India Bike Week may have zoomed right past us last weekend, but has left quite the ‘wheel impression’ on the hundreds that gathered to celebrate their shared love, devotion and passion for biking at the much-awaited two day event in Goa.
This year, IBW was a feast for the senses, offering everything from casual biker meet-ups and rallies around the venue to thrilling, death-defying performances, alongside delicious food and exclusive merchandise to take home as keepsakes.
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Far from home, yet closer than ever in spirit, Goan local Iyson D’Silva deeply missed attending IBW this year as he writes to us from Australia. “The first time I attended IBW was in November 2019. I remember being very thrilled and excited to be there since it was a festival we bikers celebrated. I do feel sad about not being a part of it this year, however today, when I went out with my mate riding, I imagined myself at the hill top being a part of IBW.”
As for people that did attend the festival and have a ball of a time, Joy Banerjee a DJ and Motovlogger who travelled from Kolkata was happy to share, “My first festival experience was unforgettable! I rode my Yamaha Aerox 155 scooter solo from Kolkata to Goa, covering over 2200 kms in 5 days.My favourite part was joining the GOA MC team for the Secret Trail especially since I completed it on a scooter while everyone else rode adventure bikes.”
First British woman motorcyclist
to circumnavigate the world, arrives in Goa
It’s not every day that one will see one of the first British women to do a solo motorcycle trip around the world walking around in plain sight. But then again, anything is possible at India Bike Week (IBW), where English motorcyclist and architect, Elspeth Beard was spotted at the two-day biking event in Vagator.
On being invited to the 11th edition of IBW, India’s largest biking festival, Elspeth said, “You know when I was travelling around India in 1983, which is 40 years ago, I never imagined I’d be invited to an event like this. Life is very strange. The festival looks absolutely amazing. So busy and noisy, loads of people, but its great! I quite liked the Harley riders.”
“I started riding when I was about 16, I got my first bike at 17, got my licence at 18, bought my BMW when I was 19, and then left for my world tour at 23,” the now 65-year-old reminisced, as she took us on a trip down memory lane.
But Elspeth’s trip to Goa this December doesn’t stop only at North Goa, but has also taken her to the South on Sunday where she was relaxing after the noise of IBW has died down.
“I’ll be in South Goa for a week and just relax. There’s no itinerary in place though, I’m just going to be spontaneous and do whatever comes along,” she explains.
