Teaching adults how to cycle

[Ali Poonawala]

Hi friends...

Since most restrictions are now off, we will resume our teaching sessions starting Sunday 24th October.

Kindly register at Google form link by Friday 9 AM since we have to organise for volunteers and cycles :

There are changes in Cubbon Park timings since cycles are allowed only after 8 AM, we will have session between 8.15 AM-10.15 AM

Exact location and names of volunteers will be announced on Saturday evening on the WhatsApp group.

If you register you are strongly advised to join the WhatsApp group since last minute communications will be only on WhatsApp and not on Facebook or individually. Send Hi and name of student to 9845363803 on WhatsApp for admission to the  group or use the link 

https://chat.whatsapp.com/Kx3vovLKRP7Js1clz9nMUu

Once you join, introduce yourself please. Only name will do.

Registration

Check response roster. Register only if a trainer has registered for the date. Do not register if there is no trainer  !!

Response roster link

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1scRjRBTuPETe_KLvaDYqKC6r2RiXmVHTdF44nPWh5YM/pubhtml?gid=1110625669&single=true

If there is a trainer for a session , please fill up this form :

Attendee roster form

https://goo.gl/forms/DRx9fJv404F5eeSC2

Classes are usually on sunday mornings. Details of timings venues and volunteers as well as students for a particular session are on the Google form roster response page linked above.

The final announcement of Sunday's sessions is only late Saturday (around 10 pm),   This is on the Bangalore Bicycling School whatsapp group.

if you can not attend after registering.....request you to inform the teacher or me ,off the group.
This is voluntary work for us and everyone's time is precious !
(Please do not announce on the  group !)
Very rarely, it may not be possible to run a centre inspite of our best efforts.

Bring some water.

Ladies to avoid wearing sari, (and men, mundu !!) or loose bottom trousers, since they may catch into cycle chain. Use comfortable shoes or sandals with secure grip.

Our Facebook page :
https://www.facebook.com/learncycling/

If you want to know how we have evolved...Go here !

Bangalore Bicycling Club google group thread : https://groups.google.com/forum/m/#!topic/bangalore-bikers/FdIO50vXc-c

CycleDay :
https://www.facebook.com/blrcycleday/

Please do not come if you have symptoms of Covid or any of the family members or work contacts have had Covid positive in past 10 days.

Full vaccination is desirable but not mandatory.

Let us hope and pray we all remain safe and enjoy while learning and teaching !

Warm regards

Happy cycling 👍

Ali Poonawala

[Ali Poonawala]

On Sun, 24 Oct, 2021, 7:40 PM Ali Poonawala, <alfa...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi Friends..!!

Bangalore Bicycling School is back !

Cubbon Park report on 24th October :

Gate into the Tennis club car park remained closed except for couple of trucks and cars allowed in...

Today's count :

Eight students : 

Vighnaraj, Praveen, Nima, Neha, Ranjith, Harsha, Rohit Ashwini

Seven trainers : 

Ali, Ajith, Junaid, Paveethra, Krishna, Poojyà and Vimalkumar.

The cycles from Vijay's store came in the mini pick up with Shalini, Prashanth and Arya helping to get them to the teaching area.. seeing Ajith there was such a nice surprise !

Vighnaraj opened the innings, with background skill of balancing two wheeler, pedalling was a small part to be cracked and took very little effort. Started with circle training on first day...too good !

Neha and Nima are two sisters and it was a good day for them too, balancing, the stumbling block was out of the way !

Ranjith, Rohit and Praveen formed young men's brigade and were zooming around but a crash with Ranjith..and sobriety prevailed..

Harsha and Ashwini ( with hubby Vivek and darling Ankit) technically seniors, having been for session BC (Before Covid) but with a year and half between, were newbies too and downslope could be negotiated. 

Soon it was camera time..

and curtain time was when students helped with the cycle transport to the waiting Auto !!

Great start of the second innings... We all loved the opening session where all students learnt balancing without any difficulty ...

Great Omen !!

Keep pedalling !!

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[Deepak Majipatil]

Ali Sir,

 It feels so nice to remember old days in 2007-2008 when we did this kind of activities and then all our effort was consumed by TFN preparations in further years

Looking forward to be there soon

Thanks and Best Regards,

Deepak

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[Ali Poonawala]

Hi Deepak...

Yes...we have resumed after a year and half... and feels good to be back..!!

The rumbles of a third wave with another variant from the UK are not happy tidings though !! 😩

Wish you a successful run at TFN...

Warm regards

Ali Poonawala

[Ali Poonawala]

Hi friends !

Cubbon Park session today !

Lovely chill in the morning even at 7.30 am...Sun trying to shoo away the clouds but faltering..Bengaluru traffic remembering it's heydays and in a hurry to eclipse previous highs ( or lows, depending which side of the green wall you are leaning on )..

And me, waiting at Hudson circle gate for 8 o'clock to chime, worrying my innards.. ,"will the rental guy show up or not !!" 

Reassuringly, he didn't.

And was not reachable by phone either. Nor was the boss.

Chapter over !

Leaving Keshava with Grandpa and Sumit in the queue - in case luck takes turn for better- I made my way on my foldie to primary area.

3(+) Trainers: Vivek, Junaid, Ali (Krishna)

7 students 

Newbies : Sumit Keshava, Sumati

Seniors : Neha Nima Ranjith Praveen 

Junaid reached on the dot, so did sisters Neha and Nima. Nima got on to the Goldie. Junaid accompanied Neha to get a Yulu...

Ashwini turned up with bike- trainer-husband Vivek  and bike-entertainer-son Aniket. !  I like self sufficiency of this degree !!

