In an expedition engineered to turn the theory that solo biking expeditions are usually undertaken by men as wrong, Roshni Sharma (26), an electronics engineer, recently completed 4,100 km on her Avenger 200 CC bike from Kanyakumari to Leh.
Hailing from Narora, a small town in western Uttar Pradesh, Ms. Sharma said she always had a passion for travelling and adventure. Her previous rides, although covering short distances (Bangalore to Chennai and Bangalore to Pune), helped her prepare for the long-distance ride, she said.
LaunchingStarting her journey at Kanyakumari on June 28, she reached Leh on July 7 via Bangalore, Hyderabad, Nagpur, Jhansi, Agra, New Delhi, Panipat, Manali and Sarchu.
Asked if she was nervous covering such a long distance alone, she said, “I was confident and took precautionary measures before the ride. Anything could happen anywhere; it depends on how you react to the situation. One should be prepared for any eventualities.”
AdvantageBeing the daughter of an automobile businessman, she said she had some idea about various bikes which came to her advantage. “One needs to be mentally tough to ride a long distance,” she said.
Her ride commenced at 6 a.m. and ended by 8 p.m. every day. Because of the road conditions, the closing time was extended by a few hours for two days. Her entire journey was completed in about Rs.1.2 lakh.
“I think I was the first woman to take a solo ride for such a long distance. I am applying for the Limca Book of Records,” said the proud engineer, who was supported by several organizations.
