Crank November 2016 issue by CrankMag

Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only lifestyle bicycle magazine

Volume 4 Issue 10

KARENG / 2016 / 68421

Rs. 100/-

November 2016

Wishing All Our Readers A very Happy & Prosperous Diwali!

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Reviewed: CanNondale Synapse Tested: Surly Straggler Track Asia Cup MTB Nationals

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InThisIssue CFINews

04 05

NorthQuest Challenge Track Asia Cup

IndustryNews

The SCOTT Athlete Program

ProCycling

08 10

Bangalore Bicycle Championship Giant Starkenn MTB Nationals

HealthWise ShowCase

16 18

Cannondale Synapse The Surly Straggler

PlanetSaddle

“Master” Miten - A riders coach

CityTalk

Ghatkopar Cyclist Club

WorkBayWatch

Should you upgrade to road pedals?

CrankActive

Kayaking – Shred the rapids!

ToyCentral

LedLenser

Cycle your way to a strong lung

26 22

Editor’sNote

The CRANK with ProCycle Team Managing Editor and Publisher Vikram K Limsay Invitee editor Onkar Singh, Secretary General, CFI Bureau Operations Harkamal Sethi Contributing Editor Joseph Anish Creative and Design N. Chandru Contact editdeskcrank@procycle.in subscribecrank@procycle.in advertisecrank@procycle.in Expert Test Team Ritwik Burman Ignatius Chen Issue Contributors Dr. Shivaraj A L, Consultant – Pulmonologist, Columbia Asia Hospital All Rights Reserved By ProCycle and Sports India Pvt. Ltd. Corporate Office and Showroom 226, 1st Main Road, Service Road Domlur 2nd Stage, Indira Nagar Bangalore – 560071 Tel: 080 41161902, +91 95380 66695 Website www.procycle.in Follow us on Facebook: @CrankwithProCycle https://www.facebook.com/CrankwithProCycle/ Cover Pic TI Cycles Back Cover Ghatkopar Cycling Club Printed By Print 2 Last Solutions

Dear Readers Wish you all a very HAPPY DASARA & DIWALI! With the festival of lights the season of festivities, holidays, fun and frolic has begun and will last all the way till January. New models have arrived and for those who are planning to upgrade, trade-in or buy new equipment, it couldn’t be a better time than now. Go out and get those great deals! In this issue we focus on several pro championships. The Track Asia Cup, MTB Nationals, Northquest challenge. But there is so much happening in the community that I must confess it is impossible for us to cover everything in a single issue despite the requests we receive. Which is why, and I am spilling the beans, we shall soon be launching the CRANK website which will allow us to increase coverage. But more on that later We continue to profile products, people & cycling clubs. This issue we bring to you the Cannondale Synapse and the Surly Straggler two flexible use bikes and personalities who are doing a lot within their community We are getting increasingly flooded with feedback. Most of it positive and constructive. Keep it coming as it is hugely motivating Happy DIWALI again Ciao & #Getoutandride Vikram K Limsay Managing Editor and Publisher

BANGALORE’S FAVOURITE BICYCLE SUPERSTORE INDIRANAGAR Discover a world of premium bikes from global brands, genuine spares, impeccable service and expert advice at ProCycle, Bangalore’s bike superstore. Great rental plans too. WIDEST RANGE OF BICYCLES, ACCESSORIES & SPARES AVAILABLE UNDER ONE ROOF

ProCycle Indiranagar #226, I Main Rd, Domlur 2nd Stage, Indiranagar Bangalore - 560071. Tel: +91 80 2520 2004

torquewrench@procycle.in

Rustic Ladakh

CFINews

NorthQuest ChalleNge

n a bid to seek the best, Ladakh recently hosted the world’s highest accredited mountain biking event, the “NorthQuest Challenge Ladakh 2016”.

Conducted under the aegis of the Cycling Federation of India (CFI) who offered their expertise for technical conduct, the event was initiated by Wisdom EventoSports and was brainchild of Harkirat Singh, a corporate lawyer and Stany Wangchuk, a Ladakhi travel professional. Conducting an event at such high altitude, rarefied atmosphere and remote location where ensuring the well being of participants is sensitive and managing logistics is no mean task and the organizers deserve special credit for accomplishing it successfully. Divided into two main categories, the race had professionals competing in the elite category, and local riders in the amateur category. A 13 km lap course was constituted by primarily an off road and downhill section through the rustic Ladakh terrain, stretching past the beautiful Indus river, through narrow dusty lanes of Choglamsar village and finally emerging on the tarmac uphill

gradient of Manali-Leh highway. Elite riders had to complete four laps of the course and amateurs three. The rarefied altitude at 11500 feet was especially challenging for the non Ladakhis Thinles Dorjay was the winner of the amateur category, while J & K boy Yogesh Sharma won the elite category and the grand prize of the race. Importantly, CFI used the opportunity to identify young talent from amongst local school children who were asked to showcase their talent by completing a single lap. Ten promising youngsters were identified and plans are afoot to enroll them for a yearlong training program of CFI and UCI and its development and training arm the UCI World Cycling Centre’s (UCI WCC) satellite center in New Delhi. The efforts of the organizers were supported by a host of sponsors like Starkenn sports who gave away bikes to winners, Fruits Up from Manpasand beverages, Air India, MakeMyTrip, Spic and Span Hotels, The Zen Ladakh, Wisdom Travels & Cyclofit A special mention must be given to the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council & J&K tourism who helped promote the event. NorthQuest Challenge is now the first of its kind MTB race in one of the toughest and most beautiful terrains of the country and has big plans for the future. Elite winner Yogesh Sharma facilitated by Mr. Chering Dorjay

