Vroom vroom! Mysuru lass makes a sound in bike riding
3 min read
Mysuru: While woman riding a two-wheeler is almost common these days, woman taking to biking still raises judgmental gaze. But giving two hoots to what the society thinks, Kanchana Ganga breathes and lives by her passion for biking, although she is a yoga guru by profession.
She is one of the few woman bikers of Namma Mysuru who continue to inspire scores of women to believe in themselves that they are second to none.
On this International Women’s Day, Kanchana Ganga who is back from her solo trip to North Eastern States just a few days ago, on Avenger Cruise, shares what it is to be a biker with Mysoorunews.com
She was introduced to two-wheeler early in her life by her father Satish an agriculturist. But she found her calling in motorbikes.
“It gives me a sense of freedom and a sense of power that I feel is more empowering and satisfying,” says 29-year-old Kanchana.
Even she has battled male gaze that doube judge her whenever she is riding a bike.
“There are times when I was stopped for riding a bike or even double checked my licence. Men stare as if its a taboo,” says Kanchana.
In fact, her parents themselves were skeptical initially but came her way, adds Kanchana.
Having bought a motorbike at the age of 19, she has been going on many motorcycle expeditions both solo and with the team.
“Chikkamagaluru was my first expedition as a biker in 2013. This expedition filled me with the experience as a biker that I had never felt. It gave me a sense of self-confidence and independence and made me stronger. I feel more empowered when am riding,” says Kanchana. Later, she went to Ladakh in 2018, solo.
“My parents were skeptical about my solo trip as it meant I was in faraway place and I was exploring a new terrain. But I convinced them and it was one of the most beautiful experience I had,” she recalls.
She was also a part of bikers team who went from Mysuru to Rajasthan in 2019.
She is just back from North East expedition and the trip has filled her with lifetime memories.
She explored Assam, Meghalaya and Nagaland and is in awe of not just the natural beauty of these places but also the people who were quite welcoming.
“I had quite a negative input about exploring North Eastern states on bike. But I was lucky that I had such a wonderful experience,” she recalled.
One of the highlights of her trip in Nagaland was her visit to Longwa, the only village in the country where people in this village enjoy dual citizenship – with India and Myanmar.
“I am so amazed at this fact and I was lucky to meet the Konyak tribe in Nagalad who are the last of India’s headhunters. Although the practice is abandoned now. I happened to visit the village chief’s residence that shares international border. It is so amusing,” she recalls.
But how does she overcome backpain, considering backpain is almost natural to bike riders? “I do regular yoga and that helps me tackle backpain,” she adds.
Although she is always equipped with certain tools that she can handle whenever her bike breaks down, she still needs a mechanic’s help for major issues, she informs.
To keep herself safe, she carries a pepperspray with her, always, she chuckles.
Ask her dream and pat comes the answer “I want to take my mum Prabha also a yoga teacher on motorcyle expedition and travel the whole world.”
– Team MysoorunewsÂ
Mysooru News
