Pedalling to the future

It was in 2006 that Rohan Kini and Nikhil Eldurkar decided to do something about the increasing traffic and the pollution that came with it.

They thought of cycling to their offices instead of using their motor bikes. “I used to ride my motorbike from Jayanagar to Indiranagar everyday, which took me more than an hour one way, and it was extremely frustrating. A colleague of mine suggested that I ride a bicycle to work and my life changed after that. It’s so much more convenient, easier and stress-free compared to what I had to go through otherwise,” Rohan says.

This thought led to the two engineers to start ‘BumsOnTheSaddle’ (BOTS) which is a cycling club as well as a retail store. As a group, they want to encourage more people to take up the eco-friendly transport which not only helps in their well-being but also the planet. “It was very important for us to start a retail store as well because the equipment you need for cycling are as expensive as the other transport gears. We wanted to educate people about what they were getting into and how they can improve their riding skills,” Rohan adds.

Every week, they meet as a group, invite more people to join in and go on rides. The ‘BOTS Tarmac Chronicles’ is a ride aimed at riders who are keen on starting their weekend with a nice 80 to 90 km road ride. They explore a new route every week, especially to the areas unexplored by many. Vinesh Chawla, one of the members says, “A long ride out of the City every week is like a mini-vacation away from the hustle. It’s also great to ride with like-minded folks on routes that most of us have not ventured into. Most of all, it gives an insight into where I stand vis-a-vis other riders in terms of my riding technique and endurance strength.”

Other members, Tarun Rao, Aditya Prasad  and Nikhil Bhargole, say, “BOTS is all about connecting and sinking into the unknown. To escape the steel and be happy at the same time is amazing.” For Niranjan Kamath and Arjun Iall, it’s a completely different feeling. They say, “Riding for the ‘Tarmac Chronicles’ makes us feel like we are on our motorbikes!”

The BOTSWomen initiative started early this year and has churned out close to 70 new riders since. Payal Kini, one of the members of the team, says, “Our aim is to ride together as women. We ride every Saturday and all our events are posted on our Facebook page if anyone wants to join. We figured that women riders are very less, simply because they do not know where to start and where to go from there. With this group, we grow knowledge in the cycling space through women specific workshops, get stronger and fitter — all of this done with us having a great time!”

There are 15 people on the core team who help manage the entire club. With fun activities like workshops and movie nights on a weekly basis, the members of the team are kept on their toes.

Rohan adds, “Tuesday is actually our weekly-off, but the guys in our team head out on their bikes for a fun ride. That’s how passionate our team is!”

Recently, they conducted a workshop at their Jayanagar outlet teaching bike enthusiasts to run maintenence, various urban riding skills, how to fix punctures and other basic do-it-yourself knowledge. They also went on a 200 km ride which started at 4 am from Airlines Hotel. The club is also looking forward to a movie night that will take place this week.
“It’s a fantastic way to meet new people, explore the City and get fit in a fun outdoor way. Cycling is one of the best forms of exercise without injuring your body as it is a non-impact sport and it definitely beats boring gyms,” adds Rohan.

To know more about the club, visit www.bumsonthesaddle.com.