crank with procycle - october 2013

INSIDEEUROBIKE 2013THE CUSTOM POINT RACE SILVERBACK STRIDE 10 TESTED

ISSUE 09 OCTOBER 15TH 2013

PHAT IS IN!

EUROBIKE SPECIAL

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 Ajay Kamble, Venkatesh Shivarama, Bob Olsen, Daniel Webb, Hiren Patel, Rajanikanth Puttabuddi, Dr Dhananjayan Jeyavel, Arjun Varma, Vasanth Ramaswamy, P V Venky, Vasanth, Veloscope Photography, Arvind, Krishnendu Basu, Tamil Nadu Cycling Club, Hyderabad Cycling Club and Custom Point Welfare Society

Registered to Procycle and Sports India Private Limited. Corporate Office: Indiranagar, 889, First Floor, 7th Main, 4th Cross, HAL II stage, Bangalore - 560008. Tel: +91 80 41161902 Showroom: Indiranagar, 37, 11th Cross, 1st Stage, Bangalore - 560038 Tel: +91 80 25202004 +91 98802 16064

Website www.procycle.in. For queries regarding advertising and subscription, mail us at [email protected]

Cover Photograph: Nilesh Dhumal puts the Silverback Stride 10 through its paces Image by Rahul Thomas

Rear cover photograph: The ProCycle car heads off one morning

Printed by: Print 2 Last Solutions

1 2

9

The ProCycle Store

IN THIS ISSUE

1. Grassroots: Custom Point Race

2. Bike Bling! Eurobike 2013

3. London-Edinburgh-London by Divya Tate

4. Bike Review: Silverback Stride 10

5. The Importance of Bike Fit

6. ProCycle Profiled: Adtnu Tiwari

7. Tête-à-Tête with Shivinder Singh

8. Community Race Roundup

9. Boys’ Toys

4

67

35

8

HEYA!

Hello Readers!

This month we explore the bylanes of Prabhadevi, as they go berserk on their bicycles every year on Independence Day. The Custom Point Race has become legendary in these parts and we find out why.

Then we hop on over to the picturesque university town of Friedrichshafen to ogle at the latest bike technology has to offer. Road bikes, mountain bikes, phat bikes, tandem trikes and sooooo much more droolworthy stuff. All at Eurobike 2013.

In case you’ve been living under a rock, we have more good news for you. Yet another bicycle brand has hit the stands in India. The ‘designed in Germany’ Silverback range is here and we got the chance to put the Stride 10 (their new middle-of-the-line hardtail) through its paces. Check out how it fared both on and off road.

Divya Tate hails the achievement of the first Indian to ride the London-Edinburgh- London and then we give you the whole roundup of what went down in the community racing scene across cities.

Turn the page and read. Then get out and ride!

Editor

02 CRANK with ProCycle OCTOBER 15TH, 2013

CUSTOM POINT RACE

GRASSROOTS

In Prabhadevi, Independence Day serves almost as a reminder of the Custom Point Race.

In 1981, a few eminent residents of the area decided they needed to do something special, to mark the occasion of Independence Day. But, it needed to be something significant which would inspire the people around them. It was reasoned that the city of Mumbai was once a city of mill workers and that their financially-disadvantaged children had no platform on which to shine.

They decided they would celebrate Independence Day by holding a cycle race - a race that would be open to all. The one and only criteria to enter this race was, and continues to be, the use of an Indian bicycle. So, the poorest of children and workers could compete on an even level with any competitive rider who had much more expensive ‘phoren’ kit.

Thus, the ‘Custom Point Welfare Society’ was formed and the first Custom Point race came to be.

In those early years, the race would be flagged off at midnight on Independence Day and the whole event would end at 4 in the morning. That has since changed and it now lasts from 9 a.m to 4 p.m. It being a short race, this is an amazingly spectator-friendly event and race day takes on a carnivalesque atmosphere. The whole of Prabhadevi turns out and people line the streets and hang out of balconies to watch the action all day. It is estimated that nearly 15,000 people turn out to watch the Custom Point Race.

