START ROLLING NOW!: 2013

My life saver...

All began with this wonderful bike which introduced me to the world of healthy life.

Now started dreaming about of 300 and 400BRM's , MTB Himalayas, Tour of nilgiris :-).

Even if the BRM's, MTB Himalayas, TFN etc remains as dreams for ever. I am sure i am not going to give up cycling till my health conditions allow. Hope i have many more cycling years ahead.

MY LIFE SAVER. My Sweet "Schwinn frontier Comp"

ROLL IN through the village roads of cochin.

The real thrill of cycling was the regular rides which covered almost all the village roads on outskirts of cochin organized & leaded by Shagzil khan & Abraham Clancy and the stunning images we get as a reward for the ride by our fellow "specialized" rider Krishna Kumar aka KK (our official photographer) . Here are some images by KK. I can only dream of taking pictures like these.

The Kadmaprayar Ride ( Photos by krishna kumar)

Trip to very scenic kadamprayar kizhakkamabalam

A bike , A boat and a Ship. What a shot by KK

The Riders (Tony,Danu, Sreeganesh, Fahad, Hari, Dinkar,KK,Ramzan, Clancy, Anoop & shagzil behind the camera)

Near Kadmaprayar

First Off road attempt for me :-)

Near Kadmaprayar An excellent wide angle pic by KK capturing the mood

After the killer climb at Edachira near inforpark kakkanad

Century Ride (Bhoothathan kettu)

A century ride that's the dream a every amateur, hobbyist cyclist. I too started dreaming of a century ride. And one fine day an event get posted in CBC inviting to attempt the first century ride of CBC. gaining confidence from previous 70kms ride with Vinu Mathew decide to join the ride. But everyone completed the century. Unfortunately i cant. I got 2 punctures back to back and the tire of schwinn was not in a condition to continue the ride. I returned in car with shuhaib after completing one way. But i enjoyed this ride to the core. The ride till bhoothathankettu was through the internal roads. Some picture from the ride.

Starting point

With a young rider enroute

An innovative idea by shagzil khan to capture the pics on the way.

Some serious discussions going on

On the way

Shagzil Khan - the official organizer of CBC

Paul & Pradeep. When these riders are along they motivate us like anything and make you think big

Clancy & Shagzil

On the way

Dinkar "the rare" the only rodie incbc

After the breakfast i got one more puncture & decided to quit because of the bad shape of my tire. At that time shuhaib came to visit us on route on his Car. For me and my Schwinn it was a comfortable trip back home but my co-riders were beating the heat and enjoying the ride. Here are the pictures.

KK riding with his DSLR and hydration bag

Abraham Clancy daring to challenge a roadie

Head to head...

Yes Clancy did it.

Now Dinkars turn for the revenge

Did it :-)

Clancy

Flying Din

An amazing ride to Kothad, Kadamakkudy islands Cochin ( Pictures by Krishna Kumar )

The amazing Backwaters & Pokkali fields of Kadamakkudy on background

Crossing the ferry

Party time!

And Yes my dream of a century ride remained as a dream till the training for brevet. "Brevet" That will be my next post. Even if i was not able to complete the century ride, got enough confidence and I upgraded to a trek 4300. But my first bike Schwinn frontier comp. that's a super awesome bike at a reasonable price. In my opinion best bike for a beginner.

Let me start with a Quote which i think one of the best ever i heard

Four wheels move the body, two wheels move the soul

This is the first time i am trying to put up something in my mind for a long time.

As i am not good in writing this blog will mostly have pictures and some descriptions.

My first love

Suzuki Shogun "The boss"

Purchased this beauty on 1995. My brother was the owner but i am the one who used it most. I have done almost all blasts in this bike. A lot of memories bounded to this bike. It was a power machine. It goes like a dream. And once you flip the throttle and revv up the rpm, the real beast inside wakes up. Literally no other 100CC bikes on roads that time comes anywhere near a shogun. Only comparable machine is the ever reliable Yamaha RX-100/135/RXZ which is my next affair. But one can really feel the power delivery on high speeds than a RX 100

But the high maintenance costs and nonavailability of spare parts forced me to part with my first love after a long term relation of 11 years.

The Legend

After shogun, brought a Yamaha Libero and rode it for 3 years. But once you become a two stroke lover then will always be a two stroker. Once started riding the yamaha libero a 100cc 4 stroke mileage oriented motorbike from yamaha, the desire for a two stroke machine ran always in the mind. And at last ended up in buying a used but almost new 6 month RX 135 4 speed.

This bike is cute little, peppy machine with a breath taking initial pickup. And if retuned and powered it can create wonders which it always proved. And what to say, this was the most reliable and easy to maintain bike i have ever used.

