Bikers get solitude in riding. Sometimes we ride for nothing & feel something. In this group we don’t ride for much speed but peace.
Always thought about a solo ride & this one was planned.
Bangalore to Indore in 2 days over weekend to attend cousin’s marriage. Planning solo ride requires more preparation than with group especially a 1500kms one.
Most important thing is to make up your mind, being committed to it & this goes with adaptive preparation. It means mostly last minute planning and on the spot decisions. Instinctive understanding, most bikers can relate to. In such planning I first thought about my bike service, spares, trip route, timing etc. We keep more bike stuff than ours for contingency. Such planning does not happen from riding inception but adds up with experience.
Planned Route: Bangalore – Davangere | To Ahmednagar | Indore.
Friday:
Planned to reach home early after office but in software life, happy path became the critical path & got busy with emails. On way home, had to take Specs, remaining bike spares, enfield road side assistance, bought riding pants, medicines – ORS & picked up spare battery given for charging. Now this last one only this group knows why & other bikers can guess!!
Reached home to pack saddle bag, tank bag, tool box (heaviest) & of course laptop to do WFH! (Reason stated above). First time mounted GoPro and it was around 5.30pm I started.
On nice road suddenly it started raining heavily and I got drenched as raincoat was at bottom. This reminded of my last group ride to Goa. Night riding to stay in Davangere as planned, covered 290 kms.
Saturday:
Started early morning & roads were beautiful after rain, especially sunrise moment. Drove non stop till Hubli for Kamat breakfast.
Never knowing that the unexpected moment about to start.
After 15 kms from Hubli bike stopped taking throttle, only staying idle. Now checked spark plug, tci, wiring, fuel line and lastly carb to find carb needle broken inside main jet.
Called up Enfield RSA and found out Policy starting in next 10 days but assured assistance, waited for 2 hrs as nearby service center was not having carburetter & were arranging. Then started research to fix it, searched tool box & surprisingly found a needle which was thick but then forced it in and bike started. Villagers were humble to offer tea, food. Since this is temporary fix, I went back 45 mins to find new carb but couldn’t find still. Took leap of faith after 5 hrs to start journey again and reached kolhapur for stopover.
Sunday:
Earlier lunch plan was with family but now had to cover 850 kms to attempt for a dinner. Started 4am and realized the intent of this trip is to enjoy, come what may to be positive and again happy thumping.
Took the nashik route to be on good roads, enjoyed the climate, when you are alone with loaded gear and camera on top, people come & talk to you, even Police was nice and didn’t stopped as with others, I know why!!
Rode mostly non stop with only tea, fuel and lunch break.
Even with a Pillow (thanks Vikas) you realize spreading tailbone pain becomes unbearable but wait, it becomes numb after it and you can ride more! Reached home around 8pm, my happiness to see parents, their strong words on this attempt and more over the ride peace you get after overcoming problems, gives away memories.
Thank you for reading!