World Bicycle Day

June 3rd happens to be World Bicycle Day

Many all over the world can't freely participate in a rally or race due to the Covid19 restrictions that are still in place in some countries. 

The present bicycle has evolved after many trial and error methods during the course of time.

In the olden days the cycles had dynamos. The power generated by it was good enough for the head lamp to light up the road, but the flip side was that it reduced your speed due to the friction of the dynamo on the tyre.

Nowadays you get the strap on headlamp which is more powerful and can be recharged in an hour or so with a USB cable.

You can easily remove it from the handlebar by which the fear of theft can be eliminated.

On a day to day use it was more practical to transport things, like these workers transporting broom.

If you have the right cargo basket you can transport heavier and bigger items

Or a simple basket to transport bakery items.

Whoever thought of this idea of converting a clog into a carrier (pic by  Henk Overbeeke)

Many use the bicycle as a decorative piece for their shop.

Someone had some good design skills to come up with this design as a bike rack (pic by Brian Cairns) 

Or as an architectural piece to decorate their terrace.

The health benefits of cycling is something that cannot be ignored and this picture explains it well.

The best way to encourage children in cycling is to teach them at an early age.

Taking them for a joy ride is another way.

Safety should be the first priority when you try to transport more kids.

Some countries encourage cycling by providing cycles on hire from point A to point B. It is a win win situation for both the government and the citizens.

In some countries cycles are very popular but they also have the perennial problem of cycle parts getting stolen.

A couple of decades ago one needed a permit to drive a cycle on the roads which had to be renewed every year. In the late sixties that was abolished. The common sparrow taking a break.

Before you venture out make sure that all the nuts are properly tightened. Once I lost my side stand because I ignored the loose nut fastening it and the stand fell off somewhere along the way !!

Don't feel shy to show the age old hand signals. Who knows, it may save you from a broken limb. (Pic by Richard)

If you are venturing out alone, carry some ID. In case of any eventuality, they will know whom to contact.

A simple sketch for those who want to try it out.

Avoid showing antics on the road or sidewalk. It is risky for you as well as for the pedestrians.

The pom pom horn on the cycle has been replaced by the tring bell which is more effective.

Tandem cycling is another option and it is fun when there are two on a cycle. Reminds me of the song by Nat King Cole - Daisy Daisy, on a bicycle built for two.

Another picture of Tandem cycling where the photographer Mary Kay Nitchie has succesfully done a pan shot.

I have seen the bride's entry in different forms, like in a car, or a motorbike or in a buggy, but yet to see one come on a bicycle.

Or the bride and the groom taking off on a bicycle.(Pic by Sven)

If it is Christmas season then we can make it a little colourful.(Pic by Sean)

The happy happy stuffed toys and the sunlight makes this lively but the addition of the cycle gives it a sense of motion, as if to say "we are going places" (Pic by Albert)

It is nice to see a family pedaling down the road together. This was clicked in Central Park in May 2021 by Lardfr1

Romance is always in the air, be it in Black & White or in colour (Pic by Ian Spoard)

Allow your child to cavort on the cycle with his/her friends. They will have memories which will be cherished for a lifetime.(Pic by Rex Deveraturda) 

We all know how the simple cycle came to the rescue in India a few decades ago.

Finally I must say that if you have the will, then the mountain is the limit. .Photo credit Or maybe just cross the bridge and ride into the horizon (Pic by Yulia)

Photo credit Photo credit 2 Photo credit 3

Flying Umbrellas

Had been to Bharuch last month. This was my first visit to Gujarat. Like they say, the journey is more interesting than reaching the destination. 

Travelled by the double decker train, again a first time. If you happen to be on the lower deck and look out of the window, you get a worm’s eye view especially of the platform and the commuters.  

For people travelling long distance it is going to be a pain as the luggage racks don’t take in big luggage and we Indians don’t know how to travel light.  Some keep their luggage in the aisle making it difficult for other commuters to walk. 

While filming the interior ofthe train  I caught one guy accidentally dropping his luggage on a co passenger. Luckily no one was hurt. 
There are many Indian songs showing the train or travelling by train , like Jiya ho, jiya ho jiya kuch bol do, or Rajesh Khanna’s Sapno ki Rani kab ayegi tu, or Shah Rukh’s Chaiya Chaiya, but I like the one on Rajesh Khanna and Zeenat singing Hum Dono Do Premee. 

While waiting for the train at Bombay Central I saw this board outside the cafeteria. You get a glass of hot milk for Rs 10/- but if you ask for it in English you will get 50 ml less.  

Actually I had been for a wedding shoot in Bharuch. Apart from capturing the wedding and the happy atmosphere, there are other things that catch your eye. Like the pundit who keeps his match box at a funny location for easy access. 

I am usually engaged to capture candid pictures and videos while there is a professional photographer who clicks the “standard” pictures. (I refuse to do that as I have an aversion for posed pictures) 

At the same location with the same subjects, one can make the picture interesting by just waiting for “that moment”  By comparing these two pictures below you will get an idea of what I am trying to say.

 pic clicked at "that moment"

                                             posed picture clicked by the photographer

It is funny to see the reactions of the guests and the couple when something happens out of turn. Here it was the case of the Flying Umbrellas.  Most of these happened when my camera was rolling,  but I edited them out in the final cut.

It was interesting to see the bride coming to the mandap on a motor bike, riding pillion. If I had known this earlier I would have suggested to keep the headlights off as that was causing a glare, and I had a tough time keeping it out of the frame. 

During my stay there I was put up in the Guest House and was impressed by the place. 

 No trappings of a commercial hotel but at the same time all the basic amenities were there. This was attached to the Swaminarayan Temple and was again impressed by the cleanliness and management of the temple and its surroundings. 

Some how I could not find time to go inside the temple and click, maybe next time. 

Covering weddings are fun. At the editing table you have the liberty to put in your ideas  and make it more interesting. Like this Flash Dance that I captured in a wedding in Pune two months ago. 

If I were the judge I would give the bride’s father the Best Dancer award. What perfect body movement.