Randonneurs lead the way

With more Kerlaites showing interest in marathon cycling or randonneuring, it is becoming popular as a fitness sport and a distress workout. A frequent sport during the cycling season while most cycling enthusiasts and clubs engage in daily endurance rides, randonneuring events are now being conducted in all major cities of the state. The over 200-km marathon cycling has caught the fancy of many even as it needs sophisticated cycling gears and costly bicycles. Some clubs in the state associated with international cycling clubs give randonneuring titles to those who cover certain kilometres of rides under specific terms. The sport is also drawing high-profile people.

“Earlier, only golf was considered an elite sport here. Now, several CEOs and business people are taking up randonneuring as leisure. It is a growing sport and for the past couple of years, more people have been attending our events,” says Thiruvananthapuram Biker’s Club vice-president R. Praveen. “When we started, our club had only 10 or 15 members. Now it is a three-fold increase. When we publish our events, cycling enthusiasts from Chennai and other cities come to attend it. We have started to conduct 200 km, 300 km, 400 km and 600 km events (brevet) with a time cut-off to complete each. Those who complete will be bestowed a title called super randonneur,” he says.

Ajith VarmaThe major factor attracting upper middle-class and high profile businesspersons to the sport is stress and a concern about fitness. “I started cycling three years ago and now I am into long-distance cycling. When I am stressed out, I would think about long-distance cycling and even the thought of it gives me a positive feeling,” says Biju Philip, vice-president of a US firm at Technopark in Thiruvananthapuram. “Also, there is a marked difference in fitness level. When I started I never thought I could complete 100 kilometres on cycle. But now I am preparing for brevets. It is also a moment for social gathering for us as several of our friends are into it,” he adds.

Dhanesh Purushothaman, an executive in an airline, has travelled to Bengaluru from Kozhikode on cycle. “We started it as daily exercise and later it became a passion. I have cycled at the Himalayas and it is a different experience. Now, we have a group of like-minded people and we conduct brevets. Marathon cycling is a great experience for those who look for a change in their life. It gives new experiences and challenges, which we find interesting,” he says. Prasanjith P.K., secretary of Calicut Pedallers Club, believes that people who have nomadic characteristics are attracted to the sport. “It is more about exploring the places and entering into the unknown territories. People are becoming adventurous and no one wants to sit at home and become couch potatoes. The number of people getting interested in these kinds of sports is a proof of it,” says Prasanjith.

Cochin Bikers Club members get ready for a ride

“Pollution is a major problem in the sport and we try to avoid heavily-polluted areas. We usually start cycling early morning and plan to end it before noon. In addition to stress and fitness factors, I think people who are adventurous are coming to the sport,” he says. Ajith Varma, an avid randonneur from Kochi who has ridden the entire coastal road stretching from Ullal in Mangalore to Kalayikkavila check post on  the Thiruvananthapuram-Kanyakumari highway, says that several cycling enthusiasts from other states are taking part in their events in Kochi.

Dhanesh with friends“We (Cochin Bikers Club) publish our events on social network sites and when the season starts, several people from Chennai and Bengaluru come. The number of Keralites are also on the increase. Now every major city in Kerala has a randonneuring club. We have been conducting internationally-recognised events from 2013 onwards. About 300 people take part in each event,” he says. Next year Ajith is planning to ride with his son Jishnu Varma from Pune to Kochi (1,420 km) in 11 days. Cochin Bikers Club has also a women’s wing. “The number of women taking part in the contests is also increasing. So we thought about forming a women’s wing and it was a success,” says Ajith.