SPRING/SUMMER 2017
BUYERS GUIDE Part 2
2017 Mountain and BMX Bikes
CAMPY LAUNCH RIDE QUEBEC CITY CANADA 150 GREAT RIDES CANADIAN ROAD AND MTB TEAMS $5.95 www.pedalmag.com
HOT RIDES
Marin, Scott, Specialized
RAPS
Registration Number 9874 Agreement Number 40064311 Printed in Canada
Tuft, Gagné, Sullivan, Stieda, Singleton
CONCEPT The combination of pure power and speed
colnago.com colnago
CONTENTS
SPRING/SUMMMER 2017, VOLUME 31, ISSUE 2
28 49
82
39 SPECIAL FEATURES
GEAR
COMPETITION
26 24 Hours of Summer Solstice
17 New 2017 Gear
78 Track World Championships 2017
32 Marin Hawk Hill BIKE TEST
80 Para Track World Championships
Celebrates 20 Years by Peter Kraiker
28 Ride Quebec City by Ben Andrew
39 Canada 150 Great Canadian Rides
by Ryan D. Butt, Jonathan MacInnis, Andrew L’Esperance, Andrew McNair, Maghalie Rochette, Soren Meeuwisse, Oliver Evans, Susan Clarke, Cory Wallace, Sandra Walter, Thomsen D’Hont and Derek Crowe
42 Campagnolo Global Press Camp by Tim Lefebvre
SPRING/SUMMER 2017
by Paul Newitt
34 Scott Spark 940 BIKE TEST by Tim Lefebvre
36 Specialized S-Works Enduro 29/6Fattie BIKE TEST by Paul Newitt
49 2017 MTB & BMX Buyer’s Guide by Ben Andrew, Mike Sarnecki, Paul Newitt and Chris Redden
by Gaelen Merritt
Best Showing for Canada by John Symon
81 Canada MTB Cup Report by Sandra Walter
82 Road Teams 2017 by Gaelen Merritt
84 MTB Teams 2017 by Sandra Walter
DEPARTMENTS 8 Out In Front 18 Tuft Enough 20 MTB Frontlines
BUYERS GUIDE Part 2
Legendary Canadian MTB racer and statesman Geoff Kabush (Scott-Maxxis), training in Moab, Utah.
2017 Mountain and BMX Bikes
CAMPY LAUNCH RIDE QUEBEC CITY CANADA 150 GREAT RIDES CANADIAN ROAD AND MTB TEAMS HOT RIDES
$5.95
Marin, Scott, Specialized
www.pedalmag.com
RAPS
Registration Number 9874 Agreement Number 40064311 Printed in Canada
by Mike Sarnecki
Tuft, Gagné, Sullivan, Stieda, Singleton
GIBSON PICTURES
22 Sullivan Report 86 Back Pedaling 87 Sportif Stieda 88 Last Word
www.pedalmag.com
SPRING/SUMMER 2017 PEDAL 1
J O I N U S O N AU G U ST 13TH AN D R I D E TO MAKE A D I FFE R E N C E publisher/editor Benjamin Sadavoy graphic design Steven Boyle contributors Ben Andrew, Tiffany Baker, Ryan D. Butt, Susan Clarke, Derek Crowe, Thomsen D’Hont, Oliver Evans, Raphaël Gagné, William Humber, Cory Jay, Ron Johnson, Peter Kraiker, Andrew L’Esperance, Tim Lefebvre, Andrew McNair, Soren Meeuwisse, Gaelen Merritt, Paul Newitt, Maghalie Rochette, Gord Singleton, Alex Stieda, Monique Sullivan, John Symon, Cory Wallace, Sandra Walter
More than a charity ride, join us for a great day on a bike. Ride for fun and enjoy the scenery or compete for cash or a personal best. Fully supported ride benefiting the United Way Durham Region: Fighting poverty, helping kids, building a better community.
photographic contributions Amici Per La Vita, Apex Race Photography, Asphalt Anchors Corp, Tiffany Baker, Jeff Bartlett, Vernon Boldick/DT Productions, Julian Bowers, Derek Crowe, Thomsen D’Hont, Steve Devantier, Freewheeling, Raphaël Gagné, Brittany Gawley/CPC, Gibson Pictures, Jonathan Duncan, Andrew L’Esperance, Dawn Leja, Andrew McNair, Gregory C. McNeill, Soren Meeuwisse, Mont-Sainte-Anne, Maghalie Rochette, Heinz Ruckemann, Sentiers Du Moulin, Pasquale Stalteri, Glen Strickey, Monique Sullivan, Guy Swarbrick, The Cyclery, Trek Canada MTB Team, Vallée-Bras-du-Nord, Cor Vos, World Bicycle Relief copy editing Claudia Brown circulation/admistration Crystal Burs production Crackerjack Enterprises advertising sales Benjamin Sadavoy webmaster David Irving head office 260 Spadina Avenue, Suite 200 Toronto Ontario, Canada M5T 2E4 Phone: (416) 977-2100; Fax: (416) 977-9200 info@pedalmag.com; www.pedalmag.com subscriptions (2017) Newsstand $4.95 Annual Buyers Guide $5.95 1-yr Subscription (6 issues) $20.95 2-yr Subscription (12 issues) $36.95 US Subscribers: US$28.95 (1-yr); US$51.95 (2-yr) Int’l Subscribers: US$50.95 (1-yr); US$91.95 (2-yr)
Change of address: subscriptions@pedalmag.com General inquiries: info@pedalmag.com Subscribe: www.pedalmag.com/subscribe
To register or donate, call 905.436.7377 or visit ride4unitedway.com
member of 2017 Pedal Spring/Summer Pedal, a division of 1198189 Ontario Inc., is published 6 times annually: Annual Buyer’s Guide, Spring/Summer, Fashion, Fall, Winter, at 260 Spadina Ave., Suite 200, Toronto, Ontario M5T 2E4. The entire contents are the property of Pedal Magazine and may not be reprinted or reproduced, in whole or in part, without the written permission of the publisher. Unsolicited material or contributions must be accompanied by return postage. Pedal assumes no responsibility for such photographs or manuscripts. 2nd Class Publications Mail Registration #9874, paid at 969 Eastern Ave., Toronto, ON M4L 1A5. If undeliverable or address changed, please notify: 260 Spadina Ave., #200, Toronto, ON M5T 2E4. U.S. Office of Publication: 240 Portage Road, PO Box 670-25, Lewiston, NY, 14092. Periodicals postage paid at Niagara Falls, NY. 2nd Class U.S. Publications, USPS Registration #012177. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Pedal Magazine, PO Box 553, Niagara Falls, NY 14304
2 PEDAL SPRING/SUMMER 2017
www.pedalmag.com
TREAD
Canada Has It All Let’s face it, we have it all here in Canada. Our feature on favourite MTB rides in “Canada 150, Part Two” (pages 39-46) is one portal into the rich mosaic across the country, and when you include Part One that covered a mix of cool road routes, the value doubles. Add the new kids on the block in our “Ride Quebec City” report (pages 28-29) that highlights three exciting venues, along with 40 years of Mardis Lachine Criterium racing in Montreal, 20 years of 24 Hours of Solstice near Caledon, Ont., Bear Mountain in B.C. and everything in between, and an awesome Canadian landscape comes into view. And the future looks even brighter with Vancouver’s two new city rides, coming this August. The final ingredients are your legs, some passion and a cool bike. Check out our annual “MTB Buyer’s Guide” (pages 49-77), and enjoy your favourite routes or discover new ones. Happy Canada 150. - BAS
4 PEDAL SPRING/SUMMER 2017
www.pedalmag.com
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SPRING/SUMMER 2017 PEDAL 5
SENTIERS DU MOULIN
Ride Quebec City is a new initiative featuring kick-ass MTB trails at VallĂŠe Bras-du-Nord, Mont-Sainte-Anne and Sentiers du Moulin...see pages 28-29 in this issue.
Cycle Niagara’s South Coast
Uncharted Unexpected Get cycling route descriptions, maps and information about cycling and experiencing Niagara’s South Coast at www.PortColborne.ca/page/cycling
CONTRIBUTORS Tiffany Baker From buying a road bike to impress a guy to creating and managing Edmonton’s largest women’s road-cycling group, Tiffany Baker is proof that you don’t need to be an Elite athlete to be a leader in sport. Her passion to grow women’s cycling led to the creation of the Women of ERTC, an arm of the Edmonton Road and Track Club. Her vision to simply have more women with whom to ride has grown into a thriving recreational and racing group who share much more than simply hours on a bike. Her work within Edmonton and Alberta has started to change the culture of cycling in her province. A once male-dominated sport has seen an influx of new women racers, the biggest increase in recent years. More than just an increase in numbers, Baker is most proud of the resulting friendships, support and encouragement that extend beyond club lines and across disciplines.
Peter Kraiker
1.888.PORT.FUN
www.PortColborne.ca
Peter Kraiker is a Toronto, Ont.-based photojournalist who specializes in covering bicycle races. He studied photography at Ryerson and spent a number of years working as a studio photographer, photojournalist and darkroom technician before getting into IT. Kraiker is a passionate cyclist who loves to combine travel and cycling, and was a member of the Toronto City Cycling Committee. He used his IT skills to do cycling advocacy on the One Less Car Bulletin Board in the 1990s. Since 2008, he has combined his love of bikes with his photography skills, and has been bringing a fresh perspective to cycling images and stories for Pedal. You’ll know Kraiker is at an event if you see his distinctive VW camper in the parking lot. You can follow his travels at nextchapter.kraikerphoto.com.
Paul Newitt
Distributed by
zmcyclefitness.com dartmoor-bikes.com
ZM Cycle & Fitness Ltd 2055 Dufferin St, Toronto, ON M6E 3R3 (416) 652-0080
6 PEDAL SPRING/SUMMER 2017
Since 1982, Paul Newitt has been pushing pedals on everything from 800-lb. pedicabs to $10,000 feather-light road bikes. During 30-plus years in the cycling industry, Newitt has raced both Category 2 road and Elite MTB for such teams as Kinetic, Norco, Escape Velocity and Kona, and produced and published the first B.C. Offroad Race Guide in 1994. Joining Pedal magazine in 1995 while completing his dental degree at the University of British Columbia and continuing to race for Team Norco, Newitt went on to cover hundreds of products and events, including World Cups, industry bike shows, industry leaders and international Endurance events such as La Ruta de los Conquistadores and the TransRockies. Proudly being the only writer ever to complete the first seven TransRockies, Newitt’s passion is Endurance events and in-race reporting, especially when things get rough, and he loves to share those adventures with readers who enjoy a colourful story. www.pedalmag.com
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OU T I N F RO NT
Mardis Cyclistes Celebrates 40 Years Last Hurrah for Tino Rossi? BY JOHN SYMON
J
oseph “Tino” Rossi, now 77, has been running the Mardis Cyclistes de Lachine (MCL) Criterium stage races around Lasalle Park for more than half of his life. Now in its 40th season, the series has recently seen the injection of $250,000 from the City of Montreal, without which Rossi admits the MCL might no longer exist. The year 2017 is, of course, Canada’s 150th anniversary, as well as Montreal’s 375th and Lachine’s 350th, so this is probably a good year for Rossi to pass the torch to his successors. Rossi was born near Rome, Italy, in a country where cycling rivals soccer as the national sport. His family immigrated to Canada when Rossi was a young boy, bringing traditions of the Old Country with them. Rossi and some cycling friends “discovered Lasalle Park by accident” one evening in 1978, and realized it was a natural circuit for “a Crit.” That first evening, Rossi used chalk to mark the start/finish line as seven cyclists raced the one-mile circuit. There were complaints from motorists after that first race, and Rossi was called in the next day to see the local mayor, Guy Descary. Instead of being told to cease and desist, the mayor asked Rossi, “Would you like to do it again?” and lent the full assistance of his municipality. All Lachine mayors over 40 years have been supportive, but Rossi is most lavish in praising the current borough mayor, Claude Dauphin. 8 PEDAL SPRING/SUMMER 2017
PASQUALE STALTERI
Joseph “Tino” Rossi, 77, with checkered flag in hand, turned the Mardis Cyclistes de Lachine Criterium series, celebrating its 40th season, into magical races that have achieved cult status.
What all the mayors saw is that the MCL could help give Lachine a better image. Formerly a down-and-out part of Montreal known for drugs and crime, Lachine is now a vibrant place where people are buying homes. The area’s new reputation is based in part on bicycling. On the surface, the MCL is a series of races with a feature 50km Criterium held over 10 Tuesday evenings each summer. But Rossi has leveraged this into something much bigger, into a magical race that has achieved cult status. “I added on the decorum and ceremonies,” explains Rossi. During the countdown to the weekly races, he excitedly shouts to the pack, “Are you ready to rumble?” Right from its beginning in 1978, the races were fast and competitive. In the early years, Ontario cyclists such as Steve Bauer, Jocelyn Lovell, Gord Singleton and Alex Stieda often made the trip to Montreal, racing against such Quebec riders as Louis Garneau, Pierre Harvey and Claude Langlois. All of these cyclists went on to win great acclaim in their cycling careers, testimony to what they learned sprinting around Lasalle Park. In recent years, Quebecers riding Pro in Europe, names such as Antoine Duchesne (Direct Energie), Hugo Houle (AG2R), François Parisien (formerly Argos-Shimano) and David Veilleux (formerly Europcar), have all been regulars here. Women riders, such as Joelle Continued on page 48 www.pedalmag.com
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Ellen’s Law Officially Passed in New Brunswick
O
The tragic loss of Ellen Watters brought the entire cycling community across Canada together and galvanized support for #Ellenslaw.
COURTESY OF THE CYCLERY
n May 5, royal assent was given to “Ellen’s Law” in the New Brunswick legislature, requiring motorists to give cyclists at least a one-metre (39 inches) safe clearance when passing. Cycling advocates gathered at the legislature to celebrate the unanimous passing of the law and commemorating the tragic death of Professional cyclist Ellen Watters in late December 2016. Watters was struck from behind by a vehicle during a training ride near Sussex, N.B. The new law is officially recognized as “An Act Respecting Ellen’s Law.” Ironically, a few days later, New Brunswick police announced that no criminal charges will be brought forward following Watters’ death, citing insufficient evidence. Watters rode for Ottawa, Ont.-based The Cyclery-Opus Team for several years, and had signed with U.S.-based Colavita/Bianchi for 2017. Her tragic death unleashed an outpouring of sympathy for the popular rider and a renewed push for stronger laws to protect cyclists. Watters distinguished herself in 2016, winning the Tour of the Battenkill and Tour of Somerville, as well as claiming bronze in the Criterium at the Canadian Road Championships. She also helped her teammates, one being Tara Whitten, who won
the overall at the 2016 Cascade Cycling Classic. Apart from her riding prowess, Watters was well liked and known for her antics.
Chernove and Travers Receive Paralympic Awards
P
10 PEDAL SPRING/SUMMER 2017
Tristen Chernove received the award for Best Games Debut in light of his three medals at Rio 2016.
BRITTANY GAWLEY/CPC
aracyclist Tristen Chernove was one of the big winners at the 2017 Canadian Paralympic Hall of Fame and Sport Awards ceremony held in Ottawa, Ont. this past April. Chernove received the award for Best Games Debut. He spearheaded a record nine-medal performance for Canada’s Para-cycling Team in Rio, Brazil. He took gold in the time trial and road race, silver in the Individual Pursuit and bronze in the 1,000-metre time trial. “I switched from able-bodied paddle sport to Para sport, and throughout my whole career, I’ve never been as in love with sport as I am now. I just feel really lucky. I won’t say that my life hasn’t had some difficulties, but there’s always been this huge amalgam of reasons for gratitude, so there’s no room for pain or suffering,” said Chernove. Meanwhile, Sébastien Travers received the Tim Frick Paralympic Coach Excellence Award. Travers is the National Para-cycling Team head coach
who directed cyclists to the impressive nine-medal tally in Rio, making cycling the most successful Paralympic sport for Canada at that Games. “For the next four years, my goal is to make sure that my athletes, even if they are high-performing athletes, have fun,” said Travers.
CYCLING CANADA TO HOST UCI TRACK WORLD CUP IN MILTON Cycling Canada has been selected by the International Cycling Union (UCI) to host a leg of the Tissot UCI Track World Cup in each of the next three years. Beginning in 2017-18 and extending through the 201920 track seasons, the Mattamy National Cycling Centre in Milton, Ont. will play host to more than 300 of the world’s top cyclists. These World Cups are the highest international level of track-cycling competition and a critical component of qualifications for the Olympic Games and the UCI World Championships. The first event is scheduled for Dec. 1-3, 2017, featuring five sessions of racing over three days (one on Friday and two sessions per day on the weekend). Also planned will be a corporate relay fundraising challenge, giving corporate and club teams the chance to compete alongside some of Canada’s top cycling celebrities. “Milton is thrilled to host the Tissot UCI Track World Cup in partnership with Cycling Canada,” said Gord Krantz, Milton’s mayor. “This event is one of only six in the world every year, and for the UCI to trust both Cycling Canada and Milton shows great vision on their part and demonstrates their understanding of the quality of both of our entities,” commented Pierre Lafontaine, CEO of Cycling Canada.
MANITOBA CYCLING ASSOCIATION LAUNCHES NEW LOGO The Manitoba Cycling Association (MCA) recently launched a new logo and brand. It also unveiled its new van and trailer traveling show that proudly features the new logo displaying a cool emblem of a cyclist inside a yellow circle. The not-for-profit, volunteer-based provincial sports organization has been responsible for promoting and developing cycling in Manitoba since 1980. Under the umbrella of Sport Manitoba and working with a rapidly growing membership base, MCA’s purpose is to advance athletes along the performance pathway and develop partnerships to promote the growth of cycling in Manitoba. Working in collaboration with its clubs and members, MCA strives to provide structure and guidance for organized cycling in Manitoba, facilitate and communicate activities, develop coaches, athletes, officials and volunteers, promote cycling safety and provide standards and insurance for races.
Continued on page 14 www.pedalmag.com
GEOFF KABUSH
NO SHORTCUTS The all-new SCOTT Spark 900 has the DNA of our Olympic and World Cup race bikes, but it was conceived with a fresh dose of trail-focused capability. With exceptionally light weight, redesigned suspension, contemporary geometry, and trail-friendly spec, the Spark 900 is not only fastest to the top, it was born ready to rip the trail back down.
SCOTT-SPORTS.COM | MICASPORT.COM © SCOTT SPORTS SA 2017 | Photo: John Gibson
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Give racing a try for the laughter and friendship.
Racing Together COURTESY OF TIFFANY BAKER
Makes all the Difference BY TIFFANY BAKER
I
’m likely not fast, fit or brave enough, but I want to try road racing,” said (almost) no woman in Alberta, ever. Okay, there are a few brave women who’ve faced the intimidation of beginner road racing, often without the support of others also new to the sport. But the numbers don’t lie. Women’s road racing in Alberta hasn’t seen more than five new racers a year for many years. In the entire province! Until this year. Discouraged by the lack of “newbies” and petrified to try it on my own, I decided to bring my own posse to the start line. Women like to do things together, right? Now how was I going to convince others to join me when very few had taken the leap in the past? By appealing to their hearts rather than their competitive nature, that’s how. And if they were like me, the intimidation of racing, coupled with the fear of failure, cast too large a shadow to try racing. The interest was there; I saw it within our club. That was the impetus that created ERTC’s Women’s Learn to Race program – the aim to touch women’s hearts, create meaningful relationships and turn interest into action. In March of this year, we started with the basics. Three information seminars, facilitated by a coach (thanks, Tim), addressing a myriad of topics: what is a Criterium, do I need a heart-rate monitor, what do I expect on race day, what license/equipment do I need, will I get
12 PEDAL SPRING/SUMMER 2017
dropped, etc.? No question was considered stupid. More than 60 women attended, sparking real conversations about fears and goals. In April, we took to the road. Practice races, skills sessions and group rides put our knowledge into practice. Although our group varied in fitness and ability, we shared a strong determination to help each other reach our goals, both as a group and individually. No longer was this simply an idea; we had become a group of women ready to face the intimidation of racing, together. It was time to take the leap. Our first race, the Velocity Stage Race (May 13-14), loomed near and we were all “nervouscited” as we made last-minute plans. The forecast was atrocious, but we were determined. Armed with tents, camping stoves, food for an army, tarps, blankets, winter jackets and literally every item of cycling clothing we owned, 11 women took the (very cold) leap. That’s 10 more women from our club than the year previous. But we didn’t leap alone. Significant others also braved the weather to offer their invaluable support. Our “race sherpas,” as we affection-
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OU T I N F RO NT
www.pedalmag.com
The women of ERTC are creating a domino effect in women’s road racing.
JOHN GIBSON
ately called them. If you don’t have a race sherpa, I highly recommend finding one. Or come race with us – we’re happy to share ours. What happened over the two days of racing is hard to put into words because for us it was felt deep in our hearts. Together we faced the rain/wind/cold, missed start times, embarrassing moments (tipping over at the time-trial start), road-spray mud masks, dropped chains, getting dropped, high-speed cornering . . . and the list goes on. And we loved it. Correction, we loved facing it together. No longer were my fears my own; they were shared and conquered with 10 other women. Although secondary in importance to the goals we achieved as a group, we also had individual successes. Sarah, a mother of two-andhalf-year-old twins, placed so well that she upgraded to Category 4 by the end of the weekend. And Danielle, a third-year medical student, came within three points of an upgrade. I describe them this way to ensure that you understand that we are a very normal group of women. We face the very same challenges, fears and barriers as most everyone else. The difference is that we choose to be a part of something that is bigger than each of us individually. Many of us now have at least two races under our wheels, having just completed first the Stieda Classic Road Race and then the Criterium. These races brought new challenges, including gravel and the seemingly ever-present wind, but we conquered these the same way – together, this time filling two of the three podium spots for each race with our women. We’re creating a domino effect in women’s road racing in Alberta. By flooding the start lines with new racers, we’re piquing the interest of other women. If you’re one of them, come join us! Find a club that supports new-racer development, ensure that you have a good foundation of skills and knowledge and bring your nervouscited butterflies
to a race and share them with us. If you’re in Edmonton, check us out (www.ertc.org/women) – we’re always looking for women who want to partner their own goals with our focus of “together.” And if you’re like me with a response of “Heck no, I’m not a racer,” be forewarned. That has been my mantra for the past five seasons. Last weekend, I was on the podium. And while it may be my legs that pedaled me there, it was our group of women that touched my heart and gave me reason to be on that start line. It’s for the laughter and friendship we share that I race, and I encourage you to consider the same!
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CX National Champion Hangs Up the Bike BY JOHN SYMON
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Jeremy Martin captured his first national title, winning the 2016 Elite men’s CX Championship. Martin celebrated a 7-year career as a top MTB and CX rider.
PASQUALE STALTERI
eigning Elite men’s cyclocross [CX] champion Jeremy Martin (Focus CX Team Canada) from Boischatel, Que. has announced his retirement from Professional cycling. The news comes as somewhat of a surprise, as Martin recently earned his first National title at the 2016 Canadian Cyclocross Championships in Sherbrooke, Que. this past November. “A new chapter is starting for me, and it’s both a bit scary and exciting,” wrote Martin in his announcement on Instagram. “This is not an easy decision, but after a few months of reflection, I have decided to stop racing at the Professional level. I’ve created so many good friendships and memories over the last decade – it’s been the best learning experience I could think of. “I want to say thank you to everyone who supported me along the way – you all made a difference and helped shape the person I am today. You won’t see me towing the line of the biggest races anymore. But don’t worry, I’ll keep riding as much as I can because to me cycling is the most beautiful sport of them all! I am very grateful for your support over the years. Cheers!” Martin, who turned 25 in May 2017, has notably represented Canada in both mountain biking and cyclocross and has also competed at a high level in road cycling. At the recent 2017 UCI Cyclocross World Championships in Bieles, Luxembourg, he finished 47th, the second-best Canadian among the Elite men, behind Michael van den Ham in 38th, with fellow Canuck Mark McConnell in 55th, as Belgium’s Wout van Aert defended his world title. Martin joined the new Focus CX Team Canada in 2016, founded by Aaron Schooler, who was also on the Elite men’s Cyclocross National podium, finishing second, with Geoff Kabush (Scott) in third. “It was a great pleasure working with Jeremy Martin the last couple years. He is a very big talent, and one of the athletes who fully understands the complexities of what it takes to be the best in his sport, both on and off the bike. We will miss him at Focus CX Canada, as his shoes will be big ones to fill. We wish him well in his future endeavours and know he will be a valuable asset in his new career,” said Schooler. Martin had strong results leading up to the 2016 Cyclocross Nationals, making him one of the favourites. In September last year at the Rochester Cyclocross in New York, he was the top Canuck, placing fifth in the Elite men’s race. Then in October, he was the top Canadian in his category again at the Cincy3 Kings CX in Ohio, finishing 11th.
The talented Quebec rider kept his streak going after his Cyclocross Nationals title, racing at the Supercross Cup in Sufferin, N.Y. in late November, where he claimed fifth on Day One and made the podium in second place on Day Two. Martin’s top MTB results include fifth in the Elite Men’s XCO race at nationals in 2015, third in the Marathon XCM race in 2016, along with two bronze medals as a U23 rider at nationals in 2011 and 2012. Last year he placed second at both the Canada MTB Cup at Mont-Tremblant and the US Cup in New Mexico. He claimed the 2017 Rasputitsa race in April and in May–– was just off the podium at the Whiskey 50 Off-Road mountain-bike race in Prescott, Ariz., finishing fourth in the Pro men’s race. Earlier On Facebook, he wrote, “Over the last few years, I’ve had a lot of exciting moments and reached several personal goals. However, I haven’t been able to make it sustainable for the long-term run. Also, with my university graduation at the end of the month, it seems like my life priorities are changing, and I feel ready for new challenges off the bike. So I’d like to thank everyone who helped and supported me along the way; it’s been a real pleasure to share this journey with you! I’m sure I’ll see all of you on the trails again because cycling is the most beautiful sport and I’m planning on enjoying this sport for many more years!” Pedal joins the cycling community in wishing Martin the very best on the road ahead.
