Pune (Oct 2011)

OctEleven

Monsoons through and it’s time to shred the hard pack trails again! This October, Pune, my home city is where my buddies and I decided to dig the twenty six inch knobbies. Ignatius Chen Chin Fa and Nilesh Dhumal from Bengaluru showed up with the legendry 1985 Suzuki 800 and their DH rigs strapped on the grey haired roof. Joined by Gautam Taode (Pune), who was off the bike for 3 months with a broken collar bone and Hrishi Mandke, one of India’s nuttiest Streetbike Freestyle riders behind the camera, we were hill bound through the crazy Pune traffic. 

Slashing through classified trails and railing exposed corners in the winter noon sun is what all of us mountain bikers ride for. Jetting through two days of secret trail action with crisp sun and clear skies over our helmets, we decided to navigate towards the good old Pune city trails in the woods. Some of the oldest trails which all of us have grown up riding still shines between the ever encroaching concrete virus. Tree clad singletracks with tight turns and hidden rocks, is what keeps calling us back to this rocky hill. Often used by walkers over the weekend, these trails are best ridden at dawn or noon. And that’s exactly what we planned and executed. Morning till sun down on a weekday, the trails were relished to their peak!
With some decent stills and video captures on our memory cards the OctEleven Pune, dig those knobbies mission, was wrapping up. With more ride plans and bike upgrades typed into our phones, its time to disperse.