The Ecstasy "My dream" the mighty RD

Even though I never owned one, I am lucky enough to ride this wonderful machines ever on Indian roads If shogun is the Boss this is "The emperor". A 32 BHP, 350 CC,2 Stroke, twin cylinder, 6 speed high torque machine which ruled the roads since 70's

My friend AMAR PRADEEP's RD 350 in stock condition, it even had a original fairing. Have Ridden this few times

The Power Factory

My friend Adv. PRABHU VIJAYAKUMAR's RD 350 which he named as Nosferatu

The "R1 Pillion ride" the ride of life time

One fine day my friend PRABHU VIJAYAKUMAR rang me and asked something which I could not believe. The question was if i am free i can accompany him for a ride and that too with a "YAMAHA R1" And i got a pillion ride on this SBK. And Ohhh man till that time i have only heard and read about "adrenaline rush". Believe me the ride on a superbike is really something words cant explain. Even if i don't want to own one, i dream of riding a superbike some day.

The accident

On 2008 march I met with a deadly crash which broke my Pelvic bone, Right Knee, Right shoulder and right hand. The injury to pelvic bone was serious. I was admitted at hospital for 25 days after two surgeries. Continued by 3 months rest at home including Wheelchair, Walker and Hand creches. That was the end of first half of my affairs with these beauties. And eventually sold of my beloved RX135 with a heavy heart deciding i would never ever ride a two wheeler again in my life. Still have a metal plate screwed to my pelvic bones. "Metal Inside , mental outside"

Heart beats again...

And after the accident recovery, began to use my car for regular commutes and started walking for short distances. And as a rider I find some lame excuses and convinced myself and my folks that I am need of no nonsense short distance commuter which is easy to use. As I haven't recovered fully from the accident. the best choice in front of me was the "Activa". Bought it on 2009

Episode 2 (Reclaim your Life with Bikes - Not motor Bikes)

A lot of Drinks, Beer & junk foods was making me obese day by day and tried a lot of things to keep my weight down. Gym, Yoga, Jogging everything failed miserably. One morning i was waiting for my turn at AIMS to donate blood. And after filling the forms one nursing staff came and ask me to stand on the weighing machine. I was not noticing the reading on the machine and when i just glanced at the weight she had noted. i was shocked. She wrote "100". "What the hell!" And next was my real Shock " The reading was really 100". I realized that i am weighing 100kg. And just remembered i was struggling to tie my shoe lace a day before because of my Tummy.

And day by day situation was getting worse ,i developed high BP. Days passed and i was thinking of starting something. And after a lot of research ended up in a decision which i feel the best decision i have made in my life. The Answer for all my problem is a "Bike"

The moment i sit on the saddle after a long time. And i realized i am smiling without a reason. And yes there is a reason. I feel i am back to my child hood days. I rode it regularly and everytime i will find a reason to ride my bike but for short distances only.

The Cochin Bikers Club

Once i started riding with this group of cycling enthusiasts, My concept of cycling changed. I was introduced to the world of endurance, pushing your limits, concern about environment etc. And for the first time i attempted a 100km ride with my schwinn

My schwinn attempting first century ride

The TREK

After Riding my Schwinn for more than a year decided for a upgrade. And this is my "Steed". TREK 4300

And with my steed i completed my first brevet Cochin Classic BRM 200. 210kms in 13 hours and 7 minutes. That was an unforgettable experience

After the brevet I did the best ride of my life till now. And that was a solo trip from Cochin 2 Trivandrum.

Near Kollam

Classic 350

At that time i followed my long cherished dream of a thumper. A Classic 350 which i sold of after a year when i get a better price than the purchase price.

On the way to thattekadu

At idamalayar

My Pocket Rocket

This time i kept my TREK 4300 with me at Trivandrum and Bought this Rocket Trek 1.1 at cochin. And if to describe the quality of ride in road bike i must say it goes like a knife inside butter.

The LEGEND RX-100

As the days passed by, anywhere i hear a two stroker vrooms my heart misses a beat. At last i managed to acquire a two stroked beauty. It was in a bad shape when i bought and tillnow i havt got enough time to get it back to Original Shape. It is in perfect running condition despite the look. I am sure i wil give this legend a rebirth which it really deserves. thats my next Project

The Legend

THE REAL BEAST - DS 500

Once i sold of my classic 350 i booked this beast, waited and waited and waited for long 8 months. Well worth the wait and i got this beast. Addition to my stable. Even though i want the RE 500 battle green. that matt military green color is not permitted legally in india. But i really love this war inspired DESERT STORM. As the company says "Made Like a gun & Goes Like a bullet"