Thursday, December 14, 2006
N.O.W. meet xBhp.com (Day 3)
It was finally the day for the GIR team to leave and complete the last 500 kms route to Delhi of the journey of their lifetime. How they did it, what they did and where they went, all those things are listed and documented in their GIR website for the world to see and take note the intensity of biking, Indians can do and have done. We all escorted them till outskirts on airport road. In the way between, TOI reporter had a short photo shoot and interview of the GIR team. After wrapping that up, we stopped for the last moments with the GIR where we wished them best of luck and they said good bye with a smile on their face. I guess that’s what we wishing for to see in the end.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
N.O.W. meet xBhp.com (Day 2)
Next morning, after all the dazzles and flashes, it was quite, gloomy and unsettled feeling as GIR team was about to leave for Agra to end up their 108 days tour in New Delhi after 2 days. I wanted them to stay for a bit longer, at least for one more day, if not two. There were hundreds of question I wanted to ask from each and every member of GIR especially from Sunny. We both shared the same passion, same career interest, were from the same part of the country i.e. North India and probably shared the same focus and vision for our individual self initiated bikers groups, but all hours were too less to do all the talking.
Few IIM students who was just passing by stopped for a photo with GIR team and were amazed to see the superbike, don’t realizing that after they will pass out from their college, they can easily get a new one every month, with the pay they will be offered by MNCs. Anyways, we suppose to ride with Sunny and team till Lucknow suburbs and we did. In between, sunny needed to refuel his bike with 97 octane petrol, which was not available on the petrol pump we stopped in, which was on the highway leading to Agra. Sohaib quite knew that place around and went with sunny to look for another pump. They did find a pump with 97 octane petrol and came back, but suddenly sunny got a call from some one in Castrol I think, and they informed him that the press meet in Agra which was suppose to happen next day, has been cancelled due to some reason and that means they now need not to hurry to reach Agra within hours today. Sunny gave us the happy news that GIR is staying that day in Lucknow and will leave tomorrow. Who says 13 is an unlucky number, that day wasn’t. We already started having ideas about how we gonna utilize this lucky day with GIR. We had so many plans in mind and wanted to do so many things, one of it was to take the GIR team to an under construction highway near airport road, which is usually empty with no risk of any alien object appearing in middle where we could really see the CBR in its glory. But unfortunately, Sunny couldn’t go as he had to report back to IIM about his cancellation of the toady’s trip and had some due work of the xBhp.com online contents. A good chance for us was lost. But Sohaib invited them to visit his father’s Yamaha dealership in Chowk, where CBR could get a quick wash.
We all went to the showroom where Sohaib’s father Mr. Zubair Khan delightfully met the tourers. We all had tea together and then CBR was taken to the washing bay, where sunny revved the CBR engine for our ears and the decibels were multiplied in that enclosed service area. After spending some good time in showroom, sunny went back to IIM, and Sunil and Ashish went to shopping and experience the street food (especially non-veg. dishes) of old Lucknow with N.O.W. riders. I, for a break went back to my home for some work because I was out since morning with out any declarations. Nilesh and other riders had good time roaming around streets of Lucknow though. By the time I came back, it was time for Sunil and Ashish to go back to IIM and prepare for the departure tomorrow. We all left them in IIM and came back to the city.
Few IIM students who was just passing by stopped for a photo with GIR team and were amazed to see the superbike, don’t realizing that after they will pass out from their college, they can easily get a new one every month, with the pay they will be offered by MNCs. Anyways, we suppose to ride with Sunny and team till Lucknow suburbs and we did. In between, sunny needed to refuel his bike with 97 octane petrol, which was not available on the petrol pump we stopped in, which was on the highway leading to Agra. Sohaib quite knew that place around and went with sunny to look for another pump. They did find a pump with 97 octane petrol and came back, but suddenly sunny got a call from some one in Castrol I think, and they informed him that the press meet in Agra which was suppose to happen next day, has been cancelled due to some reason and that means they now need not to hurry to reach Agra within hours today. Sunny gave us the happy news that GIR is staying that day in Lucknow and will leave tomorrow. Who says 13 is an unlucky number, that day wasn’t. We already started having ideas about how we gonna utilize this lucky day with GIR. We had so many plans in mind and wanted to do so many things, one of it was to take the GIR team to an under construction highway near airport road, which is usually empty with no risk of any alien object appearing in middle where we could really see the CBR in its glory. But unfortunately, Sunny couldn’t go as he had to report back to IIM about his cancellation of the toady’s trip and had some due work of the xBhp.com online contents. A good chance for us was lost. But Sohaib invited them to visit his father’s Yamaha dealership in Chowk, where CBR could get a quick wash.
