The twist of the throttle can be an exhilarating experience for those who seek adventure on two wheels. And this feeling of adventure can be best explained by those who are part of the Goa Motorcycle Club.
With a remarkable experience of 40 rides, covering a distance of 12,000 kms, the 210 riders of the Goa Motorcycle Club know it all. The memories its members have accrued as part of the club are too many to count. Peter Fernandes, who leads the group of riders in Goa, provides some insight into the life of a motorcycling enthusiast.
SAFETY FIRST
Sharing some of his travel memories, Peter reflects on the diverse age group within the club. “Our youngest rider is 19 and the oldest is about 45. We ride together almost every month to different venues for recces that are equally adventurous, and at times expensive.” He recollects a trip during the monsoons when the bikers cleared the roads which were littered with broken branches and uprooted trees.
Peter and his team make certain that everyone are wearing full riding gear on the trips. He says, “The gear must include a full-face helmet, riding jacket with proper armour, riding pants or knee guards, gloves and shoes. The bikes should be over 250 cc and each rider should be willing to pay the contribution fee as well, which might vary depending on the ride.”
The gear must include a full-face helmet, riding jacket with proper armour, riding pants or knee guards, gloves and shoes. The bikes should be over 250 cc.
Peter Fernandes, rider
The Goa Motorcycle Club currently has different bike ranges in the group like Royal Enfield, KTM and Hero among others. Riders carry with them tool kits, a puncture kit and a first-aid kit in case any inadvertent situations occur.
Peter says that every ride has a theme, terrain type and difficulty level. “We make sure to inform everyone in advance if there are trails or off-roading sections on the ride. On challenging rides, invitations are sent to a selected few, who ride adventure and scrambler types of motorcycles,” he informs.
TRAINING WOMEN
Despite the negative stereotypes surrounding motorcyclists, the adrenaline rush of riding is increasingly appealing to women. The Goa Motorcycle Club has trained nine women to ride motorbikes, out of which three are regulars on the monthly rides.
“Motorcycling sees no gender. We need to have more women riders and we are in the process of training more of them. But training them for the long rides is a long process, which takes five to six months. Women look for safety, and we try our best to keep them as safe as possible,” adds Peter.
THE MOTORCYCLING CLUB CULTURE
Like Goa, every state has a motorcycling club which plays a major role in galvanizing the motorcycling fraternity. Talking more about this culture, Peter says that every club has a coordinator who is just a call away and is involved in assisting different territories.
“In Goa, we do the same. We are the point of contact for riders from other clubs across India and make them feel at home when they travel to Goa. This ensures that the rider has someone to reach out to in case of any emergency. We hosted a motorcycling club from Congo, Africa, for a two-day ride in Goa in August 2024,” says Peter.
We are the point of contact for riders from other clubs across India and make them feel at home when they travel to Goa. This ensures that the rider has someone to reach out to in case of any emergency
Peter Fernandes, rider
He adds that some of the states have a strong motorcycling culture. In fact, in places like the North East, the riders ride with the team from point to point. “There is a culture that when they host us, we don’t pay them, but instead buy things for them as a good gesture,” informs Peter, who has travelled to many states.
AN INCIDENT TO REMEMBER
One of the Goa Motorcycle Club riders decided to re-fuel on a trip to Maharashtra. But, instead of petrol, the fuel attendant filled diesel in the tank.
“We were at a spot on the ghats far away from civilisation. But a few of our riders managed to remove the tank, emptied out the fuel and refitted it, all within 30-45 minutes or so,” says Peter Fernandes.
It is impromptu adventures like these that make motorcycling exciting. It is no wonder riding is gradually gaining popularity among people. It is definitely one way of beating the blues with the wind in one’s face creating a liberating experience.