Part 6 - Rider Mania Day # 2

Continued from Part 5 - Ooty climb & Rider Mania Day 1

Group ride @ 8:30 am, Be ready for this ride around Ooty, that was the motto when we went to sleep. But we had hardly slept for 4 hours when time was 8 am. By the time we managed to find us out of bed, it was 9.
Only crankie went for this ride.
One look through window of our room, and we stayed enjoying for some more time.




Got ready quickly and decided to join the group ride if can find them somewhere around. One more shot in front of the view from the resort.


This sure is a beautiful place.


Got out of the sterling resorts all geared up for the day ahead.


Got into our bulls and raced to the venue along with Raghu in our bulls, only to find that the group riding team was getting back to the main venue, joined them for atleast the last half a kilometer. It was an awesome sight, the whole of Ooty roads came to a standstill to allow this bunch of thumpers pass in unity. Never must have been Ooty being thumped so hard.
Just half a kilometer ride with the gang, but the experience was something to cherish.

At the entry point of the venue, back after the group ride



Once into the resorts parking lot, the madbulls - bullet club of chennai - burst crackers amidst the thump of the madbulls and the whole episode was really madbulletish and we all enjoyed.


Got a call from our rider pals that they are out in the Ooty town for a small trip around and are having breakfast now. Raghu and myself joined them for breakfast.
Parked our bulls near the hotel. The sky color was so pleasing to the eyes even from this point. Just see this snap


The sky upclose with a zoomed up shot from the above frame


After breakfast, decided to have ride around the Ooty town.
Ooty seems to have lost some of its charm owing to the density of buildings and the density of people around. Riding around Ooty is almost similar to riding through the dense traffic of any of the metros aroudn.
Went to the lakeside. This Ooty trademark train is still doing its duty


We all went out for this city ride

From left, crankie, myself, Doc and Raghu

My steed enjoying all the attention he is getting as well as the amount of work being done in the past 2 days and still raring to go.


Went inside the boatclub, and was sad to see this sight.See the vehicle density


Did some shopping from the vendors here and came back to Ooty town. See one snap taken from near the Ooty Bus stand.


It was already noon by this time, Raghu and myself decided to do some more of shopping before returning to the venue.

The sun eventhough shining brightly, did not have any impact owing to the cold climate there.


It was almost 2.30pm when we came back to the venue. The major competition had already started - "the Best Tech Modified bullet". We were stunned by the work done by some hardcore bullet maniacs. The lunch we had was just for a ritual, because we were already satisfied with the mean machines on display

A 1962 model beauty



The alcatraz



Another bull which was a strong contender for the tech mod challenge.


But after a round of questioning by the R&D chief of Castrol India who was the judge for the event, the winner was announced and we were overjoyed when one of the riders who registered on behalf of Silver bullets won the first prize. It was Anoop and the work on his super charged bull was done by Gopu, Who also rode to the event in his bull. Anoop and Gopu were friends of Balan sir who rode with him during his Leh trip last year.

The supercharged bull.



Twinspark, supercharger, monoshocks, reardisc brakes are some of the tech mods in this super charged bull.

There was this small boy who came along with his father for RM 2009, he was one of the attractions owing to the way he started his father's bull and revving it up.



Time was running away like a bullet when we were spending our time with the tech modded bullets and it was 5pm when we decided to have another round of ride together before the final party of the event kicks off.

We decided to have a photo shoot of our bulls on our way



That is Sanal on my bull


The riders for this short trip

Myself, Sanal, Doc, Anjath and twinspark

Our rides



We decided to proceed to "film shooting point", which is near a lake.

Reached the destination at about 5.45pm. There was a steep descent to reach the lake. After a round of discussions on whether to go down or not, finally decided to go down.

Started our stroll downwards between the trees.


Almost reached there


And once near the lake, it was a wonderful scene.


It would have been a great miss, had we decided not to stroll down.


It was getting darker, but could not stop clicking photos of this place where each view is picture perfect.




