ISSUE 10 NOVEMBER 15TH 2013

MTB HIMALAYA THROUGH THE LENS

TAMING THE RUGGED SAHYADRIS

The CRANK with ProCycle Team

Publisher and Managing Editor Vikram Limsay

Editor Rahul K Thomas

Technical Editor Nilesh Dhumal

West Zone Bureau Divya Tate South Zone Bureau Anita Bora

Contributions by Robin Conz, Adarsha Subraya, Jayanta Dasgupta, Arjun Jois, Sunil Raghavan, Ajay Dongre, Brijesh Nair, Gautham Vishwanath, Srikanth Dhage, Vinay Kumar, Sunil Sharma & Venkatesh Shivarama

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Cover Photographs: A rider carries a bike downhill at MTB Himalaya (black and white) by Robin Conz Rider hike uphill with their bikes (colour) by Veloscope

Rear cover photograph: The ProCycle car with a limited edition fixie on board by Rahul K Thomas

Printed by: Print 2 Last Solutions

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ProCycle Indranagar

IN THIS ISSUE

1. Taming the rugged Sahyadris by Divya Tate

2. From College through Karnataka

3. Mr Cab Driver

4. MTB Himachal through the lens by Robin Conz

5. ProCycle Profiled: Sunil Raghavan

6. Gear Review: Geax Street Runner

7. The Vasco All India Bike Race

8. BBCh Cyclocross and BAR Climbing TT

9. Boys’ Toys

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HEYA!

Hello to all you pedal-driven nutters!

Whew! Its been a wild, mud-ridden month or so and our issue reflects it. This issue is all about getting out and getting dirty!

Divya Tate covers the ‘Rugged Sahyadri’ event this month as competitors slogged it out across a region designated as one of the eight ‘biodiversity hotspots’ in the world. While nature took its toll, it rewarded the intrepid adventurers handsomely with memories that will last a lifetime.

We then meet a few people who are driven to ride. Adarsha and Jayanta had only just completed college when they cycled 2,200 kms across Karnataka. Meanwhile, Arjun Jois has cycled across continents and is now busy pushing pedals on a velo cab in Zurich.

Robin Conz headed out to the Himalayas last month and we get a glimpse of India’s most famed offroad bike race through his lens.

Turn the page and read.

Then get out and ride!

Editor

02 CRANK with ProCycle NOVEMBER 15TH, 2013

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1YEAR ` 720

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK

TAMING THE RUGGED SAHYADRIS by Divya Tate Images courtesy Veloscope

Rugged Sahyadri - a name apt for a mountain bike race set in the mountain range that runs north-south along the west of the Indian peninsula. The escarpment separates the Deccan Plateau from the Coastal Konkan strip giving a raw, untamed quality to the landscape. In the monsoon the black basalt rocks are in stark contrast to the red earth and lush green grass that carpet the hill slopes. In the past, the cliffs of the Sahyadris lent themselves to the building of numerous forts. These days, the slopes beckon to a very different breed of warriors - those armed with helmets and powered by pedals.

Cycling in the hills above Kolhapur with a group of friends Akash Kargaonkar decided to take advantage of this terrain and create an MTB challenge in the Sahyadris.

The Kolhapur Adventure Sports Association (KASA), is actively involved in conducting trekking and cycling events in the region. Members regularly participate in and (and win) similar events like Enduro3 in Pune, and MTB Himachal. Rugged Sahyadri is a two-person team event. The second edition of the race, held from the 31st of August to the 1st of September, had 250 participants in 9 categories, ranging from school-going kids to people over the age of 40. Participants hail from across the country and the event also attracts many from small towns around Kolhapur. It was a one-day event for all participants except for those in the Open Category who raced for close to 150 kms over 2 days. The route took them on and off road, through spectacular countryside, bringing them in close contact with both flora and fauna.

