For the first time ever, Delhi saw a bicycle expo recently. Having hosted a mobile expo as well as an automobile fair in a big way, Delhi hosted the first edition of International Bicycle & Fitness Expo-2015 at Pragati Maidan.
It was amusing to see that Delhiites got to witness such a large number of bicycles, of varied colours and prices, all under one roof. However, judging by the crowd’s response, one can say that Delhites were not exactly falling over each other to attend the bicycle show. The response of the common man was lukewarm. Even the response of the international participants was cold.
At the expo, which was inaugurated by Vijay Sampla, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, the section showcasing foreign bikes wore a deserted look on the first day. This despite the fact that the event was talked up as an international exposition.
However, the bike expo had its pluses. It attracted nearly all the big players in the market like Hero, Atlas, Avon and Firefox alongside some bicycle parts manufactures.
They presented before the visitors a wide range of options ranging from bicycles meant for kids, girls, boys, budget cycles and fitness equipments like treadmill, cross trainers and fitness bikes.
Most of the bicycles displayed were between the price range of Rs.2,500 and 40,000 and some exclusive sports bicycles were priced more than one lakh each.
Bollywood icon Anil Kapoor, who was the guest of honour at the launch, was visibly happy to see the bicycle expo and recalled the times when he was growing up.
“I was born in a suburb of Mumbai which is known as Chembur. It was a moment to cherish whenever a bicycle came in our building, we used to gather around it. Cycle was an aspirational thing then like cars and mobikes these days. A cycle has its own benefits, it can take you to the bylanes and on the other hand helps in improving your fitness level.”
Speaking on the occasion, Pankaj Munjal, Co-Chairman and Managing Director, Hero Cycles Ltd. said, “This is the first time that Indian cycling and fitness industry is witnessing an event with a diverse confluence of players of varied yet interlinked industries." He also told the gathering that in the coming Budget the Union Government might abolish the excise duty on budget cycles.
