Biking India: Track & Trail’s First Group Ride in Delhi
What do you do on the first Sunday in a new city on the other side of the world? Well, I went biking at 6 AM with Track & Trail for their first group ride ever in Delhi India.
For a shop offering their first ride, you’d have think they’ve done this before, like a dozen times. The shop created a route that took into consideration the mostly introductory group of riders.
Before the ride, there was a briefing on the route and safety suggestions. Then there was a lead and tail car once we started going.
About every 9 kilometers into the ride, there was a shaded pitstop with water, bananas and chocolate. Finally, back at the shop, Track & Trail feed us further with simple breakfast sandwiches, juice and fruit.
During the ride, with our early start and carefully chosen route, we rode comfortably without much traffic to get in our way. With Delhi’s massive roundabouts, turning corners became so much faster and lets you keep rolling.
Bad Memory Routing
The lead pace car kept us to about 27 kph, while the sweeper seemed to be closer to 20 kph.
Interestingly for me, I couldn’t remember a time in which I rode for almost 40 kilometers without climbing a few hundred meter hill at 8 percent or greater. Here in Delhi, the worst climb, if you could even call it that was a very moderate 5 or 6 percent, 15-meter road overpass.
However, just like in Taiwan, that climb wasn’t until the end and a few people did have trouble after riding longer than they’ve ever done before . However, I did notice that most local Indian’s whether on fancy rides or on the heavy steel single speed bikes walked. Might be traditional…
At rides end, the final food was more to distract us while the shop workers snuck outside and proceeded to clean the bikes and oil gearing up. I was shocked to come outside and see my bikes original color. It’s been mud brown for months.
Also as part of the ride, Arif, owner and tail car driver, and shop staff took plenty of time to talk with people about the better quality bike options over the traditional one size fits all locally made Indian bicycles. Track & Trail carry imports from Bianchi, Cannondale, Schwinn plus the local brand, BSA.
Before we could finally leave, a group photo session preceded the handing out of nice looking BSA Hercules t-shirts.
I’m looking forward the next ride in September. If you’ve got a Sunday morning open and want to ride in Delhi, give Track & Trail a holler to join up. You could just show up in the morning once details are posted.
Track and Trail
C2/51 & 52 Veer Savarkar Marg
Central Market, Lajpat Nagar 2
New Delhi – 24
delhi@trackandtrail.in
Closed Monday
011 4662 1605
Track and Trail Nearby Location
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Track & Trail’s First Group Ride in Delhi Photos
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8/11/2010 Correction; Arref changed to Arif.
August 11, 2010 - 2:49 PM
Hey Michael,
Thank a ton for the wright up. It was very kind of you. Thanks again. Looking forward to have you with us in our next ride.
August 12, 2010 - 1:58 PM
Arif, I appreciate being allowed along. I’m looking forward to riding again with the group.
There’s a 100 km Saturday ride I’m thinking about, but with rental hunting, work and other invitations; I’m not sure I’m going to make it for the 4:15 AM India Gate meetup.
August 13, 2010 - 7:34 PM
Yup the overpass at the end was the only part that made me pant for breath. It was my first long ride ever (by my standards) Thanks for the post. ride safe
August 14, 2010 - 1:20 PM
Saptorshi, it was great of you to join the ride. Great work for completing the ride. I’m glad you’ve enjoyed the post and photos. Today I wimped out and only rode 111 km than 134 km.