Mulund's one-of-a-kind bicycle studio and cafe will get cyclists excited

As I soak in the vibe at Mastermind Bicycle Cafe Irsquom tempted to believe that Mulund might have turned a corner Being a longtime resident I have known the suburb for its trademark VFM joints that thrive on the onemenuforalltaste buds template The few that veered offtrack had to shutter soon So when I learnt about a new themebased cafe my curiosity was piqued Noticing the tasteful bicycle decor I am looking forward to my chat with siblings Namrata and Mukund Thakkar about their philosophy that translated to the spaceTreadmill to decode correct shoesldquoIn 2014 I participated in a triathlon from London to Paris I was the lone Asian in the pack that event was an eyeopenerrdquo recalls Mukund ldquoWhen it comes to education and accessibility they are in a different leaguerdquo Mukund wanted to use this experience as a springboard to introduce highquality models to Indians and also offer them the 360degree package including awareness about the design engineering and geometry of models On completing a bicycle mechanic training course in Singapore he set up Mastermind Bicycle Studio in Mulund in 2015 ldquoSince I am a chemical engineer who was engaged in the family business I imagined it to be a parttime passion Instead it became a fulltime obsessionrdquo he smiles The European approach he says is ldquoall about intent and road sense If 6070 per cent of the population become cyclists they will respect them while driving their carsrdquo In the next six years he expanded this idea to five Indian cities today they are the sole India distributors for nearly 38 international brands Over time loyal clients have emerged from Mulund and beyondConfit of chicken caramelised onion and arugula with paprika Parmesan pizzaWhen the pandemic hit in March 2020 Namrata a physiotherapist and selfconfessed foodie already had one foot on the pedal literally ldquoI was in sync with cyclistsrsquo lifestyles Thanks to Mukund my own Bachelorsrsquo project that involved their training and my travels across Europe with him I was exposed to the synergy between cyclists and coffee and wanted to introduce the concept hererdquo she explains She got herself certified as a barista and manual brewer and took up a course in baking before the cafe took shape ldquoIt had to be a hub for cyclists and noncyclists keen to take their first steps in the sport I felt healthy wholesome food could be the catalyst My father is vegetarian Mukund is vegan while I am an experimentalist so the menu reflects our tastes it includes keto and smoothie bowl options Therersquos a 10flavour gelateria for the sweettoothedrdquo she adds Throughout our chat their father Umeshrsquos name crops up Thakkar senior played a key role for the siblings to realise this cyclingmeetscoffee dreamThe bicycle experience studioWhile our order at the cafe gets prepared Namrata gives us the grand tour starting with the main studio on the fifth floor of the same complex Itrsquos a cyclistrsquos Disneyland the lablike vibe offers fascinating insight into the art and the science of bicycle mechanics their qualified staff ensure firsttimers and professionals are at ease Therersquos a maintenance workshop where cycles are repaired or even customised from scratch ldquoOften people drop their bicycles for servicing and grab a coffee or snack at the cafe while itrsquos being tended tordquo she adds Not meant for the pocketpincher these hardcore models can cost anything from Rs 3 to Rs 5 lakh On the same level they own a smaller space that retails triathlon gear Namrata rattles off the technicalities of choosing the right equipment for this endurance event Finally we arrive at their third space on the ground floor where a special treadmill with sensors and an algorithm decodes the best shoe fit based on your running techniqueHaving worked up an appetite purely from the adrenaline rush itrsquos time for our feast First up we try the confit of chicken caramelised onion and arugula with paprika Parmesan cheese Rs 685 served on a crackerstyle superthin crust The soulpleasing sound effect of the crunch is the highlight as is the sinful chicken and melted cheese dance Next we tuck into the largeish grilled chicken and sherry shallot ciabatta Rs 425 that is sure to please the sandwich fan ldquoAll our breads are baked inhouserdquo Namrata reveals The Brussels style classic waffles Rs 340 served with homemade Tahitian vanilla gelato is gridfilled goodness The citrus cheesecake Rs 285 is equally delish We sample one of the pour over coffees kalita Rs 190 mdash this is a manual brewing process where hot water is poured over a bed of freshly ground coffee Ours extracts a clean mediumbodied coffee and makes for a soothing stirrup Their iced teas all Rs 220 and herbal teas all Rs 150 are a hattip to serious tea drinkersMukund and Namrata Thakkar Pics Sameer MarkandeThe young restaurateur shares her roadmap as we tuck into the fare ldquoFrom weekend screenings of bigticket races to cyclist chatups and coffeemaking sessions I want to familiarise this culture in Mulund and beyondrdquo She also plans to introduce wine and craft beer to elevate the evening vibe Mukund chimes in ldquoWhen we see a family come in to celebrate at the cafe after their purchase of a highend bicycle from our studio next door we know that we have helped to make a small differencerdquoAt LG37 38 Mastermind Bicycle Cafe Avior Corporate Park Nirmal Galaxy LBS Marg Mulund WestCall 40069715Time 11 am to 11 pm all days