ONTARIO ANNOUNCES TOUR BY BIKE INAUGURAL CYCLING TOURISM PLAN To bolster the role of cycle tourism, the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport is working on its inaugural Cycling Tourism Plan. This is on the heels of the 2017 Ontario Bike Summit in Toronto, Ont. and discussions with cyclists, advocates and government leaders about recent plans to support “#CycleON” in its mandate to improve cycling infrastructure, promote safety and awareness, and increase tourism and commuting opportunities across the province. Cycling visitors already spend $428 million annually in Ontario as part of a $30-billion tourism industry. The Cycling Tourism Plan will help cycling to grow and seizes an opportunity for government and industry to work together. “The Cycling Tourism Plan: Tour by Bike builds on the work we began with the Tourism Action Plan and the Strategic Framework for Tourism in Ontario. It will also support ‘#CycleON: Ontario’s Cycling Strategy,’ the government’s 20-year vision to encourage the growth of cycling and improve safety for cyclists across the province,” said Tourism Minister Eleanor McMahon. In 2013, the Government of Ontario released “#CycleON: Ontario’s Cycling Strategy,” followed by “#CycleON Action Plan 1.0” in 2014 led by the Ministry of Transportation (MTO), which sets out recommendations to increase and support cycling-tourism opportunities in the province.
LIV VANCOUVER GRAND OPENING
LIV VANCOUVER
Jeremy Martin Retires
Continued from page 10
Liv Vancouver, the first store of its kind in North America, held its grand opening on Feb. 17, featuring bikes, accessories, clothing and a customer experience tailored to female riders. Store owner and avid cyclist Anne-Marie Gagnon called it “the opportunity of a lifetime,” and hopes the store will become a hub for women’s cycling – a comfortable place where female cyclists can gather to share their two-wheeled experiences, talk and learn about bikes over coffee, as well as ride together. Liv Vancouver will also offer a variety of clinics and rides and events including cycling adventures as part of the effort to grow the sport among women. Gagnon has also purchased a highend espresso maker to get things rolling. Continued on page 16 www.pedalmag.com
THE MOUNTAIN BIKE STAGE EVENT
7 STAGES ››› 7 DAYS ››› 7 EXCEPTIONAL DESTINATIONS ››› 1 BASE CAMP DOWNTOWN QUÉBEC CITY ››› DAY 8: ATTEND THE UCI MOUNTAIN BIKE WORLD CUP
›››
JULY 30 TO AUGUST 5, 2017 | quebecsingletrack.com
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Marinoni Best Hour Attempt, Film and Jocelyn Lovell Tribute BY BEN ANDREW
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enowned frame-builder Giuseppe Marinoni’s Best Hour Record attempt is set to take place on Saturday, Aug. 19 at the Mattamy National Cycling Centre in Milton, Ont. with a screening of Marinoni: The Fire in the Frame at the Milton Centre for the Arts on Friday, Aug. 18 at 7:00pm. Marinoni’s upcoming attempt will pay tribute to friend and associate Canadian cycling legend Jocelyn Lovell, who passed away in June of last year. The film screening hosted by filmmaker Tony Girardin will honour Lovell and include a raffle for a Marinoni frame. Screening tickets are available online for $10.
Giuseppe Marinoni set the Best Hour record for 75-79 year olds in 2012 ...can he do it again?
PIRELLI LAUNCHES NEW PZERO TIRES Pirelli returns to cycling and in June launched the PZero Velo, a new line of road-racing bike tires, ready for delivery this fall. The renowned Italian brand also become a key sponsor of the 2017 U23 Giro d’Italia, that ran June 9-15, awarding the Pirelli White jersey. Founded by Giovanni Battista Pirelli in 1872, the company was a sponsor of the first edition of the Giro d’Italia in 1909.
Marinoni, the legendary frame-builder who started Quebec-based Marinoni Bicycles, will attempt to set a new distance in the 80-84 UCI Masters Best Hour Record category. In October 2012, Marinoni set the 75-79 age-group Best Hour Record at the Montichiari Velodrome in Montichiari, Italy. Tickets are available for free to view Marinoni’s record attempt on the 19th through Eventbrite, with several tour buses departing from Montreal, Que. and Ottawa, Ont. to transport spectators to the event for the price of $40. For more information, visit www.marinonimovie.com.
Quebec Road Rider David Drouin Tests Positive
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The colour code of the new PZero tires follows Pirellis’ Formula One guideline, with silver for road racing, red for the time trial and blue for all-season. The new tires can also be ordered online via a specially developed ecommerce site, veloworld.pirelli.com, that will offer consumers digital services and tailor-made products. MTB and triathlon tires will be added to the mix down the road. At press time, a Canadian distributor was yet to be announced.
CYCLING CANADA’S TOLKAMP MOVES TO FRANCE Cycling Canada president John Tolkamp relocated from Vancouver, B.C. to France in March while continuing to function in his role at Cycling Canada. There, Tolkamp will be working as a campaign manager for Brian Cookson’s bid for re-election in November as president of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). “At Cycling Canada, we stood behind
able 10th overall at the 2016 Tour de Beauce with the Canadian National team, leading to a tryout with Montreal-based Silber Pro Cycling as a stagiaire at the Tour of Utah and the Tour of Alberta – but never actually rode for the team as a fully signed rider, according to Silber co-owner Scott MacFarlane.
CYCLING CANADA
PASQUALE STALTERI
David Drouin claims he’s innocent
Pirelli’s new PZero tires
PIRELLI
MARINONI COLLECTION
LOVELL COLLECTION
Legendary Jocelyn Lovell was Canada’s first cycling icon.
uebec road rider David Drouin, who signed with Silber Pro Cycling in January, has tested positive for a banned substance. The 21-year-old cyclist failed a doping test in December because traces of RAD140 were found in his system; his B samples returned the same result. Protesting his innocence, Drouin was scheduled to appear before a Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sports (CCES) hearing on May 15 in Montreal, Que. “RAD140 is an investigational selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) for the treatment of conditions such as muscle wasting and breast cancer, currently under development by Radius Health, Inc. (RDUS),” according to Wikipedia. There is also much written about RAD140 on body-building sites, where it is sometimes also referred to as Testolone and noted for its lack of side effects. Despite his young age, Drouin finished a remark-
Continued from page 14 Liv Cycling founder and Giant Bicycles chairperson Bonnie Tu was on hand for the grand opening and group ride that followed. Gagnon’s first retail shop in Montreal, Que. was Giant Bicycle’s first concept store in Canada. In 2013, she sold the Montreal store and took over Giant Vancouver. She says this latest venture “is my dream shop.” For more information, visit www. livcyclingvancouver.com.
John Tolkamp Continued on page 18
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WIKE SALAMANDER The Salamander from Wike is the world’s “first” and “only” bicycle that instantly converts into a stroller or delivery cart without stopping! It’s easy for parents to load and unload all from the front, without having to bend to the back or open side doors, and with measurements of less than 32 inches wide, the Salamander can easily pass through any commercial doorway and on transit vehicles. It also folds down for transport in vans and SUVs. The frames are black, but Wike allows you to custom design the Salamander by choosing your own colours. The Salamander retails for $4,900, and now there’s an electric option available for an additional $1,600.
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How I Ended Up in this Crazy Sport
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t this moment, I’m currently stuck in the second week of the Giro. Lately, as I’ve been mulling over how I ended up in this crazy sport, I’ve decided to share a story of my earlier years of wandering. I was 20 years old and working the summer hay-baling and stacking railway ties. The work was sporadic, which allowed my friends and I to chase our real passion at the time. Mountain climbing. We would go on weeklong expeditions into the Coast Range of British Columbia. These were formative years for me and I learned a lot about myself, but never had any direction. Life was about saving money and going on trips until you ran out of coin, then starting this process over again. Cars were always necessary (to get to the mountains), but a massive expense when making only a small amount of cash here and there. This is why I decided to try traveling by bike. This way, my only expense was food for fuel. I made my way down to the local Value Village (a secondhand-goods store) and bought a sweet Nishiki 10-speed. I knew nothing about bikes at the time, but this one seemed like it would do the trick. Little did I know it would soon teach me each and every detail about bicycles and how to repair them. My first planned trip was from Langley to Bella Coola. A 2,000-kilometre return trip is a pretty big undertaking for someone who has never done a day of touring in his life! Leaving in late September was a confluence of poor timing and logistics. Heading north in September is a recipe for some interesting weather, which I was about to discover firsthand. I welded up a heavy-duty steel trailer for my dog and some extra supplies. I hit the road and immediately fell in love with the freedom of traveling by bike. Everything I owned was with me, and I could stop anywhere I pleased. Functioning on limited funds, I was living off of rice and oats and buying some late-season corn from roadside stands. The first days were incredible, until fatigue and soreness started setting in. I had no clue how to balance out my efforts and would just ride as hard as I could until I couldn’t anymore. The Nishiki did well the first week, but I don’t think it was made for touring and pulling a 100-pound trailer constantly. The first thing that went was the rear wheel, and a slew of mechanical failures followed suit. Needless to say, I learned some Bike Mechanics 101 on the side of the highway with a cold north wind a blowin’. It 18 PEDAL SPRING/SUMMER 2017
COURTESY OF SVEIN TUFT
BY SVEIN TUFT
Young Tuft on his 2,000km return trip from Langley to Bella Coola
was really the school of hard knocks out there. The icy fall weather amplified the stress on my body. Having never ridden more than 50 kilometres in a day before, the 100+ kilometres a day I was attempting was taking its toll. Then, at night, the temperature would drop to well below zero. I had entered an entirely new world, one of suffering day in and day out on a bike. Little did I know that years later I would be doing this for a job! Aside from the mechanical problems, everything started rolling along fairly smoothly. My body quickly adapted and I was becoming hooked on smashing myself for eight hours a day. Then one day on my way back from Bella Coola, I made a grave mistake. On a long climb, I bungeed (attached) my jacket to the trailer that had my wallet in it. As I was setting up camp later in the evening (100 kilometres down the road), I realized the jacket was gone! Where it had come off I did not know. There was not much money left in my wallet, but enough to make it home. I decided to cut my losses and continue on. I resorted to picking up cans and bottles on the side of the road for the coin returns. I was amazed at the gold mine lining the ditches of British Columbia’s highways. By the time I rolled into Williams Lake, B.C., I had two garbage bags full and made enough money to fund the rest of my trip home – albeit not the finest cuisine, but food was simply calories at this point. I remember being on the final stretch, 100 kilometres from home. Riding into a block headwind, I completely cracked. I must have been quite a sight, cooking beans in the median of Highway 1, wondering how I was going to make it home. I got my second wind and forged on. Averaging 15 kilometres an hour into the powerful headwind, I was creeping. I made it to my father’s house that evening. Looking like a ghost, I walked right past him, went to the fridge, guzzled a gallon of orange juice and went straight into sugar shock. After recounting the stories from my trip, I fell into one of the deepest sleeps I can remember. This set the tone for years of life on the road to come. I realized anything was possible.
Continued from page 16 Cookson when he ran for the UCI presidency,” Tolkamp explained. “Over time, we developed a relationship. I share his vision of ethics and values. Please understand the nuance: four years ago, Cycling Canada formally endorsed Cookson for president. Today, the Cycling Canada board has endorsed me working with Cookson, but has not endorsed Cookson as their preferred candidate.” Tolkamp has led Cycling Canada since 2008 and presided over such major changes as the WorldTour races coming to Quebec and the construction of a worldclass velodrome in Milton, Ont. Also under his tenure, Canada has embarked on a cycling growth curve, as witnessed by the country’s medal count at recent track and para-cycling events. Not coincidentally, Tolkamp has taken on roles with the UCI’s track and ethics committees. Tolkamp sees no issue with carrying on his duties as Cycling Canada president while in Europe. “It is just as quick [to fly to] Ottawa from Paris as it is from Vancouver,” he said. C
PINARELLO’S NEW EDSS 2.0 SUSPENSION SYSTEM
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In early April, Pinarello and HiRide announced the release of a new electronic [rear] suspension system for Team Sky’s races on cobblestones. This comes two years after the launch of the Dogma K8s frame, the first lightweight suspension system for road bikes (DSS 1.0, Dogma Suspension System) and flexible carbon-fibre chainstays. PinarelloLab together with HiRide engineers have now developed the eDSS 2.0 (Electronic Dogma Suspension System). This project introduces a system able to adapt the suspension, automatically locking or unlocking it over all types of terrain, while ensuring maximum performance and stiffness on smooth tarmac and optimum comfort on bumpy and rough roads. Pinarello accomplished this by integrating into the frame an innovative system consisting of six axis accelerometers and
PINARELLO
Tuft Enough
Continued on page 24 www.pedalmag.com
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QUEBEC CITY SEPT 08 MONTREAL SEPT 10 8th EDITION 2017
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MTB Frontlines
Make the Most of Your Winter Training – Then Head South BY RAPHAEL GAGNÉ
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Early March at Bear Mountain in B.C. with my National Team teammates who are like a second family. 20 PEDAL SPRING/SUMMER 2017
COURTESY OF RAPHAEL GAGNÉ
really enjoy winter, and, let’s just say I was served this winter – we got a ton of snow in Quebec and that was fantastic for an outdoor enthusiast like me. I had a great winter of training at home and on my cross-country skis and fatbike. For me, finding the right balance between my roller, my skis and my fatbike is essential to stay motivated and make the most out of the winter and its training opportunities. Still, as a Professional cyclist, it’s important to split up the winter and travel south for some quality time on the saddle to optimize training specificity and get the hours in. My first camp, one week in Cuba in mid-December, consisted of high volume and low intensity on the road bike for an average of four hours a day. For me, it was the optimal training environment – I like it warm, really warm, and one can do a lot more than just bike four hours and sit in a hotel room surfing the Web after that. One can go to the beach, visit, kite-surf, read y hablar un poco de spanish con amigos. Getting the job done in a fun, low-stress environment is so amazing. Getting next-level tan lines for the upcoming season isn’t bad either, and my coconut and cane-juice diet was delicious. After spending Christmas at home, in early January I was off to California with the Quebec provincial MTB team camp to the Santa Monica Mountains for two weeks of road training, great weather, amazing road quality and variety, from the tarmac alongside the Pacific Ocean to the nearly one-hour climb in the Mountains. I highly recommend this area – it’s my favourite road-biking spot in North America, plus it has great MTB options. It was a great camp, complete with my two solid senior teammates and good friends Léandre Bouchard and Alexandre Vialle.
I’ve always been tight with the up-and-coming younger generation of cyclists from the Quebec team, and it was a great opportunity to get to know each other better and to perhaps inspire them on and off the bike. Léandre and I did an Olympic presentation/interview, which was quite fun and interactive! We answered a gazillion questions and were happy to have the chance to share our story. The Quebec provincial team has helped me so much over the course of my career, from training to racing, being at those camps is a good way to give back, plus they’re still great, enjoyable training opportunities for me. Fatbike fever has really picked up in Eastern Canada, and there are many race opportunities in Quebec, as well as fatbike festivals. In town, an impressive 500 members have been recorded at the largest fatbike centre – I’m lucky to have access to such well-maintained hometown trails. For that, I have to thank cross-country ski/ fat-bike/MTB centre Sentiers du Moulin in Lac Beauport. Its support is amazing, and where I first began mountain biking. There, I took part in three fatbike races, which were good training opportunities and, most of all, a whole lot fun. People now believe the fatbike is a big deal for me because I won those three events, however I still consider myself a mountain-bike specialist. At the end of February, we had our annual two-week Canadian National MTB team camp at Bear Mountain Resort in Victoria, B.C. We had a number of very good sessions on traveling, recovery, tactics and strategy, mental preparation, nutrition and more. We also did many fun team-building activities on and off the bike. The training was primarily focused on MTB endurance base miles. The training schedule was challenging physically and technically. We had a strong team, and it was great to push and learn from each other. My biggest challenge in Victoria was surviving the humid cold, as I’m not used to that, surprising as that may be as I do a lot of cross-country skiing and fatbiking in the cold. I have no problem with racing in harsh, rainy cross-country conditions, though for training I admit I find it quite tough. The time spent with my National Team teammates was amazing on and off the bike – most are good friends and it’s a second family wherever we are in the world come race season. The end of the camp featured the start of the race season with the first Canada Cup in Bear Mountain on March 4. It was only a C-level race, as it was quite early and far from the April U.S. Cups, but it’s always nice to get the legs going and have a fitness check-up. That was also my first race with my new Cannondale-3 Rox Racing team, and it was a fun, smooth transition. I was happy to take the win for the team, and it was such an amazing feeling to lead, knowing that I had two strong teammates in Derek Zandstra and Keegan Swenson in the chase group, ready to charge if I blew up. They ended up third and fourth, while teammate Erin Huck also took third in women’s Elite, meaning a strong start to the season for the team. As I’m writing this, I’m at the end of a solid pre-race MTB camp with Félix Belhumeur at our Arizonian friend Ryan Geiger’s place in Flagstaff and Sedona, getting in some altitude training and money in the bank for the mid-season, in which there will be two World Cups high in Andorra and Switzerland. The riding has been amazing, and now I’m heading into the Bonelli San Dimas and Sea Otter U.S. Cups. Enjoy the spring riding and see you on the trails. www.pedalmag.com
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Sullivan Report The Japanese Keirin BY MONIQUE SULLIVAN loosen left rear-wheel nut followed by right rear-wheel nut, and remove the rear wheel. Loosen left front-wheel nut, right front-wheel nut, and remove the front wheel, etc.) There is even a personality exam to ensure we associate with the fans appropriately! One mystical part of the Keirin is that no one knows exactly how to get invited. It is a combination of results, racing style and personality, but no one knows the exact formula. I was invited alongside three Olympic medalists, and spent six grateful weeks yet not quite sure how I came to be picked as well. I was slightly torn about the morality of the entire affair. The main reason International riders are brought to Japan is to encourage more fans to come out to the races. Notably, the women’s Keirin was created only five years ago with the sole purpose to encourage young men to come out to the races and replace an aging fan base. However, seeing how hard the Japanese Keirin Association worked to make the betting fair and how much money was reinvested in the communities, and reading in our handbook “The Japanese legal system is based on the assumption that gambling will cause social harm. Therefore, the Law provides various restrictions to minimize this harm,” I believed they take this very seriously. We all have our vices, and to see them doing so much good from gambling was, in the end, heartening. (It is not dissimilar to the casinos in Alberta that fund youth programs.) Each race is four days long – one inspection day and three race days. On the first day when you arrive at the velodrome, you build
Japanese Keirin racing is a fine example of Japan’s culture and tradition, and what struck Sullivan the most was the kindness that the sport manifested. 22 PEDAL SPRING/SUMMER 2017
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF MONIQUE SULLIVAN
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ll over the world, children ride bikes for fun, adults ride bikes to commute and athletes ride bikes to compete. Only in Japan, do people ride bikes to become millionaires. Keirin racing in Japan is a betting sport, and the winning’est male in history won more than $26 million. Keirin racing originated in the 1940’s as a means to raise funds for local municipalities, and there now are 48 racing tracks across the country. A Keirin is a track-cycling event approximately two kilometres long, raced by six to nine riders. The first 1.5 kilometres are paced by a derny (a motorized bike), and when this bike pulls off, riders fight aggressively for the position that will get them to the finish line first. To be a Japanese Keirin racer, you must first attend Keirin school for one year. This initiation involves a rigorous training regime based on grunt labour and tradition, and more than you would see in today’s elite sport schools. While at the school, the men and women have no contact with each other, even sitting on opposite sides of the dining hall. Everyone has uniform haircuts (buzz cuts for men and short hair for women), and makeup, jewellery, cellphones and drinking are banned for the entire year. As well, there is no privacy. As Internationals, we do only one week of Keirin school, followed by a series of exams. There is a full physical exam, performance tests in the lab, a written exam to make sure we understand the local rules, and a mechanical exam where we disassemble and reassemble a track bike following a very specific order. (Read: Pick up spanner,
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Keirin racing in Japan offers a unique experience and atmosphere.
A mechanical exam was part of Keirin school.
your bike and have it inspected. The initial bike inspection has three stations with a least two to three officials at each one, and they check absolutely everything on the bikes. (Bikes at the Olympics were not inspected this obsessively.) We then register and have our shoes and helmets inspected as well. We check in our cellphones, computers and any other devices that could be used to communicate outside of the dormitory. We are not allowed to leave the dorm until the racing is complete. We get 20 minutes of training on the track each morning, and we shuffle out like horses to enjoy the sunshine and wind on our faces. After training, we spend our days in one large common room with the other women to wait for the race. In the end, there is an extraordinarily unique atmosphere. These
riders race two to three times per month, 12 months a year. There is no periodization, and no Olympics. There is only Keirin. Your salary depends solely on how well you place in each race, and yet when you are not racing, you are forced to spend the rest of your day in a single large dormitory room alongside your competitors. I was touched by how well the women got along. I think the camaraderie was born from surviving Keirin school together, but it was still very impressive. Before each race, you don’t say “Good luck,” but instead Ganbatte, which means, “Do your best.” After each race, you thank your competitors for racing with you, and the winner of each heat gives their competitors a small gift. My favourite tradition however occurred postrace when the riders line up to collect the bikes and helmets from their teammates. At international races, usually the mechanic does this job (our bikes have no brakes, so in order to slow down faster and clear the track, someone must grab you to bring you to a stop). In Japan, the riders swarm the gate to collect your bike. It is the most wonderful show of sportsmanship. We were privileged to witness a retirement ceremony while there. A very kind racer was gifted with more than 25 bouquets of flowers and a lovely ceremony attended by many riders. I was told this was one of the bigger displays a rider receives, which is remarkable because this racer wasn’t one of the best, and, in fact, her score was very low. She was being honoured not because of her results, but because of whom she is as a person. The Japanese Keirin is indeed a fine example of Japan’s culture and tradition. In the aggressive world of Keirin racing, what, in fact, most stuck with me was the kindness manifested.
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Vancouver Approves $250,000 for Two Mass-Cycling Events
Continued from page 18 gyroscopes able to read the road, understand the dynamics of the bike and adapt the suspension to react to all surfaces, from asphalt to more rugged cobbles. The new system, fitted on an existing Dogma K8s bike and raced at Scheldeprijs in April by Ian Stannard, will soon be available for sale. “I am very happy with this new and ambitious project that PinarelloLab developed with the collaboration of HiRide,” commented Fausto Pinarello.
Our Cityride and Bike the Night Expect 20,000 Riders BY JOHN SYMON
Our Cityride co-founders Olympian Charmaine Crooks and Mark Ernsting
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wo mass rides in Vancouver, B.C. this year will collectively receive $250,000 in support from Vancouver City Council. “Our Cityride” will launch its inaugural mass-participation ride and festival on Saturday, Aug. 19 with a 15-kilometre ride through downtown, the West End and Stanley Park. Then on Sept. 16, the city will see “Bike the Night,” a 10-kilometre ride around False Creek. Between Our Cityride and Bike the Night, some 20,000 riders are expected to participate. “We’re excited to join cities [such as] Montreal and London with our very own mass-participation ride, and I’m looking forward to seeing this new signature summer event grow in the years to come,” commented Gregor Robertson, Vancouver’s mayor. Our Cityride is a new event co-founded by Mark Ernsting, owner of M1 Sports Management (responsible for BC Superweek and the H&R Block Pro Cycling Team), and five-time Olympian Charmaine Crooks, a member of the Order of Canada and owner of NGU Consultants. “We are working closely with the City of Vancouver and city stakeholders [such as] Vancouver Parks Board to deliver a new world-class, non-competitive, all-inclusive family-friendly ride and festival,” said Ernsting, a five-time National track champion. Ernsting describes Our Cityride as “Vancouver’s signature mass-participation ride.” He goes on to say that “we will be working closely with Cycling BC and Cycling Canada along with several other sponsor stakeholders to ensure that not only the city’s mandates are met, but [also] that an event of this nature can help grow the sport at the grassroots level.” 24 PEDAL SPRING/SUMMER 2017
“We are mobilizing the Dutch community in the greater Vancouver area to participate and we are working with our colleagues from other consulates to give Our Cityride an international flavour. We believe bikes are the future for cities,” expressed Gert Heijkoop, consul general of The Netherlands. David Lam Park in Vancouver’s Yaletown neighbourhood will be the festival venue, with a main entertainment stage showcasing local talent, a kids zone with obstacle courses and learn-to-ride activities, an expo zone, a beer garden and a bike valet. Bike the Night was launched by a charitable non-profit group that has been working for the past 19 years to build a more sustainable Metro Vancouver community by getting more people on bikes. “This is the second year that HUB Cycling will be hosting Bike the Night in Vancouver,” said organizer Laura Jane. “There are so many reasons to sign up for the event. In addition to a fun car-free 10km bike ride on Vancouver streets and across the iconic Burrard Bridge, participants will be invited to a pre-party with music, free hot chocolate, free bike decorating and free basic bike-mechanic services from Mountain Equipment Coop [MEC]. Participants will also be entered to win great prizes,” she added. Vancouver joins Toronto’s Ride for Heart, which attracts approximately 15,000 riders and celebrated its 30th anniversary this year, while Montreal’s Tour de l’Île mass ride, which dates back to 1985, attracts more than 30,000 riders and is recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest gathering of cyclists in the world. In recent years, a Tour de Nuit ride was added to the mix; both rides are organized by Vélo Québec with support from the City of Montreal.
JULIAN BOWERS
BC SUPERWEEK FEATURES $135,000 IN PRIZE MONEY From July 7-16, one of Canada’s biggest Professional race series, BC Superweek returns for 2017, with its kickoff event being the Tour de Delta. The series, which draws some of the top competitive national and international cycling teams, runs over eight days and includes 10 races. The Tour de Delta includes three days of racing, followed by the New West Grand Prix in New Westminster on July 11, the latest addition to BC Superweek, which is expanding the series. The city’s central location, accessibility to transit and downtown race site were among the deciding factors in it being selected. Then on July 12, it’s the legendary Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix, followed by the Giro di Burnaby on July 13. The PoCo Grand Prix on July 14 will see top cyclists speed through the downtown streets of Port Coquitlam. The series finishes up with the Tour de White Rock, a two-day Points series race that includes a Criterium on July 15 and one of the more challenging road-race courses in North America on July 16. BC Superweek series events draw between 5,000 and 30,000 spectators and boast $135,000 in prize money up for grabs. Past and current big-name competitors include the likes of Alex Steida and Svein Tuft on the men’s side, as well as Leah Kirchmann and Joelle Numainville on the women’s side.
