Issue 3 Volume 3 April 15th 2015
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BIKE NEXT DOOR-EPISODE 1 LITTLE DAREDEVILS BIKE TECH - MAINTAINING V-BRAKES
Official a n
INSIDE
Cycling Federation of India
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IN THIS ISSUE 04 Bicycle Diary: Episode-1 06 Feature: Little Daredevils 08 The Long Road: Mangalore to Goa
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for New Years
10 The Long Road: Soul trip on two wheels 14 Race Report: Vodafone Cycling Marathon
16 Feature: Royal Rajasthan Randonneuring 19 ProCycle Profiled: Wizard of Chemicals 20 Race Report: Goa Traithlon- 2015 22 Bike Tech: V-Brake Maintenance 24 Young Turk: Aunsh Bandivadekar 26 Boys Toys
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YO! The CRANK with ProCycle Team Publisher and Managing Editor Vikram K Limsay Editor Nilesh Dhumal Editorial support Aishwarya Palaparthy, Edwin Thomas, Sahil Rathod, Kavya Ashok Send us your cycling story or suggestion at feedback@procycle.in India West Bureau Divya Tate India North Bureau Ashish Sood India South Bureau Joseph Anish Marketing and Distribution Joseph Anish anish@procycle.in, +91 97415 77884 Test Riders Ajay Kamble Nilesh Dhumal Ritwik Burman Issue Contributions Sampad Padhi, Shivkumar Subramaniam Rama Krishna, Chiro Mitra, Ela Ghose, Vikas Garg Ashwin Tombat, Chirag Singal All rights reserved by 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 ProCycle Showrooms Indiranagar #226, 1st Main Road, Service Road, Domlur 2nd Stage, Indiranagar, Bangalore - 560071 Tel: +91 98802 16064 Koramangala/HSR Layout New #12, Old #75, Service Road, Jakkasandra Extension, Koramangala 1st Block, Near HSR 5th Sector, Bangalore - 560034 Tel: +91 80 2550 1967 Website www.procycle.in For queries regarding advertising and subscription mail us at subscribecrank@procycle.in Cover The bike next door Back Cover The ProCycle mascot ready for a night out Printed by Print 2 Last Solutions | info@print2last.in
Dear Readers, Looks like the biking fever is at its peak just before the great Indian summer hits and scorches the earth. This issue we are inundated with personal and group efforts of grit, grime, achievement, exhilaration and glory on the saddle. And looks like the fever is all over the country. We have our northern bureau tracking two beautiful rides to the royal state of Rajasthan. The western bureau was following up on the Goa triathlon and one exhilarating coastal ride to Goa by two friends. A soul searching gruelling southern peninsular trip to many temple towns has been submitted by our southern bureau. Looks like everyone is pumping the pedal. We are especially proud to profile young talent in this issue. These are super achievers at their age and looks like cycling has a bright future. New sections are constantly being added, our bureaus have expanded and there is much in store and much more to come. Read on, ride on and Ciao. Nilesh N Dhumal Let’s Shred
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t is the third time this morning that I’ve had to force my eyes open for reasons other than getting out of bed. As I lay twisting and twirling trying to figure out the meaning of waking up, the sound that woke me up gets louder. New neighbours are moving in perhaps. Tumbling boxes and the screech of heavy furniture being dragged in the corridor outside and hectic activity are successfully destroying my plans of sleeping in late this Sunday. I claw my way to the kitchen and put the water to boil. A strong dose of caffeine is best to kick start my day I know. Suddenly the chaos in the corridor is replaced with a melodious female voice instructing the movers to exercise utmost care and caution with something. It seems something precious and fragile is being moved in. The caffeine has perked me up and I steal a peek as I pick up the newspaper. A mover is carrying a box labelled ‘gear,’ another one follows carrying a skinny sunshine yellow bicycle on his shoulder. He puts the bike on the floor and rolls it into the house. The steady clicking noise from it takes me back to my childhood when not a single day went by without pedalling maniacally on a cycle. These memories get the better of me. I remember the begging, pleading, cajoling and blackmailing I had put my father through to get my first bike. I was desperate to get my own sense of freedom and the wind in my hair. A dear friend had one gifted to him on his birthday and he let me ride it sometimes. I learnt fast and was soon yearning for my own. Anyway, one morning when I woke up, I could not understand why my parents were smiling as I walked into the veranda rubbing my eyes. Suddenly I understood. A beautiful shiny brand new red bicycle was waiting for me in the garden outside. It was the best surprise I ever got and I can feel it even today. I can even remember the bike. It was the best bike in the world. A quick thank you and I was off on the bike in a jiffy to my friends’ to show off. Oh what a sense of freedom, what a sense of independence. I was pedalling fast and furious and I thought nothing could now stop me from winning the world! After this I remember the cycle became a part of me. Or should I say I became a part of the bike. We were inseparable. Wherever I went, the bike went. It slept next to me in my bedroom and was given a loving wash almost every day. It was actually like a pet and my best friend. To my mother’s chagrin it took me away even from my studies for some time. Oh that feeling! I haven’t experienced that for a long time. Perhaps I need to ride again to get the exhilaration back in my life. Suddenly, the bell rang. I opened the door to face my new neighbour. She was my age, but a lot fitter. She inquired whether I had a spanner as she had to put her bike together as she had misplaced her tools. I was a bit lost frankly. I was still reeling in the nostalgia of my first love. My beautiful shining red set of wheels...
