I know it's too late to post a report on Raid, but “better late than never”. I wrote this report because I want everyone to know Raid from biker’s side which is the toughest part of raid, according to me and almost all the rally enthuses who have done Raid will agree with it. I gave the Raid entry in early September although I knew it is very late and I could end up doing raid unprepared but my decision of doing raid was just a jealousy as my friend who did raid in a gypsy was calling me again and again while he was on recci. I couldn’t control myself and sold my brand new I-phone which I had bought just 3 days back and gave the entry. Being a 20 year old, I completely relied on my parents to finance me for the event, though I managed half of the expenses myself and thanks to Sanjay sir for the discounted entry fees. Then came the biggest question, what will I ride? I didn’t have any bike at that time for the raid. I knew only one man can arrange it at such a short notice. I called Yogesh Lakhani and he made my life so easy as he offered me if I am comfortable driving an apache rtr 160. I can’t think of anything better because I used to ride the same model from last year or even more than that.

So everything was ready bikes, documents and me for the recci. I took my friend and a promising rider Gaurav from Chandigarh with me for the recci and we caught up with rupi on the way to shimla and he joined us the next day. We planned to do the recci of first leg only. But we were not able to complete the first leg as gaurav’s Yamaha seized and we were feeling very tired, so we decided to go back to shimla after completing two stages. I prepared my bike after coming from recci and the engine was needed to be done, so the whole cylinder kit was changed at yogesh lakhani’s workshop in Chandigarh. There I met with nick bhaiya. It was so inspiring to meet him as he was back after two years all the way from USA to do the event and that too after what happened with him last time. I was not satisfied with the engine after testing it for 500 kms but I didn’t want to make any last minute changes to my bike, so I left it on god. The whole service team decided to meet at yogesh;s workshop and left for shimla together. So the whole gang including yogesh bhaiya on karizma, nick bhaiya on wr 450, sandeep bhaiya on pulsar 200, amardev bhaiya on karizma and me on apache rtr reached shimla with no major problems except the continuous fluttering of my bike. We all passed our scrutiny easily the following day. Our service cars arrived that day and finally my bike was in perfect condition for the start next day. But nothing can be so smooth when it’s Raid. The fuel gauge of my bike started leaking and it took the mechanics 2 hours to stop that leakage.

Finally the day arrived we all left the hotel after 2 hours sleep and proceeded towards guma (parc ferme) at 4 am. It was a 2 hour dark and bumpy ride to the parc ferme. I reached there took the start of my 3rd raid. I only ate few chocolates before the start of the first stage. The first victim of raid was rupi when he went down the hill in the first few kms of the stage. He was holding a tree when some villagers rescued him. I landed on a rock after crossing a ditch and my exhaust broke from the head. I was short of power due to the broken exhaust, so I decided to speed up in downhill which was a bad decision and I nearly saw my end twice in a couple of kms. I decided to calm things down and ride it like Raid and not like a motocross event. I overtook 4 bikes in the stage and completed the stage in an average time. Then I did the second stage and passed it quite easily and in a good time. We had a lot of time for the next transport so I decided to fix my exhaust as I was feeling very less power in the bike and I only had first day to make an impact otherwise on the following days big bikes would get hold of me. Unfortunately after spending an hour in a welding shop, I was not able to repair it. So I had to continue without an exhaust. My top speed was reaching around 70 kms on a straight road and that too after 20 or 25 secs. I was really frustrated at that time. I somehow completed the last stage and did the long transport to manali. I expected to get my bike repaired in manali but people were not very keen to help in a cold night and my service crew couldn’t do anything about it. The biggest concern for me at that time was how will I pass rohtang pass and do kaza section twice and ride to patseo in a single day without an exhaust.

