BLOG

Welcome to chapter twenty four 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

We’re on the move…

Today, we rode out of Kathmandu on a beautiful and challenging route that runs alongside the Trishuli River.

Those who’ve done this adventure before will know exactly the one we mean! Riding in Kathmandu has definitely improved, but it will always keep you on your toes – and rightly so.

This is no holiday.

After a few snack stops and some glorious mountain roads, we arrived at our destination in the rich, dense jungle of Langtang National Park, near Syabrubesi.

Tomorrow is the day everything changes – roads, time zones, food, people, terrain.

It’s mind-blowing how much can shift in just a few hours.

We’ve got an early start ahead, as the border crossing from Nepal into Tibet with our foreign-registered motorcycles is a slow and complicated process.

We don’t compromise on safety….

I’m a mechanic by trade, so hopefully nothing gets past me.

That means you won’t find any of our motorcycles with bald tyres, bad brakes, or bashed fuel tanks. They’re all immaculate and in new condition.

At the start and end of each day, our mechanics check over the motorcycles and fix any issues that have been flagged to me.

Our mechanics are also on hand during the ride, just in case.

We don’t repair inner tubes, we fit new ones.
If your horn’s starting to fail, we’ll replace it.

Safety is our first concern.

No expense is spared.

Yes, you’ll need a pen…

Yesterday, we talked about the daily preparation that goes into getting our motorcycle fleet ready during rides.

But it’s just as important to prepare ourselves for the day ahead. While the motorcycles get their final tweaks in the morning, we kick things off with a hearty breakfast to fuel us for the road.

Then we check out and take our gear down to the bikes.

Next comes the important part: the briefing.

This covers the day’s route, any safety aspects that need to be considered.

Each day begins with a briefing, you’ll have your ride guide on hand to jot down key notes – things like busier areas and potential chai stops…… this is where the pen comes in handy. Once the briefing is wrapped up, we might hand out t-shirts to those who’ve earned them, and then it’s time to saddle up for the journey ahead.

“What an adventure!

We had a great bunch of riders and fantastic weather.

I’m still telling everyone how great the trip was and will do for quite some time.

Mount Everest Base Camp – my dream come true.

Thank you to the Nomadic Knights team” – Robin.

Robin gets it.
And we get it.

When you achieve lifelong dreams, it’s hard not to talk about them at every opportunity – even when no one’s asked.

Your friends and family might end up sarcastically asking, “Have you been to Everest…you haven’t mentioned it?,” but the experience is worth the stick!

Sunshine.
Motorcycles.
Tarmac.

Winding through the Western Ghats.

Day 5 of our Grand Canyon India ride has to be one of the best riding days.

Plenty of turns and smooth tarmac, with the sun beaming down as we climb through this incredible mountain range.

Of course, it wouldn’t be India without the occasional broken road, but it’s safe to say the roads have improved massively here. A cool breeze follows us as we wind up through the dense forests.

Massive butterflies flutter past.
The forests buzz with wildlife.
Your senses are alive with excitement.

Everything feels so vivid here – the bright orange earth, the lush green vegetation, and the brilliant blue sky – all seen from the seat of a motorcycle.

You can’t help but smile.

Enjoy the ride.

I’ll see you on the next one.