Bad roads, bad climate, lack of cycle tracks and lack of physical stamina all combine to make up the several excuses for not riding a cycle in India. But if someone is determined to ride a cycle, one can do so. You have just got to find a space and time for that. And unlike motorised vehicles, cycles do not pollute the air and definitely go a long way in improving your health, especially your muscles and your heart.
NO ORDINARY BICYCLE
The Firefox Surfelo is no ordinary cycle. It is meant for those who are good cyclists and those who understand the use of gears in a cycle. This cycle is meant for serious riding and for those who are extremely disciplined when it comes to their health and exercise. To put it simply, the difference between an ordinary commuter cycle and the Firefox Surfelo is like comparing the Maruti Suzuki Alto to the Maruti Ciaz. As you move up the value chain in terms of offerings, you need to get more and more responsible as to how to handle the product. The Firefox Surfelo needs to be handled professionally.
Just to get into some of the basics of riding, Firefox Surfelo comes with two chain rings. The chain ring is the big ring in front and while ordinary bikes have a single chain ring, this one has two--One a big chain ring, the other a small one. When you are riding on the big ring, it is obvious that it is harder to pedal and you are going fast. It’s ideal for a downhill or a flat section of the road. But when you engage the small chain ring, it is easier to pedal, but you are going slower. It’s engaged when you are climbing a hill. But the smartness lies in engaging the right chain ring with the right ring in the cassette. The cassette comprises the gear rings at the rear which make up the ten different gears for the cycle. Here the rings work in exactly the opposite manner as those in front. The smaller gear is engaged when you have to go faster but it makes your pedaling harder. The bigger gear is engaged when you have to go slower, but it is easy to pedal.
Thus, to give you an example, if you are climbing a hill, you need to engage the smaller chain ring and at the rear match it with the biggest gear ring. The Firefox Surfelo comes with 10 gears at the rear and two chain rings in the front. The chain rings and the gear rings or the cassette can be changed with the help of shifters attached to either sides of the handle bar. It’s akin to paddle shifters you find attached to the steering wheel of an automatic car where you can change gears manually.
The shifters are able to change the gears with the help of a derailleur which is basically a bicycle gear which works by lifting the chain from one sprocket wheel to another of a different size.
The Firefox Surfelo is made of some very efficient parts, be it the light, yet very strong alloy frames, the Tiagra Drivetrain System, the shifters which ensure quick and responsive shifting for fast city commute,high performance Tektro Disc Braking System and a lightweight comfort saddle for long rides
The Firefox Surfelo has an alloy hardtail hybrid frame with internal cabling for front and rear derailleur. As for the suspension, in front it has an alloy rigid fork. Since this cycle does not have suspension of any nature, except for the rigid frame, you have to make sure that you ride on smooth tarmac or a track, or you can damage the cycle and your spine. Unfortunately in India, though we have cycle tracks in some remote corners, our city and roads are very unfriendly for cycles like the Surfelo. Yes, but if you do take time out on a Sunday morning and hook on your bike to your car and drive to places like the Rashtrapathi Bhawan roads in New Delhi, you can definitely enjoy the fun of riding such a versatile cycle like the Firefox Surfelo. Let me reiterate, this cycle does not come with bells or a stand or mud guards etc. These come as accessories and can be added on as per your wish. The soft seat along with the strong and straight handlebars, makes it a perfect bike for long commute.
The Firefox Surfelo comes with top notch Shimano Tiagra parts. The wheels may look slim and fragile, but I can vouch for the fact they are strong as a bull. If it can carry an overweight person like me weighing more than 85 kilos with considerable ease, I am sure they are rock solid. The alloy 28 holes double wall rims are shrouded with K1018 700 X 25C Kenda Tyres. Kenda, incidentally is a Tiawanese company with factories and establishments in Taiwan, China, US, Germany and Indonesia. They make automobile tyres, besides cycle tyres. In 2017 Kenda acquired Starco, a Danish company with automobile tyre manufacturing centres in Croatia, UK and China.
So, there you go guys, you want to raise your bar when it comes to cycling, then the Firefox Surfelo is a great bike to begin with. Assuming you are riding on a good, smooth road, the Firefox Surfelo offers road surfing all along!