Why We Ride? And Why Should You Too?

Pic 1: Besides River Byas Mandi, Himachal
(Date on the pic is wrong actual date was June 2017, forgot to set the date right before snapping)

I have always been fond of being out there, one with nature. I am especially fond of walking and cycling. But living in Delhi, where you can walk or cycle only in limited spaces like community parks, it's difficult to find the variety I seek, unless I can venture out about 50KMs or more. Thus, the solution came in the form of a motorbike.

I had been to just four metro cities until June 2015, mostly on work-related visits. It all changed on the fateful day in 2015 when I put my hands on Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350. Since then, I have covered more than 70,000 KMs on two wheels covering more than 25 cities, and numerous towns (not including office travels), and have no plans to stop anytime soon.

But why? Why am I riding so much? What motivates me to go on, especially when most of these trips have been solo?

I have been thinking too, and since I also interacted with loads of other riders, I realised a few things that hold true for almost everyone who loves to ride. Although, many of these will not be limited to me, riders, or Royal Enfield owners, or tourers in that sense, but even those, who love to go around in whatever vehicle they get their hands on.

Here's what I figured is keeping us moving once in a while:

Pic 2: On the Road Somewhere 

1. Focus Away from the Regular

We are living a life of expectations, responsibilities, duties, and boundaries. Many of us doing things we wouldn't do if we had a choice. Many of us involved in things which are taxing rather than motivating, because that is not what we love to do or simply need a break from it.

Riding offers this break, where you can disconnect from the regular and be one with yourself. The focus is an inherent need of riding. When you ride through the highways never seen before, you end up focusing on your surroundings, being aware of things more than a few feet away.

In short, you end up being one with your environment; i.e. bike, road, and the natural setting. There is nothing as relaxing as being in the moment, without a worry of the future or regrets of the past, without a judgment, without the stress of the outcome.

It's surprising, really, how quickly your batteries recharge, and you can feel on top of the world after riding for a while.

Pic 3: This is Leh, I'm heading to a small village on the outskirts
(Date is wrong again, this was in September 2017)

2. The Feeling of Freedom & Power

When you ride a bike made to munch highways and close the distances between destinations, there's nothing that feels more powerful. This ability is somewhat superhuman, to be able to go anywhere, to stop anywhere and admire the scenery and observe the unique surroundings.

I remember myself singing (basically screaming) 'this is freedom' inside my helmet, knowing full well that no one can hear me on an empty highway. Why? It was so liberating being on the move.

Nothings offers you as much control of the situation as a bike, maybe a convertible sports car can land close, though how many of us can afford that. In a car, this freedom becomes luxury, unplanned stops taxing, driving in the rain is suffocating.

Get a bike and you know no bounds. Some even go on to say that, if you haven't ridden in the rain, you are yet to become a rider. Such is the charisma of motorbikes. Could it be because our minds are still in the middle ages, riding horses? Possibly, but with the advent of motorbikes, this is not improving anytime soon.

Pic 4: Met this solo rider from Mumbai. We both were en route to Leh. His bike got punctured (it still is) and he seems to be ready for Halo insertion into the Ground Zero.
(September 2017)

3.  Biking is Healthy

Well! this could be assumed overstatement, but I have proof. I am the proof of the concept. When on a tour, what I eat, when I eat, as much I eat, is far less, far more energetic, and far healthier than what I'm mostly eating sitting at home.

And it's not just with me. Go anywhere, meet any rider who loves to hit the road for the fun of it, and you will find them skinny fit as a breadstick. Of course, there are exceptions, the health is not a coincident though.

Riding bike is not a lazy business, your muscles must work. Most of the times we keep on running even on an empty stomach. Why? Because we just want to be somewhere but here, or maybe the food joint does not look good enough, or maybe we just don't want to stop yet.

I know, when I'm riding and I see a name on the board, 'Una 250 KMs,' all I want to do is to make my next stop at Una, 250 KMs later. While coming back home, all I want is to reach as early in the night as possible, to catch the dinner and sleep like a fallen tree for the rest of the night.

Often, the ass will start to hurt so much that even a red light stop seems painful. But in the end, it all just vanishes and leaves a feeling of being alive, few days and a few kilometres more.

I think that positive feeling, consistent muscle and brain activity, and eating only when terribly hungry helps maintain a healthy BMI for riders.

Pic 5: Met these Guys for the First Time in my life, have not seen them since, but we all rode to our destinations in the rain, two of us on the left on RE Thunderbirds, and the two on the right rode their Classic 350

4. Share the Spoils of the Road

When we are on the road, all our pride and shame take the backseat. We become part of the reality as much as everything else around, and the best part is the opportunity to share the feeling with fellow riders. We make friends meet strangers as if we have known each other for years, and share the bond called the road.

Anything can happen on the road. The fears, the joys, and the thrills are shared by everyone who has travelled that road. And no matter where you are coming from, you will always have these talking points when you meet a fellow rider, anywhere on or off the road.

Such is the bond shared by riders across the world, that all your motorbike becomes the badge of membership to the group. Even the respect and regard in the community is through the ODO. Yes, your bike carries your certificate of graduation. 

The higher the KMs numbers on your ODO, the higher your position and respect will be in the community.

Still, wondering why we ride? Perhaps I missed a lot of other points. Leave your comments and help me recall. Happy riding!