The race is held over the short distance of a mere 2.2 kilometers (you read that right!). Participants race in heats with a select number advancing through each qualifier. The course though short, presents many obstacles. The loop begins at New Prabhadevi Road, past Prabhadevi Temple covering Marathe Udyog Bhawan,

Every August, there’s a certain air of anticipation and buzz in the area of Prabhadevi in Mumbai. All minds bend towards Independence Day. Now, while you think this might be the case across the country, its for a very different reason here.

Riders battle it out in the rain around Prabhadevi


Veer Sawarkar Marg, Sane Guruji Ground, Ravindra Natya Mandir Road, Kashinath Ghanekar Chowk and back to Prabhadevi. While there are 10 pilots on motorcycles doing duty, traffic is never stopped and neither are traffic lights for that matter. There are 6 hard right turns in the race which do not allow any rider to really get away from the rest. If that isn’t enough, Independence Day sees the most bizarre weather in Mumbai with intermittent rain and sunshine. Conditions vary wildly not just through each qualifier but from minute to minute. It is common knowledge in the area that you could be riding in brilliant sunshine one minute and then drenched in a deluge the next.

This year saw some 200-odd riders in total with the largest contingent being in the Under-18 category, followed by the Men’s Open, Under 14 and then the women’s. Participants begin training for this months beforehand. And it isn’t just a local thing. Many state and national riders turn out for the Custom Point race along

with many legends of Indian cycling. Riders come from across Maharashtra and even from other states. Winners dance all down the block and prizes are large cash awards and bicycles from various sponsors.

This is grassroot racing at its best and, now in its 31st anniversary, the Custom Point Race is not some forgotten ode to the past. It is alive and growing from strength to strength and we can’t wait to see the frenzy grow.

Before, we sign off, we know there’s been one question on your mind. Why is it named ‘Custom Point Race’ you ask? Well, that’s a good question because we asked the organisers the same thing.

Ah, well that’s simple. Its because, this race is all about India and our ‘customs’ and it is from this ‘point’ that it all began.

The hotly contested women’s category

Sprinting for the finish

BIKE BLING!

The gorgeous Nicolai phat bike comes with a belt-drive, rigid Whyte Bros fork and Reverb seatpost. And check out those rims!

The phattest of them all - the Eurobike Award winning Salsa Beargrease Carbon XX1. And it weighs under 12 kilos!

EUROBIKE 2013Every year, the bicycling world heads to Europe for a massive dose of bling! We take a look at the hottest bikes, the raddest tricks and the coolest gear as the biking world threw down at this year’s Eurobike in Friedrichshafen.

PHAT IS IN

!

Dahon EEZZThe Velotraum fat bike is not just bling orange, but comes with a dyno hub and a matching (optional) rear rack. Nice!

DEMO DAY

Haibike’s electric-power-assisted freeride bike prototype

KHS fat bike. Image courtesy Venkatesh Shivarama

SRAM’s new disc brake setup for roadbikes

JUMP AROUND!

Riders got some massive air at the biggest draws of Eurobike - the Dirt Jump and Lake Jump events

GEAR LUST

Brooks Cambium - Eurobike Gold winner for parts/components. This series of saddles is made from vulcanized rubber and organic cotton covered by a tin layer of structured cloth. Its parts are all replaceable. Whats not to like?

ABUS In-Vizz - one of the winners of the Eurobike Gold for accessories. It features a retractable visor for easy, effective eye protection for the rider.

Niner RIP 9 RDO - the 2013 Eurobike Gold Award winner in the mountain bike category

Factor Vis Vires - the 2013 Eurobike Gold Award winner in the racing bike category for its amazing level of electronic integration and its radical frame and double fork resulting in a brilliantly cornering bike

GOLD AWARDS

The Eurobike After Party

All images (except where otherwise stated) are copyright, ‘EUROBIKE Friedrichshafen’

To subscribe, mail a cheque in favour of ‘PROCYCLE AND SPORTS INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED’ to our corporate office (address below) along with your details or drop by the ProCycle showroom (address below) and pay by cash.

Email us with your queries at [email protected]

SUBSCRIBE NOW!