At the start

CRANK with ProCycle NOVEMBER 15TH, 2016

Asian Lineup

traCk asia Cup

Team India in action

he cycling velodrome at the IG sports complex in New Delhi saw over 150 cyclists from ten participating Asian nations battling it out for honors in the Track Asia Cup. Mrs. Karen O’Callaghan of Australia was the Chief Commissaire, appointed by the International Cycling Union (UCI) and was supported by 15 qualified officials from Cycling Federation of India and 20 local officials Participating nations were Hong Kong, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Macau China, Malaysia, Pakistan, Taiwan, UAE and Uzbekistan India ended the championship with a rich haul of 16 medals, which included 5 Gold’s ending second on the leader board after Hong Kong which had a medal tally of 18, which included a haul of 11 Gold’s. India’s Deborah ended her campaign as a star performer of the event with an impressive tally of 3 Gold’s and a Silver in the Keirin event For India, the women led the way both in the elite and junior categories. In the team elite women’s team pursuit, Indian team comprising of Raj Kumari Devi, Bidya Luxmi Tourangbam, Ratuja Satputhe and G Amritha Regunath bagged the bronze medal The Women Junior Sprint final saw India bag the first two positions. Nayana Rajesh was awarded the gold medal and Anu Chutia the silver. Hoi Wah of Hong Kong was at the third position The highlight of the event was the 30KM point race where 14 riders had to complete 120 rounds of the track. Indian Krishna Nayakodi and Ramesh Nagarajan couldn’t win a medal but showcased super performance by securing 8th place & 10th place respectively The event was well publicized and saw healthy spectator support and we at Crank feel these are indications for cycling events gaining in popularity The organizing was especially brilliant with the support of all the sponsors and the officiating was flawless with not a single protest registered by any participating team. We feel this was one of the best-organized events in recent times

Podium winners with dignitaries

Coach R K Sharma and Mr. Onkar Singh, Secretary General, CFI were very satisfied with the team’s performance and the overall conduct of the event. They have their sights set firmly on the Asian and world level events of the future where they are certain India has much to showcase. “The day is not far when we will win medals at the world level” says Mr. Singh The Track Asia Cup sets the ground for the much-anticipated Asian Track Cycling Championship to be held in India in February 2017. Riders from over 30 countries are expected to take part.

Medal Tally RANK

TEAM

NATION

Hong Kong

HKG

India

IND

Malaysia

MAS

Kazakhstan

KAZ

Taipei

TPE

Iran

IRI

Uzbekistan

UZB

UAE

Macau

MAC

Pakistan

PAK

TOTAL

WOMEN ELITE

MEN ELITE G

MEN JUNIOR

1 1

TOTAL B

2 2

WOMEN JUNIOR B

CRANK with ProCycle NOVEMBER 15TH, 2016

Training tips by Nigel

IndustryNews

The SCOTT Athlete Program SCOTT Sports India, organized the first ever 3 Day SCOTT Athlete program for deserving athletes in the field of cycling at the Rolling Academy Bike Park, Pune to encourage their love and passion towards the sport to become world class players. This has not been attempted by any other cycling brand in India till date. A select group of athletes in varied disciplines such as cross country mountain biking, triathlons, downhill racing, and a road cycling team were put through a 3 Day intensive training program under the guidance of Nigel Smith, an avid road cyclist and a British level 1 certified coach. The camp focused on both physical and mental aspects, and the aim was to create customized training plans for each of the 10 Scott athletes from around the country to develop world-class players out of worthy athletes who embody the SCOTT spirit of ‘No Shortcuts’ The training involved technical training with a scientific approach. The athletes were classified as per segments – Amateur, Semi Pro Athlete, Pro Athlete, and then according to the equipment they used. Formulation of a customized training regime highlighting areas of improvement took place after understanding each athlete’s body, his or her heart rate and current performance. The focus also was on planning as per the race calendar, after looking at what was the most important race for the respective athlete. The plans touched on different aspects on training, how to practice,no of practices

CRANK with ProCycle NOVEMBER 15TH, 2016

per week along with thenumber of hours per session along with a personalized nutrition plan as per the individual athlete’s diet. The SCOTT Athlete Program is all about creating a platform where the athletes get information on current performance and areas of improvement through providing them access to certified and qualified SCOTT resources and the right equipment to compete at National and International races.