What if someone does a perfect jump. Sanals does the same here


The reflections of the trees on the still water and its vastness was the reason behind this place being so picturesque.


It was getting real dark by the time I clicked this picture.


It was almost 7pm when we strolled up the small hill and got into our bulls. Went straight to the resort where we stayed. Decided to pack our bags before we go for the dinner and party.

Reached the venue of the party by 8.30pm, It was time to bid goodbye to the new friends which we got during this event. It was about 9.00pm when people in our gang began restless since dinner was not served even then. We had plans for starting the ride early next morning. Even after some amount heated exchanges with the organisers dinner was still not served even by 10.00pm. So we decided to skip this ride back to our stay. Doc wanted to refill his stock of medicines, so he and balan sir went to town to find if they can find some medicines as well as some snacks for quenching our hunger. Rest of the gang rode back to our dwelling place.

Not many shops will be open at this time of the night. So we had to be content with the biscuits and bread which we had in stock. Meanwhile two of us was having some health problems. Doc gave them medicines.

We had a round of discussions on the plans for return ride. Our initial plan was to start the ride at 5.30 - 6.00 in the morning and reach tvm by 8pm or so. Since some of our members were having problem, they decided to sleep a little longer and start a little late. Raghu and myself had some engagements next day. Hence we had to start early. So finally we decided that we will ride in two batches, first batch will start at 6.00 and the second batch will start at 8.00am. After all these discussions on route plans and about the event, we all got into our beds by about 1am. It was quite an eventful day at Ooty with organisers finding it really hard to manage this big a crowd. Still I would say that they did a pretty decent job.

So it was time to dream about the ride tomorrow through the beautiful roads of gudalloor, nadukani and nilambur. Slowly we all switched to sleep mode.

Continued in Part 7 - The return ride


Topic index
Part 1 - The onward journey
Part 2 - Day 1 Continued: Thrissur - Palghat ride
Part 3- Palghat - Coimbatore : Day 2
Part 4- A Humane Gesture
Part 5- Coimbatore - Ooty climb & RiderMania Entry: Day 2
Part 6 - Events @ Rider Mania Day 3
Part 7- Return Ride: Day 4

Part 5: Coimbatore - Ooty Climb & Rider Mania Day 1

Continued from Part 4 - A human gesture

Good roads, early morning breeze, picturesque landscape, right mix of ingredients for a leisurely cruise atop our bulls and each one of us were enjoying this to the core. Once the Coimbatore bypass ended we had a small regrouping. We decided to delay our breakfast, since we already had a pretty good delay of 1 hour or so and decided to make maximum utilization of early morning climate. After the discussions we started off quickly without wasting time.

Here you can see a video of the thumpers getting into the road and zooming away after this regroup.
Click here to see the video

It was 10am when we reached Mettupalayam the last major junction before the Ooty climb starts. Decided to fill our tummy from a vegetarian restaurant.

Protectors of our CPU were resting on a table top, when we were enjoying the yummy yummy masala dosa & ghee roast.

By about 10.30 we were again on our steeds and marching ahead. The terrain slowly changed from the plains to slight curves and some ascent and descent. The roads were pretty well maintained and we kept on enjoying our cruise.
Another video of our cruise through this section.
Click here to watch this video

Soon the ghats arrived. Crankie was riding like a dream and the control he exhibits in the ghats are truely amazing, I just kept trailing him watching his approach in the curves and for overtaking big vehicles. Never does he overtakes on blind turns or does he overtake even if there is slightest of the doubt in judging the speed on the incoming traffic. Even with this cautious approach he was going pretty fast, a lesson of sorts in riding and I just enjoyed the way he was leaning with the vehicle while cornering. At times I felt like the man and machine was one integrated unit. I was enjoying watching this guy march ahead as much as enjoying the ride. We were so absorbed in the ride that photos soon dried out. It so happens that the twisties are sometimes so addictive that you keep going on and on without bothering about anything else but the ride.

