India, Sept. 14 -- There is a particular pleasure in seeing a destination from the saddle of a bicycle. Unlike travelling by car or train, cycling slows the journey down just enough to make room for the details: the scent of a vineyard, the sound of a village waking up, a roadside cafe, a field stretching towards the horizon or a historic town appearing around a bend. The bicycle becomes more than a way to get from one place to another; it becomes a medium for experiencing a destination at close range.

It also offers a sense of freedom that conventional sightseeing can rarely match. A ride can move from a city centre to quiet countryside in a matter of hours, with the option to stop at a market, swim at a beach, visit a temple or linger ...