There’s something brewing at Hero Cycles We at Crank are in the know from our sources that that the country’s leading bicycle company Hero is readying itself for some significant forays in the premium category on the global and domestic stage. A leading global consulting firm is advising the company and it’s only a matter of time when plans will be unveiled. The recent acquisition of Firefox was a part of a larger plan. Wait for more news and we will keep you updated

IndustryNews

RIO Olympic limited edition frameset to be auctioned by SCOTT for a cause SCOTT Sports, the globally recognized multisport company, created a special edition of bikes for select athletes chosen for the Rio Olympics. They are now offering just 50 pieces of the FOIL ‘RIO Olympic Edition’ frame sets to its customers worldwide, and India will be one of the lucky countries to be allocated one The Rio Olympics have been special for SCOTT Sports as they witnessed the glorious win of their two International Athletes, Nino Schurter and Jenny, who won the Rio Olympics 2016 on the special edition bikes in the MTB XC Category.

CRANK with ProCycle NOVEMBER 15TH, 2016

Michael Pinto, the designer behind the RIO Special Edition, said, “When we kicked off the project, we did a lot of research regarding colours, patterns and symbols which represent aspects of Brazilian culture. It wasn’t until I spent my holidays in Brazil that I found this unique pattern in the streets of Rio, which for me perfectly represents the colourful culture, and spirit of the Brazilian people. We then worked on the integration of the pattern into a design concept that features SCOTT’s ‘Racing Concept’ colours: black and yellow. The colourful, yet balanced design would shine on the streets and on the trails in and around Rio during the big showdown.” “For us at SCOTT Sports India this our way of paying tribute to the dedication and hard work that each Olympic Athlete puts in throughout his/her sporting career. We will be raising funds through the Auction sale of this limited ‘RIO Olympic Edition’ frameset, and the funds will be donated to an organization which works with children in promoting sports at grassroots level” said, Jaymin Shah, Country Manager, SCOTT Sports India.

HealthWise

CyCle your way to a stroNg luNg Authored Article by, Dr. Shivaraj A L, Consultant – Pulmonologist, f

o you feel out of breath and tired after a few meters of peddling your way? Well, the best way out from this, is cycling and more cycling. While, it is a known fact that cycling can be the most productive means of reducing health risks, such as onset of a heart attack or diabetes, and obesity, not many are aware of the fact that cycling helps in strengthening your lungs, and increasing stamina. Cycling is a great form of cardio exercise that supercharges your health. It is a lowimpact exercise that people of all ages can do. Cycling offers several physiological and psychological health benefits. A strong heart and powerful lungs are the building blocks of great health, and regular course of cycling can ensure this. Being an aerobic exercise, cycling uses great gulps of oxygen. This is beneficial to the heart and lungs as they work together to bring oxygen and nutrients to the muscles. The lungs expand to bring as much oxygen into the body as possible; the heart beats faster to transport this oxygen around the body, thus ensuring an overall fit health. Moreover, pedaling helps in increasing metabolic rate and the vital capacity of lungs. It also helps build stamina. Cycling can be highly beneficial to people who usually feels breathlessness in covering even small distances. It also helps increase the exercise tolerance in the body.

Food to boost stamina: A regular dose of Vitamin E can further to boost your stamina level, making you fit for long cycling trips. Vitamin E is one of the best antioxidants that helps protect your cells, especially those in your muscles and lungs, which take a beating during intense cycling efforts. They help in improving lung health as well as breathing capacity at altitude. Eating a handful or two of almonds

every day can be beneficial, as just one ounce (about 25 nuts) delivers more than a third of your daily requirement for this nutrient. One can also drizzle olive oil on the vegetables, salads, and grain dishes and eat nuts, eggs, leafy greens like spinach, and fortified cereals to get the rest. Try to avoid corn and soybean oil.

Pranayam is one of the best exercises to help improve lung capacity. It’s advisable to do this for at least a month to increase the exercise tolerance of your body. After this, you can opt for cycling.

Precautions for asthma patients before cycling:

Breathe deeply

One of the most common questions among people who cycle is, if it is safe for people with asthma or other pulmonary/ respiratory complications. Prolonged exercise or physical exertion can lead to exerciseinduced asthma. Most people with chronic asthma experience symptoms of asthma during exercise. However, there are also people without chronic asthma who develop symptoms only during exercise. There are various steps you can take for prevention of asthma symptoms that will allow you to maintain normal physical activity. In fact, many athletes -- even Olympic athletes -compete with asthma. For a person with asthma, the requirement of oxygen increases in the body and the person starts breathing through the mouth. A few warm up exercises before going for cycling can help you get used to the rigorous exercise. Although the amount of time one should cycle solely depends on the body tolerance, a 20-minute exercise in the morning and evening can be helpful. People with acute episodes of asthma attacks, who are unable to walk for a week, should avoid cycling. It’s always advisable for them to rest for a week before going back to regular exercises.

Yoga to build stamina: In order to build good stamina or lung capacity before taking up cycling regularly, one can start with brisk walking for at least 20 minutes. People can also opt for Yoga.