To be continued.
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Akshit doing it right
FEATURE
LITTLE DAREDEVILS Text by Crank India North Bureau. Images by Samir Azad, Ujjawal Vanwari, HASTPA
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ountain biking has fast emerged as one of the top endurance sports in the world. With its addition to the Olympics, there seems to be no turning back for a mountain biking enthusiast. With an increasing number of races and sub genres worldwide, mountain biking is fast becoming the most sought after extreme adventure sport.
team, won the under 19 Gold Medal at the recent MTB Nationals. However, there is a long way to go before we challenge the best from the world and our efforts to get there shall not waver. We need the good wishes and support from our partners and the riding community from across India.�
Many countries across the world are making their athletes and terrain more accessible to mountain biking. India, with its vast natural training grounds and emerging athletes is not one to hold back.
Currently, HASTPA with the support of Himachal Cycling Association conducts regular training in the mountains surrounding Shimla. The riders who attend this training program are from all walks of life and the common factor in them is the love for the sport and the thirst to utilize their rugged surroundings as the perfect training ground for mountain biking.
The largest and most popular collection of mountains in the world lie in the north of India, the Himalayas. The ranges have been a favourite spot for adventure seekers from time immemorial. There are many organizations that have emerged in the region to help promote, develop and train budding mountain bikers. One such organization is Himalayan Adventure Sports & Tourism Promotion Association (HASTPA). With its headquarters at Shimla, it especially focuses on identifying young talent and training them for the big leagues. HASTPA has been known for its continuous efforts in the field of mountain biking and organizes the MTB Himalaya.
Ashish Sood who heads the various divisions of the training program including the Hero Action Team has managed to get many youngsters involved in the training program. Kids as young as 14 years old are showing deep rooted dedication to learning and achieving accolades in the sport. Ashish shares with us the profiles of a few such promising riders that he is training who he strongly believes will become the next generation of champion mountain bikers from India.
While discussing with us of their efforts, Mohit Sood, President of HASTPA says, “We have already trained riders who have begun to perform at the highest level. Shiven, a rider from Hero Action
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Sanchit Sood: Fondly known as the silent assassin for being all ride and no talk, Sanchit Sood is currently studying in class 10th and has been riding since he was three. Sanchit will be participating in the MTB Shimla for the second time. He has been a tough rider
Gaurish practicing single tracks
Sanchit Sood negotiating the tree cover Shiven at MTB Shimla
Sushant & Akhshit at HCA MTB Snow Expedtion
at MTB Shimla 2014 attaining second position under the students category. Admiring his efforts, he is now sponsored by Hero Cycles India.
Akshit Gaur aiming for the coulds
Sushant Chauhan: The cutest kid on the scene and studying in the 9th standard, Sushant is perhaps the youngest rider around the mountains. He is hardworking, enthusiastic and a determined rider and is sure to be a tough competitor in future. He is 14 and manages to leave many a riders behind during the uphill sprints. Akshit Gaur: The most technically sound rider, Akshit is a beast on the trails. Catching a glimpse of him can get really hard. He has put tremendous amounts of efforts in honing his mountain biking skills in the last 2 odd years of riding. All the riders in the students’ category need to be wary of the level of competition he will bring to the table
Gaurish shyam at MTB Shimla
Gaurish Shyam: Having a head start into mountain biking, gives Gaurish a clear advantage. He is also involved in various other sports. Gaurish is a naturally talented rider. Since his induction into the mountain biking scene a year ago, he has shown a talent to master many technical trails quickly. Studying in the 10th standard, he seems to have very little competition against him. Do write to feedback@procycle.in for getting in touch with HASTPA.
