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Ride a dream

Style statement The state-of-the-art cycles

Bicycles have always been looked as a poor man’s vehicle, at least in this part of the world. But with more and sophisticated technology coming to the country, the decrepit bicycle is getting sleeker by the day. For instance, imagine a bicycle that is priced at twice the price of a Nano! Or the one that is lighter than a sack of flour you carry home every week. Or let’s look at this one: itcan take you to your destination at a speed of 60 to 70 kms per hour.

With TI Cycles, an Indian manufacturer, joining hands with the Italian brand Bianchi, said to be the world’s oldest surviving cycle company, such cycles are now available in the country. K.C. Ramamoorthy, general manager, sales, TI Cycles, talking about such state-of-the-art cycles launched in New Delhi this past week, says, “This is a performance bike. We are targeting the rally riders, those who participate in adventure races. It is a high-end product meant for those who go the extra mile.”

Emphasising on the point that the bike is sturdy and rust-free, Ramamoorthy points out that a lot of research and effort has gone into designing the bike. “The technology goes in to the frame, the frame is the heart of the bike. It’s in a single piece made with carbon fibre to keep it very light and sturdy at the same time reducing vibrations. Everything is handcrafted with cutting edge technology in shock absorbers and gears.”

The premium cycle market in India is estimated to about 7,000 units which is now growing at a healthy rate of 25 per cent annually. One of the reasons is the urban Indian, specially the younger generation, opting for riding cycles for recreational and fitness purposes besides a chunk of them using them to reach their workplace Explains Arun Alagappan, senior vice president, retail, “With a paradigm shift in the urban Indian lifestyle, the concept of cycling is moving towards fitness, sports and recreation. Understanding this discerning demand and to address the need of the market, we have ventured into it in partnership with leading international brands.”

Richard Stroem, director, international sales, Bianchi, says, “We are looking forward to an exceptional growth in India. In a span of three years, we believe that India can become one of our most important export markets, mainly due to the increase in income levels and the large youth population which shows an increasing trend to stay fit.”

The cycles can be purchased at the Track and Trail showroom at Lajpat Nagar in New Delhi besides from shops in Bangalore and Pune at a price tag of Rs.2,00,000. The company is planning to open shops in other Indian cities too.

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