Prestone undergoes skull operation

Veteran bike racer feels lucky to be alive

Lalit Pundir surmises he escaped with his life after freewheeling downhill at 100 kmph and crashing into a gravel patch near Ulsoor Lake

90-year-old Lalit Pundir has always enjoyed pedaling down mountains at a speed of 100kmph, but no ride has ever been as fast as his brush with death a few days ago.

While cycling down his regular route near Ulsoor Lake in south Bengaluru, where he trains every morning, Pundir lost control of his bicycle and crashed into a large gravel patch.

He was practicing freewheeling when the accident took place. Freewheeling is a cycling technique where cyclists move downhill without pedaling, often achieving high speeds.

As he lost consciousness, Pundir knew he had injured his skull, and likely, would not survive the accident.

But he was lucky.

His bicycle flew in one direction while he fell in another, preventing the bike from landing on him.

Soon after, an elderly couple noticed Pundir lying in a pool of blood and informed his wife Maya Pundir, who called the emergency services.

Pundir was rushed to Manipal Hospital in Old Airport Road where he underwent several tests and a skull operation.

Pundir fractured two small bones at the back of his skull and underwent surgery to mend them.

The surgery was successful and Pundir is now recovering from the operation.

Pundir, one of the oldest active cyclists in the city, has been riding for 15 years and is a familiar face in the Bengaluru cycling circuit.

In fact, he was training for an 18km hilly cycling event when the accident took place.

Doctors attested that he is a strong man and his age did not affect the surgery and recovery time.

His wife Maya Pundir said, “The doctors said it was a miracle that Lalit survived the accident. Even though he is 90, he maintains the physical fitness of a 60-year-old and that has helped him bounce back after the surgery.”

Pundir cannot move his head at the moment and will be under observation for a week, said his wife.

Not one to shy away from the outdoors, Pundir said he is eager to get back to cycling once the doctors allow him to.

His wife, however, is more cautious.

“I’ll let him cycle only in Cubbon Park,” she said with a laugh.