World Bicycle Day: How Cycling Transforms Lives Across India — From Childhood Memories To Ultimate Freedom

Almost every Indian childhood has a chapter that begins with a cycle. The early morning school rides, the neighbourhood races, the thrill of pedalling downhill with the wind in your face, cycling is often our first real taste of freedom. That first wobbly ride, often cheered on by a parent or sibling, is etched in memory like a rite of passage.

As we grow older, many of us trade those two wheels for faster means of transport. But for some, the cycle never really goes away. It becomes a fitness ritual, a way of reclaiming time, a protest against pollution, or simply a path to inner calm.

Ahead of World Bicycle Day, we spoke to passionate cyclists across India who’ve made the bicycle a permanent companion, one that grows with them, evolves with their lifestyle, and continues to ground them in motion and memory.

From taxi cycles to road bikes

Rajat Singh, a cyclist from Faridabad, says his earliest rides were to school on what he calls a "taxi cycle," a gearless bicycle used by many children in his neighbourhood. “The school was around 7 to 8 km away, and I used to go on my own. That was my first experience with long-distance cycling,” he recalls.

Over time, his curiosity turned into a habit. “I used to see people riding road bikes, so one day I just bought one. It was September 19. I started riding 10 km every day, just trying to build a habit, learning how to handle a proper road bike.”

That modest beginning slowly turned into a structured lifestyle. “Weekends are for long-distance rides, and weekdays are fixed distances. We have a proper schedule, we meet at a starting point and go from there. We used to do drafting, too. I got professional shoes, a speed sensor, and a heart rate monitor. Proper diet, nuts, hydration — everything matters,” he adds.

Rajat now clocks 70 to 80 km weekend rides and participates in local races, but more than performance, it’s the structure and discipline that keep him going. “I don’t party late, I sleep on time, and I hydrate. It’s not just about your legs, it’s about your arms, your core, your mental focus. It changes how you approach the day. It’s made me sharper, calmer, and more in control—on and off the saddle.”

His story reflects a growing trend. According to the All India Bicycling Federation, there has been a 40% increase in cycling club memberships in Tier-1 and Tier-2 cities since 2020, with many riders following structured training programs like Rajat’s.

From joyrides to green choices

For Pankaj Rai Chaudhary, a Public Relations consultant at WordsWork, cycling began as a childhood joy and transformed into an act of urban mindfulness. “I still remember my first bike, pink and white. Riding around the neighbourhood on it felt like royalty,” he says, smiling.

Today, he prefers using a cycle over any other mode of transport. “Whether it's early morning rides, solo trips around town, or weekend trails, cycling is how I exist in the city. Every time I take the bike instead of driving, I feel like I’m voting for cleaner air, quieter roads, and better health. It’s a small choice, but it makes me feel like I’m doing my bit to reclaim the city, even if just one lane at a time.”

This shift from convenience to conscience is becoming increasingly common. A 2023 report by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs showed that in cities where public cycling infrastructure was introduced, 17% of respondents switched from motor vehicles to bicycles within six months. Cities like Bhopal, which launched a Public Bicycle Sharing system in 2017, continue to see steady growth in daily cycling commuters.

Cycling as storytelling

Some riders carry their love for cycling beyond roads and into stories. Yetesh Sharma, an avid cyclist and media professional who grew up in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, remembers his first ride as a “wobbly adventure” with his brother close by, ready to catch him if he fell. “That thrill hooked me for life,” he says. Hoshiarpur’s quiet roads and green fields made every ride feel cinematic, and by 2018, he had invested in an imported bike.

“Cycling became my happy place, and eventually I made a documentary about Hoshiarpur’s cyclists. Some of them are now super randonneurs,” he shares. Yetesh believes cycling is one of the most democratic modes of movement. “You don’t need fancy carbon frames, you just need heart. The rhythm of the pedal is the same whether you’re on a 10,000-rupee cycle or a lakh-plus bike. I’ve met farmers, school kids, and retired athletes on trails, all united by the same rhythm of the pedal. It strips away class, noise, and ego. You meet people as they are.”

His passion echoes a wider cultural movement. According to Audax India, brevet participation, long-distance, non-competitive cycling, has increased fivefold since 2017, with Pune, Hyderabad, and Chennai emerging as randonneuring hubs.

Memories on two wheels

For Ashish Sharma, an avid cyclist and communication professional, cycling has always carried an emotional weight. “It started the day my father gifted me my first bicycle,” he says. “His gentle push, his steady hand — that moment has stayed with me.” During the pandemic, he found himself returning to the cycle after years. “I bought a fat bike and started exploring forgotten roads — Rajpath, India Gate, the Aravalli hills. Even now, with work and responsibilities, I make time to ride. It’s how I honour my past and invest in my present.”

He adds, “Every ride feels like a quiet conversation with my younger self — reminding me who I was, and still am.”

A 2021 survey by Decathlon India found that 65% of adults who bought bicycles during the pandemic were first-time cyclists, many of whom cited nostalgia and mental well-being as their primary motivation.

Weekend retreats and women’s collectives

In Pune, Dipti Sharma, a 32-year-old data analyst, began cycling during the lockdown as a way to avoid crowded public transport. “What started as a practical solution turned into something spiritual,” she says. She now rides 40 to 60 km on weekends to scenic spots like Mulshi, describing it as the only time she feels truly disconnected from screens. “There’s no performance pressure, no notifications, just my breath and the road. In a world that’s constantly demanding output, the saddle permits me to just be.”

Dipti is also part of a local women’s cycling collective, which holds bi-monthly group rides and safety workshops. “As a woman, riding at dawn used to feel unsafe. Now, with the group, it’s empowering. We look out for each other. The streets feel a little more ours.”

Marine drive mornings and the healing pace of pedals

Adil Khan, a 36-year-old fashion stylist in Mumbai, picked up cycling during a burnout phase. “I couldn’t sleep, couldn’t focus. I’d get on my bike and ride along Marine Drive at 6 am. That silence, that softness of the city before it wakes — it was therapy,” he says.

He now cycles three times a week and even runs errands on his bicycle. “People underestimate what routine movement can do. Cycling didn’t just heal my body, it healed the pace of my life. It slowed me down in the best way possible. In the quiet of Marine Drive mornings, I remembered how to breathe.”

Circling back to move ahead

What makes cycling more than just a fitness trend? It's personal. It's quiet but powerful. It’s the freedom to glide through your city without leaving a carbon trace, to take the long road just because you can. It’s a rebellion against rush, a return to rhythm.

For every rider we met, the cycle is a compass, pointing to their past and guiding their present. Whether it’s the pink bicycle of Pankaj’s childhood, Rajat’s weekend sprints, Dipti’s meditative trails, or Adil’s dawn rides, every turn of the pedal is a small act of remembering.

Because when we cycle, we don’t just move forward, we circle back. To the wobbly beginnings. To the people who first pushed us. To the wind in our face, and the joy of knowing we’re still chasing that same thrill, only now, with steadier hands and a deeper sense of purpose.

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