Freedom · Kop-Pune
The Ride That Changed Something in Me
6:45 AM.
The engine came alive. And with it, something inside me did too.
On 16 November 2025, I started my journey from Kolhapur to Pune on my Royal Enfield Classic 350 Signal Commando — the bike I had dreamed about, waited for, and finally called my own.
This wasn't just another ride. It was my first long solo ride on my dream bike. I had always loved the idea of riding alone. The open road, the wind, the freedom to stop wherever you want, and the feeling of going wherever the road takes you. But this time was different. It was my first real solo journey. So, along with the excitement, there was a little nervousness too.
6:45 AM — The Beginning
The morning was quiet as I left Kolhapur. The city was slowly waking up, but I was already on the road. My Commando was moving steadily beneath me, and every kilometre felt like I was getting closer to something I had imagined many times before. There was no one riding beside me. No fixed conversation. No one telling me when to stop. Just me, my bike, and the road ahead. And somehow, that felt beautiful. As the kilometres passed, my nervousness slowly started disappearing. The road began to open up, the morning views became wider, and I started enjoying the ride rather than thinking about the destination.
A Stop Near Satara
Somewhere around Satara, I stopped at a beautiful hill resort. I don't even remember the name of the place now. But I remember the people. There were already a few riders there, taking a break from their own journeys. I started talking to them and told them that this was my first long solo ride. Their conversations, their experiences, and the simple feeling of being around people who understood the road made me feel comfortable. For a few minutes, I wasn't a first-time solo rider anymore. I was just another rider among riders. And when I got back on my bike, I felt lighter. That small conversation taught me something I didn't expect.
Sometimes, strangers can give you the confidence you didn't know you needed.
The Road Feels Different on Two Wheels
The journey from Kolhapur to Pune gave me something that is difficult to explain to someone who hasn't experienced it. The views were beautiful. The roads stretched ahead. The mountains, the changing landscape, the morning air — everything felt different from the seat of a motorcycle. You can travel the same road in a car. You can cover the same distance. You can reach the same destination. But riding a motorcycle is different. On two wheels, you don't just see the road. You feel it. You feel the wind. You feel the temperature changing. You smell the morning air. You hear the engine. You experience every curve. And somewhere between one kilometre and the next, the journey itself becomes the destination. At around 10:20 AM, I finally reached Pune. I had done it. My first long solo ride on my dream bike. It may not sound like a huge achievement to someone else. But for me, it was. Because I wasn't only travelling from Kolhapur to Pune. I was travelling beyond my own hesitation. That morning, I realized something:
Confidence doesn't always come before you take the first step. Sometimes, confidence comes because you took it.
I stayed in Pune that night, carrying with me a feeling that was difficult to put into words. I had started the journey with excitement and a little nervousness. I arrived with confidence.
The Ride Back
The next morning, I started my return journey to Kolhapur at almost the same time. This time, something had changed. The road looked familiar, but I didn't feel like the same rider who had left Kolhapur the previous morning. The nervousness was gone. The hesitation was gone. There was only the road, the bike, and a growing feeling that maybe I really could do this. I reached Kolhapur at around 11:00 AM. And just like that, my first long solo journey was complete.
More Than Just a Ride
Looking back, the Kolhapur–Pune ride wasn't just a trip. It was a small chapter in a much bigger journey. A journey toward the dreams I had carried since childhood. For a long time, dreams can remain dreams because we keep waiting for the "right time." But sometimes, the right time is simply the moment when you decide to begin. That ride made me feel like I was finally chasing some of the dreams I had once imagined as a child. Not perfectly. Not fearlessly. But honestly. One road at a time.
To My Commando
And before ending this story, there is one thing I want to say to my bike.
Thank you, Commando.
For carrying me safely. For being there through every kilometre. For turning my dream of owning a Royal Enfield into the beginning of something much bigger. I know it's a machine. But to me, it doesn't feel like just a machine anymore. Somewhere along the road, an emotional connection was created. Maybe it's because I had dreamed about owning this bike. Maybe it's because every ride feels like freedom. Or maybe it's simply because some machines become part of our stories. And this one has already become part of mine. So, for this safe journey, I take a bow of gratitude to my Commando.
You didn't just carry me to Pune and back. You carried a dream with me.
What This Ride Taught Me
You don't always need someone beside you to enjoy the journey. Sometimes, you need to ride alone to hear your own thoughts. Sometimes, you need to leave your comfort zone to discover how capable you really are. And sometimes, all you need is an open road and the courage to follow it. Because life becomes a little more beautiful when you start chasing your dreams. When you do what you love. When you choose your own road. When you choose freedom. And maybe that's what being a Musafir really means. Not knowing exactly where every road will take you... but having the courage to ride anyway.
One Ride. One Dream. One Beginning.
My first long solo ride. My first real taste of freedom. And perhaps, the beginning of many more roads to come.
“Some journeys take you to places. Some journeys take you closer to yourself.”
Musafir