In town since September for the pre-opening of the hotel, Glen Dsouza has had plenty of time to explore Kolkata and its cycling routes. On World Bicycle Day, the general manager of the month-old Hyatt Centric Hotel in Ballygunge, shares more about his passion for cycling.
My Kolkata: How does someone who is new to Kolkata find a cycling community?
Glen Dsouza: So what happens with cycling communities is every city you go to has a community, often more than one. Kolkata has so many and we just created our own community — it's called the Baruipur Barracudas. We do some crazy stuff every morning. The gang is not from the hotel industry, and it’s good because, you know, when you meet people from different parts of life, you have different experiences that they share with you. We go riding every morning and try exploring Kolkata on wheels. It’s my morning dose of getting my head cleared and getting ready for the day.
What are some of the cycling routes you would recommend in Kolkata?
There are three routes which are very good.
One is Red Road, the whole stretch going up to Prinsep Ghat, and coming all the way back up to Park Street and you can do multiple folds of that if you have less time in hand.
If you have time as I do, because I wake up at 4.35am, go to Baruipur. The roads on that side are nicer and traffic is less. It's a beautiful stretch and once you get down off the Kamalgazi Flyover after Garia, the route is brilliant for the next nine kilometres.
There is another part of the city where people ride, which is New Town. So folks go from Science City heading towards BBG. Personally for me, this route doesn’t work out because of the traffic that I see on the road.
Glen rides a Trek Madone, classic version Courtesy Glen Dsouza
When you pick up a passion or a sport, there are certain things that imbibe from it that help you professionally. How has cycling helped you?
Cycling makes you realise the body can do so much more that you actually think it can. We kind of keep a measure on how much we were capable of riding yesterday to where we’re sitting today, because we track everything, right? Someone wise told me once, that in my career, what gets measured gets done. Unless you get it measured, you’d never get it done. And that’s the takeaway from my rides. I keep on pushing myself every second morning thinking, ‘How can I improve on what I was yesterday?’ You take that part, put it into your professional world and it gives you a perspective on life.
‘This morning, I walked into my office to see a ‘cycle cake’ along with a note. The folks remembered today is World Bicycle Day and they know that I love cycling. These little touches transpire into the customer's journey as well. Everybody runs a hotel, but it’s these little things that make a difference,’ says Glen
As someone who enjoys a good meal, what are some of the locations you’ve discovered along your routes or otherwise?
Having been in hospitality for 18 years, I’ve seen the best of food in hotels and restaurants but it’s always the charm of small locations that lure me. Like I was talking to my team and I heard so much about kosha mangsho. People sent me to Oh! Calcutta, Bhojohori Manna and places like that. They’re great. But then I went to this micro local place called Rupa Hotel in Shyambazar. You walk in and there are like four tables and you have to wait for a good 30 minutes. But oh, what a great plate of kosha mangsho!
I love Kasturi too, especially their bhetki paturi and kochu pata chingri. Then there is the dosa guy near the Stock Exchange where we go after our rides in the morning.
How do you support the community around you?
If you ever visit Baruipur, you’ll find a T-junction where the road ends. Taking a U-turn at this junction, you’ll immediately see a small shack we fondly call Mashi’s. We've essentially adopted this place as our cycling community’s hangout spot. In the early days, the shack sold only tea and eggs. Over time, we decided to improve the space. We contributed to get a big fan to help us cool off, and as our needs grew, we bought a hand blender, enabling Mashi to make cold coffee. Baruipur is famous for its lychees, so recently, we brought ice cream and a mini cooler. Mashi supplied the lychees, and now other customers also ask for ice cream and lychees! We even dream of seeing a vending machine there one day. This is our small way of supporting and uplifting the community around us.
Top three tips for cyclists?
Choose the right bike: Selecting the right bike for your needs is crucial. Make sure it suits your riding style and the terrain you’ll be tackling.
Ensure a proper bike fit: Not having the right bike fit could harm you in the long run. Many new riders underestimate this, but it's the most important aspect of cycling.
Always wear a helmet: A helmet is mandatory. In our group, if you’re not wearing the proper gear, including a helmet, you can’t ride with us. Safety always comes first.
Picking the right gear and always wearing a helmet ensure safety when biking My Kolkata
Where can one buy good cycling gear in Kolkata?
We ride high-end carbon bikes so it’s different from the regular. Our gear and the cycles can get really expensive, almost as much as a car.
Kolkata has three places that cater to riders like us. Wise Cyclist — they will sell you only what you need without trying to rip you off — Stay Tuned near Kalighat, and Mastermind in Salt Lake, which is a national chain.
Finally, what is it about cycling that draws you back every morning?
When you ride, it’s just you and your bike. All the noise around you, all your worries become blank noise. It’s your calm in the chaos.