Cycles & Stories

Randonneuring, Brevet, Mondiaux: Nope, these are not the names of French pastries. Rather, these are terms as old as cycling itself. And surprisingly, a growing number of Indians, especially Assam, are getting involved in cycling hundreds of kilometres for no prizes and awards. Yes, you take part, but you do not compete. Why would we do something like this? And to what end? Also, how? What to eat? What to wear? Who to ignore? And how to get started? Supuraj Gogoi and Jitu Pegu have been at the centre of Assam's Randonneuring scene. They take pride in being the pioneers of Randonneuring in the region, and such was their dedication that they went on to start an adventure touring agency, the first and only Indian Government-certified agency of its kind, called Natventure. They talk business, passion, the challenges, the food, and their fleet of cycles. Their collection is envious, but their ideas are both relatable and likeable. Join us in a rather lively (and slightly inferior quality audio) and fun-filled conversation. 

Armoured vehicles for protection. Traffic halted every time you move. The Chief Minister on Speed Dial. House the size of an island. These are just some of the privileges that Arshel Akhtar, the Bicycle Mayor of Guwahati, does not enjoy. On most days, he is just another cyclist on a single-speed bicycle roaming around the city. On other days, he does exactly the same, but on more expensive cycles. What can a bicycle mayor do? What is the attitude of the government towards urban mobility? Where does he go for a ride when he wants to think about something apart from cycles? Is he hopeful about the future of cycling in India? All this, and much more in today's episode. Arshel Akhtar in conversation with Amit Kumar.

And so it begins! Northeast India's first ever cycling podcast. From favourite routes, favourite people, favourite bicycles to the most pressing concerns as cyclists, we, Amit Kumar and Along Phom, will cover all that matters to all cyclists from Northeast and India. This weekly podcast will speak with stakeholders, sellers, buyers, participants and everyone else who loves the simple-yet-amazing bicycle. This is a production of EastMojo.com, Northeast India's largest independent digital media platform.