Bicycle diaries: BDO boss Keith Farlinger & team went on a 20-km ride across Mumbai

Keith Farlinger, the global head of BDO International, pushed the pedal, as he and his team went on a 20-km late night cycle ride across Mumbai.

Meetings, townhalls and dinners with colleagues are regulars on the agenda when a global CEO comes visiting. But a 20-kilometre cycle ride through the streets of the city, that too in the dead of the night, is unique. And yet, it was the highlight of accounting firm BDO International boss Keith Farlinger’s maiden visit to Mumbai.

Apart from his work commitments, Farlinger, who was on a three-day visit to the city earlier in the year, had scheduled a two-hour cycling expedition. He was joined by Stephen Darley, CEO, Asia Pacific, BDO, Milind Kothari, managing partner, BDO India, and 50-odd employees of the firm.

According to one of the participants, the response was so high, that the list of the participants was drawn up after picking lots. For those present, cycling with the CEO may have been a fun team building activity. But for Farlinger, the activity is a way of life. Firmly in the saddle Dressed in his cycling gear, Farlinger told ETPanache that he had earlier logged 8,000 to 9,000 kilometres in a year.

According to Farlinger, the two-wheel ride one is of the best ways to explore places. His favourite to date? “Majorca in Spain,” he said. “It is a cyclist’s heaven, with its rolling landscape. It’s one of those places where cyclists dominate the road. Not cars.”

For Farlinger, the sport is more than just a means to relax and rejuvenate or bond with friends. Riding for charity has been one of the more satisfying experiences so far, he says.

Along for the ride The Mumbai ride start-ed at 11.30 pm, after the group had picked up the bicycles from a rental shop in Colaba. Reflective jackets and food packets were handed out before setting off to the first stop near the Gateway of India. The next break was another popular selfie point in South Mumbai — the footsteps of the Asiatic Library — where the motley group squeezed together for a photo op.

Along with the imposing structure, the letters ‘WILL YOU MARRY ME’ added to the backdrop, followed by a loud cheer going up from the friends of a young couple. From there, the group moved on to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and Flora Fountain, cycling down Marine Drive and Haji Ali, and finally ending the ride at the Worli-end of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link.

As the last of the riders reached the finish line, they found out that as may be expected of a seasoned cyclist, Farlinger was the first to complete the ride. After which, the CEO headed back to his South Mumbai hotel, only this time he covered the distance in his car.