ISSUE 11 | NOVEMBER 2019
BIKERS CLUB | MAGAZINE | PAGE 21
only those who break rules. If you are a
disciplined rider or driver, strict rules does
not affect you. Eg. you are not scared of
being hung by your neck if you have not
committed a murder.
SR: Riding is an expensive passion. While
bike and gears are one-time expenditure,
fuel and night stays are major recurring
expenditure. One has to plan and save for
a long ride to make it happen. Getting
sponsorship is definitely difficult.
bikes. Today women are also in
profession of bike repairs. I do not
advocate LDR for reasons mentioned
earlier.
BC: What do you prefer SOLO ride or a
GROUP ride? Why?
SR: I mostly ride solo. It helps me ride as
per my ride plan. The bike, the earth, wind
BC: Riding is a risky passion, what do you and beauty are my company. Besides I
want to say about safety measures?
have time for pursuing my PSR. Group
SR: Riding is a risky passion. There is lots riding has it's own advantages. Group of
to learn in handling the bike in different
likeminded riders with a mutually worked
circumstances. Starting the bike, putting
out ride plan is the best.
it on gear and moving is not complete
riding. There is no short cut for a biker
BC: Would you ride a different type of bike,
from equipping one's self with good riding i.e. Cruiser if you have a Sport bike or
gears. Particularly for those into racing,
Sport bike if you have a Cruiser?
riding to difficult terrains and stunt riding SR: I prefer to ride a cruiser. My choice
where a fall is imminent or most likely.
revolves around my seating posture being
Bikers must avoid cheap riding gears
comfortable to my knees. Able to gear
available in the market. Safety gears are
shifting easily is my key requirement.
meant to save you from an impact, be it
helmet, gloves, boots, pants and jacket.
BC: If you have to pick one protective gear
Remember that a fall from a bike results in before hitting on the road, what would it
a heavy impact and your gears must be
be? Jacket, Helmet or Glove?
able to take the impact without injuring
SR: First always is the Helmet.
you.
BC: What your family feels when you are
on a long-distance ride? Especially when
you are not reachable?
SR: I tell them "NO News is Good News"
and not to take tension if I am out of
communication. They are also not the
ones who call me when I am on rides. It's
my duty to call or leave a message. BC:
Does your family support your riding
passion?SR: Fully. I would not have
achieved what I have today without the
whole hearted support of my family.
BC: Do you think riding is an expensive
passion and there are very less bikers
who get sponsorships for their rides?
BC: What is your dream bike and or a next
bike?
SR: I longed having the Ducati Scrambler
and I got one few months back.
BC: Do you think riding motorcycle brings
fame?
SR: Popularity I would say.
BC: What's your point of view on breaking
rules in riding or about disciplinary riding?
SR: A good biker will never break rules
whether it is rules of the road or rules of
riding. It's one's ride discipline which
makes one stand out as a biker. I
appreciate that strict rules framed by our
government recently. Heavy fines affect
BC: Do you think riding motorcycle has an
advantage over car commuters?
SR: It's an individual choice. Given a
choice, I would like to ride my bike rather
than drive a car. Yes, a car may save you
from the sun, rain, cold, heat etc. But
being well equipped on the bike reduces
the effect and is far more fun. Besides you
are more clung to nature to enjoy the
pleasure of biking.
BC: What advice do you wish you knew,
when you first started riding?
SR: I was lucky. The Army school bus
driver in Chheoki, Prayagraj named Lance
Naik Sharma taught me the rules of the
road as I always seated myself in the co-
drivers seat on the way to school and
back. I wish I knew where he was from.
Could have biked to pay my respect to
him. I consider him as my GURU.
On my ride from Prayagraj to Kolkata when
I reached my aunt's house my cousins
were praising me. Elated and as I climbed
the stairs to the verandah my father told
me, "Always ride carefully." A young
officer confidently replied, "Yes daddy, I
always ride carefully." What he told me
then was a big lesson. "You may be riding
carefully, but when the other person riding
or driving carelessly on the road bangs
into you and your bike, your bike will be
damaged, you will get injured and you will
not be able to ride till you are healed. Be
careful of them." That was another GURU
MANTRA.
BC: Regarding those who don't practice
ATGATT (ALL THE GEARS ALL THE TIME),
how do you feel about them? Do you
encourage it?
SR: ATGATT is a must when on rides, on
the racing circuit and while doing stunts.
Certainly, NO compromise on that. On
daily routine a helmet and shoes are a
must on a bike.