Crank vol 5 issue 3 april 17d

India’s only lifestyle bicycle magazine

Volume 5 Issue 3

KARENG / 2016 / 68421

April 2017

Rs. 100/-

d

lusive M e Exc

ar tner aP di

BLUE rain in Bahrain ONKAR SINGH Secretary General ACC Stars of Extreme endurance Featured MONTRA Fixie

Official a n

Inside

Cycling Federation of India

R

R

get your bike serviced at

south asia’s finest, state of the art

service center

We service all brands.

Book your appointment today for an enhanced world class bike servicing.

Flagship Stores:

_______________ _______________ _______________ _______________

Bengaluru : 961, HAL II Stage. 100 ft road, 12th Main Road, Opp. Lakme Salon, Indiranagar, Bengaluru 560 008, Karnataka, India. Tel: +91-8494-920-000 | Email:bengaluru@starkennbikes.com

www.starkennbikes.com info@starkennbikes.com / StarkennBikes Mumbai: Mohini Tower, Ground Floor, Plot 7611, 5th Road, Nr. Khar (W) Railway Station, Khar West, O� S.V Road, @ starkennbikes Bandra, Mumbai - 400 052, Maharashtra, India. Tel: 022 2600 9600| Email: mumbai@starkennbikes.com Pune:: Showroom 1 & 2, Sangam Projects, Nr. Sangam Bridge, Opp. Air India O�ce, next to RTO, Shivajinagar, Pune 411 001, Maharashtra, India. Tel: +91-020-6720-8720 | Email: pune@starkennbikes.com Kolkata: No.14, Commerce House, 2A,O� Bentinck Street, Kolkata - 700 013, West Bengal, India.|Tel: 070440 30370 | Email: kolkata@starkennbikes.com

Test Ride a Giant at your nearest dealer. SMS GIANT <space> TEST RIDE <space> CITY to 54646.

Also available at leading bike outlets in Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh & 40 other cities

InThisIssue CFINews Blue rain in Bahrain

IndustryNews

04 04

Time for Taipei

06 06

Mr. Onkar Singh appointed Secretary General of Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC)

06

Ciclo Café Announces - Ciclo Team Racing

ProCycling SCOTT MTB Mysuru Wheeling in the Wild The Ultra Spice Race Pune International Triathlon and Duathlon (PITD)

HealthWise Body Fuel - Eat right and ride

CityTalk On the saddle…in the City of JOY

ShowCase Montra Fixie

PlanetSaddle Stars of extreme endurance riding London Edinburgh London (LEL)

WorkBayWatch Smart Lube

CrankActive Whitewater rafting

ToyCentral Seat tube gauge measuring tool

08 10 14 14

06

10

16 17

17

18 20 22

18

23 24 26

24 26

Tune your bike! Tweak your heart !

Maintain your cycle, so that your cycle maintains you!

Trained Technicians.

State-of-the-art Equipment.

Genuine Parts.

ProCycle Koramangala

ProCycle Indiranagar

Service Road Jakkasandra Extension, Koramangala 1st Block & HSR 5th Block Connecting Road Bangalore-560 034

#226, 1st Main Road, Service Road, Domlur, 2nd Stage, Indiranagar, Bangalore - 560 071

+91 80 25501967

+91 80 2535 2004

Contact us for more details at torquewrench@procycle.in

/procycleindia www.procycle.in

Editor’sNote

The CRANK with ProCycle Team Managing Editor and Publisher Vikram K Limsay Invitee editor Onkar Singh, Secretary General CFI and ACC Bureau Operations Harkamal Sethi Edit Desk Dr. Meera Velankar Sumana Srivastava Creative and Design N. Chandru Contact editdeskcrank@procycle.in subscribecrank@procycle.in advertisecrank@procycle.in Expert Test Team Ignatius Chen Issue Contributors Amit Mehta - Unived All Rights Reserved By ProCycle and Sports India Pvt. Ltd. Corporate Office and Showroom 226, 1st Main Road, Service Road Domlur 2nd Stage, Indira Nagar Bangalore – 560071 Tel: 080 41161902, +91 95380 66695 Website www.procycle.in Follow us on Facebook: @CrankwithProCycle https://www.facebook.com/CrankwithProCycle/ Cover Pic Indian Para Cyclists Back Cover Courtesy - The Impossible Race 2017 Printed By Print 2 Last Solutions