Showroom: Indiranagar, 37, 11th Cross, 1st Stage, Bangalore- 560038 Tel: +91 80 25202004 +91 98802 16064 Corporate Office: Indiranagar, 889, First Floor, 7th Main, 4th Cross, HAL II stage, Bangalore - 560008. Tel: +91 80 41161902

12 ISSUES at 40% OFF the cover price DELIVERED TO YOUR DOORSTEP

PLUS some surprise goodies along the way

1YEAR ` 720

GOING THE DISTANCE

The randonneuring community in India was getting a little anxious as they tracked Hiren Patel’s progress online on the penultimate leg of the London-Edinburgh-London (LEL) Audax ride. A 73 km stretch, it was almost 10 hours since he had passed through the previous control. Many of us were reliving the final moments of PBP 2011, when one after another; riders from India had stopped reappearing at controls. There was a collective sigh of relief finally, when he was recorded at Great Easton, with only 45 kms to go and ample time.

Hiren’s journey to a successful LEL finish started 3 years ago, in Aug 2010. Riding alone and facing his first overnight ride ever, Hiren felt quite defeated as he quit the 400 km BRM. Within a few hours though, he was regretting his decision, knowing that it would have taken just a little determination on his part to finish. A month later he successfully completed a 600 BRM and learnt something that would direct his life for the next couple of years. Tennis player Roger Crawford who overcame his own disabilities, articulated it well, when he said “Being challenged in life is inevitable, being defeated

is optional.” This however was just the beginning of Hiren’s story. He had yet to face much bigger challenges, a significant failure and another opportunity to choose not to be defeated.

A year later, in Aug 2011, Hiren, overcome by exhaustion in a small village in France, found himself facing certain failure. Over the past year he had ridden the entire series of brevets (200, 300, 400 and 600 km) to qualify for Paris-Brest-Paris - a 1200 km Audax ride in France. Yet, the biggest challenge that he had had to confront to get to Paris for PBP, had been financial. Though endurance riding had fired his imagination, his economic circumstances did not support his passion to participate in events outside India. The cycle he rode was single speed Hero Hawk, bought second hand with his savings, and that was what he rode at PBP. Frustrated, and mortified that he had disappointed his supporters, friends from whom he had borrowed money to make this event happen, he knew 4 years would be too long to wait to redeem himself. Hiren resolved to attempt LEL in 2013.

LONDON TO EDINBURGH AND BACK!By Divya Tate

A rainbow along the way. Image courtesy Bob Olsen


Riding and training for the event, was not as big a challenge as it was to put aside every ruppee he could out of his modest income. After he had paid back his loans for PBP, he started to save in earnest, to buy a new bike and afford the expense of participating in an event in UK. Ridiculed by some of his acquaintances for being miserly, he remained resolute, sacrificing social gatherings, participation in brevets (because he didn’t want to spend on the fees) and even forgoing meals on a regular basis. In January 2013, a few weeks after registering for LEL he rode a 600 Km brevet with Pune Randonneurs in 34 hrs on his old single speed. Soon after that he finally bought a mid- range Scott bicycle, training on that for the remaining months before LEL.

A 1420 km Audax ride in UK with 116 hours to finish it, LEL has 21 controls, averaging 70 kms between controls. Most controls are set up at schools, with volunteers managing them round the clock, with warm food, showers, drop bags and mattresses available at some. Over 1000 riders from 33 countries participated this year. Starting in London, England the route goes north for 705 kms through rolling countryside to Edinburgh, Scotland. Hiren spent no time observing his surroundings as he rode without a sleep break for 42 hours to Edinburgh. There he took his first halt, to shower and sleep for 3 hours before heading back to London.

On his return, he fell into a pattern of catching 3 hour snoozes at controls each night. The very first night though, he had a setback when his headlamp failed and he was unable to read the cue sheet. Forced to depend on other riders, he rode with a group that was riding just a little faster than his usual riding speed. By the time he reached his planned night halt he was experiencing pain in his right leg. Thinking that a 3 hour rest would help he slept, only to find that the pain had worsened.

The doctor at the control gave him painkillers, which allowed him to continue riding through the next day. After that night’s halt he thought the pain had subsided, so he set off without any pills but within 15 km it was excruciating again. Unable to get any medication, Hiren had to draw on all his mental reserves to overcome this last of obstacles.

