A team of cyclists led by a trio of women rode into the city on Sunday to conclude Pondy Polam (Let’s go to Pondy), a trip that set off near Mamallapuram a couple of days ago.
The cyclists were members of the BOB (Babes on bikes and boys on Bikes), a club in India with affiliates in many cities, that abides by the motto of bridging fun with fitness through cycling tours.
The team led by Nina Reddy, Preethi Thiagharajan and Vibha Jaggi, was accorded a rousing welcome by Malathy Rajavelu, social activist, at Hotel Ashok in Kalapet.
Pondy Polam, which also espoused cycling as a green mode of transportation that would mitigate pollution levels, was supported by the Pondicherry Tourism, Savera Hotels, Sunway Manor and ITDC Ashok. Many members of the team that undertook the expedition were cycling for over 100 kilometres for the first time. The ride involved navigating ravaged roads and highway stretches without street lighting.
“There is an attitude that you have when on a bike. You are a kid all over again,” says Preethi who is the captain of the group. Apart from personal enjoyment, BOB also uses their rides to advocate larger causes such as promoting cycling as a means to “take the heat off the earth.”
