Contemplate a Cycle...
So I thought- now that I have the bike(CBZ) done I would probably sell it off and get a Bullet. Maybe an Electra 5s or a Machismo. But soon I started liking my bike. It rode and rode tough. Well sure there are a few problems that keep arising now and then , but again I had left it neglected for so long , these things are bound to happen.
I always had this desire to get myself a bicycle, this being even before I sold my Atlas Rebel bicycle. Bought my red Rebel when I was in 6th I guess. Since then I changed almost every component of the bike on numerous
occations, the bike went with me from every house I shifted and finally sold it off to a car mechanic (I really did not want to sell it ..). I did have a great time with my Red Cycle. It was a very sturdy (and heavy too) cycle and the handling was pretty smooth. Having ridden this to every corner of Pune I was very much tied to the idea of cycling around. Then again, since I was not using the cycle for long I was sorta molded into the idea of riding a motorized vehicle and not get back on non motorized stuff. Somehow I could never get this thought off the back of my head to get a cycle.
Its been over 5 years I sold my cycle. Everytime I ride down or happen to cross Phadke Haudh I get those goose bumps everytime I see those line of bicycle shops packed with all sorts of cycles. I always wanted to buy one.
Now the conditions of roads are bad, my general exercise routine is also bad. Being a s/w enginaeer, its sortof comes as a package of being a professional (or related ) in this line. I had had enough of this, I soon started researching the net for the latest in the scene of bicycles. I was stunned and taken aback by the wave of revolution that hit this medium. I read so many blogs and sites (many of Indian origin and some even from Pune).
Soon I came across these brands : Trek, Firefox, Merida, Gary Fisher, Giant,GT etc. Sure none
of the out of touch myselves :) had ever heard of these names. Firefox was one of the brands that had set shop in India, they are seemingly a bicycle company from UK who get their parts manufactured from places in Asia before they get here to the bicycle stores. Trek is one of the leading brands in the bicycle market and supposedly even their basic bicycles (ATBs/MTBs) are tougher than their best Indian counterparts.
The problem : :) 2
1. Geting my folks back home to digest the fact -its not impractical to buy a bicycle and
2. The price of this brands.
I mean the least a Trek bike (the 3700) costs is ~13.5 INR, while the
topmost Trek costs ~ 2.5Lacks!!!! It sure was hard to digest when I always was acquainted to the fact -cycles cant cost more than 5K. Firefox bikes had their range starting from ~4K -these were ungeared cycles. The top most Firefox costs ~22.5K!!!
The price part was pretty hard to digest , so I started looking for cycles from Indian counter parts. Soon I started to like 2 cycles from the Indian playground. Then Hercyles Omega and the Hero Thunder ATB. Both bike were for ~5K INR. But again looking at the treks and reading all sorts of reviews I was more inclined towards one of the treks. I really felt the trek 3700 was more than sufficient for my needs.
Friends did laugh at me when I told them about my new-born wish, but then one of my friend got his Hero Ranger cycle fixed and used it to go for his morning cricket practice! Aggghhhh... I wanted a bicycle soon.
Well I did speak to some enthusiast about whom I learnt online (http://www.bumsonthesaddle.com), and they were more than willing to help me decide on my cycle. Well so I have it finalized on the trek. Now the only issues that stop me from are
1. Geting my folks back home to digest the fact that its not impractical to buy a bicycle (I dunno will I ever be able to do this ) and
2. Servicing the parts of high price bike (I sure dont want a hammer being rammed on a 10K+ cycle at a lcoal shop:))- so I might even consider the Hercules Omega or the Hero Thunder). Well so a learning curve, maybe, would be necessitated for a do-it-yourself type of servicing.
Maybe I sound like one of those nagging kids - craving for a little toy. But hey I want it :D
Now only time would tell would I ever see a dawn of my bicycle!
