HYDERABAD: The city has a new focus – to encourage women to cycle recreationally as well as competitively. Events like ZenQ’s Freedom Ride encourages women to cycle, says Lavanya, software testing professional and an avid bicycle rider and participant at the Freedom Cycle Ride. Lavanya was one of the 30-plus girls who participated in the Cycle Ride organised by ZenQ, a Hyderabad and US headquartered software testing services company. “Riding 30 km is not a big deal.
You can ride as long as you have physical stamina. I rode for 53 km in one of the TAF (The Atlanta Foundation) Cycling events” says, Lavanya. The general perception we hear often is that women don’t have stamina as much as men. But, if you look around, 15 girls are riding bicycles for 30 km and rest 20 for 15 km. They do it from Gachibowli Stadium they will travel through Gachibowli Flyover, Nanakramguda Junction, Narsingh Junction, APPA Junction and reach Himayatsagar from there they will return to Gachibowli Stadium on the same route Lavanya, one of the 125 bicycle rider who participated in ZenQ’s Freedom Ride 2017, an annual flagship event of ZenQ informed.
“Yes, women are jumping on the bicycle bandwagon,” says Surya of Cykul who works on Cycle Sharing Program. “More women are showing interest because of two immediate benefits--fitness, environmental benefits. It is also one of the most effective workouts you will ever do. It can be a recreation too,” he adds.He talked about girls borrowing cycles from Cycle Stations located in various locations in the city. All they do is go to a station, deposit their valid Identity proof take the bike. Ride as long as that want. And pay `75 per hour. That is it.
Adding further Surya says, “Brevets Rides, Republic, Independence Day Rides, Peace Rides, adventure tours, criterium races, trail races… Slowly but steadily women are pedalling their way to a cycling culture in the city. We see nearly 100 cycling events happening in the city every year. A significant number of participants in all these events are women.” According to Surya, Hyderabad can proudly boast of 400 to 500 serious women bicycle riders. There are many Brevet Riders in the city. Brevet is long-distance cycling sport may be for 200 km, he adds.