Bicycles glide past rows of colourful houses, bursts of bougainvillea, quaint cafes and elfin boutique stores, smartly navigating the handfuls of pedestrians in a sleepy town. Still fondly called ‘Pondy’ by old timers. The coastal Indian town of Puducherry has kept a charming cycling culture alive—the joy of pedals. It’s only fitting to welcome ‘Ciclo’—a cafe chain dedicated to passionate cyclists, serving gourmet but healthy food.

Located in the erstwhile French part of Puducherry, the cafe balances heritage with contemporary aesthetics, while subtly weaving the ethos of its cycling philosophy through its vintage sketches, books, and avant-garde lampshades made from bicycle tyres. “Being a cycling enthusiast myself, this was more an extension of my own passion, both for the sport as well as good food that was nourishing but not boring,” says founder Ashish Thadani. It all started years ago, when Ashish and his friend, fed up of their regular morning walks, started cycling instead to break the monotony. Morning spins turned into long weekend cyclothons, and coupled with the quest for gastronomic discoveries, the idea of a cafe that brought together the cycling community was born.

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