Heritage Site Cleanup - Fort St.George - 2018

Saturday, 24th November 2018 

The final event for our calendar year 2018 was the fifth edition of Heritage Site Cleanup at Fort St.George held on Saturday, 24th November 2018 around the Charles & James Street in front of the historic Clive House at Fort St.George. The Cleanup was held with the able support Archaeological Survey of India, Chennai Circle during the World Heritage Week celebrated every year between 19th -25th November.  This year around 85 participants took part in the Cleanup that included students from Anna University, Staff members from DP World Chennai, Nam Veedu Nam Ooru and Kathai and cyclists from Cycling Yogis.  After the Cleanup participants took the Swachh Bharath Pledge. Early in the morning there was a short ride from Probikers OMR to Fort St.George to commemorate the event. 

Participants at Clive Building - Fort St.George

In Deccan Chronicle dated 25th November 2018

Madras Day Heritage Ride - 2018 (OMR - Thirukazhukundram)

Sunday, 19th August 2018 

As a part of the Madras Week Celebration 2018 the 7th edition of Madras Day Heritage Ride was organised to Thirukazhukundram. The heritage ride to OMR - Thirukazhukundram focused on the diversity our city had to offer in terms of natural and built heritage. The uniqueness of the trail consisting of rich natural heritage interspersed with ancient monuments and prehistoric sites, it is unlike the interiors of the city landscape that are dotted with buildings and spaces associated to the founding of the city notably the Colonial era. The heritage ride was flagged off from Probikers OMR and the riders on reaching Thirukazhukundram climbed the 568 odd steps to reach the top of the hillock which was once famous due to the regular visit by the Eagles during the noon to be fed by the temple priest,  the hillock also consist of Orukal Mandapam built during the period of Mahendravarman between 610-640 AD and coming under ASI Chennai Circle, on reaching the place there was a brief interaction followed by Swachh Bharath Pledge and Medal Ceremony. Riders returned to the start point by noon, the ride covering total distance of 102 km.

Orukal Mandapam - Thirukazhukundram 

The Hindu Downtown (31-08-2018)

Adyar Times (02-09-2018)

First Vintage Bicycles Exhibition

Saturday, 4th August 2018

The city's first ever and one of its kind Vintage Bicycle Exhibition was held on Saturday, 4th August 2018 at Seafarers Club, Chennai.  The bicycles on display included Raleigh, Rudge, Hercules, Phillips Roadsters of 1950's, Raleigh Chopper, Second World War period Paratrooper Bicycle, Robinhood, Penny Farthing Proto Type and Tricycles,  some of the bicycles were fitted with Strumey Archer Three Speed Hub and Brooks Saddle.  The highlight of the exhibition was display of vintage accessories that included Oil and Petrol Lamps, bicycle manuals, tools including lock and key. The exhibition was inaugurated by Mr. Ennarasu Karunesan CEO Adani Ports. Later all the participants who displayed their collections in the exhibition were felicitated with certificates by ADGP Dr. Sylendra Babu IPS. The Vintage Bicycles Exhibition was organised as part of the George Town Bicycle Trails Booklet release and MadMad WeeW CelCelebrat 2018 by Cycling Yogis. 

Newspapers dated 07-08-2018 :

TOI - Chennai Times 

TOI - Chennai Times 

The Hindu Metroplus  

Photo Feature :

     

George Town Bicycle Trails Chennai & Penang Booklet Release

Saturday, 4th August 2018 

The George Town Bicycle Trails Chennai and Penang, third in the series of Cycling Yogis publications on cycling and the city.  As the title goes the handy booklet for cyclists contains Twenty Trails exploring landmarks and nooks of George Town, QR Code for easy access and brief study on George Town in Penang. This was also the  first ever attempt to map Heritage and Cycling Trails of a Business District in India. The booklet was released on Saturday, 4th August 2018 at Seafarers Club,  Rajaji Salai, Chennai as part of the Madras Week Celebration 2018. The book was released by ADGP Dr. Sylendra Babu IPS in the presence of Shri. Palam Kalyanasundaram (Adjudged as One of the Outstanding People of 20th Century by the UN) and Mr. Ennarasu Karunesan CEO Adani Ports.  To commemorate the occasion a first of its kind Vintage Bicycle Exhibition was also held in the same premises.

George Town Bicycle Trails Booklet Release 

George Town Bicycle Trails Booklet 

Book Review in the Newspapers

The Hindu dated 10-08-2018

New Indian Express dated 08-08-2018 

TOI-Chennai Times dated 12-08-2018 

World Heritage Day Ride 2018 - Dakshina Chitra Heritage Museum

Sunday, 15th April 2018 

To commemorate the World Heritage Day and International Day For Monuments and Sites (18th April) the 6th edition of World Heritage Day Ride was organised by Cycling Yogis to Dakshina Chitra Heritage Museum, Muttukadu, ECR Road on Sunday, 15th April 2018. The ride started from Probikers in OMR and finished at Dakshina Chitra Heritage Museum, Muttukadu,  ECR Road.  Cyclists from various cycling groups in Chennai participated in this ride.  At Dakshina Chitra Heritage Museum there was brief medal ceremony followed by Folk Dance performances of Tamilnadu. With dances coming under the realm of Intangible Cultural Heritage, there was no better place to celebrate the World Heritage Day than at  Dakshina Chitra which is an exciting cross cultural living museum of art, architecture, lifestyles, crafts and performing arts of South India under the Madras Craft Foundation. 

Participants @ Dakshina Chitra Heritage Museum 

Ride featured in Adyar Times

Republic Day Heritage Ride - 2018 (Gingee Fort)

To commemorate the 69th Republic Day an heritage ride was organised by Cycling Yogis to Gingee Fort on Sunday, 21st January 2018. This was the 6th edition of the ride by the Chennai based cycling group which comprises of people from various walks of life, with a common passion for cycling and respecting heritage. Previous Republic Day Heritage Ride destinations being Mahabalipuram, Pulicat, Puducherry, Vellore Fort and Chandragiri Fort (AP)

Covering distance of 150km, cyclists took part in this ride which started at the early hours of the morning from Santhome Inn, Chennai and reached destination Gingee Fort by noon. After Lunch break (for the first time a live Kitchen was arranged) and  Medal Ceremony at the ASI Gingee Sub Circle Office the cyclists went on a short tour of Fort which included Swachh Bharat Pledge, a practice observed by the members of the group since 2015. The visit to Fort complex included the parts of the inner fort consisting of Gymnasium, Granary, Barracks and Kalyana Mahal which is considered the most impressive multi storyed monument with pyramidal roof. Cyclists also got to know something about the history of the impregnable fortifications that forms an important study in the military history of India, the fort which over a period of time since it's founding by Ananda Kon 1 in 1200 AD had been under the control of various rulers including the Vijayanagar Kings, Nayaks, Marathas under Chatrapathi Sivaji, Carnatic Nawabs, French and the British thus making it neighbours envy and owners pride and not to mention the ballads of Desigh Raju.

After an enriching visit to the Fort once the Nayaka Capital, return transportation was arranged for the participants by vehicles and as the saying goes all's well that ends well the participants along with the support team reached Chennai taking back great memories.

Riders at Kalyana Mahal, Gingee Fort

 

Deccan Chronicle dt 22-01-2018