Here are a few tips that can help you cycle your way to a better lungs:

The key to good breathing on the bike is to ensure you’re using your lungs to their maximum potential. To do this, breathe the air deeply. This will help you improve your stamina.

Keep a check on your bike position The diaphragm plays a very important role when it comes to breathing properly on a bike making it important to maximize its movement. This can be tricky and you’ll need to find a balance between being aero and getting enough oxygen around your body because going low on the bike robs your diaphragm of space to move. Experiment with different positions over a set course and see what works best for you.

Breathe from your stomach To really get the most from your diaphragm, focus on breathing from your stomach, not your lungs. Put your hand on the upper part of your stomach and feel if it bulges out as you breathe in. When you feel this and see your chest rise, you’ll know you’re breathing through your stomach.

Breathe in through the mouth, out through the nose Research suggests that inhaling through your mouth delivers more oxygen, while exhaling through the narrower space of your nostrils makes the process slower and so gives your lungs more time to suck as much oxygen out of each breath as possible.

CRANK with ProCycle NOVEMBER 15TH, 2016

Drafting

ProCycling

BaNgalore BiCyCle ChampioNship

angalore once again lived up to its reputation as the pro and amateur cycling capital of the country. The Team Time Trial event on the Bangalore Bicycle Championship (BBCh) calendar in September saw a whopping 91 participants lining up at the start point. 33 team formations at a domestic circuit speaks volumes about the tremendous competitive awareness in the city. Our local champion Naveen John who is presently in Australia echoes this feeling when he conveys his wishes, “Good luck to everyone racing tomorrow! And just FYI, we don’t have 30 teams starting TTTs at Nationals, and yet we do at BBCh and that is pretty awesome”. He knows the impact of BBCh The race saw significant strategic planning among the riders and teams right from choosing partners, training and executing the strategy. Though one could see that familiar faces were on the podium the event did see increasing number of newbies participating. The enthusiasm and bonhomie on race day was electric. Considering BBCh is wholly volunteer driven program kudos to the organizing team and the helpful sponsors. You can visit www.bbch.in for future race information

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Live to race!

Vicki, Samira, Lena - Women Power

RESULT

Elite Podium - Team Refugee and Team Spectrum

Ready to go

CRANK with ProCycle NOVEMBER 15TH, 2016

Well constructed track

ProCycling

giaNt starkeNN mtB NatioNals

he 13th Giant-Starkenn MTB National Championship 2016, a Cycling Federation of India (CFI) approved annual event, sanctioned by UCI witnessed an overwhelming response with over 400 riders participating.

The 3-day event for cycling enthusiasts was organized from 4rd to 6th October 2016 at Pune’s coveted Oxford Golf Resort. The event was conducted under three categories, juniors (under 18 years), seniors (19 – 39 years) and masters (above 40 years). Elite riders from 20 Indian teams including a team from the Indian Army also participated in the championship. India’s best riders and 2015’s defending champions Sandesh Upaar, Lidiyamol M Sunny and Yashodhara Sherkar competed for honors.

Starkenn a free hand in the designing and construction of the track” His sentiments were echoed by Mrs. Jasmine Arethna of The Oxford Golf Resort. “MTB is a fast emerging discipline in the country and the country offers beautiful natural terrains for the sport. CFI is committed to identifying, training and promoting talent in this discipline through such events with an eye on Asian and World championships” said Mr. Onkar Singh Secretary General CFI.

Team Kerala team won this year’s overall championship and team Karnataka emerged the season’s runners up. For the championship, Starkenn Sports & Cycling federation of India (CFI) had curated a natural 5 KM looped cycling track. CFI has commended the organizers by stating that the track was at par with international circuits and global standards. The cyclists covered 30 kms over the mountainous terrain. This year the MTB nationals were more challenging in terms of terrain and competition than previous times. Obstacles were conceptualized and added to increase the difficulty level and make the race exciting for riders as well as spectators. For the first time, the National Championship had a Downhill Exhibition Race accredited by Cycling Federation of India (CFI). There are plans by CFI to recommend this track to UCI for the C3 certification, post which it will be able to host Asian level MTB cycling tournaments in 2018. Speaking on the occasion, an enthusiastic Mr. Pravin V Patil, Managing Director and CEO, Starkenn Sports Pvt Ltd said, “We are very delighted to witness an overwhelming response for this year’s MTB National Championship and it has proved that our passion for cycling is shared by many. I would like to thank Oxford Golf Resort for providing us such a world-class venue in India and giving

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Kerala Team Overall MTB National Championship winner

Overall Final Winners No

Group

State

Sr. Group Championship Kerala (Men & Women) Uttarakhand & West Bengal with 1 gold & 1 silver Men & Women Junior Group Championship

3 Sub. Jr. Boys & Girls, Youth Boys & Girls Championship Overall Champions

Position Total Points

Runner up

16 8 (each)

Karnataka Kerala

Winner Runner Up

27 5

Kerala Karnataka

Winner Runner Up

Kerala Karnataka

Winner Runner Up

60 55

Showcase

CaNNoNdale syNapse

annondale was in dire need of an endurance bike, although they introduced the Road Warrior in the early 2000s before the boom in Gran-Fondos which was an alternate to the race bike. Cannondale transformed the Road Warrior into the first-generation Synapse which was also the company’s first carbon bike.

