Regardless of their age or occupation, from teens to corporate executives, people are embracing cycling for all sorts of reasons – for transport, to join a community of like-minded enthusiasts and to stay fit. While mountain biking counts an ardent fan base in Sri Lanka, road biking is a relatively new concept. We spoke to several so-called bicycle gangs that can often be seen around Colombo and on off-road trails during weekends to help you find out who your biking buddy should be. The best part is that you don’t have to be a pro athlete to join any of these gangs!
All the groups can be contacted via Facebook.
Cycling isn’t just for athletes
It started with a few friends riding around the city. But friendships have evolved and the group has grown to around 160 cyclists. Whether you are a cycling enthusiast or just getting rid of your training wheels, Pedal Pushers is the group to join.
Encouraging fellowship, Pedal Pushers invites all those interested in cycling to join them on regular rides on weekdays and off-road trails on weekends. They also organize events out of Colombo and charity rides. And a special ladies-only ride that takes place on the last Sunday of each month promotes cycling among women. Pedal Pushers welcomes newcomers with open arms, counting an average 20 cyclists per day.
The group conducts a night ride every Wednesday starting at 8.15pm from Independence Square to Fort and back, while offroad rides start at 6.30am on Saturdays and Sundays. One ride starts from the Madiwela car park and travels through paddy fields and hills, and another route is through Malabe to Kelaniya and back.
Testing your limits on two wheels
Riding with the Pedal Pushers at first, the Boralu Boyz found themselves longing for more fast-paced and exciting terrains. So they decided to form their own group of mountain bikers to up the tempo. The Boralu Boyz ride regularly during the week and venture off-road during the weekends or whenever time permits. The group is open to anyone interested in cycling, but be warned that the trails they follow require a slightly higher standard of fitness than road riding.
The group generally follows two routes. The group’s signature Boralu route goes via Athurugiriya through rubber estates, while the Kelaniya route is travelled in memory of Palitha Ranasinghe, a friend and fellow rider who passed away recently. Every three months or so, the group organizes an out of own town ride with plenty of hilly trails.
And don’t be put off by the group’s oddball name. The average 20 riders per day may be all male, but they are eagerly awaiting some ladies to join them.
Cycling for fun and fitness
The Free Wheelers Cyclists are a fun-loving group of riders of varying ages and fitness levels. The rides are not too strenuous and ideal for the beginner or intermediate levels.
The group rides on Wednesday nights (8.15pm) along with the Pedal Pushers starting from Independence Square in Colombo, and on Saturday mornings (6.30am) from Malabe.
This is the place for people who enjoy the wind in their hair without adding a carbon footprint!
Pedal power
The Colombo Mountain Bikers were cycling long before it became fashionable. It started in 1997, when a few like-minded individuals decided to explore their local district on fat tired bicycles.Today, the Colombo Mountain Bikers have an average 22 cyclists on one ride. They ride every Saturday and Sunday at 7 am from the Pelawatte end of the Japan-Sri Lanka Friendship Road. They also organize regular rides to nearby towns of Ingiriya and Avissawella, in addition to a ride to Bentota.
For more serious riders wanting to travelfurther, occasional rides are organized at Linford – Bogawantalawa, Fox Hill – Diyatalawa and Pedro Estate – Nuwara Eliya and Horton Plains.
A new breed of cyclists – adventure roadies
WrooM was started by Yasas Hewage in 2012 with the objective of promoting a cleaner and leaner Sri Lanka. He realized that this could be achieved by people who were not full-time athletes riding crazy distances on bicycles. Today, WrooM is a passionate group of riders who not only cycle long distances for fun, but also help communities.
WrooM took road biking to a new level by introducing the 100km ride concept. This then extended to Wroom’s main event – Around the Pearl, a 10-day ride around Sri Lanka. The latest ride was Yaal 400 – a 21-hour nonstop road ride from Colombo to Jaffna. WrooM’s core project, Blinking Bikes, promotes road safety among cyclists, pedestrians and motorists.
On its cycling events out of Colombo, the group provides LED lights (front and back), quality reflectors and advice on staying safe on the road for people who commute on bikes daily.