Colombo Mountain Bikers on the rampage to clinch top awards
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Winners of the Corporate, Group, Club and Professional Challenge, Colombo Mountain Bikers
The Colombo Cycling Fun Ride 2016’, organised for the fifth successive year by the Pedal Pushers Cyclists, saw an overwhelming participation of over 300 cycling enthusiasts as Colombo Mountain Bikers went on a rampage to clinch top awards. The group of six members of the Colombo Mountain Bikers won the Corporate, Group, Clubs and Professionals Challenge categories. The event which concluded with a 25Km ride for adults, 5km ride for kids and a Corporate, Group, Clubs and Professionals Challenge saw stiff friendly competition between participants to beat each other’s cycling speeds. Pedal Pushers cycling group that was formed back in 2010 by two enthusiasts, Lalanthi Rajapakse and Dharshini Ariyaratne, takes pride in organising this event to further promote fun, fitness, and friendship.
With a history spanning over half a decade, the Pedal Pushers have been pedaling their way to promote a change in the mind set of cycling, perceiving it not only as a sport but a healthy lifestyle. What began as a male dominated hobby and sporting activity in Sri Lanka has evolved into a dynamic and well participated family outdoor activity today. Cycling above all else is a perfect solution to enhance the health and fitness, especially in an aging population. The positive thinking, physical exercise, maintenance of fitness levels have been the driving force for all cycling enthusiasts. Cycling today takes place in two different formats; professional cycling and recreational cycling with rehabilitation cycling to be introduced under the auspices of the Cycling Federation in the near future.
With this objective in mind, led by the Cycling Federation of Sri Lanka and fore fronted by recreational cycling groups such as the Pedal Pushers Cyclists, Wroom, BoraluBoyz, Action Lanka, Colombo Mountain Bikers, as well as the Sri Lanka Traffic Police, a fervent plea was recently extended to the driving community to respect the cyclists and ‘Share the road with cyclists, so that safety can be assured to the cyclists. Safety is fundamental in this form of transport and empathy by drivers is crucial. The Colombo Cycling Fun Ride 2016’ stood statement to this plea with many drivers, public and the traffic police extending their support. Emerging as an exciting and adventurous mode of health and fitness, cycling is accepted around the world as a very popular activity. It is the local community’s belief to promote cycling among the nation which will contribute to the sustainable development of our country by creating a healthy and fit nation of Sri Lankans.