We all went to the showroom where Sohaib’s father Mr. Zubair Khan delightfully met the tourers. We all had tea together and then CBR was taken to the washing bay, where sunny revved the CBR engine for our ears and the decibels were multiplied in that enclosed service area. After spending some good time in showroom, sunny went back to IIM, and Sunil and Ashish went to shopping and experience the street food (especially non-veg. dishes) of old Lucknow with N.O.W. riders. I, for a break went back to my home for some work because I was out since morning with out any declarations. Nilesh and other riders had good time roaming around streets of Lucknow though. By the time I came back, it was time for Sunil and Ashish to go back to IIM and prepare for the departure tomorrow. We all left them in IIM and came back to the city.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
N.O.W. meet xBhp.com (Day 1)
It was around 10 am when I reached the guest house. Rudra and Vipluv were already there and we waited outside in parking for every N.O.W. riders to come. By the time Sunil and Ashish came outside, all prepared and we asked about their experience so far and if they had good sleep. We shot some videos too with them. After an hour Sundeep came out with his CBR and gave a pre-ride inspection to the bike and I guess he had some idling issue with the bike in the beginning. I didn’t interfere and let Sunny and Ashish sort out the problem. Eventually bike was ready to ride. The plan for the day was to go to IIM (Indian Institute of Management), Lucknow situated around 15 kms from the hotel in outskirts of Lucknow, where Sunny was suppose to meet on of his relative and also to give a presentation to IIM students about GIR and the story so far. Later for the day, we decided to have a sightseeing of famous tourist spots of the city like Imambara and Bhulbhulaiya. After having the breakfast at Aryans, every body was ready to ride. The Lucknow chapter of the xBhp was just about to begin. We started from Kapoorthala’s congested roads towards IIM, through Aliganj and Jankipuram, which finally leads to the highway with considerable less traffic. It was really exciting to escort the team of GIR and being their host for a day. We were around 12-14 bikers all together, finding our way through gazing animals, slow commuters and unpredictable pedestrians on city road until we could hear the sound of the CBR fire blade, clearer and louder on highway. It wasn’t unusual at 40-50kmph until sunny accelerates the bike for few seconds in between; in empty stretches and the ultimate hummm… sound of the superbike just gets into everybody. Though, after every such “blast” it took us ages to make up with him again on our small bikes, and it wasn’t clear who was escorting who. Nevertheless, that was our first encounter with nice machines including 250 cc Kinetic Hyusong Comet and Kinetic Blaze and we were happy to be around them.
We reached IIM and parked our bikes outside. Had a small group photo shoot by sunny for his website content and then GIR team went inside the campus with special permission they had. We waited for them outside and were planning the least congested route possible to Imambara and Bhulbhulaiya. We were very much concerned about the way through city to various tourist sights. We didn’t wanted GIR riders getting uncomfortable on the way because of hooligan riders which were in ample numbers in Lucknow roads, and could take any one down with their stupidity and show-off. Not to mention, a superbike on local roads to them would seem like a super model in bikini in open, on which they won’t’ miss hitting. Still very less we could do to avoid such situation. After a while, Sunil, Sunny and Ashish came out of the campus and luckily, GIR riders managed to get the guest rooms in IIM through references but sunny said that he has to prepare the presentation for the IIM students so he won’t be able to come to sightseeing and will remain in the campus for next few hours but everybody will go together in the evening when the press meeting would take place in SaharaGanj Mall, Hazratganj.
