ADVENTURE & WILDLIFE
4. Proper Gear: I can go on and on about this. Helmets are ABSOLUTELY INDISPENSABLE- for both the rider and the pillion. If the number of dead bodies I have seen on the highway WITHOUT HELMETS are anything to go by. On the contrary, I am yet to see a dead body with the helmet on ….. Please don’ t ignore this …… EVER. Another important item is your safety gear- armoured jacket and gloves. Many people don’ t opt for this because they are a bit on the expensive side and don’ t make much sense if you are not riding regularly. In its defence, I would say that it brings a lot of peace of mind, sense of security and confidence to me while riding, and they are pretty comfortable as well. There are many options available in the market at many price points. I consider it an extremely wise investment.
Same goes for your luggage. Lots of saddlebags and tank bags, etc. are available at quite a few price points. Choose wisely. It helps if everything is waterproof. However, a cheaper alternative is to use XL size garbage bags to pack your things inside a saddlebag or backpack. I don’ t think I need to elaborate on shoes or other safety equipment- Need comes before style.
5. Eat Smart and Hydrate Smart: Essentially, You don’ t want a battle with the post lunch food coma on a bike, so you need to think differently about what you’ re eating when you’ re riding. The thumb rule is to, of course, eat freshly cooked food and avoid raw food like salads, juices or anything raw on their own. I have felt that It’ s pretty easy to keep your stomach in control and yet satisfy your gastronomical inquisitiveness while on the road. It’ d be a shame to be travelling in India and not doing that. Soak yourself and bask in the glory of the local cuisine and the desi street food( don’ t listen to anybody who says anything against this, but make your own judgement about hygiene). You burn calories on the bike so you need to replenish them as well. You need the strength. Just let yourself go at the nearest dhaba, dosa joint, push carts, langar etc. and let the gastronomical discoveries of your motherland handle the rest for you. We don’ t travel to be safe. We travel to expand our horizons, and food is an extremely important horizon. Don’ t overeat but eat sufficient and try to get a good night’ s rest at the end of the day.
Let’ s face it- We hardly ever consciously drink sufficient water even on an everyday basis. Well, this is a mistake you simply cannot afford to make on a motorcycle. Carry enough water with you- summer, winter or rains it doesn’ t matter. Dehydration, even in its early stages induces fatigue and that in turn leads to a plethora of things including headache, nausea and a burning stomach. There’ s no set rules on how much water to consume but I have felt that a litre every one and a half hours sounds and feels right. Keep drinking coconut water or sugar-cane juice as well at regular intervals when you find someone selling them and your ride will be a breeze.
Vol 1 | Issue 5-6 | Nov 16- Jan 17 115