The prevalence of sedentary lifestyle has lead many people to opt for easy commute. Hardly, we see anyone peddling cycles for commuting their ways to workplaces. But, Sudhir Bhave, a mechanical engineer by profession is an ardent cyclist who also manufactures cycles of different shapes and sizes. His collection of five varied bi-wheelers are mostly used as gears for body exercises.
Sudhir graduated from MS University in 1973 with his specialisation in steel pipes. He worked at different companies throughout his life to embrace his love for mechanical engineering. Life was going well, until one day he fell in love with this sustainable mode of transport.
It was in the year 1992 when Babri Masjid was demolished which lead to a countrywide curfew including Vadodara. It was acute silence devoid of any vehicle on the roads. He decided to bring out his cycle. That’s when Bhave fell in love with the transport and resolved to use it throughout his life. He promised to commute to his office at least once a week by peddling. Soon the positive habit became his daily ritual and he started to inculcate the values of sustainable and pollution-free commute to the people around him. He designs his own cycles and later executes them with the help of welding manufacturers. Due to the cumbersome patent charges, he hasn’t registered for it for any of his cycle designs.
He owns various types of cycles which are used for different health purposes. Sudhir religiously educates people on the importance of cycle commute. To which, he also has a cycling club where they pedal for 30 km every Sunday. Once the group had also organised a 200 km cycling trip from Porbandar to Somnath.
Sudhir believes that the government must impose some stringent laws on the people who rash drive and on parents who let their kids ride two-wheelers at a young age. It is important to imbibe the habits of cycling on young minds for better health and safety for the future.
The 70-year-old Sudhir is still a man of vigour who ride cycles at least five days a week. He inspires people around him to take to cycling.