Dear Readers, Before anything else it gives me great pleasure to see Mr.Onkar Singh Secretary General CFI get elected as the Secretary General of the highest cycling body of the continent the Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC) in Bahrain this month. Add to that Mr. Parminder Singh Dhindsa being elected as Vice President makes for great news for Indian cyclists CRANK has been closely associated with the CFI and its sheer commitment to the sport under the leadership of these gentlemen is simply amazing and their vision for the sport is sure to bear fruit sooner than later CRANK salutes our Para-Cycling team that is performing so well at International events We dedicate this issue to the stars of extreme endurance cycling a discipline that is fast catching up in the country And like always we take you on the round of the country from Kolkata to Pune to Mysore to Gujarat. Borrowing from our friends in the coffee world…there is a lot that is happening on the saddle Ciao & #getoutandride!

Vikram K Limsay Managing Editor and Publisher

CFINews

Blue rain in Bahrain Indian Para Cyclists on a medal trail

I

t seems the roads in Bahrain were paved in blue. At the recently concluded 6th Asian Para Cycling Championship 2017 in Bahrain, Indian Para Cyclists were on a medal haul. In the 12.8 KM Individual Time Trial event Indians bagged the Gold, Silver and the Bronze medals Abhishek from Chandigarh won the Gold Medal Divij Shah from West Bengal won the Silver Medal Harinder Singh from BSF won the Bronze Medal The Indian Para Cycling team comprising of Kaigoulal, Ajay Singh and Harinder Singh of the Border Security Force (BSF), Ajay Kumar & Birabhadra of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Divij Shah & Abhishek Singh, civilians participated under the aegis of the Cycling Federation of India and were trained and sponsored

by Aditya Mehta Foundation, Hyderabad. The foundation does yeoman service in promoting sports among the disabled citizens of our country The event was held at the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) and participants of all counties affiliated to the Asian Cycling Confederation participated Para cycling has emerged a major sport since its debut in the Paralympics in 1984. In 2007 the organization of the sport moved from the International Paralympic Committee to the Union Cycliste

4

CRANK with ProCycle APRIL 15TH, 2017

Internationale (UCI). Athletes compete in four categories: visually impaired (tandem), lower-body paralysis (hand bike), cerebral palsy, and locomotor disabilities Like other cycling disciplines, UCI World Championships are held for Para Cycling for both road and track. In addition, a UCI Paracycling Road World Cup was also introduced in 2010 Indian Para cyclist have been showing exceptional performance and we can look for a rich medal haul at the Tokyo Paralympics CRANK wishes you God Speed !

MRP 2,17,490.00

IndustryNews Ciclo Café Announces Ciclo Team Racing

From left- Dato Amarjit Singh Gill, Treasurer, Asian Cycling Confderation, Mr. Osama Ahmad Abdulla Alshafar, President of Asian Cycling Confederation and Sh.Onkar Singh Secretary General, Asian Cycling Confederation

C

iclo Café has announced its Elite Amateur Cycle Racing Team with Naveen John, India’s first International pro cyclist as a team director, mentor and rider. At a glittering launch in Chennai, Ciclo unveiled the team jersey, rider bikes and announced the team composition that will comprise of Naveen John and Arvind Panwar (Two-time winner at the National Championships). Members of the team will be include 6 handpicked riders from the country. Two young riders Parashuram Chenji and Aman Punjani from Hyderabad have been picked as the team’s development riders for 2017. The team will travel to Belgium - Home of Ridley Bikes who are team sponsors, for 3 months in summer for training and race simulations, where riders will be exposed to world class training and development facilities. Other sponsors supporting the team are, 2Go for cycling kits and Apparel, FSA and Vision for Equipment and support from Track & Trail.

“Ciclo Café was formed with a vision to bring together members of the cycling community, increase awareness about cycling and foster cycling excellence in the community and nurturing young talent by expose them to cycling at an international level. Becoming a professional cyclist requires not just talent but an entire support system that we aim to provide the riders”, said Ashish R Thadani CEO of TI Absolute Concepts a partnership between TI and Absolute specialty to open Ciclo Café across the country.

Time for Taipei

I

ts that time of the year when the whole cycling fraternity heads to The Annual Taipei international bike show. This year the show is scheduled for March 22-25th, 2017 and is being organized by The Taiwan External Trade Development Council. The Trade Show will take place at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center. Taipei Cycle 2017 will be a platform for exhibitors to showcase Bicycles, Bicycle Accessories, spare parts and the latest developments in the industry. This massive show is being held on a 58,000 sq mt area comprising of trade days and other events like the the much-awaited design and innovation awards, the Taipei cycle bike to the future international industry forum, The international bicycle design competition (IBDC) and LEV test drive. Hope you’ve booked your tickets !