He finally crossed the finish, completing a 1418 km ride, in 103 hrs, well within the time limit.

A few words from the LEL organiser, Danial Webb “London Edinburgh London 2013 was a tremendous success, the culmination of over four years’ hard work stemming from our vision of a truly international randonnée here in Britain. We were delighted to get some many entries from all around the world. In particular, it was a pleasure to be able to welcome riders from India, a country I’ve always have a bit of a soft spot for since my student days touring the country.

Congratulations to Hiren, our first ever rider from India to complete the course in time. He must have struggled tremendously with the rain and cold in Scotland. Hiren looked very strong at the finish – I’m sure he could have ridden another 200km if he’d had to. Well done, Hiren!

I hope Hiren’s success will inspire more Indian riders to train for London Edinburgh London in 2017. If it does, we guarantee a very warm welcome.”

Hiren is already working on his next challenge, an Ironman in 2015!

Hiren at the finish with LEL organiser Daniel Webb

The LEL. Image courtesy Daniel Webb

The Indian cyclist never had it better as far as choice is concerned (pricing is another story altogether thanks to the depressing ruppee) with a slew of new brands landing up on our shores.

One of the latest and quietest entries we’ve seen is that of Silverback. Silverback is a pretty new company in itself, having only been set up in 2004 by South African entrepreneur Deon Retief. While it was exclusively marketed in the Southern Hemisphere, it established its global headquarters in Stuttgart Germany, hence the legend ‘designed in Germany’ on the bikes.

For this issue’s bike test, we got our hands on a mid-level hardtail called the ‘Stride 10’ and gave it a whirl in all sorts of coniditions. The weather being patchy here in Bangalore, it also gave us a good chance to test out some of those components in the wet.

As first impressions go, the entire Silverback range is best described as subtly appealing. With clean lines, subdued colours and subtle graphics, this is to an extent a Germanic brand insofar as to say it exudes a certain quiet confidence rather than in-your-face

hotness. The Stride 10 cuts an elegant figure with its white and silver livery with contrasting black components. It won’t set your heart on fire but it will certainly class up the horizon. We really like the nice, phat downtube with its almost trapezoidal shape. The finish is excellent with even the hex bolts being a nice, deep black.

Considering the price of 39,600, it comes pretty well-kitted out with a full Shimano spec. The Alivio rear derailleur is a silver grey, complementing the overall colour scheme. Up front we have an Altus derailleur and the two derailleurs are controlled by Acera shifters. A big thumbs up to the Shimano Octalink crankset and bottom bracket - an area which usually witnesses downgrading to save on cost, since the average buyer doesn’t know what to

Silverback - designed in Germany

BIKE REVIEW

SILVERBACK STRIDE 10


look for. These may be entry-level Shimano but they are solid and reliable and a far sight better than a lot of the stuff which you find as stock on other bikes at this level. You even get a Shimano cassette in the bargain.

Complementing the drivetrain is the Shimano M395 hydraulic brakeset - a really excellent piece of kit, again unheard of at this price point.

More evidence of the attention to detail comes in the form of the cables and guides. The cable guide on the frame is very simple and designed to accommodate the entire cable - both outer and inner. This is as opposed to the usual where, along the top tube, most bikes have only the naked cabling without the housing. This really helps to ensure that water and dirt are kept at bay. The flip side is that, due to constant use, there is friction between the inner cables and the housing. This is where quality actually matters and Silverback hasn’t stinted, spec-ing one of the best cable brands in the business - Jagwire. Our cables performed flawlessly throughout the time we used the bike.

The Ride

The Stride 10 is a blast to ride on trails. The Medium (which we had) is a 17.5 and is very sprightly indeed. We really like the geometry and the cockpit. It was light and flickable. Its also very agile and we repeatedly found ourselves doing full u-turns on the trail with no problems at all. We did initially miss a wider handlebar. Over

The silver Alivio derailleur

Shimano Octalink ccrankset and BB - excellent value

Shimano hydraulic disc brakes

Acera shifters with Shimano brake levers

the years handlebars have become wider every season, as a trickledown result of the monster bars we now find on downhill bikes. Thus, we’ve gotten used to nice big bars and the leverage it gives us. Having said that, after spending time on the bike, we realised that these bars work pretty well with this bike, making it nimble and responsive while still letting you through gaps. This might sound funny but the day you find yourself flying off the bike when your 750mm bars clip the edge of a rock, you’ll know what we’re talking about.

