BHPian nasirkaka recently shared this with other enthusiasts: MIXED BIKE RIDE Posting on this thread after a while. Some health issues have been keeping me away from the weekend rides. But it is difficult to stay away from the trails for too long. Did a ride with a Bangalore-based “Open Adventures’ group. It was a mixed bunch of riders riding a mixed bunch of bikes. There were young, enthusiastic, and energetic riders to the sedate ones and all in between. The only common thread tying them together was love for the trails and zest for adventure. A few quick messages were shared around with some quick replies and commitments, and soon a WhatsApp group was formed to coordinate for the ride. There were seven confirmed riders. The intent was to ride towards Madhugiri and explore the geography around. The distance would be roughly around 120 kms one-way. We all assembled at 5 AM at a pre-decided location. After the usual meet and greet, we decided to head to the breakfast point, which was Paakshala restaurant. The lineup. We had an Africa Twin, a BMW 310R, a Himalayan 450, and also a nicely modified Himalayan 410, a KTM 390 ADV, a Suzuki SX250, and yours truly on the 400x. Post a hearty breakfast of hot idlis, vadas, dosas, and pongal. We finished off with a strong cup of filter coffee. The NH 48 took us to Dobaspet, from where we turned towards Madhugiri. The landscape around changed from greys to greens. The weather was lovely with a cool morning breeze & ample cloud cover, and the sun occasionally peeping out. The surroundings were lush with the recent spell of rain. The country roads were in pristine condition and mostly empty. We covered the distance at a quick pace, enjoying the beautiful scenery all around. Close to the Madhugiri, we went off the tarmac exploring the countryside wilderness. The area is mostly rocky with boulders of all shapes and sizes. Madhugiri is also known to have the largest monolithic rock in Asia. We soon found ourselves in the middle of a green thicket with trees and foliage all around. The trail was interesting and fun, and all the riders were having a good time. Much deeper into the thicket, and the trail started getting technical. There were loose gravel and elevation variations. The vegetation had grown unchecked, slowing the progress. At places, we had to wade through the lantana bushes, and thanks to the much helpful barkbusters. But our riding jackets and pants took the brunt as the thorny bushes kept tangling and tugging at them. We kept progressing at a slow and steady pace, helping each other and exploring the trails and the flora around. Soon, we were led to an opening in the forest with rocky ground dotted with hills and hillocks all around. There were some fresh water puddles as well from the previous night’s rain. This was like a playground, bringing big grin under our helmets. We played around on the flattish rocky ground, jumping and some even sliding their bikes. This place was no less fun than a track at the dirt school. Happy times pass in a jiffy. It was already noon, and the sun was getting warm. We decided to call it a day and head back to civilization. On the way back, we all stopped at a small village side shop for some refreshments of tea and cool drinks, spending some time under the shade of coconut trees, chit-chatting on bikes and gears, and accessories. The usual biker topics. Here onwards, we decided to split as different riders were to take different routes to their home. The ride back was peaceful and uneventful. PS: All the bikes fared well, and so did the 400x. I had a fresh pair of Apollo Tramplr tyres on the bike and was happy with the performance. Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.
