Where There’s A Bike There’s A Way: Account Of A Solo Biker Chick Traveling Across India

9 Dec 2021

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Seeing a woman travel alone in India is a rare sight, but what is even more rare is seeing one traveling solo on a bike. Yes, you heard that right!

Amongst the 10 solo bike riders selected to cover over 30,000 Kms in North India

Candidas bike near the Kapil beach in Kerala

Meet Candida Louis, a working professional from Bangalore, who was among the 10 bike riders selected for a program meant to cover 30,000 km in North India.

Her selection is a noticeable achievement when we look at the biker community in India, which is dominated by men.

Program got cancelled midway, decided to continue the journey anyway

Unfortunately, the program was canceled after they had almost covered 8000kms, but Candida wasn’t disheartened.

She decided to continue the journey at her own expense and also started her blog ‘India on a Motorcycle’ that would go on to describe her journeys.

Traveling Kashmir to inspire women

Candida with school girls in Gurez Valley Kashmir

A courageous woman, this 24-year-old created quite a stir when she visited the largely unexplored Gurez valley in Kashmir on her Royal Enfield. She was an instant hit there among the schoolgirls who even wanted to ride pillion with her.

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Starting afresh from South India

Lush green scenery on the way to Madurai

Later, deciding to start afresh from South India, she began from Tamil Nadu where she witnessed the mesmerizing lush greenery and clear blue waters in Kanyakumari, Kodaikanal, and Rameshwaram. Her next stop was Kerala where she visited many cities like Cochin, Alleppey, Munnar before finally settling on the best one – Varkala.

Exploring India on a Motorcycle

Candida clicking a selfie near the Rameshwaram Pamban Bridge

Her blog ‘India on a motorcycle’ is a testimony to all these encounters and gives first-hand glimpses of all the activities she did there including Kathakali, yoga, snorkeling, fishing and many more.

Describing her experience with the locals as great, she says they have always been helpful to her when it comes to directions or any other assistance.

Finding simple pleasures in things like taking a walk, exploring the vicinity, trying out new cuisines and indulging in different cultures, Candida is attracted by the ordinary yet original experiences.

Family support and encouragement

Traveling from the past 8 years, Candida was introduced to it when she used to ride as pillion with her father on his bike.

This was also the beginning of her love for motorcycles.

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Having a very supportive family, there was always encouragement from home with her father even gifting her a Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350.

Driving responsibly

Addressing the issue of safety, Candida says there hasn’t been any incident with her during her many years of traveling. Although she admits that she does get a lot of stares from people who are not used to seeing a woman riding a bike. “Most of them are really supportive though” she adds.

However, that doesn’t mean there are no precautions involved. Candida says that her parents regularly track her location via the GPS and to avoid any mishaps on the road or otherwise, she makes sure that she only rides during the daytime.

“Where there is a bike, there is a way”

Traveling from state to state, alone on a bike requires courage and will, and Candida Louis is one of the few Indians who are acing the road journeys with style.

Candida enjoying the greenery in Tamil Nadu

The saying “Where there is a will, there is a way” or more likely “Where there is a bike, there is a way” holds true for this adventurous lady on a motorcycle.