Pedal pushers

Young and old alike, discovered the joys of cycling at an event to promote the activity in the city

Pedal pushers

Young and old alike, discovered the joys of cycling at an event to promote the activity in the city

Proving a point: Participants pushing their way through city traffic before taking off on a quieter trail

The event that saw participants riding 8 km on Bannerghatta Road was organised by motor adventure club 'Get It On' to inspire people to take to cycling once again.

Some of the children who took part were veryu00a0 young. Like eight-year-old Sanjana Ramesh and 10-year-old Mitresh Srikarunya, both from SKCH (CBSE).

Asked midway if they wanted to stop cycling and sit in the car, they said in unison, "No, we are doing it."

Fun time

Apart from the thrill of a challenge, some of them came for the sheer fun of it. Like Sanjith Prahas and Savithra Ramesh, both 10th graders in Sri Kumaran's Children's Home (CBSE).

But Sanjith said, "It's for fitness too," and immediately added with a smile: "But I am already fit."

Healthy habit

For some, cycling is about keeping good health and building stamina. According to Umesh A, a II PUC student, "Cycling is good for health especially in the mornings when the air is clean and cool," he says.

"I walk everyday for 45 minutes but cycling really brings out the fitness levels in me," says Bhuvaneswari S, a parent who accompanied one of the participants.

But many came because the city doesn't otherwise allow them to cycle freely on busy roads. "I had to pester my dad to allow me to come here today," said Vaikunt Prasad, a 10th grader in A V Education. "I just love the thrill of cycling on the main road."

Mitresh (10) and Sanjana (8), the youngest, taking a well-deserved breaku00a0 pics/Nolan Pinto

Parents' take

Most parents present said they were too scared to let their children out on the streets.

Heather Chatterjee, whose son was one of the cyclists, said though there were parks everywhere, "there are no safe places for children to cycle for pleasure anymore".

Parents would like the habit inculcated in children early on but say the cost of good cycles is prohibitive.

Besides, "schools are far and in order to do everything on time, cycles lose out," said Heather.

Even political rallies prefer cars and bikes to cycles, said Bhuvaneswari.
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Reporter's diary
The wheels took time to turn and my feet had to exert extra pressure on the pedals. My hands were stiff and my fingers held the brakes in anticipation of the worst. This was what I felt when I first took a trial run on a brand new Hercules gear cycle. It was light but riding a cycle after four years did give me the jitters. It also took me back to my school days. It was only a matter of time before I became a part of the group and rode along.

I arrived at 6.30 in the morning but left IIM-B, our starting point, only after 8 with the sun blazing. But it was a thrill, a challenge, to ride on the undulating road. Our destination was 8 km away but to my bad luck, I had to give up after 5 km due to a punctured rear tyre. The rest of the journey was in an Omni with an energising drink in hand....

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