WHO are WE, and WHY are WE here?

To begin with SaddleTramps Riding Club was created for the love of the ride. Those who join choose coz of their devotion to riding and the respect of the road. We are brought together by our addiction to having good times with friends new and old, and our love for going out and riding around for no other reason than to enjoy the road laid before us. Group rides, trips, get-togethers, brotherhood, and an all together good time. We ride as much as possible the year-round, not just during warm weather. We ride to work. We ride for fun. We ride as a way of life.

The group has an easygoing, caring camaraderie that translates to a lot of laughter. The rider is always more important than what brand motorcycle he rides. The freedom to ride, the freedom to have fun, the freedom to meet new people and make new friends, the freedom to make a contribution- equal being a member of THE SADDLE TRAMPS.

That takes care of the introduction. Scroll below for some delightful experiences and memories in the form of words and visuals.

Call of the pinnacles...trek to Mahuli

"......In between sections were too vertical and squeezing all the calf muscles- my body felt like a furnace and I prayed just for a small drizzle that would cool everything around. Never had my prayers been answered so soon - a short quick shower from the skies charged up the batteries. The R brothers were too slow to keep up- so I used to hurry and wait for them ahead. The ritual carried on till we reached half way and from thereon we three were together. The pinnacles- my love, were forcing us at regular intervals to stop and stare at them....."

Two big kids and a small one..on a casual trek that stretched their muscles to the max. A short narration and visuals HERE

Thrilling trek to Jivdhangad

....A bigger shock in the waiting, a 90 degree vertical patch which shook the daylights out of me. I told Vithal to go ahead and I follow. It wasn't easy for him either- could see him stretch to the max to get his feet in the right places. He's up and now its my turn, initially I get through and then I realise I simply cannot stretch my feet into the next slot- nowhere near. The more I tried to stretch, the more my left leg started to lose grip. I realised its not in my ability to stretch so far- I turned my head to look down- would be a 100 feet drop on the rocks, everything went into mute mode- as if the world stood still. Surprisingly the height didnt scare me. The only thought that came to mind was "Deepak you fall and you're gone forever". "Hell! Am not going to fall- no way, whatever it takes", I said to myself. I was all helpless- hanging off the rock thinking what to do. Tried stretching once more- failed again....

A thrilling and slippery trek to the fort of Jivdhangad....more about the trekking adventure HERE

Muck whipping ride to Rajmachi

"Was an amazing ride, something we never tried before. Bikes took some battering and luckily didnt break down on any front. The only regret being of not having trekked Rajmachi, but come winters- I'll be there on top. It will just for the trek then not the ride- the hangover is not going to go away so soon, not at least for another 2 years. Maybe then we'll be heading for another chocolate treat."

Read HERE about a group of toddlers whipping up the muck on the way to mighty Rajmachi!

Off-roading to Rajmachi

"Disappointed took a U-turn resolving never to return to Lonavla (at least in the rains). The patience test still wasn't through- it took another hour to come back to the main road via the railway crossing. What now? Varandha came to mind, but would have been very late to return (gave up). Then thought Sudhagad at Pali ..fine will go there I said. Suddenly Rajmachi struck my mind- I remembered Ishtibhai talking about it some years back".

An incomplete but short burst of slush adventure into the off-roading territory of Rajmachi. A small narration HERE

Kohoj ki Khoj

"The rain gods very pleased with the western belt of Maharashtra have been generously leaving the heavenly tap open, washing off the slushy roads, waking up the greenery all around transforming even the most ordinary barren landscapes into green carpets."

Nowhere close to being trekkers, but an excuse to explore the greener side of mother earth transforms you into one.

Read HERE a fun-filled trek that start with four of us and completed with two reaching the top and back to base.

Another stroll in the Park called Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary

There was this cottage like structure on stilts which I had seen on the way towards and had decided to see while coming back. Located a bit off the road at an elevation, it was HAUNTED every inch including the entrance that looked even more scary. I made my way up and looking around from the top, as I turned back the windows started squeaking and banging mildly. To admit I was really scared, but not for long as I realised that the whole cottage was shaking with my weight and so were the windows.

