ROWER
India has a wide variety of scenic bike routes, such as narrow lanes high up in the mountains, wide highways with lots of roadside restaurants and motels, coastal routes, overgrown with coconut trees or winding dirt roads, winding between coffee plantations. The bicycle is probably the best means of transportation in crowded cities and Asian bazaars. Mountains, plains, steppes, deserts – all these places are open to cyclists! Longer bicycle trips require good condition and endurance from tourists, especially due to the unfavorable climatic conditions prevailing here. Foreign cyclists are often exposed to unpleasant comments and harassment from the local population.
Do bring your own bike? Tourists going to India often wonder, which bike will be the best for the local routes: light tourist or mountain? The latter will definitely be the best, irreplaceable not only on mountain trails, but also the muddy Indian roads. Its special advantages are its strong structure, maneuverability and durability.
The appearance of a foreign model on the local roads usually causes a sensation among Indians. Not only will they make constant comments about him, but they will not stop themselves from pushing the cyclist and fiddling with the bicycle.
Spare parts Because bikes break down frequently, you need to stock up on basic spare parts, such as tires, inner tubes, framework, wires, rear wheel, spokes and pads for sticking punctured tires, and learn to do minor repairs yourself. It won't, of course, possible without a set of tools. The manual will also come in handy, in case of a more serious breakdown. It is enough then to show the Indian mechanic the appropriate illustration, especially if he doesn't speak English, and a headache.
Because Indian roads are rarely paved or asphalted, the chain should be oiled frequently, thus protecting it from dust.
Although in India a unified metric system has long since been introduced, standard parts are still missing here. Tires with dimensions 27 x 1,25 are produced by the Dunlop and Sawney plants. They are available, Although, mountain bike tires, but their quality is not the best. Pumps sold in India are not compatible with Presta and Schraeder valves, commonly used in Europe. If the bike is equipped with Presty valves, found in most inner tubes with parameters 27 x 1,25, you need to get a Schreader pump attachment.
Japanese tires and spare parts are available in stores in larger cities, m.in. gear levers, rear wheels and chains, however, they are quite expensive, and additionally, shipping costs must be added. An equally large expense will be importing some from abroad, because they are subject to a very high duty, unless the shipment is referred to as 'transit' (in transit). However, in such a case, customs officials will enter it in the passport.
There are many points of sale of spare parts for bicycles in India. They are among them: Old Town Bike Market along Esplade Rd in Delhi and Nunda & Company at Bentick St in Calcutta. Never purchase Taiwan-made parts or tires, which have been lying on the store shelf for a long time.
Luggage
The cyclist's luggage should be properly protected against rain. Beware of bags with lots of zippers, which attract the attention of thieves, and remember, never to leave your bike in the lobby or in front of the hotel entrance, but always bring him into the room!
Things should be packed like this, to form a comfortable backpack if necessary, irreplaceable, when you feel like going on a hiking trip.
Thefts
Tourists, who decide to bring their own bikes to India, they should keep an eye on pumps and containers for liquids, who like to die in this country. Leaving the bike outside, luggage and all spare parts must be carefully secured.
The theft of European bicycles is extremely rare here, because it is very difficult to sell such a characteristic commodity outside large cities.
On the roads Groups of local teenagers gather around a foreign bicycle left in front of a bar or inn, who not only exchange "professional" comments, but they also manipulate shifting or check, how much air is left in the wheels.
Pausing briefly in the street, e.g. to buy fruit on the stargazing, you may have serious problems rejoining traffic, because both rickshaw drivers, just like other cyclists and passers-by, they love to substitute the way for foreign tourists. Groups of children are equally insistent. When the situation becomes unbearable, all that remains is to call a policeman, the appearance of which effectively scares off intruders.
Indian boys like to throw stones at cyclists. In such a situation, do not stop, much less to pursue the culprits, because it only makes the situation worse. Usually it is enough to pay attention to their parents. However, because teenage boys are very obnoxious, especially in groups, best to avoid roads, that run alongside the schools.