India'S First Cycling Cafe Opens In Chennai

In a country dominated by the automobile industry, few companies strive to promote cycling as more than a form of commute; to make it a lifestyle. In March 2015, TI cycles, better known for it's brands Hercules, BSA, Track and Trail, and Montra, opened India's first 'Cycling Cafe' in Chennai. Ciclo Cafe,åÊas it is called, is located in the heart of the city on the main road itself making it very hard to miss.

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The concept of cyclist friendly cafes isn't new to the world. While many countries in Europe and the Americas have cafes that revolve around a 'cycling lifestyle', the concept is still very fresh in a country like India, let alone Chennai, and that's exactly what you feel when you walk into this cafe. You're taken to a European town setting with this cafe's interiors. Comfortable couches, long functional tables for big groups, and converted cycle frames and saddles to give you a more interesting experience is the kind of seating you'll find here. To add to the decor, the cafe is also decorated with cycling memorabilia, books and photos. We're no food critics, but from what we saw, the food looked delicious.

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And what's a cycling cafe without cycles. The cafe also houses a rather large and fully equipped bicycle store with all of Track and Trail's (TI Cycles' line of premium brands) brands - Schwinn, Mongoose, Cannondale, Bianchi, Montra and GT. The cafe also has all the latest and most advanced accessories from XMR, a TI Cycles brand that promises International quality at a very affordable price.

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ChooseMyBicycle.com managed to get an exclusive interview with Mr. K.C. Ramamoorthy, VP of International Business from TI Cycles of India and Mr. Arun Alagappan, President, TI Cycles of India -

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What led to the idea of starting a Cafe with cyclists in mind? What was the inspiration behind this concept?

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KC - 'Ciclo' means bicycles in Italian and Spanish. Italy and Spain both have rich cycling heritage and a huge cycling culture. Cycling is an integral part of everyday lives in these countries. People have always loved bicycles and the world