 - Blazing on the 6-lane turf of IIM Road

By 2 o'clock in the afternoon - (491 km), we reached at 0.7 km to campus, were my fellow riders bid me goodbye, looking forward to yet another ride, whenever that may be.

A Rainy Recourse to Chaat with Chai !

Sloshed after what would probably be the Last Insti Party of the 'Last of the Mohicans', a term re-coined on us by the other endangered Mohican - Mayank, wakey wakey early, on a Sunday morning, I did. Bewitched into writing the Kumbh Mela Case Study all morning; for working with Rocky can make you self-stretch, for reasons I don't know, when logically you should be demanding a hangover peg. That was when my phone rung. Som bhaiyya hollered,"शाम को चाट खाने चलोगे ?" (Wanna go to eat Chaat in the evening?). For a split second, I didn't know what to say. I was between half minds, on whether to continue working on the case study or play ball. But as the picture of Chaat loomed larger over my mind, I acceded, in the very next few moments. 

How can you resist this awesome delicacy?

Then I asked Som about the rendezvous point. He said, "Let's go to Hardoi (about 100 km from here) in the afternoon. Reach Sahara City by 2.45. That's from where we'll start off." Well, got stumped again. Riding 100 km for eating chaat, when you can just walk down to the college canteen? Well, in most of such circumstances, nonsense does prevail, especially when there is a chance of taming your bull.

2.30 PM - IIM Lucknow - 11148 km
Overshot the time to leave, being engrossed in my case writing. Reached Sahara city only by 3.15, to see all the riders ready and waiting. That's a bad sight, trust me. Should have been on time :(

3.16 PM - Sahara City - 11168 km
Austin, Som, Soodip, Anand with his bro-in-law Abhisek as pillion, Tanmay, Nirupam, Shaurya and I set off to Hardoi. I knew all of them from the Independence Day Rally 4 days ago, although not quite well. Soodip was on his 500cc Black Thunderbird, Anand was on his RE Classic 500cc Desert Storm. We were also accompanied by some of Soodip's friends in an Audi SUV.

We took Shahidpath route and cut into Kanpur road. Reached Alambhagh junction and then turned left to head to SH 25 (Malihabad Road). I had almost circled the city by this time.

3.50 PM - IIM Road / SH 25 Intersection - 11206 km

Continued with our journey to Hardoi. It had started drizzling while we were passing through Amar-Shahidpath-Road, which got quite heavy as we reached SH 25. To say that it was raining cats and dogs would be unjust euphemism. Could barely see 10 meters ahead. Drenched totally, yet, we kept going, it was fun. मज्जा आ गया । The dark hooded sky, cleared after some time, to let the beam of twilight sun cuddle the bosom of the damp earth. 

Meanwhile, I had fallen behind 4-5 minutes as I stopped for refueling. Caught up with Som within a few minutes, who was waiting for me. We sped, at a steady 80-90 km/h on a mostly empty highway, to catch-up with the rest of them, as the breeze blotted us dry. 

Rode past the railway crossing near Kachhnauna Patseni, when I heard Som honking "Beep-Beep-Beeeeeeep" from behind, which means to stop. This was one of the sound signals, we had made during our trip to Ladakh, and I would never forget it.

We had overshot the stopping point by 3 km. Som had been called by Soodip and Austin to pull over. The destination was not Hardoi exactly but a little earlier, Kachhnauna Patseni, that is. The rest of the crew was behind us, and we didn't hear them bellow while we were speeding past them, hoping to catch up with them! Riding back 3 km we met Anand's जीजा (bro-in-law), at Kachhnauna town. We would be having Chaat at his shop!

