Cycling: Join the Ride

Hybrid bikes are a mix between mountain and road bikes; the riding posture is that of a mountain bike, but it has slim road tyres. Average price, Rs. 15,000

Time Trial bikes (TT bikes) are even more aerodynamic than road bikes. They typically feature aero-bars that force the rider into the most aerodynamic riding position. Prices start around Rs. 1.5 lakh.

Commuter bikes are your regular cycles which allow for short city commuting. Typically, they’re gearless, light, simple to maintain, cheap to purchase, and allow for add-ons like carriers or baskets. Mid-range costs are from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 5,000, though you can spend much more.

Electric bikes are commuter bikes with a battery attached to the frame, which the rider can use to tackle tough slopes. Electric bikes tend to be heavy as a result of the extra weight, and tend to not give you much speed from the battery. They’re just about making a debut in India, so prices are unavailable, but going by international rates, a good mid-range would cost you between Rs. 40,000 and Rs. 65,000.

You can also get cool things like folding cycles, which collapse into something small enough to carry on to a bus, perfect for big metros. We couldn’t find any available in India yet.

Saddles and Shorts
You make contact with your cycle with your hands, feet and backside. Gloves and proper shoes are important, but it’s crucial to make sure you get your seat (and the cycle’s) just right. The soft tissue between your legs is vulnerable, and long hours in the saddle can cause problems like numbness, even impotence.

Cycle saddles were once made of leather, which mould to your shape over time. Today, most seats have a plastic base, with a leather, vinyl or lycra covering, and gel or gelfoam padding (feels like absorbent foam). The primary difference between a gel and gelfoam coating is that the former will relocate to areas of lesser pressure and the latter will get relocated to areas of pressure. Narrow racing saddles are okay for a time-trialler who is spending more time standing on the pedals than in the seat, but are a bad idea for anyone else. Split seats move the pressure points to the pelvic bones, with the split being lined with gel padding to increase rider comfort. The problem with gel, however, is that it does not wick moisture away from the body.

Image: Dinesh Krishnan

Don’t cycle in normal exercise gear. Invest in good cycling shorts. The repetitive movements of cycling can cause chafing and rashes, and the right shorts can minimise, even eliminate those irritants.

Standard cycling shorts were once made of wool, which isn’t the best thing to wear in a tropical climate, but now most people identify the skin-hugging spandex variety as the only kind. Less callipygian souls will be glad to note that you can also get baggy shorts.

Spandex gives you a good fit, with a number of panels that help it give the rider support in the proper cycling posture. Mot important: No seam between the legs, as this can cause irritation. Spandex, a mix of polyester, gives your skin the ability to breathe and wicks moisture away from the body. Baggy shorts usually have a tight inner layer and a more loose outer. They give you space for pockets to carry snacks or gadgets around.

But whatever fit you choose, the single most important thing is the chamois. Named for the leather it was once made of, this is the interior padding between your legs. Some shorts have them built in, with others you have to get them separately. Now also made of other modern materials in multiple layers, it protects the soft tissue between your legs from friction, wicks moisture, allows skin to breathe, and prevents bacteria growth.