Every ride begins long before the engine starts. Days prior, I was prepping—packing spares, tools, cables, tubes, and fixing the aftermath of my Rajmachi fall. A fresh handlebar, fork oil change, brake lever adjustment, crash guard, chain clean—the works.
The Pre-Ride Chaos
The plan was simple: sleep by 10 PM, wake by 3:30 AM. Reality? Slept at 1 AM, woke at 3:45. A cold shower, gear on… and then the classic goof-up—forgot to connect my Bluetooth. Helmet off, helmet on. Lost 15 minutes before even starting.
Rolling Out
Left home at 4:15 AM in pre-dawn rain, already drenched but determined. Met the 16-rider squad led by Patki and Chanchal. With Independence Day traffic looming, we smartly crossed Lonavala early and cruised through a beautiful 100-km stretch of smooth roads and light rain.
A spicy Maharashtrian thali later, the post-lunch sluggishness kicked in—but the ride rolled on.
Kolhapur & The Plot Twist
Just as we entered Kolhapur, confusion struck—Google Maps split the group. Then came news of a bike issue: an overcharging battery. Chanchal stayed back to help, and Vinod bhai coordinated support remotely. One group waited; the rest pushed ahead.
The Final 45 km – Pure Grit
Night. Rain. Narrow village roads. No intercom. Abhishek leading with hand signals and warnings—dogs, potholes, even a man answering nature’s call mid-road. After 300+ km, discipline and brotherhood carried us through. We reached the resort at 8:30 PM, and Chanchal rode the last stretch solo in the rain to join us.
Dinner, stories, laughter, and NGFF wrapped up the night.
Day 2 – Waterfalls & A Wild Idea
A relaxed morning, a visit to Rautwadi Waterfall, and the Kolhapur rider rejoined after fixing his bike. The plan was a two-night stay… until a post-lunch nap sparked a crazy idea: “Let’s ride back tonight!”
Ten riders agreed. Five stayed back.
The Return Ride – Chaos & Camaraderie
We rolled out at 10:30 PM. Kolhapur was smooth—until a tail rack box snapped off. Jugaad + bungee cords = problem solved.
Then my rear tyre punctured mid-flyover. Controlled the bike, alerted the group with the signature pom-pom honk, and crawled to a puncture shop that only handled trucks. So, tyre off, tube swapped—thanks to the May tech session and Aman paaji’s spare tube—and we were back on the road.
Homecoming
A quick fatigue check post-Pune, then a steady ride till Lonavala where we officially dispersed. I reached home by 11 AM to surprised, happy faces. By night, every rider—both batches—was home safe.
Final Thoughts
This wasn’t just a ride. It was grit, chaos, laughter, teamwork, and pure rider camaraderie. Proof that the best rides aren’t always the planned ones.
Here’s to the next thump.
Inddie Thumpers | Keep Riding. Keep Thumping.
Inddie Thumpers is one of the pioneering Bullet clubs in India, bringing together enthusiasts who share a deep passion for motorcycle culture and laying the foundation for a thriving community of riders.
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