BANGALORE: It's time to dust off those bikes, get back on the saddle and ride your way to a brighter tomorrow as the BSA Hercules India Cyclothon returns to Bangalore for its second edition.

The event, which saw around 5,000 Bangaloreans take to the streets last year, will kick off at the Karnataka Trade Promotion Organization in Whitefield on Sunday. The organizers are confident the numbers will grow too, with as many as 4,500 people having already registered for the event. With three days left to register, organizers said that number could rise to 6,000.

"It's an event that promotes a healthy lifestyle and helps create a healthy environment and I'm proud to be associated with it," ace Indian swimmer Rehan Poncha said during a press meet on Wednesday. "Hopefully India will find it's cycling champion or its next Olympian at the event," the Olympian and Arjuna awardee added.

Corporate India will get an opportunity to interact with the common man, the young will ride with the old and veterans will welcome newcomers on a day when more fat and less fuel is burnt. The event will be held across five categories — elite national (50 km; men), junior ride (5 km), amateur ride (18 and above; 25 km), corporate ride (18 and above; 25 km) and the green ride (14 and above 13 km). Only the elite National event, which begins proceedings at 6.30 am, will be competitive.

Got no wheels? That's not a problem as a limited number of cycles will be available on rent for a nominal charge on a first come, first served basis, the organizers said. The Cyclothon is conducted under the agies of the Cycling Federation of India.