road story of january 2020
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road story of Anam Hashim
2015 was the year, where I
conquered Khardung La on TVS
Scooty zest 110cc; and which was
recorded by India Books Record as
the "First Lady ever rode to
Khardung La on a 110cc Scooty.
I still remember when TVS
approached me to ride Khardung
La on their bike, without even
thinking twice I took it up having an
impression of riding a motorcycle to
Khardung La. Still, to my surprise
one week before the ride; TVS sent
me a Scooty 110cc with a letter that
I will be riding SOLO on this Scooty
to Khardung La, and "If I achieve it,
then I will become the first lady
rider ever in the country (India) who
would have done it."
My friends laughed at me when I
shared this to them and said this
scooty won't survive in the
Himalayas, and if at all it managed it
somehow, then you would not
survive.
Riding to the highest motorable
road in the world (18,300 ft) was not
a joke, and big bikes like Royal
Enfield's and Harley's drops off the
thump in the lack of oxygen then
how this scooty would be surviving
and that too with you?
I told myself that riding to
Khardung La is every riders' dream,
and mostly all the rider who ride
bullet, but this is the one time
opportunity to prove that Spiti-
Ladakh is not just for the bullet
riders.
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And I made up my mind to ride on it,
unaware of the challenges which
were waiting for me.
I began the ride from Jammu; this
was the first time that I was riding to
these far on a different terrain and
that too on a Himalayan range. It was
a different experience than a stunt
riding. Though TVS Scooty was very
handy and comfortable with
excellent suspensions but it was
challenging.
Ride went smooth initially and I was
like why people say riding to
Khardung La is tough? But the real
challenge came after when I crossed
Kargil from where roads were
deteriorated and real off roads began,
and weather started to show it's
colour.
Both me and my scooty were light
and cold winds of Himalaya were
taking advantage of our lightness.
And at one place the winds had
become so strong that I felt that
these winds will blow me away with
my scooty, and I had to stop.
My hands were numb and due to lack
of oxygen I was breathless; roads
were so deteriorated with the water
stream that it was becoming difficult
to keep a balance, but then TVS back
up team came to my rescue.
It was terrible at that particular
moment, and thought to giving up
but then again I told myself to
continue, so took a quick tea break
and started riding.
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