Fitness enthusiasts opt for cycling, sales pick up

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, August 12

The cycle sales have picked up pace across the state as there has been a substantial increase in the number of cyclists ever since the governments started easing lockdown restrictions.

Cycle store owners said they were selling every model — from premium to affordable — since the lockdown was eased recently. 

Pankaj M Munjal, chairman-cum-managing director, Hero Cycles, had tweeted earlier that there was about a 70 per cent surge in the demand of cycles compared to the pre-Covid-19 times.

Munjal today tweeted, “For the cycling community, it’s business as usual in these Covid times. Cycling demand has surged 100 per cent over the world. This is the new norm.”

Local cycle trader Rajesh Kumar said, “The demand for cycles in the region has gone up post lockdown.” Many other traders claimed to have sold a high number of cycles.

Shop owners said there was a rise in sale of bicycles for children too.

A standard cycle cost around Rs 3,600. The hybrid range begins from Rs 4,500 and goes up to Rs 1 lakh.

Though gyms opened recently, many people are not going there due to Covid-19 fears. They are rather opting for cycling.

Shikhar Goyal, a city resident, said he recently bought a cycle to improve his fitness level. “With gyms and swimming pools remaining closed for a long time, I decided to opt for cycling for my fitness while mainting social distancing.”

Another resident Sarabjit Singh said, “We want to stay healthy and maintain social distancing as well, so cycling is definitely a better option.”