Keshava came up followed by  Sumit after no show from rental guy, while one yulu was all one could get hands on, between Ranjith, Praveen, Neha later Sumit. 

Neha set a blistering pace, even uphill was easy peasy lemon squeezy for her. Ranjith, at ease with balance, took time but conquered uphill too. Praveen hardly got chance to ride  but was very comfortable from word go, anywhichways. 

Nima is steadily improving and will be on her own in couple of sessions. Keshava had few rounds and progressed well.

Sumit needs to relax and let the hands do the balancing. Sumati despite all the ruckus before reaching the spot, was good for a newbie.

As we struggled through the session, respects to Ranjith for sharing the bike so selflessly.

Lovely to see Ashok back in running  mode, despite his multiple injuries and surgeries...cheerful as ever ! So much positivity here !!

Last, on the way out, Promise from Bangalore Bikers Club with family  was another happy bumping in.. especially the Gujju speak part..!

Let us all keep pedalling !!

Warm regards

Ali Poonawala

[Ali Poonawala]

Hi friends..!

We have Shyamala spearheading a teaching session this Sunday morning for a bunch of women, about 40 of then in total,  working in garment factory. Cycles for the session are provided for by Greenpeace. 

We want volunteers to teach them ..

Please help:

Where :

 12°57'02.7"N 77°31'16.8"E

https://maps.app.goo.gl/haxS8XLsSknhCdFa6

When : 

9am -1pm 14th November , Sunday.

Contact : 

Shamala : +91 94 83 961307

Chiddu.   : +91 98807 63941

Or

myself       +919845363803

Warm regards

Ali Poonawala

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[Ali Poonawala]

Hi friends !

We have two sessions tomorrow

1. Cubbon Park :

Cubbon Park officially still has restricted activities and request students to be prepared for last minute changes. 

Two areas to pick up rental cycles, both at periphery of Cubbon.

KSDH Cycles on Rent ( inside Hudson circle gate of park )

https://maps.app.goo.gl/D6u2KbRPf9hhVkeu7

Yulu zone ( near high court gate 3)

Dr. B R Ambedkar stn. Vidhan Soudha Metro Station

https://maps.app.goo.gl/JNjAFtf9VH5NARij9

Primary Teaching Area : 

Tennis club car Parking area, opposite Bandstand.

https://goo.gl/maps/Sv5wPXHvtaA2

Uber / Ola : 

Venkatappa Art Gallery 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/AfWYAxbWQyRvE9sk7

Time :

                    8.00 am to 10.15am 

Trainers :

Ganesh.   8.0-10.0   09742291304

Junaid.     8.0-9.30.  09845559944

                

                

If primary area is occupied by any event, please go to secondary teaching  area :

Near Gate No. 3 High Court.

https://goo.gl/maps/tbuGHos1Loq

                                                                     

Metro : Purple line, 

station : Dr. B R Ambedkar (Vidhan Soudha)

Take high court south or Nrupathanga road exit.

Uber/ Ola location pin :

Vidhan soudha bus stop

https://maps.app.goo.gl/78jotQUs81HB8XBr9

2. Nayandanhalli session:

(Teaching by Invite only )

Cycles provided by Greenpeace.

Location : 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/d4jQKjHyGhw3qNHo9

Time : 11.0 -1.0 PM

Trainers : 

Shamala            09483961307

Chidambaram. 09880763941

Anindita.            08105484832

Pavithra             09845454746

 

Hope all have  good sessions !

Keep pedalling !!

Ali Poonawala

[Ali Poonawala]

Thanks to Ganesh and Junaid for this session !!

and Ganesh for this report :

"

14th Nov, Cubbon Park report:

Can't ask for a better morning to cycle. Cubbon for a Sunday was quite deserted, including the band stand. Must be the effect of continuous rain and cold weather in the previous few days. By the time I reached a bit late with the foldie, Junaid was already waiting alone for students. Soon we had Keshava coming with mom and grandpa while Ranjith figured a Yulu cycle from some far off point (later to realize that the seat was terribly broken after he brought to the strip) 

We started with Keshava on the foldie. He had more problem with speed control than balance. Junaid and I took turns helping him out before Sumathy joined to time share the bike with Keshava. By end of the session she is a lot confident riding straight line independently, need to work on leg strength to push uphill. Keshava has stopped hopping out of the bike, doing straight lines very well independently. A bit more of practice to judge his speed and he can move on to next level of U turns and circles. Sumathy tried the Yulu bike with the revolving saddle and gave up on it though Ranjith seemed to be so comfortable riding it. 

Our training strip was carpeted with rangolis made of real flowers grains, betel leaves,... Looked like remains of a competition that had happened recently. Many of them remained intact as a special foreground for our click of the day. 

 We had a few walkers enquiring about our initiative. Hoping to have more clear sky and registered students showing up next weekend. Until then, stay fit and keep spinning... 🚴‍♀️🚴🏻‍♂️

Ganesh

"

Warm regards

Ali Poonawala

[Ali Poonawala]

Hi friends !

Cubbon Park reporting !

Finally the Sun God smiled through the weil of thinning clouds...

Promise for a great day..with nine students registered for the morning session and twenty five expected for midday session..... was tantalizing !

Move to get a Yulu cycle to shore up my armamentarium was immediately quashed by line up of electric mopeds and not a single bicycle visible in Yulu zone of Vidhan Soudha.

Calls to Nammacycle drew a blank as well.. At that point It was so heartening to see  Junaid  on teaching terrain !! Saviour indeed !

 Keshava was there too and shot off like a bullet on the foldie..

soon asking if he was fit to go onto the road !!

