India on a cycle - A repository of cycles and cyclists in India
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
India on a cycle - A repository of cycles and cyclists in India
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.
Bangalore to Coimbatore ride. Firefox frame with bunch of nice components made for a beautiful ride.
. No 'strava' screen shots please.
Likes For blurcovenky:
#2
Expired Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: TN
Posts: 11,499
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3648 Post(s)
Liked 5,381 Times
in
2,732 Posts
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?
#3
Newbie
Thread Starter
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?
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.
Likes For blurcovenky:
#4
Tragically Ignorant
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,613
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8186 Post(s)
Liked 9,095 Times
in
5,053 Posts
Thanks, this is really interesting.
#5
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,604
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10947 Post(s)
Liked 7,473 Times
in
4,181 Posts
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!).
#6
Newbie
Thread Starter