Cycling

THE FUTURE OF THE AUTOMOBILE???

FEW GENERAL THOUGHTS ON CYCLING

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Yes! The company with the logo is none other than Daimler Chrysler, the makers the Mercedes Benz . The car is definitely so fine that they call them the future vehicles. But they are worth a fortune too.

You may be wondering what Mercedes Benz has to do with a review on cycling . Well! They have released cycles , for the first time in India!

Dialog from an average family:

Son: ’’Dad, I want to have a new bike’’

Sorry, No dialog for dad as he was really puzzled how a Karizma could cost less than a cycle.

Don’t be puzzled. Now with Mercedes Benz into the cycle industry, even the Maruti 800 is comparable to the price of a cycle. The Mercedes Mountain bike launched very recently has a price tag of Rs. 1, 56, 000.

The news of the launch is the reason for my mind venturing into the topic. The company logo is the future of the automobile. And they are releasing very costly cycles. Does this mean that the future of the automobile is going to be cycles? Or is it that the rising fuel prices are going to decrease the demand for motor vehicles and increase the demand for cycles to such an extend that the cost would be this? Anyway good pricing?

I don’t think that cycling is in anyway an alternative to the motor vehicles that are already on our streets. It has many disadvantages as it has advantages and so while other green alternatives like the hydrogen oxygen fuel cell can be thought of as an alternative, cycling can be used for an entirely different life! Not the busy and frantic life in the city!

There are many countries were cycling is a chief mode of transportation like the best example- China.

Also there are countries were people take to cycling as a form of transportation as they as more aware of the positive sides of cycling. The best example that I can think of is the Netherlands . There people go to office on their own bicycles. They enjoy the ride on their bikes, as they would call it. The country is rich and all the people have their own cars and all. But for a single person, they take their cycles and paddle along. It’s their exercise as well as their transport.

It is a good mode of exercise . All you have to do to burn that extra amount of calories is to get on a bike and start your journey! You don’t need to spend any extra time and also get to have the lean look you have always wished for!

I write reviews on cars, and one of the most important factors that I have to mention is the mileage . But here you are the engine! The fuel is the extra calories that you are carrying around. You get to save a lot on the fuel expenses too.

Now in the comments section, people are going to go really mad at me. Anticipating a few questions that would come my way:

’’ Where on earth do you live man? You know the cycle is very slow, right? ’’

Well! I would have to disagree . Nowadays there are many cycles in the market with more than 20 gears and they can really hit the speed limits. I take my cycle out for the morning ride and in the city roads; I get to go much faster than a car can go. Also traffic is never a problem. I can always find my way through.

Also, with my car, I have to find the best way to drive. Good roads are a problem anywhere in India. But with my mountain bike, its party time. No main roads . Its all short cuts and I get the place early and refreshed. Like the guy who goes after the cheetah ’’Do the dew, man!’’

’’ We are going to get all sweaty ’’

O.k.! I agree. I have the problem here in Kerala too. The summer months are extremely hot and so taking the cycling could make your shirt all soaked up. But then comes the non- summer months (we don’t have winter in Kerala) and I can go anywhere I want in my cycle. But it is always good to keep the cycle in a higher gear to avoid over heating of the body

’’ Even if cycle can keep up in pace. Still... ’’

Ego. Definitely your ego . That is one thing you have to solve for yourself. The cycle is never going to be a measure of your wealth and status . You can’t expect to be treated like you are riding a Mercedes Benz, even if your cycle is a Benz.

But the cycle is going to be a measure of your brain . You are the wise guy if you take your cycle out to the next shop or to a friend’s house couple of blocks away.

As I said in the beginning, I don’t feel that cycling will be a future of the automobile. But it is definitely a good mode of transportation. No one is asking you to take your cycle out to the office. But to the next shop or he friends house, it’s your transport as well as exercise .

P.S: I feel it is very silly to buy a cycle at a price of 1.56 lakhs. But it is very good to buy and use one having 3000- 5000 rupees.

Thank you for reading

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