Bicycle diaries

Every year our club infallibly observes World Bicycle Day on June 3. Almost all the members along with a large number of residents of our small town participate in the celebration with great enthusiasm. In the morning, all the participants gather in the club ground with their bicycles dusted and cleaned thoroughly. Some of the participants decorate their bicycles to add flair by wrapping colourful ribbons or floral garlands around the frame and handlebars, snapping spoke beads to the wheels or attaching a basket filled with faux flowers. Besides, every bicycle is attached with small placards and cut-outs reading health- and environment-related pictures and slogans such as 'Less Fuel, More Fitness', 'Ride a Cycle, Save the Planet', 'Burn Fat, Not Oil', 'Leave the Noise, Ride a Bicycle.' A few days before the celebrations, World Bicycle Day becomes a buzzword in our locality. The participants ride across the main road of the town covering about 10 kilometres. The number of participants in the bicycle rally is multiplied when more cyclists join on the way. The rally ends in the club ground from where it starts. It is followed by a series of addresses delivered by some participants and guests before the closing address of our club president. Undoubtedly, everybody in their speeches encourages riding bicycles regularly for the benefits of our health, betterment of the environment, conservation of fossil fuels, and so on. Ironically, except the school-going teenagers, most of the participants leave their bicycles under the staircase until the next June 3. To them, the observation of the day seems just like a fashion. Though I prefer to use my motorcycle to travel long distances, I frequently use my dark cycle to cover shorter ones. Besides, I use my bicycle while going to the morning market to avoid congested traffic. The bicycle is resting against a wall in an obscure zone of our long veranda. On June 3 this year, I got up early in the morning to wash the bicycle. I had already collected some colourful ribbons, streamers, vinyl stickers, decals, spoke beads, faux florals and so on from the market to give a different look to my old bicycle. But to my utter astonishment, I discovered that machine was not in its usual place. I was sure that I had lost it. I tried to remember where I might have left the bicycle. However, I was sure that the loss must have happened not far away from my house. Before going to the police station to lodge an FIR, I decided to meet the shop owner selling hand-made bread in our locality to get any information about my lost bicycle. I was relieved to know from him that a bicycle was found standing on the opposite side of the road the day before yesterday. Then a young man from the nearby area had kept it in his house. He also showed me a Facebook post where the picture of the bicycle was given with the mobile number of the person who had posted it. Actually, I had forgotten to bring the bicycle with me and walked back home just after buying bread. I dialled the number. A young man received my call and asked me some questions about my lost bicycle. He was quite sure to know from me that a saffron cotton bag was attached to the carrier of the bicycle. When I informed him of my presence in front of the bread-selling shop, he instantly came out from an adjacent tea stall. Immediately he recognised me as he was once a student in my coaching centre. I had just waited for a few minutes until he returned from his house with my lost bicycle with the cotton bag still attached to the back carrier. I thanked him from the core of my heart for keeping my lost bicycle in his safe custody. When I offered him a few hundred-rupee notes to buy some sweets, he politely refused to accept the money. Needless to say, I took part in this year's World Bicycle Day with extra enthusiasm. nanditathagata4@gmail.com Published- September 06, 2026 05:45 am IST