All the N.O.W. riders with Sunil, Ashish and Gurjant started towards old Lucknow. I sat as a pillion on the pilot bike in the 2x2 group formation to capture the best feasible videos and images. Initially, the ride was well organized but everybody soon lost the line as we enter the busy city territory. Any how, at around 3 pm we all reached the Imambara and I, Nilesh, Sunil and Gurjant went inside the Bhulbhulaiya while Ashish and other N.O.W. member waited for us outside on the pavement. It appeared history was not Ashish favourite subject in school. We four of us inside, shot pictures of the historic buildings and Sunil and Gurjant shared their experience of encountering bunch of ragging villagers who stopped them for money and wouldn’t let them pass by.After visiting the hotspots of the Nawabi city, it was time to head back IIM campus so that the GIR riders could relax and brace themselves for the press meet, later that evening. In the mean time, few of us decided to have our late lunch and be right back at the campus gate.
It was around 5:30 pm when every thing was set and we were about to go to SaharaGanj Mall for the press meeting organized by Castrol for xBhp. Around 6 pm we were outside the mall and GIR team was totally responsible for putting a stop to the road traffic with their presence. Journalists and photographer from TOI had a photo shoot of GIR riders then and there. Later, team and their bikes were called inside the Mall by the security, and everybody had a fun time posing for photographers. Sunny and Sunil gave interviews to journalist during their press meet and we all posed with the GIR bikes for our bunch of photos and videos. It was the night that was so special for us. We all had a nice time being with Sunny and the team through out and just wanted to have a blast together, as this was our last evening with them… or it wasn’t?
We reached IIM and parked our bikes outside. Had a small group photo shoot by sunny for his website content and then GIR team went inside the campus with special permission they had. We waited for them outside and were planning the least congested route possible to Imambara and Bhulbhulaiya. We were very much concerned about the way through city to various tourist sights. We didn’t wanted GIR riders getting uncomfortable on the way because of hooligan riders which were in ample numbers in Lucknow roads, and could take any one down with their stupidity and show-off. Not to mention, a superbike on local roads to them would seem like a super model in bikini in open, on which they won’t’ miss hitting. Still very less we could do to avoid such situation. After a while, Sunil, Sunny and Ashish came out of the campus and luckily, GIR riders managed to get the guest rooms in IIM through references but sunny said that he has to prepare the presentation for the IIM students so he won’t be able to come to sightseeing and will remain in the campus for next few hours but everybody will go together in the evening when the press meeting would take place in SaharaGanj Mall, Hazratganj.
All the N.O.W. riders with Sunil, Ashish and Gurjant started towards old Lucknow. I sat as a pillion on the pilot bike in the 2x2 group formation to capture the best feasible videos and images. Initially, the ride was well organized but everybody soon lost the line as we enter the busy city territory. Any how, at around 3 pm we all reached the Imambara and I, Nilesh, Sunil and Gurjant went inside the Bhulbhulaiya while Ashish and other N.O.W. member waited for us outside on the pavement. It appeared history was not Ashish favourite subject in school. We four of us inside, shot pictures of the historic buildings and Sunil and Gurjant shared their experience of encountering bunch of ragging villagers who stopped them for money and wouldn’t let them pass by.After visiting the hotspots of the Nawabi city, it was time to head back IIM campus so that the GIR riders could relax and brace themselves for the press meet, later that evening. In the mean time, few of us decided to have our late lunch and be right back at the campus gate.
It was around 5:30 pm when every thing was set and we were about to go to SaharaGanj Mall for the press meeting organized by Castrol for xBhp. Around 6 pm we were outside the mall and GIR team was totally responsible for putting a stop to the road traffic with their presence. Journalists and photographer from TOI had a photo shoot of GIR riders then and there. Later, team and their bikes were called inside the Mall by the security, and everybody had a fun time posing for photographers. Sunny and Sunil gave interviews to journalist during their press meet and we all posed with the GIR bikes for our bunch of photos and videos. It was the night that was so special for us. We all had a nice time being with Sunny and the team through out and just wanted to have a blast together, as this was our last evening with them… or it wasn’t?
