When aunties cycle on the streets of Karachi, little girls make fun of them

The women’s only cycling event will take place today from 7:30 am.

KARACHI: “Aunty, ap ko cycling bhi nahin ati” [Aunty, you don’t even know how to cycle], a shocked seven-year-old girl Roma tells me as she swerves her cotton candy-coloured Barbie bicycle dangerously near mine. Well, as dangerously as a bicycle with sky blue tassels and training wheels can be.

I wonder what is more offensive, being called an “aunty” or her loud statement that I don’t know something as simple as cycling. She’s right on both accounts - I can’t cycle at all and I’m also tethering to aunty-age. That does explain why I’m sitting on top of a more serious-looking cycle on Khayaban-e-Roomi.

I am practicing for a women’s only cycling event that is being held on Tuesday. The cyclists will set out from Butler’s Cafe, Zamzama, at 7:30am sharp and will return to the café after an hour of cycling. The event is free, however, all participants wanting their pictures taken have to pay Rs500 before the ride. Men are also encouraged to participate if they can bring along a woman or their business cards.



Iqbal Bhatti and Sameer Beg, who are members of a cycling group called Critical Mass, have arranged this training session for cycling newbies. They take turns running in the heat with me and my bike. Each time, they let go, I scream, “Don’t let go” and land almost face-first on the gravel. I brush my knees and assemble my ego, pick up my bike and try again.

Samia Zafar, who hasn’t ridden in many years, has also come with her husband to practice for an event that Critical Mass member Anila Weldon initially started for her female friends on Facebook, which has now turned into a mini revolution for women. After posting a few pictures of herself riding on the streets of Karachi, she received so many “likes” that she opened the event for all women. Within just a few days, “171” women have marked “attending” on this event.

Within 10 minutes, Samia is riding to perfection. Me, I’m still acting less like an “aunty” and more like a little girl. Ten minutes later, Mrs Faiz, Roma’s mother, gets on the bike, with her husband’s arm around her to help her balance.



An hour later, I still don’t get my balance. I look sadly at Riaz Bhai, the official guy who loads all bicycles and is putting mine back on to the Suzuki van and make a final request. “Can I take Yahya’s bicycle home today so I can pratice?” I ask hoping that the absent Yahya who has lent me this bike won’t mind.

It’s only 12 hours to the biking event that takes place at 7:30, and I know I’ll spend all hours praticising on the rooftop of my house. Revolution or no revolution - this aunty will not be mocked by a Barbie biker!

Published in The Express Tribune, February 5^th, 2013.