I woke up for the start of the next day hoping that I’ll manage to pass through. It was a cold, dark early morning start from manali. I was wearing 5 layers of clothes on the top and maybe 4 layers at bottom and still feeling cold when I climbed up to rohtang pass. Then came the worst nightmare for me in the raid- The Deadly Black Ice. I passed the black ice with utmost caution while descending from rohtang to gramphoo. But I was very happy that I didn’t had a fall but some bikers had two or three falls in those 10 kms itself. The transport nearly finished the rally for yogesh lakhani as his rear brake plate was broken halfway and he was forced to have 2 hrs transport penalty. He somehow got the start for the stage and overtook almost 30 adventure trial cars and 5 bikes in a 50 kms stage. He rode the stage like hell and finished the stage in fastest time. Amardev bhaiya overtook me in the first 10 kms of the stage as it was uphill but I caught him on the descent to chhatru. I finished the stage with the forearms swelled as I have to hold the throttle at full for the whole stage. I can’t drop the throttle because it was very hard for me to gain the momentum and the top speed again. I removed my shoes when I reached there. My feet were freezing and when I removed the shoes I saw ice in them formed by the splashing water which went in my shoes. I did the tiring transport back to gramphoo and took some rest there but thanks to yogesh bhaiya which reminded me that I didn’t had enough time for the remaining transport, so I rode the bike as fast as I could and reached their exactly on time. It was a very smooth stage after that. Finally reached patseo and we could have something to eat after more than 12 hours without food. I preferred to have a sleep though. My head was aching and thoughts about black ice which I have to encounter next day was making me uncomfortable. I did some repairs and tried another weld at my exhaust but it didn’t work and slept after a good dinner made by army.

The morning was extremely cold and I couldn’t even buckle my shoes as they got contracted due to the cold. Everyone was fit and ready for the 100 kms stage full of black ice but then came the good news that the stage is cancelled for bikers. Everyone was happy because no one wanted to do that stage as the snow felt yesterday night and no one wanted to ride on fresh ice. We all took some group pics of bikers and enjoyed our 1 hour break. But still we have to take the start in almost 0 temp. and pass the long stretches of black ice. The benefit was, we could do it in a group. I took the start for the 250 kms of transport stage. I passed all the patches of black ice with great caution and didn’t wanted to had a fall but some did and everyone helped each other and crossed the area. I had a stupid fall at gatta loops when I was taking a hairpin, I bent my bike too much even though I knew the roads here don’t offer so much grip. Ashish bhaiya picked my bike and my knee was scratched but I had to continue. I did the marathon transport passing through MORE PLAINS. I took the start of the 45 kms stage and proceeded slowly towards tanglang la but I overtook two bikes on the descent from that point. I was completely exhausted and frustrated when I reached leh because of the 2 days of riding without an exhaust and any engine power. The service crew fixed the exhaust for temporary resistance and I started believing in myself that I can get the 1st position in grp C. I only had to beat amardev bhaiya who was 5 mins in front of me. Yogesh bhaiya was lacking behind after the transport penalty but he was never out of the equation. The whole service members reached leh instead of having major problems. I didn’t had any exhaust, Nick bhaiya rode without brakes for the whole 2nd leg, amardev bhaiya had a flat tyre in the last transport to leh, yogesh bhaiya had a broken rear drum plate and 2 hr penalty and sandeep bhaiya had two broken rear tyre barrings on the first day. rest of the report i'll post in a day

Wow true grit and determination.
I have been waiting for participants to write in their experience but somehow most of them prefer not to. Carry on.

look forward to concluding part

Nice writeup Ankit. Look forward to part 2....How is Aussie land treating you ??

It certainly takes a lot of grit to raid the himalayas on a motorcycle. Well done buddy. Do post some pics too when u get time.

Well riden and well writen Ankit, Looking forward to the next part.

After 3 days of intense mental and physical pressure, everyone was ready for the fourth leg which was leh-kargil-rangdum camp. The First day was bone breaker especially for those driving Indian bikes. The second day was frustrating for me at least. It is very annoying to see everyone making time on you and you can’t do anything about it because you have mechanical failures which can’t be fixed. The following day was emotions buster. The ride on black ice patches where we(bikers) can’t brake, can’t accelerate on and through it, can’t degair, can’t release or hold clutch and can’t shift your balance on either sides. We literally can’t do anything on it, just pass the long patches on rpm around 1.5 or 2 and pray that you don’t fall.