A day's run through into the Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary. A larger summary HERE

Rediscovering heritage in the backyard

Wish I could have shared some more info on this place. But I resolve to be a more learned man on these amazing structures when I make my next trip here.

After coming out of premises of these lovely monuments still in aghast of the amount of manpower that would have gone in making them, I took a small ride around the National Park to re-ignite my school memories. 

Trying to get hold of the munk's attention who by now have become vary and unfazed by flock of visitors..or maybe somehow stardom has made way into their minds ;)

A re-discovering walk in the park. A few memories and info HERE

One trip of a different kind....

After an exciting ride as pillion- it was my turn to return the favour. Firing up the engine and pulling on the revs...."You've got some grunt baby, let me stir you up then!" I murmured. This single pod pod monster feels like a bloody V-Twin with oodles of torque on tap. Swinging between the coconut trees, rolling over the rocky blocks and as soon as I'm about to push harder Rajeev says "Wait wait wait...Deepak go slow. If my Director sees this, he'll get a heart attack". I slow down and a few satisfying minutes later- the wheels come to a rolling stop. Getting off I realised that it was me who was more stirred up than the Honda.

Not a ride, but one hell of a lucky trip....but everything for a bike after all. Here's MORE

Weekend Group Ride to Ratnagiri

In the meanwhile the table was set up, we went out strolling to have glimpse of the rotating beam of the Ratnagiri light house. By the time we are back, everything was set with snacks and baatlis are out. There was an outbreak of laughter since we took our seats. Didn’t know what time we got cracking and how many hours had passed, until Parimal called up at 11.00 pm, who had left Pune at 5 in the evening and had covered more than 450 kms in 6 hours including the 100 kms stretch of between Karad and Chiplun via Kumbharli ghats- takes some guts to ride through that stretch at night. I myself would give it a skip and look for an alternative if I were in his place. Nonetheless his induction into the already running laughter-blaster raised the graph.

One of the memorable rides out with a bunch of biker buddies. Read more about the 2 day outing HERE

Just another one day outing

.......I felt I was in paradise, with the water so pure at your feet, the hills on the other side full of greenery, the blue sky with its cloud friends and except for the breeze singing in your ears…there was not a decibel around- only if I could spot angels flying around…..Losing oneself in the hurricane life on a city, you realize your very existence when you’re at a place as this.

A fun filled outing to Lavasa, Mulshi and Diveagar with 20 horses between the legs and an 89 kg pillion (of course he's the owner). Read more about it HERE

Gunning for the SaddleSore and getting it right

Bumps, speed breakers, potholes- I was bouncing all over. Tried my best to just carry on, but they turned out to be more than a match for my aching wrists and stiff shoulders. Found a stall and stopped over for a tea break. Confirmed with the stall owner of the distance till Hubli. 150 kms it was and I remember Pune was another 435 kms from Hubli. I had decided to conclude the trip at Panvel rather than Lonavla in case the distance minus the odo-error comes into play. It was dot 2 in the night and my plan was to reach Pune before 9 in the morning so that I have a cut-to-cut margin to touch Panvel, which meant that my average speed has to be over 80 kms an hour. Doubts started creeping in whether I could complete it. All the messages and calls made by friends started ringing in my ears- I thought I'd lost it. But then got up and decided whatever result may come- I'll just give whatever I have, I wanted to succeed not for me or the SS certification, but for my friends who had faith that I can do it. From thereon I was fighting against time. 

The story of the 23 hour ride experience filled with jerks, jumps and joy, its HERE

A day's escape to BOREDOM....

.....the whole of Saturday would have gone waste fiddling with the remote control boring myself switching from one TV channel to the other. To frankly admit- am badly broke and for the first time I had to be pillion on a ride- its a different story that I ended up riding his P220 75% of the journey ;) It was decided to ride to Malshej, breathe in some fresh air on the ghats and return back home.

Riding as an excuse to escape one day's boredom. A brief of the ride HERE