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This sunset made it all worthwhile
THE LONG ROAD
MANGALORE TO GOA FOR NEW YEARS Text by Aishwarya Palaparthy, Images by Sampad and Shivram
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t was great to be in riding spirits again. After a hiatus of five years, in 2013 I picked up my Hercules MTB 18. What started out as a simple way to keep fit after graduating from college, turned into a means to seek adventure and see places I hadn’t before and to experience things I wouldn’t have earlier. The Hercules MTB 18 was a beautiful bicycle but was a tad heavy I thought. My awareness about International brands available in the country was in any case limited then. Anyways I was happy. The idea was to just be on a saddle. The cycling bug caught on real strong and long rides to Nandi and around Bangalore became routine. As I got involved with the community I became aware of the snazzy new wheels in the market and in no time, was the proud owner of a Scott Aspect 670. New bike meant new resolutions, new plans and new places to be explored. I thought why not take it up one notch. There was anyways a plan to celebrate New Years in Goa. I thought why not integrate the two. I decided to ride to Goa for New Years rather than take any conventional means of transport. This is the first time I was doing a long ride. I had not even done any conducted randonneuring tours so far. This meant, I had to plan myself and rely on my instincts and take on the elements. I was advised that riding is a buddy sport and it would be preferable if I had a buddy to ride with. I had met Shivram Subramaniam several times on our group rides around Bangalore to Nandi, Yelagiri and Bannerghatta National Park. In him I found a willing buddy to go the distance. Shivram was in Mangalore for Christmas, and I decided I will meet him there and begin our ride from Mangalore rather than Bangalore. Mangalore to Goa is approximately 460kms and we reckoned it would take us approximately four days. We set out just after
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We had never crasshed on the side of the road before
Christmas. The prospect of a scenic route all the way to Goa was exciting. We had two options; either take the coastal route via Udupi or the Inland route via Tirthahalli . Experienced riders suggested the latter. We had it all mapped out, Mangaluru to Tirthahalli on day one. Jog Falls on day two. Gokarna on day three and finally on day four we reach Palolem Beach, Goa. About a 100kms every day. Shivram was on his Trek 7.1 Hybrid and we packed as light as possible and geared ourselves for the exciting journey ahead. On day one to Tirthahalli, we had to take several stops as we were not yet accustomed perhaps and were getting tired but the mind was driving the body. We dismounted and lied down on the roadside breathless and sweaty several times. It was hilarious! We had never done something like this. It was a sense of complete freedom and bliss. We were laughing and the passersby were wondering what the matter was. Day one was without a doubt the most difficult part of the whole journey, there was a lot of rolling terrain, with almost no descent to help ease the burden on our tired thighs, the worst of which was conquering the Western Ghats. The long row of shady trees was a god gift protecting us from the sun. The ride was strenuous but doable. Thankfully we were fortunate not to have any mechanical troubles throughout the trip with the slight exception of Shivram’s faulty front derailleur which he had to shift manually many times. Upon reaching Tirthahalli very late and tired, we stayed at the first available lodge and went straight to sleep. Day two offered the excitement of encountering Jog Falls. After a good night’s rest at Tirthahalli we set out for Jog Falls. Thankfully the ride wasn’t as taxing as the previous day. We took a couple of breaks in between, to stretch and regain strength. A watermelon seller we encountered was aghast at the number of watermelons we gorged on at his stall. We were just grateful that he was there and he reciprocated by not charging us. That was his way of appreciating our efforts he said. There are good people everywhere. The ride further was truly picturesque with great landscapes, quaint villages and busy rural towns. We stopped several times to take pictures. When we finally reached Jog falls at around 7 in the evening, we got off our bicycles, wiped the sweat that shone on our faces and unpacked at the Karnataka government guest house. Soaking in our achievement for the day, it was time to celebrate with a beer. But we didn’t know that getting a beer from the nearby town would be an adventure by itself. In the dead of night our adventure
spirits intact we trekked through dark foliage just to get that cool accompaniment for our parched throat. We were told that the foliage was infested with poisonous snakes, but we trudged along. What’s an extra risk in an already adventurous expedition? After enjoying the morning mist and the majestic beauty of the falls, day three lead us to the coast. It was supposed to be an easy ride from Jog to Honnavar, but the heat had already taken its toll on us. By afternoon we reached Honnavar. But we couldn’t find any place to stay and decided to ride further to the town of Kumta. However since there was a lot more of the daylight left over, we decided to be more ambitious and head for Gokarna instead. A warm hearted villager suggested that if it was Gokarna we were aiming at, it is best to take a boat from a jetty 8kms away. What he did not tell was that the entire 8kms was an incline. This is a learning for all long riders. Distance can be misleading on a incline. We almost missed our boat and would have had to spend the night on the road. We reached Gokarna around 8:30 in the evening and stayed at a quaint guest house run by the most hospitable family in town. Great homemade Konkani food was already giving us the whiff of the countryside. The tangy taste of tamarind mixed with coconut milk is a heady flavour that makes this cuisine one of the best in the country. The sun rose early on day four, we were just a couple of hours away, we were eager but worn out, we made it to Karwar which is half way from Gokarna and Palolem, but then exhaustion caught us, more so because of the traffic snarls were getting to us. We consoled ourselves that we had anyway completed the stretch and hitched a ride for the last 30kms to Goa. After all we had to be fresh and ready for the New Years’ eve. For me, the most memorable moments would be the sight of the coast, I was looking forward to it and when I finally got to see it, with the sweat beading down my forehead, the pain and the rough roads seemed worth the trouble, the waves that crashed against the shore, the salt in the air, the skies that dominated the view made it all worth it. Looking back, this trip was beautiful. I made new friends on the way from varied walks of life, I experienced so much culture and got great pictures. It was incredible. The beauty of Karnataka is incredible. I’m so humbled by the splendor of our country. This trip inspired me to perhaps do many more tours around the country in the future. Perhaps the north, all the way to Kashmir. But if you really want to measure an experience by the number of breathless moments it has then a cycling long ride is one of those. Hope we can do a long ride together. Partners in ride
A great spot to rest
At Crossroads
THE LONG ROAD
SOUL TRIP ON TWO WHEELS Crank Staff. Images by Rama Krishna
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or a person who has managed to ascend to 14000ft in the Himalayas in a matter of 5 days, has represented university in track and field and almost made it to the nationals, is a practitioner of Shaolin Kung-Fu, challenging himself in the cycling discipline was the most obvious choice for Rama Krishna. Being a software professional working at Tesco in Bangalore, a busy work life has never been an impediment in accomplishing challenges. Rama Krishna spoke with us about the gruelling 1150kms south India sojourn that he accomplished on his single speed BSA Mach.
and be absolutely on my own with the elements. But this time it was going to be different. Being from the south and being an Indian, I would be coming across several towns and several relatives with whom I would stay between the stages. There was no way I could hide my route map from anyone! Anyway to convince my parents I did a smart branding exercise for my ride. I let my family know that the route is along several temple towns ending in Sabarimala and in fact this was a ride of faith. This little explanation comforted everyone in the family and in fact I garnered extra support from them.