Krishna came in with Karthik..trip to Mysuru next weekend crowding out everything else on his mind. Both went off for a ride seeing there were no students waiting.

Charan, cycling veteran, a  story writer and creative reporter with TOI enriched us with his recent exploits with pen and bicycle too, having clocked more than 100000 Kms, SR title and counting. Humble bicycle changing life of a 7 class school drop out was so uplifting... Thanks for sharing those golden moments Charan !!

Harsha came in...sporting a great smile, hiding her annoyance of running from pillar to post, unable to get a bike.

Another surprise..  ! Anindita had come in too  and the pair of them teamed up for a short session. 

Shamala came in and Junaid treated us all to coconut water and bananas before the next session began. 

Soon the cycles came in a mini van. Students too joined in batches and all of us got busy with young beaming ladies eager to get their hands on the cycles..We had 7 cycles 6 trainers and 20+ ladies..

Some already could balance, some learnt today and some are on the way. 

A pretty lady was capturing the action for instagram following, and we hope our drop will help to grow an ocean of cycling fraternity !

At 1 pm we called it a day..since other commitments stood in wait. Group photos and promise to come again.

Can't thank enough the lot of  Junaid, Anindita, Krishna, Pavithra and Karthik for great participation and Shamala for both, the event and training.

Finally Kudos to Greenpeace for such grassroot activity. Hope this sort of work catches on like wildfires and not our precious forests..

Keep pedalling

[Ali Poonawala]

Hi friends..

My apologies for late report filing !

I was riding back from Mysuru and Anindita, Pavithra and Shamala did both the sessions.

 

Anindita's report:

No worries. Class was a mixed bag. No cycles, so students had to wait until the Greenpeace cycles arrived. There were 2 BBS students and one ex student Param who came to meet old teachers and went back bit crestfallen. Sumathi has learnt to balance both up n down and started on turns. The other lady was with Pavithra. The Greenpeace women were a bit late to arrive but turned up en masse. Too much for me, P, and S. So the group had management people chip in to teach. There were two falls. One with me and one with the group people. The lady I was teaching was wearing loose pants that couldn’t be rolled up and got caught in the crank arm. I managed to keep the bike off her and she scraped her knees a bit. No blood and she got back on the bike. Left around 11:40 so too much traffic to run back. Krishna turned up but went home due to our late start.

Shamala's report:

Hi All. Inspite of some doubts about the weather and the number of volunteer-trainers the last Sunday'straining sessions went rather well,with two women who were first time riders who took off and kept going, they were natural cyclists!! We also had two new volunteer-trainers who joined us and were super kicked about the idea of 'Bicycling School' in Bengaluru! We are hoping they will turn up every weekend for the sessions. In all thank you to @vol byk pavitra 2 @⁨Anindita Cycling Student⁩ for showing support and helping in training women to get on bikes second Sunday in a row!! Also @Krishna for turning up and encouraging us. This week again calling volunteers for the Sunday session to train working women from Garment factories to get on bikes. Please do spare some time for the lovely mornings in cubbon park (we cudnt have asked for a more pleasant and enjoyable weather than this). I'll share the timings for the Sunday 'Working women' training session soon - we might have an earlier batch considering the trainers do not want to wait for long between the sessions. Thank you and kudos to all of you who are helping out with this and to everyone in this group.

Pavithra's :

Yes Nita* came and also learnt Cycling with the rental cycle she brought along with her.She struggled a lot reach the venue but still she dint loose hope.

*Meeta is the actual name !

Three ladies did a wonderful job ☺️

Apologies for the delay and "sneaking" it in before the week is over !

Keep pedalling 

Warm regards 

[Ali Poonawala]

Hi friends !!

Finally..Suryadev is slowly making the clouds know who is the boss around !!

Pradeep was very much there  at Hudson circle rental place to give out cycles and thus relieved, I weaved my way through milling health conscious and cynophilists to the training area . 

Just as I was to put up the banners..Shivani, Aayushi's mom, rolled in on her skates, with Sapna in whom I spotted my first learner of the day !

Sapna got Ganesh busy and Brigadier Ravi Muniswamy of Bharat Rakshak Foundation whizzed in, he who had organised last weekend's Mysuru ride. Junaid and Kartik already knew him and  soon trainers' numbers swelled as Krishna  Anindita and Vivek arrived. Charan of TOI, came in and was the focal person for various issues we could indulge in happily since no students till Bhanupriya and Sumathi came in. Sapna just sampled the cycling flavour and moved on with Shivani.

Thankfully, second batch Greenpeace students were already in as Shamala and cycles arrived almost at the same time and we had soon 30 ladies with about 8 cycles. Vivek did the initial presentation and soon we all were employed, ladies with various levels of energy and enthusiasm as well as trepidation and almost dread. Shamala had to smuggle the photographer since someone objected to their presence ( Can you believe ?? For Cubbon Park !!) 

Some trainers moved on and fresh hands joined in, notably Chidambaram aka "Chiddu", a founding and christening member of Bangalore Bicycling School.. others, we are struggling to put names to faces ! Thank you all !!

There were some falls and minor injuries which most of these brave souls ignored and carried on. Some were great learners,  some need more time.

Overall...a great day, all considered 

Keep pedalling 

Ali Poonawala

  

[Deepak Majipatil]

Nice to hear about this Ali Sir.

Ravi sir was Kind enough to update about your Mysuru ride with him 2-3 weeks back

RIDE,CHERISH,REMEMBER
Deepak Majipatil,
Back on TFN 

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[Ali Poonawala]

Hi friends...