Anyways, everyone was there and fit for the start which was the most important thing. We always get a white scarf by the localites of leh when we reach there during Raid. Everyone believes it is for good luck and should be wrapped with handle bar. I got it too but it was my destiny that I left it in the hotel room. I took the start as 5th overall and 2nd in group C in a cold, damp early morning in leh. It was a long transport but on a very good road. We all gathered at Pathar Sahib Gurudwara which is just 30 kms from leh and everyone stops there during raid. There sandeep bhaiya asked me what you wished in there? And I said that everyone completes the rally safely. He said in a teasing way that everyone will complete the rally but what about you? We all had a laugh at it and moved on our way to Khaltse for the first stage. The stage was of 85 kms and mostly tarmac. Nick bhaiya was lucky to catch up with service crew before the stage as he was without a clutch for most of the transport, so he got it all fixed. I was the fastest in first few kms of the stage according to the officials which is fascinating for me. I knew that I had to adopt the same strategy of slowly climbing the hill and give it the best I have on the descent. Sunny bhaiya soon overtook me and was got scared from my bike sounding like a chopper without an exhaust. But he told me to follow his line because I was going all over the place with my racing line because I couldn’t break the momentum at anytime but he said that keep following me and you will get faster. So I started following his line which was very tough though. I did this for 10 kms and after that it was the time to push on some gas as the downhill started and I couldn’t afford to stay back more. My aim was to decrease the difference between me and amardev bhaiya’s timing as he was 4th overall. But then I heard gypsy coming. I knew it would be rana’s suv. I avoided it for some time but I knew there was no point of keeping him at your back all the time. So, I gave him the side and let him go. He took a sharp right turn turning downwards. I was blind for a couple of seconds as the dirt rise and stones were hitting me and when I reached the same turn, everything I screwed up. I found myself in a situation where I have to break hard otherwise I would be down in the valley and maybe not even be found for next 10 years. I braked as hard as I can but suddenly the front tyre skidded and hit a small rock on the road and the way it went was horrible for me. I can’t forget that moment for rest of the life. My bike was scratching down the hill and I was skidding on the road. I end up hanging from a cliff with only my hands holding some bits of grass and rest of the body was hanging down. It was a complete movie scene. The first thing which came to my mind was shit! I lost it. Then I thought where I am? I pulled my self up and thanks to god that bits of grass were strong enough. I somehow came up, it was very tough though with those big shoes and 5 layers of clothes and the gloves on. Then I saw my bike which was around 150 feets down in the valley. I knew everything was over. I wanted to have that moment captured. I took out my mobile which broke too. I took some pictures but was feeling very bad at the same time. An official’s car came and I sat with them and they dropped me to the end of the stage. I met my other service crew there and we went to rangdum camp. Meanwhile the officials which dropped me there informed their senior members about my crash and told my service to pick the bike from there and leave it on road. The recovery vehicle will take it from the road and bring it to kargil. My first service did that. The officials at kargil petrol pump acted in a very irresponsible way. The officials told me that recovery van will bring it at any cost and I don’t need to worry about it. So I went to ragdum with my other service crew and stayed there overnight. It was freezing cold there. The lowest night temperature recorded was -15 degrees.

I woke up next morning hoping to see my bike or at least get a news of it. But the driver of recovery van said “ mujhe to kisi ne kaha hi nai tha. Maine bike dekha par mujhe kisi ne kaha nai tha to main leke nai aya” and I was like wtf. U saw it and then also didn’t bring it. I told all this to the official who told me not to worry and he said ya actually we didn’t had any contact with him. So he didn’t bring it. I was like so, what should I do now. I am at a camp 100 kms away from any city and 300 kms away from my bike. How should I go back to kargil. I can’t take the service because others need it. I met with a guy mukul who was driving a swift in tsd. He was going back to kargil so I told him and he took me with him. He was very kind to accommodate a room in kargil for free. I first thought of going to the crash place in that night itself by a taxi and bring the bike. But suddenly I met with two guys driving in tsd in kargil market and they told me that they saw my bike and cops took it to khaltse. I felt so relieved that it was safe. I stayed there for the night and woke up at 6 am the next day.