The Alex wheels (MD17 rims with Shimano hubs) are real workhorses. They rolled very smoothly with no issues at all. We gave them a bit of a pounding too, just to see how they would hold up. Through pavement hopping to small trail drops to even running them over railway tracks, they performed admirably and are still perfectly true. These are shod with the ubiquitous Kenda Small Block 8s. These are really quick tyres and are good fun on fast trails but woefully lacking in puncture protection, based on many past experiences. Perhaps due to our experience, we now know what tyre pressure to ride on which terrain so these did hold up. The advantage of the SB8s though is that they fly on tarmac so they are a decent dual-purpose pair.

On the trail we were mighty surprised with one particular component - the entry-level Suntour XCM MLO fork. We have very low expectations with these forks but this one really surpassed its reputation. It was very active and responsive on both the big hits and the tiniest bump on the road. We used a fair bit of the 100mm travel it had to offer and that is always a good sign on a fork at this level. Either this was a particularly good piece or Suntour has really upped its game and, whatever be the reason, we aren’t complaining. This definitely outdid not only itself, but also all the competition at this level.

The one thing that we enjoyed by far the most - the brakes. Shimano

Carving a corner! The Stride 10 is nippy, agile and responsive

hydraulics are a delight and these brakes stop on a dime, despite not having bedded in fully. The modulation is excellent too so we could confidently barrel through the trail while lightly feathering them to shave off a little speed when required.

We did find the shifters a bit odd and fiddly though. We were somewhat surprised to find that the Acera shifters the bike came spec-ed with are only single action i.e. unlike most shifters, you can’t use your thumb on both levers and necessarily have to push with your thumb and then pull with your index finger. This is a bit annoying on the trail when you are shifting positions quickly based on the terrain.

The bottom line

This is a clean, elegant and definitely trailworthy bike. Despite being just at the upper end of entry-level, it is spec-ed with some solid parts which will take a beating. It weighs in at a very respectable 13 kilos (for the medium) which means it won’t hold you back on the road either. So, if you’re in the market for a bike which will both take you around town and allow you some weekend offroad fun, look no further than the Silverback Stride 10.

The Suntour fork outdid itself. Look at the morks on the fork to see how much compression we got out of it.

The Alex wheels with Shimano hubs and Kenda SB8 tyres - real workhorses

Silverback’s own brand of components (SBC) - decent quality and finish

Today, the world is the Indian cyclist’s oyster, with an array of choice at his or her disposal. A buyer can walk into a bicycle retail store and pick up pretty much anything from a cycle to a pair of gloves to a even a torque wrench.

What separates the really good local bike shops (or LBSes as they are known) from the rest though, is the customised bike fit service that they offer.

Bike fit in the past was something one rarely heard about. The odd foreign-travelling businessman cyclist might have invested in one in Singapore or Thailand but this was fairly rare. But, with growing awareness among the cycling public and a growing list of injury-

ridden riders, bike fit is slowly being recognised as arguably the most important thing a rider can invest in.

A good bike fit takes into account a dizzying number of aspects ranging from a rider’s height, weight and flexibility to his or her riding style, goals and aspirations. Based on an individual’s abilities and requirements, components are changed, accessories recommended and a whole chart prepared. The good local bike stores are also careful to help riders understand that the fit will change over time as he or she gets more experienced, loses weight and becomes stronger and more flexible. Fit is something which changes over time and it is important for regular riders to consult experts at timely intervals.

Today, in the sport of cycling, we are seeing a vast number of people returning to the sport after a number of years. Their last experience on a cycle might have been in high school or college. When returning to the world of cycling they are confronted with an abundance of choice of

the best cycles the world has to offer. And these are infinitely more advanced than the ones they were used to.