5.45 PM - Kachhnauna Patseni - 11278 km
The entire battalion arrived. Hungry for sure, we headed straight into the shop, when it just started raining. Although the shop was buzzing with activity and full of customers, our orders came in pretty fast. Focus shifts to food, conversation taking a backseat. There is no better way to appease your breadbasket than to feed it with some good chaat and chai, on a nice rainy day. I chowed down 2 plates of आलू की टिक्की चाट (Potato Tikki Chaat) and shared a plate of आलू मट्टर चाट (Potato & Peas Chaat) with Shaurya. Then we went to one other friend's place. He would probably be in his 60s. He engaged us with his tales about trip to Khardungla and other hill stations, while we helped ourselves to chai, mithai and cashew nuts sitting in his beautiful garden lawns.

7.30 PM - Kachhnauna Patseni - 11278 km
We thanked our host and headed back home. It was already nightfall and we drove at a safe 40-50 km/hr, with much discipline. All the riders went one behind the other keeping a distance of about 10 meters between them. We took 3 breaks on our return journey, one of which was when Anand's Desert Storm started blinking a red-light on its dial. Som called up a mechanic and we got to know that it was due to a connection problem at a socket junction under the fuel tank. But no cause for worry, we could continue our ride home.

We turned left from IIM Road / SH 25 intersection and blazed through the empty 6 lane highway.

Route Map

9.30 PM - Prabandh Nagar - 11355 km
Reached 0.7 km to IIM, when I bid good bye to fellow riders. Reached campus and after a shower, got hooked onto the case study.

Independence Day Rally

The day dawned in its full grandeur, bright and sunny, today, on the 15th August 2013, when we celebrate the 67th year of independence of our dear motherland - India. 

0900 - IIML - 11025 km

At the stroke of 9, my bull revved and I was on the go to our starting point at RE showroom, Badshah Nagar, Lucknow.

0920 - RE Showroom, Badshah Nagar - 11037 km

Reached RE showroom. Registered for the Independence Day Rally. Vehicle # 53. Happy to meet fellow riders, pouring in one by one, all excited about today's special ride. There were 3 main objectives for today's ride. Firstly, this ride was conducted in association with an NGO - Aashayein, to promote education for children who did not have the privilege to go to schools. Secondly, Awadh Spirited Riders (ASR) were organizing a session with the boys of Lucknow's La Martiniere's College to encourage "Safe Riding". Thirdly, a blood donation camp in association with Sahara Hospital, Lucknow, was being arranged.

Hindustan Times News Clipping about ASR's Independence Day Programme

0945 - RE Showroom, Badshah Nagar

After a light morning breakfast, Mr. K B Singh, one of the senior-most riders in Lucknow, and a famous bullet collector (owner of 12 Enfields) hoisted the The Tricolor, as the riders sang "Jana Gana Mana", with ardor and zeal. Incidentally,  today was Rastogi ji's and Tavashi's b'day too. We wished them many happy returns of the day, a long life to Rastogi ji who turned 55 today and a blessed childhood to Tavashi who turned 3 years old.

Tavishi in Tricolor
[Photo Courtesy: Mohit Chaturvedi]

Piyush Gupta, Manager, RE Lucknow, then briefed the riders about today's plan, route details etc. He had already posted the Do's and Don'ts during the ride a few days ago.

Riding Rules :

1. Helmet compulsory both for the rider and the pillion.
2. No body will go ahead of the lead rider.
3. No body will be behind the tail rider.
4. Move in pairs as this will not block the road and this formation will also look good.
5. Keep distance of about 10 ft between the bikes.
6. Go Slow. Remember this is a local trip or a rally and not a ride.
7. Speed less than 50 to 60 Km/hr.
8. Avoid sudden breaking. This requires your concentration on the road and not on
the camera which may be capturing you at that moment.
9. Keep the headlights 'ON'. This will make our rally photogenic.
10. No Alcohol before or during the rally.

Then, Piyush explained the riding route in the city.

Route : RE Showroom, Badshah Nagar - Polytechnic Chouraha - Gomti Nagar - La Martineiri College - Cant Road - Alambagh - Charbagh - State Assembly - Hazratganj - Parivartan Chowk - IT chouraha - Kapoorthala - Chinhat Chauraha - RE Showroom, Badshah Nagar.

