Manish Kumar
Post News Network
Bhubaneswar: Twin-rider bicycles portrayed in Bollywood films and fancy, high-end bicycles are common sight in the city today. The numbers are rising as an increasing number of people opt for eco-friendly modes of transport.
The other pedal-based transport options that have become a rage among youngsters are foldable bicycles, fat bike (crafted to run on beaches), and stunt bikes.
But of the whole lot, twin-rider bike is the most sought-after option. A Sahid Nagar-based dealer in high-end bicycles, who recently introduced twin-riders bikes in the city, said: “Twin-riders are often used in hill stations such as Kodaikanal and other places such as the Ranthanbore National Park in Rajasthan. It has been a popular option in zoos of Kuala Lumpur. The bikes are not widely available in India,” Ajay Nanda, who owns the high-end bicycles store‘22 bikes’, said.
According to experts, twin-rider bikes catch the eye but they do come with certain limitations. Besides the fact that the bike requires two riders, it also needs both to pedal continuously. The riders would also need to change direction of the cycle simultaneously to avoid it from going off balance.
India has only one twin-rider bicycle manufacturer. Most twin-rider bicycles are manufactured in Hong Kong and imported by their franchises here. These cycles sell in the price range of `15,000-25,000.
Youngsters have developed a liking for fancy bicycles not just because of their environmental benefits and obviously trendy looks. Many find the health benefits of cycling an attractive proposition. And buyers are not restricted to youngsters.
“Recently I gifted my 14-year-old son a 21-gear bicycle to get him into the habit of cycling. Normal cycles are good enough. But the present generation is more prone to prefer things that are fancy and suit their tastes. Although these are costly compared with non-gear cousins the health benefits they offer are also far better,” Rajeev Behera, a banker from the city, said.