Swing a leg over one of the new-age bikes and the cycling-convert falls in love with the ease with which the kilometers seem to fall away. It is an experience far removed from the memory of huffing and puffing over what now seems like the trifling matter of a few kilometers. But, this same enthusiasm has its own dangers. There are way too many riders who are carried away by it and don’t listen to their own bodies, doing too much too soon. Add to this the fact that most new riders are only aware of the sizing that was available to them in the bicycles of their youth - small cycle and big cycle, and you have a potentially painful learning process in the offing. One

THE IMPORTANCE OF BIKE FIT


that can often be painful enough for said convert to even drop the sport altogether.

Dr Dhananjayan Jayavel, the founder of Spectrum Physio, has a number of patients who are victims of injuries incurred while cycling. He emphasises the importance of good posture and strong core muscles (abdominal and spine in particular) for a happy riding experience. In multi-day events, riders complain of everything from ‘hot foot’ to severe ‘ITB syndrome’ and while he uses everything from cryotherapy to Kinesio tape to produce relief, he readily states that no amount of medicine can help, if you have a bike that does not fit you well.

Nilesh Dhumal of ProCycle has been advising people on bike fit for years at both amateur and competitive levels (and also happens to be our Tech Editor). He says, “A good bike store will help you choose a bike of the right size. They will then help you set up your bike correctly, for the way you intend to ride. This can be either fairly basic (for the casual commuter) or more intensive (for people who intend to ride fair distances). Given the bent and demanding posture required on a road bike, the right fit is even more important and a good fit session will have an expert put you on a trainer and observe you riding for a while before even beginning his recommendations. With a good fit, riders feel the difference immediately with everything from small niggles to serious pain vanishing. And that is no exaggeration!”

So if you’re experiencing pain in either hands, knees, back, shoulders, neck and so on (or all of them), sign up for a bike fit session quickly. It will change your cycling life!

Dr Dhananjayan attending to a cyclist on the road

High quality equipment uses lasers to check body alignment during an intensive fit session

PROCYCLE PROFILEDAdtnu Tiwari

Like many of us, Adtnu decided to get back to cycling when inspired by one of his friends. But, unlike most, he decided to get himself a folder. His faithful Dahon Eco 3 has now travelled across the length and breadth of both Delhi and Bangalore. He takes it with him in the metro and assures us that the Bangalore metro is quite folder-friendly with large scanners (as opposed to Delhi). He commutes to and from his workplace (UB City) every day and takes his bike with him even when he heads to a mall. We think he is quite the inspiration to the urban rider.

PROCYCLE TÊTE-À-TÊTE

Not so long age here in India, the humble cycle was looked upon either as a toy for kids to play with or an inexpensive means of transportation. Then came Firefox bikes. Credited with kickstarting the new cycling revolution that is sweeping across urban India, Firefox showed people that the bicycle could be great for recreation and fitness while simultaneously being cool and aspirational. The man behind that revolution is of course, Shivinder Singh, Managing Director of Firefox. A gentle and persuasive personality, he changed the cycling game in India, bringing quality bicycles to the masses while simultaneously firmly entrenching India into the consciousness of big international brands. One of the most insightful minds in the industry, Shiv took time off for a little tête-à-tête with CRANK.

CWP: Roadie or mountain biker? Shiv: When you restart cycling at 55 yrs of age, roadbiking is a bit too tough on the body so my comfort zone is on a mountain bike & also hybrid.

CWP: What inspired you to launch Firefox?Shiv: When the automobile and motorcycle sectors changed dramatically, there had to be an opportunity in introducing change to the cycling sector also. It was a pure and simple business opportunity.

CWP: Why do you cycle?Shiv: Morning rides on Delhi roads with peace from honking cars & fresh air is an incredible experience. All you have is the soft whirring of the chain & clicks of the gears changing. Besides, of course, the sound of your out-of-breath wheezing.

CWP: How does Firefox stay ahead of the competition?Shiv: I could give you all the standard blah-blah about how great our bikes are and so on and so forth but, the crux of our health is ensuring that our dealers are looked after. They are my oxygen!

