The movie ‘Being John Malkovich’ is built around the idea that there is a portal which, if anyone enters, leads to inside of the mind of the actor John Malkovich. People could enter that portal and experience being John Malkovich.

Now of course, with random people entering and leaving his mind, John becomes curious and finds that portal. Once he finds it, he enters it and is lead into a paradoxical world where everyone is, himself. He finds himself in a restaurant , where everyone, including the waiter, the customers, the manager, is himself. As expected, John is quite stunned in the face of this odd situation.

What I have written above is how I can vaguely describe the odd feeling that I had in the initial few hours of being in the rider mania. With every one in this grand get together being a rider by passion, by appearance and by acts, I would say this was a carnival of all bitten by the bug of wanderlust.

Our decision to participate in the rider mania was dicey from the moment the idea popped up. This time of the year comes with a packed schedule for most people and thus it is hard to head out for 4-5 days straight. However, the occasion seemed important and thus we hung on to our decision to go.

We started off for Kiker Lodge, Ropar on 23rd Jan at 8am. We had planned to depart by 6, but ran late. We had to travel 650km from Gwalior to Kiker Lodge, but due to our late start and fog in the later in the night, we had to take a halt at Ambala. So, it was on the next morning that we reached the rider mania.

Apparently, every other group had already reached, we the late comers were offered to perform the ride-in, right away. At this time, the only thing that all of us had in mind was breakfast plus none of us had any idea what a ride-in was. So, we went straight through the cheering crowd of riders, having no idea what was happening and then head straight to our accommodation.

The next two days from here onwards, however were awesome. The place, the crowd, the motorcycles, food and activities pass time with, everything was in place to make up for a great time.

Before starting back, we were keen on not being late making it back on the same day. So, we started off early on 26th Jan and made it through the 650 km of riding finally making it back on the same day at 1opm.

Looking forward to the next rider mania and of course the numerous rides which we would have before that.

On the Yamuna Expressway while on the way to Kiker Lodge for Rider Mania 2015
And he is off! A rider begins his time trial at the Rider Mania 2015
As the bulleteers arrived at Kiker Lodge for rider mania 2015. Greeted by the Ji Aayan Nu Board
The royal enfield service camp at rider mania 2015
A rider with his royal enfield at rider mania 2015
At rider mania 2015
A block style tyre on a Royal Enfield motorcycle customized to perform on soft tracks. Shot taken just before the rider took off for his turn
Republic day fever on the rise at rider mania 2015
On the Yamuna Expressway while on the way to Kiker Lodge for Rider Mania 2015
An impressive looking royal enfield at the rider mania 2015
A loaded and dirty Royal Enfield looking just the way it is mean to, at the Rider Mania 2015
A happy rider with his Royal Enfield at the Rider Mania, 2015 at Kiker Lodge, Ropar, Punjab
A good looking royal enfield desert storm at the rider mania 2015
At the rider mania 2015
The narrow track going through tall grass. A part of the track for the time trials at rider mania 2015
Royal enfield parked near the stage area at rider mania 2015
Riders from Madras Bulls at Rider Mania 2015
The food tent at rider mania 2015
Hot water points attracted riders on winter mornings like flowers attracts honey bees
A rock concert in progress on the second night of rider mania 2015
The ash color royal enfield classic parked outside a tent at the rider mania 2015
While on the way to Kiker Lodge for Rider Mania 2015
at rider mania 2015
at rider mania 2015
On the way to Kiker Lodge for Rider Mania 2015
The resort area parking lot at rider mania 2015
On the Yamuna Expressway while on the way to Kiker Lodge for Rider Mania 2015
Graffiti wall at rider mania 2015
The official merchandise stall at the rider mania 2015
A royal enfield at rider mania 2015
An interesting looking tank fixed on a motorcycle raring to go for the time trials at rider mania 2015
At Deviram Sweets, Agra while on the way to Kiker Lodge for Rider Mania 2015
A memoir photo for Republic day with We Royal Riders, Agra after having lunch on Yamuna Expressway
The red bull pyramid tent at rider mania 2015
At the Sukhdev Dhaba near Sonepat, while on the way to Kiker Lodge for Rider Mania 2015
On the way to Kiker Lodge for Rider Mania 2015
On the Yamuna Expressway while on the way to Kiker Lodge for Rider Mania 2015
The narrow track going through tall grass. A part of the track for the time trials at rider mania 2015
at rider mania 2015
While on the way to Kiker Lodge for Rider Mania 2015
Team mates cheer a rider as he returns from his stint at the time trials during the Rider Mania 2015
A rider splashing through mud near the end of his lap in the time trials at rider mania 2015
One of the rooms at the Kiker Lodge, venue for Rider Mania 2015
Riders huddled around the numerous bon fires at the rider mania 2015
An air borne rider on his royal enfield during the time trials at Rider Mania 2015
The narrow track going through tall grass. A part of the track for the time trials at rider mania 2015
Hari Shankar Arora with the Asif Khan’s standard 500 CI, trying to get a feel a recently maintained engine
A rider with his royal enfield at rider mania 2015
The narrow track going through tall grass. A part of the track for the time trials at rider mania 2015
On the way through the roads of ropar, to the Kiker Lodge, venue for Rider Mania 2015
Rider ready for his turn during the time trials at rider mania 2015
One of the dorm tents at the rider mania 2015
Royal Enfields parked outside a tent at tent city during rider mania 2015
Flags of various rider groups at rider mania 2015
The participant band at the rider mania 2015
The bring your own tent area at rider mania 2015
The main stage at the rider mania 2015
Night lamps for sale at the official merchandise stall at rider mania 2015
As the bulleteers arrived at Kiker Lodge for rider mania 2015. Greeted by the Ji Aayan Nu Board
Royal Enfield stall at rider mania 2015. Great discounts on the rider pants, of which I will soon be posting a complete review
The mountain dew motorcycle, which was the customized royal enfield give away for the raffles at rider mania 2015