Monday, December 11, 2006
N.O.W. meet xBhp.com (The First Impression)
The First Impression
It was roughly around 1 pm and I was about to have my shower ( late as always ) when I got a call and heard the person at the other end introduced himself as Sunil of xBhp GIR team. I was thrilled and energized. It was actually happening, Lucknow city and we were about to be a small part of The Great Indian Roadtrip 2nd leg forever. Sunil asked me if we can come and meet them somewhere in suburbs of Lucknow and I instantly said yes as we were waiting for this to come about, since GIR (The Great Indian Roadtrip) started. But initially it wasn't happening, as when the route was planned and led out on xbhp.com, Lucknow was not one of the checkpoints GIR team was suppose to go through. They were skipping Lucknow and were going directly to Agra and that was really heartbreaking to know because GIR was the only chance we all could meet the people who were mere online profile IDs for us. How they talk, what they talk and what was so extraordinary in them that they were out on roads to complete 18,000 kms run before they see their family and friends again after 3 months? All the question were about to be answered as I called up each and every N.O.W. rider for a urgent meeting to grace ourselves and be prepare to be with them for next 24 hours. We meet up around 3 pm and discussed what we need to do to make the “guests” feel home. One hour passed by and we were still waiting for their call to know where they have reached. Around 5:30, I eventually got the call and they were somewhere in Lucknow cantonment. Neither they, nor we knew the exact place they were.
The small search begins and which was fun actually, but I didn’t wanted to waste any time as they were some where standing and waiting for us and the night was falling. After exchanging some calls, we finally tracked them. I and Kushal were first to reach them followed by rest of the N.O.W. group some minutes later. I saw 3 riders; Sundeep a.k.a. Sunny (xbhp.com, founder), Sunil a.k.a. SunilG (team rider) and Ashish a.k.a. Gasolinejunkie (team rider) and I saw the vehicles. The cantonment is green with nature but every thing seems red and black that time, because from their riding gears to GIR vehicles, every thing were coloured with sponsors logos and identity. Sunny was busy on call and I didn’t knew Sunil and Ashish much appearance wise, but the moment was strangely quite. We were hesitating, or were feeling shy or whatever you might wanna call it but for initial 2-3 minutes no one was talking to anyone. Funny it was, when I now recall the whole situation. But Sohaib and Vipluv broke the silence and both parties gelled easily right away. We asked about their well-being and the previous route experience so far. Sunny told that their back up vehicle has been pulled over outside the city limits and they were waiting for GIR team to check in some hotel so that they can directly come to that location. It was almost dark and we needed a hotel for them to stay while they were here in Lucknow.
I have to now confess that I personally misunderstood the way GIR rides were riding since few days. I honestly thought that their 10 big sponsors were funding them sufficiently to stay in good luxurious hotels, where ever they went. I was so silly, not to realize they were riding out in dirt, heat, cold and snow for India, to shows its glory to the world and were not having a lavish holidays. I was bit shocked to hear that their budget for per night was INR 800-1200 only and sincerely, I had no hopes that we will be able to find a hotel room with that limited budget, at least that same night. To add to the pain, all the low/mid-cost hotels in Lucknow had no space left due to on-going wedding season. People in north, generally book hotels/guest house for their outstation guests and relatives while they attend any marriage ceremony. This whole experience of ours has been better penned down by Ashish on GIR blog in very humours way. Finally, after our boys begged at numerous receptions for a decent single room to stay, we finally got a room in Rajasthan guest house near Kapoorthala above ICICI bank, whose old skinny manager had no interest in us, our guest and their purpose of being there and neither was excited, when we told him that he and his guest house might get illustrious by the media coverage which was scheduled tomorrow for the GIR team. We had no option, truly and we had to take what we were offered despite that place not being so cool, but that’s, I guess what you ask for when you want to see the real India from a tourer’s prospective. It was already 9 pm by the time GIR team checked in. Sunny was a bit concerned about the parking of his CBR fireblade and we did manage to get a dark, lonely but a bit cramped space, in the porch of the building for the night. In the mean time, backup vehicle with the driver Gurjant also arrived. After an hour of biking discussion in the hotel room, we finally left those 3 exhausted souls in their rooms and came out discussing day plans for tomorrow.