Starting from Kolhapur, participants went up (and down) a spur of Panhala fort, traversing through jungles, and across the remarkably large Masai Plateau, abloom with blue wildflowers. Riders often had to negotiate tall grass that hid obstacles in their path, and thick shrubbery that scratched and tore at clothes and skin alike! Many ascents and descents were on steep, boulder-strewn, off road routes, which forced most riders to shoulder their bikes. On the second day, after cycling on forests floors which did not see any sunlight, they reached a control point located at a rock temple - its location so remote that it gave them a feel of having cycled through a time, into another, more ancient world.

Riders throng the bridge as they head out

More hiking

The kids get ready to rumble

Competitors push on determinedly, as they hike the bikes up from the water’s edge

The Sahyadri range is a world heritage site and one of the top 8 hotspots on the planet for biological diversity. Some participants experienced this first hand, when they had close encounters with snakes.

Chaitanya Velhal said, “Just outside Pishvi village which is cradled in a dense jungle, a huge 5 ft cobra slithered over my left foot. One of my most terrifying moments, my heart pounding, I had to ask myself, why I’m doing this?”

Most of us ask ourselves this in the midst of such experiences but few of us get answers. Chaitanya was lucky to be one of the rare exceptions. On the second morning, stepping out before dawn, he was greeted by a half crescent moon and more stars than he had ever seen before! Soon after, he encountered a peacock right on his path. All participants took back unforgettable memories of the Sahyadris in their full glory, wild and dramatic.

The high DNF rate is a good indicator of how challenging the race was. While most of the school category finished their shorter route in time, the rest of the participants in the one- day categories had a 50% finish rate and only 30% of the Open category were able to complete on time.

A team from Karad - Kshitij Belapure and Omkar Dhere, won the Open category, receiving an entry to MTB Himachal. For them, the mountain biking adventure is not over, just shifted to another location.

Turn the pages to check out what happened in this year’s MTB Himachal

Grim determination even in young faces

An exhausted participant grabs some rest in the shade

The Sahyadris threw up all sorts of obstacles

HITTING THE ROAD

FROM COLLEGE THROUGH KARNATAKAWhile most kids in college (yes we know this makes us sound old) are busy trying to party in town in their time off, there are a few who march to a different tune. Adarsha Subraya and Jayanta Dasgupta were part of a crew from PES Institute of Technology who spent their weekends riding cycles around town, from Savandurga to Kanakpura. Their bicycles of choice ranged from Hero hawks to good ol’ BSA SLRs. Occasionally they would rent the odd geared bike for the longer journeys.

When coming to the end of their degrees, they decided that they had to celebrate graduation in their own way. Having spent their weekends outdoors for a while now, they’ve evolved their own thoughts on nature. They believe that since all religions worship nature in some form or the other, nature must take precedence over any other religion. And thus, they would do a bike tour which took in vast amounts of nature while encompassing a multitude of historical sites of all religions across Karnataka.

Having decided this, they quickly divided up their responsibilities. Adarsha and Jayanta would be the riders while Soham and Sindhuja would handle logistics. As this would be a completely self-supported ride of some 2,200 odd kilometers over not more than 22 days (as they had to ensure that they were back to begin work at their new firms), it would need meticulous planning.

Backed by well-wishers, they got two shiny new hybrids and set off.

Day 1 saw them cover just 50 kilometers though it was relatively comfortable. They say they really started to feel the pain only on day 2 but within a few days they had hit their stride.

They travelled with nothing more than their backpacks on racks, a basic first aid kit, mobile phones with GPS, a pump, puncture repair kit, 4 extra tubes, blow horns and re-chargeable headlights. They carried four litres of water and always ensured that two out of that was held in reserve. Many a happy meal was had with hospitable locals.

From the arid plains of Bijapur to the beautiful coasts of Mangalore they traversed the length and breadth of Karnataka. True to their agnostic mission they visited the ancient hindu temples of Mysore and Udupi, the dargahs of Gulbarga, giant statues of Buddha in Bylakuppe and the imposing Bahubali of Shravanabelgola.

Their route - Bangalore - Channapatana - Melukote - Nanjangudu - Mysore - Bailakuppe - Dhubare - Sharavanbelgola - Chikkanayakanahalli - Chitradurga - Bellary - Hampi - Jewargi - Gulbarga - Sindgi - Bijapur - Bagalkot - Hubli - Gokarna - Murudeshwar - Udupi - Mangalore - Dharmasthal.

