After having outgrown my gotta-join-every-group-ride phase, I’ve mostly been a solo rider, enjoying the occasional long ride on my big bike after being cooped up in the office for too long. But when Motociclista Scatola Inc. marketing manager John Mendoza invited me to join this year’s annual Royal Enfield “One Ride,” I knew I had to go.

Not even a sleepless night stopped me from gearing up at 5am on a Sunday morning to make it to the first meeting point on time. First introduced in 2011, the affair is a global event that sees riders from around the world gather for a relaxed group ride to talk bikes, enjoy good food, and share in the camaraderie.

This year, more than 41,730 riders from across 66 countries took part in the event, with each participating country spearheaded by its respective distributor and dealer. In the Asia-Pacific region alone, there were 6,200 riders from 12 countries. Here in the Philippines, we had 284 participants—193 of these just in Luzon.

I showed up at the Petron station (Km44) of SLEX, and there were already more than a hundred Royal Enfields neatly parked, owners chatting and having a coffee before the big ride. A short briefing by ride captain Alex Choa of the RE Knights instructed everyone on the route as well as reminders to ride safely and responsibly.

Along with volunteer marshals from the REAPer and Empar United clubs, it was smooth riding all the way to the Royal Enfield Lipa showroom so we could link up with more owners.

Having nearly 200 riders on the highway can be a stressful event for everyone—especially for other motorists on the road—but I’m proud to say that everyone stayed disciplined and respectful out there.

Riders were flagged off in manageable groups instead of just leaving en masse, helping to avoid a super long (and annoying) caravan. After a week of thunderstorms, it was also gratifying to have perfect riding weather with overcast clouds and a nice breeze.

From Lipa, we proceeded to Acienda del Cielo in Calauan, Laguna, using bypass roads and the national highway. Aside from the pleasure of riding my Interceptor across some never-before-traversed roads, it was a nice experience to see some beautifully modified bikes and chat with their owners.

I had to leave early in order to make it in time for my niece’s birthday lunch, but the rest of the program included some motorcycle skills games and live band performances.

As MSI has gradually found its footing with the Royal Enfield brand—having taken over from Hardcore Brothers earlier this year—it’s good to know that it’s in capable hands. I’m obviously a proud Royal Enfield owner, and so are many others who are happy to join in things like these that celebrate the love of riding.