Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Bikers - Hard Nuts or Really Quite Clever?

There was a really interesting article on The Independent’s website last week about motorbikes and the stereotypes we have of the people who ride them. This was a UK-based article but it really resonated with me – read it here.


As the journalist says, stereotypes encourage you to forget that there is a person on the bike....especially if a motorbike is being driven badly!

In India, motorbikes are a very popular mode of transport. They are cheaper and quicker than cars and allow you to weave in and out of traffic....even though most traffic on an Indian road weaves!

The article goes on to say you need a healthy fear of accidents to ride a bike so you can stay safe. I don’t think this really applies to the Indian rider who fearlessly dodges in and out of traffic, wherever there is room. To some, that would make them dangerous. However, in my opinion, they’re doing what they need to do to get to their destination.

There was a similar article about the appeal of bikes in the Montreal Gazette....ok, this time it was cycles, but same principle. A group of commuters has started cycling to work to avoid the gridlock of rush hour in Indonesia. Their heavily populated roads may be dangerous but at least these people can get from A to B.

It seems we’re hearing more and more about alternative forms of transport, including the bike. I may be biased, but isn’t it time you got involved?

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Royal Enfield Tour of Rajasthan

The Royal Enfield tour of Rajasthan 2012 took place between 5-15 February and it seems a great time was had by all; having just returned from our first tour of the year, we were incredibly jealous!

As a tour organiser myself, I wanted to put the spotlight on the Royal Enfield tour as it’s a great example of what a tour should be.

The tour started in Jaipur where the riders were given lots of memorabilia e.g. stickers and t-shirts to really add to the sense of occasion and anticipation for the start of the journey the next day. It’s a great way to get Royal Enfield lovers coming together and making them feel a part of something special. There’s even a starting flag to herald the start of the tour and see excitement reaching fever pitch! To cement this, riders are given certificates at the end of the journey so they have a great memento of their tour.

Although run by Royal Enfield, it’s not all about the bikes; it’s about new experiences and time to unwind too. For example, from dune bashing and a visit to Karni Mata Mandir, famous for its rat population to sampling the local cuisine, camel rides and a (much needed) rest day in Jodhpur. Whilst it’s important to recharge the batteries – tours can be very demanding - these sorts of activities are also important because they help the tour group (most of whom won’t know one another) to bond over a shared appreciation of this (potentially) once in a lifetime experience.

What was great about this tour is that it has been planned to pass major Indian landmarks and give people an experience not to forget e.g. Pokhran, location of the demonstration of India’s nuclear capability and the historic battlefields of Longewala. So people aren’t just getting a great ride and some great sights, they’re getting to absorb some of the history and culture which make India such a fantastic place to tour.

There’s a great blog on the Royal Enfield website which followed the riders on each day of the ride http://www.royalenfield.com/community/events_updates.aspx?eid=39   

We have a similar tour through Rajasthan which this year runs from 13th-30th November. There are still places available so get in quick! http://extremebiketours.com/rajasthan-tour