They stayed everywhere from lodges to dharmadhalas to the homes of friends. Camping wasn’t really possible due to the general lack of security and the only expensive piece of kit they were carrying - their camera with a tripod which they were using to capture footage for a documentary (which they are now working on).

In twenty-two days, they completed their journey and landed back in Bangalore to begin their first jobs.

They are currently working on the documentary of their trip.

08 CRANK with ProCycle NOVEMBER 15TH, 2013

While the sight of a velo cab (as the evolved rickshaw is referred to in that part of the world) is not uncommon in Europe, travellers and tourists who try to take a ride in one in Zurich, are sometimes rather surprised to find themselves being piloted by a jovial, friendly Indian. Arjun Jois is a long way from his roots in Mysore and his home in Bangalore. But his ‘long way’ is not merely geographic. Once upon a time, this lean man in his mid-thirties had his eyes and heart set on an IIT education. And enter those portals he did, for his Masters.

After a year of virtually pulling his hair out at the kind of rat race he had entered, he made the decision to opt out of a system that purely encouraged competition. He dropped out. Of course, there was universal outrage from everyone he knew but, the person who knows him best, stood by him - his mother.

Having found that his dream was a mirage, he drew on his mother’s strength and he spent the next couple of years trying to figure out what his dream really was. Actively interested in the outdoors, he trekked and hiked across the length and breadth of the western ghats. He then headed to the Himalayas for a course in mountaineering but quickly decided that was not for him.Funds growing scarce, he joined a call centre and spent the next fours years being rather successful at his job, much to his own surprise. But then the itch returned. He quit his job and set out to travel. Arjun spent the next year or so backpacking across the

length and breadth of India. He slept in buses, trains and pretty much anywhere he could find. He explored the beautiful north east of India for months before finding himself in the temple town of Varanasi.

It was here that he first laid eyes on a foreigner on a loaded tour. With a bicycle, racks, panniers and the works, he seemed to be the perfect, self-contained unit. Inspired to hear that this man had been riding for three years, he decided he would too.

So, he spent the next couple of months organising things for his next big adventure. Soon enough, he landed in Bangkok and headed to Lumpini Park where he was told there was a good bike shop. There, he picked up his first ‘proper’ bicycle and simply began to ride. His ride took him across Thailand, Laos, China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Vietnam. When his bike got stolen in Ho Chih Minh City, he backpacked his way down Kuala Lumpur (via Cambodia) and then to Singapore. He picked up another bike in Singapore and continued on to Jakarta, down through Indonesia and Bali. He then headed back to Singapore. He stayed with an Englishman he met on his travels and the seed was sown for his next trip - to the UK.

Back in India, he applied for what was then the UK working-holidaymakers’ visa. A year later and much confusion and backing-

THE ROAD LESS TAKEN

MR CAB DRIVER

10 CRANK with ProCycle NOVEMBER 15TH, 2013

and-forthing later, he was ready to go. He rode his cycle to Bangalore airport (some 70 odd kilometers) with his bags and his bike box in tow, packed his bike there and headed to London.

In London, he quickly found that he was a very poor pizza maker. And his bubbly personality didn’t help him to promote nightclubs either.

And then he saw his first velo cab. He was hooked. He quickly wangled his way into the velo cab world and operated a velo cab in London for the next year or so. Eventually, the restlessness set in again and fate and love took him to Switzerland.

So in Zurich he is now, riding and promoting the velo cab industry.

Whats in store next we asked?

Arjun said, “Well, a friend of mine and I have been working on a velo cab that I can pedal around the world. The idea is to be able to cycle but also to have a source of income (through providing rides to people). Its in the pipeline but I don’t know when it’ll be complete”

We are pretty sure it’ll be soon. So, keep your eye out for an Indian pedalling a velo cab in some random part of the world.

