bicycle meant for you

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Bicycle meant for you

Olympia Shilpa Gerald

Fiona Guerra and Idriss Madir from Puducherry have a novel way of promoting the humble bicycle. They don’t stop wbut also organise tours around the town. OLYMPIA SHILPA GERALD meets the duo

The pair of bicycles painted salmon pink, sunshine yellow and electric blue stands out among the hotchpotch that swamp the Promenade beach in Puducherry.

When motorbike junkies and car crazed fans are investing in pimping their mean machinMadir from Puducherry have chosen to customise the humble bicycle. Their initiative Mmaking people rediscover the simple joy of cycling on a bike that bears their signature style. They let you choofully customised new cycles, a re-hauled second-hand bike or the charming accessorieshand-stitched leather grips for handlebars, good old-fashioned bicycle saddles and seats in leather, quaint locthe best of the lot — the cycle bells. Thanks to Idriss, a graphic designer, each handpainted bell is designer mabears a flower, or Ganesha or an autorickshaw. “All our ideas are inspired by what we have seen in India. The

Fiona and Idriss of My Vintage Bicyclette with their customised cycles inPuducherry

Fiona and Idriss of My VPuducherry

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much colour here,” gushes Fiona. “But we are planning to borrow elements from variousbicycle will have Mexican skulls all over, in March.”

Desi only

Though both hail from France, it was in India that they met and fell in love. But their amour back. “My father is past 50, but he cycles 100 miles every weekend,” says Fiona. “I used to love biking up the hItaly and France. But Idriss is a hardcore cyclist. He has been around France on his cycle.” Their product thoufirmly rooted in India and their cycles are Indian brands. “When we started out, we were keen that this wouldlocally sustained project. We do not want to import anything. Everything we need is here.” They work with thdifferent craftsmen in Puducherry who carry out individual tasks of painting the frames, decorating the bells stitching the leather accessories. “We are one big DIY project,” smiles Fiona, the chatterbox of the duo. “He thnot fluent in English, but he is just shy,” Fiona teases Idriss, who cracks a grin, as he does throughout our con“I am the graphics guy, you are the communications girl,” he defends.

The young couple hit upon the idea a year back, when they decided to start a creative business of their own.Puducherry, with its reputation for cycling as a favourite mode of transport, turned out to be ideal. “It is flat acrowded than any other metro. It is great for cycling,” says Fiona. “But not great for business,” chimes in Idrisonly because it is a small town. We could do better in a metro like Bangalore that has a strong cycling commuFiona reminds him, “We would never be able to cycle all over the town like we do here.”

Through their website, the couple customise and ship accessories for clients in other cities. All accessories comdifferent colours, but specific designs are done, after many chats through email, or over phone and in person,Puducherry. “A French lady was enamoured by an exotic flower she spotted in Myanmar. with the flowers on the frame and colour coordinated the accessories,” says Idriss. They ultimately hope to maown bicycles in the future. “We need to work with engineers and mechanics for that anjust the two of us handling design, marketing and manufacturing.”

The couple are keen on planning activities around cycling. The first step is a vintage guided cycle tour they offmid-March. “What we want to do is create an interest in cycling. It is healthy, it is non-polluting. If you cannocycle to work, you can ride it as a hobby,” suggests Fiona. “It’s the perfect go-between walking and speeding omotorbike.”

(Log on to The Tadpole store, or http://www.myvintagebicyclette.com/. Prices for accessories start from Rcustomised cycles from Rs. 5,000. Special student prices on offer)

Keywords: Fiona Guerra, Idriss Madir, bicycle promotion, My Vintage Bicyclette

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