The cycle comes a full circle

We are the first in the world to introduce a type-C connector, reducing human error and improving safety. We are also competitively priced against premium brands.

- Namita Shibad

PUNE: Why a bicycle? Why would anyone put their energies and money into reinventing the wheel? Why would one set up a company to manufacture bicycles when the giants are doing so?

For Rahul Gurung, Ravi Kumar and Sahil Uttekar, the co-founders of VIR Mobility, this humble vehicle that is part of any Indian's life holds many more possibilities than is visible or known to most. Says Rahul, "In India, the sale of bicycles is ₹1.14 crore every year. Though in urban areas scooters, motorbikes and cars are the most used mode of transport and cycles are generally part of an exercise programme, in Tier 2 and 3 cities and in rural areas bicycles are the only mode of transport available."

Checking usage Considering that the sale of two-wheelers in India last year was ₹1.8 crore (Source: Statista), bicycles are not far behind. Ravi adds, "I come from an armed forces family background. I remember growing up, all families in the cantonment areas in India used bicycles. Kids going to school or the store, jawans, almost everyone in cantonment areas use a bicycle. No one gives an underage kid a motorbike to ride, rules are followed to the last letter."

"Besides if you go to cities that have large university campuses, most students use bicycles. In Kota or any IIT campus, bicycle is the only mode of transport," he said.

The lowly bicycle plays a big role in our lives. Yet it was a sector that was largely ignored. "Cycles lack speed and convenience. I remember in school we could not go cycling uphill, so we'd walk with it, and then cycle whilst coming down. So, Sahil who has been deeply involved in electric mobility for several years along with Rahul, who was initially working on converting petrol scooters into electric vehicles and myself set up VIR Bikes with the idea of making the cycle do more than it was."