I am not new to solo adventures, in fact I love it. I have often taken off alone and have undertaken some exciting trips. Leh-Ladakh on a motorcycle, the Ladakh marathon, Hyderabad to Vizag on a bicycle have been some of my memorable outings.
First the basic, the total route was 1150kms and touched the three southern states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The original plan was to a round trip and return to Bangalore, but I finished at Sabarimala instead. It was a straight dash south to Kanyakumari with a mid way detour east to visit Rameshwaram and then onward to Kanyakumari thereafter looping northwards to Sabarimala. All in 7 days! Enroute were the temple towns of Madurai, Rameshwaram, Thiruchandur, Kanyakumari and Trivandrum. So many blessings in a single week!
A long bike ride in the southern peninsula of the country was playing on my mind for some time. But as they say, destiny has decided a day for everything and for me 19th December 2014 seemed to be that day. Planning the trip and conditioning my body was not too much of a task as being an athlete, I manage to keep my body in good shape and ready to leap for my callings as far as possible. The difficult part for me every time seems to be convincing my parents for my solo wanderlust. I, normally inform them only on my return. In fact on my trips I prefer not be connected with anyone
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First day was a highway stretch from Bangalore to Salem approximately 200kms. A rather smooth ride. I encountered groups of pilgrims walking towards Sabarimala on their own soul trip. I told them that my destination is the same but on a bike and through a longer route. They wished me luck and I rode on.
Rameshwaram beach
A perfect selfie moment
Second day was from Salem to Madurai, a slightly longer distance of 235kms. I played a good Samaritan by offering my water bottle to a lady who seemed to have had an epileptic attack, waited for the villagers to come and take care of her and I was on my way. The third day was from Madurai to Rameshwaram, perhaps the toughest stretch of around 170kms. A single lane with heavy traffic is not easy for concentration. Besides, as one approaches the coast, the head wind is strong and adds to the effort. The fourth day was from Rameshwaram to Thiruchandur approximately 220kms. Once again a bad stretch till one connects to the highway for the last 30kms. Day five was a beautiful stretch of 175kms up to Trivandrum. But the task was made difficult by sheets of rain. I somehow managed to hold track in spite of the washed out roads. Reached Kanyakumari and meditated for some time on the beach watching the Vivekananda rock memorial. Day six, I looped northwards into Kerala for the last stage of 170kms. The roads are much better in Kerala. This was perhaps the most beautiful part of my trip. It was Christmas eve and the church bells were ringing with people getting ready for mass. The entire atmosphere was so beautiful that this became the highlight of my trip. I stayed in Pampa and ended my trip. Next day, thanked the lord at Sabarimala for giving me another opportunity to test myself. I then got onto a bus and headed back to Bangalore. My companion through the trip was my very old single speed BSA Mach. I could have done it on better International quality equipment, but there is a certain sentiment I have for her. I picked her up second hand in my college days for Rs. 800. I know it is time for me to upgrade but I thought one last time.
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At the southern tip of India
It is a lot of fun when you can make your own plans. I cycle alone because it connects me to my inner self and I feel I keep discovering myself as I pedal. There is even a sense of spirituality. One simply has to motivate oneself. I used to start my ride everyday at around 4:30AM and call it a day at around 8:00PM. I felt a surge of inner energy which I never felt before and I started feeling stronger and I kept pushing my limits. Every journey becomes a unique experience in itself filled with interesting people and quaint incidents. Riding in the wild can be challenging. In Kerala, one is likely to encounter Elephants and it is best not to be conspicuous. The ghat sections can be deceptive. You could tire yourselves out and could be riding for a long time and yet the distance covered can be frustratingly short. Beware, GPS route maps don’t give an idea of the elevation. It is best to consult experts, otherwise route planning can go horribly wrong. Running and Cycling has transformed me as a person. It has enabled me to achieve many things that I would have previously thought was not possible on both on the endurance front and personal life. Physical activities have always inspired me to be the best I can be. In the juggle between hectic work and personal life that everyone faces, I seem to have cracked the formula for frequent bursts of happiness. I use these solo escapes as a mode of unwinding and getting my priorities right. I managed to make a live update event on facebook out of my ride. The photographs are essentially selfies with mile markers in the background. The Facebook group got a lot of likes and I’m told inspired a few other. That quite honestly is my biggest satisfaction.