6

CRANK with ProCycle APRIL 15TH, 2017

Mr. Onkar Singh appointed Secretary General of Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC)

C

ertainly a big news this one. On the evening of 3rd March 2017 at the Asian Cycling Confederation Congress in Bahrain Mr. Onkar Singh Secretary General of the Cycling Federation of India (CFI) took over from Boo Woong Choi of Korea as the Secretary General of Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC) The Cycling Federation of India President Mr. Parminder Singh Dhindsa was also elected as Vice President of Asian Cycling Confederation. Sheikh Osama Ahmad Al Shafar from UAE will be the new president of ACC who will take charge from Hee Wook Cho of Korea 65-year-old Onkar Singh became Secretary General of Cycling Federation of India in 2011 and since then he’s promoted the game of Cycling in India and marketed it across the globe. Under his stewardship signature events like the Track Asia Cup and recently held 37th Asian Track Cycling Championships New Delhi have been held in India.

Elated Onkar Singh thanked all the 41 Asian Nations for the faith they have shown in the new President and Secretary General. He also thanked all the Cycling lovers for their unconditional support and said that without your love and blessing this would have never been possible.

He also said that ‘I am doing my best to uplift the Cycling sport in India and with this new energy I can do more with new strategy.’

We at CRANK are especially elated at this news and appointment.

CRANK shares a special bond with Mr. Singh and as our invitee editor his guidance has gone a long way in making CRANK the premier bicycling magazine of the country We wish Mr. Singh all the best as always

ProCycling

SCOTT MTB Mysuru

S

COTT MTB MYSURU 2017 mountain biking competition was held in Mysuru on 26 February 2017. Scott Sports India was the title sponsor for the event and Cyclopedia, the dealer of SCOTT bikes in Mysuru, was the organizer of the event.

Cash prizes worth more than INR 100,000 and a lot of goodies were given away to the winners in different categories. 168 professional and amateur mountain bikers took part in the event. The event saw participation from different parts of the country, including a team from the north-east states and two athletes from USA.

Technical Terrain

8

CRANK with ProCycle APRIL 15TH, 2017

Dr A Subrahmanyeswara Rao, Commissioner of Police, Mysuru City flagged off the race. The race was conducted on a 3.7 km trail prepared for the event. Mr Venkatesh, former coach of the Indian national cycling team and was also designated as the race director.

Mysuru District Cycling Association and Mysuru Cycling Club provided technical and logistical support. Other partners included Narayana Multispecialty Hospital, Dhatu Organics and Naturals provided quality food. RED FM 93.5 was the official radio partner and Fast&Up, provided quality hydration to participants throughout the course of the track. Ipopi Ads pitched in as the ad partner, while Honda Point, a leading motorcycle dealer in Mysore, sponsored the medals.

Climbing the uphill

ProCycling

Wheeling in the Wild The Impossible Race

P

olo Forest of Gujarat is a world of revered temples, majestic ruins and fantastical tales that have been the object of intrigue for all those who have visited this secluded destination. In 2015, this historic land opened its doors to a new breed of thrill seekers by becoming host to The Impossible Race – Western India’s First MTB Race. CRANK has been a proud partner in promoting this race since inception and has followed its fortunes every year The Impossible Race has emerged as one of India’s most sought after cycling event. Being avid cyclists and runners themselves, the race management team understands the urge of adventure among the cyclists, and have designed a grueling 151KM 3-Day MTB trail race and a serpentine 115K Road cycling route for the 2017 edition, both being one of the toughest trails yet.

Go Green Mens Podium

Piercing the cheers of an overwhelming crowd, the riders began their journey on nippy 20th January morning and paddled hard across the jagged terrain of Polo’s hills that ultimately merge with the Aravali Mountain Ranges of Rajasthan. Through the dense vastness of forest, the riders navigated virtually uncharted terrain, dodging sharp rocks scattered along technical trails, while admiring the enigmatic ruins of Polo that are said to have a life

10

CRANK with ProCycle APRIL 15TH, 2017

Womens Podium

Peloton

of their own. To add to the challenge, the MTB segment was GPS only navigated race. But little did riders know, that without natural directional astuteness, it would be near to impossible to navigate the trails of Polo.Road Cycling event brought forth a whole different challenge for cyclists, as they rode through sharp hairpin turns and lush tree lines that cascade around the perimeter of the forest. The inner roads were the real testers here, with narrow passages that can become especially tough to navigate with bikes.

