I grew up in an era where riding bicycles was a norm rather than an exception; students used to ride bicycles to school, to tuition classes, and elsewhere. Bicycles were a part of a kid’s identity. “Which bike has the most gears? How fast or slow is it? Is it possible to make a drift with the bike? “were the popular questions children used to ask each other. I was no different. My cycling journey started at the age of five when my father started to take me for early morning rides regularly. Gradually, the habit of going for an early ride became a part of my identity and developed further into my passion. Obsessed with everything connected to cycling, I realised that cycling was my thing. 

As I grew older, I started to go for leisure rides, and on one fine day, I read about the Noida Cycling Club in the Delhi Times. I searched for the club on digital media platforms and realised that it was the perfect place for me to utilise my passion. Joining the NCC was one of the best decisions I have ever made. The club didn’t just introduce me to group cycling but also provided me with the confidence to go for longer rides.

Today, it has been eight years to the day since I went for my first ride with the Noida Cycling Club in 2013, but the memory is as fresh as the scent of flowers. It was a ride to Yamuna Bandh Road. I reached GIP Mall at 5 am, and to my surprise, I saw 50 professional riders waiting to strike the pedal. It was a place where everybody was equally enthusiastic about cycling and where people could relate to each other. I felt at home. Moreover, seeing a support vehicle travelling along with the riders made me feel secure.

As the years flew by, my association with the club grew stronger. Seeing my dedication towards the sport, I was made one of the administrators of the club. In this journey with the Noida Cycling Club, each ride has been special in its own way, but my personal favourites are the ones that involved food, when we spent the entire day riding and exploring various food stalls in the city.

Apart from providing the fun of gatherings and helping me spread the message of going eco-friendly, the NCC also played a major role in enhancing my cycling skills. Having other champion cyclists as fellow members of the group promoted mutual growth. We learnt together and represented the club in various parts of the country and beyond. While being a part of the club, I have won countless events, including the prestigious Telangana Mountain Bike State Championship and the Noida Megathon.

We grew together, and the Noida Cycling Club became grand. Founded by Mr Aman Puri, the club, which had only three riders in the beginning, is now a group of more than 7000 cyclists and has become one of the largest cycling clubs in Asia. It feels great.

Finally, as one of the admins of the Noida Cycling Club, I would wish to express my sincere thanks to Aman sir for giving an opportunity to countless cycling enthusiasts like me. His dream of establishing the largest club in the country has fulfilled countless dreams quite effortlessly.