GIANT RIDING CLUB’S PREMIER RIDE IN MUMBAI EMBARKS ON A CULTURAL ODYSSEY

pedalandtringtring

3 months ago

The Mumbai chapter of the Giant Riding Club (GRC) Season 5 began on a high gear with 92 riders joining the 1^st ride for a wholesome experience on 11^th January, Sunday morning. The riders moved at a gentle pace into the heart of Navy Nagar to relive history with a curated group bicycle tour called ‘Colaba Classics’.

A Three-point cultural compass:

The ‘Colaba Classics’ heritage trail was designed to offer more than just the miles; it provided the Giant club members a deep-dive into the cities three distinct landmarks with an immersive encounter with the pride and glory of our country.

“The ride went very well with 4 major highlights, National Anthem, Blessings from Jesus, Blessings from Vinayak Ji and the Culinary Delight” – Ranjit Singh, retired business professional and cyclist.

Mr. Ranjit Singh, in a spiritual state near the church alter.

War Memorial:

Our tour began with a visit to the War Memorial with a feeling of gratitude and honour for the Indian Army. We walked around the site paying our respects to the brave souls who served us in the past and to all the soldiers who continue to protect us. The moment was a powerful reminder about the discipline, commitment and sacrifice and these are the values that echo’s deeply with the cycling community. The ambiance was charged with patriotism as the Indian National Anthem was rendered in the august presence of a Military Officer.

The War Memorial is open to all visitors and the local, national and international tourists are welcome to plan their trip to the site as convenient.

Cyclists displaying community bond at the War memorial.

Afghan Church:

For the very first time we got an opportunity to enter the majestic St. John the Evangelist (established 1858) and explore the Afghan church more closely. The recently renovated Victorian Gothic building is an architectural marvel and a cultural delight. We walked on the red-carpet admiring the beautiful interiors, stained-glass windows and wooden furniture. Our hearts and soul offered a short prayer to the lord with our champion cyclist Edward Pinheiro leading us in unison and a shared moment of grace.

Ganesh Temple:

Our cultural trail reached the peak of spirituality at the Ganesh Temple, where the riders joined the morning aarti, the rhythmic chants and bells and creating an atmosphere of devotion and energy. We prayed for a peaceful, healthy and successful year ahead for everyone.

Reflections over breakfast:

After covering the three-major points, the ‘Tring Tring’ of our social ride concluded with a classic breakfast session at Guna’s café. We recapped our tour with fun conversations and discussions with seasoned cyclists and some new comers sharing their individual experiences.

Our GRC 2026 Premier Ride called ‘Colaba Classics’ was spearheaded by the cycling community and meant for the community members. A big thanks to all the participants for showing patience, co-operation and enthusiasm and the interests to learn more about the cities rich and varied heritage.