CWP: There is growing activism for greater implementation of cycling infrastructure in this country. In what way can (or does) Firefox help in supporting it and, consequently, the cycling public?Shiv: Initially we spent a lot of time and energy in trying to work

SHIVINDER SINGHCycling Visionary and MD, Firefox Bikes

with NGO’s that are into urban cycling mobility. However, we generally found the state administration is rather lukewarm towards implementing the recommendations of these NGOs. Now we concentrate on supporting cycling groups, events and activities through which we can expand cycling culture in India.

CWP: Is there a renewed focus on bicycle racing at Firefox?Shiv: The Trek Firefox Road Racing team an attempt to help competitive, young road cyclists reach a higher level of performance. We hope that through our & other teams efforts we will soon have an Indian medalist at the Asian Games.

CWP: With a number of other well-funded teams springing up, will this change the change the competitive cycling game in India and give it a shot in the arm?Shiv: I do not know how well funded teams are. A road team is an expensive proposition and needs sponsors not just from bicycle cos but from various other corporates who are keen to be associated with a cycling team. Whereas in the West this sponsorship is very strong, In India the other corporates have not as yet come on board. Cycling will need to have a TV audience for such sponsors to support the teams. It will happen but how long it takes nobody knows.

CWP: If there was one thing you could change about cycling-related policy in India, what would it be?Shiv: I can talk about reducing import duties but that really misses the point – it is an issue but not the main issue. The 3 most important factors for building the cycling culture in India is - infrastructure, infrastructure and infrastructure. When a middle class family mother feels it safe for her kid to use his bicycle to cycle to school or to go play cricket or to meet his friends, you will see the start of the creation of the cycling culture. That is when people will stop driving 3-5 kms And instead will cycle.

CWP: Are there any interesting cycling-related experiences you would like to share with our readers?Shiv: My most traumatic cycling experience was when an approx 45 year old lady cruised past me during a fun ride. It was what you call a life defining moment – either I shape up or ship out. Sad to say neither happened.

CWP: What is your vision of the cycling future in India?Shiv: My vision for cycling in India is as I have mentioned about the middle class mother. Cycling in India can only go up & up & up. As the middle class expands ( present difficulties notwithstanding ) the benefits of cycling will create the demand. Of course, if infrastructure also improves the demand can explode.

CRANK with ProCycle OCTOBER 15TH, 2013 21

Mysore Cycling Club (MCC) - Thonnur Lake Triathlon

The Mysore Cycling Club held the second edition of the Thonnur Lake Triathlon on the 10th of August. Envisioned as a weekend-long event, more than a hundred athletes gathered at Thonnur Lake (fifty kilometers from Mysore) for three events - the Duathlon (40km bike ride and 10km run), Sprint Triathlon (750m swim, 20km bike ride and 5km run) and Olympic Triathlon (1.5km swim, 40km bike ride and 10km run). The swim was fairly unique as its an open-water leg which isn’t too common in India. With lifeguards on the lookout in the water, participants swam in a well-marked rectangle. The cycling and running legs were straightforward, well-marked and the entire event was well organised. Volunteers turned out in hordes to make it a roaring success while a number of sponsors (Sunpure, Safe Wheels, Proton Runners, ProCycle and Cyclopaedia) supported the event, making it possible. In the Olympic Triathlon, Madhurjya Bhora of Assam (National Triathlon Champion) won the men’s category while Tim Tim Sharma was the winner of the women’s. In the Sprint it was Somesh Gupta for the men’s with Kartika in the women’s and in the Duathlon Kiran won the men’s category with Soumya Rao winning the women’s.

Bangalore Bicycle Championship - Team Time Trial

With about 50 riders turning out across categories for the big Team Time Trial, this was quite the race. The course was the same that the BAR now calls home but the day saw some wretched headwinds which plagued riders. Specialized Kynkyny (SKCT) had two teams in the fray and their Team 1 won (pun intended) in style with a time of 45 minutes, 40.6 seconds. Team Gobal Racers (which we think used to be called Team Naesar) finished second in 46 minutes, 44.1 seconds and SKCT Team 2 finished in third. Agonisingly close to the podium were Team Wheelsports who finish just .7 seconds behind them despite having had to battle flats and mechanical issues throughout. The Under-18 boys and girls categories saw scant participation with only one team, Team Wheelsports, in the fray, battling against the clock. This race saw a first with the BBCh finally introducing a Masters category, which was won by Team Spectrum.