ONTARIO COACH ROB GOOD DEPARTS FOR SAUDI ARABIA The Ontario Cycling Association (OCA) announced that Rob Good, Provincial track coach, has accepted a role as the National Elite track coach for Saudi Arabia. The OCA notes that it is sad that Good is leaving, but excited for him as he pursues his coaching career with this new opportunity. Good has been instrumental in the evolution of track cycling in Ontario for more than a decade, developing athletes and establishing clubs. He was hired by the OCA in late 2014, coinciding with the opening of the Mattamy National Cycling Centre [Milton Velodrome] in an effort to help build the www.pedalmag.com
JANET MASON
Rob Good capacity and quality of Ontario’s youth track program. During this time, Good led the development of the Rising Stars and Excellence Track camps, which provided enhanced training opportunities for high-performing athletes and created mentorship opportunities for developing coaches. “On behalf of the OCA, its coaches and athletes, we wish Rob the best of luck with his next cycling adventure and thank him for all the work he contributed to building Ontario’s track program. We will miss you,” reads an official statement. Pedal joins the cycling community in thanking Good for his years of service and wishes him the very best on the road ahead.
CYCLING CANADA HIRES KEVIN FIELD In May, Cycling Canada hired Kevin Field for the newly created role of strategic road consultant. Over the past decade, Field has led numerous road trade teams and has been influential in mentoring many of Canada’s top road athletes. Working recently as Cycling Canada’s road manager, Field helped foster alignment between Canadian athletes, their Professional teams and Cycling Canada’s road and track programs. In the past two years, Canada sent its largest-ever teams to the UCI Road World Championships in 2015 (Virginia) and 2016 (Doha). Field has also helped with fundraising. Working alongside Pierre Lafontaine, CEO of Cycling Canada, and Matthew Jefferies, its marketing director, Field will help with Cycling Canada’s business-engagement platforms. Field has business experience and has founded four companies. “Few people in Canada have Kevin’s grasp for all aspects of road cycling, particularly from the sport technical, business and political dimensions,” said Lafontaine.
RIDE TOWARDS EPIC. Bkool takes you to the places that gave birth to champions
Super stable, Quiet, Foldable, Light.
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Available in Canada by Distributions Lyncée SPRING/SUMMER 2017 PEDAL 25
PHOTOS: APEX RACE PHOTOGRAPHY
20 YEARS
Riding and camping out with hundreds of like-minded people was a cornerstone to the success of 24 Hours of Summer Solstice.
24 HOURS OF SUMMER SOLSTICE
BY PETER KRAIKER
T
his year marks the 20th anniversary of Ontario’s popular 24 Hours of Summer Solstice mountain-bike event organized by Chico Racing. Since its humble beginnings, the event has been a family affair. That sentiment applies to both the organizers and the participants who sign up to race. Chico’s race organizer Adam Ruppel was quick to say it’s been both important and exciting to work with brother Sean and their father, Tom, to make these events happen. Over the years, they’ve each found their niche and delivered their part. Ruppel’s son, Cole, is getting into it now too, at the ripe young age of three years. He was just as quick to point out how much the event is influenced by the camaraderie and relay-race team structure based on family ties or friendly bonds. Ruppel first raced on the road and then on a mountain bike as it became a world-level sport. His results include a 13th place as a junior at the 1990 MTB World Championships. He was ranked top 10 in Canada for both road and mountain biking in his youth. While he enjoyed racing, he also started to think about what he might like to do besides working in a bike shop when he was ready to retire. At the age of 23, he saw event promotion as an opportunity and started organizing some events, including his popular Chico Racing series. Laird Knight, the creator of the first 24 Hours of Canaan race in 1992, just happened to be someone Ruppel knew. One thing led to another, and here Ruppel is, 20 years later with North America’s biggest 24 Hour event. He and Knight formed a deeper bond of friendship over the years.
The Early Years The first two years’ events were held in the Ganaraska Forest near Ruppel’s hometown of Uxbridge, Ont. The Ruppels developed some of their longstand26 PEDAL SPRING/SUMMER 2017
ing sponsor relationships in the early years and he’s proud to have retained the relationships all these years. It’s also where the realization came that the social aspects of the event were as important as the competitive side. Camping out for a weekend with hundreds of like-minded people mattered to the participants and that set the tone. The first year saw approximately 300 riders take part. It doubled the next year to 600. Ruppel knew he was onto something. He also realized the venue wasn’t ideal, so he scouted around and found the Albion Hills Conservation Area, northwest of Toronto. There had been mountain-bike racing at Albion before. Ruppel recalls racing there as an adolescent. When he returned to look at it, there was a network of doubletrack trails throughout the conservation area, though it lacked some of the more technical singletrack required for the 24 Hour event. But what stood out was its campground: the infrastructure and the number of sites were ideal and complemented what Ruppel envisioned. He offered to rent the entire campground for the next Solstice event and to build the singletrack trails needed for the race. That turned into a win-win for everyone. Ruppel described it as “bold move, and the right move. We found the perfect venue for our event.” Time has proven him right as they prepare for the upcoming event, with every indication it will go on for years to come. The conservation area now sees a steady stream of riders enjoying the network of trails throughout the year. That’s in addition to the Chico 24 Hour, Chico Epic 8 Hour and Superfly Wednesday Night race events. In Ruppel’s words, the 24 Hours “is still the event I most love. And would most love to do [as a cyclist].” He’s been known to hop on a bike for a lap or two at the event and enjoys testing the courses his brother Sean designs. Every year is a little different, and 2017 is no exception. www.pedalmag.com
The appeal of night riding continues.
24 hours of riding builds appetites
Everyone wants “in” on the action.
A proud memento says you’ve “done it.”
Chico’s Mud Bog is always a favourite “optional” route for riders to try.
Fast-forward to 2017 The race is limited to 2,300 participants, in part due to camping space, as well as because the logistics seem to work well at that size. Other events organized by the Ruppels include Mud Hero obstacle runs, with up to 17,000 people on a weekend. This is not a size he thinks will work for a 24 Hour race, so 2,300 it is. Those spots go quickly too! The 2017 edition sold out in February and there’s a waiting list. That’s the norm now, as, for the past few years, it sells out. Teams form, people bond and they come back. After 20 years, even some of their offspring are competing now. When asked about which categories were most popular, Ruppel answered with a laugh, “The 10-person team – you get more of the social experience.” He went on to say, “You don’t need a lot of training for that, but if you are well trained, you’re still getting a good workout.” The four- and five-person teams are also very popular, and with less time between laps, they’re even more demanding. Of course, the solo riders are the true hardcore participants. According to originator Knight, it took a few years to give the very persistent ultra-endurance athlete John Stamstad an opportunity to make “solo” the showcase that it is. One thing beyond anyone’s control is the weather. The event is definitely rain or shine, so participants come prepared to both camp and race in whatever the solstice brings. While many years have been seasonably warm, some have been wet. There are limits to what the trails can take, and over the years, those limits have been tested. Two years stand out in particular, as the amount of rain made riding very difficult when trails became too slick and muddy. This most www.pedalmag.com
recent occurrence was in 2009, and it resulted in the race being shortened to 12 hours. The riders, their bikes and the trails were all one muddy blur when all was said and done.
Twenty Years of Moving Forward Technologies have improved over the years, with better suspension, braking and brighter lighting being three significant areas of improvement. The early years saw in high demand the charging stations for the night-light battery packs. Now the forests are brightly lit lap after lap all night long. Better tires and lighter bikes have certainly helped up the rider fun-factor too. As previously mentioned, the trail network has evolved as well, though it continues to be aimed at riders of most abilities and fitness levels. There will be support from sponsors such as Shimano for the mechanicals that can occur. Outdoor Gear Canada is another sponsor that will be there, as it has since Year One. There will be food and beer during the days and evening to fuel the racers between their laps and for family there cheering them on. There will be the very popular children’s race, which will include Cole Ruppel as a participant. And for the 20th edition, there will be added excitement that includes more DJ and live music. Expect something for everyone, as well as the fun course that Sean Ruppel delivers year after year. If you missed out on the 20th-anniversary registration, watch for ticket sales early in 2018 so you can secure your spot to camp. And bring the family. For more information, visit www.chicoracing.com/24hour. SPRING/SUMMER 2017 PEDAL 27
RIDE
QUEBEC CITY New Kids on the Block
BY BEN ANDREW
Q
uebec’s love affair with cycling is legendary, and the province offers world-class routes for both road- and mountain-bike riders. Quebec City is one of many hotbeds for cycling, and the region is home to some of the best off-road trails anywhere, with the renowned UCI MTB World Cup at Mont-Sainte-Anne as crown jewel of the region. In an effort to further an already flourishing mountain-bike scene in the region surrounding Quebec City, several trail networks have come together to form Ride Quebec City. The initiative, which currently includes the trails of Vallée Bras-du-Nord, Mont-Sainte-Anne and Sentiers du Moulin, will aim to pool resources with the aid of the tourism board of Quebec City. Ride Quebec City hopes to create a mountain-bike destination in the heart of French Canada, attracting riders from the U.S. and Ontario to a region that is already cherished by locals. The inception of Ride Quebec City comes at the same time as the newly created Québec Singletrack Expérience, a seven-stage mountain-bike event that includes all three Ride Quebec City networks within its stages. Those who are working hard to bring Ride Quebec City to fruition hope that the Québec Singletrack Expérience will help jumpstart the initiative by showcasing their respective trail networks. “We will host two stages of this race,” said Gilles Morneau of Vallée Bras-du-Nord. “It will be an excellent way to show off our trails, because people who discover them for the first time will want to come back for sure!”
Its two sectors, Shannahan and Saint-Raymond, provide varied trail difficulty, with beginners able to enjoy tamer options in Shannahan, while intermediate and advanced riders will enjoy all that Saint-Raymond has to offer. Vallée Bras-du-Nord is the sister network of the very popular Kingdom Trails in Burke, Vt. With 65 kilometres of singletrack, the region offers a multitude of terrains as well as other outdoor activities such as hiking, canoeing, rock climbing and canyoning, while accommodations include cabins, yurts, camping, cottages and hotels.
Vallée Bras-du-Nord
Vallée Bras-du-Nord offers two sectors of tight singletrack with ample climbs and descents along with berms, bridges and rock gardens. 28 PEDAL SPRING/SUMMER 2017
With 65 kilometres of singletrack, the region offers a multitude of terrains as well as many other outdoor activities.
VALLÉE BRAS-DU-NORD
Vallée Bras-du-Nord offers two sectors of tight singletrack, with a variety of trails offering ample climbing and demanding descents. Berms, bridges and rock gardens are abundant.
www.pedalmag.com
PHOTOS COURTESY OF MONT-SAINTE-ANNE
Mont-Sainte-Anne has a global reputation for mountain bikers, with a great variety of trails for beginners, expert riders and families alike.
The 114km trail network is only one of MSA’s many attractions that include golfing, spas, excellent dining and accommodations.
Mont-Sainte-Anne has a global reputation as one of the ultimate destinations for mountain bikers. This reputation is built on the fact that the mountain offers a great variety of trails, allowing beginners, expert riders and families alike to experience a memorable riding adventure. The network includes 110 kilometres of cross-country trails, 25 kilometres of downhill trails and nine kilometres of pure All-Mountain riding. The venue has hosted the UCI MTB World Cup for both cross-country and downhill for more than 25 years, with this year’s event scheduled to take place in August. Mont-Sainte-Anne features a variety of trails in its cross-country park. For those looking for a less technical ride, try “La Cairn.” If roots, rocks and drops are more your thing, begin with “La Zappa” and “Le Sentier du Moulin.” While near Quebec City, Mont-Sainte-Anne resort has many attractions and activities of its own, including hiking, golfing, gondola rides, paragliding, canyoning, spas and excellent dining. A variety of accommodations are available, from camping all the way up to the four-star Château Mont-Sainte-Anne.
Sentiers du Moulin’s high-quality trail network includes the new “Raph” trail, named for local Olympian and Pan Am Games gold medalist Raphael Gagné.
Just the Facts
Sentiers du Moulin Sentiers du Moulin is a trail network that is expanding rapidly, with hundreds of thousands of dollars invested since 2015. Just 20 minutes from Quebec City, Sentiers du Moulin offers high-quality trails with a mix of man-made and natural features, along with a challenging environment of technical climbs and fast descents. A highlight of this network is the new “Raph” trail, named for local Olympian and Pan Am Games gold medalist Raphael Gagné. This flowy wild trail will be used in the opening stage of the Québec Singletrack Expérience. Sentiers du Moulin offers a total of 30 kilometres of cross-country and All-Mountain trails for all skill levels. Besides the “Raph,” “Baribal,” “Léon,” “SuperG” and “MEC” are highlights of this network. Located only 20 minutes from Quebec City, Sentiers du Moulin gives visitors easy access to restaurants, accommodations and outings. If you are looking for a post-ride beverage, head to Microbrasserie La Souche in nearby Stoneham. Aside from the pleasant setting of Quebec City, each trail network has amenities and activities located in close proximity, helping to make Ride Quebec City a popular attraction for the entire family. From camping through to the five-star Le Château Frontenac and with activities such as hiking, canoeing, shopping, along with plenty of restaurants and microbreweries, Ride Quebec City should be on your mountain-biking bucket list. With events such as the Québec Singletrack Expérience set to shed a spotlight on the region, expect even better things to come from this fantastic region. www.pedalmag.com
PHOTOS COURTESY OF SENTIERS DU MOULIN
Mont-Sainte-Anne
Vallée Bras-du-Nord 107 Grande Ligne, Saint-Raymond, Que. G3L 2Y4 418-337-3635 www.valleebrasdunord.com Mont-Sainte-Anne 2000 Boulevard du Beaupré, Beaupré, Que. G0A 1E0 888-827-4579 www.mont-sainte-anne.com
With trails for all skill levels, visitors to Sentiers du Moulin have easy access to restaurants and accommodations.
Sentiers du Moulin 99 Chemin du Moulin, Lac-Beauport, Que. G3B 0E1 418-849-9652 www.sentiersdumoulin.com
SPRING/SUMMER 2017 PEDAL 29
Gran Canaria, Spain was the site of Campagnolo’s recent global press camp that featured its new disc brake project, the Centaur groupset and three exciting new disc wheelsets. Pedal was stoked to be invited once again and get the inside scoop on the legendary Italian latest offerings.
Campagnolo Global Press Camp Disc Brake Project, Centaur, Wheelsets BY TIM LEFEBVRE
Disc Brake Project The camp kicked off with Campy’s new disc brakes, and this year, the mystery was unveiled. Purported to have from 14% to 55% more stopping power than conventional brakes while requiring less hand force, the brakes are stronger, sharper, quicker and more responsive than anything tried before. “By placing more emphasis on maintaining integrity and ensuring Campagnolo quality and less priority on being ‘first to market,’ the Italian company has concentrated solely on quality,” reads the official release. According to Campy, “countless hours and kilometres by Professional athletes” went into delivering the prestigious “Campagnolo Corretto” disc brakes. The high-end H11 is available in both EPS and mechanical versions and comes complete with carbon-fibre brake levers. The mid-range comes via its Potenza 11 Ergopower with an aluminum brake lever and internals. Campy’s new flat-mount system with no adapters is compatible with all frames on the market. Bleeding port: faucet design with a special insert for bleeding operation, which eliminates any risk of oil on the disc; partnered with Magura for the master cylinder.
There is something about rocketing down a twisty road, unbridled in your pursuit of speed and control. With this notion clearly in my mind, I sped off to test this innovative machine to its limit. Hurtling toward switchback influences the mind and tells the hand to squeeze the lever at the time you have become accustomed to. A disc brake allows for more time and therefore an adjustment – and with this adjustment, you find yourself coming in hotter to the apex and able to handle the situation with time and control. The brakes are definitely stronger, sharper, quicker and more responsive than anything I’ve ever tried before. It helped that the Bora One wheelset beneath this stealth package controlled things admirably from the ground up. There’s no flex, no screeching sound, no ping and no feeling that doesn’t belong – it’s pure bliss. The ability to bring your steed into corners at different angles and trajectories is apparent as you begin to test different lines with this newfound control. It inspires confidence and lets riders who know what they are doing so they can push the envelope even further and faster.
Calipers: mounted by two screws (19, 24, 29, 34, 39 or 44), six standards in total; fewer pieces equal less weight and all screws are visible for inspection. Pistons: 22mm, lightweight and made of phenolic resin, providing great power transfer; magnetic spring maintains performance over time.
Rotor: AFS-standard 100/140mm; rounded-edge steel gives incredible resistance to heat, dissipating it with ease. Crank: a new crankset facilitates the chainline optimization.
Test Report What goes up must come down, and climbing through the picturesque valleys of Gran Canaria, a true appreciation for Campagnolo’s quality emerged. The smoothness and silky feeling of the ride was clearly evident as the chatter stopped and the gradient increased. Descending mountains continues to be one of life’s great pleasures for me. 30 PEDAL SPRING/SUMMER 2017
Campy’s new disc brakes delivered in spades. PHOTOS COURTESY OF CAMPAGNOLO
Brake pad: patented design eliminates noise and vibration; visible and audible wear indicator and a special form that will guide the disc into the space.
www.pedalmag.com
Wheelsets
Centaur’s comfy Ergopower levers, lighter brakes and versatile rear derailleur
Centaur Groupset The new Centaur groupset, designed to take the place of the Veloce 10-speed, features an aluminum 11-speed gruppo with a more affordable price tag that delivers immense bang for the buck. Crankset: four-arm spider design with either a 52/36 or 50/34 combination; universal crankset allows interchanging of chainrings; features ultra-torque axle in aluminum for the first time. Ergopower levers: new power-shifting mechanism with ergonomics for comfort; water-drainage issues have been addressed; one lever/one action makes for a confusion-free system; new EPS-style downshift button on the inside of the lever. Front derailleur: featuring a longer rod design, the front derailleur now needs less force to activate a change. Rear derailleur: new trajectory angle increases versatility, while the chain is kept closer to the cogs; compatible to 32 teeth; claimed to be 15g lighter than the long cage of the competition; reinforced techno-polymer construction; upper pulley wheel has longer teeth and a lower pulley wheel has shorter teeth, allowing for extreme crossover and less friction. Chain/cassettes: the chain is designed for both Potenza and Centaur groupsets and is compatible with the upper-tier groupsets as well, the cassettes have one triple with eight single cogs and come in 11-29, 11-32 and 12-32 ratios. Brakes: claimed to be 50g lighter than the competition with the same immense braking power.
Test Report The new gruppo was mounted onto white Sarto frames to test on the amazing roads of Gran Canaria. Taking aim at Shimano’s 105, the aluminum 11-speed group is similar in design to the Super Record, with the difference being in the materials used and hence the weight. This new gruppo was a blast to ride. Rolling along the coast and settling in, shifting was crisp with a lively and uniquely familiar feel to the levers. Smooth and decisive is the best way to describe the Centaur’s action, as Campagnolo has nailed it with no friction evident under any circumstance. A long seven-kilometre climb put the gears under pressure, and shifting was a pleasure once one dialed in how the mechanism worked. The feel of the drivetrain is impressive, with the cranks combining with the cassette and chain to deliver a feeling of competence and excellence. As well, it’s smooth and silky, thanks to an aluminum core and great bearings. The real surprise were the brakes’ performance racing downhill into some nice hairpin turns. The power of the brakes, brake pads and lack of force needed on the levers are remarkable. Grabbing a full mitt of lever at high speeds enables you to enjoy the turns, knowing there is more if you need it. Overall, the groupset performed extremely well under pressure, with nice aesthetics to complement any frameset. Durability and competence are two things I look for in a gruppo, and the Centaur did not disappoint. The Centaur groupset comes in at 2,454g, and will be available in both a black or silver finish. The SRP is expected to be in the $900-$1,000 range, with delivery rolling out in May. www.pedalmag.com
Like all of Campy’s wheelsets, the Scirocco is named after a wind that blows from North Africa across the Mediterranean in to Southern Europe. Presented as a good match for the new Centaur groupset, the Scirocco features the new C17 profile design/construction and the 35mm-rim profile is perfect for 2528mm tires. The aluminum hub decreases weight and increases stiffness, while an oversize Mega G3 flange offers 14 spokes on the drive side to combat torsional forces and seven on the nondrive. The weight is 1,654g/pair. Named after the strong cold dry northeast wind that blows throughout in the Adriatic, the Bora One is a specifically designed disc brake wheelset. First introduced in 1994, the Bora was a game-changer as the first wheel to have the rim, hub and spokes all produced by the same manufacturer. The Bora One full-carbon rim is 24.2mm wide, which mates perfectly with 25-28mm tires. A sophisticated resin is used on the rim, negating the need to clear-coat. This resin has UV-blocking properties to ensure aesthetics over the years. Using Momag technology, no holes are drilled in the hub, which increases resilience and surface integrity. To compensate for asymmetric loads, a G3 front-spoke design features eight spokes on the non-disc side and 16 on the disc side. The rear has 16 spokes on the drive side and only half that on the disc side. The hub has a new design with an aluminum shell and new flange, including an adjustment lockring with a micro-setting and HH12 axle spacing (adapters will be available). The tubular weighs in at 1,297g/pair and the clincher is 1,509g/pair. At its inception 20 years ago, the Shamal was a game-changer as well, and today it has been reinvented to fill the void of lower-end bikes to be fitted with appropriate disc brake wheelsets. The Shamal Ultra features aluminum construction and is 100% tubeless-compatible with two-way fit technology and C17 standard 22mm-wide rims for great interface with the tire. With a Mega G3 design and a 2:1-spoke ratio, drive to non-drive side, it is completely opposite from front to rear with 7/14 on the front and 14/7 on the rear. An HH12 axle is used for both wheels, with Momag construction (no-spoke holes) using toroidal milling to keep the weight down. The weight is 1,540g/pair, available at the end of June.
Scirocco wheels match well with the new Centaur gruppo.
Bora One wheels are specially designed for disc brakes
Game-changing Shamal wheelsets. SPRING/SUMMER 2017 PEDAL 31
TEST
GEAR
MARIN HAWK HILL BY PAUL NEWITT
THE BIKE Price:
Marin has been in the mountain-bike biz for as long as mountain biking has been, well, mountain biking. In fact, Marin County is where it pretty much all began, back in the 1970’s on balloon-tired single-speed coaster-brake bikes that were anything but high-end, bank-busting purchases. The lack of Pro-level bikes with Pro-level price tags didn’t stop those hardcore pioneers from enjoying everything off-road cycling had to offer, and Marin hasn’t forgotten that fact. The 2017 Hawk Hill is a prime example of Marin’s commitment to that mountain-bike core who love the sport, but don’t want a 10-year mortgage on a bike to get into it. Out of the box, the 2017 Hawk Hill is a sweet-looking build for the price, which is exactly what Marin was aiming for when it put this package together. With a market that seems to be dominated by high-end carbon-fibre swank, it’s nice to see a back-to-basics build for the working-class trail junkies. Marin has kept the price point in check on the Hawk Hill through a combination of manufacturing, material and accessory choices, all while keeping ride quality reasonably high with proven trail geometry and solid suspension specs built around a 27.5” wheelset. The Hawk Hill’s main frame is manufactured out of Marin’s Series 3 6061 butted and hydroformed aluminum and features its MultiTrac suspension technology. Marin notes that its MultiTrac suspension design is comparable to its proven IsoTrac suspension technology, but in a more economical package. That economic design comes in the form of a “faux-bar” set-up with a single- pivot chainstay connection and short rocker arm connected to a 120mm-travel X-Fusion O2 Pro R air shock. The shock does not offer lockout or compression damping, but hey, it’s much more appealing than the non-adjustable coilspring suspensions found on many bikes at this price point. Up front, a well-matched air-sprung RockShox Recon Silver RL fork provides 120mm of travel and a pretty solid ride feel in the cockpit. The trail capabilities of the Hawk Hill are many, thanks to Marin’s do-it-all geometry that includes short chainstays (425mm) and standover (697.51mm on Medium), a 67.5° head angle, 74° seat angle, 120mm headtube, 337mm BB height and relatively tight wheelbase (1,148.61mm). The Hawk Hill delivers as intended, excelling in its all-round capabilities, offering solid ride confidence on all but the more advanced technical climbs and descents. 32 PEDAL SPRING/SUMMER 2017
$1,899 Components: Shimano, Marin, RockShox, FSA, Sunrace, Schwalbe Frame/Fork: Series 3 6061 butted and hydroformed aluminum frame, RockShox Recon Silver RL 27.5 front fork Geometry: 67.5º headtube/ 74° seat-tube Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL (M tested) Comments: A forward thinking, full-suspension trail bike for budget-minded mountain bikers that delivers.