Design So is the Synapse a fast bike or a comfortable bike? Cannondale came back with an answer in the form of a newly designed & reengineed Synapse in 2015 which is both fast & comfortable. The design challenge was to come up with a bike that was under 1000g & comfortable enough to smooth out the road vibrations, & also had to be stiff enough for the pros to race. It became the design teams job to sort out a solution to an answer for the conflicting market demands of a well performing bike & good looking one & design a bike that would please both. Over the course of 4 years 50 to 60 of the Synapse were created & examined before the first rider ready prototype was read. The split-seat-tube design, or as Cannondale patented it, the Power Pyramid, emerged from one such brainstorming session. “It was one of those rare moments,” as one of the Cannondale designers mentioned, “where great-looking design contributed to improved performance.” At first there were about 20 different prototype designs but none came up with an answer to fulfill the need for performance. The split-seat-tube design or the Power Pyramid, arrived in a moment of enlightenment as its design took out redundant material away from the centre of the seat-tube and redistributing it where it was needed: at the outer edges of the bottom bracket. The slim & twisted seat-stays was also another design feature of the new Synapse ensuring the frame’s design contributed to a compliant, plush ride which enhanced the riders performance.

Performance Cannondale built the Synapse for the hardcore racers. Its Geometry was tweaked from the old Synapse & it weighed less than 1000g

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for a medium frame. The “S.A.V.E (Synapse Active Vibration Elimination) Micro-Suspension Technology™” were incorporated to the fork, seat-stays & chain-stays of the frame. The asymmetric bottom bracket BB30A design provided torsional stiffness & the headtube was further stiffened after the inputs of the pro-riders during its prototype stage. The Cannondale sponsored Cyclocross Team started testing the bike & after a couple more iterations the Italian Cannondale Team headed by Peter Sagan got their hands to the new Synapse. In the 2013 classics Peter Sagan took to the bike immediately & he rode a signature version with a longer top-tube to second place behind his team-mate Moreno Moser in the tough Italian race, Strade Bianche. Three weeks later, at a freezing Gent-Wevelgem, Sagan attacked with 4km to go and rode solo to the line. It was the first time that the bike was ridden to victory. It was at this moment when the four year effort was rewarded with its first pro victory. The Synapse has proven itself in the hardest races on the planet & by Ted King’s “All Day Adventures”. Brand Model Category Frame Fork Crank Bottom Bracket Shifters Cog Set Chain Front Derailleur Rear Derailleur Rims Hubs Tires Pedals Brakes Brake Levers Handlebar Stem Headset Grips Saddle Seat Post Sizes

Cannondale Synapse Carbon 3 Ultegra ROAD - Endurance Synapse, BallisTec Carbon, Di2 ready, SAVE PLUS, BB30a Synapse SAVE PLUS, BallisTec Carbon, 1-1/8” to 1-1/4” tapered steerer Cannondale HollowGram Si, hollow forged, w/ OPI SpideRing, BB30a, 50/34T FSA BB30 Bearings Shimano Ultegra ST-6800, 11-Speed (2x11-Speed) Shimano Ultegra CS-6800, 11-32T, 11-Speed Shimano HG700, 11-Speed Shimano Ultegra, FD-6800, Braze-On, 2-Speed Shimano Ultegra, RD-6800 -GS, 11-Speed Mavic Aksium One WTS Mavic Aksium One Mavic Aksion WTS, 700x25c, Folding Not Included Shimano Ultegra 6800 Shimano Ultegra 6800 Cannondale C2, Compact, Butted 2014 Alloy Cannondale C2, 7050 Alloy, 31.8mm, 6 Deg. Synapse Si, 1-1/4” Lower Bearing, 25mm Carbon Top Cap Cannondale Grip Bar Tape w/Gel, 3.5mm Fabric Spoon Shallow Race, Ti Rail Cannondale C2, UD Carbon, 25.4x300mm (48-51) 350mm (54-61) (Small 51cm), (Medium 54cm), (Large 56cm)

Save Micro-Suspension Technology ™ It started as an acronym for Synapse Active Vibration Elimination SAVE technology is all about reducing road shock and vibration. By pairing precise tube shapes with sophisticated carbon lay-up or highly manipulated aluminum, Cannondale was able to create areas on the rear chain-stays and seat-stays, fork or seat-post that can deflect to absorb shock, while staying completely rigid laterally and torsionally. The enhanced vertical compliance provided by these combined features greatly improves comfort and performance.

