I learnt cycling with the jawans while growing up, says Rajeev Khandelwal

On World Cycling Day, Rajeev Khandelwal shares his connection with cycling that began in his childhood days while growing up in army cantonments. The actor also talks about how he loves to explore new destinations on two wheels.

‘I learnt cycling with the jawans while growing up in army cantonments’
Recalling his earliest cycling memories, Rajeev says, “I’m an army kid and I spent my early days growing up in army cantonments. All the jawans who worked with my father had cycles and they would drop me to school on their cycles with me sitting ahead. Sometimes I cycled too, and that’s how I learnt —with the jawans. Those are my earliest memories of riding, and it was so much fun. We’d also cycle to get milk for my mom. Those were such simple, beautiful moments.”

‘There should be more cycle-friendly roads in Mumbai’
Even today, cycling remains a part of his routine, “In Mumbai, I cycle to the gym and that’s the most I can manage. There are very few cycle-friendly roads in the city, and often people recognise me, so it gets tough. But I still prefer using the cycle whenever I can. There should definitely be more cycle-friendly roads and zones. I think a lot more people would take it up seriously. In a city like Mumbai, it can really help with beating the traffic and getting around short distances easily.”

He adds, “A while back, some friends and I went to Sanjay Gandhi National Park with our cycles, but even there, it wasn’t very enjoyable. People don’t really give space to cyclists. I understand that everyone’s in a rush, but it makes it difficult for cycling to be stress-free.”

‘Cycling is the best way to explore a new place’
When he travels abroad, cycling is his go-to way of exploring the destination. “Whenever we go abroad, Manjiri (wife) and I like to explore the place on cycles. Even in Switzerland, we spent an entire day on bicycles. We carried the cycles onto trains, got off at new towns and explored them on two wheels. That experience has stayed with me. Cycling is the best way to explore a new place. For me, cycling is not just about fitness. When I’m cycling, there is a certain peace that I feel as the breeze hits my face. A calm sets in and you feel totally in control of the moment."