Trip to Mandya

Well, I spent a good time with the members of Bangalore Motoring Club at Java City, Lavella Road. They have meeting every Friday from 7:00 PM by default. For me it was very confusing to go there as Bangalore is full on One Ways and No Entries. But some how I managed to be there in time. I was introduced to people in the club. That was a real friendly and warm welcome. They had a plan of going to Mandya CCD, around 70 km from Bangalore, for a cuppa coffee. Brilliant idea! for a biker. Time passed while chatting. I still don't know most of them by face as well as name, but they all became friend in just one meet. [:)]

The starting point of the trip was Shell petrol pump () on Bangalore-Mysore Highway (SH 17) and all had to meet by 10 PM. As I was staying way too far and was not even knowing the way to reach, I left home by 8:30 without having food. I was not having any gloves and I knew that it was going to be big pain to ride in cold wave. I was lucky enough not to be confused by people of Bangalore this time and fortunately reached there by 9:20. I just stood by for some time and after 10 minutes I just called up Naveen to check out how far he had reached, assuming that it would take him around 45 minutes to reach there. I still don't know about it. Was very very disappointed to hear that they haven't finished with the food and would be arriving by 10:30. Wooow.. that was pretty bad. The way Naveen had asked to be in time next day at Shell Petrol pump while leaving weekly meet, as if they would leave behind the people not in time.

Well, I had nothing to do so thought to call up friend. I was surprised by her calmness. The call went a quite long, but that was usual. When I hanged up, I saw a guy looking at me with curiosity. He came towards me and asked "BMC??" and I said yes. Well, both were very happy to see someone there for ride. His name was also Ashish and looked restless just as me. We talked for a while and then went to buy something to eat as I had noting. Luckily, Shell Petrol Pumps have a retail shop with packed food items. Ashish Jr picked up a 7 Up My Can. I picked up Lays and a health drink suggested by him. I was willing to foot the bill but he refused saying different accounts. Well, OK!The health drink he suggested was good in taste.

I thought to get air pressure checked in my tires as I was feeling there was less air. When I got it check, I held my breadth to see that was just 9 psi (standard being 34). Lucky never met an accident. We all started by 11:45 and I knew that people would not be coming back by 3. My bike partner (who is suppose to ride strictly in parallel) was someone named Chaudhary; working at Tata Indicom. Except me everyone in the club is a localite and borne and brought up in Bangalore.

I don't know how far, but after 45 minutes at junction all had stopped for a tea and sweet bun. Reminded me of the days at Koramangala. Naveen sternly wanred me for not being in line. When you are in ride, you have to maintin a distance from the lead and try to be at consistent distance from him. We were just riding in parallel and lost the leader. Gang took another break after half an hour. We reached Mandya CCD at around 1 AM. It was very cold. This CCD is around 100 pax. All were watching us. We had to change the parking location as it was blocking the way to main parking. We all sat outside. HP was borned in garage, BMC was borne in Coffee Joints. I had difficulties understanding and explaining myself about ideas as being banglorian all used to speak in Kannada. But Aseem had specific time with my idae and he welcomed by ideas about upcoming website of BMC, Photo hosts, copyrights, standard formats etc. All in the group had something to contribute. Mechanics, Real Estate, Bikers, Garment Industry, Rally driver, navigators. Wow... perfect blend for a beautiful club. All talked about the previous trips. the reason behind the Club. It was a lovely chat.

I was somewhat hungry so thought to have choco vanila cake. That was really yummy. I used Ticket coupon to purchase it, first by in last 2 months using Ticket. not that was time to hit back. As soon as the group came out, we saw Alemari was showing the tire burn. Simply great. and now the best thing of the trip. Ashish Jr showed us a stunt. He drove his Pulsar with both leags on right side only for around 2-3 km. I have seen such stunts by Army jawans during my childhood but in personal life was amazing.

There are lots of thing... the flat tire of the Esteem and Leg guard break down, Pulsar with Safety, remote start.

We all stopped around 5 km before the start for Mysore flyover. From here people ouwld be going their ways to homes. Me and Jr decided to go together as none of them was going to take the flyover. We had drove around 3 km (Jr was around 100 m ahead of me), suddenly my rear tyre making wired noice and its intensity was directly proportional to the speed. Jr turned back and came to me. He looked at the drum and said that was a small alignment problem and should get fixed next morning. I though was OK. But again the noice was not willing to stop. I stopped. Thought to check it once. and now I see a 4 inch nail pierced though tyre. Luckily not though tube. but the tyre was holding it very badly and we had no plier or any other instrument to puck it out. Out of luck. Suddenly a rick came close to us and stopped. We asked him if he had plyer or something. That driver just looked at us and went ahead. He had come looking for business. Jr tried to remove the nail and he almost removed it. Last 1 inch looked impossible as nail had bent and grip was very tight. He had already tore my cur chief to do so. HE waited for a minute and retried. Voilla! he removed it. Hats off to your dude. 4:15 in morning. I would have had got stranded there for hours. We separated our ways at Cubban road. I reached home by 5 AM.