The Hawk Hill’s wheelset is a durable Marin doublewall alloy rim with a respectable 27mm internal width. Joytech 135mm quad-sealed bearings rear hub and Formula 100x15mm front hub add to the strength and stiffness, providing 32-spoke support to a quality set of Schwalbe Hans Damph 2.35” front and rear tires. The Hawk Hill comes equipped with a Shimano Deore Shadow Plus rear derailleur, easily maintained external sealed cartridge-bearing bottom bracket, a Marin forged alloy 1x10 crankset, a Sunrace 10-speed 11-42T wide-ratio cassette and a KMC X10 chain. The single-ring set-up is another sweet surprise at this price point where triples tend to dominate. Shimano also handles brakes with a set of 180mm rotor BR-M315 hydraulic discs, front and rear. Although the resin-only pads are limiting in slimy, wet Vancouver conditions, the Deores provided respectable brake power and modulation. Let’s face it, there are those who will always want to modify their rides as their skills and bank accounts improve. Although the Hawk Hill seems to offer more than you’re paying for out of the box, Marin has made it easy to dial it up a few notches. www.pedalmag.com
The 2017 Hawk Hill is a prime example of Marin’s commitment to that mountain-bike core who love the sport, but don’t want a 10-year mortgage on a bike to get into it. www.pedalmag.com
If dropper posts are your thrill, the Hawk Hill’s 30.9mm seat-tube is capable, with internal-routing channels at the ready. If weight loss is your goal, the wheelset would be a good start, and the standard 135mm rear open dropout is easily upgradable to a 142x12mm thru-axle set-up. If size matters, even though the Hawk Hill already comes equipped with a commonly coveted forged alloy, 1x10, hollow spindle, steel narrow-wide 32T chainring with a 74mm BCD bolt pattern, it can easily be changed out to smaller rings. The Hawk Hill also comes standard with a Marin 780mm Mini-Riser handlebar, 60mm long stem and Dual Density grips, all of which are an excellent package for this bike, but easily upgraded to your specific needs. The Hawk Hill was designed to be a sub-$2,000 trail bike that can handle most of what a beginner to average off-road rider can throw at it. In that regard, Marin has nailed it with a durable, well-balanced trail-bike option for those on a realistic, real-world budget.
www.marinbikes.com SPRING/SUMMER 2017 PEDAL 33
TEST
GEAR
SCOTT SPARK 940 BY TIM LEFEBVRE
THE BIKE
There has been a complete overhaul by the Swiss bicycle company Scott of its Spark and Scale mountain-bike lines. With an impressive 25 different models using different frame materials, geometries, wheel sizes and componentry, the choice can be dizzying. Scott’s main goal was to improve the lines’ impact absorption and increase their performance. Pedal Magazine chose to test the Scott Spark 940, an All-Mountain full-suspension top-spec’ed aluminum model, giving an average mountain biker a closer look. Available in either a 27.5” wheel or 29” wheel, this option is certainly a pleasure upon purchase. Let’s begin with its frame geometry, which boasts a steeper seat angle, slacker head angle, shorter chainstays and a longer frame for 2017. All of this has a significant impact on one’s ride, as Scott’s engineers have been busy redefining this frame. Other major changes include the placement of the rear shock. In past models, Scott used a vertical shock, but have now chosen a horizontal shock mounted to the bottom bracket. Using a Fox Nude CTD shock, the new single-pivot linkage provides increased stiffness, a longer stroke and better suspension than the old design, as well as a lower center of overall gravity to the bike. No longer does the frame have seatstay pivots, as the new design relies on the natural flex of the stays. Here, a new brake mount has been designed that is anchored directly to the chainstay and wheel axle, providing great braking force. The new Scott Spark 940 also incorporates Boost 148 axle spacing into its frame design, with the forks sporting the Boost 110 axle spacing. This creates a stiffer wheel, increased clearance for big tires and the ability to adjust the wheel position to shorten the chainstay length. The frame’s suspension provides 120mm travel both front and rear. The Fox 34 Float Fit front fork can be programmed from the cockpit. The handlebar lever now sits on the left side where you can switch from descend, traction and fully locked-out mode. On the right is the lever that controls the 125mm Fox transfer drop-post. All cables are run internally, which reduces the number of cable stops and other hardware to save weight and improve aesthetics. There is more improvement with the DT Swiss thru-axle and removable Torx 25 handle for trail-side adjustments. A custom chainguide and a Syncros SL seat (XR 2.0), bar (740mm) and stem (70mm) combination look great on this frame. 34 PEDAL SPRING/SUMMER 2017
Price:
$4,700 Weight: 13.1 ibs 2,200g (frame with rear shock and hardware) Components: Shimano XT with Shimano M615 disc (180mm) Frame: Spark 3 Alloy SL 6011, custom-butted hydroformed tubes Fork: Fox 34 Float Performance Air Geometry: Headtube 67.2°/ Seat-tube 73.8° Travel: 120mm front and rear Sizes: S, M, L and XL Comments: Truly enjoyable.
Dressed in a Shimano Deore XT 2X 11-speed drivetrain (with the exception of a SLX cassette 11-42), the bike is available in a 1X or 2X system. Sitting beneath this machine is a fine pair of 29” wheels with Deore hubs and Syncros X-23 rims on a Maxxis Forecaster tire, which is tubeless-ready. I hauled my Scott Spark 940 across the border and down to Allegany State Park to test this ride in an appropriate setting of switchback descents and rooty singletrack. Dialling in the suspension and tire pressure is a must for this kind of ride, and Glen at Front Row Sports in Thorold, Ont. was more than happy to make that happen. Straight away, the Spark 940 is a comfortable ride, with one’s arms out wide on the 740mm bars, but tightly positioned in the cockpit and balanced nicely. Sitting and climbing are a joy, as the bike tracks nicely and its shifting is crisp and tight, even tighter when one switches to “lock-out” position – it’s so nice to do this on the fly. When one stands on the pedals, the frame’s rigidity and strength are evident. On the way down, there were big smiles. The 120mm of travel soaks up the www.pedalmag.com
The Scott Spark 940 is a wonderfully spec’ed All- Mountain machine ready for the abuse bestowed on it by the weekend warrior, 24-Hour participant or pleasure-seeker. www.pedalmag.com
29” differential and then some. There is a superb feeling of control and balance as the bike whips in and out of turns. Being able to use the drop-post is a rare occurrence in these parts, but it comes in handy on steep sections. Braking was outstanding at the worst of times, and I was thankful for that. With this ride, it is easy to run faster on trickier sections, as it inspires confidence and begs you to bury the front end into turns to see if the rear can respond. Overall, for an All-Mountain classification, the bike has a plush feeling of stability and control. The componentry, geometry and design all contribute nicely to this sensation with a flow to get up and down any terrain in style. The Scott Spark 940 is a wonderfully spec’ed All-Mountain machine ready for the abuse bestowed on it by the weekend warrior, 24-Hour participant or pleasure-seeker. If a lighter, more aggressive race frame is desired, the RC models are the way to go. With a number of models to consider in both the Spark and Scale ranges, deciding on one may be more enjoyable than you think.
www.scott-sports.com SPRING/SUMMER 2017 PEDAL 35
TEST
GEAR
SPECIALIZED
S-WORKS ENDURO 29/6FATTIE BY PAUL NEWITT
The 2016 Specialized Enduro was one of the most successful, respected bikes in the All-Mountain category, and Specialized must have considered not messing with a good thing. That being said, it certainly had some room for tweaking, and social-media mavens plied Specialized with endless suggestions and speculations about the 2017 Enduro. This year’s Enduro S-Works 29’er features a fine-tuned version of Specialized’s iconic X-Wing frame design, refined All-Mountain geometry, a new threaded BB, fully enclosed internal cable routing, ManFu link, oversized pivot bearings, 12x148mm dropouts, a replaceable derailleur hanger and SWAT, and it can easily be modified to a 6Fattie set-up. While the 2016 models were incredibly popular, progress in wheel-size offerings, tire trends, suspension-systems improvements and drivetrain innovations all played a part in driving forward the evolution of the Enduro. One of the big changes over last year’s model, and notably apparent on the trails, was the Geo, specifically the head-/seat-tube angles and the bottom-bracket heights. Head angles are slacker, bottom brackets are lower, chainstays are slightly longer and travel has been increased. Front-end travel of 160mm is supplied by an Öhlins RXF 36, while there is 165mm of rear travel, compliments of a custom Öhlins STX shock. A welcome change that comes along with all the new suspension specs is the use of oversized bearings. This not only makes maintenance and replacement much easier, it also actually adds to the aesthetics of the frame. Specialized also stepped it up for 2017 by going “internal” and getting rid of the crazy “Lazy Loop” that previously ran under the BB. The new cable routing offers smooth entry points that follow independently molded tubes through the length of the downtube. The external portion of the cable now runs over the top of the BB to reduce the pull/bend on the cable housing. Both the 29/6Fattie and the 650b versions of the Enduro are dedicated to 1x drivetrains, and one of the first features you notice on the Enduro is the dinnerplate-sized cassette. This massive platter of a cassette is served up by SRAM, as is the entire drivetrain in the form of its XX1 Eagle platform. Whether expected or not, Enduro sees SWAT Door storage integrated into 36 PEDAL SPRING/SUMMER 2017
THE BIKE Price:
$10,449 Components: SRAM XX1 Eagle, SRAM Guide RS carbon brakes, Roval Traverse wheelset Frame/Fork /Shock: FACT 11m, X-Wing with full-carbon chassis and rear end, Öhlins RXF 36 29/27.5+ and Custom Öhlins STX Geometry: 66º head / 76° seat, BB height 352mm, Wheelbase 1179mm Sizes: S, M, L and XL (M tested) Comments: True Enduro’s All-Mountain DNA upgraded for 2017 – Bravo, Specialized
the downtube. It’s pretty amazing what you can pack into this seemingly small space below the water bottle cage. Tools, lightweight rain jackets and even your lunch – just don’t forget it’s in there! One of the few areas that Specialized did not cater to was collective calls for change in the dropper-post department. You sighs can almost be heard, but alas, the 125mm seatpost remains part of the 2017 Enduro line. So with all that’s shiny and new with the Enduro, you might be wondering how it feels on the trail. Although it had been some time since riding technical trails, the Enduro S-Works 29’er instilled a level of confidence that grew exponentially with each run. The slack geometry and long travel of the 29’er made for an incredibly responsive, rapid ride while descending through the old and new growth of B.C.’s Coastal rainforests. Being more of a cross-country rider, I have to admit some of the technical terrain I tackled was a little out of my league, but the Enduro inducted me into that league quickly. It only took a few runs to realize that the Enduro www.pedalmag.com
Specialized has done a fantastic job of remaining true to the Enduro’s All- Mountain DNA while managing to take the platform to a higher level of efficiency. www.pedalmag.com
29’er tames technical terrain, and although maintaining a healthy respect for your limits is appropriate, this bike pushes you to much higher ground with confidence. Climbing traction on the Enduro 29’er was also impressive. The Öhlins RXF 36 rear kept the back end connected to the trail whether it was loose, rough or rooted, and the front end handled steep, tight switchbacks like a Pro climber. Many times, during steep ascents, where I expected the front end to come up as I powered around a tight corner, the Enduro held fast. Kudos to SRAM for providing a 50T cassette to help with those steep sections and kudos to Specialized for a true “All-Everything” bike! Specialized has done a fantastic job of remaining true to the Enduro’s All-Mountain DNA while managing to take the platform to a higher level of efficiency. Form has absolutely followed function with the 2017 Enduro line and Specialized has gone a long way toward addressing the social-media mockings of its previous models.
www.specialized.com SPRING/SUMMER 2017 PEDAL 37
Bike Rack Installation Made Easy BY RON JOHNSON
A
PHOTOS COURTESY OF ASPHALT ANCHORS CORP.
new initiative in Thunder Bay, Ont. has discovered a unique, affordable way forward for local businesses to install exterior bicycle stands at their locations. Installing bicycle stands in municipalities is an expensive but necessary process as cities expand cycling infrastructure to encourage alternative forms of transportation. More secure bicycle stands encourage ridership and decrease theft. But installation and maintenance are challenges, especially in more northerly cities such as Thunder Bay, with its abundant snow and long winters. Yet Adam Krupper, the mobility coordinator for the City of Thunder Bay and head of the Bike Racks for Businesses program, has found a solution that may interest other municipalities involved in expanding their own cycling infrastructure. Part of Krupper’s job is to persuade businesses to invest in bicycle-parking stands for their buildings, but the main challenge has been their installation in asphalt, which normally requires much labour and time.
38 PEDAL SPRING/SUMMER 2017
Normally, what we’d have to do is cut out asphalt, pour in concrete and then install the racks on the concrete,” Krupper said. “This is both time-consuming and cost-prohibitive.” After some research, Krupper found a solution at Asphalt Anchors Corp., a U.S. company in New Jersey that first developed its system with its sister company, Designated Parking Corp. The company has designed easy-to-install anchors drilled into asphalt and secured by pouring in a special grout. After just 15 minutes, the anchor and bolt can support different applications, including bicycle stands. Krupper has sold more than 200 units, and believes this is the tip of the iceberg. “First, it’s easy to install,” said Krupper. “And second, because the bolt is threaded and easily removed, it’s an easy way to move the racks out of the way for winter plowing.” For more information, visit www.asphaltanchors.com.
Asphalt Anchors Corp. designed easy-to-install anchors drilled into asphalt and secured by pouring in a special grout that can support different applications, including bicycle stands, including easily removal, as the bolt is threaded.
www.pedalmag.com
DEPARTMENT OF CANADIAN HERITAGE
Great Canadian Rides
H
ere’s Part Two of our Canada 150 honour roll, marking the 2017 sesquicentennial anniversary of the country and Canadian Confederation. This time, we focused on great Canadian MTB rides and connected with some of the best in the business, riders such as Maghalie Rochette, Sandra Walter, Cory Wallace, Andrew L’Esperance and Soren Meeuwisse, for the inside scoop on some of the “best dirt” to ride in our home and native land. We hope you enjoy your Canada 150 celebrations, and please let us know of your favourite routes. Congratulations, Canada.
www.pedalmag.com
SPRING/SUMMER 2017 PEDAL 39
NEWFOUNDLAND
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
Newfoundland and Labrador are easily Canada’s best-kept mountain-biking secret. With a wide variety of terrain spread across the eclectic province, there’s something for everyone and then some. The East Coast here offers bragging rights – tell your friends you’re riding the easternmost trail in North America. The North Head Trail begins and ends at the iconic Cape Spear lighthouse, with a mix of easy to moderate terrain. Return, it is approximately 10 kilometres long. Or head to the west coast of the province for a rip along the Ginger Route in Corner Brook, a part of this amazing trail lovingly carved by volunteers who have served up hours of sweat and dedication over the past few years. The passion for dirt here delivers renowned B.C. flow to Atlantic Canada with an epic money-shot trail over the Bay of Islands via the Curry Climb, which then rewards you with a rollercoaster descent. This route is approximately 3.5 kilometres with easy to moderate singletrack. When winter takes over, an intricate network of snowmobile and walking trails instantly become a fatbiker’s paradise. Hook up with local riders for memorable adventures in Gros Morne National Park. Some have even adventured deep into the snowy backcountry there for a shot of spectacular Western Brook Pond, the Park’s largest lake amidst the Long Range Mountains. In short, Newfoundland offers great riding all year ‘round for stoked thrillseekers looking for their next epic shred. Combine amazing singletrack with epic coastal views as well as infamous Maritime hospitality, and you’ve summarized the awesome riding this province has to offer.
Mountain biking in Prince Edward Island. Yes, you read that right! No, we don’t have mountains, but the trail riding and, more importantly, the hills are alive and well here in cozy little P.E.I. Twenty minutes west of Charlottetown sits Bonshaw Hills Provincial Park, directly off of the highway. This day park includes picnic areas, bathroom facilities, a playground and more than 18 kilometres of fresh singletrack. The locals nicknamed this trail “Plan B,” after a huge highway re-route, but the official Mi’kmaq name is Ji’ka’we’katik (pronounced Jih-ga-way-ga-dig). This trail system is beautiful! A scenic mix of open meadows, old orchards, sawmill equipment from yesteryear, old-growth forest and stunning views – you’ll want to stop more than a couple of times to take it all in. There are plenty of fast ups and downs (approximately 400 metres of climbing) that will keep you grinning and spinning through this wellgroomed ride. Bonshaw’s trail keeps growing every year due to passionate builders and support from Cycling PEI. As you get deeper into the newest sections, the flow just gets better. There are berms, pumps, bumps, “small” jumps and great technical sections to boot. There is a spot to take a sway on an old tree swing and some sweet connectors throughout the trail. The design lends itself to be ridden in either direction; sections can be linked creatively if you have the luxury of riding here for a couple of days. Also, from the car park, you can connect to at least three other trails, making this place more fun than a strawberry social at the Argyle Community Centre. Speaking of food, you have to head to picturesque Victoria by the Sea for some amazing eats after this ride. You’re a stone’s throw away, and you’d be mad if you don’t!
Newfoundland and Labrador combine amazing singletrack with epic coastal views and Maritime hospitality. 40 PEDAL SPRING/SUMMER 2017
Bonshaw’s scenic trail system features superb singletrack, great technical sections and proximity to great post-ride eats.
CYCLING PEI
BONSHAW HILLS BY JONATHAN MACINNIS
DAWN LEJA
EPIC SHREDDING BY RYAN D. BUTT
www.pedalmag.com
NOVA SCOTIA
NEW BRUNSWICK THE BLUFF AND MORE BY ANDREW MCNAIR
Approximately an hour northwest from Halifax, N.S. is an area called the Annapolis Valley, or known locally as “The Valley.” It’s where you go to get a change from the rocky trails around Halifax. When I was younger, my devoted mother would drive me to these group rides in the Valley, which were conducted by Brian Adams, a local legend who is still leading outdoor activities to this day. Through these rides, I experienced smoother, flow-ier trails that were very different from those in Halifax. Whenever I am home, I head to the Valley to relive this flow. From Wolfville, a small university town on the Minas Basin, if you’re ambitious, you can ride to several trail systems. The Reservoir, Pumphouse, Phase 2 and the Gorge can all be accessed on the bike paths and dykes from Wolfville. When it comes to great riding, these trails offer as much as you’re up for. You can park at the top of Gladys Porter Drive, where you’ll be greeted by a skills park, and can ride all of the trails from there. There is a map at the trailhead showing its 27 trails, which total 17 kilometres. My favourite is the Gorge, just outside of Kentville. It has challenging features, a skills park, flowy trails and gnarly tracks sometimes used for downhill or Enduro races. A few of the trails are more technical and more demanding than some B.C. singletrack I’ve experienced. It’s a great place to test your skills and have some fun. If you want to stay closer to Wolfville, head to the Reservoir to enjoy wellbuilt, tight, flowing trails good for beginners and experts alike. For more information on the trails head to Banks Bikes in Wolfville and grab a coffee while you’re there. Enjoy the Valley.
The mountain biking in New Brunswick is quite possibly one of the bestkept secrets of the North American MTB riding scene! Given the small population (approximately 750,000) of the entire province, the number of awesome trail networks never ceases to amaze me. After all, these trails don’t build themselves. The capital city of Fredericton boasts no less than five trail networks, each consisting of a multitude of trails for all levels of riding. Buffed-out rolling singletrack; rocky, rooty technical stuff or anything in between – it’s all within a 15-minute drive of anywhere in the city. A few of my favourite trail networks include Woolastook, which is approximately 15 minutes out of town; Islandview, a little closer to town; and MVP, just on the other side of town. The beauty of the trail networks here is that they all have different styles of riding, so there is something for everyone, which makes progressing that much easier for new riders, but keeps the old-school technical folks interested as well. If you’re going to travel to New Brunswick for an MTB vacation, on your itinerary of rides, you absolutely need to include “The Bluff” in Sussex, N.B. Just a little more than an hour from Fredericton, Sussex is a rural agricultural town with a whole lot to offer for the outdoor adventurer. The Bluff is a must-do ride for any mountain biker. It’s a right of passage for New Brunswick riders. The views of the valley as you ride along the ridge are breathtaking and never get old. Having ridden in many different spots throughout North America, always in search of the three essentials for a good bike trip – great trails, great food and great local beer (maybe not in that order of importance) – I can say with much certainty that Fredericton, and New Brunswick in general, will not disappoint. With more than 20 microbreweries in the province, five of which are in Fredericton, and a growing “eat-local” culture in many of the restaurants, your ride will always finish with the rewards you’re looking for.
www.pedalmag.com
The Bluff near Sussex, with breathtaking scenery, is a must-do ride and a right of passage for New Brunswick mountain bikers.
ANDREW MCNAIR
National Team rider Haley Smith dropping into one of the steeper chutes at the Gorge in the Annapolis Valley, approximately an hour northwest from Halifax.
ANDREW L’ESPERANCE
ANNAPOLIS VALLEY BY ANDREW L’ESPERANCE
SPRING/SUMMER 2017 PEDAL 41
QUEBEC
ONTARIO
LE PTIT TRAIN DU NORD BY MAGHALIE ROCHETTE
PAN AM TRAIL BY SOREN MEEUWISSE
Quebec is not known for having particularly huge mountains. Nonetheless, theQuebec is not known for having particularly huge mountains. Nonetheless, the province has countless amazing mountain-bike trail networks where you’ll find yourself surrounded by beautiful forests, ripping on dirt and playing around on roots and rocks. With so many fun places to ride, it’s hard to choose just one route, but close to where I live, in the region of the Laurentians just north of Montreal, is a dirt path called “Le Ptit train du Nord,” and it is one I always enjoy riding. Le Ptit train du Nord is approximately 200 kilometres long and follows the Rouge River. You can begin the ride anywhere on it and connect to many additional trails. I suggest starting at the old Ste-Adele train station, with its free parking and close proximity to good food and a cool bike shop. From there, ride approximately two kilometres, mostly uphill, to reach the first trail network, the MICA, which begins in the yard of Augustin Norbert Morin High School. The trails here are fun, fast, flowy and full of roots. Once done exploring there, ride approximately five minutes toward Mont Chantecler. This trail network is extremely well mapped and well maintained, making it easy to explore without becoming lost. The trails at Chantecler will have you climbing up and ripping down short, steep hills covered in roots and rocks. They are super-fun for every level of rider, but become more challenging with speed. After that, hit the road again for approximately five minutes to join the 40/80 trail network to do at least one run of the berms and the jump-filled but still accessible downhill – sure to put a smile on your face! If it is a hot summer day, like me, end your ride with a quick dip in Lac Rond.
Growing up in Orillia, Ont., I rode many local mountain-bike trail systems throughout Oro Medonte township, each one unique. My favourite, though, are at Hardwood Ski and Bike, where I was introduced to this sport at a very young age. There are many different trails ranging from beginner to elite, and my favourite trail is probably the most expert of all: the Pan Am Trail. I’ve learned most of my bike skills on Hardwood soil, and the Trail puts so many of them to the test. It is the only route in the area filled with world-class features, which undoubtedly helped me to compete and represent Canada at World Cups and World Championships. The Trail can be followed by posted signs, and has been the MTB race course for the Pan Am Championships, National Championships and many Canada Cups. It begins on an open gravel start and heads out on a rollercoaster-like first kilometre of doubletrack. Next up is the most fast-flowing part of the Trail, with “Coffee Run,” which includes a gap jump, and then “Deena’s Joyride,” where you can rail a corner on a wooden berm. The steep and twisty “Pugsley” climb follows, which makes you feel red-lined before you drop down “Disera’s Drop” – a rock drop followed by a rock garden. The next climb is the “Big Z,” taking you farther into the forest where you reach a slow-speed awkward rock berm – a classic feature on the Hardwood course called “Boneshaker.” However, to shake your bones up even more, a few features have been added before you head down this steep rock garden. These features include “Endo Rock,” another rock drop, and a big logover – no doubt, harder than “Boneshaker” itself. The Trail finishes off downhill with the BMX segment, where you can snag style points by launching off jumps before riding over “Last Call” to the finish line. After riding the Trail, there is only the feeling of true accomplishment (well, maybe a little fatigue). If you can master the Trail, you are a top- level rider.
MAGHALIE ROCHETTE
42 PEDAL SPRING/SUMMER 2017
COURTESY OF SOREN MEEUWISSE
National Team rider Soren Meeuwisse on on the Pan Am Trail at Hardwood Ski and Bike near Barrie, National Team rider Soren Meeuwisse Ont.
Le Ptit train du Nord in the Laurentians is 200 kilometres long and super-fun with trails that appeal to every level of rider.
www.pedalmag.com
MANITOBA
SASKATCHEWAN
GRAND BEACH PROVINCIAL PARK BY OLIVER EVANS
BLACKSTRAP – A GEM IN THE PRAIRIES
BY SUSAN CLARKE OF BRUCE’S CYCLE WORKS
Admittedly, I’m a total roadie. So you might wonder what authority I have to write about mountain biking. But the trails in Manitoba are where cycling started for me, and perhaps this opportunity can serve as a tribute to where my love for two wheels was born. Even after stopping racing mountain bikes, Grand Beach remains my favourite place to ride when taking a break from the pavement. A growing number of Manitoba’s cyclists have taken great care of the trails there, creating even more routes to explore. Only 100 kilometres from downtown Winnipeg is Grand Beach Provincial Park. Located on the east shore of Lake Winnipeg, the Park is home to a multitude of trails, which are, in turn, home to a mountain-biking staple of the Manitoba cycling community. The mountain-bike trails are located at the cross-country ski area near the east gate of the Park. There are many options for riding, as the trails offer a mix of singletrack and doubletrack, sand, steep climbs, rock gardens and flowy dirt sections throughout the forest. One of my most vivid memories of cycling there (apart from cracked frames, asthma attacks, bears and snow) is of riding through a section of forest where the ground was entirely rust-coloured due to a blanket of dried evergreen needles. It was beautiful. After riding, you can light a fire in the warm-up shacks if it’s cold or head into the town of Grand Marais to grab some curly fries at Lanky’s, then hit the beach. I might even suggest camping in the Park to take full advantage of the area.
