Bicycles

What is the first thought that comes to mind when we see this image. Ride into a no mans land and fly away to a fairy land. Bicycles are truly magical in the sense you feel like a child all over again. Unlike the west, to be more specific, certain European countries which encourage cyclists to reduce private transport and emissions these are meant today only for the poor people, children or enthusiasts who cycle on weekends for exercise and other reasons.

I was cycling my way until my collegiate years. It’s not those fancy cycles that come out of factories these days that cost many a thousands. It was the good old Hero or Hercules cycle of standard shape and size. And that too it will not be a new one. It would be something that’s used across generations. By your Grandpa, Dad and your elder sibling too. It’s time tested, battle hardened war machine. It would scream and screech. Therefore you need to apply grease, oils and wipe it clean before you start using it. You really have to maintain it my friend by cleaning the rims, chains and keep it shiny and glistening (like a babe)…

Cycle was the preferred mode of transport other than walking when you had to go around anywhere on a 5 kms radius. As kids there is that urge to drive it like a super bike, though in reality I haven’t seen one, taking those fast turns around the corner and zipping around as if you were in Moto GP Racing. As it happens in the racing world you also skid and fall down when you go over some sand on the road or if you chance encounter some pits that come about all of a sudden, every now and then. Unlike the bikers who wear protective clothes here we drive in half pants and end up tearing ou knees. You get plenty of wisdom, okay that’s one way to learn how not to drive.

You will find 100’s of cycles when you go to the cycle stand near the railway station. Rows and rows of cycles neatly arranged and maintained. Today it’s replaced by bikes and scooters. Life truly has become mechanical. During those days with lesser numbers of automobiles on the road it was safe to go by cycle on the
Main roads, even if the roads were badly maintained. Today with mushrooming multiplication of automobiles coupled with rash driving it’s quite unsafe to drive a cycle during peak hours in a traffic prone road. That’s the main reason why we don’t allow kids out on the roads. My son though is quite frustrated why he is not allowed to go alone and when he can go to his classes etc. Parents have their own reasons to worry and kids won’t understand that.

It’s actually great fun when you have a partner with whom you can go around and have fun on the roads. Stop by near an ice cream parlor or a chaat shop opposite to the beach, licking your ice cream or relishing your delicious chaat sitting on your bicycle and having random gossip is what we truly miss now. It’s like forgetting about everything else and living in the moment. That’s gone forever. Money and Mobility was limited in those days but we took pleasure in the simple things in life. Like riding your bicycle and feeling the wind caressing your face. Co existing with nature and surroundings, however, they were we accepted and lived with it. Standard of living has increased over the years but life is now limited to the four walls.

Let’s hop into a bicycle and reclaim the freedom we lost many years ago and also teach our children the pleasure of cycling and how to be safe on the roads.