Ride like the wind

When we hit the road in a car we are contained in a private space Our interactions with nature are perhaps a quarter more arresting than hours spent in front of the television To break out of that frame we need to be on a cycle ldquoYoursquore in the scene not just watching it anymorerdquo explained Robert M Pirsig in his fictionalised autobiography Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance Minnesota or Maharashtra teachings of the road are no less amplified Besides trysting the many moods of nature a collective biking experience is also about bonding and someone watching your back A weekend trip to Tapola a hill station in Satara district promises to parcel both the impressionsA moment from the clubrsquos previous trip to LadakhSharmishta Chakravorty cofounder of The Musafirs Motorcycle Club mdash a Thanebased hobby club thatrsquos organising the trip to Tapola said ldquoRiding solo or with a group depends on a personrsquos preferences but in the eleven years that we have completed as a club we have never left anyone behind on the road Knowing that someone has your back is a reassuring feelingrdquo Why Tapola Chakravorty says they wanted some respite from the sweltering weather in the city And the obvious answer was a hill station with ample green cover ldquoGiven our bikersrsquo instinct we also wanted to have at least 250 km under our belt Lonavala couldnrsquot have been an optionrdquo she adds The group is thrilled to witness the temperature drop to 20 degree Celsius at night in TapolaSome help on the road is always welcomeOnce participating bikers reach the destination they will be hosted at a resort The tour is more about the road being present to its twists and turns will give attendees an actual taste of what The Musafirs believe in This particular trip starts on a Saturday morning with all bikers meeting at Datta Vada Pav Centre near Panvel Chakravorty estimates it will be a sevenhour ride until they are greeted by the cool breeze at Koyna dam and Tapola Lake The lake bound by lush green mountains fetches the place its ldquominiKashmir of Maharashtrardquo moniker The biker tells us the onenight stay at the hill station will be dotted with activities such as boating and kayaking She excitedly shares ldquoWe have also arranged for a DJ night as this ride will mark the clubrsquos 150th excursionrdquoSharmishta ChakravortyWith one relaxing tour in their kitty The Musafirs have their eyes set on higher frontiers In July we are planning two challenging trips to Leh and Spiti Valley The biker mentions that their plans for Leh involve a visit to the OP Baba Shrine in Siachen Valley This guild of travellers are clearly out of the frame and merrily placed in the sceneOn May 7 to 8Meeting Point Airoli Toll Naka 430 am or Hotel Welcome Palaspa Phata Panvel 515 amLog on to themusafirscomCall 9821178718 or 9819897843 to registerCost Rs 3950Freewheeling safelygtgt Be psychologically prepared to face inevitable conditions on the roadgtgt Being in the sun for long hours can lead to dehydration So carry extra water bottlesgtgt Carry ORS Drinking plain water is not enough as it doesnrsquot make up for the essential salts you lose through perspirationgtgt Set realistic targets A 300 kmdistance is an achievable goal in this heat Donrsquot try to cover 700 kmgtgt Riding on the road is dusty business To stay protected bikers should invest in a good balaclavagtgt Start as early as 5 am and end the ride by 11 amgtgt While on the road itrsquos best to eat local fareJunk food can upset your stomachBy Brijesh K Kirtonia bikerIn and around MumbaiOf cityscapesIf you are keen to know the city through different temporal and spatial lenses a halfday bike tour taking you through Oval Maidan Bombay High Court Dhobi Ghat Rajabai Clock Tower and other halts could be your jamOn Choose a date as per your convenienceLog on to tripadvisorinCost Rs 13292 per adultFor the early riserSign up for this biking experience if you want to prepare for a busy day along with the city The tour will start from Marine Drive and show you how Mumbai wakes up and slowly comes aliveOn Choose a date as per your convenienceLog on to tripadvisorinCost Rs 1901 per adultA long rideTraversing snowAbsorb the sounds of Srinagarrsquos local markets reach KhardungLa via Nubra Valley to catch sight of the endorheic lake Pangong Tso on this bike trip to LehLadakhOn May 23 to 28Log on to insiderinCost Rs 21999 onwardsRiding tall and togetherThe Distinguished Gentlemenrsquos Ride is back to raise awareness and 6 million for prostate cancer research and menrsquos mental health Mumbai will participate in the charitable rideOn May 22 8 am to 4 pmLog on to alleventsin