An interview with a resilient man and his Electric bicycle

From Stephen Hawking to Stevie Wonder to the famous Indian actress Sudha Chandran, all these people have proven to be masters in their fields. Their abilities have never been thresholded by their challenges. People who persevere through the toughest of moments in life have a special kind of resilience towards adversities.

He was only 4-years-old when his parents bought him his first bicycle. As he remembers it, it was a joyful and proud moment for him. He was in no time speeding through his city streets, maneuvering between potholes and gliding over pavements. He felt excited and content while doing the thing that made him happy. 

But it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows in Bharath Kallare’s life. On the 19th of April 2002, Bharath was out trying out a friend’s bike. He was only a 12-year-old when he met with an accident, colliding with a bus. Bharath, unfortunately, lost his right arm that day. And yet he has never stopped cycling since his recovery. We had a chat with this inspirational personality, to get to know a little more about him.

Beaten but not broken you turned your life around. At a young age of 12, how did you cope with all these changes? 

It was hard. I spent about a month at the hospital where my mother taught me how to write with my left hand. I had to transition from being right-handed to learning to use my left hand. I was a very stubborn kid after the accident due to the changes in my lifestyle.

My friends and family were very supportive and helped me accept this fact. They patiently made me understand that everyone has challenges in their lives which they needed to overcome. That’s when I decided that I would do something with my life. So gradually, step by step, I rebuilt my life again. I took part in all the extracurricular activities at school. I excelled academically too and in the process, I even learned how to ride my bike again. 

Most people think cycling is dangerous. Even though you own a car, you still prefer cycling, Why? 

Well, I do own a Nissan Duster which I drive around at times. I have even taught people to ride motorbikes and cars. But cycling brings me happiness and keeps me active. Cycling makes sure I keep fit and also mentally strong. I think everyone should cycle, it’s like free therapy.

What are the challenges you have faced in daily life and what kept you going ?

In the beginning, every little thing was a challenge. I had to even give my exams privately because I couldn’t complete the papers in time with my left hand. Growing older, even though I could drive a car with no issue, I was denied a license. I had to really fight for it and have been harassed about it for over 3 months. But I didn’t give up, I was the first of my kind to get a license in my city. Today, I feel like nothing is impossible for me.

You’ve been on a few adventures. Tell us something about that.

I have been on trekking expeditions across the Kudremukh range. I learned how to swim. I also want to learn horse riding someday. I went on a cycling ride from Mangalore to Puttur, which is my hometown. It was a 50km ride and it took me 2 hours and 50 minutes to complete. That ride was definitely challenging!

You’ve never been afraid of change. So, how has the transition from a regular cycle to an electric bicycle been?

As an avid cyclist, I know how important having the right components are. That is something I’ve learned never to compromise on. Traveling long distances on a manual bike can be tiring. An electric bicycle is more accommodating and requires lesser or no manpower during those days when you just don’t want to sweat it out.

I bought the Coppernicus T3 electric bicycle as it really caught my eye. The bike is beautifully designed. The electronics have been integrated in such a way that it still feels like a regular bicycle but moves like a motorcycle when I need it to. So this change was a major upgrade for me.

You’ve customized the bike to suit you best. Were you able to adapt easily? 

Yes, the positioning of all the levers and switches have been rearranged to be operable by one hand. This includes the braking system, the gear system, the pedal assist switches, and the throttle, although I don’t use the throttle much. The team at Coppernicus was very responsive and supportive of my needs and open to customization.

How has the experience been so far?

Firstly, I have to admit, the Coppernicus T3+ is as much fun as it is beautiful. But what stood out to me were the specs and the finish. The riding experience is great and I don’t really have anything to complain about. I can use it as a bicycle for my fitness routines or whenever I want to explore the muddy trails in the city outskirts.

E-cycles have been garnering a lot of interest lately, how have people reacted to it and what’s your opinion?

Have I told you they are super fun to ride? E-cycles are the future. They are sustainable, cost almost nothing to use and are very low maintenance.

My E-bike, is truly a head turner, people ask about the cycle almost everywhere I go, sometimes with questions like— “Did you fit it with bike tires? ”. People are really amazed at how camouflaged the electric features are on the bike and are usually awestruck when they see the bike glide uphill almost magically without pedaling.

Any final thoughts? What message would you like to give to our readers?

I am someone who thrives on spending time in the outdoors and with nature. I am passionate about protecting our environment and want to contribute to it.  It is true that you see the world differently on a bicycle. You begin to notice and feel your surroundings. You start meeting new people along the way. There are cycling clubs in almost every city with amazing youthful members. And with E-Bikes, you are motivated to riding even more and challenging your limits. I think everyone should get back to riding bikes and with electric bicycles available these days, there are just no excuses.

Also published on Medium.