Known to Saskatoon, Sask. mountain-bike enthusiasts, Blackstrap Provincial Park offers a variety of trails for riders of all ages. For 10 years, the Park has been working with the Northern Bush Rasta Mountain Bike and Bruce Cycle Works cycling clubs to maintain existing trails using International Mountain Bicycling Association standards. The result is a network of trails that are well groomed and easy to navigate. The foundation of this mountain-bike trail system is the cross-country ski trails that were created for the Jeux Canada Games in 1970. The route starts at the Trailhead Stadium and feeds you into “Fox Den.” Riders looking for a less technical option can remain on the grassy trails, while those looking for more action can pop in and out of the singletrack trails such as “Twister,” “Turkish Delight” and “Deer Leg Down.” “Where’s Granny” reminds even the fittest of riders that athletic ability has its limits. “Sunday Morning” has some challenging switchbacks mixed with open sections for recovery, and don’t forget to save some energy for the “Toll Booth” trail, where riders are rewarded with some great downhill riding after they expend their initial energy on the opening climbs. These are just a few examples of the many trails available to riders, and cyclists can choose one, two or all of the singletrack trails as they make their way through the network. The Park recently added a pathway connecting the Kevin Misfeldt Campground to the marina, offering families the opportunity to ride to the main beach, bypassing the very steep Park-roadway hills. This path is both scenic and friendly to a variety of skill levels. When you add this to the trail system that connects the Hazelnut Campground to the main beach and the old Park road that leads you to the south gate of the Park, you have a solid trail network for those wanting less singletrack and elevation. If you haven’t yet explored Blackstrap Provincial Park, put it on your list. Once you visit, you’ll find many reasons to keep coming back.
www.pedalmag.com
VERNON BOLDICK - DT PRODUCTIONS
Drew Romanovych at Grand Beach Provincial Park, home to a multitude of trails offering a mix of singletrack and doubletrack, sand, steep climbs, rock gardens and flowy dirt sections throughout the forest
GREGORY C. MCNEILL
Blackstrap Provincial Park offers a solid network of trails for riders of all ages that are well groomed and easy to navigate.
SPRING/SUMMER 2017 PEDAL 43
ALBERTA
BRITISH COLUMBIA
JASPER NATIONAL PARK BY CORY WALLACE
SEVEN SUMMITS IN ROSSLAND BY SANDRA WALTER
Spending the past eight years as a Pro rider on the Kona Factory Team, I’ve ridden and raced my bike all over the world, but one place still holds a special place in my heart – Alberta’s Jasper National Park. Growing up in Jasper, it’s part of one’s childhood to ride bikes. It is how you get to school, downtown or out into the wilderness that surrounds the town. Jasper is in the confluence of three valleys, and from the local bike shop, Freewheel Cycle, you can get to more than a dozen trailheads in less than 10 minutes. The biggest problem is trying to decide which direction to head on any given day! When I’m in town now between trips, I try to make the most of my limited days by combining some of the popular rides on one big day out. I call it the “The Abbreviated Around the World.” Starting out on the 32-kilometre loop, get the big one out of the way first. This rugged track leads far up into the wilderness under the shadows of Pyramid Mountain above town, passing by numerous crystal-clear lakes and fresh streams. In either direction, the second half is a ripping, predominantly downhill thrill ride back to town, where you can refuel at a local coffee shop before heading out on the next leg, which starts on Bighorn Alley, leading onto Snaring Road and eventually on to the Overlander Trailhead at the Moberly Bridge. The Overlander is a classic Jasper trail traversing the banks of the Athabasca River, with glorious views and a few technical rocky patches. It’s a fast cruise as you ride past the Moberly Cabin ruins and end up at the refreshing Maligne River. From here, you head north up the Maligne before a 12-kilometre climb to Signal Mountain Lookout for an amazing 360° view of the three valleys below and a cap to an epic day out in the mountains. There are a couple rad options for descending back down to the valley below, and then it’s an easy 30- to 45-minute cruise along the Athabasca via Trail 7 back to town. There’s plenty of space here to give high-fives to your riding buddies and discuss at which great Jasper restaurant or cafe you’ll end your ride. As always when riding in in the Rockies, you must be alert for bears, elk and the odd misbehaving tourist.
44 PEDAL SPRING/SUMMER 2017
The iconic Seven Summits in Rossland, B.C. is a gorgeous, epic 30km ride with panoramic views, incredible scenery, and memories to last a lifetime.
www.pedalmag.com
STEVE DEVANTIER
JEFF BARTLETT
Jasper National Park features some of the best riding anywhere in the world with sweet trails, amazing scenery, wildlife and great restaurants and cafes to end your ride.
Riddled with world-class singletrack and encompassing a wide range of climates, ecosystems and geologies, B.C. is impossible to define with one trail, but Seven Summits – an iconic 30-kilometre point-to-point epic in the Kootenay Rockies mountain town of Rossland – comes close. The adventure starts from the trailhead at Highway 3B’s Nancy Greene Summit, most commonly accessed by arranged shuttle to avoid a 30-kilometre-highway uphill slog. Only the most diehard will choose to complete the entire loop unassisted, but it’s not recommended, as the trail on its own is a doozy and requires both mental and physical freshness to navigate. Besides the gorgeous purpose-built alpine mountain-bike trail and its correspondingly panoramic views of the Monashee Range, a major part of the allure of this singletrack gem is that it’s only rideable for a fleetingly short time each year in the snow-free months, typically from July until the first October snowstorm. The lowest point of the trail is at its finish – 1,400 metres above sea level – and it maxes out at nearly 2,200 metres by Kilometre Seven. When ridden in its intended north-south direction, riders will face a demanding 1,035 metres of vertical ascent. The ride is capped off relatively easily with the Dewdney Trail, which picks up at the end of Seven Summits, taking keeners down an extra seven kilometres of trail for a total of 36 kilometres and nearly 2,000 metres of elevation loss. Seven Summits climbs through the treeline and traverses the ridge of the Rossland Range. During the right time of year, meadows of vivid alpine flowers flank the winding ribbon of dirt. The terrain varies from flowy tree-lined paths to rough, rocky and technical passages that have slashed countless tires and gashed many knees. Riders should count on a six-hour excursion and plan accordingly, keeping in mind that weather can change quickly and dramatically in the mountains. There are no facilities along the route, so self-sufficiency is imperative. Those who tackle the trail will be in for a challenging day, but the iconic Seven Summits is a must on every keen mountain-biker’s bucket list.
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES FRAME LAKE TRAIL BY THOMSEN D’HONT In the late 1990’s when I was a kid growing up in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, I remember Wade Simmons coming to town to shred such near-vertical slick rock slabs as The Raven down in Old Town. Legend has it that local teenaged phenom Doug Bartlett rode The Raven soon after and snapped his Kona Stuff in two. To experience what Simmons was after, but dialed down to a level that us mere mortals can handle, check out the Frame Lake Trail across the lake from downtown. The 2.5-kilometre off-road portion of the Trail is made up of challenging technical bedrock and rock slabs, interspersed with short breaks on pea gravel and boardwalk. The ride offers fabulous views of downtown Yellowknife across the lake and is a great ride any time of year. In the winter, the Trail is packed down by foot traffic into a fast-flowing luge track of a fatbike trail. Another picturesque ride just outside of town is Yellowknife’s newest singletrack trail, the Holdout. The two-kilometre-ish trail nips into the poplars at the top of the rock bluff on the left one kilometre past the Dettah exit on the Ingraham Trail. Enjoy views of the Yellowknife River while exploring this superb meandering trail. If you’re here in the winter, check out the fatbiking around Yellowknife. As Canada’s coldest city, Yellowknife often lies in the sweet spot of fatbiking temperatures, between -10°C and -20°C, when snow is tacky and fast. The little snow we do get in this arid subarctic region is quickly packed down by snowmobiles into a vast, accessible trail network of epic rides radiating out from town. Lash your .22 to your fatbike rack after work to head out on a ptarmigan hunt in the fading light. Nothing like logging the kilometres while also getting dinner.
THOMSEN D’HONT
Yellowknife’s legendary Frame Lake Trail, with its fabulous views of downtown, is a great ride any time of year.
www.pedalmag.com
SPRING/SUMMER 2017 PEDAL 45
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YUKON
THE YUKON RIVER TRAIL BY DEREK CROWE The Yukon Territory has become a global mountain-bike destination. Visitors from the “outside” are attracted by the fast-flowing singletrack, First Nations Culture and legends of the Gold Rush. On the Yukon River Trail, all of these elements converge and make it a must-do route for any visiting mountain biker. There are a few different ways to get to the famous Yukon River Trail. My favourite begins with the perilously steep and locally infamous “Money Shot” trail. The wise but still adventurous should join the route a little lower down with a short but challenging climb up “Easy Money” for a stunning view. The slabs of exposed limestone, fast turns and the occasional wood ramp on the descent will take all of your concentration. Things relax with a quick traverse on “Payback” and onto SFD and the classic “Girlfriend,” which rolls down terrain sculpted by the grinding of icebergs beneath a vast glacial lake. Next up is “Juicy,” which rips and rolls south on ancient eskers, ridges caused by glaciers. “Juicy” saves its best for last, as its final turns bank perfectly into the Yukon River Trail. Once on the Yukon River Trail, the shape and routing of the singletrack is sublime – a 10”-wide concave dish that is a remnant of a vast network of First Nation trading trails. This portion of the route is the perfect place to experience pedaling into the Midnight Sun. Even if it’s a little dark, don’t be afraid to linger when taking in the views from high above the Yukon River – the long shadows will add to the abandoned-ghosttown vibe of Canyon City. It’s here that countless Gold-Rush legends came to be, as well as lives lost downstream in the swirling whirlpools of the once-ferocious Miles Canyon and Whitehorse rapids. Getting back to Whitehorse is easy now; there’s an app for that. Icycle Sports in Whitehorse is Yukon’s only full-service and yearround bike shop. It’s the best spot for maps and trail advice and to meet the locals over a coffee fresh brewed by Midnight Sun coffee roasters, who share space with the bike shop. Icycle features a full range of rental and demo bikes from manufacturers such as Giant, Norco, Pivot and Santa Cruz, and staff can be reached at www.shopicyclesport.com for more information.
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46 PEDAL SPRING/SUMMER 2017
The Yukon River Trail features fast-flowing singletrack and is the perfect place to experience pedaling into the Midnight Sun. www.pedalmag.com
DEREK CROWE
tation ranspor ptions
More than 200 delegates are expected to attend the MTB Tourism Symposium in Revelstoke, B.C.
Travel Adventures To advertize in Pedal’s Travel feature please contact 866-977-3325 or advertising@pedalmag.com
MTB TOURISM SYMPOSIUM IN REVELSTOKE, B.C., SEPT. 13-15 Revelstoke, B.C. will host the fourth bi-annual Mountain Bike (MTB) Tourism Symposium from Sept. 13-15. Tourism Revelstoke, the Revelstoke Cycling Association and Wandering Wheels are helping to organize this year’s event. Delegates have the option of staying for the weekend to enjoy the Revelstoke Bikefest on Sept. 15-17. “We’ll be offering delegates a unique opportunity to stay and ride a few extra days and to really experience our trails and passionate bike community,” said Matt Yaki of the MTB guiding company Wandering Wheels. With the growth of mountain biking in past decades and the anticipated increase in MTB’ing visitors to B.C. in the foreseeable future, the MTB sector recognizes the challenges facing local trail advocates who care for the trails. More than 200 delegates are expected, representing land use and community planners, recreation and tourism professionals, trail builders and advocates, government regulators and policy makers, First Nations, non-profit organizations and educators. “We are incredibly fortunate to live in a province that is so well suited to mountain biking; we truly are the envy of the mountain-biking world,” says Western Canada MTB Tourism Association (MBTA) executive director Martin Littlejohn. For more info, visit mtbtourismsymposium.ca.
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Numainville (Cylance Pro), have obtained special derogations to race here with the men. The fame of the MCL extends far beyond Canada; this summer, two Pro Continental teams from France will be making appearances at the MCL, as well as the U19 National team from New Zealand on their way to the Tour de l’Abitibi. Last summer saw Jean-François Laroche win his sixth championship among the senior men, rivalling the record set by Yannick Cojan in 1999. The suspense is whether Laroche can pull off another season title this summer. “We didn’t plan this,” explains Rossi. Adding to the appeal is that here you can see part-timers such as Laroche [a lawyer by day] competing against Pro cyclists and sometimes winning. In 1980, Rossi opened his bike shop, Bicyclettes Rossi in Lachine, selling it in 2000 as part of a divorce settlement. The new owner, Owen Eastmond, insisted on keeping Rossi’s name on store. Now 17 years later, customers still walk in asking to see Rossi. “I don’t regret selling the store, but I do regret selling the building. It is now worth $1 million.” Ironically, his namesake bike shop is no longer involved with running Rossi’s races, but the competition a few blocks away, Cycles Néron is. The Néron family owns five stores throughout Greater Montreal and was scheduled to take over the MCL in 2017. But the Nérons invited Rossi for dinner after the 2016 season, saying that they were not ready, and begged him to stay on for one more season. Rossi looks well now, but had a hip replacement in 2014. “It’s not easy passing the torch if you want to do a good job; otherwise people will suffer.” Rossi claims to be working up to 16 hours a day to ensure that the MCL series goes well this summer. He jokes that it will take five people to take over his job running the MCL. The MCL started with volunteer labour, and saw Rossi put in money from his own pocket for the first 15 years or so. Today, the 10-stage series has some 60 employees and benefits from “major-event” status conferred by municipal authorities. Rossi’s 400th stage will come to a close at the 2017 grand finale on Aug. 15. While he is coy, Rossi hints that there will be some surprises that evening. Asked what his life will be like after handing over “his baby” to the Néron family, Rossi had a quick answer: “I will play with my [six] grandchildren and have them come see me in Florida. I want to stay closer to my family, bringing them every Tuesday to the MCL, having a glass of wine and watching the races.” Still, Pedal suspects he will not be content to merely watch the races.
Cycling Yukonnaise Association Association of Yukon Cycliste
www.bnl.nf.ca 48 PEDAL SPRING/SUMMER 2017
www.cpei.ca
www.cyclingcanada.ca
MARDIS CYCLISTES
sportyukon.com
(l-r): Joseph ‘Tino’ Rossi (Mardis Cyclistes), Denis Coderre (Montreal Mayor), Claude Dauphin (Lachine Mayor) www.pedalmag.com
2017
BUYERS GUIDE
APEX RACE PHOTOGRAPHY
BY BEN ANDREW, PAUL NEWITT, CHRIS REDDEN AND MIKE SARNECKI
MOUNTAIN Cross-country Over $6,000 50 Cross-country $3,000-$6,000 54 Cross-country Under $3,000 58 Endurance Over $6,000 64 Endurance $3,000-$6,000 65 Trail 67 Downhill Over $6,000 68 Downhill $3,000-$6,000 69 Fatbikes 70
BMX Race 72 Freestyle 74 Dirt Jumping 76
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SPRING/SUMMER 2017 PEDAL 49
BU Y E RS G U IDE 2 0 1 7
MOUNTAIN CROSS-COUNTRY OVER $6,000 Scott Genius 700 Premium The Scott Genius 700 Premium features a HMX carbon-fibre frame built around a 27.5”-wheel platform. The bikes uses Scott’s TwinLoc technology to allow riders to choose between three travel/geom etry settings to help optimize the bike for the trail. A custom Fox Nude shock and Kashima-coated Fox 34 Float Factory fork provide a maximum travel of 150mm front and rear. Shimano XTR M9000 groupset, Syncros Carbon cockpit, Fox Transfer dropper post and Syncros TR1.5 wheels finish the Genius 700 Premium build. The SRP is $10,299.95.
Trek Top Fuel 9.8 SL The Trek Top Fuel 9.8 SL’s frame is constructed of OCLV Mountain Carbon in the main frame and seatstays, and is completed with alloy chainstays. The frame uses Trek’s Mino Link that allows riders to tune the headtube angle and BB height up to 10mm. A Fox 32 Float front fork makes the travel of the bike 100mm front and rear, while Boost 110 spacing is used up front and Boost 148 in the rear. A Fox Float RE:aktiv rear shock handles the hits in the rear, while a SRAM X1/X01 groupset and Bontrager Kovee Pro OCLV Carbon wheels complete the build. The Top Fuel is designed around 29” wheels, except for the 15.5” frame, which uses 27.5” wheels. The SRP is $6,899.
Rocky Element 999 RSL The Element 999 RSL from Canada-based Rocky Mountain features a Smoothwall carbon C13 frame with adjustable geometry and suspension rate. A Fox Float DPS shock with 100mm of travel is paired with the frame, while a Fox 34 Float Factory 120mm fork is mounted up front. A SRAM 1x12 XX1 Eagle drivetrain, SRAM Level Ultimate brakes, RockShox Reverb Stealth dropper post and Race Face Next handlebar finish the build. The Element 999 RSL rolls on Stan’s Valor carbon rims with Stan’s Neo Ultimate hubs that are ready for the bike’s Boost spacing. The SRP is $11,499.
50 PEDAL SPRING/SUMMER 2017
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BU YERS GU I D E 2 0 1 7
CROSS-COUNTRY OVER $6,000
MOUNTAIN
Marin Rift Zone 8 Carbon The Rift Zone 8 from California-based Marin Bikes is a 29”-wheeled trail bike with 110mm of travel front and rear. A carbon monocoque front triangle with an alloy IsoTrac rear-end suspension and 29’er trail geometry deliver lightweight, efficient pedaling performance. A RockShox Pike RC 29 fork provides the suspension up front, while the bike is equipped with a 1x11 Shimano XT drivetrain and brakes. The entire package rolls on Stan’s NoTubes Flow MK3 wheels, and a bottle opener for post-ride beverages can be found in place of a front derailleur. The SRP is $6,199.
Specialized S-Works Epic Carbon FSR Di2 29 The S-Works Epic FSR Di2 is based around an S-Works FACT full-carbon frame, which uses a unique S-Works lay-up for improved performance. The frame features 12x148 Boost spacing and 100mm of travel, which is provided by a Fox/SBC Epic remote Mini Brain shock. There is 100mm of travel found up front as well, thanks to a RockShox RS-1 Brain fork. A Shimano XTR M9070 Di2 drivetrain with a Race Face Next SL carbon crankset, XTR M9000 hydraulic disc brakes, Specialized FACT carbon handlebar, S-Works FACT carbon seatpost and Roval Control SL 29” wheels complete the build. The SRP is $14,999.
Kona Hei Hei Race Supreme The Hei Hei Race Supreme uses Kona’s Race Light Carbon for a light, stiff frame and is based around the company’s Fuse suspension platform. A RockShox Monarch XX shock provides 100mm of rear travel, which is matched up front by a RockShox RS-1 fork. A SRAM XX1 Eagle drivetrain, SRAM Level Ultimate brakes and WTB Ci24 TCS 29” wheels complete the build. The SRP is $10,499.
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SPRING/SUMMER 2017 PEDAL 51
BU Y E RS G U IDE 2 0 1 7
MOUNTAIN CROSS-COUNTRY OVER $6,000 MEC Intense-Primer Pro The MEC Intense-Primer Pro 29’er is based around a monocoque carbon frame with titanium hardware and a carbon top link. Compact seatstays and a short wheelbase make for a nimble ride, while Boost spacing increases stiffness at the wheels. A Fox Float 34 Performance Elite fork with 140mm of travel is paired with a Fox Float Performance Elite SV EVOL rear shock that can be adjusted to between 115mm and 130mm. A RockShox Reverb Stealth seatpost with 125mm of travel, SRAM 1x12 X01 Eagle groupset, SRAM Level TLM hydraulic disc brakes, DT Swiss M 1700 Spline TWO wheels, Thomson Elite stem, Renthal Fatbar Lite bars and a Fabric Scoop Radius Pro saddle highlight the build. The SRP is $8,380.
Apollo Artec D9 From Australian brand Apollo, the Artec D9’s frame is constructed of high-modulus carbon and has 120mm of travel and Boost 148 spacing. A RockShox Monarch RT shock and RockShox RS-1 fork provide the suspension, while a SRAM 1x12 X01 Eagle groupset and SRAM Level Ultimate brakes handle the demands of the trail. The bike is completed with 29” DT XR 1501 Spline wheels, a RockShox Reverb dropper post and an Answer Pro SL carbon handlebar. The SRP is $11,299.
Jamis Dakota Team Based around a high-modulus carbon-fibre frame coupled with a Fox 32 Float fork with 100mm of travel, the Jamis Dakota Team features a 1x12 SRAM XX1 Eagle drivetrain, Shimano XTR hydraulic disc brakes, a Ritchey Trail WCS carbon handlebar and seatpost, a Ritchey Trail WCS stem and 29” Stan’s NoTubes Crest MK3 Team wheels. No need to be shy when you’re riding the Jamis Dakota Team. The SRP is $8,599.
52 PEDAL SPRING/SUMMER 2017
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BU YERS GU I D E 2 0 1 7
CROSS-COUNTRY OVER $6,000
MOUNTAIN
Bianchi Methanol 9.2 CV The Methanol 9.2 CV is a full-carbon hardtail that features Bianchi’s Countervail vibration-canceling system. The frame uses 12x148 Boost spacing and is paired with a Fox 32 SC FIT4 fork with 100mm of travel and a 15x110 axle. A Shimano XTR M9000 groupset is completed by a FSA Sl-K 392EBO crankset. The Methanol 9.2 CV also features an FSA K-Force Light handlebar, stem and seatpost, as well as a DT XR 1501 Spline 29” wheelset. The SRP is $11,499.
Norco Revolver 9.1 FS From Canadian manufacturer Norco, the Revolver 9.1 FS has a high-modulus carbon frame that is paired with a RockShox Monarch RL shock and RockShox SID RLC fork for 100mm of travel front and rear. The Revolver is ready to roll on 29” DT Swiss X 1700 Spline Two wheels, while other build features include a 1x12-speed SRAM X01 drivetrain, SRAM X1400 crankset and SRAM Level TLM hydraulic disc brakes. This go-anywhere ride will keep you smiling from ear to ear. The SRP is $6,799.
Focus O1E Team The Focus O1E Team has a full-carbon frame with Boost 148 spacing and uses F.O.L.D kinematics to provide 100mm of travel with the help of a SRAM Monarch XX shock. The frame is paired with a SRAM RS-1 fork with 100mm of travel, while a SRAM 1x12 XX1 Eagle groupset and SRAM Level Ultimate brakes complement the full SRAM spec. The O1E Team rolls on DT Swiss SR 1501 wheels. The SRP is $9,500.
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B UY E RS G U IDE 2017
MOUNTAIN
CROSS-COUNTRY $3,000-$6,000 Felt Edict 3 The Felt Edict 3 is a great all-round bike suitable for climbing or all-out racing. The frame features UHC Performance carbon construction that uses Felt’s FAST suspension platform. A RockShox Reba RL front fork provides 120mm of travel that is paired with 100mm of rear travel. The Shimano SLX 2x11 drivetrain keeps this cool bike moving in the right direction, and the wheelset uses SLX hubs along with double-walled rims. The SRP is $4,599.
Pinarello Dogma XC 9.9 The Pinarello Dogma XC 9.9 uses an asymmetric split rear seatstay design to aid in reducing shock and vibrations through the rear end. The junction of the stays is moved higher than the toptube to contribute to the reduction of vibrations. The frame is constructed with 60HM1K Torayca carbon fibre (the same material used in Pinarello’s topend road machines) for a light, stiff ride. The build pictured here features a 2x11 Shimano XT groupset, Fulcrum Red Power HP 29” wheels and a Fox 32 Float 29 fork with 100mm of travel. The SRP for the frame is $4,500.
Cube Elite C:62 Race 29 The Cube Elite C:62 Race 29 has a full-carbon monocoque frame that is paired with a RockShox Reba RL fork with 100mm of travel. The bike is built with a 1x11 SRAM X1 drivetrain with X01 rear derailleur and Shimano XT hydraulic disc brakes. The bike rolls on 29” Fulcrum Red 44 wheels wrapped with Schwalbe Rocket Ron tires. The SRP is $4,999.
54 PEDAL SPRING/SUMMER 2017
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BU YERS GU I D E 2 0 1 7
CROSS-COUNTRY $3,000-$6,000
MOUNTAIN
Cannondale Scalpel-SI Carbon Women’s 2 With a frame constructed of BallisTec Carbon with Zero Pivot seatstays and 100mm of travel, the Cannondale Scalpel-SI Carbon Women’s 2 is designed to handle the demands of racing. A Lefty 2.0 fork with 100mm travel is mounted up front, while the rear suspension in handled by a RockShox Monarch RL. The bike rolls on Stan’s ZTR Rapid 25 27.5” wheels and is built with a 2x11 Shimano XT drivetrain, brakes and Cannondale Si BB30 crank. The SRP is $5,499.
Kona Hei Hei The Kona Hei Hei is one fast fully-suspended 29’er that features a Kona Race Light 6061-butted aluminum frame. The bike has 120mm of travel in the front, using a RockShox Recon Gold RL, while the 100mm of rear travel is provided by a RockShox Monarch RL. A Shimano XT 1x11-speed drivetrain keeps the bike going, while a set of Shimano hydraulic disc brakes slow it down. The 29” wheels are equipped with WTB STP i29 TCS tubeless rims with Shimano Deore hubs. The SRP is $3,499.
Giant XTC Advanced 29 1 New from Giant, the XTC Advanced 29 1 is a versatile hardtail that features a composite frame with horizontal dropouts. Coupled with a Fox 32 Float SC Boost fork with 100mm of travel, the bike can be converted to 27.5+ or even be run as a single-speed. A 1x11 Shimano XT drivetrain and hydraulic disc brakes, as well as a Giant XCR 1 Composite DBL 29” wheelset complete this sweet ride. The SRP is $3,999.
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SPRING/SUMMER 2017 PEDAL 55
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MOUNTAIN CROSS-COUNTRY $3,000-$6,000 Specialized Epic FSR Comp 29 Specialized has taken what it’s learned in World Cup racing and applied it to the Epic FSR Comp. The reliable M5 aluminum frame has the race-proven XC 29 geometry that provides nimble handling. A RockShox Reba SL fork is matched to a Fox/SBC Epic rear shock that also features a remote. A Shimano XT 11-speed rear derailleur is paired with a mix of SLX 2x11 components along with Deore disc brakes, while a set of Roval 29” wheels completes this slick ride. The SRP is $3,999.
Liv Pique Advanced 1 (W) The Liv Pique Advanced 1 is a women’s-specific full-suspension bike ready to go fast – uphill or downhill – right out of the box. Featuring a lower standover height, the Pique Advanced 1 allows the rider more mobility on the bike along with full control in all conditions. An advanced-grade composite mainframe with a Fox 34 Float front fork provides 120mm of travel. Giant composite 27.5” wheels are a unique feature, while a Shimano Deore 1x11-speed drivetrain comes with hydraulic brakes for smooth stopping power. The SRP is $4,999.