Frameset

Hollowgram SpiderRing Crankset

The Synapse Frameset is made out of BallisTec Carbon & has features running all over with SAVE Plus Technology on the Fork & Stays. Internal Cable Routing, System Integration Frame that support Cannondale specific components like the fork & BB30A bottom bracket & Hollowgram Crank. The seat-clam is also hidden within the frame giving it a very sleek look & appearance. The Split Seat-Tube or as Cannondale patent calls it the “Power Pyramid” is the most noticeable design feature of the whole bike

Cannondale’s patented OPI 3D forging process has enabled them to build hollow, seamless crank-arms that are not only extremely light but also incredibly strong and stiff. In fact, they are the stiffest, strongest crank-arms they have ever made. Lighter and stiffer than Dura Ace and completely compatible with every HollowGram spider and chain-ring set-up. The Crank is a 50/34T perfect for multiple types of terrain & easy on the climbs.

Groupset Wheels / Tires : Mavic Aksium / Mavic Aksion The Synapse comes in with Mavic Aksium wheelset is an ideal for training weighing at 1890g is a bit on the heavier side but the wheelset is stiff & highly tensioned with straight pull spokes & 20 Spoke count on both the front & rear wheel, the front wheel has round spokes while the rear has round spokes on the non-drive (left) side & bladed spokes on the drive (right) side. The Aksium’s are ready for most types of road riding & the latest Aksium’s have had some improvements on the Hubs to make them last longer.

The SuperSix Evo is equipped fully with a Shimano Ultegra (6800) 11-Speed drivetrain which includes Shimano Ultegra (11x2spd) Shifters, a Brazed-On Front Derailleur, Ultegra Rear Derailleur. & a Ultegra 11-32T cassette. The group-set is ultra-light and has very accurate shifting performance which is extremely smooth & reliable.

The wheels are fitted with Mavic’s Aksion Folding Tires The tires work well as all weather training tires and are reliable on the rougher roads too.

Saddle: Fabric Scoop Shallow The Scoop saddle is designed to provide flexibility and great ergonomic feel for all genres of cycling. Starting with its unique flexible base, vacuum bonded upper and custom design rail, the Fabric Scoop is proven to be the perfect balance of comfort, performance and simplicity. The Scoop Shallow is meant for all day performance . Its unique 3 part bonding process not only results in super comfort but also an easy to clean saddle with smooth lines and superb durability.

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the surly straggler

hat if you had a bike that could be modified for whatever use you want it for? Interesting? This issue we review exactly the bike that allows you to do so. The exciting custom built Surly Straggler. If it is flexibility that you desire then this is the bike you are looking for

for a city commute. The more you spend time on the bike the more you appreciate the steel frame and it’s versatility and you start to go all out building your memories with the bike. You can modify it for touring, cyclo-cross, gravel and even road biking so you have plenty of stories to make for yourself.

The Straggler is essentially a Cross Check frame from Surly with discs. While the most obvious difference of course is that it has disc caliper mounts instead of rim brake studs (It’ll accept rotors up to 160mm), the rear dropouts are unique, too. They’re a partially closed horizontal design that accommodates single speed or geared drivetrains. It is an incredibly versatile bike more than capable of commuting, touring, load carrying and anything you can throw at it. It has all the braze-ons of the traditional Cross Check along with similar nimble geometry

The bike can handle most of the terrains in India. It can be your commuter bike during the week and a touring bike on weekends or even a sporty roadbike. To add more fun to your ride during monsoon showers you can add mudguards and there are loads of accessories you can add on like the frame bag

The heart of this bike is its frame. Made out of the best steel in the market, the 4130 Cromoly tubing, ED coated and TIG-welded with the main triangle being double-butted. The amount of eyelids on the frame allows you to go all out with your builds. As you can tell it was built for one thing in mind - “I can do it all” statement The bike we reviewed came with a set up

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To sum up it’s a fantastic piece of equipment to have around and it’s sure to last for a long time and for many moods So what is this Straggler anyway? The easy answer is to say that we added disc brakes to a Cross-Check and this is close to accurate. People have asked us to make a disc version of our highly versatile CrossCheck for a long time now and almost everything about the two are very similar. Straggler is slightly different, though. They feature stop screws that thread in from the rear to further secure the wheel and to position the rear wheel for optimal

shifting, plus a forward-mounted stop screw on the drive side to keep the wheel from slipping forward under the force of your gargantuan legs. The rear dropouts are spaced 135mm instead of 132.5mm like the Cross-Check simply because there are far more options for disc hubs in this spacing. Straggler shares all of the Cross-Check’s braze-ons for fenders, racks and bottle cages. The Straggler’s geometry is slightly different, with angles and tube lengths very close but not identical to the Cross-Check, but like the Cross-Check it’s ready to take you just about anywhere. It’s a day tripper and a weekender. It’s a ‘rough road’ road bike. It’s a cyclocross bike with no pretense about racing. It’s a utilitarian townie. It’s a light-duty touring bike. It’s an all-weather commuter. And when you get tired of one set up, you can swap parts around and turn it into something else. We think that’s pretty neat.

