Who says bicycles aren’t cool? The bikers’ community in Kochi is trendsetting their way to better tomorrows and a healthy lifestyle
Once upon a time in Kochi, bicycles were a more familiar sight than motorcycles and cars on the roads. Back then, mastering those risky bicycle tricks made you the coolest kid on the block. But soon enough, bicycles lost out on the cool quotient to fuel-powered cars and motorcycles. Except for a few school-going kids and a handful of old-world souls who love cycles, spotting a biker in the city had become a rarity.
But that is set to change. Groups of dedicated bikers in the city are bringing back the trend of using bicycles to commute. With the market seeing the advent of bicycles with gears, many people have taken a liking towards biking. Some have travelled the length and breadth of the country, while some have made noble attempts to do the same, all for the sake of finding inner peace and happiness.
Of course, the world slowed down to a stop and everything took a break, thanks to the pandemic. But the love for cycling has endured even during this time. Especially as gyms and other indoor exercise platforms became a strict no-no. Cycling turned out to be ideal for fitness during the pandemic. Even if one were cycling as part of a group, one could easily maintain social distancing and practise other safety measures. “Cycling is at a very nascent stage in Kochi, especially compared to nearby metro cities like Bengaluru and Chennai,” says C R Jose, who founded the cycling group, Cochin Randonneurs, in December 2019.
Randonneuring is a form of endurance biking. The word ‘randonneur’ means backpacker. The feel of randonneuring resonates with that, with people setting out for a long-distance cycling event with a predetermined time frame and route. Felix Augustine recently participated in Paris-Brest-Paris, a 1,200-km randonneuring event held in Paris, along with 7,000 riders from across the globe. “It is an experience to treasure for a lifetime,” he says. “Randonneuring goes much beyond exercise and fitness; it teaches you perseverance, and to go ahead even when your body wants to stop.” Jose, an HR professional who was bogged by many lifestyle diseases a year ago, agrees. “It was a couch-to-fitness scenario for me in a month’s time, once I took up randonneuring,” says Jose. “I also had a lot of motivation from the bike store I shopped at, The Bike Tales. I completed my first 100km within the first month of taking up cycling itself.”
Felix says that although the relevance of cycling as a mode of transportation has increased in the past few years, Kochi is still not a bike-friendly city. “Our roads do not have cycling tracks and a cyclist gets the least respect in traffic. There should be futuristic and concerted efforts from the cycling community as well as the government to inculcate a cycling culture in Kochi,” he says.
Randonneur Shaji T George appreciates Cochin Bikers Club for actively encouraging the people in the city to promote cycling as an alternative mode of transport. “I took up randonneuring in 2013 by participating in a 200km Brevet event organised by the Cochin Bikers Club. I used to be an avid downhill skier and I loved speed challenges. Cycling is equally challenging and I find similar elements in both these sports. The club has been organising rides to spread awareness about using cycling as a mode of transport for improving air quality, health and even reducing the time spent commuting in a city like Kochi,” he says.
Besides committed randonneurs, some people go cycling to relieve themselves of the day’s stress. IT professional Priya Surendran says she started cycling during her school days. “As children, we’ve always been fond of bicycles. But as an adult, we abandon our cycles for a car or a motorcycle. However, I believe using a bicycle for the daily commute is a laudable effort. Because, you’re doing good both for yourself and the environment,” she observes. Priya has pointers for aspiring bikers in the city. “For beginners, to get comfortable with riding on roads, they can start with roads like Container Terminal Road which has less traffic. The roads are wide enough with shoulders marked,” she says. “Joining a local cycling community or club would provide them the motivation and support needed. Cochin Bikers Club and Soles on Wheels are two of the local communities here in Kochi.”
The Container Terminal Road is a favourite for marketing professional Shouku too; he rides with the Cochin Randonneurs and the club has completed most of the randonneuring milestones in a year’s time. “All the highways are good for cycling,” says Shouku. “We mostly cycle in the morning, at 5am, before rush hour. The lockdown had helped in terms of congestion-free roads. Now the situation is back to how it was earlier but Sundays are better.” The Cochin Randonneurs recently cycled all the way to Athirappilly and back, starting at dawn and returning by noon.
One of the biggest inspirations for most cyclists is the camaraderie involved in these rides. Sibi Mukundan, a cyclist shares an experience of how he introduced a group of friends to cycling. “My friends now enjoy the fun of riding and have improved their overall health. I personally started cycling because I was getting bored of my gym routines. I am well-aware that it helps me improve cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength and reduces stress levels as well,” he says. Jose calls the cycling community in the city a very friendly and giving space.
Maybe it is time to give those home workout routines a break, and try your hand at cycling. Especially if it means health, happiness, fun and social distancing. All, on two wheels.
TOP CYCLING CLUBS IN KOCHI
Cochin Bikers Club
Soles On Wheels
Cochin Randonneurs
TOP CYCLING APP
Strava