I have received a request from Satya Sankaran, Bengaluru bicycling Mayor for volunteers to teach bicycling to group of about 30 ladies for this Sunday 11 am in Peenya. Cycles will be provided. exact location will be informed soon 

This will run parallel and is apart from our Cubbon Park late session with similar group of garment sector workers who will be given bicycles, again Greenpeace initiative. 

There will be further follow up sessions there too, just as in Cubbon.

Please raise hand and mobilise friends if you are nearabouts of Peenya !! 

Let me know If  you want to help these hard working ladies to transform their lives too, just as you did,  for yourself !! 

💐💐🙏🙏

09845363803

Warm Regards

Ali Poonawala

[Ali Poonawala]

Hi friends !

Very eventful day....!!.

Suryadeva was playing hide and seek with superb random incordination throughout, and has become very habit forming !!

Started at 7.30 AM with the small homage function organised by Brigadier Ravi Muniswamy of Bharat Rakshak Foundation, in front of Vidhan Soudha, to pay tribute to departed souls of First CDS of India General Bipin Rawat and Mrs Rawat and others who lost lives in tragic accident. 

Cubbon Park sesion :

The Porter tempo with  Vijay's ( Social Virus) cycles arrived early at Venkappa Art Gallery so received them with Mr  Shashidhar and other passer bys help to get them to teaching area.

Five cycles, which previously were used for rental, attracted passer bys like moths to the light !! 

"Sorry .... These are for teaching purpose and not for rent, Apologies !"

must have been repeated about twenty time by me , and other volunteers too !

As Shashidhar's son and DIL went for complimentary rides,  Daivik arrived with Mom and Junaid took him over with foldie.

Ujani and Anitha, both friends, arrived and I started with Anitha who was super scared and got into the lesson with wide eyed petrified ease and high decibled screams... Who needs a bell !! 

However, by the end of the session, she had kind of got balance issue under fair control...well done !

Krishna, our seniormost volunteer arrived and I had Daivik for a while to work on, he suddenly tightens up, losing balance. Mom gave charge to Anant, dad to look after his progress, which I am happy with.

Sumathi was entirely in her own doing emergency stops with almost perfect 10 score  ! She need to move to next level of doing circles and hand signals. 

Parag Patankar and Ram his friend from Dallas arrived and chatted before Parag got into action himself. 

Anitha is progressing well too but has fear of falling and keeps jumping off the saddle at slightest inclination, both of bicycle and her mind !! More handling of the bike by regular lessons is the answer for her fear. 

Brief refreshing rides were taken by Sharada our ex senior student.

 

Brigadier Ravi arrived towards last part and we had Mr. Chandrashekar Mrs shantha Lakshmi and Jasbeer singhji saying hello returning from the walk. 

What an enriching experience, socially... with such distinguished stalwarts, in beautiful Cubbon Park, on a lovely day !

We deposited the cycles to rest at their new home within KSLTA perimeter and again thanked Mr. Appu, the manager KSLTA for helping out.

Shared some laddus and moved on with Brigadier Ravi to Peenya.

 Peenya session :

Took a while on the Foldie to reach the spot and Naga helped to locate the seat of action : an uneven small play ground with stones at places and mud at others, which I found insurmountable challange,  having been spoilt by the Cubbon experience ! 

Shamala came up with brilliant way out, pointing to  adjoining road...which on cursory look looked OK and Brigadier with other volunteers swung into action of shifting cycles above the fence !

Slope was a bit steep and  horizontal trenches for pipe laying made the shift not a complete success but these brave ladies are used to tackle any adversities head on and focus ahead and past such minor nuisances ! 

As the pattern has emerged...some won the balance battle handsomely... some continued to wage determined struggle and Kalpana, had a minor nail injury making her retire.

Chiddu joined little late getting to work straight away, despite finger injury with strapping..great commitment !

The best moments come when least expected... The sari clad lady doing upslope ride with token support made my day !!

 Finally with coconut water to quench thirst and group photos happened, banners and all...! mine were clicked by a little cutie named Advaith !!

Slow trudge home on the not so busy ring road with satisfaction of a well spent sunday morning warming up the little heart... and looking forward to quell the growling and grumbling tummy !!

Keep pedalling 

Warm regards 

[Ali Poonawala]

Hi friends !

Super short report !

Winter chill..clear blue skies.

Foldie chain problem..out of action !

Session 1

Students : Newbie:Manasi,Jayashree, Paridhi

Seniors:Bhanupriya, Savitha 

Alumni : Sharada, Param

Trainers: 

Ganesh, Krishna, Vivek, Ali

Cycles : 5

Jayashree got a whiff of balancing on first coasting. Great beginning ! Sandal grip issues.

Manasi training was appropriated by Ganesh...he should tell. Paridhi came in late, and is getting used to balancing. 

Bhanupriya and Savitha learnt ' half pedal' concept...let us see how they implement it !

Session 2 (Greenpeace)

Students :13 ladies turned up

Trainers : 

Shamala, Parag, Vivek, Chiddu, Ali, Narender ,Enthu students !!

Cycles:  9 + 5

Notable inspiring presence :

Pradeep

Kittu from CFAM

Sebastian, Riya, Sharath and Esther from Greenpeace and associates !

Mr and Mrs  Chandradhekar, Jasbeer Singh. Wishing good health to all, especially Chandrashekarji awaiting spine surgery. Please pray for him.

And the cherries to top it all..

Lovely little kids ....

huddled on skates, on itsy bitsy cycles or on mom's lap... barely reaching handle bar !!

What more motivation you need.. to keep enjoying Cubbon Park on Sundays in days ahead ?

Keep pedalling !

Ali Poonawala

[Ali Poonawala]

Hi friends !

