Cycling may evoke images of the milkman or the man who delivers bread but this activity is slowly gaining popularity amongst sections of society. Rajesh Malhotra deals in cycles in Goa and spoke to Ajit John about the business and the challenges he faces conducting it.
HERALD: What made you get into this business?
RAJESH MALHOTRA: Well, I was in the music business, in the retail end of it but as you know technology is making us irrelevant and I have always believed doing business in something that I enjoy doing myself. I had started cycling for a while and then in August 2013 set up the business dealing in high-end cycles. I cycled 200 km in the first six months after taking up cycling. The business is in the early stage with regards to an interest in cycling in the state but I believe, it has been a right choice.
HERALD: What are the challenges you face while trying to sell a cycle?
RM: Well people walk into the shop in Panjim thinking of spending Rs 8000 to 10,000 or then there are those whose idea of a cycle is the one used by the man who distributes milk or bread.
For the kind of money I mentioned earlier, one would get bikes for teenagers. We have special bikes that take into consideration your height. We have bikes from Rs 30,000 to Rs 5 lakh. Remember, better the bike, better the ride. Some people want speed and other want brands. We have brands as diverse as Giant, Lapiere, Ghost, Merida and then offcourse the entry level Raleigh, the American brand. Remember the cycling market is a niche market. As an activity it may have taken off in the other cities but in Goa it is still in the nascent stages.
HERALD: What do you think needs to be done to encourage cycling in the state?
RM: The government should provide cycling lanes which should be three feet wide. It will certainly help. The Goa govt keeps talking about trying to attract more sophisticated tourists. If you have a cycling lane, you will then have the health conscious traveller coming in, not those who are only interested in the beach. Adventure tourism will be another weapon we can wield and help bring more tourists to the state. It will also make us different from the other destinations in the area as well as in the country.
HERALD: Where do you see this market in five years?
RM: Like I said, make cycling lanes and this market will explode. Many parents would not like to send their children to school or college on a cycle considering the poor traffic sense of the drivers. I am sure there will be professionals who would like to cycle to work. I know of a doctor who cycles to his dispensary every day. Given that Goa has the hilly terrain, good roads and not so hectic traffic, I think it will grow very fast.
