During my school days, I was an avid cyclist - and had many a ride with my friends Alikesh, Prashant, and Raju and explored the outskirts of my hometown, Unnao. The two rides that I remember most vividly are as follows -
Once, I and Prashant rode out to go to a iron factory located around 9 Km from our city (and around 11 from where we stayed) - and all this just to get a certificate saying that we have inspected their factory - to be attached to the project file we had to make as a part of our ICSE board exams, all for a measly 20 marks. Needless to say, the guard at the front door shooed us away (I suspect he must have had a laugh with his co-workers later)
The other time, we were getting bored of sitting at home, and so decided to visit a mutual friend. But when we reached his place, we were told that he had gone to Kanpur. Rather than turn back, we decided to ride on and discovered a centre for training of fire fighters after around 6 Km. (I know I know, but it was a discovery our own private universe)
In those days I used to have a Hero Ranger MTB (which was just launched in the splattered dual colour model). Later, when my Dad got fed up of paying for the repairs of fallen screws and flat tyres, he gave it away while I was away from home – and bought me a Hero Jet plus.
But somewhere down the line, the good old cycle lost its sheen and was replaced with bikes and scooters.... (In those days scooters were still in use and were considered a nice ride). I tried to blackmail my parents into buying me a bike - but they somehow were able to resist all such demands of mine.
Then came the time of coaching for engineering – where I shifted to Lucknow for my classes. Since my coaching was far from home, and because of the erratic timings, my father absolutely forbade me using the cycle as a mode of travel. Also, as I had started to feel ashamed of travelling on a hero jet (as it is the bicycle most associated with the milk mans, who prefer it for its sturdiness), I too did not insist on using a cycle.
After the coaching came the four years of studying for my engineering degree – and since my college was about 9 Km from the city, the preferred mode of travel of mine was the ever present tempo and (later) my Dad’s scooter.
After completing my degree, I was offered a job in a Software company and was transferred to Hyderabad. By now, cycles had again come into prominence – not as a mode of travel – but as a mode of recreation, meeting new people, and remaining fit. But since my office was like 25 Km from my place, and being a notoriously late riser and a very lazy person to boot, I could never get myself to go to a shop and purchase a new bike.
We even had a cycle show in our office, but they displayed the firefox range, and for a guy earning a measly 12000 bucks, even the thought of purchasing a bike for 25000 bucks is like wishing to buy a Ferrari……
And then I got into a project and was transferred to an office which was near to my place. I could have bought a cycle then, but I pacified myself by claiming that my home was not secure to park a cycle (Indeed, we did not even have a parking - and so the cycle had to be parked on the road – and the area was not very good when it comes to security).
And then we shifted to a new house – which is in a gated community and has guards at the gate round the clock. The first thought that came to my mind after coming to the new home was that I can now buy a cycle – but I kept postponing my visit to the showroom…..
And then, last month, one of my friends posted the picture of his cycle on his blog site…. And I fell in love once again. But time was a big constraint – as I was working over the weekend also.
And finally I got a Saturday free last weekend, and the first thing I did after waking up was to go and purchase a cycle for my own. I bought a Hercules Atom with 18 gears – and I have been going to office on my new bike since then. And the reactions of my colleagues and bystanders are fun …. Some of my office mates and one of my roommates has tried to deter me from going to office on a cycle as it is meant for the guards only (what sad thinking!!)… Others smile, and still others have praised me and have promised to purchase a bike of their own…. I have been asked by strangers about the bike, its cost… and today I was praised by an auto driver for doing the right thing.
Such comments make me happy – and make me curse myself for having waited for so long for purchasing the bike…..
The only thing is, I am so out of tune and my fitness level is below zero – so I am still not in top gear. The distances which I used to cover without a curve on my brow now leave me thirsty and a tad tired. Add to that the fact that I had started smoking in my B.Tech – and I am left with burnt out lungs…… but I will get to it. I am gradually increasing the distances I cover every day – and soon I will be in prime shape (hopefully)
Till then, this is a reborn cyclist, signing off….
Over and out.
