Solo Trip – A Dream with Open Eyes

Hail you! You know what? If you’re planning to ride solo, you’ve already earned a great mark of respect from your loved ones. Your friends and family must already be excited to follow you on your journey. Your Facebook and Instagram accounts are craving for pictures, and you must feed them to enrich yourself and others about your bike trip.

You’ll surely agree, that a rider who is planning to ride solo into the wild has definitely got more than one reason other than just a ride. He is either in search of a good time – a time for peace, a time away from the madding crowd, or a time where there is no one but the motorcycle and its master. However, in this time of solitude, as a rider, you need to make some intelligent decisions for yourself so that you return safely.

The very first thing riders suggest is to start early and finish early. Try to wake up by 5:30 – 6 am, shower, have a good breakfast, and be on the bike before 8 am. Believe us, it’s an incredible feeling watching the world wake up from the seat of your motorcycle. Also, if you’re on a long trail, the earlier you start, the earlier you can finish. Pull into a town in the afternoon - get a quick nap – feel fresh on the bike – dine early – be in bed by 10 pm.

On a long trip, most likely you will deal with every kind of weather and road. Deserts can be freezing cold and mountains might welcome you with sunny summer. To be prepared for such odds, suit up well with a nice riding gear. It must include a leather jacket, a pair of gloves, high-ankle boots, sunglasses, face mask and a full-faced helmet.

Also, your very first concern should be your bike. To keep it secure, you always need to carry a motorcycle cover and a basic tool kit. It should include a fold-up allen wrench, one flat head screwdriver, multipurpose pocket knife, a pair of pliers, a flashlight, tyre sealants, and a patch kit.

Don’t forget to inspect your bike before you start. Check it again when you refuel, when you stop for lunch, when you halt to admire nature, and when you park your bike for the day. The things that will ask for your attention are tyres, chain and sprockets, leaks beneath the bike, lights and indicators. Take care of them and they will take care of you.

Also, eat smart and stay hydrated. Lunch should be light, and daytime snacks should be healthy and full of energy. Try fruit, Granola or yoghurt. Also, drink enough water every day, at least a litre an hour in hot weather to avoid dehydration.

Make your emergency contact and medical information easily accessible. The best way is to write down this personal information on a small piece of paper – cover it with see through waterproof tape – and put it into a small pouch that sticks to your helmet. This way you will make it easy for people to help you in case of emergency.

Hope you found these solo travel tips useful. If you have any thoughts and comments, download the Trails Of India app from Google Play Store or iOS App Store, and let your experiences be known to the world.

A tech geek, who love to explore and share about the latest bike technology.