They cheer on cyclists when they slow down or get tired and guide them with bike and gear selection, suitable food and rehydration suggestions along with teaching skills like balancing, gear changing, cycling and braking safely, and when to speed up or slow down. Besides personal back-up cars belonging to fellow cyclists, there is also a van in tow.
When the ride ends it’s heartening to see some children come up especially to thank volunteers for their assistance. Towards the end of the ride, they are bursting with energy and often overexcited, and have to be reminded to not go past the leader. If the route becomes longer, it’s mostly the children who don’t tire easily.
At five years of age, Zara might be the youngest rider. Her parents taught her to ride without the trainer wheels two months ago, and since then she has been cycling with the CMKJ. Her face is flushed with pride and joy as she pushes the pedals. She is so excited about cycling that her parents have to take her out for a daily ride. When her parents go to the senior ride without her, they have to compensate by taking her out for a ride in their neighbourhood.
Nine-year-old Dawood started cycling “a long time ago” — two months, to be precise. He races to the head of the pack, brimming with vigour and confidence.
The older riders love the adrenalin too. Many of them are old-time cyclists who have come back to cycling to relive the good old days.
Farah used to cycle with her siblings when she was younger. They lived in an officers’ mess, and they could bike at will inside the safe zone. Like many adults who had become cautious about using public spaces, she, too, was apprehensive. But thanks to the group, about 40 years later she is back on her bike, and loves the freedom of riding down the street.
The CMKJ was approached by two schools to introduce cycling to their students. The administrators went to the campus with bicycles and spoke to them about the basics and merits of cycling, then arranged helmets and bicycles for the recruits.
“The CMKJ’s aim is to convert more and more people to taking up cycling as a means of transport. There were 96 cyclists on the last ride. It was a great feeling,” enthused Nader.
It’s a great way to make new friends and meet old ones. Groups of families, neighbours, and school and college friends hang out for bonding and relaxing. When the ride ends, there is a critical mass of flushed, smiling faces.
Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, March 20th, 2016