The champion category racers churning it out
RACE REPORT
VODAFONE CYCLING MARATHON, BENGALURU By Crank India South Bureau
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fter weeks of premature summer heat, came a long and continuous shower an evening before the Vodafone Cycling Marathon at Bengaluru. While many thought that this change in weather could play spoilsport, many other believed that race day will be yet another example for the perfect cycling weather that Bengaluru city boasts of. With over 6000 cyclists ranging from children to adults, commuters to professional athletes and even senior citizens, who were flagged off category wise as early as 5 AM, the Vodafone Cycling Marathon has pulled off a successful second edition under the aegis of the Cycling Federation of India. The event saw Mr. Onkar Singh Dhindsa, Secretary General of Cycling Federation of India being an active part of it at different levels.
flyover where the riders will have to negotiate two dizzying curves of the flyover which are also inclines and ride back all the way to the start line. Individual timing was mapped by the RFID tags on the bibs of the participants. While the race saw at least three crashes with no serious causalities, the city’s spirit to propagate something it believes in strongly, did not fade away. The 6 lap champions category race started when the rest of the city had woken up and came out as spectators and to cheer their favourite Bengaluru racers.
There were 5 categories that participants can register for. The champions category of 60kms for CFI licensed professional racers, a passion race of 40kms, a green ride of 20 kms, a fashion ride of 5kms and a no registration required kids race of 2kms.
The winner of the 40kms passion race, Mr. Sohel Bargir received a prize money of Rs. 1Lakh. Sreedhar Savannur bagged a two time victory at the champions category race with a prize money of Rs. 2.5lakhs followed by C. Rajesh from TN placing second and winning a prize money of Rs. 1.75 lakhs who was followed by Atul Kumar at third place winning a prize money of Rs. 1.25lakhs.
The track was a good stretch of 10 kms that needed to be lapped based on the category one competed at. The start line was at St. Francis School, Koramangala and stretched out until the Domlur
The city of Bengaluru has woken up to the cause of using cycles and the sheer volume of participation at the Vodafone Cycling Marathon is proof to this belief.
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This year saw a turnout that had a lot of women riders
A participant shows off his
There were many such riders who did not show up on specialty cycles Winners of the 60kms champions category race
EVENTS CALENDAR 13th to 16th March, 2015
3rd to 5th April, 2015
Gujarat The Impossible Race, Uphill EMG www.theimpossiblerace.com
Shimla 4th UT MTB 2015, Ashish Sood mtbhimalaya@hastpa.org
12th April, 2015
3rd to 5th April, 2015
Mysore 200 BRM, Lokesh Narasimhachar Lokisport@gmail.com
Cycle Fitness & Outdoor Sports Expo-2015 iicycleexpo.com
5th April, 2015
19th APRIL 2015
Lucknow National Cycling 2015, Kali Shanker info@nationalcycling.in
Pune Pune Triathlon www.exploreadventures.co.in
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Riding in a line at the Mharo Rajasthan BRM
FEATURE
ROYAL RAJASTHAN RANDONNEURING
By Crank India North Bureau, additional text by Ela Ghose and Chiro Mitra. Images by Chiro Mitra, Vikas Garg, Tajauddin Ansari, Satish Singh & Manmohan Singh
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month into the new year and with many people booting themselves for not keeping up their new year resolutions, February was the one available month before the blistering summers of Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan set in. Taking advantage of the last window with alleged right kind of weather and the valentine season in mind. Two separate 1200K brevets took off from the national capital region towards the mystical state of Rajasthan. While most cyclists are happy that they can pedal 20 to 30kms everyday either to work or to exercise, there are others who want to push the envelope and test themselves by doing longer rides. The national capital region and the neighbouring royal state of Rajasthan have always supported such challenges. With the presence of dedicated groups like the Delhi Randonneurs and the Ultra Cycling Association of India, the love for long distance riding has reached an all new level in the north of India. Both associations take great pains to put together routes and rides and provide maximum amount of support to long distance riders.
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Delhi Randonneurs routinely host 200, 400 and 600km brevets. Their recent 1200km brevet called ‘Mharo Rajasthan’ which means ‘My Rajasthan’ was flagged off from Delhi on the 14th February, 2015. The flag off ceremony was a Rajasthani affair that included traditional attire, dhols, (drums) matha tikka (vermilion on the forehead) et al. No less Rajasthani was another 1200km brevet titled DBC-2 organized by the Ultra Cycling Association of India and flagged off on the 18th February 2015. The name itself is an acronym ‘Dal Baati Choorma’ and this is its second edition. UCAI also organizes rides ranging from 100 to 1200kms. The 100 km rides are more popular though. Ela Ghose, a volunteer and marshal at the DBC-2 lets us in on a secret that cycling long distances like 1200Km requires year round training. She suggests that a few 200 km+ brevets through the annual training program is a good way to prepare. The DBC-2 1200KM is a signature ride, designed to challenge everything that a rider can imagine. Rajasthan offers a dry, semi desert, undulating
A traditional send off for the riders of the Mharo Rajasthan The Mueller couple riding at the DBC There is no night or day for these riders at the Mharo Rajasthan BRM
