The Mahindra Stallio Great Indian Ride, a unique pan-India rally presented by Mahindra 2 Wheelers and www.indiabikers.com was flagged off from Manali today by Mr. Rajeshwar Goel, SDM Manali. In addition to Manali, the rally was also be flagged off from three other locations in India – Goa in the West, Gangtok in the East and Kanyakumari in the South simultaneously. The participants were selected on the basis of an online ‘Dream Jobs’ contest announced a few months ago on www.indiabikers.com.
The rally would see 20 bikers riding the Mahindra Stallio in an adrenaline charged journey across the length and breadth of India. The convoy would spread the message of safe riding as they pass through each destination. Prior to the flag off, the bikers attended a Boot Camp in Pune from November 15th to 18th, where they were briefed on safe riding practices and attended sessions on motorcycle maintenance and team building.
Mr. Anand Mahindra, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Mahindra Group and Mr. Anoop Mathur, President Two Wheeler Sector and Member of the Group Executive Board, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., interacted with the bikers before they commenced their trip and wished them a safe and enjoyable journey.
“Traditionally, biking has always been associated with speed, dangerous stunts and machismo. However, it is also about fun, camaraderie and shared experiences, while staying safe. Through the Mahindra Stallio Great Indian Ride, we hope to reinforce the message of safe riding to bikers across India which is also evident in our TV commercials currently on air. The 20 bikers have been chosen on the basis of their riding skills, passion and commitment and I am sure they will have some interesting experiences to share as they ride the Stallio through the country,” said Mr. Viren Popli, SVP Strategy and Market Development, Mahindra Two Wheelers.
The 20 bikers have divided into four teams consisting of five members each and would cover a total distance of approx 24,000 km. Their journey will culminate on December 22 at Nagpur, their final destination at the centre of India. En route, the riders would blog, take pictures and share their experiences of the trip and people they interact with, on www.indiabikers.com. Each team would have a dedicated support crew which will provide necessary assistance.
The 20 bikers have been selected from over 20,000 applications that were received by Indiabikers.com for the ‘Best Job in India’ which will allow them to pursue their passion over the six week odyssey. All their fuel, lodging, boarding, insurance costs, etc., have been taken care of by Mahindra. In addition, they will receive a stipend and requisite safety riding gear. As an added bonus, they will also get to ride their Stallios home at the end of the event.
Indiabikers.com is the collective effort of a group of bike lovers who wished to create a platform for motorcycle enthusiasts across the country to share their experience of owning and riding motorcycles. The founders aim to develop an online and offline community for bikers who can log on for advice and information related to two wheelers in general and motorcycles in particular as well as create a movement of bikers. The site will soon incorporate blogs, maps, fora and a host of information and tools which will allow users to create their own groups, share their experiences and comment on others’ posts.
Follow the progress of the Great Indian Ride from November 22, 2010 on www.indiabikers.com.
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