'Two wheels, one engine, zero limits'

 “Two wheels, one engine, zero limits,” reads one of their messages on their Facebook page.

Another message reads - “We ride; to feel; to touch; to breath; to laugh; to soak; to overcome; to relax; to belong; to heal; to love; more importantly, we ride to live.”
Perhaps, you would have guessed by now. They are a group of riders and the proud owners of “the King of the road - the Royal Enfield’ popularly known as ‘Bullet,’ which over the years has captivated the hearts and minds of many macho Indian males.
A brainchild of Royal Enfield General Manager (Sales & Service) Aakash Aithal and started with just four members on January 1, 2013, and named “Frontline Thumpers,” the Club today has more than 100 members. “Every month we go on a one-day ride to some place, usually a lesser known place, with our family members, and every alternative month, we go on a two-day ride,” Aithal said and added that they have completed 12 rides in 2013 that includes Bekal Fort, Kudremukh, Goa, Ninthikal, Kemmannugundi, Bandipur and Kodachadri among other places.

Stating that every every rider strictly follows the traffic rules and regulations during the rides, Aithal, also a professional racer, clarified that there is no question of racing during any rides.

The oldest member of the club is Dr Abraham Zakariah (65) while the youngest participant is two-year-old Tushar, whose father Srinivas is an engineer by profession.
In fact, Srinivas who too has taken part in all the 12 rides, said that he never misses an opportunity to take part in the monthly rides on his favourite Bullet.

“It is one day where myself and my family members thoroughly enjoy,” he said and quickly adds that he switches off his cell phone on that day.

What if the Bullet breaks down? “Not a problem,” he said and added that a breakdown vehicle (a jeep or a car) follows the riders with two mechanics and all the necessary equipment to repair the mean machines.

Chethan Shetty, yet another rider who has taken part in all 12 rides and a printer by profession, said that during every ride, every participant has to compulsorily wear the full gear that includes elbow guards, knee guards, shoes, jackets and good branded helmets.

Stating that the Club gives top most priority to safety, he said that on many occasions, the Club members have stopped other riders who do not wear helmets and tried to create an awareness on the need to wear helmets and need to follow traffic rules.