Bangalore Amateur Racing (BAR)

The BAR has seen some frenetic activity with something like 3 individual time trials, a team time trial and a duathlon, all in the

COMMUNITY RACE ROUNDUP

Vicki NIcholson blazes away in the BAR Duathlon. Image courtesy Veloscope

RIde and run at the Thonnur Lake Triathlon. Image courtesy Arjun Varma

Competitors refuel at the Thonnur Lake Triathlon. Image courtesy Arjun Varma

space of a little more than a month (whew!). If you’re tired reading about it, then imagine how the competitors, let along the organisers feel. Nevertheless, it has grown tremendously and the Sunday turnouts on Old Madras Road are terrific. The Team Time Trial was dominated by Spectrum which took the first two places. The winning team comprised Mohan, Venkateswara Navanasi and Gautam Raja with Vicki, Gaurav and Shankar taking second place. The Duathlon saw excellent participation and clinical organising. ProCycle riders did well with Rajanikanth Puttabuddi placing first overall across age categories and in the 30-40 cat and Aditya Kaul placing first in the under-30 category in the men’s. The event highlighted how age is no barrier to any achievement with the top 5 places overall being taken by contestants over the age of 30, including the ever-incredible Vicki Nicholson who placed 5th. Arvind Bhateja, despite not having logged any running miles in a while, blew the field away, winning the over-40 cat while simultaneously placing second overall. With more than 70 athletes participating in these events over the short period of a couple of months, needless to say, its been a tremendous success and a model worthy of imitation. We look forward to seeing how this will grow the amateur racing scene in these parts.

Tamil Nadu Cycling Club (TCC) - Road Race

The Tamil Nadu Cycling Club conducted its biggest race of the

year on the 11th of August. Sponsored by Montra, the road race was hotly contested by 70 men and 10 women from various parts of the country and teams such as Trichy District, Specialized KYNKYNY, Team Trek Firefox, Karur District, Team Naessar, Team Madrascals, Chennai Cycling and Aurovelo. The race distance was 72.3 kms for men and 35.1 kms for women starting from Kovalam, continuing along ECR via Crocodile Bank, up to Mahabalipuram. At Mahabalipuram, the riders looped back to Kovalam. The men did two loops and the women finished with one. The men’s race was won by M Sounderajan of Karur District Cycling, followed by Lokesh Narasimhachar and Bhimsappa of Specialized Kynkyny. In the women’s category, Manisha G of Coimbatore Cycling took the win.

Hyderabad Cycling Club (HCC) - Team Time Trial

The Hyderabad Cycling Club’s racing calendar is among the more recent additions to the community racing scene, but has quickly become extremely hotly contested and well-run. Begun early in 2011, the annual schedule contains both road and mountain bike races. With two categories - one for roadies and the other for MTBs and flat-barred bikes (catchily titled GLNDY - Got Legs No Drops Yet), there is something for everyone. In the last team time trial, conducted in August, Raman Garimella and Aditya Shetty won in style.

The Tamil Nadu Cycling Club’s main event - the Montra Road Race. Image courtesy TCC

Riders fight it out at the Hyderabad Cycling Club race. Image courtesy HCCTeams go at it at the TCC road race. Image courtesy TCC

ZEFAL LOCK ‘N ROLL QUICK RELEASESZefal introduced its anti-theft quick release system a few years ago and it continues to win awards and wow users. The ‘Lock n Roll’ is a set of three quick releases (for the wheels and seatpost) and it uses a proprietary system to completely befuddle the thief with a roving eye.

BOYS’ TOYS

RACEFACE CHAINSTAY PADKeep your chain from wrecking your stays with this cool chainstay pad from Raceface. Made from nylon with velcro, its tough, light and comes in various sizes.

FOR MORE DETAILS DROP US A LINE AT [email protected]

GET OUT AND RIDE!

COPYRIGHT PROCYCLE AND SPORTS INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED WWW.PROCYCLE.IN

crank with procycle - october 2013

Documents