Happy new year ! 💐

Chilled but Sunny start of the second day and the first teaching session for the year 2022  !!

Reached on the dot..so did Kadirvel with family ! Ganesh arrived with bunch of duplicate keys and the lock and Junaid was waiting  at KSLTA cycle park area so we exchanged the locks after taking 4 cycles. Daivik was there too by the time we reached back.

Ganesh started with Kadirvel and Junaid carried on with Daivik, who is balancing much better. Mom was happy with his progress too and both left early.

Nihal came in and Junaid magic worked on him and got balancing sorted straight away !

Lata came in and Ashwini too. Lata struggling with balancing. Aswini riding well, needs to work on hand signalling  for road worthiness. 

Today's highlight was clearly the celebration  ( for completing  massive 2021 kms  in year 2021 ) Anindita had graciously announced sweets specially flown from  Kolkata and lovely Chocolate Cake !!

After gobbling up...afterthought prompted the question " what was that we polished off ?" 🤔

Answer :

Ani Quote :

"

Haha.. they are from this old sweetshop in Kolkata called Ganguram’s. They are one of the few who send sweets this far down south. The sweets are made from nolen gur - winter special date palm jaggery. The large ones are called nolen gurer jolbhora - center-filled sweets and the smaller ones are nolen gurer monohora sandesh. Literal translation “the one that steals hearts”! Winter’s not set in very well this year in Kol, otherwise there would be more jaggery in the center-filling.

 The cake was from Happy Belly Bakes. One of the handful of bakers I trust outside Kol 😜

" 

Ani Unquote 

 Anindita with the party essentials, Krishna with Anusuya, Shamala with sister Gayathri and Pradeep, Parag with friend  and Vivek with Ashwini and Anish completed the bunch who enjoyed the feast and camaraderie... Kadirvel family too joined. 

Kedar and Smita (Anusuya - Krishna's son,  and DIL) with a delightful dog, Cutlet, were final Hello Sayers to close a fun filled and useful morning in Blessed Cubbon Park !!

Remain Healthy and Happy for year 2022 and beyond !

 keep pedalling 

Ali Poonawala

[Ali Poonawala]

Hi friends !
We are resuming the teaching sessions from this Sunday. Further details and updates on WhatsApp group.

Registration

Check response roster. Register only if a trainer has registered for the date. Do not register if there is no trainer  !!

Response roster link

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1scRjRBTuPETe_KLvaDYqKC6r2RiXmVHTdF44nPWh5YM/pubhtml?gid=1110625669&single=true

 please fill up this form :

Attendee roster form

https://goo.gl/forms/DRx9fJv404F5eeSC2

Classes are usually on sunday mornings. Details of timings venues and volunteers as well as students for a particular session are on the Google form roster response page linked above.

The final announcement of Sunday's sessions is only late Saturday (around 10 pm),   This is on the Bangalore Bicycling School whatsapp group.

please drop a message with name and mobile no. to 09845363803 or alfa...@hotmail.com for adding you to the whatsapp group.

if you can not attend after registering.....request you to inform the teacher or me ,off the group.
This is voluntary work for us and everyone's time is precious !
(Please do not announce on the  group !)
Very rarely, it may not be possible to run a centre inspite of our best efforts.

Bring some water.

Ladies to avoid wearing sari, (and men, mundu !!) or loose bottom trousers, since they may catch into cycle chain. Use comfortable shoes or sandals with secure grip.

Our Facebook page :
https://www.facebook.com/learncycling/

If you want to know how we have evolved...Go here !

Bangalore Bicycling Club google group thread : https://groups.google.com/forum/m/#!topic/bangalore-bikers/FdIO50vXc-c

CycleDay :
https://www.facebook.com/blrcycleday/

Happy cycling

Ali Poonawala

[Ali Poonawala]

Post Omicron first session report !!

After a gap of seven weeks, life is getting back in the groove,  missed best of the winter's chilled early mornings on the way to Cubbon.  Late start of the session also contributes.  Warm sun dominated the sky, having banished the clouds from the field  !!

On the way, the foldie's chain decided to slip and placating its tantrum and goading it into the line took good 10 minutes... due to constraints of chain cover and not so nimble fingers !

3 trainers

7 newbies + 2 seniors

Junaid was already there and Kadirvel trooped in with mom plus young batallion who put up banners and  dad  Raman, .. helped with getting the cycles from Tennis club..such a cooperative affair this has become !

As Kadirvel started with me in tow, Sanchita came in for Junaid to become busy. She had some exposure already and picked up well and left early.

Ausaf reached and since he had the benefits of childhood learnings with him, fast tracked to supervision only status. 

When Chetna came in, Raman had to take over running with Kadirvel. 

 Harsh, Chetna's hubby arrived with rental bike and the adorable twins, Jiya and Janvi..(I would have loved to spend the rest of the session with them !! ) She progressed well overall with her training and should be independent in couple of sessions with balance.

Parag came in with friends Bhaskar and Anand, but had to rush off, So did Krishna and Anusuya, who had a   quick up and down ride. They returned later for longer time during which Anusuya tried doing circles

Vivek came, just in time to look after Kadirvel and Purnima was next student of Junaid, a rank newbie and star 🌟 of the day ! 

Madhuri, Julli and Soumya managed to home in finally... at closing time so we extended the session to give them a fair feel of learning. 

Meanwhile Ausef graduated to doing circles within white lines and Purnima took advantage of extra time too, proving that everything has both bright and not do bright sides !!

Replacing the bikes to their parking slot and replenishing parched throats with water 💦 ( yes..simplest and best !) We parted after a lovely selfie !!.

