Not an early morning person no matter how hard you try? Or are you one of those who feel truly alive only when the stars come out? If you check any of the above, the night rides organised by Bike Affair are events you definitely should click ‘Going’ on your Facebook account. Organised every Thursday night, to nearby destinations (within 40 km), for adrenalin seekers as well as for avid riders who find the morning sun too harsh, this is an interesting activity to burn calories while having a blast with like-minded people.
While Bike Affair, a one stop shop for cycling enthusiasts, conducts regular rides over the weekends. The weekday night rides were started only for summer. Founders Krishnendu Basu (Krish) and Gokul Krishna say that a lot of reasons prompted them to start the night rides with Krish elaborating, “In summer, the riding window is less in the morning, it’s really hot by 7am while the evenings are relatively cooler with a nice breeze blowing so one can relax while riding. Another reason is that we realised a lot of people are not early risers and this night ride is tailormade for them.”
The rides start every Thursday at 8.40pm from one of Bike Affair’s stores, either in Kondapur or Jubilee Hills and halt briefly at the IIIT junction at 9 pm. Most participants are usually from the IT sector; Krish cautions that they do not advise beginners to be a part of these night rides. He explains, “A 40-km ride in the night is a little arduous. Not everyone is up to cycling for two hours at a stretch and we generally invite people who have had some prior experience in cycling.”
Krish and Gokul
Usually an average outing sees around 20-24 participants take the Kondapur-Tellapur route or along the Outer Ring Road before the group ends the ride at the starting point. While riders are encouraged to get their own gear, the duo rent out cycles and safety equipment at ₹400 per trip. Gokul concludes, “This is not just for leisure. Since a lot of software/IT employees sit at desks for long hours, this is an ideal way for them to break that monotony and get a decent workout.”
Their next ride on May 27 is a break from the routine; the riders will make a trip to Famous Ice cream at MJ Market to stay cool and douse their midnight hunger pangs! Contact 99660 40005 for more details
A 40-km ride in the night is a little arduous. Not everyone is up to cycling for two hours at a stretch and we generally invite people who have had some prior experience in cycling.