It was roughly around 1 pm and I was about to have my shower ( late as always ) when I got a call and heard the person at the other end introduced himself as Sunil of xBhp GIR team. I was thrilled and energized. It was actually happening, Lucknow city and we were about to be a small part of The Great Indian Roadtrip 2nd leg forever. Sunil asked me if we can come and meet them somewhere in suburbs of Lucknow and I instantly said yes as we were waiting for this to come about, since GIR (The Great Indian Roadtrip) started. But initially it wasn't happening, as when the route was planned and led out on xbhp.com, Lucknow was not one of the checkpoints GIR team was suppose to go through. They were skipping Lucknow and were going directly to Agra and that was really heartbreaking to know because GIR was the only chance we all could meet the people who were mere online profile IDs for us. How they talk, what they talk and what was so extraordinary in them that they were out on roads to complete 18,000 kms run before they see their family and friends again after 3 months? All the question were about to be answered as I called up each and every N.O.W. rider for a urgent meeting to grace ourselves and be prepare to be with them for next 24 hours. We meet up around 3 pm and discussed what we need to do to make the “guests” feel home. One hour passed by and we were still waiting for their call to know where they have reached. Around 5:30, I eventually got the call and they were somewhere in Lucknow cantonment. Neither they, nor we knew the exact place they were.
The small search begins and which was fun actually, but I didn’t wanted to waste any time as they were some where standing and waiting for us and the night was falling. After exchanging some calls, we finally tracked them. I and Kushal were first to reach them followed by rest of the N.O.W. group some minutes later. I saw 3 riders; Sundeep a.k.a. Sunny (xbhp.com, founder), Sunil a.k.a. SunilG (team rider) and Ashish a.k.a. Gasolinejunkie (team rider) and I saw the vehicles. The cantonment is green with nature but every thing seems red and black that time, because from their riding gears to GIR vehicles, every thing were coloured with sponsors logos and identity. Sunny was busy on call and I didn’t knew Sunil and Ashish much appearance wise, but the moment was strangely quite. We were hesitating, or were feeling shy or whatever you might wanna call it but for initial 2-3 minutes no one was talking to anyone. Funny it was, when I now recall the whole situation. But Sohaib and Vipluv broke the silence and both parties gelled easily right away. We asked about their well-being and the previous route experience so far. Sunny told that their back up vehicle has been pulled over outside the city limits and they were waiting for GIR team to check in some hotel so that they can directly come to that location. It was almost dark and we needed a hotel for them to stay while they were here in Lucknow.
I have to now confess that I personally misunderstood the way GIR rides were riding since few days. I honestly thought that their 10 big sponsors were funding them sufficiently to stay in good luxurious hotels, where ever they went. I was so silly, not to realize they were riding out in dirt, heat, cold and snow for India, to shows its glory to the world and were not having a lavish holidays. I was bit shocked to hear that their budget for per night was INR 800-1200 only and sincerely, I had no hopes that we will be able to find a hotel room with that limited budget, at least that same night. To add to the pain, all the low/mid-cost hotels in Lucknow had no space left due to on-going wedding season. People in north, generally book hotels/guest house for their outstation guests and relatives while they attend any marriage ceremony. This whole experience of ours has been better penned down by Ashish on GIR blog in very humours way. Finally, after our boys begged at numerous receptions for a decent single room to stay, we finally got a room in Rajasthan guest house near Kapoorthala above ICICI bank, whose old skinny manager had no interest in us, our guest and their purpose of being there and neither was excited, when we told him that he and his guest house might get illustrious by the media coverage which was scheduled tomorrow for the GIR team. We had no option, truly and we had to take what we were offered despite that place not being so cool, but that’s, I guess what you ask for when you want to see the real India from a tourer’s prospective. It was already 9 pm by the time GIR team checked in. Sunny was a bit concerned about the parking of his CBR fireblade and we did manage to get a dark, lonely but a bit cramped space, in the porch of the building for the night. In the mean time, backup vehicle with the driver Gurjant also arrived. After an hour of biking discussion in the hotel room, we finally left those 3 exhausted souls in their rooms and came out discussing day plans for tomorrow.
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