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Welcome to chapter nine 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

“When making experiences, attention to detail matters”…

We couldn’t agree more.

In a fast paced world, the art of detail can be skipped over far too easily. Is it a decrease in attention, or is it selectively choosing what we want to know?

We’re not entirely sure.

But what we do know is that the little details are vital and can really shape our experiences. That’s why we share so much information about our adventures. We understand how much time and resources you invest in joining us – so do yourself a favour and do the work.

Take the time to read the information and details.

Do the research and be as prepared as you can be. At the end of the day, you get out what you put in.

And if anything is unclear, just ask the question.

When it comes to high altitudes and the places we visit, attention to detail and preparation are absolutely crucial.

Some things are worth waking up at 4am for…

Sunrise at India’s Grand Canyon is definitely one of them.

We’re picked up by minibuses that occasionally flicker to life with bright lights as passengers try to catch an extra 40 winks. It’s still dark when we arrive at Gandikota, and we amble through the old fort on ancient cobblestones.

A pink hue spreads across the sky as it slowly begins to lighten, and we take our positions, waiting for the sun to rise.

As we gaze out at the breathtaking canyon and the Penna River, conversations flow, cameras click, drones buzz overhead, and adventurers scramble over the rocks, testing their limits.

Then, like a distant beacon, the sun appears – glowing through the mist.

This is what we’ve ridden east for, and as you can imagine – it’s totally worth it.

Moments worth capturing…

It’s not every day you ride the world’s 1st, 2nd & 3rd highest motorable passes.

But on our Roof Of India ride, we’re able to ride all 3 – in 2 days – not bad, right?

On Day 11, riders have the option to ride the highest motorable road at over 18,000 feet – it may only be 50km but it’s still a great test of endurance.

On the following day, we tackle the second and third highest motorable roads in the world – traversing at well over 5,000 metres high.

It’s a momentous achievement that’s understandably photographed by many.

But the photos aren’t necessary as these are those moments that will stay with you forever.

Which would you choose?

Left – legendary, can be a challenge but smoother as time goes on – worth the ride.

Middle – challenging, full of conversations round campfires & brings the best out of people.

Right – hotter than the other two, more laidback but still a challenge – takes you to places you never knew existed.

All 3 are guaranteed to stay in your mind for a very long time.

“Are we going the right way?!”

Sometimes in life, we need the reassurance that the road we’ve taken is the right one – but we never truly know until we’ve headed further down the road.

The same can be said for adventures. As the days go by, some riders will form smaller groups riding at a similar pace.

As the hours of jaw-dropping scenery and miles of challenging trails pass, it’s easy to fall into a trance. Pure bliss. Until you suddenly realise you’ve not seen another rider or part of the support team for a while.

The need for reassurance kicks in.

We might speed up.
Stop to ask one another.
Check the map.

Just like everyday life, we must resist the urge to panic, trust the process and head a little further down the road.

Enjoy the ride.

I’ll see you on the next one.