At his Ahemdabad Camp

Pacing the boys

PlanetSaddle

“master” miteN - a riders CoaCh

iten Thakkers tryst with cycling began when he was barely 5 and when he used to get engrossed in doing self-timed 15 km rides in school uniform. Competetive cycling was natural and soon to follow when he got selected to represent Mumbai University at university level. Logical next step was when Miten represented Maharashtra and West Bengal from 1996 to 2004 at the nationals in the road and track events. Along the way, Miten added several feathers to his helmet by particpating in time trials, pursuits and mass start races across the country. He won the Vashi – Khopoli- Vashi a 110 km race straight for 3 years in a row with a record timing But as they say, passion doesn’t always pay, and despite all these significant cycling achivements under his belt, Miten moved on to a professional carreer with a multinational bank. But the calling was always there. To get get back to his passion. To get back to cycling The tipping point finally came in 2010 when Miten witnessed India’s first Cyclothon and noticed that participants, though not lacking in energy & enthusiasm seemed to be unaware of any scientific cycling technique, gear ratios etc. Miten realized there was a dire need for systematic coaching and he decided to take the plunge and become a professional coach himself and reconnect with his passion Though Miten had self learned and earned his stripes he knew that trial and error has the potential to cause a cyclist serious

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damage in the long run. Formal coaching method has its own advantage and must be applied to fully exploit the potential of an athlete. To obtain formal qualification, Miten enrolled for a 2-year certification course conducted by Mark Gorman and David Roberts of UK From passion to profession.

The real game changer for Miten was training the Mahajan brothers for RAAM. Crank has already featured the Mahajan brothers in an earlier issuue. They were the first Indians to complete the RAAM the toughest endurance race.

The future With professional certification, experience, inborn passion for cycling and good wishes of his supportive wife Jagruti and father Bhagwandas, Miten launched CYCLOZEAL a professional and scientific training and coaching academy for cyclists The pasionate team at Cyclozeal is constituted of Amruta Karkhanis Deshmukh -Sports Psychologist, Meghna SurveDietician and a whole bunch of Mitens past students who act as trainers Cyclozeal does not restrict itslef to training only pro-riders. It offers its expertise to every type of rider from novice to hobby to elite. You could be aiming for any discipline from basic fitness to sprint to endurance to ultra endurance to road and Cyclozeal will train you in a profesional and personlizedsed manner Today Cyclozeal and Miten can boast of an impressive alumni roster that includes the first Indian team to complete the Race Across America (RAAM), Half Iron Man participants, 27 medalists at Nationals, 12 Super Randonneurs. Till date More than two fifty riders have experienced the difference between riding and cycling with pragmatic coaching assistance from Team CycloZeal

It is been a fulfilling journey for Miten so far in assisting so many riders and helping them with their performance and achieving their dreams “Apart from retail I see many more areas yet to be explored in cycling. Cycling as an activity is picking up by leaps and bounds” says Miten. At this point Cyclozeals & Miten’s primary focus is to provide quality training and assistance, enhance their clients/trainee experience. He is currently busy evaluating few business options that are sustainable and scalable. He is quite optimistic with the expertise within his team and is confident that Cyclozeal will be able to enhance riders experience. “As a coach you become student for life. I hope to continue with my pursuit of progressive learning to assist riders to the best of my abilities, with the continued support of our cycling community, dedication and determination we as team CycloZeal hope to continue making a difference!” Get in touch with Miten if you like on miten. thakker@gmail.com

Hello Sunrise!

CityTalk

ghatkopar CyClist CluB

he most commonly asked question by a nonMumbaikar who is a cyclist; where do you guys ride in Mumbai? Or worse still, are there any riders at all in Mumbai? Meet the Ghatkopar gang and you will put the question to rest Established in 2015 the Ghatkopar Cyclist Club (GCC) is one of the most active riding communities in the country. Based out of the quintessential small suburb of Ghatkopar in North West Mumbai GCC in a short span of a year has enlisted over 150 members and has a branded club jersey and organized ride calendar of events. Many of the clubs members are also regular weekday commuters while other whet their appetite by riding on the weekends with the bunch Passionate cyclists they are, but the members live their 5F motto of Fun, Fitness, Food, Fotos and Family to the fullest. (Ignore the creative license for foto, its part of the fun!) Friendship and strong bonding amongst members characterize the club. Super Randonneurs and veterans amongst the members guide the rest in active peloton riding, the foodie members help explore new places and the photo enthusiasts keep capturing the fun. Effort is made to involve the families

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and the bond has transcended those of just being “cycling buddies” But the GCC is not just about fun. There is serious intent amongst members to achieve at competitions and hopefully sprout some pros as well. In a little over a year several BRM’s have been attempted and professional workshops related to safety, maintenance and DIY have ben held. Crank wishes them luck Non-Mumbaikars may not know but Mumbai indeed has many terrains and tracks to ride. From flat roads on highways to hillocks within the city limits to the necklace shaped marine drive to mesmerizing greenery of Aarey colony. Join them when you are in Mumbai and the friendly bunch at GCC would be happy to let you ride along There is also charity at the heart. The GCC is working jointly with other cycling clubs in the city in putting together a CSR initiative, where every rider will put aside a rupee for every KM he rides and proceeds collected will be donated to a deserving charitable cause