Riding in a line at the DBC
landscape with open vistas, hills, barren lands and strong winds. In the month of February, day and night temperature can vary by 30 degrees, from a low of 6 degrees to a high of 36 degrees. An experienced rider can target 350kms a day, whereas a newbie can comfortably aspire for 250km. Some of the climbs can really get to you. From the Mharo Rajasthan BRM
Ela adds, “remember to eat and drink periodically. A bottle of energy drink, couple of energy bars, bananas, fruit should be handy accompaniments. One must keep the food replenishments on even during breaks. Constant riding empties the body of nutrients and needs replenishment.� The two riders out of the six who began and managed to finish the DBC-2 were a couple from Goa, Richard and Belinda Mueller fondly called the Muellers. They managed to stay ahead of the rest of the pack at every checkpoint. The couple participated last year but only Belinda was able to finish then. Dr. Chiro Mitra, a veterinarian by profession and an ultra runner by passion is one of the key people involved with the Delhi Randonneurs rides tells us about the Mharo Rajasthan. It has a lovely route starting at Delhi and back till Neemrana and is packed with climbs. Having four riders from the United States also added
Smiling through the heat and exhaustion at the Mharo Rajasthan BRM
In some irony, a truck supports a cycle at the DBC
an international flavour to the mix of the riders. Chiro tells us that completing the 1200km brevet in mandated time of less than 90 hours required sticking to a protocol which most riders stuck to and were therefore successful. The ride had its ups and downs, taking its toll on the riders due to extreme heat in the afternoon in the dry parched terrains of Rajasthan. Finding a shade for a water break was difficult if not impossible and the dust made it even worse. One of the riders even had to be taken to the hospital on the first night of riding. Both Mharo Rajathan and DBC-2 had a route that was picturesque, mystical yet tough and gruelling. The route passed through lively yellow mustard fields and the commanding Aravali range and enroute were the cities of Jaipur, Kishangarh, Ajmer, Bhim, Nathdwara, Eklingji, Udaipur, Chittorgarh and Bhilwara with their imposing forts and divine temples. The riders took back home a sense of achievement having finished the 1200Km in spite of defying sleep for nearly 90 hours and virtually surviving along the roads with their entire being and their aspirations balanced upon a trusty set of skinny wheels. Finishing a 1200km ride is mostly a win of mind over body. These two brevets can be truly be called the royalty amongst randonneuring events. To get in touch with UCAI or Delhi Randonneurs write to feedback@procycle.in
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ProCycle PROFILED ProCycle Profiled is a section where we show off some of our most valued cyclists. This month we talk to Mr. Ashish Rathore, MD, Kimberlite Chemicals
WIZARD OF CHEMICALS By Crank Bangalore Bureau
A
shish Rathore, Managing Director of Kimberlite Chemicals is the embodiment of work and play. A busy entrepreneur, Rathore lives virtually out of a bag travelling the world in and out of flights, mostly redeyes. He believes the best way to keep him fit is to not let his spirit of adventure down. An avid cyclist, he lives in North Bangalore where his home is nestled in a refreshing patch of green next to the Jakkur lake. It makes for a great view and adds to the convenience to reach the open stretches of the BIAL highway. Every weekend is religiously reserved for taking out his Giant XTC 7 mountain bike for a ride on the Bellary road. Rathore chooses not to merely stay on the Highway but puts the bike through the paces and tests its fullest capability by exploring the rural patches around. He especially loves the suspension lock feature on the handlebar to switch between smooth tarmac and the rough countryside roads to make his rides comfortable. He loves to be adventurous and explores new trails and plans to do long rides and even cross country rides in the future. Well, if time permits from his busy schedule.
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Going round the bend
RACE REPORT
GOA TRIATHLON, 2015 Text by Ashwin Tombat Images by Prasad Pankar
I
t is 5am on a Sunday and the scene at Bambolim beach outside Panjim was different from the usual. Instead of the peace and quiet occasionally punctuated by barking dogs and crowing roosters heralding the dawn, a couple of hundred people have just cycled down to the beach or have driven in with bicycles on car racks. It’s 22 February 2015, and it’s time for the second edition of the Goa triathlon. An event organized by Go Adventures, the Goa triathlon is the only Indian triathlon with a swim in the sea. Bambolim Beach is ideal for holding triathlons, as it is the safest swimming beach in Goa with very little surf and flat waters in the morning. Tides run parallel to the beach, and there is no fear of swimmers getting swept out to sea. The three consecutive and continuous stages defined by the race director are; a 1.5km swim, followed by 40km cycling, and a 10km run. There was as discernable boost in participation this year. From 46 individual participants last year, the registrations for this year went up to 176. Even the team registrations went up from 32 teams of three to 45 this year. Joseph Rodrigues, karate instructor, endurance cyclist and founder member of Go Adventures, attributes this increased enthusiasm to the team category which has encouraged those who are not all-round athletes, but can manage either of the three disciplines to team up with others and leverage their collective potential.