Scott Contessa Spark 710 (W) The Scott Contessa Spark 710 has a Spark 3 carbon mainframe with Alloy SL 6011 swingarm and features Boost 148x12mm spacing. The frame is coupled with a Fox Nude Trunnion shock that provides a maximum travel of 120mm and features three distinct suspension modes. A Boost 110 Fox 34 Float fork with 120mm of travel handles the hits up front. Both the fork and shock are controlled by Scott’s TwinLoc Remote. A 2x11 Shimano SLX/XT drivetrain, Shimano SLX hydraulic disc brakes, a Fox Transfer dropper post and 27.5” Syncros XR2.5 wheels highlight the build. The SRP is $5,499.
56 PEDAL SPRING/SUMMER 2017
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BU YERS GU I D E 2 0 1 7
CROSS-COUNTRY $3,000-$6,000
MOUNTAIN
KHS Prescott 29 A carbon front triangle helps stiffen and lighten the full-suspension KHS Prescott 29 that features 100mm of front and rear travel via a RockShox Reba RTL front fork and RockShox Monarch RT3 rear shock. A set of American classic Terrain 29 disc wheels uses thru-axles and comes with WTB Nano Race tires. The drivetrain and shifters are Shimano SLX and feature an upgraded XT rear derailleur. This SRP is $3,899.
BMC Teamelite 02 XT With a carbon frame based around BMC’s Big Wheel Concept geometry, the Teamelite 02 XT is equally ready for races or weekend rides. The bike is built with a Fox Float 32 SC 100mm fork mounted up front, 2x11 Shimano SLX/XT drivetrain, Shimano SLX brakes, a Fi’zi:k Tundra saddle and 29” DT Swiss X1700 Spline wheels. The SRP is $4,999.
Marin Rift Zone 6 The Rift Zone 6 is based around a sturdy 6061-aluminum frame that features Marin’s aluminum 29” wheels and 110mm of travel, thanks to its IsoTrac-suspension design and alloy swingarm. IsoTrac suspension uses minimally flexing rear stays to eliminate the need for a rear pivot. The Rift Zone 6 is built with trail geometry that includes a low BB and slack head angle, while the build features a 1x11 SRAM GX1 drivetrain, RockShox Recon Silver RL front fork, RockShox Monarch RL rear shock and Shimano M365 hydraulic disc brakes. The SRP is $3,149.
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MOUNTAIN CROSS-COUNTRY UNDER $3,000 Bianchi Kuma 29.0 Painted in the classic Bianchi Celeste colour with a matte finish, this aluminum frame is coupled with an SR Suntour XCM RL DS 100mm fork that offers a remote speed lockout. A Shimano Deore M610 10-speed group with Shimano XT M781 SGS 10-speed rear derailleur provides power to spare. Alex MD2.0 rims are laced to Formula Center Lock hubs and wrapped with Kenda Small Block Eight Sport tires to provide a balance between speed and traction. The SRP is $1,599.
Focus Raven Core The Focus Raven Core is a lightweight carbon hardtail that aims to speed you to the finish line. With two wheel-size options available (27.5 and 29�), the internally cable-routed carbon frame features a PF30 BB and 142mm thru axle. The Rockshox Recon Silver RL remote actuated front fork absorbs trail hits to keep you riding smooth, while the Shimano SLX 11-speed drivetrain and double chainrings offer plenty of gear ranges for any terrain. The SRP is $2,800.
Marin Rift Zone 5 Employing a high-quality Series 4 aluminum-alloy frame with 110mm IsoTrac suspension platform that is part of the Rift Zone alloy family, the Marin Rift Zone 5 delivers performance in an affordable package. Featuring a Shimano Deore 1x10-speed drivetrain, RockShox Recon Silver RL 120mm travel fork and Shimano hydraulic disc brakes, the Rift Zone 5 provides good bang for the buck. The SRP is $2,549.
58 PEDAL SPRING/SUMMER 2017
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CYCLING CANADA 2 0 1 7 CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS SERIES
31 MAR 2 APR 2017
MILTON ON
CANADIAN TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS (U17/JUNIOR/PARA)
24-28 JUN 2017
08-11 JUN 2017
VA N C O U V E R BC
GLOBAL REL AY CANADIAN MASTER ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS P/B LEXUS
OT TAWA/GATINEAU ON/QC
GLOBAL REL AY CANADIAN ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS P/B LEXUS JUNIOR/ELITE
15-16 JUL 2017
INVERMERE BC
15-16 JUL 2017
EAST HEREFORD QC
CANADIAN DOWNHILL MTB CHAMPIONSHIPS
CANADIAN XCM MTB CHAMPIONSHIPS
22-23 JUL 2017
25-27 AUG 2017
CANMORE AB
CALGARY AB
CANADIAN XCO MTB CHAMPIONSHIPS P/B LEXUS
CANADIAN BMX CHAMPIONSHIPS & CANADA CUP BMX #7
27-30 SEP 2017
28 OCT 2017
MILTON ON
CANADIAN TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS P/B LEXUS (ELITE/MASTER)
SHERBROOKE QC
CANADIAN CYCLO-CROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS
BU Y E RS G U IDE 2 0 1 7
MOUNTAIN
CROSS-COUNTRY UNDER $3,000 Scott Scale 765 The Scott Scale 765 is built with a custom-butted 6061-alloy frame along with a tapered headtube and internal cable routing. It comes equipped with a RockShox fork that features Remote Lockout technology to allow for multiple travel settings that can be adjusted for any riding conditions. With the same geometry as its Carbon siblings and a SRAM 1x11 drivetrain, this is a durable, affordable hardtail designed with world-class speed. The SRP is $1,499.
Trek Procaliber 9.6 The Trek Procaliber 9.6 is back to rule the cross-country circuit once again, redefining the term “hardtail” and setting the bar for speed and intelligence. Its IsoSpeed decoupler delivers uncompromising cross-country performance, efficiency and an incredible ride. Boost 148/110 hubs create stronger wheels, more tire clearance and shorter stays, while the OCLV Mountain Carbon frame is fast, light and trail-tough. Available in 29” or 27.5” for the 15”-frame wheel, Shimano brakes and drivetrain are coupled with Bontrager seatpost, stem, handlebars and wheels. The SRP is $2,999.
Norco Charger 9.1 The Norco Charger 9.1 is designed for serious fun on the trails. Like its name implies, the 29” Charger is a hard-charging, trail-ready bike on which you can build your skills and your fitness. SRAM Level T brakes offer loads of stopping power, and the SRAM NX 1x11-speed drivetrain provides gear options for any terrain. Less weight and increased strength and stiffness mean you can descend faster, climb better and have more fun! The SRP is $1,899.
60 PEDAL SPRING/SUMMER 2017
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BU YERS GU I D E 2 0 1 7
CROSS-COUNTRY UNDER $3,000
MOUNTAIN
Garneau Trust 272 The Garneau Trust 272 is the bike for the weekend warrior on a budget. An attractive price tag makes this a cost-effective 27.5�-wheeled mountain bike that uses a durable S-6 aluminum frame. The front SR Suntour XCT suspension fork offers 100mm of travel. A Shimano Altus rear derailleur is matched with Shimano ST-M310 shifters for eight-speed shifting with a SR Suntour XCE triple crank. The wheels are Alex MD19 alloy rims with Shimano RM35 hubs and Kenda 2.1 tires. The brakes are Shimano BRTX805 discs with 160mm rotors with Shimano ST-M310 levers. Garneau handlebars and seatpost finish off the bike. The SRP is $749.
Felt Nine 60 Felt brings its proven geometry and handling to the Nine 60. A butted 6061-aluminum frame with hydroformed tubes is the heart of the bike. The frame is matched to a RockShox XC30 fork with 100mm of travel. The drivetrain has Shimano Acera 3x9 shifters and a Deore rear derailleur with an Acera front. The wheels are aluminum double-walled rims with forged aluminum hubs and Schwalbe Rapid Rob 2.1 tires. The braking is controlled by Shimano M355 disc brakes with 180/160mm rotors. A set of Felt handlebars, stem and seatpost complete the bike. The SRP is $1,199.
Opus Flux 29 The core of the Opus Flux 29 is the Meta 20 XC 6061 T6 alloy frame matched with a Suntour XCT HLO front-suspension fork with 100mm of travel. The 29� wheels are built with Weinmann XM280 alloy rims with Joytech QR hubs and Vittoria Peyote 2.1 tires. Shifting is performed by a Shimano Acera rear and Tourney front derailleur. The shifters are Shimano Acera with 3x8 gearing and a Shimano crank. The disc brakes and levers are Promax Solve. An Opus alloy handlebar and stem are matched with an Opus seatpost. The SRP is $979.
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MOUNTAIN
CROSS-COUNTRY UNDER $3,000 Jamis Durango Sport Part of the most affordable line in the Jamis stable, the Durango Sport is a 29” mountain bike that features a frame with a sloping toptube that optimizes stand-over clearance while adding great looks at the same time. A RST Blaze fork smooths out the terrain, and precise shifting is provided by an eight-speed Shimano drivetrain. The SRP is $1,104.
Devinci Jackson S 27.5 The Devinci Jackson S 27.5 redefines the Sport Series capabilities with its streamlined internal cable routing and a lightweight, hardworking aluminum build. Equipped with a Shimano drivetrain and Tektro Aires mechanical disc brakes, this bike delivers a high-performance ride that won’t break the bank. The SRP is $699.
Miele Pazzino 265 (Kids) The Miele Pazzino 265 is a 6061-alloy frame with 26” wheels that delivers a ride always available for the next adventure. The Suntour M3010 suspension keeps things smooth, and the Shimano Tourney TY-300 seven-speed shifting system delivers the gear range necessary for any kid who wants to hit the trail. The SRP is $424.
62 PEDAL SPRING/SUMMER 2017
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bike passion and the
to end MS.
msbike.ca Prince Edward County July 9
Tle sponsor Ti
Ottawa to Grand Bend to London Cornwall July 29-30 July 15-16
naTional sponsors
Niagara August 20
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REGiS T TOdA ER
Toronto September 17
proud supporTer
BU Y E RS G U IDE 2 0 1 7
MOUNTAIN
ENDURANCE OVER $6,000 Scott Genius LT 710 Plus The Scott Genius LT 710 Plus carbon frame includes an alloy swingarm with 180PM U-mono link/tapered headtube, IDS SL dropouts for 148x12mm Boost 3.0” tire clearance/BB height adjustment, and 160mm of rear travel, thanks to a Fox Nude shock. Up front, a Fox 36 Float Performance Elite Air fork provides 160mm travel. A Scott TwinLoc remote seatpost, SRAM GX 1x11-speed drivetrain, a set of Shimano SLX M7000 disc brakes and Syncros 3.0 Plus wheelset complete the Genius LT 710 Plus package. The SRP is $6,799.
Kona Process 153 DL Built around a Kona 6061-aluminum-butted frame, the Kona Process 153 DL offers a 160mm RockShox Lyrik RCT3 front fork and 153mm RockShox Monarch Plus RC3 rear shock. Refined geometry makes it more stable and capable than ever, and SRAM X01/ X1 1x11-speed drives you, while SRAM Guide RSC w/matchmaker brakes modulate it all. A set of Maxxis Minion DHF EXO 3C tires round out the WTB Asym i35 TCS 27.5” wheelset, providing all-out-all-about speed. The SRP is $6,599.
Cube Stereo 160 C:68 Cube’s Stereo 160 C:68 offers the same frame, suspension set-up and components as bikes of Pro team riders such as Nico Lau. The super-light full-carbon frame features advanced twin-mold technology, and the four-bar linkage system combines superb trail control kinematics (ETC) with Cube’s Agile Trail Geometry (ATG) for smooth climbing and descending. The Fox 36 Float Factory FIT lSC/HSC tapered front fork has 160mm of travel, while the Float X Factory rear shock features the revolutionary EVOL air spring, remote lockout and a custom CUBE tune. The 1x11 Shimano XTR drivetrain and brakes plus Fox Transfer 150mm dropper post and CSW EM 3.7 Enduro system wheels deliver. The SRP is $9,700.
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BU YERS GU I D E 2 0 1 7
ENDURANCE $3,000–$6,000
MOUNTAIN
Marin Attack Trail 8 The Marin Attack Trail 8 features a hydroformed Series 4 aluminum-alloy frame with SHOT Tech and 150mm-travel QUAD-Link 3.0 suspension platform. RockShox’s Pike RC fork with 160mm of travel covers the suspension duties at the front, while a Monarch RT Debonair shock handles the rear, allowing you to open it up during downhills. Upgrades include Shimano’s SLX Shadow Plus 1x11 shifter and derailleur, Shimano SLX hydraulic disc brakes and a KS Dropzone dropper post. The SRP is $4,799.
Trek Remedy 9 Race Shop Limited (RSL) The Trek Remedy 9 RSL features a new 150mm frame optimized for Enduro and technical trails, a RockShox Deluxe RT3 rear shock and a RockShox Lyrik RC fork. The drivetrain is all SRAM X1 with a 10-42T 11-speed cassette and a set of SRAM Guide RS hydraulic disc brakes. Bontrager is the feature component package with a Drop Line 125 seatpost, Line bar and stem, and an Evoke 2 saddle. For 2017, the Remedy 9 RSL also offers stronger wheels, more tire clearance and shorter stays. Bontrager Line Comp 30 wheels are combined with Bontrager SE4 Team Issue tires. The SRP is $5,999.
Kuota K-29er The development of the K-29er is the result of Kuota’s efforts to use the latest technology and its proven knowhow for producing a top-quality product. The K-29er is a clean, simple and sleek state-of-the-art design that features carbon fibres of the latest generation, optimized layout, a 1-1/8” to 1-1/2” integrated-headset system with angular contact bearings, full-carbon build, internally routed cables, aerodynamic shape and simple, attractive graphics. The SRP is $3,439.
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ENDURANCE $3,000–$6,000 Norco Sight A7.1 The Norco Sight A7.1 features a Sight 650B aluminum frame with a 140mm Rockshox Monarch RT rear shock with Debonair and a 150mm-travel RockShox Pike RCT3 RL Boost fork. A SRAM drivetrain includes a X1 X-Horizontal rear 11-speed derailleur, 10-42T cassette GX1 11-speed rear shifter and Guide R hydraulic disc brakes. Its Race Face component package is comprised of an Aeffect Cinch 32T single crank and Aeffect 35 stem and bars. The wheels mix is SRAM MTH hubs, WTB STP I 29 TCS rims and Maxxis Minion DHF tires. The SRP is $4,999.
Scott Genius 940 The Scott Genius 940 boasts a super-light 6061 custom-butted alloy frame. The 940 comes fully equipped with a custom Fox Nude shock and a Fox 32 Float Performance fork with three modes. Scott’s patented TwinLoc technology, in combination with its Traction Control, allows for three travel/geometry settings to always optimize your ride. It features a Shimano Deore XT (rear D) drivetrain and a Syncros parts package that includes a Syncros Dropper 2.0 seatpost and a set of Syncros rims built around Shimano hubs. The SRP is $3,899.
Pivot Mach 429 Trail XT Race The Pivot Mach 429 Trail XT Race features a full-carbon frame that uses the new 12x148 Boost rear spacing. Suspension in the rear is handled by a Fox Float DPS shock that provides 116mm of travel through Pivot’s dw-link, while hits up front are met with a Fox 34 Performance fork with 130mm of travel Boost spacing. The Mach 429 Trail XT Race is equipped with 29” SUNringlé Düroc 30mm wheels, but the bike can also roll on 27.5”+ hoops. Other build highlights include a 1x11 Shimano SLX/XT drivetrain, Shimano M615 hydraulic disc brakes and a Race Face Aeffect SL crankset. The SRP is $5,670.
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BU YERS GU I D E 2 0 1 7
TRAIL
MOUNTAIN
Felt Decree 1 The Felt Decree 1 features a UHC Advanced + TeXtreme carbon-fibre frame, efficient FAST suspension technology with a 140mm rear shock and a RockShox Pike RC Solo Air 150mm front fork. SRAM X01 11-speed shifters, front derailleur, X01 rear derailleur and crank, X1 chain and XG1175 10-42T cassette flesh out the drivetrain. A Felt MTB carbon flattop handlebar, Felt MTB 3D-forged stem, RockShox Reverb Stealth seatpost, WTB Volt Race saddle and SRAM Guide RSC with carbon-lever brakes complete the components. The Decree 1 rolls on a DT Swiss M 1800 wheelset with Schwalbe Nobby Nic 2.25” tires. The SRP is $7,699.
Giant Anthem Advanced SX A 27.5”-specific, advanced-grade composite mainframe with 110mm of Maestro suspension features Giant’s OverDrive steerer tube, plus a PowerCore bottom bracket. Suspension is handled by a RockShox Pike RC Solo Air 130mm-travel fork with Boost 15x110mm thru-axle and a RockShox Super Deluxe RT rear shock. A SRAM X1 1x11-speed drivetrain with SRAM Guide RS hydraulic disc brakes match up to a Giant components package that includes a Giant Contact SL Switch Trail seatpost. Giant XCT-1 wheels with Sapim Race spokes complete the bike. The SRP is $4,999.
MEC Intense Recluse Expert The MEC Intense Recluse Expert offers a monocoque unidirectional carbon frame that features an angular contact/Collet bearing system with replaceable Grease Zerks for easy maintenance. An i-BOX pivot system allows for compact seatstays and a shortened wheelbase, while a RockShox Pike RC 27.5” front shock and RockShox Monarch Plus RC3 rear shock provide 150mm/140mm travel. A RockShox Reverb Stealth seatpost also offers a 150mm drop. The Shimano XT M8000 1x11 drivetrain is combined with XT M8000 hydraulic disc brakes (180/160mm rotors front and rear). Maxxis HighRoller II tires wrap up a set of 27.5” DT Swiss E 1900 wheels with 25mm-wide rims. The SRP is $6,990.
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DOWNHILL OVER $6,000 Rocky Maiden PRO Built around a carbon frame constructed using Rocky Mountain’s Smoothwall manufacturing process and coming with Pipelock pivots that increase the lateral stiffness of the linkages, the Maiden PRO is ready to take on the steepest race courses. Its 200mm of travel is provided by a Fox 40 Performance Elite fork and Fox DHX2 Performance Elite shock, and the build is completed with a Shimano Zee groupset, Race Face Respond crankset, e*Thirteen TRS chain-guide, Race Face Chester handlebar and Sun Helix TR29 27.5” wheels. The frame is compatible with both 27.5” and 26” wheels, and is also Di2-ready. The SRP is $6,799.
Scott Gambler 710 With 27.5” wheels, the Scott Gambler 710 uses an 6061-alloy hydroformed butted frame with bottom-height adjustability to provide a race-ready downhill platform. A Fox 40 RC2 Kashima fork with 203mm of travel is found up front, while the 210mm of rear travel is provided by a Fox Float X2 Air Kashima shock. The Gambler features a Shimano Saint M820 drivetrain with Shimano Zee shifter, e*Thirteen LG-1 chain-guide and Syncros DH1 wheels. The SRP is $9,299.
Trek Session 9.9 Race Shop Limited The Trek Session 9.9 Race Shop Limited uses an allnew OCLV carbon frame based around 27.5” wheels and features Mino Link adjustable geometry. A Fox Factory 40 FIT RC2 Kashima fork with 203mm of travel is found up front, while a Fox DHX22 SLS shock is mounted in the rear. The bike rolls on DT Swiss FR 1950 Gravity Classic wheels, and the build is finished off with a Shimano Saint groupset and Bontrager Line Pro carbon handlebar. The SRP is $13,299.
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DOWNHILL $3,000–$6,000
MOUNTAIN Devinci Wilson XP Using an aluminum front triangle coupled with carbon rear, the Devinci Wilson XP is at home both on the World Cup and on the local hill. A RockShox Boxxer RC fork and RockShox Vivid R2C shock provide 200mm of travel, while a SRAM X.7 drivetrain with Truvativ Hussefelt 1.0 Howitzer crankset, SRAM Guide R brakes and DT Swiss 533D wheels highlight the build. The SRP is $3,999.
Specialized Demo 8 FSR I 650b With a frame constructed of Specialized’s M5 alloy as well as with a carbon link and seatstays, the Specialized Demo 8 FSR I 650b provides 200mm of rear travel and is based around 27.5” wheels. The rear suspension is handled by a Fox/Specialized Van RC shock, while a RockShox Boxxer RC fork with 200mm travel completes the frameset. A mixed SRAM X.7 shifter, GX rear derailleur and Descendant crankset provide a durable drivetrain, while stopping power comes from SRAM Guide R brakes. The Demo 8 FSR 1 rolls on Roval 650b wheels. The SRP is $4,769.
Kona Operator DL Build around a newly designed aluminum-butted frame and with 27.5” Mavic EX729 wheels, the Kona Operator DL is a capable rig with 200mm of front and rear travel. Suspension is provided by a RockShox Boxxer RC fork in the front and a RockShox Kage RC shock. The bike features a SRAM GX drivetrain, Shimano Zee crankset, SRAM Guide R brakes, and is built around Kona’s Beamer suspension platform. The SRP is $5,299.
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FATBIKES Cannondale Fat CAAD 1 The Cannondale Fat CAAD 1’s System Integrated cranksets feature a custom Fat chainring offset to offer the best balance of short stays, tight Q-factor and 2x compatibility, as well as full 4.8” tires. The CAAD 1 features a SmartFormed Alloy frame with BB30XL, 1.5 Si headtube and 100mm Lefty Olaf fork. SRAM X01 shifters control the X01 rear derailleur and SRAM Guide hydraulic disc brakes modulate the 180mm/160mm front and rear brakes. A Cannondale component package is paired up with SUNringlé Mulefüt 80SL 26” rims and Schwalbe Jumbo Jim 26x4.8” tires. The SRP is $4,480.
Norco Sasquatch 6.1 The Norco Sasquatch 6.1 is designed to provide outstanding flotation on soft surfaces and carry adventurous riders out into wild places not normally accessible to bicycles. The Fat frame made from DB X6 alloy is compatible with 5”-wide tires and features a RockShox Bluto RL 100x15mm fork. SRAM supplies the drivetrain and brakes with GX1 11-speed and SRAM Level T 180mm/160mm front/rear, respectively. Components consist of a mix of Race Face and Norco and the wheels are SUNringlé Mulefüt 80SL with Maxxis Colossus EXO/TR 26”x4.8” tires. The SRP is $3,199.
Rocky Mountain Suzi Q 70 RSL The new Rocky Mountain Suzi Q 70 RSL features a lightweight carbon frame and narrow Q-factor that are more efficient and comfortable than a traditional fatbike. The Smoothwall Carbon C13 frame features press-fit BB, internal cable routing and is Di2-ready. Shimano XTR brakes, shifters and derailleur combine with Race Face cranks, and BB SUNringlé Mulefüt 65 tubeless-compatible rims are built up on a Rocky Mountain sealed front hub and DT Swiss 350 177mm rear hub, and wrapped up with Maxxis FBF 27.5x3.8 tubeless-ready tires. The SRP is $3,999.
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FATBIKES
MOUNTAIN
Louis Garneau Gros Louis 2 Fueling adventure and fun, the Louis Garneau Gros Louis 2 features large tires that not only help flotation throughout Canadian winters, but also provide unparalleled traction during summer trail riding. This bike’s aluminum frame is designed close to the ground, which allows you to easily mount the saddle, and its hydraulic disc brakes are designed for winter conditions. With 5” clearance tires and a choice of two colourways, all that’s left is to head out on your next adventure. The SRP is $1,799.
Marin Pine Mountain The Marin Pine Mountain is taking hardtail trail riding to the next level with plus-sized, tubeless-ready Schwalbe 27.5+x2.9” tires. Features include a butted 4130 chromoly frame with custom Boost-compatible dropouts, full fender and rack eyelets and integrated-bearing headtube. The drivetrain is a combo of SRAM GX 1x10 shifter/derailleur, SunRace 10-speed 11-42T cassette, Marin forged-alloy cranks and Shimano BR-M445 180mm front and 160mm rear hydraulic disc brakes. A set of Joytech hubs and Marin aluminum double-wall rims are wrapped up with Schwalbe Nobby Nic 27.5”x2.9” tires. The SRP is $1,249.
Scott Big Jon The Scott Big Jon offers a 6061-alloy custom butted frame with tapered HT/ BB100/4.8” tire clearance, 197x12mm dropout and Rigid Alloy 15x150mm QR axle fork. Shimano Deore provides shifting and front-derailleur control, while a Shimano SLX RD-M7000 controls the rear. An 180mm/F and 160mm/R disc brake set is also Shimano. Syncros fills out the component package and provides roll via hubs and its 80mm-wide Syncros rims with CNC holes/32H. Schwalbe Jumbo Jim EVO 4.8x26 tires complete the set. The SRP is $2,199.
Specialized Fatboy The Specialized Fatboy frame features M5 aluminum, fully butted with smooth welding, tapered headtube and seat-tube, 100mm of travel, forged post-mount 160mm disc dropouts, internal routing, forged bottom-bracket shell, 197x12mm thru-axle rear, carbon 46mm offset and a 150mm axle-spacing fork. SRAM X7 10-speed trigger shifters control a X7 Type 2.1 derailleur, and a Race Face Aeffect Cinch 28T crank drives a SunRace 10-speed 11-42T cassette. Tektro Gemini hydraulic disc brakes join a Specialized component package and a set of Specialized 26” disc wheels. The SRP is $2,559. www.pedalmag.com
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BMX RACE
Haro Race Lite Pro XL The Haro Race Lite Pro XL has a 6061-alloy frame with 21” toptube coupled with a full-chromoly fork with tapered legs. The bike features a two-piece alloy 175mm crank with press-fit BB86 bottom bracket, 20” Alienation PBR Alloy wheels, a Haro chromoly 8” rise handlebar and Haro DX Alloy pedals. The SRP is $750.