As soon as we reached the entrance of Ooty crankie and myself stopped. Enquired about the position of others, they were some 5 minutes behind us since the twinspark brothers were little slow to climb owing to the weight of two human bodies in a single steed and others were keen not to leave them behind. Meanwhile crankie made a call to our group members from Bangalore who rode from Bangalore to Ooty. They told that they were already waiting for us near the Ooty lake. Two Silver Bullets newbies, anjath and sanal who came from calicut also were with the Bangy guys.
Crankie and myself decided to proceed to the Ooty lake where they were waiting. Updated our status to the rest of the gang and we proceeded to Ooty lake. Aha I'm again at Ooty after a gap of 17 years, last time being the school tour when I was in tenth grade and this time a mode of transport which I never expected that I will use to reach a destination so far away from my home.
Somehow managed to miss the Bangy guys and rode till the end of the lake. By this time rest of the gang had reached Ooty and they met the Bangy guys. Soon we heard the thump of a mega silencer and saw JSR - a member of Bangalore Silver Bullets chapter, coming to us in his 500cc monster. We exchanged greetings and soon we joined other guys who were waiting for us.

The rides of JSR, Anjath and Sanal.

We all got ready for the group ride to the RM 09 venue. JSR was leading us. We were having 17 members in the gang of silver bullets. Slowly but steadily we proceeded to the sterling resorts where the event was arranged. People were waving to us whenever they saw us and we felt as if the whole of Ooty is playing hosts to us and a sense of pride was flowing right through our minds. Afterall who could stop gazing at the sight of 17 mighty bulls thumping together through these ghats.

We neared the final ascent towards the entry to the venue. Revved the throttle hard and we were climbing up in style, the decibel levels increased and so was the adrenalin, the final turn and we are into the venue.

Wow Amazing, the sight which we saw there is something which we will never forget for a life time. About 400 bulls were parked there...The people already present there greeted us by cheering, by revving there machines and by honking..

We parked our bulls and quickly went to the registration desk where there was a long queue. The participation was more than what the organisers - the RTMC bangalore - expected, coz the registration officials seemed not able to handle this much of a rush. But waiting there at the desk yielded another good thing for us, we could be part of the excitement of the other groups which came afterwards, we cheered and encouraged the groups coming in each time.

The indie thumpers gang mumbai was a treat to watch, they played their anthem using the throttle. Something which we thoroughly enjoyed. All of the indie thumpers looked like hardcore bikers. Watch there anthem here. Can you identify what they are singing.
Click here to watch the video clip
They are singing, "I Love Bullet", trrr...trrr... trtrtr.

Then came the madbulls. Their entry was also grand with the number of riders far outnumbering other groups.

We got ourselves registered and got the keys as well by about 2pm. Decided to go to the room, freshen up and then return to the venue. We got accommodation in another hotel of the same group. We went to that resort in transportation arranged by the organisers. The organisers had so arranged that club members from the same club got accommodation in the same resort. Soon we were back at the venue after a stint of freshning up exercise. .. Decided to have lunch. When we were having lunch We could hear announcemnents of some kind of competition. It was slow bike race, Enjoyed thier spirits for some 30 odd minutes.
We enjoyed more carefully observing each of the bulls present in the parking lot, the Classic ones, the standard 350s, the AVLs, the CI 500s, the AVL 500s, beauties which had a story or two to tell dating back two to three decades, the neatly modded bulls, the supercharged bulls and a lot more.

After having a cup of tea by 5pm, We went back to our room, this time in our bulls. The parking lot of our resort (resort No. 2) also was full of bulls.

We had a quick nap and decided to return to the venue by when it was 7.45 pm at night.
Doc posing at the parking lot of the resort where we stayed.



Ooty was starting to show its character. The temperatures were already in the single digit zone and we could feel really feel the coldness even with all this heavy riding gear.

Doc and Anjath on his modded Thunderbird before starting to the main venue.