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Goa already has a thriving marathon culture. The Goa River Marathon in Vasco saw its fourth edition in December last year. The other important events on the marathon calendar are the Annual Goa Marathon in Panaji and the Dr Ramani Marathon in Ponda besides a host of smaller endurance running events along the scenic coastline and river banks. The triathlon has only added to this thriving culture by bringing Goa’s cyclists and swimmers closer to the running community. Cycling is India’s new go-to sport, offering well-heeled urbanites not just fitness, but opening the door to competitive sporting and adventure events. Tiny Goa, with a population of just 1.5 million, has over 300 endurance cyclists registered with the state’s apex cycling organization, Cycling Goa. The state now has over half a dozen dealers selling high-end bicycles to cycling enthusiasts. For many bikers, both from Goa and other cities, the triathlon is a first. It is expected that the team participants will take the plunge to go individual and do all three disciplines themselves the following year. At 7am, chief guest Rear Admiral Balvinder Parhar, Flag Officer for the Goa Area and for Naval Aviation, dropped the flag and blew a whistle. The Goa triathlon was on, and a couple of hundred swimmers ran down the beach and into the sea. Participants had to swim out to a large boat with a very visible mock sail, shout their bib numbers aloud as they went around it, return to the beach and report to the beach-masters, get off their
caps and goggles, put on a tee-shirt if they weren’t wearing a trisuit, and run to get onto their bicycles for the 40km slog. All water bodies are at lower levels, and Goa is no exception. To get from the Bambolim Beach to the Taleigao plateau which was the start of the cycling stage involved a 750-metre climb up a steep slope which, in ‘Tour de France’ parlance would be classified as ‘Hors Catégorie’ or ‘beyond categorization’. The 40km cycling route were seven loops on a flat world-class four lane highway closed to traffic for the event. The cycling ended at the brand new S P Mukherjee Indoor Stadium, whose parking lot served as the second transition. Here, cyclists dismounted, hoisted their cycles onto steel racks, put on their running shoes and set off on the final leg to the finish which were two loops covering 10km on the same highway. Pablo gives Lucia a peck on the cheek at the start The stadium parking area was the nerve centre of the event, where the logistics and medical teams were located.
Swimmers set off with lifeguard on standby
Pablo Erat of Switzerland won the Goa triathlon for the second time in a row in the individual category, clocking a time of 02.05.09 hrs. His win was all the more significant this year as his wife Lucia, who clocked 02.19.11 hrs, bagged the second place overall. She also bagged the prize for the fastest woman. Enaut Gonzalez Ruiz of Spain claimed the third spot, with a time of 2.21.42. The top Indian finisher was Madhurjah Borah in fifth place with 2:23:57, whereas the top triathlete from Goa, Samreth Singh came seventh at 2:30.00. In the team event, the winner was Kreeda Prabodhini from Pune (Akshay Fulambarkar swimming, Raghunath Mali cycling and Amit Kadam running) clocking 2.08.54. The Goa team (Marushka de Oliveira swimming, Fredsan Marshall cycling and Francisco Clemente running) emerged second, clocking 2.11.09 while a Dhristi Lifeguards team (Viraj Pardeshi swimming, Sushil Dhende cycling and Dashrath Mengal running) bagged the third spot with a time of 2.12.04. The event received national participation as 124 out of the 176 were Indian nationals from outside Goa which included 36 foreign nationals. All three prize winners in 2015 were foreign nationals. Perhaps had India’s top men triathletes, who are from the Armed Forces participated, results would have been different.
Out of the water
Woman power 30 women participated
steady in motion
Pablo fights the heat
The event was electronically timed by Timing India using RFID chips. This was one glitch that could have been avoided as there was some delay in putting up the official timing. The second was shortage of water. There were eight water stations on the route, all properly positioned and well spaced out. Unfortunately, all of them ran out of water and competitors had no water to drink mid-race for about 25 minutes. Surely, these are learning for the future The total prize money of Rs1.99 lakh sponsored by Goa tourism (GTDC) was handed out to the winners by Fr Savio from Caritas Goa. A large part of the event proceeds will be donated to Caritas Goa, a well known charity for its home for children living with HIV in Tivim.
Lucia Erat
To get in touch with Go Adventures write to feedback@procycle.in
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BIKE TECH
Pinch the two brake arms together to free the brake noodle
A typical V brake system
The slot in the bridge that holds the brake noodle
MAINTAINING YOUR V-BRAKES Text and Images by aniSh
I
n our continuing series for DIY enthusiasts, we bring to you tips on maintaining your V-brakes at home this time. After all, it’s the old cycling adage “It is not how fast you go, but how fast you can stop your bike.”
Whether you are a long distance roadie or a commuter or a trail rider, accurate braking is everyone’s requirement. V-brakes are perhaps the most common braking systems that can be found on bicycles. Maintaining them periodically is imperative for your ride quality. It is dangerous to ride with improper braking even if it is for short distances. Crank gives you tips to keep your braking systems functioning properly for longer. Let’s begin by getting to know the components of a V-brake and how the system works. A V-brake is constituted of brake pads, brake arms, brake noodle, noodle holder (quick release), brake cable inner, brake cable outer, barrel adjuster and brake lever. V-brakes function by inducing friction between the wheel rims and the rubber pads. The amount of friction is controlled by applying pressure on the brake levers on your handle bar. Proper maintenance of your V-brakes which includes routine cleaning and making minor adjustments improves safety and prevents excessive component wear and tear. These home maintenance tips can be done without any tools and should be a part of your routine riding discipline. Let us first begin by explaining how the system works. The brake
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pads which rub with the wheel rim are mounted on two movable brake arms. The brake arms are attached to the bike frame at a spring loaded pivot. To get complete access to these parts, squeeze the brake arms together and pull the noodle away and upwards from the noodle holder. This will free both the brake arms from each other making the rubbing surface of the brake pads are now easy to access. Use a cleaning cloth like dirty wipes or plain and simple kitchen wipes and rub the brake pads clean. Pull down on the brake pads just a little to ensure thorough cleaning. Use another side or a different piece of the cloth to wipe the rim line clean. Make sure you do not use any kind of a solution or lubricant on the cloth. Use a water soaked rag in case of too much grime. Use a mild water based detergent if necessary. Repeat the entire process until the rim is rid of all debris. Slip the brake noodle back into the noodle holder and check for proper fit by squeezing on the brake lever a few times. The barrel adjuster at the brake lever is our next stop. The barrel adjuster is a hollow screw that has the brake cable running through its centre. As the brake pads wear out, the barrel adjuster needs to be tweaked to achieve optimum braking. If the barrel adjuster is screwed all the way in (clockwise), the brake pads are further away from the rim. If the barrel adjuster is screwed all the way out (counter clockwise), the brake pads get closer to the rim.