Free Agent Team Limo The Free Agent Team Limo has a double-butted aluminum frame with integrated headtube and a Q2 Team carbon fork. The build features 20” Q2 Elite Pro wheels, Free Agent chromoly handlebar, Free Agent Pro Race stem, Free Agent two-piece alloy hollow-forged-arm crankset and a Tioga D-Spyder S Spec Pivotal saddle. The bike is available with four toptube lengths. The SRP is $1,549.
DK Sprinter Junior 20” The DK Sprinter Junior 20” has a 6061-alloy frame with integrated headset and a toptube length of 18.25”. The frame is coupled with a full-chromoly fork, while other build features include a three-piece alloy crankset, KMC Z-610 chain and alloy wheels wrapped with Arisun XLR8 tires. The SRP is $629.
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BMX RACE
MOUNTAIN
Redline Flight Expert XL
GT Mach One Pro 24
The Flight Expert XL has a 20” frame constructed with Redline Proprietary R7 formed and butted alloy tubing, which features an integrated headset and a press-fit BB-86 bottom bracket, and is coupled with a Box Pro Lite Carbon OXLO fork with alloy steerer. Highlights of the bike include a Redline Microline two-piece 6061-alloy crankset, Alienation MIA wheels, Promax TX-131 brakes and Tioga Power Block tires. The SRP is $1,759.
Take your racing to the next level with the GT Mach One Pro 24 that features a 6061-alloy race-design frame and fork, as well as with GT large-platform pedals. The package includes a GT Power Series chromoly three-piece crankset, GT Race steel handlebar, 24” alloy wheels mounted with GT Wing tires and a GT Uni Pro saddle. The SRP is $429.
The GREAT Albion Enduro returns September 16 Fun for the whole family, with a 25 km FUN ride, 40km Enduro, and 80km Super-Enduro Afterparty with live entertainment, and beer from our friends at The Second Wedge in Uxbridge Enjoy Albion like never before! With many trails in reverse, use of the rail trail and other local trails Join the fun! For more information log onto: www.superflyracing.com
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BMX FREESTYLE WeThePeople Envy The WeThePeople Envy is a Pro-level machine that features a ton of aftermarket parts. For this year, the frame has been redesigned, making it the perfect bike for both street and park. The frame is full 4130 Sanko chromoly with an integrated chain tensioner matched to a full 4130 Sanko chromoly fork as well. The handlebars are WTP 4130 Sanko chromoly with a WTP Hydra CNC-machined alloy stem. A Saltplus Echo internal headset and Eclat Bruno grips finish off the front end. WTP Legacy 2.5-piece 170mm chromoly cranks use a 48-tooth chainring. The wheels use WTP Supreme 36-hole hubs with Eclat Raven double-walled rims and a nine-tooth driver. All of this comes wrapped in a gold nickel finish. The SRP is $1,500.
Free Agent Novus The heart of the Free Agent Novus is its high-tensile steel frame that is designed and constructed for strength and durability. The frame has a welded seat clamp and uses a heavy-duty tapered-leg steel fork. The cockpit has a Free Agent Jump handlebar with a Free Agent alloy topload stem. The crankset is a Free Agent Mid three-piece with hollow chromoly arms and a 25-tooth chainring. The wheels use alloy rims with a Free Agent alloy hubset that come with a nine-tooth driver freewheel. The brakes are Tektro rear U brake with alloy levers. A variety of flat colours finish off the look of the Novus. The SRP is $379.
Haro Interstate Haro steps up the game with its Interstate. The frame is full-chromoly steel and uses a full-chromoly tapered-leg fork that is internally threaded on the steer tube. The headset is an internal design and the bottom bracket has a mid-placement. Haro has gone for a three-piece 175mm chromoly crank with a 28-tooth chainring. The wheelset features Haro Sata 36-hole double-walled alloy rims with alloy hubs that use sealed bearings and a nine-tooth driver. The tires are Haro LaMesa 20x2.4 front and rear. Its chromoly handlebars have an 8.75� rise with a Haro alloy top-load stem. The SRP is $699.
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The Best Training Tool for Running and Cycling is Getting Better! Specialized P.3 Pro
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Specialized has taken all of its top-level features and elevated them with its P.3 Pro. The frame is made of A1 Premium aluminum, rendering it lightweight and durable. The fork is a Manitou Circus Expert with 100mm of travel that makes this bike perfect for the street park and dirt. The crankset is a Stout DJ Pro set-up with a 30mm spindle and a 30-tooth chainring. Braking is handled by SRAM Level hydraulic discs with 160mm rotors, front and rear. The wheels are built on P.26 alloy double-walled rims with 32 holes on P. Series Dirt Jump alloy disc hubs with a 14-tooth driver. The SRP is $1,849.
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PowerCranks has been the stealth training tool for World and Olympic Champions for over 15 years and it is about to get better because we have listened to our customers. Improvements will include:
1664 BMX Fit PRK Pairing performance and value in one bike, 1664 created the BMX Fit PRK. A chromoly toptube and downtube help save weight in the frame, accompanied by its fork with chromoly legs. The frame has integrated gyro holes and a mid-placed bottom bracket. The chromoly handlebars are twopiece Crossbar with a front-loading stem. Chromoly cranks are 170mm with eight-spline attachment and have a 25-tooth chainring. The wheels are comprised of Revenge S1W 36-hole alloy rims and sealed-bearing alloy hubs with a nine-tooth driver. The bike comes with an alloy rear U brake to help slow things down. The SRP is $549. www.pedalmag.com
1. Lighter. 2. Stronger (essentially unbreakable) clutch. 3. A new mode for finding optimum crank length and bike fit. 4. More sensitive to pedaling technique deficiencies. 5. Three different training modes and, no longer just for training, two racing modes 7. Change between modes in less than 30 seconds or less. 8. No need to worry about losing fitness while adapting as you will be able to do your long rides from the first day. You can still expect to see the huge running and cycling improvements people have come to expect with PowerCranks training but now you can optimize your racing performance as well. Find out more at
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BMX DIRT JUMPING
DK Cygnus 24” With a chromoly main frame that features an integrated headset and seatpost clamp, the DK Cygnus 24” has a 21.5” toptube and rolls on 24” WISE Rectrix alloy wheels. The bike comes ready to ride with a chromoly fork, WISE components, KMC Z-510 chain, and is available in blue/chrome and all-gold colour schemes. The SRP is $549.
DCO Monster From extreme jump to skateparks, the DCO Monster is ready for your dirt-jumping or street-riding adventures. Featuring a steel frame, the Monster is offered with a 20” toptube, and is available in three colours. Using a U-brake in the rear, it features a three-piece crankset, KMC X410 chain and a Cionlli saddle. The SRP is $359.
Specialized P.3 Pro The Specialized P.3 Pro has an A1 Premium aluminum frame with butted tubing and tapered headtube. A Manitou Circus Expert 100mm fork levels out the landings, while the bike rolls on 26” P.26 alloy wheels. The build features a Stout DJ PRO crankset, front and rear SRAM Level hydraulic disc brakes, a Specialized P.Series MTB Dirt alloy handlebar and Renegade Slopestyle tires. The SRP is $1,849.
Haro Steel Reserve 1.2 As its name suggests, the Haro Steel Reserve 1.2 has a full-chromoly frame with integrated headset. The frame is coupled with a Marzocchi DJ3 100mm fork, while other build features include a Haro chromoly eight-spline three-piece crankset, Haro handlebar set and seatpost and a Tektro Auriga HD-M285 rear hydraulic disc brake. The Steel Reserve 1.2 is available with a 21.8” or 22.5” toptube. The SRP is $999.
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Year round Coverage ANNUAL 201 7
Canada’s no.1 Cycling magazine
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RACING
TRACK
2017 Track World Championships Top 10 Results for Canada BY GAELEN MERRITT
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hirteen Canadian athletes competed at the 2017 UCI World Track Cycling Championships, which were held from April 12-16 at the Hong Kong Velodrome. This was the first Track Championships held in Asia since 1990. The opening day of competition saw the Canadian women’s Team Pursuit squad of Jasmin Duehring, Steph Roorda, Laura Brown and Annie Foreman-Mackey place third in the qualifying round with a time of 4:19. Team Canada’s Amelia Walsh and Kate O’Brien also competed in the women’s Team sprint, placing seventh in the qualifying round.
The Canadian duo faced off against Australia in first round, losing by 0.993 of a second and missing the medal round by one spot to finish fifth. Russia took the gold over the Aussies in the final, with Germany besting China for the bronze. In the women’s Scratch race, Duehring was able to infiltrate a six-rider group that lapped the field, and ended up finishing sixth in the final sprint. The men’s Team Pursuit squad, consisting of Adam Jamieson, Jay Lamoureux, Bayley Simpson and Aiden Caves, were the unfortunate victims of a nasty crash that occurred while being overtaken by the New Zealand team in the qualifying round. Simpson, the lead rider for Canada at the time, clipped the wheel of the final Kiwi rider while being overtaken, which subsequently took down the entire Canadian squad at 60 km/h. Caves sustained the worst of the injuries, suffering a broken collarbone. The track itself had to be repaired following the incident, and, suffice to say, this ended the Canadian men’s Team Pursuit ambitions for the 2017 Championships. On Day Two, the Canadian women’s Team Pursuit squad faced tough draws in the earlier rounds, and while their results do not reflect their performances, they were defeated by Australia in the third heat. In the final, USA won the gold over the Aussies, with New Zealand taking the bronze. O’Brien qualified 14th in the women’s sprint and went on to defeat Lithuania’s Migle Marozaite in the 1/16 round, but was eliminated in the 1/8 round by Kristina Vogel of Germany, who nabbed the gold.
Team Canada’s Amelia Walsh and Kate O’Brien en route to a strong 5th in the women’s Team sprint.
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Team Canada’s Walsh and O’Brien missed the medal round in the women’s Team sprint by 0.993 of a second to finish fifth. Day Three featured the first of three Omnium events, with Roorda managing a stellar third place in the women’s Tempo race, 20th in the Elimination race and 15th in the Scratch race. Also on third day of competition, Jamieson competed in the men’s Points race, but failed to finish. Where the top four advance to the final, Lamoureux placed 19th in the men’s Individual Pursuit qualifier with a time of 4:25. In the men’s sprint qualifications, Hugo Barrette placed 10th and advanced to the 1/16 round, dispatching Mohd Azizulhasni Awang of Malaysia, but was defeated in the 1/8 round by Ryan Owens of Great Britain. The next day saw the women’s Individual Pursuit where Canada fielded two athletes, with Kirsti Lay placing a very respectable seventh with a time of 3:32 and 2016 medallist Foreman-Mackey finishing 10th in 3:35.
On the final day, Duehring finished sixth in the women’s Points race after briefly leading earlier in the event. She scored points in the first 40 laps of the race that put her in the lead, however, she missed the move that saw the eventual top-two finishers – Elinor Barker of Great Britain and Sarah Hammer of the U.S. – take a lap on the field. Duehring continued to ride aggressively, but fell to sixth in the final standings after 100 laps of racing. “I came here to win, I’m not going to pretend otherwise,” said Duehring. “I think I was leading the race at one point, but it was a really hard race, and I think I just blew up a little bit. I missed the group of two riders that took a lap on the field, and that was the race right there. I’m definitely disappointed, but I’m trying to keep perspective.” Stefan Ritter placed 13th in the men’s Kilo qualifier with a time of 1.28 seconds behind winner François Pervis of France. Racing at his first World Championships after moving up from the junior ranks, he set a personal-best sea-level time with his ride. “To be able to finish 13th in the Kilo at my first Elite World Championships is incredible. I’m very happy with that result. The ride itself went according to plan, and going into the last lap, I was ranked fifth, but just didn’t have the legs to maintain that position. Looking ahead to next season now,” said Ritter. While Canada came short of winning a medal at the 2017 edition of the World Track Championships, the team learned a great deal and represented us well.
Kirsti Lay was 7th in the women’s Individual Pursuit. Stefan Ritter set a personal-best sea-level time in the men’s Kilo.
The Canadian men’s Team Pursuit squad of Bayley Simpson, Aiden Caves, Jay Lamoureux and Adam Jamieson had an unfortunate crash while being overtaken by New Zealand in the qualifier. www.pedalmag.com
PHOTOS: GUY SWARBRICK
Jasmin Duehring was sixth in the women’s Scratch and Points races.
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Best Showing for Canada at Para Track Worlds BY JOHN SYMON
C
anada finished the UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships in Los Angeles with a total of seven medals – four gold and three silver. The team also finished with strong top-10 finishes in many disciplines in this California competition from March 2-5. Day One of the competition saw two golds for the Canucks: Tristen Chernove successfully defended his men’s C2 1,000-metre time-trial title with a time of 1:15.005 seconds. Meanwhile, in the C1 time trial, Ross Wilson stopped the clock at 1:18.925, more than three seconds faster than silver medalist Darcy Thompson of Australia. “Tristen also rode very well to win his second title at the Kilo. Coming back from a viral infection, he really managed to pull it off with the help of his personal coach, Guillaume Plourde,” said Sébastien Travers, head coach. On Day Two, Chernove and Wilson each won their second World titles respectively in the 3,000-metre Individual Pursuit, with Wilson setting a personal best in qualifying, and then catching his opponent in the gold-medal final. Meanwhile Marie-Claude Molnar won silver in the C4 women’s 500-metre time trial. “Marie-Claude’s 500-metre [race] was very well executed,” shared Travers, “with a personal best on her opening lap.” Day Three was Molnar’s lucky day, winning two silvers. Her first medal was in the women’s 3,000-metre Individual Pursuit, followed by a second one in the Scratch race, where the clock stopped at 42.606, just more than one second behind winner Shawn Morelli of the U.S. “It was a long day for Marie-Claude,” said Travers. “She raced the Pursuit and a Scratch race, earning silver in both events. The qualifying was a first good test, as Marie rode better than expected and set a very good baseline for the coming season. In the final, she went for it and did a personal best on her opening Kilo. The work done by her personal coach, Eric Van den Eynde, as well as her Strength and
Tristen Chernove’s two gold medals and matching Rainbow jerseys
Conditioning coach, Corey Kennedy, is noticeable and it shows in her time.” Also on Day Three, C2 rider Chernove finished fourth, while C1 rider Wilson was ninth in the combined-category men’s Scratch race. “Tristen was marked by his opponents, so Ross put in a tremendous effort to create an opening. Fourth and ninth overall are very satisfying,” explained Travers. “This is by far our best Track World Championship, and we couldn’t have achieved these results without the help of the personal coaches, our NextGen coach Guillaume Plourde, therapist Mindy Mar and coach/mechanic Alex Ongarro. We will build on these results for the coming season,” concluded Travers.
Ross Wilson delivered winning two titles.
Tristen Chernove en route to double gold. 80 PEDAL SPRING/SUMMER 2017
PHOTOS: CANADIAN PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE
Marie-Claude Molnar powered to three silver medals.
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RACING
MTB
Catherine Pendrel took the opening round at Bear Mountain.
Canada MTB Cup 2017 Season-opener BY SANDRA WALTER
I
HEINZ RUCKEMANN
t was a very early start to the 2017 Canadian off-road racing season at Bear Mountain Resort in Victoria, B.C. in March, but most of the country’s top riders, along with several strong Americans, toed the line despite the wintry conditions, which included a fresh dusting of snow for the morning races. Many of Canada’s National team riders were in town for the squad’s two-week training camp, which made for a world-class field, headlined on the women’s side by Olympic bronze medalist Catharine Pendrel (BC, Clif Pro Team) and Emily Batty (ON, Trek Factory Racing), who finished fourth at the Rio Olympics. U.S. champion Erin Huck (USA, Cannondale-3 Rox Racing) was also on hand with her Canadian Cannondale-3 Rox Racing crew, including Elite men’s Olympian Raphael Gagné (QC, Cannondale-3 Rox Racing) and Canadian champion Derek Zandstra (ON, Cannondale-3 Rox Racing). Rio Olympian Léandre Bouchard (QC, BH Suntour) competed as well, but was hampered by a hand injury sustained in a crash during training. In the Elite women’s race, it wasn’t any of these heavy favourites who led the charge off the start, but instead Quebec speedster Cindy Montambault (QC, Trek GPL). Montambault surged out front in the first singletrack ahead of Huck, who is known more for her climbing prowess than her technical savvy. With this move, the Quebecker moved out of sight on the long section of narrow trail. Pendrel, who was second in line behind Huck, capitalized on a mistake by the American and also squeezed past, while the rest of the field remained in single file. Pendrel caught up to Montambault to assume the lead. Finally, Batty got around Huck and started her chase in earnest, but the damage had been done. Batty was never able to overcome the 40-second gap on Pendrel, but she did power to second place, while Huck hung onto third by the end of the four-lap contest. The top U23 rider on the day was Soren Meeuwisse (ON, Trek Canada), who finished 11th overall.
The five-lap Elite men’s race also saw one rider dominate, with Gagné leading the race from start to finish to take the victory by more than three minutes ahead of second-place Geoff Kabush (BC, Scott-Maxxis), followed by Zandstra in third and Keegan Swenson (USA, Cannondale-3 Rox Racing) in fourth. Marc-André Fortier (QC, Team Pivot Cycles-OTE) was the top U23 rider, finishing a stellar fifth. It was a bittersweet day for Evan Guthrie (BC), who showed promising form and was well on his way to second place before a mechanical problem took him out of the running and he eventually limped into sixth place. The event attracted top juniors, as it counted as an early round of the prestigious UCI Junior series. The three-lap junior women’s race was won by American Gwendalyn Gibson (USA, USA National Team), who finished just ahead of Canadian speedster Sidney McGill (AB, Pedalhead Race Room) in second. Ontario’s Dana Gilligan (ON, Team Ontario/Progressive Sport) was third in what was some tight racing. Canadian top gun Gunnar Holmgren (ON, Team Ontario) rocketed to victory only seven seconds ahead of Chilean Martin Vidaurre (CHI, Infinito), while Brody Sanderson (ON, Team Ontario) earned the third podium spot in the junior men’s race. The Canada Cup series now takes a long break before XCO #2 and DH #1 in Mont-Tremblant, Que. on May 20-21.
Canada MTB Cup 2017 March 4 – Canada Cup XCO #1 – Bear Mountain Resort, Victoria, B.C.
Raphael Gagne delivered the win for his new team in the Elite men’s race.
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HEINZ RUCKEMANN
Elite Men 1. Raphael Gagné (QC, Cannondale-3 Rox Racing) 1:32:28; 2. Geoff Kabush (BC, Scott-Maxxis) 1:36:10; 3. Derek Zandstra (ON, Cannondale-3 Rox Racing) 1:36:15; 4. Keegan Swenson (USA, Cannondale-3 Rox Racing) 1:36:33; 5. Marc-André Fortier (QC, Team Pivot Cycles-OTE) 1:36:36; Elite Women 1. Catharine Pendrel (BC, Clif Pro Team) 1:29:49; 2. Emily Batty (ON, Trek Factory Racing) 1:30:21; 3. Erin Huck (USA, Cannondale-3 Rox Racing) 1:31:24; 4. Haley Smith (ON, Norco Factory Team) 1:32:03; 5. Sandra Walter (BC, Liv Cycling Canada) 1:32:26. Standings after One Event Elite Men 1. Raphael Gagné (QC, Cannondale-3 Rox Racing) 200 points; 2. Geoff Kabush (BC, Scott-Maxxis) 175; 3. Derek Zandstra (ON, Cannondale-3 Rox Racing) 155; Elite Women 1. Catharine Pendrel (BC, Clif Pro Team) 200 points; 2. Emily Batty (ON, Trek Factory Racing) 175; 3. Erin Huck (USA, Cannondale-3 Rox Racing) 155. SPRING/SUMMER 2017 PEDAL 81
PREVIEW
Canadian Road Teams 2017 Season Preview BY GAELEN MERRITT
This year, there are three Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Continental men’s teams. Silber Pro Cycling has emerged as one of the top Continental squads in North America. In 2016, Silber saw immense success from all team members, winning the Redland’s Bicycle Classic (Matteo Dal-Cin); a win at the Winston Salem Cycling Classic (Ryan Roth); Ben Perry’s successful defense of the National Criterium champion’s jersey; Kris Dahl’s historic stage win at Tour of Utah; Alex Cataford’s fifth overall as the Best Canuck at the Tour of Alberta, plus the Overall Team Classification victory. As a result of these successes, most of their top riders graduated to the Pro-Continental level in Europe and elsewhere for 2017, leaving room for the team to take on several promising stagiares. Returning riders include all-rounder and team leader Roth, top field sprinter Dahl, General Classification rider Nigel Ellsay, time-trial specialist Émile Jean, rouleur Nicolas Masbourian and climber Julien Gagné. New faces include Pier-André Coté, Alex Cowan, Danick Vandale, Adam Roberge, Nickolas Zukowsky and American Stephen Bassett. Garneau-Quebecor returns as well, anchored by Quebec legend and Canadian National road champion Bruno Langlois. Marc-Antoine Soucy and Olivier Brisebois have also renewed with Garneau, while new additions include sprinter Elliot Doyle, Jean-Simon D’Anjou, Félix Cote-Bouvette and Jean-François Soucy. The team will focus on UCI races in North America, with the first big race of the season being the Joe Martin Stage Race in April. Other major objectives on their calendar include the Tour de Beauce and the Canadian Road Championships. In 2014, the M1 Project was announced, and in 2017, H&R Block Pro Cycling continues to develop U23 riders and provide opportunities to race at higher levels. Returning riders include all-rounder Chris Prendergast, MTB-crossover Peter Disera, breakaway artist Travis Samuel and Slovakian Jure Rupnik. New signings include rouleur Alexis Cartier, Conor O’Brien, Jean-Denis Thibault, MTB-crossovers Marc-Antoine Nadon and Quinton Disera (Peter’s brother), Matthew Staples and Oliver Evans. Look for H&R Block at the upcoming Tour of Gila, as well as the Tour de Beauce, the BC Superweek events and the National Road Championships. New to the scene is Toronto Hustle, a jack-of-all-trades squad aiming to compete in all types of road races across North America. Toronto Hustle’s team is a wonderful mix of developing juniors/U23s (Graydon Staples, Noah Simms and Trevor O’Donnell), journeymen racers Anton Varabei, Evan Murphy and Yuri Hrycaj, former University-of-Guelph-track-athletes-turned-working-professionals-turned-cyclists Kyle Boorsma and Benoit Boulay and team anchor/racer/logistician Brad Bradford. 82 PEDAL SPRING/SUMMER 2017
Women SAS-Macogep has been awarded a UCI Continental license for 2017, making it the only Professional women’s squad based in Canada. The team aims to compete in 35 to 45 races this coming season, primarily in Europe and North America. Canadians riding for SAS-Macogep include Christel Ferrier-Bruneau, Adriane Provost, Sarah-Anne Rasmussen, Frédérique Larose-Gingras, Véronique Bilodeau and Emma Bédard.
The Cyclery-4iiii set to kick butt.
THE CYCLERY-4IIII
Men
NCCH p/b DEC Express and many others continue to develop riders at the cadet/junior/U23 levels, creating a feeding system for larger teams. The development pipeline has been improving over the past couple of years, creating excitement about the future of the sport in Canada. On that front, Team RaceClean continues to make gains, and for 2017 consists of a 10-rider roster that will be primarily based in Europe for training and racing, although a North American campaign is on their calendar as well. Other registered trade teams include Stingray-Trek par Ultime Vélo, Transport Lacombe/Devinci, LowestRates and Smart Savvy+ Garneau U23.
SAS-Macogep is Canada’s only UCI Continental women’s squad.
INES JUSSAUME
T
he 2017 season is shaping up to be a successful year for many Canadian road riders and road teams. While a number of our top athletes can be found on foreign teams, there remains a great deal of domestic talent riding for Canadian squads.
Garneau-Quebecor ready for 2017
GARNEAU-QUEBECOR
ROAD
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Silber Pro Cycling is always a threat on any start line.
BRIAN HODES
HEINZ RUCKEMANN
H&R Block Pro Cycling are all smiles for 2017.
While a number of our top athletes can be found on foreign teams, there remains a great deal of domestic talent riding for Canadian squads.
Team RaceClean Canada
CYCLING CANADA
Within Canada, there are three registered women’s trade teams: NCCH p/b DEC Express, Cyclery-4iiii-Opus and Stingray-Trek par Ultime Vélo. These teams receive entry into many of the larger races in North America, including San Dimas, Redlands Classic, Joe Martin Stage Race and the Cascade Classic. These squads aim to provide a bridge across the gap between national Amateur and international Professional racing by exposing new riders to higher levels of racing.
