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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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!
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!
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| Group Ride in the City
In Today's News: Nav Bharat Times - Lucknow Edition - 5th August 2013!
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Photographs Courtesy: Div Sri Mamgain
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