Exploring Mumbai at night on a cycle

At night, when most of us are in bed and some of us are out partying late, a group of cyclists come together and pedal their way across the city. The Mumbai Riders group was founded by Rishi Shah and two of his friends, Falak Parikh and Saurabh Punamiya.

Making the most of night-time
The idea came up when Shah, who enjoys cycling tours when he travels, wanted to start something for Mumbai. “The idea to organise a night ride was to cover a number of iconic sights in Mumbai under the protective blanket of the night breeze, away from the burning rays of the sun and blaring horns,” said Shah.“Mumbai Riders was started in December 2015. We conduct cycling tours every fortnight. Fifty cyclists begin cycling from Colaba and go up to Bandra Bandstand. The ride is usually 3–4 hours long and focuses on the city’s heritage,” he added.

Cycling over history
However, Shah adds that the group does not always stop to give a historical explanation of all the places. “There are times when the riders don’t want to stop and listen to Mumbai’s history. So, at those times, we just focus on the cycle ride,” he adds.
Currently, the rides get booked up within a few hours once the tickets are up for sale. The cyclists also have a technician with them throughout the course of the ride so that he can take care of any unforeseen mishaps. A cycle tour costs Rs. 999 and includes the rent for the cycle and refreshments. The group will be starting corporate cycle rides soon. For more information, visit Mumbai Riders on Facebook.
jayadev.calamur@dnaindia.net