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Photo: M. Karunakaran

BIKERS’ DAY OUT At the Second International Cycle Race 2008

Bangalore-based perfumer Samim Rizvi thinks global warming can be effectively checked by reducing the use of internal combustion engines. Showing the way, he uses the Trek, an 18-gear racing cycle, for daily commuting and even for travels outside the city. To drive home the environment-friendly nature of a cycle, Rizvi is planning a trip from Bangalore to Hyderabad and back on his machine.

Peter Smith from Auroville has discovered that cycling is ‘many health benefits in one basket’. Part of a mountain biking club, which has close to 30 members, he sets out for pretty places (Javadhi Hills, Kalrayan Hills, Mailam et cetera) every Thursday and on most Sundays. Started about 15 years ago by Andre, Partrick and a few other ‘Aurovillians’, this club remains open for membership to outsiders too. It draws attention to Auroville’s environmentally friendly lifestyle.

Venkatesh Chandrasekaran sees the cycle as a vehicle for social transformation. This Founder Trustee for Schools For India (SFI) is on a mission to set up 6000 “fully-integrated” schools across rural India by 2020. Each will come up on 20 acres of land. The cycle being the most preferred commuting option in rural areas, an annual cycle race is conducted by his trust (with support from the Cycling Federation of India) to highlight his programme. Apart from professional cyclists, these races attract a number of participants from rural areas. Aimed at creating awareness about the ambitious SFI project, these races also bring unexpected benefits — tangible and immediate. In 2007, when the First International Cycle Race was conducted, 20 acres in Moga District was donated to the SFI project.

Rizvi and Smith took part in the Second International Cycle Race 2008 (prize money: Rs. 10 lakh), held on the East Coast Road on January 31. The presence of J.S. Grewal, general secretary, Cycling Federation of India (CFI) was a signal of the importance attached to the event. Grewal said CFI supported SFI because “it has taken up a noble cause” and also because such events can unearth cyclists with great potential. Grewal said unusual talent, whenever spotted, was groomed by CFI through its special camps programmes.

At ICR 2208, there were two main categories (men’s amateur – 150 km and women’s amateur – 75 km) followed by separate races for school and college students and corporates. A special category for those riding mountain bikes was introduced, thanks to the contingent from Auroville. Although the main events were classified as amateur, the standard of cycling was high. This was not surprising given that most of these participants regularly represented their organisations at cycling events. The winner in the men’s category, O. Bikram Singh works for South Central Railway and hails from Manipur. Neelamma Mallikavad, who is part of Karnataka Police, finished first in the women’s category.

Originally, the main event (for men) was to start at Mayajaal and end at Pondicherry. This plan was dropped because of the difficulty in controlling traffic across a 140 km stretch. The altered course – from Mayajaal to a point 25 km towards Mahabalipuram — had racers going up and down the stretch three times. So, there was something to watch for a curious crowd that had assembled at Mayajaal.

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