If one had to
make a list of things that Goans are passionate about, the love for bikes and long road
trips would feature high on this list. Even though this caters to a niche
group, the mere number of biker communities in Goa tells a different story.
And these are no
ordinary passive communities. Regular meet ups, frequent highway trips to
neighbouring states and the occasional heavy distance journeys to the ends of
the country and sometimes even past our borders, can’t quite sum up these
groups; there’s the sense of brotherhood, an energy that drives them and sees
their tribe increase in number every few months. These groups are also a big
part of nationwide communities.
Going beyond the mini
communities, is a common bond that is not just limited to the type of
motorcycle they ride or the group they are in. In Goa, true to the community
spirit that prevails across the state, there is a platform where all these
biker groups come together once a year.
The ‘One Day One
Ride’ is a concept that was rolled out in 2016 by the Vasco based Praveen K S,
with the sole desire of uniting the entire biking fraternity of Goa under one
banner and to ride in unison as a tribute to the passion for riding. Rarely
does one see such a sight wherein bikes of various brands, having different
capabilities and varying power, come together and ride alongside each other.
“We found it to be a
worthwhile cause to showcase riding discipline and brotherhood all along the
ride and interacting with various experienced riders has given us new
perspectives about biking, safety and other finer aspects of riding. We always
look forward to being part of this biking fiesta and hope to promote our
culture amongst the young and aspiring riders of the state,” says one of the
biker community group members.
Earlier rides have
covered the north and the south of Goa, bringing together bikers from all parts
of the state. This year, the riders began at Verna and went on till Colva and back.
“The theme for One
Day One Ride III was to let go of all our individual and group differences of
bike makes, models, motorcycle groups, individual names, caste, creed, religion
and statehood,” says Praveen K S, adding, “Everything today is affected by
these divides, hence our event is held to spread the word of unity in
diversity, through our love for motorcycles.”
This year, there were
over 200 men, women and their mean machines. “This is our way of saying , our
heart doesn’t beat, it revs!” quips Praveen, chief engineer by profession.
“It was a great way
to spend the weekend. This event gives all the riders an opportunity to get
together and come along as a community, irrespective of our brands. It was a
sight to behold,” says Pooja Rajput, one of the participants, who is hailed in
Goa for her recent achievement where she who undertook a 2,000-km solo coastal
ride on her Harley Davidson.
“It was wonderful to
see hundreds of riders aligned in the perfect two-line formation, following all
the signs and safety signals with proper marshals and road captains. It also
gave me an opportunity to meet and greet fellow bikers of Goa. A large ride
like that not only shows the strength the biking community possesses but also
gives out a strong message to the locals as well – seeing us follow all road
rules,” adds Pooja.
“It is also an
attempt to promote biking culture and the safety aspect associated with riding.
I too believe in riding hard and riding safe. It pains me to see the number of
deaths that happen on Goan roads due to bad riding habits and lack of basic
riding gear such as a helmet,” adds Prapanch Ravi, one of the participants.
Prapanch stunned the
crowd by showcasing the all new 2018 Harley Davidson Fat Bob for the very first
time on Goan roads.
He credits Praveen
for making it all possible. “For me, it is a commitment to the cause and its
organiser, Praveen Shivrajan, who has just one intention: Bring all riders
under one banner for that one occasion.”
Speaking
about future plans, Praveen states that they add elements to the ride with
every passing year and that for future events, they would want to use the
platform to try and educate people on road safety, traffic rules, medical
first-aid, etc.
