Rider Mania X - An Experience

What happens when 600 Thumping Bullets roar in unison? The heart skips a beat and in that one skipped beat, the soul goes through a serenity which even a thousand picturesque locations fail to give and mind perceives a beat which even thousand instruments together fail to provide.

Rider Mania is the biggest congregation of Royal Enfield riders in India. Some people call it crazy and some even call it funny, that people from all over the country ride on their bikes to this one place, every year just to meet others whom they have no idea about except that they all ride motorcycles from a same brand. Call it insane, call it mad, but you cannot deny the fact that it is the Brotherhood or maybe even a Cult.

So this year, Rider Mania was being organized by Inddie Thumpers from Bombay at Vikramgad, a village in laps of Shayadari mountains near Gujarat-Maharashtra border on the 23rd and 24th of January. We, the Firelords, decided to ride there and we were joined by Wanderlusts from Nagpur, Road Melters from Jamshedpur, some members of Eastern Bulls from Kolkata and few Inddie Thumpers for our ride from Pune to Vikramgad. We parked our 25 Royal Enfield motorcycles at Bund Garden road, and that itself was enough to raise curiosity among the people. Our ride started at around 1430hrs and we had planned to reached Vikramgad post-midnight, as that was when the event was suppose to start. The distance from Pune is not much, but we decided to take it easy and enjoy the journey.

After all the stuck-ups, photo sessions, wading through heavy traffic in Bombay, we reached NH4 at 2100hrs and decided to take a deserved break at one of the cool restaurants there. Apparently, the restaurant was having a ghazal night and the havoc we created there by dancing and drinking and singing birthday songs for fellow diners, lead to its end prematurely! But that was one evening when I got the actual taste of brotherhood and how all people, strangers, can enjoy to the fullest just anywhere and in any condition.

We reached Vikramgad well into the night. Some clubs had already arrived and many more were expected to come in the morning. We took our cottage and retired for night after long chit-chat session. After about an hours sleep, I got up and took a walk around the venue. It was a 'Nature Trails' resort, complete with modern facilities, yet in sync with nature. A hot tea and some music woke everybody up and here we were, at RIDER MANIA X. More clubs like NKEC from Hubli, Royal Beats from Delhi, Madras Bulls from Chennai, RTMC from Bangalore, V40, Mysore Bulls, Covai Thumpers, Ashwamegh, Roadshakers, etc. came in gradually. All the clubs came in thumping to their full prowess and creating a loud thumping sound, known only to the African and Indian jungles, which witness the occasional roar of Lions.

The day began with official unveiling of Rider Mania X, followed by handing of the kits and breakfast and beers and various competitions. By now there were around 600 Enfields parked together and I could feel a sense of belonging to a cult. The competitions started with Assembly Wars, where a team of five had to dismantle a bike, assemble it again and get its key and start it. It was followed by arm wrestling and stunts/freestyle wherein people showed they can do burnouts, willies, doughnuts on their Enfields. The evening began with a rock show. The first band was called 'Seher' which was nothing close to rock and performed pathetic and was booed down by the audience. Next band; nobody even bothered to know who they were and before the completed their first song, they were gone off stage. By that time almost everybody got bored of the un-happening rock night, but then 'Spiked Crib' took stage, and boy! Were they amazing. Death metal never sounded so symphonious.

So after a long day of beers and meeting people from across India with same passion, we called it a day.

Next morning I took a stroll through parking, and man! It was some picture. 600 Enfields parked together all around me! Amazing. The day began with dirt racing, wherein the competitors had to clock best time on one and half kilometer dirt track. Ashutosh and Sagar from my club took part, but both, unfortunately due to technical problems in the bikes couldn't complete. Ashutosh however made it to the final five before his bike broke down and he survived a high speed fall. The event went till late afternoon, after which I was too drained to do anything, so caught a short nap. After I woke up, I attended the moderators meet. Moderators meet is held between all club moderators, but as our club is small and closed knit, five of us attended the meet. Issues like how to carry on the event forward, money matters, etc were discussed. Also the venue of next Rider Mania was decided. Next year it will be held in Kolkata by the Eastern Bulls.

Modified bikes, Beer guzzling and bike Olympics were held in the evening which was followed by awards ceremony and DJ night. Some motorcycles were enhanced for optimum performance while some had cool cosmetic look. Some were replicas of the cafe racer bike while some made the loudest thump. We decided to leave early next morning so that we can reach Pune by afternoon. The ride back was smooth and nice and we reached Pune safe.

When I look back at the event, I ponder upon what connected each and every person there. How can a machine bring so many people together? How can people take weeks off from their work and family and ride to meet strangers thousands of miles away? What is it that calls for this craziness? Then, somewhere down within me, I get an answer. It is nothing but passion, pure and hot, untouched by any spec from the universe. A passion that brings people together. A passion that creates this brotherhood bond. And when i look inside me, I feel proud to be a part of this cult. To be an entity in this brotherhood. I feel proud to have it in me. I feel proud to have chosen this track. For once in my life, I feel passionate once again.

A Christmas weekend in Goa:

There are times when one feels cold and lost and cheerless at one moment, but the very next moment brings color, gladness and warmth. Like sleep in mother’s lap or a pat on the back by father or hot broth on a cold evening or the first cry of a new born. As soon as I put my foot on this coastal land of Goa, I was wrapped around in the warmth of early morning Sun and my nostrils smelled the sea breeze filling my lungs to satisfaction and I knew I felt home. Living all my life near coasts, the feeling of warm sea breeze brought such a gladness in me, which can only be defined by the parameters of profound peacefulness.