I hired a taxi and paid him to go to khaltse and bring the bike back to kargil. We reached there in afternoon and I saw my bike and just hugged it. A cop saw that and called me. I paid him for the transportation and loaded the bike in the car. I reached kargil at 8pm. There I changed the taxi and convinced someone to take to me to Srinagar that night only with my bike. It was a long journey which seemed never ending but I was happy that I have got my bike and I am going to meet my friends. Finally I reached Srinagar at 2am. I called a friend in the hotel and went in his room. I ate a apple there after 26 hours without food and a drop of water and traveled more than 500 kms in a day. It is the most horrifying experience I ever had.

After that we had party next night and I loaded my bike on a truck which dropped my bike in my hometown. It was a good experience but could have been better if I had finished the rally and had a position. But it will not stop me, I’ll keep coming again and again and well prepared than before. The only thing which pinches me every time is why cars are given first preference in a rally. No one know that 2 or 3 bikers went down the hill this year. Rupi rode 250 kms in last leg with a broken right wrist. Sunny bhaiya rode 100 kms on a flat rear tyre. Nick bhaiya had no brakes for almost throughout the rally. A biker rode a bullet for 150 kms without a rear brake lever. But everyone knows that a gypsy went down the hill and a gypsy driver had 2 flat tyres for 75 kms. Gypsy’s went through black ice sliding and hitting the rocks. So what! we also did this but why we are not mentioned anywhere. Anyways, I don’t want to start a controversy on this. I started this topic so that everyone shares their unique rally experiences. And nick bhaiya why don’t you give it a try. Write a report from your side. I would love to read it.

An absolutely fantastic report, Ankit!!!

Hey Ankit !! Nice report, brought back all the memories. I have a feeling you are gonna come back stronger next year. Thank god I didn’t have to deal with the gypsy’s so much. Almost got into a fight with one of the gypsy guys for not giving me room to overtake him on the way to Rangdum but I think it is all part of the game . I wish we had some thing like a sentinel system ( like in Dakar) where we could buzz the vehicle in front of us to let them know that you are behind them.

The reason I didn’t write a report was that I felt it lacked a visual. So I decided to make a photo album on my profile on facebook with captions underneath all the pics. I thought I would tell a story and give you a picture to look at too. I posted a link here too.

Here it goes again, for people who missed it.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=1 ... 7e2e7ad4e1

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=1 ... e26471d6d4

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=1 ... dff0444fb2


Hope you enjoy, let me know if you think a album with captions is good thing or would like for me to do something different ?? Your input will help us all improve our post event updates.

Beautiful write up. I can feel the agony and joy shared by you in the report.



While I never got to rally I did read a lot and perused the regulations and I am surprised that Gypsy and Bike were in the same section together. AFAIK there should be at least 30 minutes difference in start of the two (the last of one and first of other) categories.

Did the Gypsy catch up 30 minutes on you?

thankyou all for the replies.
@Nick- i loved your albums and have already commented on it. i also wanted to share my pics in this post but don't know how to upload it here.
@Miti- the gap is given at the first stage of the rally but after that it' a mixed start according to everyone's day timings.

Great report - it has brought out the emotions very well.
Raghu

well done Ankit... both in the event and in you writing about it....i know exactly how much effort both take......Tell me someone.. why do cars or gyps ..Flag off after the bikes????.. seems a bit silly to me... Down under... Bikes flg off after cars have cleared the stage... This lets the organisers concentrate on the bikes... am i wrong in assuming that Bikes have more crashes than cars.... by that i mean Injuries be it minor or major.....


Need more like Ankit here..... next time take a small digital...Have you fixed your bike yet???

Hey tom , It about time he had a cool picture upload feature on this forum . It is becoming very difficult and annoying for people to use other websites to host their pics and then share it on the forum. What do you think ????

Niaz, there are two schools of thought here...

1. If the cars are flagged off first, they change the nature of the track (ruts / gravel piling up) and the bikers get a track different from that which they may have recce'd, and have problems in maintaining their racing line.
2. If the bikes are flagged off first, the cars would tend to overtake them in the stage (unless they're not flagged off till the last biker has cleared, which leads to major delays) leading to safety issues.

Depends on which one you think is less problematic!