Conquering the Himalayas on a 150cc bike
Parishrut Jhina is crazy about motorbikes. He lives, breathes, eats and sleeps motorbikes. For the 25-year-old student who works as a bakery chef in Auckland, motorbikes are not just style statements but the avenue for participating in what he calls “ultimate adventure”.
It was this passion for the two-wheelers that forced the young man to travel to India and take part in the Maruti Suzuki Raid de Himalaya 2010 rally. The route passes through one of the most difficult and inhospitable natural terrains for motorbikes in the western Himalayas.
It runs a length of 2000 km of barely tarred roads, dirt tracks and slush caused by rain. Riders have to often encounter freezing weather conditions. It covers some of the highest motorable places in the world, including the famous Spiti valley and Patseo (4830 metres), Sarchu (4551m) in Lahaul valley, and the formidable Baralacha la (4883m).
The bikers struggle on through inclement weather, with numbed and chilled limbs, frequent tosses and shattering, not to mention spinal jerks. They spend nearly a week on course spending at least two days above an altitude of 15,000ft, stay at hotels during nights and sometimes just in tents outside, in the freezing mountain temperatures.
Because of the low octane in Indian and Tibetan fuel, some riders are even burdened with carrying extra fuel for themselves. There are road checks every 30 kilometers to make sure no competitors have wandered off-course.
The sport is certainly not for the faint hearted and can frighten people who are not up to the challenge.
In all 167 participants registered up for the adventure, which included 54 motorcyclists, 43 competitors in the 4 wheel X-treme version and 70 in the 4 wheel Adventure Trail version. Among the motorcyclists, there were 5 Austrians, 2 from the US and one each from Canada and New Zealand.
Parishrut rode to glory in the formidable rally winning the trophy in the ‘Unmodified Indian Bike’ category, and also bagged overall eighth position in the challenging Motoquad (Xtreme Section).
"It was awesome to take part in the Raid along with so many professional bikers. It was so wonderful to bag the top spot in one of the categories. I enjoyed taking part in the competition,” Parishrut said.
Professional and amateurs are classified separately, inviting anyone who dares up into the mountains. Despite the rugged, wild sound of the terrain the organization running the Raid is meticulous and careful in removing as many danger-risks as humanly possible. There is a rigorous pre-race tech inspections in addition to health and tech inspections along the way.
Back in New Zealand, Parishrut practices and participates in rallies around the country. Sponsors for the sport are few and far between and it is a struggle to persevere with his passion, he says. His long time mentor Vikram takes him around in a trailer truck with special clamps to hold bikes. Parishrut pays $50 a day for the privilege of practice on the tracks.
Though he won first place in his category with an unmodified, 150cc, Indian-made bike, the shiny, silver plated trophy was not accompanied by a cheque or any monetary component. Like any other sport that is not cricket, it is hard to find sponsors in the subcontinent.
Pursuing his studies and working at the same time, Parishrut’s heart lies in two-wheeler rallying. He hopes to participate in more challenging rallies and is doing the hard yards with whatever equipment he can lay his hands on and tracks he can afford to ride on in New Zealand.
Anybody out there who can help catapult Parishrut to the next level?
You can watch the challenge at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTDxsdk4qb8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooBU8j1EsLY&feature=channel
Parishrut Jhina is crazy about motorbikes. He lives, breathes, eats and sleeps motorbikes. For the 25-year-old student who works as a bakery chef in Auckland, motorbikes are not just style statements but the avenue for participating in what he calls “ultimate adventure”.
It was this passion for...
Parishrut Jhina is crazy about motorbikes. He lives, breathes, eats and sleeps motorbikes. For the 25-year-old student who works as a bakery chef in Auckland, motorbikes are not just style statements but the avenue for participating in what he calls “ultimate adventure”.
It was this passion for the two-wheelers that forced the young man to travel to India and take part in the Maruti Suzuki Raid de Himalaya 2010 rally. The route passes through one of the most difficult and inhospitable natural terrains for motorbikes in the western Himalayas.
It runs a length of 2000 km of barely tarred roads, dirt tracks and slush caused by rain. Riders have to often encounter freezing weather conditions. It covers some of the highest motorable places in the world, including the famous Spiti valley and Patseo (4830 metres), Sarchu (4551m) in Lahaul valley, and the formidable Baralacha la (4883m).
The bikers struggle on through inclement weather, with numbed and chilled limbs, frequent tosses and shattering, not to mention spinal jerks. They spend nearly a week on course spending at least two days above an altitude of 15,000ft, stay at hotels during nights and sometimes just in tents outside, in the freezing mountain temperatures.
Because of the low octane in Indian and Tibetan fuel, some riders are even burdened with carrying extra fuel for themselves. There are road checks every 30 kilometers to make sure no competitors have wandered off-course.
The sport is certainly not for the faint hearted and can frighten people who are not up to the challenge.
In all 167 participants registered up for the adventure, which included 54 motorcyclists, 43 competitors in the 4 wheel X-treme version and 70 in the 4 wheel Adventure Trail version. Among the motorcyclists, there were 5 Austrians, 2 from the US and one each from Canada and New Zealand.
Parishrut rode to glory in the formidable rally winning the trophy in the ‘Unmodified Indian Bike’ category, and also bagged overall eighth position in the challenging Motoquad (Xtreme Section).
"It was awesome to take part in the Raid along with so many professional bikers. It was so wonderful to bag the top spot in one of the categories. I enjoyed taking part in the competition,” Parishrut said.
Professional and amateurs are classified separately, inviting anyone who dares up into the mountains. Despite the rugged, wild sound of the terrain the organization running the Raid is meticulous and careful in removing as many danger-risks as humanly possible. There is a rigorous pre-race tech inspections in addition to health and tech inspections along the way.
Back in New Zealand, Parishrut practices and participates in rallies around the country. Sponsors for the sport are few and far between and it is a struggle to persevere with his passion, he says. His long time mentor Vikram takes him around in a trailer truck with special clamps to hold bikes. Parishrut pays $50 a day for the privilege of practice on the tracks.
Though he won first place in his category with an unmodified, 150cc, Indian-made bike, the shiny, silver plated trophy was not accompanied by a cheque or any monetary component. Like any other sport that is not cricket, it is hard to find sponsors in the subcontinent.
Pursuing his studies and working at the same time, Parishrut’s heart lies in two-wheeler rallying. He hopes to participate in more challenging rallies and is doing the hard yards with whatever equipment he can lay his hands on and tracks he can afford to ride on in New Zealand.
Anybody out there who can help catapult Parishrut to the next level?
You can watch the challenge at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTDxsdk4qb8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooBU8j1EsLY&feature=channel
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