Whether it is to zip past cars stuck in traffic, or to cruise along an empty road, biking is pure fun. I always had a fixation for bicycles, I commute to work daily on a bike, and when this fixation met my passion for photography, I couldn’t help but hunt for other bicyclists around me.
The findings thrown up by the chase were pretty interesting; not every bicyclist was like me; some rode for sport, some for a living – to deliver couriers, dabbas, and all sorts of goods, while many rode to commute.
The bicycles they rode too are a far cry from the imported lightweight frames seen in other developed parts of the world. Rather, the most common bicycle that one could see on our roads are the surly looking roadsters fondly called a ‘Ghoda’, and this Ghoda (horse) is as much of a brute as its namesake, even though it often gets dwarfed by the elephant-like trucks and buses.
Across many countries, bicycling is pretty much everybody’s modish choice of commute; as I found out during my visit to London, but the executive class in our country still find it improbable.
Nevertheless, the eco-friendliness, fuel-saving, convenience and escaping from traffic plays an integral role in its popularity. But the most enjoyable part of seeing a bicycle passing by – be it a courier messenger on an ordinary roadster or a guy in tights with a cool helmet on a sleek hybrid bike is that it always looks like its great fun to pedal.
Photos & Text By Krunal Palande
Contact:
email: krunal.palande@gmail.com
