Shoot At Sight
Meet the biker who has travelled more than two lakh kilometres across five continents with his camera.
We always thought that guys who ride Ducatis and Hyosungs are as clueless about the direction of their lives as Pamela Anderson is about the number of times she has gotten her breasts enlarged. But we were wronged by motographer (photographer on motorcycle) Sundeep Gajjar aka Sunny who has covered more distance on road than you have by air.
Before meeting him, we had perceived him to be one of those Roadie wannabes who is always eager to get molested by the two baldies, but this 32-year-old has so much more going on in his life than just the need to burn high-octane fuel. “I wasn’t born on a superbike. I started on a Pulsar 180 CC in 2002. Simultaneously, I posted bike reviews, travelogues and other biking specific content on my blog, which gradually became popular as it allowed visitors to upload their pictures and content. What started out as a hobby is now a full time profession. We have portals, print publications, and also organise bike trips and events,” says the Delhiite. Sundeep was once a graphic designer, but the non-biking profile suffocated him so much that he put in his papers quickly. “I used to change jobs like underwear,” he says, while telling us why he doesn’t repent his decision to let go of a stable paycheque. He adds, “I have slogged my ass for over a decade to manage sponsored trips. However, it’s not that we don’t need our wallets.”
We knew that riding for 18,000 kms isn’t easy, but we wanted to hear it from the horse’s mouth. “Mental fitness is more important for a biker than physical one. India is hell for us. The roads are terrible, mechanics are not that easily available, people often try to chase our bikes, which kind of puts our lives in danger and the worst fear of a motorcyclist are stray dogs and people who run across the road. We call then unguided missiles. During summers, it’s even harder to drive because our machines get heated up quickly. Abroad, everything is so smooth. You can easily cover 500 kms daily, but in India our target is 250 kms.” So what does he suggest to riders who consider India a haven for biking. “Avoid Uttarakhand. Instead opt for Rajashtan, Ladakh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, which have better road infrastructure. Another good option is the northeast that is still unexplored and less crowded. Don’t ride during nights though. Also, select your pillion carefully. They should speak only when it’s necessary and not move a lot. Don’t pick a phattu who gets scared at high speed,” he cautions before signing off.
From the March 2012 issue of FHM India.
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