Total Bikes – 21 (9 clubbers and 12 newbies)

Started from townhall @ 6.50am and headed straight to Kadu Mane for breakfast after a brief halt for fuel. After the usual plate idli, vada and coffee, we headed straight to the reservoir. The reservoir and the surrounding areas are very picturesque but nothing remarkable to hold attention for long. And the water was quite dried up. The storks from Kokkarebellur (who were here last time around) have also long gone to Siberia, I guess.

After parking our bikes near the reservoir (no shade anywhere around, we were right under the harsh sun), we quickly got on to the intro session. Three of the newbies stood out – two of them riding 1966 and 1975 models and a German gentleman whose been riding for 46 years. The person riding the 1975 model was honest enough to admit that except for the chassis and the number plate everything was done up at Mehboob Garage. With the intro over, it was time for chit chat and photography. The kiddos (Oily Knickers, Lamp and Side-dish Bhelpuri) got into the usual RTMC leg pulling and banter. A couple of newbies were SLR types and got on with their usual business. Subin proudly posed with his brand new 500 and busied himself with clicking his baby. And then there was ‘Bikini’ Ady. Now what can I say about him. He had his pictures clicked in any which way possible. Ady seated on his bike, Ady standing on the foot pegs, Ady grinning while standing, Ady with his hair tied, Ady with his locks unlocked. He even tried to emulate the Indian Army contingent in the Republic Day parade by having four others hanging on the bike while he rode.

With the heat beating down, we decided to turn back and quickly headed to Bangalore. By noon we entered the city and I guess everybody would have reached home in time for lunch.

It was a learning experience for me from the ride perspective. Till now, whatever rides I’ve done with the club, I made sure that I was riding somewhere securely in the centre of the group and used to feel irritated if the lead/point missed a turn or overshot a meeting spot. But this time it was different. I was the ‘point’ both ways and since except for me and Vijay, nobody knew the place, I felt a certain amount of responsibility on me. Not that it was a difficult destination to reach. There were other aspects as well. Like keeping the group together, not over speeding, making sure the new comers are comfortable and do not attempt anything crazy etc. So, just a note of appreciation to the regular set of guys who take the initiative to organize (irrespective of long or short rides) to keep up the great work!

Cheers,

Unhygienix aka Sriram

Pictures on Picasa. Courtesy: Kishore Dumblekar

Pictures on Flickr Courtesy: Subin

Pictures on Flickr Courtesy: Ady

Pictures on Picasa Courtesy: Dinesh Zale

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