After a long, cold nights journey, Philip and I reached Mapusa and took a taxi to Arambol, a not-so-frequented beach in north of Goa. Now there are two ways to take pleasure in Goa; either visit as many beaches and go sightseeing like a been-there-seen-that tourist or go to one beach and explore all the insights life has to offer in complete calmness. We chose the latter. The forty-five minutes drive to Arambol was filled with scenic coastal beauty, which draws a person to itself like a flaming candle to a moth. On reaching Arambol, we went to our pre-booked huts, which are right on the beach, about 50 meters from the shore, where, if one steps out, he steps out in sand. We were asked to check-in at 10:00hrs, so we dumped our bags there and went for a stroll on the beach. As our stomachs started growling, we entered an eatery to grab some famous Goan food.

Having a beer the first thing in the morning sitting beside a shore watching the subtle waves dying on the sand made all the aches and sleeps lying in body to vanish and fill those gaps with calmness. Goa has this psychedelic peacefulness to it. After having a sumptuous breakfast, we checked in those huts and met our third friend Oliver there, who had come one day earlier. After freshening up, we dressed down to our swimming costumes and took shacks on the beach. There are three things without which one shouldn't even think of going to Goa: swimming costume, sunscreen and sunglasses. And this is all that will be required besides the bare basics. After this, the whole day pretty much passed by swimming in the ocean, tanning in sun, drinking chilled beers and having appetizing Goan food. Learning how to swim directly in an ocean is some way to learn swimming!

At night, walking on the shore, we landed in one restaurant which was playing psychedelic progressive trance and had a dance floor on which junkies danced their way to glory. Being a sucker for psychedelic music, I pulled Philip and Oliver in, and started dancing there. I must admit that I have never danced to so much peace in my life. It was like dancing to your favorite music with no one seeing under the light of stars. I got the high of my lifetime, which all spirits put together may not help me achieve.

The next morning started with a swim in the ocean, followed by filling breakfast and lying down in the sun on the sand. The afternoon started again with a swim in the ocean, chilled beers, delightful food and with a plan to visit the Mckenzie Saturday night market at Arapora, near Baga beach. In the evening, Philip and I spotted a kayak lying in one the shacks and decided to have some adventure. So we pulled out the kayak to the ocean and started peddling into the lashing waves. Now to a person who learnt swimming just one day before, kayaking into waves can be more nervy than adventure. But after the first fall, all the signs of nervousness disappear and one starts rowing with renewed strength. It was late evening and the sun was about to set in the horizon, so we kayaked far into the ocean, behind the waves to a point where the stillness of ocean kept the kayak afloat and we witnessed a blissful sunset. I wouldn't write any word describing it, because the best feelings on earth cannot be written on paper. All I know is, it was an enlightening experience of my life as we sailed into the night.

Mckenzie Saturday night market at Arapora is consider to be one of the fascinating places to visit in Goa, and as advised by many, Philip, Oliver and I decided to go visit it. After our kayaking session, we freshened up and left for Arapora, a small place near the famous Baga beach. This was the first time I stepped out of sand since the time I reached Arambol on previous morning! For a moment I felt as if I came to some other land leaving Goa behind!

The journey took about 50 minutes and the roads were zipped by the people on their rented scooters. Also due to the music festival 'Sunburn', which was to start the following day and Christmas weekend, the central part of Goa was thronged by people. The first step in the night market, and I was enveloped by the buzz. If we just go by the definition of market of being a meeting point of people, at a stated time and place, for the purpose of buying and selling goods, we wouldn't do justice to this night market. Phenomenal! People from all over the globe thronging under the carpet of lights, buying and selling the shiniest stuff available on planet at highly inflated prices. One can hear 20 different languages from all over the world. People dressed in complete pirate attire to some dressed still in their swimming costumes. Lines and lines of shops selling everything which you would just have imagined ever existed. All the colors possible on palette, woodwork of all deities of all religions, also, ironically, winter wear to the standards of Eskimos being sold in the warm climate there!

In the middle of the market is a huge open area where music concerts, fashion shows, talent shows are held. Besides it is the famous food aisle, which sells some very delicious food from around the world. Also there is a lake, beside which is the seating arrangement for people to eat. Eating different cuisines, listening to live music, besides a lake, with people of all races, under the stars creates one picture perfect scene. I gorged on some cheese laden German food with chilled beer.

The market had a majority of Russian tourists. If you ask how do I know this, well Philip and Oliver are from Switzerland and Germany respectively and they told me how to identify people belonging to different countries in Europe. Girls from Russia, Poland or northern Europe have shortest skirts. As one moves down south, the length of skirt increases. Germany, Switzerland, UK will see medium length skirts whereas Spain, France will see longer ones. Also the skin color turns from pale to reddish to bronze as one moves from north to south.

Back to Arambol after the awe-inspiring visit to the interesting night market, I just took a stroll on the beach and retired for the night.

The third day again started with a swim in the ocean, followed by opulent breakfast and lying under the cloudy sky of Goa. Oliver and Philip talked a lot about the details of their countries, which never make to any tourist guide book or newspapers. We had some very good cultural exchange talks through the afternoon. As the afternoon was coming to an end, we took one final swim in the seas of Goa. In the evening, after packing our luggage and checking-out, we decided to take a walk in the streets of Arambol to while away some time before departure. We entered a cafe, where an open music night was organized. Anybody could walk on the stage and play whatever he wishes to. These were the final moments of my Goa trip. Listening to beautiful strumming of an acoustic guitar, a gorgeous voice singing, sipping on my coffee with a perfectly grilled sandwich, sun setting into oblivion in the backdrop, my Goa trip wouldn't have ended in a better way.