Pedalling away: How love for cycling brings a group together every week in Delhi

This is what an average day off for Delhi Cyclists — one of the largest cycling groups in the city — looks like. Founded in 2010 by Gaurav Wadhwa, who owns The Bike Shop in Green Park, the group rides twice a week – on Wednesdays and Sundays. To accommodate people’s work schedules, Wednesday rides are shorter than the Sunday ones, which cover longer distances and are followed by a group meal.

“We started off as a Facebook page of four friends…Back then, people didn’t know much about cycling…We made the community to inform them when our rides were happening,” says Wadhwa. The Facebook page now has over 11,000 followers.

Safety foremost in their mind, the group is well prepared for emergencies. A car trails the cyclists, equipped with hydrating liquids, food, a medical kit, and mechanical assistance.

“We motivate each other. Before I joined Delhi Cyclists, I used to cycle 8-10 km. But on my first ride with them, I did 38 km,” says Hirdey Raina, member of Delhi Cyclists since 2013.

The strong sense of community in the group is what Reena Katyal, an employee at a software company, also swears by. “It’s a stress reliever…I’ve made some great friendships by being here,” says the 40-year-old.

The group organises bigger events like intercity rides to places like Mumbai, Shimla, Chandigarh, Nainital, and Haridwar. Riding with Delhi Cyclists is free. But if you’ve been a regular, you can contribute Rs 7,500 a year to become a core member and represent the group.