Mumbai gets its first bicycle studio

Buy a bike that suits your needs and customise it at this Bandra store.

Environment, fitness and bicycle buffs can rejoice. Their favourite mode of transport no longer needs to look boring and black. Mumbai now has its first bicycle studio.

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Known as Pro 9 Bicycle Studio — Da Bike Zone, it is located at Carter Road, Bandra, and is a one-stop shop for bicycles, accessories and even offers patrons customised bikes. Cycling enthusiasts can also seek advise on accessories.

“In India, it is difficult to get bicycle parts except online and then those components may not suit the bicycle. Also, the whole process of actually touching the parts and checking things out for ourselves is missing. So we decided to start this venture,” says Faisal Thakur, proprietor, Pro 9.

At the store, customers can buy anything ranging from bicycle frames, tyres, brakes, gears, lights for night rides, bags and accessories to even GPS. Thakur says, “In fact, navigators are among our most popular products, as people tend to use them on long rides.”

Cycling buffs can approach the team at Pro9 with a simple bike and get it customised according to their specification. Thakur says, “For example, they can go for a black body with pink frames or any colour they want.” The price of customising a bike ranges anywhere from Rs 5,000 to Rs 50,000.

The store stocks only two types of bikes — the US Rock Machine and Spain’s Audi, and offers lifetime warranty.

However, customers can also buy a bike from another store and get it customised at Pro9. They can also rent a bike for a week and test-drive it. “We have a deal with Kohinoor cycle rentals. They rent out bikes to our customers. This way they can get a feel of the bike before investing.” The bikes range from Rs 15,000 to Rs 7 lakh. Thakur says, “The Rs 7 lakh bikes are the types used by cycling champion Lance Armstrong. But before opting for the bike, I check that they have plans to continue cycling for the rest of their life. It is too heavy an investment for a whim.”