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Welcome to chapter fifty-one of our ‘Ready To Ride’ short stories series.

These are five quick snapshots of what we do, where we ride, the laughs had, and the general shenanigans and goings-on, while riding together over the Himalayas & through South India.

I’m posting these every Friday, and they’re an easy read; a few minutes are all you need.

Enjoy!

Alex Pirie
Founder & Lead Rider

You decide the pace you want to ride at…

When you’re riding through such breathtaking landscapes, you’ll want to take it all in.

We get it.

From one of the world’s highest motorable roads at over 18,000 feet, to daunting cliff-hanging mountain tracks, glacier-fed rivers, snow-capped Himalayan peaks or dense forests.

They’re all moments worth capturing.

But it’s more than just taking a photo; it’s about experiencing it fully. Taking the time to stop and be present.

That’s exactly why we encourage riders to go at their own pace. Our team mark the junctions, we have a member at the back to ensure no one’s left behind, and our support truck soon follows.

This is your adventure.

As one of our riders put it – you have the freedom to ride at your own pace, whether that’s as part of a group or solo. It really is that flexible.

100 days until our 1st ride of 2026…

As I’ve said before, the Grand Canyon ride is how I choose to begin each year.

It reminds me why I do what I do.

One of the reasons I love India is because life is so vibrant here – so visceral.

For many of us Westerners, simply being here is enough to wake us up.

That’s what happened to me in 2006 when I came for my first ride.

It wasn’t the destination that mattered; it was the journey.

For me, the Grand Canyon ride reflects everything about that first trip to India.

We visit some amazing places and see some amazing things.

The climate is perfect, the roads are easier, and the scenery is spectacular.

But it’s much more than that. It’s about being present, connecting with like-minded people and feeling alive.

How else would you want to start your year?

“You don’t have to be a hero to accomplish great things.

You can just be an ordinary chap, sufficiently motivated to reach challenging goals.”

– Edmund Hillary.

If you’re motivated to accomplish extraordinary things like riding a motorcycle to one of the most legendary places on Earth – Everest Base Camp – join us on our Rode To Everest adventure.

Top tip to prepare for the weather…

Just look up at the sky!

In all seriousness, whilst we can hazard a guess, we never truly know what the weather will be like – especially up in the Himalayas.

The sky may tell you what you need to know on the day, but that can change in the blink of an eye.

So the real top tip for the weather is to be prepared.
We ride in all conditions. If it rains, we don’t stop.
We put on our waterproofs and carry on.

It might be challenging, yes, but that’s exactly what you’ve come here for: a proper adventure.

So bring layers, waterproofs and everything listed in the essential kit list in the info pack in the link below.

Ready for the challenge?

One of the wettest places in India…

Agumbe is a village in Karnataka state, often called the “Cherrapunji of the South” due to its heavy rainfall.

It’s one of the wettest places in India, and the rainfall contributes to the region’s rich biodiversity, its waterfalls, and one of the last surviving lowland rainforests in the country.

On day six of our route to Udupi, we stop in Agumbe.

We visit outside of the monsoon season, so you’d hardly guess this is one of the wettest villages in South India – especially when the tarmac is dry, and the temperature is touching 30°C.

Our pit stop is a bus station that also doubles as a rest stop (with air conditioning), making it the perfect place to stock up on snacks, water, chai and puris before hitting the road again.

Enjoy the ride.

I’ll see you on the next one.