'Ladies are better riders'

Bangalore boasts of plenty of bikers and bike clubs. But when you come across an 82-year-old biker with the energy and harm of a 20-year-old, you are bound to sit up
and notice.

   Meet R Chakravarthy, an octogenarian from the RD 350 Club, whose love for bikes and life is unmatched. Metrolife recently spoke to the biker, who took part in the ‘Chai and Pakoda Run’ in Bangalore, a build up to the ‘India Bike Week’ which
will be held in Goa in January.

“Any journey on the bike is inspiring. It does something to you,” he says about his love for the wheels. “Once you experience it, it gets into your system. It’s not bad like alcohol but you want to do it again,” he adds.

Though he is a part of RD 350, he is interested in all the bike clubs of Bangalore.

“Bike clubs are mushrooming everywhere. Bikers are like family and we love each other. There is no jealousy or competition between us. In fact, we want to have more rides,” he notes.

A retired employee of HAL, Chakravarthy started riding at the age of 14.  “I used to ride the Indian Super Chief and go from Basavangudi to Jakkur for flying. It used to be the most thrilling journey,” says the man, who loves to cycle and horseride among other things.

“I have learnt everything. In fact, in 1980, when the HAL employees went on an industrial strike, I drove their bus for three months. I have even driven trucks at night,” he recalls. His most thrilling rides have been the ones from Nasik to Bangalore.

“I had done it twice. Once on an ex army bike and once on a BSA Scooter,” he adds.
Chakravarthy cheerfully says that the traffic on the road those days used to
be bullock carts with bamboos and donkeys! “While there were bulls on one side of the road, there were donkeys on the other,” he says.

Comparing the old bikes to the new, he jokes, “Those days, there was an interaction between you and the machine. Now, it is only between the technician and the machine. You only ride!”

 So much is his love for his bikes that he always worries more about his machines’ health than his own.

Ask him about his association with the ‘India Bike Week’ and he says, “It’s a great initiative. I’ve been telling everyone to start a club where bikers can come together and enjoy. So this is a carnival of sorts.”

He adds, “I see a lot of enthusiasm among youngsters to ride. But I always tell them that when do wheelies and other stunts, they should ensure that they don’t endanger the lives of others.”

He is also happy about two other things — the boom of foreign bikes like Harley in India and the rise of women riders.

“Ladies are in no way inferior. In fact, they are better riders. It’s just that they were suppressed all this while,” he feels. As far as fitness is concerned, Chakravarthy doesn’t compromise on it. “Even now, I walk from Basavangudi to Banashankari III Stage. I’m slowly starting to practise yoga too. But my main motto is to not look back in life or have any regrets,” he sums up.

Well, this sure is a great advice for all.