Pedal Pushers

With a motto of “Explore not Exploit”,the members of Chandigarh Adventures Treks and Sports (CATS) have been holding regular biking trips in and around town for five years now. With riders of all age-groups on board,CATS allows riding only in a single file on narrow roads,while adults make a cycle-chain on every roundabout to stop the traffic and allow the child cyclists to cross over safely. “No honking is permitted when biking inside the jungle or nature reserves. The idea is to explore new routes and spaces together,” says Supreet Dhiman,who has lead several CATS expeditions.

The health benefits of cycling is what Harmesh Inder Singh has discovered in the last seven years. Singh began cycling as running left him with pains and injuries. “What was once considered a poor man’s ride is now a style statement,” says Singh. Moving from a modified Hero to a hi-tech Firefox,40-year-old Singh admits that he is an accessory addict. “I’ve got the works,including a $300 digital view,” he says. Singh does 32 kms on the weekends and about 18 kms daily,with the track behind Sukhna Lake,Nayagaon,Kansal and Saketri being his favourites.

Food consultant Tanbir Chahal is also discovering the bylanes of Manimajra on a bicycle. “The turning point was when I came across the Trek 3700 bike around five years ago. Its light weight and responsive-pedalling feature made cycling very smooth,” says Chahal,whose favourite track is the one behind the lake where one can spot herds of sambar.

Monica Saini is all set to do a cyclothon with friends in Kasauli on Sunday morning. The 40-year-old Saini cycles 30 kms everyday and owns four Trek bikes. “It’s

safe and healthy for you and the environment. It’s a complete workout,not to mention the time you get to spend with yourself during cycling. But yes,you have to get the right safety gear for a smooth ride,” says Saini,who has been cycling for 10 years now.