Tryst with Cycling

I never thought one day I take it this far. Yes I’m now cycling to office from home each away about 14kms. I intend to keep it up by doing at least 3-4 days per week.

It all just began as just another fitness exercise in the morning. When I saw someone just zooping past me in a cycle while jogging I realized its fun. Jogging, brisk walking was becoming boring. Then I borrowed my brother’s cycle that had junked in the garage. I could do about 6kms easily in 1/2hr and cover lot more by-lanes of Jaynagar and appreciate those good houses old and new and their architecture.

It started boring again and I thought of office commute by cycle. But it was overwhelming to do that much distance and back in one day. I had recently read that in Delhi some university has invented the solar powered cycle rickshaws. So I looked for fixing up some electric motor. In Bangalore there is couple of companies doing this. But it is more like Luna and could never be doubled up as a cycle cum luna. Got disappointed and looked up the net for office commute by cycle. I could find many links to my surprise.

Then I went into the details and found geared cycles make life easy. Met some big shot who is a cycle freak in a bike shop and he suggested rent bikes on the net and trying out first. I did that. And I commuted to office for 3 weeks. Got comfortable and confident to buy one. So now I have a sexy Trek 3700 to boast of.

And yes I’m enjoying every bit of the journey. Now I’m spreading the word and making others buy into this idea. Jinesh and Arun have already rented bikes. Actually I was surprised to see so many techies are on cycle these days. When I went to buy on weekend 2 more were sold the same day. Good to possess a cycle. Especially in Bangalore it is fantastic in winter to cycle around. Next I’m planning to start long distance cycling in weekends. I’m enticed by http://www.tourofnilgiris.com/ So probably next year I’ll hop onto it.

In the next blog I’m writing some more info around the cycles, parts, websites, cycling benefits.
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