Pedalling to Work — My Story

Pedalling to Work — My Story

Aakash Sasidharan 🗓️ 08/06/2026

What started as a once-a-week challenge from the Hyderabad Cyclists Group in February 2023 turned into my primary way of commuting. 

The clincher: cycling to my office took roughly the same time as riding a two-wheeler to the metro and then onward. Once I realised that, the decision made itself.

The Challenges

Summer was the first hurdle — arriving sweaty wasn't an option. The fix was simple: shower from the shower room associated with the office gym and dress change, then fuel up with the company breakfast. What began as damage control quietly became the best part of my morning routine.

Parking was another friction point. No dedicated spots meant coming back to find my cycle boxed in by other vehicles. I raised a request, and to the company's credit, dedicated bicycle parking was created — even when I was the only one cycling in.

The shift to full-time office in 2025 added two new problems: carrying everything on my back daily got physically painful (solved by travelling lighter with some internal help), and the 4 PM return ride in peak summer heat was simply unrideable. My workaround — cycling only one way and returning by Metro, or timing the ride for cooler evening hours — kept the streak alive through the season.