By the time we reached the main venue, the party was just beginning in the big hall of the resort. After some customary speeches the DJ took over and people seemed to enjoy the party. Had dinner after the party. Got a lot of new friends, some of them were riding all the way down from Nepal, some from north eastern part of the country, some people came with their better halves, some ladies who were also hard core riders were also present, everybody shared the same passion. By about 11 pm bid adieu to the main venue. Doc and myself got into our bulls and decided to take a small round trip around Ooty before we proceed to our stay. Ooty was freezing at night. This one short ride at this time of night and with our body shivering will be remembered by all. The air frills of my riding gloves were felt for the first time since I could feel the cold air hitting my fingers, I wished if I could close those frills. After a trip around which lasted 30 minutes or so we reached back our resort.
Parked our bulls and it was time to bid adieu to day 1 at RM 2009.

A night shot at parking lot


Went back to our rooms. Soon our Doc has to be in to the thick of the action owing to ill health of Akhil. He seemed to have lost himself in the excitement and ate without his stomach in mind, and his body responded by quickly ejecting all the unwanted food in one go. Raghu also was having a throat infection, but it was not so severe. After another round of discussions we all went to bed by about 1pm. A day which started at Palghat, and after a lot of events we let our drained out bodies to take some rest and recharge for the events on the second day of Rider Mania 2009

Continued in Part 6 - Rider Mania Day # 2

Topic index
Part 1 - The onward journey
Part 2 - Day 1 Continued: Thrissur - Palghat ride
Part 3- Palghat - Coimbatore : Day 2
Part 4- A Humane Gesture
Part 5- Coimbatore - Ooty climb & RiderMania Entry: Day 2
Part 6 - Events @ Rider Mania Day 3
Part 7- Return Ride: Day 4

Rider Mania 2009 - Part 1 - The Onward Journey

Do we ride to earn for a living?
Do we ride to reach some place urgently?
Do we ride because we don't have any other mode of transport to rely upon?
Do we ride to show of our riding skills?
Do we ride to show of our gleaming and modded riding machines?

NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO...........

Whatever questions you ask the answer is NO.

They why do we ride?

To find an answer is difficult. What will it be like, if more than 500 such people who don't know why they ride, and who have nothing in common (color, caste creed, qualification, job) except their passion for the riding on the legendary royal enfield, joins together.

RIDER MANIA WILL HAPPEN..

Rider mania, the annual get together of hard core riders of the legendary BULLS was being called for and we the riders of Silver Bullets Kerala Chapter promptly responded, coz it sure provides a quench to ride thirsty minds and this time it was happening in a destination which is reachable in a one day ride.

The planning began much early, the mail group of silver bulleetters was flooded with ride plans, preparations etc which itself served as a good appetizer for the ensuing ride to Ooty.

After all the bookings, cancellations, deliberations, plans 7 riders turned for the D Day.
Bala, Raghu, Anil, Doc, Crankie, Akhi and Myself. Anil will be joining us only from Ernakulam.

Only sore point being our Moderator with his Ironbull could not join since he was recovering from an accident.

The upward route plan was
Day 1 - Trivandrum - Quilon - Allappuzha - Ernakulam - Thrissur - Palghat.
Day 2 - Coimbatore, mettupalayam Ooty
Day 3 - Spend at Ooty
Day 4 - Ride back via, Gudalloor, Nilambur, Pattambi, Vadakkanchery, Thrissur, Ernakulam, Alappuzha, Quilon and Trivandrum

Everything set and at sharp 5.30 all the 6 riders were at Pongummood junction which was the slated start up point.

Off we go with all our headlights turned on and the sound of a group of thumps in harmony must have ensured an early morning wake up for those poor souls dwelling by the side of NH 47.

By 6:30, we reached Neendakara Bridge just after Kollam.

First stop, the riding jackets reflecting the camera flash, just like the way they reflect from the headlights of the oncoming traffic.

After 10 minutes we started again, but I felt like I was not able to control my bull. It was swaying towards side, I stopped to check my back tyre. Phew, it has gone flat.