Rub the brake pads with a lint free cloth
Barrel adjuster screwed all the way in
Brake pads touching the rims
Screw the barrel adjuster clockwise or anticlockwise until the brake pads have just a tiny gap of 1 mm on each side from the rims. Make sure you spin the wheel a couple of times to check if the brake pads touch the rim at any point. If the brake pads do touch the rims at separate intervals that means you have a problem of truing the rim. This means it is time to visit the bike doctor. If this is the case, screw the barrel adjuster in (clockwise) by half or one full turn. This will create a bigger gap between the brake pads and the rims, letting the wheel roll freely. We must warn you, that doing this can reduce your brake bite.
Wipe the rim line clean off any dirt and mud
Barrel adjuster screwed all the way out
Brake pads too far away from the rims
All brake pads have a brake wear indicator which is a thin rubber line around the sides of the brake pads. Be sure to check the rubbing surface of the brake pads to spot early wear and tear and have a bike doctor replace them for you. Make sure you test the results before you finish up by taking your bike for a few test rides. You can run this entire process by yourself every time you feel that the braking isn’t responsive enough, or if your brake levers feel soft. You can even follow these steps after a long tour or even just once every month. Periodic maintenance will leave you with squeak free and efficient braking. Happy riding.
Barrel adjuster screwed just right
Perfect gap between the rim and the brake pads for optimum braking
The brake wear indicator is a thin rubber line protruding around the brake pads
Worn out brake pads
BBCh Nandi Epic 2014
YOUNG TURK OF CYCLING
AUNSH BANDIVADEKAR By Crank India West Bureau. Images by Raghavendra Mohan, Vivek and flashbulbzz
W
e met up with Aunsh after he picked up his winnings at the Vodafone Cycle Marathon. Aunsh has been a regular on the road starting with casual riding on hybrids and has now moved onto competitive racing. Aunsh who is 16, has been competing for the last two years and is making his presence felt. The cycling bug caught him during a 450kms Pune to Goa cycling expedition. Since then, he has emerged a super randonneur at the age of 15 by completing brevets of 200, 300, 400 and 600 through 2014. His first victory at the Pune Bicycle Championship for the under 18 category sealed his interest in taking up road racing. Since June of 2014 he has been racing for Team Lifecycle Racing, under the
VodafoneCyclingmarathon2015
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guidance of Michael Lehnig, a top ranking triathlete from Germany and now, Aunsh’s coach. Under his guidance, Aunsh has secured many victories starting with the BBCh Nandi epic 100K, the BBCh Gunjur lake circuit, PBCh Pune-Panchgani to name a few. With a great season in 2014, he has also managed to participate at district and state level championships. With a great run at his first event of the 2015 season at the Bangalore Vodafone Cycling Marathon, Aunsh is now training hard to compete at the National level and hopes that to utilize the great cycling tracks and support of Bangalore city to his advantage. Crank wishes him luck and all the best and looks forward to seeing more of him.
Gunjur Lake Circuit Win BBCh
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BOYS’ TOYS
LEZYNE SPORT FLOOR DRIVE A classic feel derived from the wooden handle
Very clean pressure gauge
2 in 1 Presta and Schrader valves
If you like the retro look this Steampunk of a floor pump is just for you. The Lezyne Sport Floor Drive is a high pressure floor pump that features a steel barrel and piston, a varnished wood handle, and a molded Composite Matrix base. It is equipped with ball/bladder adapters, and users can choose to utilize either its ABS Flip-Thread Chuck, or the new Dual Valve head. An extra long rubber hose with Composite Matrix connectors easily reach both Presta and Schrader valves. Its 2.5-inch oversized gauge is precise and very easy to read. An anodized high-polish finish makes this pump stylish and durable..
SCOTT ARX HELMET For the serious enthusiast and professional racers, the search for the perfect helmet ends here. The Scott ARX is a mere 250gms. It looks killer when it is on your head, on the coat hanger or simply holding a chair for you. With Scott’s optimized venting which is outer and inner cooling channels working in perfect harmony to keep your head cool and a trusted solid build using the In-Mold technology. The helmet also comes with Scott’s racing speciality fit system, the MRAS 2. The adjustment dial is easy to reach and use even with a single hand while on the fly. With such amazing features, this helmet needs no convincing if you care for your head. For more details drop us a line at torquewrench@procycle.in
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