I always had this desire to get myself a bicycle, this being even before I sold my Atlas Rebel bicycle. Bought my red Rebel when I was in 6th I guess. Since then I changed almost every component of the bike on numerous
occations, the bike went with me from every house I shifted and finally sold it off to a car mechanic (I really did not want to sell it ..). I did have a great time with my Red Cycle. It was a very sturdy (and heavy too) cycle and the handling was pretty smooth. Having ridden this to every corner of Pune I was very much tied to the idea of cycling around. Then again, since I was not using the cycle for long I was sorta molded into the idea of riding a motorized vehicle and not get back on non motorized stuff. Somehow I could never get this thought off the back of my head to get a cycle.Its been over 5 years I sold my cycle. Everytime I ride down or happen to cross Phadke Haudh I get those goose bumps everytime I see those line of bicycle shops packed with all sorts of cycles. I always wanted to buy one.
Now the conditions of roads are bad, my general exercise routine is also bad. Being a s/w enginaeer, its sortof comes as a package of being a professional (or related ) in this line. I had had enough of this, I soon started researching the net for the latest in the scene of bicycles. I was stunned and taken aback by the wave of revolution that hit this medium. I read so many blogs and sites (many of Indian origin and some even from Pune).
Soon I came across these brands : Trek, Firefox, Merida, Gary Fisher, Giant,GT etc. Sure none
of the out of touch myselves :) had ever heard of these names. Firefox was one of the brands that had set shop in India, they are seemingly a bicycle company from UK who get their parts manufactured from places in Asia before they get here to the bicycle stores. Trek is one of the leading brands in the bicycle market and supposedly even their basic bicycles (ATBs/MTBs) are tougher than their best Indian counterparts.The problem : :) 2
1. Geting my folks back home to digest the fact -its not impractical to buy a bicycle and
2. The price of this brands.
I mean the least a Trek bike (the 3700) costs is ~13.5 INR, while the
topmost Trek costs ~ 2.5Lacks!!!! It sure was hard to digest when I always was acquainted to the fact -cycles cant cost more than 5K. Firefox bikes had their range starting from ~4K -these were ungeared cycles. The top most Firefox costs ~22.5K!!!The price part was pretty hard to digest , so I started looking for cycles from Indian counter parts. Soon I started to like 2 cycles from the Indian playground. Then Hercyles Omega and the Hero Thunder ATB. Both bike were for ~5K INR. But again looking at the treks and reading all sorts of reviews I was more inclined towards one of the treks. I really felt the trek 3700 was more than sufficient for my needs.
Friends did laugh at me when I told them about my new-born wish, but then one of my friend got his Hero Ranger cycle fixed and used it to go for his morning cricket practice! Aggghhhh... I wanted a bicycle soon.
Well I did speak to some enthusiast about whom I learnt online (http://www.bumsonthesaddle.com), and they were more than willing to help me decide on my cycle. Well so I have it finalized on the trek. Now the only issues that stop me from are
1. Geting my folks back home to digest the fact that its not impractical to buy a bicycle (I dunno will I ever be able to do this ) and
2. Servicing the parts of high price bike (I sure dont want a hammer being rammed on a 10K+ cycle at a lcoal shop:))- so I might even consider the Hercules Omega or the Hero Thunder). Well so a learning curve, maybe, would be necessitated for a do-it-yourself type of servicing.
Maybe I sound like one of those nagging kids - craving for a little toy. But hey I want it :D
Now only time would tell would I ever see a dawn of my bicycle!
posted by vindy | 6:40 PM
4 Comments:
hey .. did you pick up a bike ?
This is ROhan from BumsOnTheSaddle
Hey windy go ahead and pick up a good bike. I would recommend 3700, I used Hero Octane DTB1 (5500/-) for six months, a good bike it is, however, TREK is altogether a different experience it's worth it for 13500/-.
Hey hi. I landed on your blog from a Google search for Thunder! I'm myself looking for a bike.
No its not at all impractical or childish as friends and parents say! And I too think going for a low cost bike and learning the tricks of the trade is a better idea.
Did you get around to biking? Which one? Care to share your experience AND choices? thanks.
Heyy Guyz !! lemme kknow wat if i want to open a new store in pune and to have a dealership of trek & firefox cycles! can anyone of u consult me to a proper dealer in pune!?
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