blurcovenky

Looking to create a repository of cycles and cyclists in India. Whether you live there or you are touring through the country post a picture of your cycle and the landscape. One of the biggest expanding market for two wheelers that are powered by fat and grit. This could be a thread to show-off your bike and your rides and inspire riders in the country and around the world.

Bangalore to Coimbatore ride. Firefox frame with bunch of nice components made for a beautiful ride.


. No 'strava' screen shots please.

shelbyfv

A few years back there was an active BF poster who lived in India. Didn't seem to be a cycling paradise there. IIRC, he invested lots of effort in avoiding customs fees on bikes and stuff. Are you a member of a cycling club there and if so, does it function similarly to US clubs?

blurcovenky

I don't live in India now, I'm in the US for the next couple of years. But, I've been on the fringes of the bicycle industry and worked in a bike shop there until less than a year ago.

I commuted by bike mostly for the last 23 years there. It is a suicide mission everyday getting to work. But you kinda get used to it. I bike to work here and it seems monotonous and boring sometimes, without cars and motorcyclists riding just inches from you (often there is contact!).

There is a healthy and rapidly growing cycling community in almost every quarter of the country now. The younger generation has the interest and money and are willing to spend it on good bikes and components. I've sold a good number of S-works, Surly, BMC, Wiliers and Handsome bikes while I was there.

The government isn't really helping the cause though, cycles in India are labelled 'Luxury product' so the taxes to import are pretty steep. A year ago, the government banned all tire imports, hoping to help indian companies, but few Indian companies made good bike tires, that was another fiasco.

All said and done there is a lot of exploring to do in India by bike bon't expect bike lanes though. The only bike I would ride there is a gravel bike or a touring bike.

livedarklions

All imported cycles are "luxury"? That's bizarre. That's really a protective tariff, right?

Thanks, this is really interesting.

mstateglfr 

Who would want to commute on safe routes, right? I mean, if you arent fighting with traffic and litterally being bumped by vehicles, you arent living!***

blurcovenky

Everyday an adventure. You don't have to go looking for one.

TiHabanero

Looks a lot like South Korea in the late 70's. Controlled chaos.