Goa on two wheels

Fitness enthusiasts will testify that cycling is one of the healthiest hobbies around. What’s more, there is a way to marry this hobby with indulgence and beauty of tourism, as heritage bike rides are the new in thing across Goa. According to Abhinav Mishra of The Bicycle Trip Goa, a heritage bicycle ride around the state is perhaps the best way to experience and appreciate Goan culture. Bicycle Trips Goa offers customised and themed bicycle tours exploring various aspects of Goan culture. “We talk about Goan history and culture, and basically build a good story around Goa,” says Abhinav. “Secondly, cycling is a good way to slow down. People in metros such as Mumbai lead fast and hectic life, and cycling can help them slow down and take control.”” 

In present times, heritage walks are a popular concept. So, why introduce heritage cycling trips instead of treading the oft beaten path?

For Abhinav Mishra and Jigeesha Nayyar, the basic idea behind starting the venture was to encourage cycling in Goa. “Then we thought it would also be great if we could make the cycling trip entertaining and informative.” In line with this concept, Abhinav and Jigeesha now offer cycling trips themed around history, culture and food of Goa. “We take groups of four or five people at a time for the rides, partly because safety is a concern, and partly because having a smaller group makes it possible to have good conversation and bonding,” Abhinav informs. He also points out that Goan cities do not have infrastructure such as special lanes for cycles, and they will come around if and when cycling activity in Goa grows.

That said, the attitude towards cycling in Goa has to change, says Abhinav. “Mostly in Goa, we see children or not so well-to do people, or the pao-sellers riding bicycles. Goans need to take up cycling and experience riding around Panaji.” 

However, the experience of Ira Prem of Dramapur Adventures is a little different. “We originally started the business targeting people who visit Goa, but we also get calls from many Goans. Cycling is growing in Goa and many people who have taken a trip with us have become cycling enthusiasts,” says Ira. “We also get calls from parents whose children want to ride bicycles. So. if kids want to go on long rides, they go with us,” Ira informs. Ira and her husband Nipun moved to Goa from Mumbai for the love of cycling. “Cycling in Mumbai is not fun. We wanted to use bicycles as much as possible and thus were looking to shift to a smaller place that allowed us to use bikes more,” says Ira “The Goan roads are perfect for cycling.” she states, adding that a high-end hybrid bicycle is best for riding on the sun-kissed roads of the state. 

As cool as it sounds, organising a cycling trip around Goa is a challenging job. “The main concern is safety,” says Abhinav Mishra. “Traffic is an issue, and there are no separate lanes for cyclists in cities such as Panaji.” For Ira, the hot and humid Goan weather is a major challenge. “We have high-end bicycles, and it is a lot of work maintaining them in Goan climate. Also, some people get exhausted due to the heat and it is difficult for them to finish the rides,” says Ira. Apart from that, some roads in rural Goa have garbage dumped on them which creates a nuisance while riding, says the co-owner of Dramapur Adventures and Ira’s husband Nipun. “Another challenge we face is curating a route that caters to people of different ages and cycling abilities.” he adds. Dramapur Adventures currently focuses only on locations in South Goa, whereas Bicycle Trips Goa operates in and around Panaji city. 

Oh the other hand, Ashwin Tombat of Adventure Breaks has a completely different take on cycling. “We don’t do tours of areas such as Panaji city or Fontainhas which you could cover by walking. We do just two tours. One is the complete tour of Chorao and Diwar islands,” Ashwin says “It’s a 23 kilometer long tour where we completely cover these two islands and the riders also get to experience a ferry ride. That distance you cannot cover by walking,” he says clarifying why his company chooses to offer bicycle tours instead of heritage walks. 

Most of the clients that Adventure Breaks receives for its trips are Indian tourists, notes Kim Sabir, a partner in the firm, “Many times, people who come from plain cities like Mumbai are not used to Goa’s hilly terrain and that is a small issue we face,” says Kim. “Otherwise Goa is an ideal place for adventure activities.” he says. 

The Goan business environment too is good and has been improving over the years, Kim Sabir observes. “We faced no issues such as corruption when securing the relevant permissions to operate our business. The fact that Goa is a small place and people are accessible makes it easy to obtain permissions.  Also, the connectivity and infrastructure in Goa has improved over the years,” says Kim “The only problem we face here is finding skilled labour. Most Goans prefer office jobs rather than outdoor work. Fortunately, now we have a good team in place.”