Independence Day Rally - Route Map

The tricolors were latched steadfast to the bulls, the bulls were coded and the riding party was ready to push off.

Tricolors Latched
[Photo Courtesy: Mohit Chaturvedi]

Bulls Coded
[Photo Courtesy: Zrichard Judema]

1005 - RE Showroom, Badshah Nagar - 11037 km

The rally was flagged off. Piyush (Bull #1) was the Lead Rider and Som (Bull #100) was the Tail Rider. A group of 80 odd bulls screeched, screamed and stirred storm in between them (albeit safely)! Piyush would also guide in particular, riders numbered #2 to #19. Austin (Bull #20)was in-charge of riders numbered #21 to #39, Manmohan (Bull #40) was in-charge of riders numbered #41 to #60, Mayank (Bull #99) & Som (Bull #100) were in-charge of the rest of the tail-enders.

1035 - La Martiniere's College - 11049 km

Reached La Martiniere's College grounds to a thunderous applause and heart warming welcome from the students and faculty. Exchanged pleasantries with the students, who were very curious and thrilled to know about the roaring machines. They posed for photos with the gleaming motorcycles and had many questions lined up for the riders. The riders on their part learned their lessons too for letting the kids ask too many questions ;-)

La Martiniere Boys posing on a RE motorcycle [Photo Courtesy: Zrichard Judema]

Soon after, Mayank Tiwari, the 'local hero', adorned dual roles on the podium, as chemistry teacher at La Martiniere's and as a popular ASR rider. Armored in full riding gear, he explained to the boys the essentials of safe riding - from basic stuff of driving only after you get a proper license at the age of 18, rules of the road - to - precautions you need to take during long rides to prevent accidents. Subsequently, he handed over the dais to Mr. Carlyle Mcfarland, the Principal of La Martiniere's College. He welcomed the gathering and as his role of an academician demanded, quickly moved on to discharge his duty of enlightening the students on 'safe riding'. He opened his oration referring to research studies in psychology that indicated adolescent boys having the urge to put maximum power available between their thighs even before attaining the legal age of 18, and yet the need to refrain from doing so. Yes! Mr. Mcfarland was witty at his best, and the 15 or so minutes of sermon sounded like a 'just for laughs' mini-show. Soon enough, after completing our objective at La Martiniere's, we were all set to move ahead ticking off the remaining agenda in our I-Day Rally. Time 1120.

Mayank Tiwary talking to the students about 'Safe Riding'
[Photo Courtesy: Subodh Bajpai]

The Bulls Lined up at La Martiniere's College Grounds [Photo Courtesy: Mohit Chaturvedi]

LM-Boys sitting on the steps to the college's imposing edifice, Constantia
Trivia: La Martiniere Complex is a Heritage Zone recognized by Lucknow Development Authority. Founded in 1845 by the French Adventurer Major General Claude Martin, La Martiniere is the only school in the world to have been awarded royal battle honors for its role in the defense of Lucknow during the mutiny of 1857. [Photo Courtesy: Zrichard Judema]

1200 - RE Showroom, Badshah Nagar - 11076 km

Came full circle. Reached back at our starting point after criss-crossing throughout the city. Cut a cake to celebrate Rastogi ji's and Tavashi's birthday. Had some refreshments and pushed off to Sahara Hospital.

1300 - Sahara Hospital, Gomti Nagar - 11091 km

About 15 riders volunteered for blood donation. If health conditions were found OK, persons above 18 years could donate blood. A unit that consists of 350 ml of blood is taken, if your weight is between 45 to 60 kg. 450 ml if weight is above 60 kg. We had a gala time in the air-conditioned interiors, chatting, sipping nutritious juices and munching to compensate for the red leak.

1600 - Done and Dusted. A well organized ride. Much better than the last one. A very satisfying day.

As we rode back home, a thought came into my mind... the words of a statesman...uttered 66 years ago...

"Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance. It is fitting that at this solemn moment we take the pledge of dedication to the service of India and her people and to the still larger cause of humanity."