Happy family

Yeoor Hills - happy breakdown assist

Way to go GCC! Crank wishes you all the best. Not only are your wheels in place but also is your heart. Roll on… 1st Anniversary Bonhomie

The shoe the cleat the pedal

WorkBayWatch

Cleats attached to your riding shoe

Optimum power trasfer

should you upgrade to road pedals? aniSh

es. Yes you should. Especially if you are on a road bike and using plat form or flat pedals that it came with. If you think, you are not ready for ‘’road pedal equipped riding” and if you have a road bike, believe me you are ready

The aim of road pedals is predominantly optimal power transfer with a lot of other added advantages like improved bike control, safer riding and of course weight reduction Upgrading to road pedals consist of three components, one is a riding shoe, second is the pedal itself and the third is the cleat that brings these two components together

In all this praising of road pedals, you might be hiding the intimidation that comes about by being attached to your bicycle. I was too, when I was first considering road pedals. But sufficient practice and a little bit extra can make it one the most safest ways to be on a bicycle. It will even show benefits in stop and go commuter traffic. But, mind you, only with sufficient practice and by making mounting and specially dismounting from the pedals a second nature. I can tell you that if you are on a road bike, you should confidently climb onto clip less road pedals. Choosing which system will offer you exactly what you need is up to you and a LBS is the first place to stop by for checking out what is on offer.

Every manufacturer has their own proprietary devices for their road pedal system to work revolving around the fundamental concept that your feet are firmly attached to the pedals. The cost factor varies on the material and technology implemented in to the system and you should be willing to invest anything starting from Rs. 6000/- to Rs. 8000/- for a basic set up. The pro-am setups like the Shimano 105 will set you back by around Rs. 8000/- for the pedals alone. Looking further higher on the ladder with titanium spindles and carbon pedal parts, the sky is the limit for the costs of the parts and the derived performance also sky rockets. Upgrading to a road pedal system gives you more points of contact with your bicycle and therefore gives you better feedback from it and also lets you dictate more to the bike in terms of cornering and control of the bicycle during descends. This ‘attachment’ so to speak of the rider with the bicycle is what allows for maximum power output through minimal power loss around the shoes and the pedal. It also prevents the dreaded shoe slip and successful shin injury that boring platform pedals are characteristic of

Cleats & Pedals

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CrankActive

This time in our active sports section we bring a flavor of an exciting sport - Kayaking

Taking on the rapids

kayakiNg – shred the rapids! Crank is pleased to introduce kayaker Manik Taneja of Goodwave adventure. Manik is a river bum and an American Canoe Association (ACA) Certified whitewater kayak instructor. He also has Rescue 3 International Whitewater rescue and CPR certifications. Which means you are in safe hands with Manik in case you have the early jitters with water Kayaking is an exciting sport that involves the use of a small wooden or plastic boat to navigate still or moving water bodies. Whitewater kayaking involves paddling on moving water, typically a river that contains rapids The basic equipment you require is a kayak, life-jacket, helmet, paddle and spray-deck, an instructor, access to clean water body an most importantly, the willingness to get wet and experience the great outdoors! There is a bit of a learning curve but that shouldn’t stop you from getting into the water right away. You can practice and gain good boat control and learn all the fine techniques in

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your own time. At Goodwave they have instructors who gauge your learning learning ability and personalize the coaching Its not too risky in the learning phase if you are wondering because you are put through basic training and not thrown into the rapids! Kayakers use their arms, shoulders and core muscles intensely. It’s easy to pick up the sport and maintain fitness and flexibility through it. You can burn up to 4000 kcals on average for about 4-5 hours spent in the water. It’s almost like running a marathon but because one is in the water the body doesn’t heat up. Regular kayaking can you give you that great bod with washboard abs! Manik almost gets philosophical when talking about Kayaking. “I like to believe that every experience on the river helps us get a better understanding of who we really are. It teaches a lot about risk management, overcoming challenges and facing your

fears. There is no greater teacher than the river itself. The lessons learnt are invaluable and stay with you for life. It makes you a better person and at the same time relaxes you enough that you take your mind off the daily pressures of life” Manik has been a swimmer since he was 5 years old and grew up around water. He discovered white-water kayaking on a rafting expedition in Rishikesh about 8 years ago, and knew he had had found his calling. Goodwave was set up and in the initial days it was hard; from getting quality training to equipment to securing permissions to access rivers. It was all a big challenge and because of that it wasn’t easy for introducing the sport to more people. But now interest in the sport is catching up. If you are interested in getting introduced to kayaking you can connect with Manik on www.goodwave.in and buy equipment online on their store www.madrasfuntools. com or connect with him on phone on +919740067323. Manik lives in Bangalore and will be happy to get you wet!.

ToyCentral

Multicolored smartlight technology from LedLenser from Rs 2350

GET OUT & RIDE!