Till we meet again ..

Hopefully next Sunday...

Keep pedalling !

Ali Poonawala

[Ali Poonawala]

Hi friends !

Another lovely Sunday ..another good session at Cubbon Park ...

Trainers : 5

Junaid, Ganesh, Ali, Krishna and Sujoy.

 Sujoy was a student pre Covid...lovely to have him as faculty !

Students : 3+8

Newbies: Brenda, Bishnupriya Deepa,

Seniors: Kadirvel, Daivik, Sanchita, Chetna, Purnima, Madhuri, Julli, Sowmya

Took help of Milan, Kuldeep and friends in the area playing football, to get the banners up and get the cycles. One still out of order due to broken  brake !

Kadirvel came in sweating...on asking Raman, Kadirvel's dad..he beamed with pride..with ear to ear grin ..."he came cycling !" 

Isn't that cool ! Coming to learn to cycle on a bicycle !😍

I started with Daivik and he was the star of the day, got on balancing and braking, all by himself reasonably well..much to delight of Mom and Dad. 

Brenda was trying out after 40 years...( I think poetic licence...she doesn't look a day older than 20 !) and with little help from Ganesh,  did comfortably well. 

Sujoy came with Bishnupriya, his better half who was very apprehensive.. unfortunately, could not really take care of her due to both, cycle and manpower shortage but promise her better attention next weekend !

Deepa and Purnima walked in same time and Purnima from last weekend's good show, consolidated further. Deepa seemed to have her own gravity defying powers preventing cycle from budging !! Will need to relax and then start balancing better.

It was good to have blessings of Shri Ramchandra-ji, recovering from major spine surgery. May he heal completely. He was accompanied by Yash, from Uttarakhand.

Sanchita is doing well and took on the challange of riding Krishna's bke with consummate ease, despite a small fall...well done !

Chetna is yet to get over the fear of falling..safe braking being the key to that. Despite my repeated plea to keep right foot on the pedal always...most students keep on trying to stop with both feet on the ground and naturally are wobbly and tentative. Leaning cycle to left after it has stopped completely, and only left foot to rest on ground are simple tricks, to be practiced as often as possible.

Late Latif trio of Madhuri, Julli and Sowmya got earful from myself. Coming from far is a poor excuse and bad planning especially if it happens second time !

Julli has managed to balance well. Madhuri has to stop lurching and pedal with continuous rhythm. She will get it soon ! Sowmya too is in similar stage.

Wrapped up the session by 10.30..

Thank you all 

Keep pedalling !

Ali Poonawala.

--

[Ali Poonawala]

Hi friends !!

It was going to be a hectic morning...Manipal cyclothon (part) Registered BBSch session and then Greenpeace session !!

Well...Manipal cyclothon went like a wet firecracker !.came true from cycling distance point of view.. but I missed the peleton completely due to miscommunication about start timing !!

But the saying...  "God's plans are better than ours" , came true. Just had enough time to reach Cubbon, put up the banners and before I get the cycles from KSLTA.. Madhuri was already there ! So good to see a student who takes a slap on the wrist so positively !! Bless her ...and she turned out to be the star of the day too ...riding on her own, after less than two sessions !!

Krishna and Ganesh were there too and helped with the bikes and Parag parked the cycle and went for  a walk,  before joining for Greenpeace session..

 Another determined student, Chetna came with her own bike, bought 4 years back and now spruced by Harsh, who we missed, and of course twins, Jiya and Janvi..

Nice of Junaid, minus wisdom (tooth)  plus nephew Mueez  and cousins Aafraa and Zaid from outstation, to drop in for 'ten minutes'...Forgot to click a photo :( 

Chandrashekhar ji, looking good without the cervical collar and cheerful as always,  said hello and gave his blessings. 

Brenda and Radhika have become good and graduated to doing circles and half pedalling, so did Deepa, who isn't yet there when it comes to balancing.

Daivic is being tutored largely by mom and is getting confident, both, down and  upslope too.

Sumit came in and is finding it difficult to learn balancing, possibly due to super strong physique !! Every  movement has three times the power and unbalances him completely! Will soon be OK though, if comes regularly.

Soni was local recruit newbie. Learning to balance, will be soon  cruising, being young and nimble. 

Sharda swung in, took a spin and said good bye.

Meanwhile ..

Shamala and Tuluda arrived promptly with brand new Hero cycles specially made keeping the Garment factories ladies request,   with sloping top tube, six back gears, basket, mudgards, stand and carrier...

Wonderful to see and be part of grass root changes...

About 20 ladies came along while I went to help Chetna to reach her car and there was a frenzy of activity by the time I reached back!

I began with Pramila, very fearful of her balancing  and very fidgety trying to learn all skill sets today itself ! Pacifying and saying that Fatima (my better half) took a year and half and six different cycles before she got it  brought her some calm !

She still has some way to go but I am sure will crack it in couple of classes.

The remembrance photos and scorching heat signalled the end... I thought, but a young lady casually came up asking how long it takes to learn and I said ' try now !' a good sport, she agreed. Meanwhile her little daughter was delighted, since she had upstaged mom !!

Reena is a natural, and was balancing beautifully both down and upslope in the first go ! She is a police officer comfortable riding horses but switch to cycle was good !

Daughter gave her two stars, I would give 5 !

Long report. Apologies !!

Keep pedalling

[Ali Poonawala]

After ruling the sky unchallanged for more than a month, anti imcumbancy factor kicked in and Suryadev was humbled by Great cloud party.,.. Saddlers and pedallers took full advantage of this maha changeover... to rejoice in a perfect cycling day  !!

