Dream on two wheels

Mona

Twelve feisty bikers took the ride of the year this February, covering some 5,000 kilometres in little over two weeks! Astride Harleys, this gang of 12, with a young girl rider in tow, made most of what the country had to offer — chaotic Delhi traffic, open highways, ghat roads and riding along the spectacular beaches. 

Fast track 

With Chandigarh the starting point, Ankush Gulati, Anshul, Anushriya Gulati, Aryaman Sethi, Balbir Bhullar, Manmohan Rawat, Navi Sidhu, Rupinder Singh, Rohit Kaul, Saurabh Jaiswal, Tushar and Vivek Bhatt, took four days to make it to Goa, with night halts at Ajmer, Udaipur, Surat and Pune. On the way back was a totally different route with the first halt being in Ganapatipulé, followed by a night each in Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Ajmer before reaching Chandigarh. “Riding together turns you into more than a family; a bond thicker than blood,” says Navi Sidhu, the man who helmed this Harley outing. 

Worthwhile trip 

The destination of these riders was India Bike Week, Goa. “Meeting fellow Harley riders is an experience in itself. Right from Candolim to Vagator, on every nook and corner you will find bikers, the whole culture is invigorating,” shares Navi. While in Goa, soaking in nature’s bounties and giving in to different cuisines is what he liked the most. And, a meal at Thalassa, Vagator, is what he strongly recommends. The panoramic view, the sumptuous meal and the ambience is worth an experience. 

Perfect solitude

Of the whole trip, the time at Ganapatipulé, Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, is what this gang loved the most. “The unexplored, stunning seaside at Ganapatipulé after the crowded Goan beaches was a treat to savour.” Short ride from Goa, this small town is an idyllic getaway that Harley riders suggest to those looking for solitude.

Well planned

Anyone who is looking for a long ride must have a proper itinerary in place, insists Navi. “To make the most of the long rides, proper rest is paramount.” To keep it comfortable, this gang kept their maximum travel up to 600 kilometres a day. They kept riding restricted to days and rested, rather partied, from sun down to sunrise! “The approach to halt where night falls isn’t the one that works in India. One must zero down the places to stay beforehand; book and reach in time, especially if you have women riders with you,” says Navi, who minutely planned the trip. “Make safety your first priority and you must know the roads you are planning to ride on.”

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