Arjun with a client at Rochester castle

On the road

Arjun with his velo taxi in Zurich. Image courtesy Venkatesh Shivarama

THROUGH THE LENS

Bikes and packs await their riders in Shimla

Last minute tweaking before the race

World No.9 XC rider, Luis Le ao Pinto rides through Shimla towards the start line

MTB HIMALAYAthrough the lens of Robin Conz

Michael McClean and Balu Balakrishna race downhill

Tired legs fight their way through the ooze

Mud-spattered and tired, Ryan battles on

Michael McClean (2nd in the Masters Open Solo category), hikes his bike up through town while a sign beckons invitingly

Mud coats every inch of the bikes forcing riders to clean them every day, as often as possible, or face certain mechanical failure

The camp at night

Chow time!

Adjustments on the fly

Eduardo Pereira hikes his bike downhill

The Robot! Luis Leao Pinto in a world of his own

Laxmi Magar (women’s solo winner), surging ahead of the men

Men’s Open Solo podium (L to R) - Purna Pradhan (2nd), Luis Pinto (1st) and Surendra Singh (3rd)

Women’s podium (L to R) - Sowmya Urs (2nd), Laxmi Magar (1st) and Shital Chavan (3rd)

PROCYCLE PROFILED

SUNIL RAGHAVAN

A few years ago, Sunil was shopping for a cycle for his daughter. That cycle was soon handed down to him and he was riding it around. He laughs about how much it weighed and even says that he bought a second ‘lighter’ bike thinking it was of better quality. It was only when a colleague lent him his 29er hardtail that he realised there was more to it all. A Rockrider 5.2 quickly followed and he spent a fair bit of time exploring Sarjapur’s trails on it. Today though, he is a confirmed roadie, enjoying his daily rides on his beautiful Felt carbon.

GEAR REVIEW

This one’s for all those of you who ride mountain bikes on road and in the city. We have no doubt that you love the extra comfort that those big tubes, fat tyres and suspension give you on our awful-to-non-existent roads.

But, we’re equally sure that there has been more than one occasion when you’ve glared enviously at the guy whizzing by on skinnies while you huffed and puffed away on your phat knobbies.

The Geax Street Runner tyre transforms your mountain bike into a zippy street bike for commuting, leisure and even brevets. Its minimal tread ensures that there is little rolling resistance while simultaneously providing grip in both dry and wet conditions.

But, don’t just take our word for it. Here’s what a couple of users of the Geax Street Runner (1.6) have to say.

Suman Paul has been using these for more than 500 kms and he says,“There was a noticeable difference as soon as I switched from the stock knobby tyres on my mountain bike. These tyres roll well and have good grip whether in dry or wet conditions.”

Bhartesh, who rides a KHS Alite 150, has equally good things to say, “I’ve been using these for over four months, have had no punctures at all and the grip is confidence- inspiring.”

The Street Runner also comes in a sliver-thin 1.25 width if you’re interested.

GEAX STREET RUNNER

18 CRANK with ProCycle NOVEMBER 15TH, 2013

RACE ROUNDUP

ALL INDIA CYCLE RACEVASCO (GOA)Text and images by Ajay DongreThe scene looked very chaotic near Vasco-Da-Gama (Vasco - Goa) municipality building, at 9am on 2nd October 2013 cyclists of all hues ranging from Pros on slick carbon machines to kids and enthusiasts on the humble single speed steel contraptions gathered to participate in second All India Cycle Race organised by Domrine Social, Cultural and Sports Club of Vasco. There were 250 plus cyclists all set in chaotic fashion near race start line.

The race is organized in memory of Late Niclau D’souza (a well known Vasco Citizen) and to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary. The first race (2012) had only a couple of riders from outside Goa. This year there were Specialized Kynkyny from Bangalore, teams from Bijapur, a team from the Indian Railways and riders from Chennai, Pune and Mumbai.

I was at the venue with my DLSR looking forward to capturing some action and cheering for our Cycling Goa Club members – Terence Moniz and Samreth Singh, who were participating in a race for the first time. It had rained in the morning, the roads looked nicely washed and ready for the race. I met Sherwin D’silva (a fellow

cycling goa member) who offered me a ride on his Dio, we followed the riders on the 25+ km race route. The lead group of 8 to 10 bikers, all on slick machines and fancy apparel, took off and were leading almost by a mile, followed by another smaller group and then the rest.