City Ride on a Lazy Sunday!

So, after a small and lovely get together for Babla Da's B'day at Chew n' Pack on 30th July, Piyush intimated us about our next ride, a city ride this time, on 4th August, 2013. This ride was in association with the launch of "Nav Bharat Times" in Lucknow, the Hindi daily of "The Times of India Group". The ride was to start at 3.00 PM from Dainik Jagran Chouraha, Lucknow.

4 Aug, 2013

2.30 PM

Odometer reading: 10904 km

Left IIM Lucknow for Times of India (ToI) office, Dainik Jagran Chouraha, Lucknow.

3.00 PM

Odometer reading: 10922 km

Reached ToI Office. About 30 riders had already arrived. Piyush told that there were more confirmed riders yet to come. So we waited for them. Meanwhile, had some mosambi juice to compensate ourselves against the profuse perspiration due to the unbearable heat. By 4.15 PM, about 65 riders had arrived. This was a great number compared to the regular turnouts. Almost one-third of "Awadh Spirited Riders" (ASR) of the Royal Enfield Group of Lucknow had turned up. T-shirts and flags of "Nav Bharat Times" were distributed to wear and latch to our motorcycles respectively. The star attraction of the group of motorcycles today was Abhishek Chaturvedi's "Modified-Rajputana-Bullet". It was a 2001 model motorcycle which he got modified by a mechanic in Jaipur for a princely sum of 3.5 lakh rupees, the price equivalent of 3 brand new bullets.

Abhishek's Rajputana Style Bullet

4.30 PM

Odometer reading: 10922 km

The motorcycle rally was flagged off. The route taken through the city was as follows: Dainik Jagran Chouraha - (via VIP road) - Alambagh - Charbagh - Hazratganj - Parivartan Chowk - IT Chauraha - Kapoorthala - Nishatganj - Polytechnic - Fun Cinemas - Dainik Jagran Chouraha.

City Ride: Route Map

By 5.30 PM we reached Ambedkar Memorial (Bhimrao Ambedkar Samajik Parivartan Prateek Sthal, Lucknow). Took some snaps. Discussed plans for the Independence Day Ride on August 15th, 2013.

Our Rides Parked at Ambedkar Memorial

To ride in the city along with 3 score wingmates is an amazing experience in itself. Having said that, it takes a lot of disciple to ride safely at this point to time in the evening, especially when the city traffic rush is at its peak. The traffic congestion is massive and very often the bulls get dispersed in the crowded boulevards. Personally, I'm a fan of burning the turf on long empty highways. But, yes, city rides are good when you consider that many people find it difficult to take out time for long drives. So city rides are ideal for short drives and big gatherings as opposed to long drives which needs much time. One black mark during our current city ride was that there were 3 minor accidents. The worst among them was a collision with a cycle rickshaw. The rickshaw toppled due to the sheer raw horsepower of the 500cc RE Desert Storm classic. Fortunately, there was nothing serious. No injury to the rickshaw driver nor to the motorcycle driver. Neverthless, something to be avoided. Hope, next time we're more careful in preventing any such mishaps. Be cautious. Drive safe!

The Riders in Front of Ambedkar Memorial, Lucknow

6.00 PM

Odometer reading: 10964 km

After passing by the RE showroom at Nishatganj, we finally reached back at our flag off point. The Nav Bharat Times Chief presented ASR group with a memento which Piyush gratefully accepted on our behalf. After refreshments, we headed back to our dens. 

I bought a new pair of my favourite 'Woodland' sandals on the way back and had a filling dinner from Aryas. Aliganj was flooded with rainwater 1 feet deep. Lucky, that we didn't have to encounter any rains during our city ride.

8.30 PM

Odometer reading: 10982 km

Reached IIML. Get started on your thesis work already, boy!

Group Ride in the City

In Today's News: Nav Bharat Times - Lucknow Edition - 5th August 2013!

Photographs Courtesy: Div Sri Mamgain