Parag joined the ride to Cubbon.  Just as well since foldie chain once again misbehaved and he rescued by going ahead to get the cycles out from KSLTA premises.

Single but great session 

Trainers :5

Parag, Junaid, Arjun, Ali, Krishna

Newbies :7

Anirudh, Myah, Nivedita, Smera, Eshika, Sayi sisters

Seniors :7

Sanchita, Madhuri, Meeta, Rakhi, Srrerekha, Radha, Seenu 

Of the newbies, Smera cracked the balance puzzle and younger Sayi sister too.. while others will need to wait for next session ! Be assured you will all get there....saddle time and patience are the key !!

Seniors are mostly self sufficient..  and just need to keep focus on the next move, to win the game ! Madhuri showed most controlled riding ability and is a natural.. hand signalling is her next task..

Drop ins :

Ajay Gopalswamy introduced by Parag stayed almost the whole session and hope to have as faculty soon !.. 

and our regular friends Chandrashekar ji and Jasbeer ji..

Param, our alumni and film personality came in too and has promised to have teaching steps in "dos and don'ts" format filmed.  

We also had a lady police checking on our 'suspicious' gathering and had lot of misgivings about injuries which may lead to complaints and that we should have had a word with higher ups !!

She got a bit convinced when Chandrashekar ji and Jasbeer dropped in and even agreed to take photo with us and of us !!

Nice morning....

Till we meet again,

Keep pedalling !

Ali Poonawala

[Ali Poonawala]

Hi friends !
Cubbon Park reporting !

Although had registered for the short version (7.5 Km) of the 75 km Amrit mahotsav ride, due to other commitments, could not make it ..but reached for our session a bit earlier !

Parag' Raleigh was parked, and on enquiring, he was waiting near the gate for the solar bus (Dr. Chetan Solanki) to reach..

There was a Marathi speaking family, originally from Katraj, Pune and little Sai and Shraddha happily helped me to put up banners and get the cycles... Shraddha came again to get another cycle !

She was our first newbie student.
Shreya had cycled previously and did a few rounds, so did Harshita.

Junaid was already there and helped Sai to learn, like a magician in first go itself !

Anupama not only managed homing into the  primary area  without much difficulty  but also made up for lost time from last weekend. She cracked not only balance but turning too, with Krishna's booming calls guiding her !!

Seenu, Myah and Madhuri were seniors... Seenu is improving leaps and bounds and Myah just getting the hang of coasting. Slow and steady will win the race ! Madhuri is  controlling and has learnt half pedalling.

Reetanjali came with friends and was giving her 120% effort !! She will get there soon I am sure.

The smart energy swaraj bus rolled in...what an impressive project of Prof. Chetan Solanki, leaving work and family, for ten+ years ,  to wake up us all, about environment disaster we all are hurtling towards ... otherwise it will be too late...!
Viaan,  clicked the group photo with the Energy Swaraj bus, sister Suhani  and Dad Amit included.

Hopefully, next visit of Prof Chetan , in a few months, will be with a bicycle rally as well !!

We had some more students, Suraj, a newbie, came with his mom Rashmi, already balancing two wheeler and dad Surya. Rashmi picked up pedalling skill in no time..Suraj needs couple more sessions I think.
Rashmi and Surya treated us all with chilled  grape juice  too...  bless them..!!

Last student to try it out was Soma..who had other commitments... hoping to see her and Hubby Manish soon!

My better half, Dr. Fatima reached just in time, for the last group click and "dekho" of the "Energy Swaraj" bus !

Do visit and get in touch :

in...@energyswaraj.org www.energyswaraj.org

Meanwhile.. till next time

Keep pedalling... 

Ali Poonawala

[Ali Poonawala]

Hi friends..!!

Cubbon Park reporting !

Day started attending a Walkathon, simply because it was perfectly scheduled !! From Miller's road via Cubbon Park and back to Miller Road, myself and Krishna peeled off at 8.00 at Cubbon !

Met good cycling friends Ram, Go Green Prabhakar Rao there too ! and  three generations walking for a cause !

Krishna asked some lovely girls to ferry the cycles and put up the banners..

Trainers

Krishna, Arjun, Nagaprakash, Parag Ali 

Newbies

Jesmy, Aachal, Neeru, Damak and Parvathi

Seniors

Shraddha, Anupama, Meeta, Seenu, Rohit, 

Drop ins

Suresh with Smera (on a hopelessly undersize bike) and Eshika 

Raman with Goggled Kadirvel and goggled cousins ! 

Prashanth and Shalini with sooo grown up Arya

Ranbeer with Dad ? Ajay.

It is so uplifting when the alumni drop in to say Hello, do a little something, which I don't get to watch because I am doing something else 😩

and Katraj team Shraddha was the opening batswoman ! She just had a round and had to give way to Jesmy who is finding her rhythm and will soon crack it ! 

Aachal I did not even realise had come till Arjun messaged about including her in the group ! 

Neeru was Parag protege and seemed to getting warmed up with balancing, so was Damak with Nagaprakash as her trainer .. both will get there soon !

Parvathi is Rohit's mom and accepted the challange and had first feel on the saddle and must say came through with head held high !! 🌟 of the day !!

Seenu Anupama and Rohit applied further polish to their art and I admire tenacity of students who want to continue and master the beautiful beast... bicycle !

Meeta was in a hurry and disappeared even before I acknowledged her !

Chandrashekhar ji minus Jasbeer singh ( in Mysuru) said usual warm hello and was kind to offer dry fruits for breaking my fast...most appreciated 🙏

On our way out...the drums attracted us to Bandstand and there were twin events, painting exhibition on the lawn and chess competition in the gazebo !!

