2. LoveSarnga Dharan Nambiar
Lbetween overindulgence and extreme self-
restraint, inhumanely revolutionary political
view and crass apolitical irresponsibility,
insanely anachronistic religious dogmas and
hopeless agnosticism… But when life becomes
a balancing act on a brakeless bicycle, its
philosophical frame of reference, as well as
at all, it’s just love and happiness. He mounts his
brakeless cycle time and again doing wheelies and
skids and other breathtaking manoeuvres just to
sparkle of wonder in the eyes, and a few moments
devoid of any worries or machinations is all he
expects in return from the crowds. It’s goodwill he
radiates, and it’s goodwill he demands.
For Adnan, life has been all about bicycles — from
the very beginning. As he grew, his cycles started
shedding all paraphernalia one by one, till it turned
into a banal iron frame holding together a pair of
wheels, with neither bell nor brake.
In fact Adnan, the one and only stunt cyclist in
Oman, needs no introduction. He may not be the
MacAskill of Oman, but he is certainly one of the
most recognizable faces in Muscat. Everyone here
seems to know the man and his machine. He has
been hunted by innumerable journalists looking for
a story, and the media listened to his story over and
over again; and does he feel a bit embarrassed
Adnan Al Raisi
Brand Ambassador of
January 7, 2016
Awareness
19
3. about the whole stuff, no one knows for sure.
But overfamiliarity never bred any contempt, and
any news about him is considered fresh, primarily
because of the fact that wherever he goes, he
is welcomed by the young and old alike, including
a sense of curiosity. There is a lot of intimacy and
camaraderie as well between the man and the
crowd.
However, there remains a secret, which he never
cared to reveal: His goal in life is not to become
the most daredevil stunt cyclist in Oman. Rather he
wants to use the medium of stunt cycling to spread
the maximum happiness and harmony among
people of various faiths and nationalities irrespective
He has over the years informally taken on the
mantle of brand ambassador for peace and love.
“I don’t care about anything that separates and
segregates people. When I perform, I see human
beings, not Omanis, Indians or Europeans; not even
men and women, not the poor and wealthy: just
humans,” Adnan mutters.
Come to think of it, he is a destiny’s child. Like
most of the children, he too was gifted with a small
bicycle. He might have been barely four, then. He
experiments on the tiny cycle scared his parents and
family elders, and even friends, who all warned him
and tried their best to discourage him from further
experiments. But destiny had other plans.
He worked on polishing his cycle skills, every day
after school. Wheelies and skids came naturally to
him. On holidays, while other kids clamoured for
chocolates and crayons, little Adnan quietly slipped
into a nearby natural park or an empty car park,
where he practised to perfection unusual stunts on
his cycle.
Gradually, his neighbours and friends and then
other onlookers at parks and public spaces started
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Awareness
4. accepting him for what he is.
They let go of their apprehensions
and even started encouraging him.
This self-learning-cum-public shows
went on for a number of years, albeit on
a low scale, till he met with a four-member
team of top-notch cycle racers from France
who were touring Muscat during the Muscat
Festival in 2001.
Adnan was at the Muscat Festival venue,
at the invitation of festival organisers who
knew of his ability to enthrall the crowds
through bicycle tricks. The French
team instantly recognized Adnan’s
potential, and in no time Adnan
became their disciple. Days of
rigorous training began; he
quickly learnt many special
techniques and tips from them
during their stay in Muscat. This
emboldened Adnan further.
invented a lot of new item numbers
to wow his spectators.
By then he had become the unquestioned
and unchallenged stunt cyclist in the
Sultanate. Invitations to perform came from
far and wide, from places such as Salalah,
Sohar and Barka. Everywhere he went with
a cycle load of goodwill. And people simply
loved him back.
Even corporates could not afford to ignore
his popularity. Nawras (now Ooredoo), the
His goal in life is not to be-
come the most daredevil stunt
cyclist in Oman. Rather he
wants to use the medium of
stunt cycling to spread the
maximum happiness and har-
mony among people of vari-
ous faiths and nationalities
irrespective of their gender or
qualifications
21January 7, 2016
Awareness
5. telecom giant, has been Adnan’s sponsor
from early on, for all his stunt shows.
He got frequent invitations to product
launches, corporate and private parties,
mall openings, cultural and sports events,
and special functions. He became a
various academic institutions, especially
schools, where children went overboard
with joy upon seeing their “cycle uncle”. The
Ministry of Sports Affairs too has extended
many venues for him to perform.
How he manages to build this rapport with
people so effortlessly? He maintains eye
contact with each of the spectators, and
waves and winks and smiles at them, like
a long lost friend. It’s a silent message of
of the simple joys of living.
Curiously enough, Adnan hasn’t even
once encountered a rival Omani stunt
cyclist since he began his shows. “I’m
ready for a showdown, but where is the
opponent?” he asks. He believes stunt
cycling is a sport in itself, and is ever willing
to train children if they are interested. “They
certainly enjoy my shows, but I’m not sure
how many of them will have the guts and
patience to learn the tricks of the game,”
he wonders.
He has his fair share of eccentricities,
though. A dislike for cars is one. He hasn’t
tried even once for a driving license.
“Why should I,” he asks. “Bicycle is the best
medium of travel.” One can’t argue, given
the environmental friendliness of the
innocuous travel machine. He always wears
an all-white t-shirt-Bermuda combination,
complete with a headgear, and takes care
to eat the right amount of light-on-stomach
food before the show.
Even as he talks – it’s barely audible, he
is mostly lost in his own thoughts, and a
pall of melancholy pervades his eyes. But
the moment he starts his cycle stunts, the
man undergoes a huge transformation:
the vulnerability and gloom get shattered,
persona, so vibrant and cheerful.
He has a penchant for fast beats. Fast-
22 January 7, 2016
Awareness
6. paced Western, Indian or Omani songs are played
during his shows, to “stimulate” him and also the
spectators.
Every year he replaces his cycle with a new one
to ensure error-free and superb performance. He
sources the cycle from a particular shop in Ruwi.
And he himself decorates the cycle with garish
designs all conceptualized by him. There is no
second man to assist him at any point; it’s entirely a
one-man show.
He has toured the different wilayats of Muscat
governorate during the 45th (and the previous)
National Day celebrations, spreading joy and
friendship among people and offering his loving
tribute to the great architect of modern Oman, His
Majesty Sultan Qaboos.
“I have travelled the length and breadth of Oman,
and did shows in every part of Muscat several times.
People of Oman as well as tourists from abroad
including Europe and America have appreciated my
performance. Bringing a smile on their faces is my
ultimate reward. If I get an invitation, I’d love to go
abroad, just to entertain the people living there,” he
opens his mind.
It’s getting darker outside. He needs a good sleep
to refresh himself before reporting to work at a tiles
trading company in MSQ next day. Bidding goodbye,
he waves his hands, accompanied by his trademark
wink and smile. The message is obvious.
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Awareness
