Outdoor Cycling is the New Fitness Mantra
by Punya Pravan Rath
Hindustan Times, South Delhiline - June 16, 2005
It is also an opportunity to chill out after a tough day at the office.
SUSHIL, Ranjit Jabbi, Rajul Chopra, Vishal Kapoor and Matti Singh go cycling to Shanti Van every weekend. “It is a lot of fun.” says Sushil, an architect. He and his trail mates like leisure cycling after busy week in the office.
Now in their 40s, they started cycling about seven years back. “We go cycling twice in a day. The sport helps us to remain physically and mentally fit. It’s almost meditative,” he says. They take their bikes to difficult terrains during the family vacations.
“Besides the Qutub area and Sonha Road, we have cycled till the Corbett National Park,” says Sushil.
More and more people are taking to cycling for fitness and leisure. Sixty year old Vijay Nayyar cycles every morning to the gym from his Friends Colony home. “It reminds me of my life as a student when I would cycle along Mumbai’s Marine Drive,” he says. Fitness freaks used to stationary exercise bikes are instead cycling on the streets.
“Early morning cycling is very refreshing,” says Divya, a marketing consultant. Her daily exercise regimen includes an hour of cycling followed by aerobics. It’s a fun activity for the children. Summer vacation is the right time to take the bikes to difficult terrains.
There are many organizations that organize adventure sports for children in the age group 12 to 16 years. “Cycling registers a full house,” says Vikrant Mahajan, head of operations. I discovered “ Delhi should have separate lanes for cycles to popularize it as a leisure sport, ” he says.
Cashing in on the trend, Firefox has introduced about 30 models in children’s bikes, terrain, BMX and road bikes with lightweight alloy bodies and high-tech Shimano gears. According to Shiv Inder Singh, Managing Director, Firefox, the company is targeting the three percent Delhites who engage in leisure cycling.
Though the prices of cycles are on the higher side, Singh feels cycle manufacturers have a range of designs on offer that cycling enthusiasts always wanted to possess.
Sushil echoes his views. “We didn’t have many options then and had to import cylces from abroad,” he says.
That has now changed, with good cycles available at home Cycling enthusiasts have also learned to bond, through biking club for instance and go on trails together.
With accessories like biking gear, helmets, bag, water bottles and bike carriers for cars, biking will be all the more fun.
TRAILS
• Buddha Jayanti Park
• Along the ridge
• Sohna Road, about 23 km from Rajiv Chowk, Gurgaon
• Badshapur, about 3 to 4 km from Rajiv Chowk, Gurgaon
• Qutub area
• Embassy area in Chankyapuri
