Nikhil and Rohan founded BOTS in 2006. Nikhil works at Mercedes and Rohan works at ThoughtWorks. Rohan is currently at BOTS full time to see how much more can be done in this space :) . They have enjoyed setting up BOTS and have a lot of fun in promoting this among the like-minded Bangaloreans. Their effervescence and enthusiasm is True optimists, they foresee a bright future for bi-cycling in Bangalore and are planning to work with the government on promoting that.
1. Tell us about the operating model for Bums on the Saddle and the team behind that?
Our aim with BOTS is to be everything bicycling in India. We aim to be remain the best bike store in the country and this would be one of our main revenue generators for all the other awesome things that we are planning. We also plan to actively continue with our community building activities - building this space in every aspect to share the simple pleasures of bicycling. We are currently working on the bike store, community building, racing and bike commute. We are also actively working on coming out with a couple of innovative products that are really useful for bikers in the country.
Our final goal - Anything to do with cycling, BOTS is the answer :)
2. When did you decide to take this step to set-up BOTS?
It was a very organic growth - we startout out biking out and sharing this love for biking with others. Thats how the core group was formed. Over time we realized that folks actually needed help in this space as we have businesses who were spoiling this space. Thats how the BOTS store started out. The other activities were already in place when we started the store.
So its a bunch of friends, who love bicycling who got together to share their love for bicycling and to have other great adventures in this space :)
3. How do you socialize the concept with your target group?
Our target audience is quite broad. Anyone who wants to enjoy cycling. We use all the social mediums that are available pretty effectively. Apart from that word of mouth is our best bet :) We also depend quite a bit on innovative efforts to reach out, OliveEarth being a very good example.
4. Tell us about some of the things that you are doing to grow a motivated community of cyclers?
- We conduct the monthly Bangalore Bicycle Championships - http://www.bangalorebicyclechampionships.com
- We regularly screen biking movies and conduct workshops on cycling
- We have multiple communities across India - http://notebook.bumsonthesaddle.com/community
- Corporate Bike workshops - we have had umpteen workshops in different companies ot get folks to commute. Massive plans in this space :)
- and a ton more !
5. How has been the experience so far? Tell us about the wow moments as well as the challenging moments in the journey that has been BOTS?
Its all been pretty awesome so far - its a high to sell something as good as cycling to someone ! BOTS does NOT sell just a bike, we sell cycling.
The monthly BBCh races are a regular wow moment, watching folks train, become better and actually race month on month. We now have a ton of local teams, some of which have also taken part in international events. Would not have happend if not for the BBCh :) Very proud of this.
Although folks do appreciate BOTS, I think its going to be a couple of years before folks really realize how much work happens here and how much we have done in this space :) We are kinda media shy and dont shout out our achievements, guess we need to learn how to do that. Well, there are always issues. Its more of a mental road block than anything else.
6. Do you try to differentiate yourself?
We dont work to differentiate ourselves - we just continue doing stuff that we enjoy :) Differentiating is hard, enjoying is easy. And more fun.
7. We see a lot more fan following for motor bike expeditions and trips. What are some of the challenges hindering the growth in more people taking up cycling trips for leisure and adventure?
Just a matter of time :) Motorbiking is a lot more easier and cycling as a form of adventure is still relatively new. When we started biking out a couple of years back it used to be just the BOTS team. Now we have daily rides ! And really awesome weekend rides. And a lot of well conducted biking trips. Just a matter of time !
8. What is your opinion about cycling as an alternative mode of transportation in India?
Very very possible. We started this Biker of the Week series to kinda get folks who are doing it to speak their mind - http://blog.bumsonthesaddle.com/2010/11/3/botw-akshay-gaonkar
And the verdict is always the same - its awesome. give it a shot !
9. How do you foresee sustainable transportation and tourism options evolving in India?
Folks are getting greener. They are traveling a lot more and are influenced by the good things in life. My guess is that this is just gonna get better !
10. What kind of infrastructure/policy environment will provide fillip to increased adoption of cycling in India?
This requires some careful planning. The BOTS team is planning to work with the government on this. Its not as simple as what some people think it is. We would love to see bike friendly work places, establishments and sops offered to promote cycling.
Bangalore is a fantastic place to cycle and we are slowly killing it by chopping trees and widening roads for motorized forms of transport. Cycling lanes IMO dont really add safety, but we think having some cycling lanes will make newbies feel safer on the roads and increase adoption.
11. Tell us about the road ahead and how you want to scale up your operations?
Awesome initiatives need awesome people. And thats what we are going to scale up on at the moment. BOTS is full time at the moment, and is on the lookout for some really awesome folks who are good at what they want to do and want to do something in the cycling space :)
Keep checking this space for more updates from them. If you want to get involved, you can connect with them.
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Sunday, 14 November 2010