The weather was pleasant throughout the race time. The organizers had provided two pilot vehicles and kept the road traffic free for the racers. While this was admirable, the drivers had no experience in piloting and race and this caused a fait bit of chaos. They were witnessing pro racers in action for the first time and had no idea what the pace would be like. At one point the lead group almost overtook the pilot vehicles and the passengers in the pilot vehicle had to scream at the driver to ask him to go faster. At another, the lead rider almost crashed into the pilot vehicle.

Although 250 riders started off, only 30 or so completed the race. I missed the ‘finish’ as Shridhar Savanur of Bagalkot took the win. Basavraj Khadpatti of Bagalkot and Bhimappa Vijay Nawr finished 2nd and 3rd respectively.

Pilot vehicles with lead group

I am a big deal (watch the guy in white T)

A competitor with an injured rider’s bike

Lead group 4

The breakaway group. A competitor quickly glances over his shoulder

The second group

Riders compete on all kinds of equipment

Pilot vehicles help the riders hydrate

Children of all ages

An injured rider near the finishline

BBCH CYCLOCROSS (BANGALORE)Images courtesy Veloscope

This September saw the dirtiest, muckiest and arguably the most fun race in BBCh history. All roads led to Bhartiya City for the 8th race of the season - the cyclocross race. Organisers had a great course sorted and had thrown in a few obstacles for good

measure. And did we mention the mud? Competitors showed up and rode on everything from dedicated cross bikes to carbon 29ers and even a couple of proper, old-school roadsters. While it was tons of fun and games, the competition was in right earnest with Kiran Kumar Raju of Specialized Kynkyny winning it in the men’s open category and further extending his overall lead in the BBCh offroad standings. He was joined on the podium by Opendro in second and Siddharth Kansal in third. In the women’s category, Nicola Miller took first with Soumya Urs in second and in the masters, Michael Traesborg took the win.

Kiran Kumar Raju smiles for the camera

Nicola Miller won the women’s cat

Fighting through the muck

Men’s open podium (L to R) - Siddharth Kansal (3rd), Kiran Kumar Raju (1st) and Opendro (3rd)

BAR CLIMBING TT, (NANDI HILLS) Images courtesy Veloscope

Craig Raynes wins the Masters and is also the fastest ‘non-elite’

Sarvesh battles uphill

14-year-old Vishwesh pushed his bike all the way to the top after a flat. In 42 mins!

Naveen Raj belts his way to the top

The BAR series of races have been getting more creative by the week and the last one was no exception. They staged a ‘climbing time trial’ on Nandi hills for all those masochistic Bangaloreans who head for the climb on weekends. The day was gloomy and overcast and some 20 odd riders landed up to pit themselves against the slopes. 7.34 kms and 419m does not a Tourmalet make but, local riders have their own honour roll here. And this edition of the BAR helped most of them shatter their personal best times. Craig Raynes turned out for the Masters category and his category-winning time of 26:07 mins was also the fastest time on the hill in all the non-elite categories. Aditya Kaul won the U-35 cat (27:47) followed by Tim Miller (27:48) and Shankar Jayaraman (27:56). In the women’s cat, Nicola Miller won in 28:55 with Vicki Nicholson 6 seconds behind. Sarvesh won the elite category while Naveen Raj came in behind clocking a (ridiculous) time of 24:51 on his hardtail.

BOYS’ TOYS

BONTRAGER SOLSTICE HELMETBontrager’s Solstice helmet employs their proprietary ‘Micro-Manager II Fit System’ to ensure it stays flush with your noggin. Generously sized vents keep your head cool while several removable (and washable) pads wick away sweat. And it looks pretty cool too!

SIGMA STEREOThe Stereo employs two high-powered, half watt leds to ensure that you can’t be missed from behind. There’s a steady and blinkie mode (duh!) and its visible from 400m. It uses rechargeable AAA batteries. But, the really cool part is that they can be charged in the blinkie itself, via USB, the cable for which, we are happy to say is included in the box.

For more details drop us a line at torquewrench@procycle.in

GET OUT AND RIDE!

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