Ask any bike lover about their favourite ride, and they all have loads of stories to talk about. Some talk about the adventurous hill rides, and some can’t stop talking about their first ride in the rain. But for 23-year-old Goutam Uyyala, it is the ride to rural areas, which he says is maximum fun.
Living in a large city like Hyderabad, obviously, doesn’t expose one to how the villages are, and how different they are from the cities. “Riding from a city to a village is like travelling from one world to another,” says Goutam.
He bought his first bike, a Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350 cc, three years ago. He still uses the same bike. “Even after three years, it feels the same, like the first ride, every time,” he says, proudly. He no doubt loves his bike. However, he doesn’t personify the vehicle like many other riders do. He believes that objects are meant to be objects.
Like all Royal Enfield bike riders, he also feels proud to ride one on the busy roads of Hyderabad. But he never misses the chance to ride through the deserted wider highways. Sunset on a clear day is the time of day when he most loves to go on a ride. “Only bike lovers can tell you how much fun it is to ride their favourite bike in the weather they like the most,” says Goutam.
He often goes for rides to the surrounding villages of Hyderabad. One place near Hyderabad that he keeps going back to is Anantagiri hills at Vikarabad. Located about 80 kilometres away from city, the greenery and peaceful environment of the hills make for a spectacular riding experience.
When asked which bike he would want to ride if given a chance, without any hesitation he says, “Harley Davidson Street”. He knows that it is only a dream now, but it may not take long to make it come true, if he works hard to achieve it. “I truly believe that one day I will ride my dream bike,” he says.
— durgam.jeevan@newindianexpress.com