“These are the cyclists?” I exclaim in surprise. They are in trendy monochrome jerseys, hair neatly coiffured, nails painted red and pouts done up in Ruby Woo. Far from the sweaty and grimy lot I was expecting. “Even our jerseys are full-sleeved so we don’t get tanned. We got them made specially in Tirupur by a company that exports to the top European cycling teams,” smiles Gayathre Rajam, a tri-athlete, yoga teacher and crossfit trainer, and the founder of G3 — Gayathre’s Gang of Girls — India’s first all-women cycling group. Clearly, style is as important as well-being for these ladies.
The 75-member team has no age barrier but they do have a couple of rules — you have to be in their jersey and no men are allowed. Formally launched over the weekend, G3 was formed in October last year. Gayathre used to cycle with Madrascals, an all-men’s team started by her husband Srinath Rajam, an international cycling coach. “The men were fast and I had to try and keep up with them. In between all that, I would stop to stare at the flamingos at Muttukadu, and I thought why not get my students and friends to join me,” she says.
A few weeks later, a group of 20 women joined her and rode from ECR Toll Gate to GRT Temple Bay — a distance of 27 km. A majority of them hadn’t cycled since childhood. The distance did seem herculean at first, but once they started cycling, past the pine trees, water bodies and stretches of barren land, with the pleasant morning wind and birds for additional company, the target seemed achievable.
“There were cars following us in case we got tired or couldn’t complete the distance. But we did it and by the end of the ride, we were hooked,” they say. Hearing the exciting experiences, more people joined, including women who hadn’t cycled before, like Girija Venkatesh, 63, the oldest member who learnt cycling in September, and by December completed 100 km.
Soon, 25 members from G3 participated in the Tamil Nadu Cycling Club competition. “We realised it needed a professional approach and hired Selva Kumar, a state-level cycling coach.” Initially, he would often complain to Gayathre about their lack of attention, but has now gotten used to their chatting and constant need to click photographs of themselves and the scenery around. The coach seems upbeat about the progress, as many of the members cycle up to 33 kmph. Even the slow ones now clock an average of 27 kmph. “Seven people have the potential to make it to the state and national-level cycling categories,” he says.
G3 meets every Saturday at 5.30 a.m. and rides for two hours. “But I ask them to cycle three to four times a week near their houses to activate their muscles,” says Gayathre. The assembly point is the ECR toll gate. If it is OMR, the meeting point is the Kelambakkam petrol bunk and they ride from Thiruporur to Chengalpattu.
Apart from being taught the right cycling technique and the precautions against getting injured, the intrepid cyclists are also given lessons in basics like saddle-pedal distance and choosing the perfect bike — 20 per cent of the speed depends on the kind of bike one rides.
Since not all members have their own cycles, Suresh Kumar of Pro Bikers has been roped in to provide a few. Most of them have road bikes, while Gayathre has a high-end Pinarello Dogma F8, used by Team Sky in the Tour de France. “I told my husband that I didn’t want jewellery as a gift on my 50th birthday but would prefer this instead,” she grins. As far as this gang of girls is concerned, professional cycles have replaced diamond rings and romantic getaways as favourite birthday and anniversary gifts.
Children too are encouraged to join G3. Some of the members have the pleasure of their little sons and daughters joining them. “While other kids wake up late and are glued to their video games, these children wake up early and are out cycling with us. It’s a great way of spending quality time with them,” says Midhuna Somasundaram, who cycles with her 12 and 10-year-old sons.
And on weekends, this family of four rides around the streets of T. Nagar as a bonding exercise. Namita Maggon, who is joined by her 13-year-old daughter Shivani, says, “I am taking my cycle along on a holiday to Delhi so that I can pedal around the India Gate area.”
In April, the team is heading to Coonoor for a cycling expedition along the hilly terrain, and in June, there will be a workshop in the city. “It’s a great cardio activity and helps burn up to 600 calories per hour; you lose body fat. Cycling is like meditation to us,” adds Gayathre. And can they fix a punctured tyre? “Well, we are divas. We cycle and focus on our make-up. For the rest, there’s a support team.”
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