cycling

Bicycles were associated with wealthy young men in the early part of the 20th century, particularly being favoured by the sahibs and the Indian elite. In a few years, as bicycles became more common and popular, the prestige waned. By the 1920s it was not seemly for a senior official of the Raj to gallivant about on a cycle. A horse or carriage was seen as a better way to maintain distance and underline class distinctions. It was also not deemed acceptable to turn up to work or elsewhere looking hot and bothered due to cycling in the tropical weather.

80ஸ் கிட்ஸ்களின் புல்லட்டாக இருந்த சைக்கிள்களை ரிப்பேர் செய்யும் சைக்கிள் ரிப்பேர்காரர்களின் கதையைதான் இந்த கட்டுரையில் பார்க்க இருக்கிறோம். ஆமாம், நம்மில் பலருக்கு தெரியாத, சிலருக்கு படித்ததும் பால்ய நினைவுகளை முன்னிறுத்தப்போகும் கட்டுரைதான் இது. 1960 களில் பல இளைஞர்களின் புஷ்பக வாகனமாக சைக்கிள் இருந்திருக்கிறது என்றால் நம்பமுடிகிறதா? அதிலும், அதை வாங்கக்கூட இயலாத வகையில் இங்கு பொருளாதார நிலை நிலவியது என்பது விசித்திர உண்மை.

Today the cyclist is infra-dig unless one is dressed in lycra and riding a high-end cycle that costs more than a car and the reason for cycling is recreation or sport. The cycle as a mode of commute, then, is for the poor, for those who have no other option and such cyclists are not considered as having a right to the road. Yet this humble vehicle – a simple construct of two wheels, a chain, some cranks, pedals, and metal rods - was once considered to be the pinnacle of transportation.

For years my commute in whichever part of the world I have been in, has been by public transit. Even on holidays, I use public transit. You can actually manage to figure it out ahead of time (the Internet is a wonderful thing!). But somehow I hadn’t really thought about cycling as a commute option, not since college anyway! 

Back in the saddle