Bhubaneswar: Cycling by night is a fun way to unwind in summer with it being too hot for that during the day.

Every year since 2016, Bhubaneswar Cycling and Adventure Club (BCAC) has been offering this unique experience to cycling enthusiasts through an open event where cyclists are welcome with their bicycles.

The aim of the event is to cover the golden triangle of Bhubaneswar, Puri and Konark under the stars.

This year, the third edition of the event was held from held on May 12 and 13 with more than 70 cyclists from different parts of the state taking part.

"The strong headwind on the way to Puri as we tore through the silent Puri-Konark marine drive was quite the adventure. Cycles with blinking tail-lamps offered the illusion of stars on the road," said Ajay Nanda, a participant. Cyclists dressed in neon-green jerseys and reflective straps with lights on the front and tail end of their bikes offered a spectacular show to onlookers. Various kinds of bicycles including roadies, fat-bikes, MTBs and hybrids were part of the ride.

"We biked through the busy city roads of Bhubaneswar to Puri via Marine Drive, offered prayer at Bada Danda in front of the Jagannath temple, had dinner at a small restaurant before moving through the silence of the of Puri-Konark Marine Drive, taking power naps on the Chandrabhaga beach and experiencing a thundershower in the morning. The 180km route was planned meticulously to offer different formats of adventure to the cyclists," said Nanda.

Cycling enthusiast and BCAC president Sanjeeb Panda said: "We took safety measures and we successfully completed the ride without any unpleasant incidents or mishaps. I am sure all cyclists enjoyed the adventurous trip."

Sanjay Jindal, a cyclist from Paradip, said: "The power nap on Chandrabhaga beach was a unique experience and heavy showers added to the beauty of the journey."