Indian Roadsters: Part 1

Yes. I know. This is a blog about Chinese Roadsters. Specifically traditional, brake-rod, lugged framed roadsters. But this digression is too good to pass up.

The recent Chinese New Year celebration allowed me and my wife some vacation time in sunnier climes. So we hopped a flight south of the border... to India. Although, I knew that India had it's own tradition of brake rod roadsters, I had no idea exactly how truly elephantine this tradition was. 

For example did you know that Tube Investments,the famed one-time mother company of Raleigh still exists in India? And still manufacturers Hercules, Philips and BSA brake rod roadsters?

Or maybe that arguably the largest bike manufacturer in the world, Hero is also located in India?

There is clearly a lot to talk about here. So, I will be covering it in many parts, so as not to test your endurance.

First, there are some keen differences in the environment between India and China. India is a beautiful country, with some of the most beautiful places I have been to. But getting to them can be something of a chore. Indian road conditions are almost universally bad. The pavement is simultaneously in a state of construction, destruction, neglect and over use. This is symptomatic of a country whose economy is spinning faster than a Bollywood dance number. 

However, unlike China where most cities that allow bicycles have dedicated lanes, there were no such lanes in the Indian cities we visited. This means as a rider you will share the road with cars, trucks, tuk-tuks, camels, elephants, cows, and many, many motorcycles and scooters. 

Because the transportation infrastructure is not as highly developed as China, it also means the vehicles must suit. The Chinese are moving away from bicycles as day to day transport at a rapid pace. But in India, the story is still at an earlier chapter. On Indian roads a high powered sports car or motorcycle would prove a very ineffective and uncomfortable transportation tool, but a bicycle...make that a rugged and reliable brake rod roadster...well, that is just fine. In fact, the vast majority of bicycles I saw were brake rod roadsters and they were an even larger percentage of the overall traffic than here in China. 

And the bikes must be rugged, and not just because of the road conditions. Unlike in China where there is a "Bike Doctor" on most streets to fix your flat, India has instead a sparser distribution of larger (but still small) bike shops.

Of course, the incredible press of traffic often means that going by bike can be the best way to get around. Or so it seemed to me. You can check it out in this video I took while visiting Delhi's famed and beautiful Red Fort.

Comments

[mark]

hello from victoria bc canada.im hoping to see a few roadsters.my good friend was teaching construction in india,and was givin a rod brake roadster,but his school was far from where he was staying and didnt ride much,he said ---its very dangerous here---.he contracted a water borne bacteria and had severe diareah for mnths,he left and the bicycle stayed.i am learning vietnamese right now.not the easiest thing to do but i could always fix bicycles in vietnam?great blog. mark

[ubrayj02]

Wow. When I visited Delhi a few years ago I hadn't caught the bicycling bug yet, so these things were just a curiosity.

Thanks for putting this information online!