Canada Road Teams 2017 UCI Continental Teams Garneau-Quebecor Team Roster: Bruno Langlois, Marc-Antoine Soucy, Olivier Brisebois, Elliot Doyle, Jean-Simon D’Anjou, Félix Cote-Bouvette, Jean-François Soucy Management: Pascal Herve/Sports Director, Louis Garneau/Owner
Jordann Jones, Adam Lefebvre, Martin Rupes, Hillary Lowry, Amelia Bell, Kaitlyn Steeves, Cameron Connor, Vivien Rindisbacher, Ben McNabb, Matthew Gillan, Elyse Nieuwold, David Lewis, Daniel Rae, Rafael Soares, Dilcimar Gomes da Silva, Thomas Pevalin Management: Rick Lee/Sports Director, Owner
H&R Block Pro Cycling Team Roster: Chris Prendergast, Peter Disera, Travis Samuel, Jure Rupnik, Alexis Cartier, Conor O’Brien, Jean-Denis Thibault, Marc-Antoine Nadon, Quinton Disera, Matthew Staples, Oliver Evans Management: Joe Holmes and Stuart Wight/Sports Directors, Mark Ernsting/ Owner
LowestRates Cycling Team Team Roster: Brett Wachtendorf, Edward Greene, Benjamin Andrew, Matthew Sherar, Dominic Cantin, Christi Threnchev, Garrett Belanger, Cameron McPhaden Management: Frederick Gates
Silber Pro Cycling Team Team Roster: Ryan Roth, Kris Dahl, Nigel Ellsay, Nicolas Masbourian, Émile Jean, Julien Gagné, Pier-André Coté, Alex Cowan, Stephen Bassett, David Drouin, Danick Vandale, Adam Roberge, Nickolas Zukowsky Management: Gord Fraser/Sports Director, Scott McFarlane/Owner SAS-Macogep Team Roster: Christel Ferrier-Bruneau, Adriane Provost, Sarah-Anne Rasmussen, Frédérique Larose-Gingras, Véronique Bilodeau, Emma Bédard, Marjolaine Bazin, Soline Lamboley, Iris Sachet, Emilie Rochedy, Irena Ossola, Pascale Jeuland Management: Gérard Penarroya/President Trade Teams Transports Lacombe/Devinci Team Roster: Hendrik Pineda, Simon Hamel, Simon Ouellet, Stephen Keeping, Max Rubarth, Francis Izquierdo-Bernier, Olivier Péloquin, Nicolas Ducharme, Félix Dolbec, Cyril Angello, Enzo Ficheux Management: Stephane Tremblay NCCH p/b DEC Express Team Roster: Kaitlyn Rauwerda, Ainsley Black, Ronan Johnson, Dawson MacDonald, Ethan Sittlington, Victoria Slater, Sydney Flageole-Bray, Joey Carone,
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Smart Savvy+ Garneau U23 Team Roster: Lukas Conly, Connor Toppings, Kellen Viznaugh, Alex Amiri, Joshua Kropf, Chris Macleod, Mason Burtnik, Adam Attwell, Von Winkelmann, Mitch Kettler, Jacob Cullen Management: Barret Kropf Stingray-Trek par Ultime Vélo Team Roster: Tara MacDonald, Hélène Pilote Fortin, Évelyne Gagnon, Genevieve Fradet-Carlos, Kathy Dufour, Sandrine Brière, Élise Piedalue, Joséphine Péloquin, Emma Delisle, Antoine Ippersiel, Christophe Audet, Maxime Brousseau, Dominic Hamelin, Jonathan Cassivi, Joel Domingue, Francis Juneau, David Brazeau Management: Charles G. LaPierre, Marc Péloquin Team RaceClean Team Roster: Willem Boersma, Evan Burtnik, Aidan Caves, William Elliot, Jay Lamoreux, Bayley Simpson, Edward Walsh, Derek Gee, Thierry Kirouac- Marcassa, John Wilcox Management: Luc Arsenault/Sports Director The Cyclery-4iiii-Opus Team Roster: Tara Whitten, Ariane Bonhomme, Emily Flynn, Catherine Ouellet, Marina Aspen, Suzanne Hamilton, Sarah Giovannetti, Justine Clift, Amelie Bruneau, Kinley Gibson Management: Jenny Trew, Chris Reid
SPRING/SUMMER 2017 PEDAL 83
PREVIEW
MTB
The new Norco Factory XC Team is now as a UCI World Cup squad: (l-r) Haley Smith, Peter and Quinton Disera.
JONATHAN DUNCAN / NORCO FACTORY XC TEAM
Canadian MTB Teams 2017 BY SANDRA WALTER
T
he 2017 season will see many changes to its roster of Canadian mountain-bike teams in the form of new sponsors, riders and additions, as the Norco Factory XC Team debuts with a UCI World Cup designation, 3 Rox Racing gains Cannondale as its title sponsor, whilst MVP Geoff Kabush (BC, Scott-Maxxis) branches off on his own and Forward Racing debuts. Meanwhile, the downhill scene loses two major teams in Devinci Global Racing and OGC/Intense/Fox. CROSS-COUNTRY
Following the lead of its Downhill/Enduro counterpart, the Norco Factory XC Team has upgraded from a Canadian Trade Team to a UCI World Cup squad, which will see it shift focus from the national to the world stage. The roster has also been pared down to only three riders – Elite woman Haley Smith (ON), Elite man Peter Disera (ON) and U23 man Quinton Disera (ON). “We believe that Haley, Peter and Quinton all have the talent to be successful on the world stage, and elevating the Norco Factory Team program to the World Cup level will provide them the opportunity to develop as we approach the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo,” said Kevin Haviland, team coordinator. Meanwhile, Norco continues its domestic presence with the allnew Forward Racing squad, featuring a trio of Canada’s top male cross-country racers – Andrew L’Esperance (NS), Evan McNeely (ON) and Sean Fincham (BC). The project is directed by former longtime Norco Factory Team riders L’Esperance and McNeely, who retained the support of many of the same sponsors, including Norco. “We are very excited to be working with Norco Bicycles. The athletes have a strong history with the brand and are thrilled to be on the Revolver again this season,” said L’Esperance. In addition to select North American events, Forward Racing will be contesting four World Cup rounds. The long-lived 3 Rox Racing program has made some big changes this year. After its contract with Scott Sports ended in 2016, the squad took on Cannondale as its title sponsor and, in turn, gained Canadian rocket and Olympian Raphael Gagné (QC) on its roster, which includes Canadian champion Derek Zandstra (ON) and American champion Erin Huck (USA), plus newly signed U.S. hotshot Keegan Swenson (USA). They will focus once again on World Cups and major North American races. The team sees headliner Kabush move on, as he continues to ride Scott bikes at a selection of North American events. The Ontario-based Trek Canada Mountain Bike Team is led by U23 World Cup’er Soren Meeuwisse (ON). She is joined by domestic riders Sarah Fabbro, Jon Barnes and Peter Glassford, who will focus on Canada Cups, Ontario Cups and the Mont-Ste-Anne World Cup. The Pivot-OTE Team, backed by Canadian Pivot Cycles distributor On The Edge Sports, has expanded its program to include four-time Canadian champion Frederique Trudel (QC) as she competes in her first season in the Elite women’s field. Fellow team newbie former junior National champion Marc-André Fortier (QC) is targeting World Cups in the U23 men’s ranks. Returning members Raphael Auclair (QC), Felix Belhumeur (QC), Mathieu Belanger (QC) and Philippe 84 PEDAL SPRING/SUMMER 2017
St-Laurent (QC) will join their new teammates racing on the Pivot LES and Mach 429 SL steeds. Also joining the OTE family this year is former Norco Factory Team rider Evan Guthrie (BC), running his own privateer project “Team Solo Guthrie.” The B.C.-based Rocky Mountain Factory XC Team is a mix of hardened veterans and young guns. Last year’s Canadian junior women’s XCO champion Emily Handford (BC) will tackle her first year as a U23, while Quinn Moburg (BC) takes his first crack at the Elite men’s ranks. Felix Burke (QC) aims to progress in the U23 men’s category after a strong 2016. The youngsters are joined by Canadian legend Andreas Hestler (BC) and Greg Day (BC). Club Cyclone d’Alma, based out of Quebec’s remote Lac-St-Jean region, has seen great success in mountain biking on the national and international stages, thanks in large part to 2016 Olympian Léandre Bouchard (QC) and his coach, 2016 Cycling Canada Coach of the Year, Jude Dufour (QC). As Bouchard moves onto international Professional team BH-Suntour, he leaves a legacy for his former Cyclone teammates, including Canadian U23 women’s XCO champion Catherine Fleury (QC), who earned her first World Cup podium last year. She is joined by Canadian Eliminator champion Anne-Julie Tremblay, as well as Stéphanie Tremblay, William Maltais-Pilote and Noémie Tremblay. Another small Quebec team that has produced great results, courtesy of Canadian Team rider and multiple Canadian Championship medalist Cindy Montambault, is Trek-GPL. Montambault enters the 2017 season with a continued focus on World Cups and World Championship qualification. DOWNHILL/ENDURO
The Vancouver-based Dunbar Cycles squad has a long tradition of supporting great Canadian downhill’ers, and 2017 is no exception as Elite men’s Canadian Downhill champion Kirk McDowall (BC) leads fellow speedsters Andrew Mitchell (BC) and Dean Tennant (BC) on the small shop-supported crew. The Norco Factory Racing Downhill/Enduro squad is headed once again by Kiwi superstar Sam Blenkinsop (NZL). He is joined by young Canuck shredder Henry Fitzgerald (CAN) and Brit Joe Smith (GBR). While Fitzgerald will focus on downhill, both Blenkinsop and Smith will contest a combo of World Cup downhill, Enduro World Series and Crankworx events. “Joining the Norco Factory team is an unreal opportunity for me,” said Fitzgerald. “The team is the full package, with an exciting bike, outstanding support and an awesome crew. I can’t wait [for] my first year of Elite with such a great team to learn from.” Even though Devinci Global Racing has suspended its downhill www.pedalmag.com
Soren Meeuwisse leads the Trek Canada MTB team on a training ride.
KEVIN HAVILAND
Cannondale-3 Rox Racing’s (l-r): Raphael Gagné, Derek Zandstra, Erin Huck and Keegan Swenson
TREK CANADA MTB TEAM
program this year, the brand will continue to support racing through its Devinci Global Racing Enduro Team, led by Frenchman Damien Oton (FRA) and Théo Galy (FRA). In a press release, Devinci Global Racing explained how the tragic loss of its star rider Steve Smith (BC) last spring affected the organization: “This sad news was hard on everyone at Devinci, and it also had a major impact on riders and fans all over the world. Steve’s contribution and commitment to the Devinci brand, but most importantly to the sport, will always be remembered.” The statement continued to explain the reasoning behind dissolving the downhill program: “Unable to put together a team that met our expectations, we took the decision to step away from UCI downhill racing for 2017. It was an incredibly difficult decision to make, but we hope to return to World Cup racing in the very near future.” Rocky Mountain remains a pillar on the competitive Gravity mountain-biking scene with its Rocky Mountain Urge BP Rally Team, the top-ranked squad on the Enduro World Series circuit in 2016. It hangs on to its strong Canadian content in 2017 in the form of Jesse Melamed (BC), Remi Gauvin (BC) and Andreane Lanthier-Nadeau (QC). The roster is topped off with Frenchmen Florian Nicolai (FRA) and Sebastien Claquin (FRA), as well as American Peter Ostroski (USA). Nadeau and Ostroski will focus on the North American scene, while the rest of the crew plans to hit up all of the Enduro World Series stops.
2017 Canadian MTB Teams Cross-country Norco Factory XC Team Sponsors: Norco Bicycles, SRAM, RockShox, Kenda, WTB, Live to Play Sports, Park Tool, Axiom Cycling Gear, Kinetic, Cane Creek, Smith Optics, Sugoi XC: Haley Smith (ON), Peter Disera (ON), Quinton Disera (ON) Management: Todd Schumlick, Kevin Haviland www.norco.com/athletes/teams/norco-factory-team Forward Racing Sponsors: Norco Bicycles, SRAM, Kenda, McNeely Engineering, Pro Source Bookkeeping, Group ATN Consulting Inc., Custom Clean Atlantic, Clif Bar, Innovasium Inc., Java Blend Coffee, Smith Optics, Patagonia Halifax, Sneaky Socks, Rebec and Kroes, CIBC Wood Gundy, Sugoi, Revolve Branding XC: Andrew L’Esperance (NS), Evan McNeely (ON), Sean Fincham (BC) Management: Andrew L’Esperance, Evan McNeely www.forwardracingmtb.com Cannondale-3 Rox Racing Sponsors: Cannondale, Maxxis, Stan’s NoTubes, CRCS DKI, Race Face, Stages Cycling, Crankbrothers, Sugoi, Fabric, Swagman, Gu, WD-40, Torkin Manes, SRAM, Park Tool, Kask, Bar Fly, Dundas Speed Shop, Pedal to the People, Redline Brewhouse XC: Raphael Gagné (QC), Derek Zandstra (ON), Keegan Swenson (USA), Erin Huck (USA) Management: Kyle Douglas, Scott Kelly, Gersham Morris www.3roxracing.com Trek Canada Mountain Bike Team Sponsors: Trek Toronto, Trek Bikes, Bar Fly, ESI Grips, Skratch Nutrition, SmartAthlete.ca Coaching XC: Soren Meeuwisse (ON), Sarah Fabbro (ON), Jon Barnes (ON), Peter Glassford (ON) Management: Peter Glassford www.trekcanada.wordpress.com Team Pivot-OTE Sponsors: Pivot Cycles, On The Edge Sports, ENVE Composites, ROTOR Bike Components, Maxxis, DT Swiss, Jakroo, Giro, Usinov XC: Frederique Trudel (QC), Marc-André Fortier (QC), Raphael Auclair (QC), Felix Belhumeur (QC), Mathieu Belanger (QC), Philippe St-Laurent (QC) Management: Carl Auclair Bikes: Pivot LES and Mach 429 SL www.facebook.com/PivotCycles.OTE Cyclone d’Alma Sponsors: Nutrinor, Vélo cité Concept, Familiprix-Linda Gaudreault, Groupe Autocar Jeannois, Manon Voyer-Orthodontist, Dupont Auto Alma, La Cage- Brasserie sportive, Resto Roberto, Physiotherapy Clinic Marie-Christine Bouchard, Tremblay Laliberté Surveyors XC: Catherine Fleury (QC), Samuel Tremblay (QC), Anne-Julie Tremblay (QC),
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Stéphanie Tremblay (QC), William Maltais-Pilote (QC), Noémie Tremblay (QC) Management: Jean-Sébastien Harvey, Christian Dallaire, Pierre Fleury, Philippe Tremblay, Pascale Lindsay, Sabin Harvey, Denis Caouette, Denis Dolbec, Jean-François Lindsay www.clubcyclonedalma.wordpress.com Trek-GPL Sponsors: Trek Bicycles, GPL Assurances XC: Cindy Montambault (QC), Aroussen Laflamme (QC), Jean-Francois Blais (QC) Management: Jean-François Blais www.facebook.com/EquipeCycliste.Trek.Bontrager.CyclingTeam Rocky Mountain Factory XC Team Sponsors: Rocky Mountain Bicycles, Shimano, Fox Racing Shox, Maxxis, Stan’s NoTubes, Race Face, WTB, 7mesh, Smith Optics, FTI Consulting, Muc-Off, OneUp Components, Clif Bar XC: Quinn Moberg (BC), Felix Burke (QC), Emily Handford (BC), Greg Day (BC), Andreas Hestler (BC) www.bikes.com/en/athletes
Downhill/Enduro Norco Factory Racing Sponsors: Norco Bicycles, Race Face, Fox, RockShox, Kenny, Bluegrass, Novatec, Schwalbe, Deity, HT, e*Thirteen, 100%, Five Ten, Bounce DH: Sam Blenkinsop (NZL), Henry Fitzgerald (BC), Joe Smith (GBR) Enduro: Sam Blenkinsop (NZL), Joe Smith (GBR) Management: Todd Schumlick www.performxracing.com Dunbar Cycles Sponsors: Dunbar Cycles DH: Kirk McDowall (BC), Andrew Mitchell (BC), Dean Tennant (BC) www.dunbarcycles.com Devinci Global Racing Enduro Team Sponsors: Cycles Devinci Enduro: Damien Oton (FRA), Théo Galy (FRA) Management: Gabe Fox www.devinci.com Rocky Mountain Urge BP Rally Team Sponsors: Rocky Mountain Bicycles, Shimano, Fox Racing Shox, Maxxis, Stan’s NoTubes, Urge Bike Products, Race Face, WTB, Royal Racing, 7iDP, Smith Optics, FTI Consulting, Muc-Off, EVOC, OneUp Components, Clif Bar Enduro: International: Florian Nicolai (FRA), Jesse Melamed (BC), Remi Gauvin (BC), Sebastien Claquin (FRA); North America: Andreane Lanthier-Nadeau (QC), Peter Ostroski (USA) Management: Lilian Georges/Scott Pilecki www.bikes.com/en/athletes
SPRING/SUMMER 2017 PEDAL 85
Backpedaling
Bicycle Trade Cycling Shows of Yesteryear
B
ike trade shows of the 1890s had all the glamour and publicity later associated with the big annual car shows out of Detroit, Mich. No two cycling shows were bigger than those in New York City, N.Y. and Chicago, Ill., the hubs, as it were, of the bicycle trade in North America. While they could not boast of a top-10 celebrity such as Annie Londonderry, who had appeared at the 1894 Salon du Cycle in Paris, France, what they had in their favour was access to the massive American market. This market’s anticipation resembled in many ways that of the one that looks forward to today’s new release of an Apple digital product, with, perhaps, one key difference. Riders of the late-19th century were often reluctant to trade in their previous year’s bicycle model for the new innovations of the season. After all, the refined safety cycle of this period resembles those of our day, though not weighing in at today’s reduced amount. Eventually this would disrupt the market for America’s largest cycle companies south of the border, while in Canada, the same fate would befall Canada Cycle and Motor Company (CCM). Sales figures for
MARKETPLACE Business Display Ads $100 for the first column-inch and $50 for each additional column-inch (column = 2-1/4” wide). Copy must be submitted by the first week of each month for the next month’s issue. Ad assembly at competitive rates. Business Classified Ads are $50 for the first 25 words and $0.50 for each additional word. Personal Classified Ads are $25 for the first 25 words and $0.50 for each additional word. All Marketplace business ads must be prepaid.
Precision Suspension and Brake Servicing
www.shockdoc.ca 86 PEDAL SPRING/SUMMER 2017
the early years of the decade would not be matched by the turn of the century. To some extent, however, this was all in the future. In the mid-1890s, one went to the trade show to see the latest models, particularly the new additions, to talk about the latest news in the industry and on the road, and to contemplate cycling’s place as the leading sport of the day and most likely long into the future. The first week of January 1895 brought all the leading manufacturers of bikes, tires and specialties west of Buffalo, N.Y. to Chicago’s first trade show. Living pictures (a predecessor of film) portrayed the bicycle’s evolution over the past 70 years, trick riders amused all ages, all while the Second Regiment Band and Orchestra provided onsite music. New Jersey’s great sprinter Arthur Zimmerman was invited, and visiting agents were promised a behind-the-scenes opportunity to meet him. Chicago’s grand event was followed two weeks later by the even bigger, more ostentatious National Cycle Show in New York City’s Madison Square Garden. “Every new novelty known to the trade will have a place in the exhibition,” promised its promoter, a man named George Sanger. Improvements in cycle technology were on display, but the likelihood of new machines was downplayed, a hint of future challenges for the trade. In the eyes of the public, the vast amphitheatre with its gala atmosphere aptly displayed the moment of the bicycle’s greatest allure. The new-fangled cars slowly appearing on American streets looked dangerous, required expert drivers, which few could hire, and weren’t cheap, at least in comparison to the economical bicycle. Much like today’s car shows, many of the visitors to the New York show weren’t even cyclists, but just wanted to be where the action was. Here, they heard fevered discussions on recent bylaws preventing riding at night without a light and the fines imposed. Reckless riding on street pavement without care for pedestrians was another topic. Attendees even heard talk of increasing professionalism amongst the ranks of such leading cyclists as Zimmerman, and whether
With two huge trade shows each year, the success of the bicycle was celebrated across North America. this was to be regretted or celebrated. Nor was cycling the only interest of the better class of “wheel” people. Some clubs reported on organizing brass bands to accompany them on tours, while others announced vaudeville shows for those times of the year when road conditions were impassable. Much talk focused on England’s “Jersey Lily,” Lily Langtry, recently observed cycling in Philadelphia in full cloth knickerbockers, with cloth gaiters to match, and Russian leather boots, with her tweed skirt reaching her ankles. A coloured linen shirt and Alpine hat of soft gray added to what was described as a “chic” appearance. Langtry was a true celebrity of her day, appearing on stage throughout the Anglo-American world during a time in which it was rumoured that she was more than a friend of Britain’s Prince of Wales. There’s nothing like a celebrity to convince the world of what constitutes a contemporary sensation, and so for a few years in this benighted age, the bicycle and its annual trade shows reigned supreme. www.pedalmag.com
FREEWHEELING
BY WILLIAM HUMBER
Sportif Steida The Power of Bicycles BY ALEX STEIDA
when I took the free hub apart! Using some thread and a lot of grease, I actually put it back together along with most of the parts. Pliers were used to tighten and loosen the spoke nipples to true the rims, and eventually, I taught myself to lace and build my own wheels. However, adventure was the real reason I was drawn to the bicycle. With the rebuilt 10-speed, there was even more opportunity to venture farther afield. Fortunately, both my parents had been positively affected by bicycles in their youth, growing up in post-war Europe. My mom still had her dad’s cycling logbook of every ride he’d done in the hills around Southern England as a member of the Chichester Wheelers. With their blessing, I added a “rat trap” and some cheap panniers and did some solo trips to the Gulf Islands, camping out and riding on some amazingly difficult hills. What a feeling to be under my own power, riding as fast as I could go, or would dare to when descending with steels rims and center-pull brakes! Competition was also in my blood. Growing up, I played highschool volleyball as well as hockey and soccer. Due to some fortunate circumstances and amazing volunteers, I was introduced to the local weekly 10-mile time trial, organized by the Vancouver Vets. There, I tested myself weekly and met other junior riders – soon we were training and racing on the track and road, pushing ourselves to new limits. Camaraderie and teamwork drew me further into the world of bicycles. Working on a Professional cycling team created a level of trust and empowerment that I take with me everywhere I go in my post-racing world. Racing bicycles transformed my life and has given me a multitude of incredible experiences and allowed me to live a truly unique and exhilarating life.
We’ve all felt the power of a bicycle at some point in our lives . . . the magic and the freedom! www.pedalmag.com
WORLD BICYCLE RELIEF
C
anada turns 150 this year, but 2017 is also the 200th anniversary of the bicycle. Amazing to think that the bike has been around longer than our own country! We’ve all felt the power of a bicycle at some point in our lives . . . most likely, many times. The feeling of learning to ride your first bike can never be replaced. I can remember making swooping turns down the road, feeling the flight-like G-forces pressing me into the saddle and then hitting the coaster brake hard, making a long black streak of rubber as I fishtailed along the pavement. Magic! And the freedom! All of a sudden, an entirely new world opened up for me. I was able to go farther on my neighbourhood adventures, exploring the back lanes and park trails of Coquitlam, B.C. to my heart’s content. And then there was commerce. With a bike (at the time, a Raleigh five-speed “Chopper”), I was able to make money with a morning paper route. Delivering papers was my ticket to ride, literally. Having pocket money was another form of freedom and gave me the independence that I craved deep down. Being the first person on the road in the early morning was very special, with the city slowly waking up as I rumbled along with 50 heavy papers in my front carrier basket. I sometimes wonder how I kept that bike going with all that weight, up and down those hills with what little power I had developed back then! Mechanical exploration came next. With my paper-route money, I bought a used 10-speed and slowly reconditioned it in our garage using my dad’s shop tools. A pipe wrench made a mess of the BB lock ring, and a hammer and punch disassembled the tree hub, once I realized it was a left-hand thread! Much to my dismay, I watched what seemed to be a hundred tiny ball bearings bounce across the floor
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Last Word
Is There Life After Competitive Cycling? BY GORD SINGLETON
A
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Kevin Yan, social media guru at Amici per la Vita
Ride leaders (l-r): David D’Addio, Mario Toffolo, Kirby Bowes
(l-r): Mike Bibeau, Kate Moros, Neil Babbage (rear), Eva Klein
Sante Rampado, one of the original riders before the club became official PHOTOS COURTESY OF AMICI PER LA VITA
ll competitive cyclists dream of accomplishing goals that will take them to the podium. The road to success is not an easy one, and though the journey involves strict discipline, sacrifices and constant attention to detail, the taste of success makes one want to do it again and again. As we get older, life seems to move faster than a Pro Tour time trial, and we are not as inclined to make personal sacrifices to remain competitive. So what’s next? As a goal-oriented athlete, I wondered if my interest and drive would ever be as keen as it was when I was working toward a major event. Having loved competition and taken the sport of cycling so seriously, could I ever expect to enjoy it now in a different way? There comes a time in every successful athlete’s life when one must step down from the podium, and fortunately for me, I discovered that I could see this sport in an entirely new light and continue to enjoy it without the competitive experience. Simply going out for a ride on a beautiful warm and sunny day without thoughts of revolutions per minute, power and kilometres per hour is exhilarating and rejuvenating. I have discovered that cycling vacations, seeing the sights on my bike and meeting new cycling friends are rewarding experiences. This was something that I didn’t realize during my years of competition. Growing up in Ontario’s Niagara region, I have been fortunate to have nice roads to train on and to be as a member of the competitive St. Catharines Cycling Club, which helped me hone the skills needed to win World medals. As I moved on from the competitive realm, I have discovered a new club in Niagara Falls, one that is more social and non-competitive in nature. The focus of this club – the “Amici per la Vita” cycling club, which means “friends for life” – is instead that we never leave anyone behind. As I enter the next stage of cycling life, I find it so awesome to ride with
friends where no finish line is involved. I find it humbling and gratifying to pass on my many years of training and race experience. I’m sharing the skills I learned to become a world-class racer: improving a member’s pedaling efficiency or showing how to use gears to increase average speed from 22 to 27 kilometres per hour with virtually no change in effort. Understanding conditions that I constantly evaluated when racing can be a valuable exercise for everyone when riding together in a group situation. A brief explanation of which way the wind is blowing pays dividends for everyone once they learn to adjust and make the best use of their position within the group. On Tuesday nights, our “A” group riders usually travel 50 to 60 kilometres at an average speed of 30 to 32 kilometres per hour. I recently introduced a drill of hill repeats instead of a distance drill to change things up, giving a different perspective on training and enhancing the ride. The focus for Amici isn’t measured in how fast you climb the Escarpment, but rather the achievement of accomplishing eight to 10 repeats at your own speed. The lessons and experiences I had during my competitive years in cycling continue to influence my decisions and vision on a day-to-day basis. Many times with even a difficult business situation, I find myself taking an approach I did when facing a challenge in competition. Is there a life after competitive cycling? Absolutely! Those are years of valuable experiences and memories that prepare you for even more challenging situations later in life. We must tap into them and be creative with that knowledge and apply it to experiencing our sport and life in an entirely new light that can be shared with so many others. It’s pretty ironic that I joined a club named “Amici per la Vita.” I see my sport of cycling as a “friend for life” and a friend that will always enhance my life well beyond competitions. www.pedalmag.com
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