Do you need gears for riding in Mysuru?

Our two most popular adult bicycles are the classic steel roadster, single speed, at ₹9,450, and the step-through city bicycle with seven speeds, at ₹14,900. The difference of ₹5,450 is mostly the gears, so it is worth knowing whether you need them.

Mysuru is a fairly flat city, which is part of why so many people here have ridden roadsters for generations. If your daily ride is under 5 km on flat roads, such as Gokulam to Saraswathipuram or Kuvempunagar to the market, a single speed will do the job well. It has fewer parts, needs less maintenance and is almost impossible to break. The chain and freewheel are cheap to replace.

Gears help in three situations. The first is hills. Anywhere towards Chamundi Hill, the ring road flyovers, or the slopes around Siddhartha Layout and Jayalakshmipuram will feel much easier with a low gear. The second is distance; over 8 to 10 km, gears let you keep a steady, comfortable pace without tiring your knees. The third is the rider. Older riders, people returning to cycling after many years and anyone carrying shopping or a child seat will appreciate being able to shift down.

Seven speeds is plenty for city riding; you do not need 21. Gears do need a little more care, a service every three months for daily riders. Try both on our test lane and on the small ramp at its end, and you will usually know within five minutes which one suits you.