Now in a group ride flat tyre means, time for another regroup and a mini meet until the issue is resolved. Raghu and Crankie went in search for a tyre repair guy and luckily they got hold of one in the next junction, meanwhile Bala, Akhi and myself waited there. Soon the tyre wallah arrived and normalcy was restored. It was a very good crack and he had to patch with another rubber inside.

After a good round of discussions about travelling, especially about Bala's long lonely stints in his life which he describes so excitingly and could generate keen interest in the listeners, we were off by about 8 am, a good one hour lost because of the tyre episode.

It was already time for breakfast and we found that we will not be able to reach Alappuzha for having breakfast, so decided to stop at Motel Aaram, Kayamkulam, The lead signalled for a stop and all the riders duly obliged except Doc, who made missing regroup points a habit of sorts.

Our steeds resting after a the short journey so far and eager to do more..


All people in the hotel were quite amused at the sight of some guys in there riding attires, coming inside in bulls which is loaded with heavy luggage, a sight which is not so common in this side of the country and at times it seemed as if they were suspecting us to be some goons. We were enjoying their admiring glances along with a little bit annoyance coz our every move were being watched upon. Meanwhile Doc contacted and we suggested him to take breakfast from the place where he has now reached, which was a good 20 kms away from where we were.

After a relatively long breakfast we started at 9.45. Doc joined us from Harippad and from there on we were on a song, the lead and tail had switched on the lights, the lead to alert the oncoming traffic and the tail for us to identify him from other vehicles through our rear view mirror. All the riders were riding in such a way that the lead ensures that the tail is always visible in his rear view mirror, and the tail ensures that no other rider in between gets behind him.

Soon the NH 47 Four lane road arrived and being a working day and the morning rush subsided means we could get a fairly traffic free one way stretch and the twistters kept under our right hand suddenly seemed to be reaching its limits more frequently and at times some the guys went ahead of the lead to quench their rip thirstiness, after which they will slow down to retain their positions.

By about 11:45, we reached the Aroor junction from where the Ernakulam bypass starts. Decided to have an extended break here as Anil could join us only by 1.30 pm or so. Found out a nice space on the left side of the road, Parked our bulls and got out of our Riding gear, enjoyed another session of discussions and slowly all the riders were getting mixed more and more eventhough they are not coworkers or had been friends earlier, which happens only due to the common passion for riding.

After a 1hr break, we started off to Ernakulam. Did a small bit of shopping (everything for riding), Akhi left to collect his cramster luggage carriers, bala got his battery checked. We got into a hotel after Edappally at 2pm, where Anil was waiting for us. We had lunch from this hotel, and it was time to leave for another round of thumping. But Akhi did not join us in time. After waiting for 30 minutes we decided to split the group, the first group will start riding, the second group will ride with Akhi and will join us in the next regroup point which is Mannuthi.

Bala, Raghu, Doc and Myself started our journey at 3:00pm and by the time we were approaching Angamaly we got a message that Anil and crankie has started along with Akhi. It was a sort of very busy traffic in the stretch between Angamaly and thrissur, which resulted in us not able to keep track of each other. After a sort of solo rides, we reached Mannuthy at 4:30pm, the place where we have to take right towards Palaghat.

Parked our bulls near a nursery and had a cup of refreshing tea, after a really tiring leg of journey from Ernakulam to this point.


We were expecting the second group to join us within 30 minutes. But even after waiting for 45 minutes they did not turn up. We called them up and they were not picking up their phone. We smelt something fishy here.

Topic index
Part 1 - The onward journey
Part 2 - Day 1 Continued: Thrissur - Palghat ride
Part 3- Palghat - Coimbatore : Day 2
Part 4- A Humane Gesture
Part 5- Coimbatore - Ooty climb & RiderMania Entry: Day 2
Part 6 - Events @ Rider Mania Day 3
Part 7- Return Ride: Day 4