Cycles arrive, sans accessories!

NEW DELHI: Indian cyclists, after all, will be competing at the Commonwealth Games with world-class cycles which finally arrived at the Indira Gandhi International Airport on Sunday, almost three years behind schedule.
However, it is very likely that they will have to do with old accessories (which include helmet, tubulars, shoes, one-piece suit and static rollers).
"The money released by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) was only for the cycles and not the accessories. The original number of cycles approved to be bought were 88. It was then reduced to 54 as we decided to go for best quality cycles and asked the funds to be released from SAI. But with Rs 1.13 crore that we got, we could only buy 46. We have written to SAI for the accessories but have not heard anything from them. We have got a verbal assurance that that they will procure it from a local distributor. The cycling team will arrive in Delhi on 23rd and will need the accessories then," revealed VN Singh, assistant secretary, Cycling Federation of India CFI on Wednesday.
How the SAI does it at such a short notice remains to be seen. If they follow the due process (floating a tender and all), it will be very late. The cycling events are scheduled to be held between October 5-13. It was in July 2009 that a sports ministry steering committee approved a budget of Rs 1.61 crore for the purchase of cycles and accessories.
On being asked about the importance of accessories in a cyclists performance, Singh said, "These days, cycles have become customised. Like, only a particular type of shoe will go with a custom-made cycle. So they are very critical to overall performance."