Good to have a beautiful team having a great day out in such a vibrant Cubbon's...!!

Till we meet again ..

Keep pedalling

Ali Poonawala

[Ali Poonawala]

Hi friends !!

Cubbon reporting first !

Rain's magic touch was visible everywhere in this beautiful green space...

I landed early and walked around admiring the beautiful hide and seek play between the sun and the trees.

Got the bikes out with help of Kempappa and Hanumanthappa, waiting for the cycles for the oppotunistic  rides between students and of course the sole use of the breakless bike  !

in order of arrival

4 Trainers

 Ali, Krishna, Parag, Yateesh

5 Newbies:

Pradeep, Mridula, Pratiksha, Pronita Sujata

5 seniors :

Aaroosh, Jumpa, Anupama, Meeta Nivedita

Hellos :

Tara, Chandrashekarji

 Pradeep and Mridula were already waiting and both were just initiated into coasting when Krishna arrived to take over Mridula's training . Both made wonderful progress and got balancing sorted out in no time ! Well done champs ! 

Aaroosh with mom Jumpa's arrival coincided with that of Parag and Pronita came soon for more of Parag's attention. 

Little Pratiksha had good go at the foldie, but struggled with her reach for the brakes...

Sujata was Yateesh's protégé and I kind of missed out her final status, Yateesh kindly add in please 🙏

Anupama brought her rented bike blissfully unaware of aweful state it was in .... with poor brakes and flat back tire which had top nut missing !! Tried half pedalling with our pedl bike with partial success

Meeta is handling stopping with  much better control and should practice. 

Time evaporated and after photo session..  Nivedita was feeling neglected, missing out her last time's companion, the foldie. Gave her a consolation round  with her fav foldie, before packing in for the Laggare session !

Laggare session :

3 Trainers 

Shamala, Ali, Naga Prakash

Support :

Narendra, Priyank Vashisth

Laggare ( actually between Peenya and Yeshwanthpur ) session had ladies reaching late due to  communication error. That gave us time to pump up the tyres of the 50 beautifully lined up gift bikes...and some of us could  sample  jungle badam seeds from Honge tree courtesy Narendra !!

Fortunately only 10-12 of them were rank newbies and except 3-4 of them, rest learnt quickly and were off with their new acquisition which I sincerely hope will be put to best use.

I hope there is good data gathering and follow up effort here from Greenpeace or the union.

Thanks all  for a great day out

Till next time

Keep pedalling

[Ali Poonawala]

Hi friends !

Rain is doing wonders after the roasting during the day ! 

Cubbon was as glorious as ever !

Trainers: 

Shamala, Ali,  Parag, (Krishna)

Newbies: 

Suchithra, Ambika, Manju,  Harshwardhan, Baani, Pramathi, Bindu

Seniors :

Pradeep,  Sujata

Hellos

Chandrashekarji 

Newbies galore !! 

Suchithra was the eager beaver..there by 8. 05, she helped to put up the banners and also to get the cycles along with Bindu and Ambika, both waiting for their turn at Shuttle. It so happened that Bindu was going to teach Ambika how to ride a bike !

So we had both, a student and a trainer, as starting bonus !! What more can one ask for !!

Shamala, Pradeep and Sujata arrived almost together.. Foldie was for Suchithra with me giving the helping hand and Shamala took Ambika, both the girls got the balance straight away..that was such a good beginning ! 💖 

Bindu (the friend) was helping and before Krishna could escape, clicked a selfie for keeps with Chandrashekhar ji and the two girls. 

Meanwhile Parag started with Baani and again, struck success straightaway, partly because she had learnt as a child. so the programme was already loaded in the memory. She rapidly conquered all what Parag could challange her with. 

Manju switched to cycling from shuttle earlier and getting to know basics for the time being with Shamala's and hubby's help

Harshwardhan was lurching massively and will iron that out. 

Pradeep and Sujatha did circles under watchful eyes of Parag.

Pramathi came with her mom and getting to know to scoot. Her mom has promised to get dust off her dormant cycling skills next week !

Last to come was Dr. Bindu with Kreeti, her daughter, who is a basket ball player and so enthusiastic to help er mom, doing the uphill riding after Bindu's downhill scooting. What a blessed sight !😍

Ambika was the star 🌟 of the day and hoping she can keep the desire to train others after she herself has mastered it !

We really enjoyed the day thoroughly ... thanks to all lively people !

See you again next weekend

Keep pedalling !

Ali Poonawala

On Sun, 24 Apr, 2022, 8:49 PM Ali Poonawala, <alfa...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi friends !

Keeping it brief !

Cubbon was as glorious as ever !

Trainers Galore !

Ali  Parag Krishna Ganesh

Newbies

Preetham, Varalakshmi, (Mallikarun)

Seniors :

Aaroosh, Mridula, Pradeep, Anupama, Daivik, Pronita, Sujata

Drop ins :

Parag's parents ( Dad ex Mico Bosch exec, Champion Tennis and now Table tenis player !) 

Anirudh, Shivam, Tara.

(All cyclists , all possible trainers ! )

Very good straight forward session...Managed to do a 'jugaad' repair on front brake of a long standing dysfunctional cycle, so effectively 4.5 bikes + foldie ! Thanks Anirudh for the help !!

Getting cycles back for students, from the opportunistic trio of Hanumanthappa, Kempaiah and a friend, was my main task today ! 😩😂🙄

All students bettering their performance... Varalakshmi , Preetham's mom, stood out for accepting offer to get on the saddle and learnt scooting !! Used to drive Activa in past ...so will pick up in no time !

Warm regards

Keep pedalling

Ali Poonawala