Puja Kashyap made history by becoming the event’s first Female MTB participant.

Devendra Kumar clinched the first prize followed by Mattias Borg in close second and Chinglensana Thangsabam in 3rdposition. In the Road Cycling Segment, Meherzad Iraniwon the race and Dilip ManeandSreenath Naiktook the next two positions. Pooja Chaurushi won the women’s category in Road Cycling, followed by Komal Deshmukh in second and Dipali Shildankarin third place.

The stage is now set for an even tougher, wilder, and grander 2018 edition but the question is… are you ready to Wheel the Wild?

In the wild

CRANK with ProCycle APRIL 15TH, 2017

11

ProCycling

The Ultra Spice Race

Pune International Triathlon and Duathlon (PITD)

T

T

Spice & Success

he first edition of the Ultra Spice Race, organized by Inspire India Ultra Races was flagged off on the 26th of January 2017 from Bogmalo Beach, Goa. It’s an unique non-stop race with 3 different categories of 500 KM & 1000 KM (to be completed in 56 hours) & 1750 KM (to be completed in 120 hrs), that may be solo solo or as a relay team and is also a RAAM(Race Across America) qualifier. The 1st edition had only 2 racers; Major Bharat, who successfully attempted the 1000Km race and completed it with a nail-biting finish of 55 hours 39 minutes and Sumit Patil who attempted the 1750 KM route.

The route is tough yet beautiful and passes through a variety of landscapes; From Coast to forests to spice and coffee plantations and hills covered with Eucalyptus covering some very serene places, and some tourist hotbeds like Wayanad & Ooty. The 1000 KM race gains about 9500 Mts in elevation and approximately 21200 Mts for the 1750km route Though there were only 2 racers and 1 finisher the organizers are hopeful that just like Deccan Cliffhanger, which had a humble beginnings but transformed into a premier event, even the Ultra Spice race will become big in future.

14

CRANK with ProCycle APRIL 15TH, 2017

he PITD, is scheduled for 19th March 2017 and will be the first Triathlon and Duathlon event in India which will be held as per the International Triathlon norms. It will consist of various category of races in Triathlon and Duathlon for Individual, Team, Corporate, Student Individual and Student Team, such as– Triathlon Sprint/ Olympic/ Half Triathlon – Duathlon Olympic and Sprint. The Indian Institute of Fitness and Wellness affiliated to the Maharashtra Triathlon Association and presented

by Giant Starkenn hosts the event. The most unique aspect of this event is the introduction of scientific health mapping to India. The parent company IIFW is a pioneer in the field of Health Mapping, a non -invasive technique which coupled with various indoor fitness tests and Socio emotional compatibility test generates the IIFW Fitness Index which then paves the way for an informed strategy towards individual wellness.

Ironman Deepak Raj

HealthWise

Body Fuel Eat right and ride (Authored article by UNIVED on ride nutrition)

W

hether you are a recreational cyclist, or an elite professional, you will find that you are peddling hard to reach a common goal – peak performance.

The two main elements in this journey are training&nutrition. You may split training into work and rest. And, you may split nutrition into diet and supplements.

Achieving the right balance between these variables is likely to result in progress in your overall performance.Often people tend to focus too hard on one of the variables, while neglecting the other, thereby creating an imbalance, and hence hampering their journey towards peak performance. For instance, while training many cyclists work hard but do not give the same importance to rest. On the nutrition side, often many focus too much on supplements and not near enough on their diet. While these cyclists would still see some progress, it would not be near the progress that their individual self is capable of.

Brompton launching in India

It is imperative to realise that the physiological requierements of the body are very different before, during, and after your ride. Before you start, you need a mix of simple & complex carbs for that instant & susatained energy boost, during your ride, you are sweating and losing electrolytes – so you need to get rehydrated and also added endurance, and after you’re done you need a 4:1 carb: protein ratio drink for complete system recovery.

Following a complete nutrition system – such as Unived’s RRUNN Pre-During-Post, gives you a balaned nutrition intake for your training and racing. The product line is plant-based, natural, and vegan. It is free of preservatives and unnecessary ingredients, and is light on your system.

RRUNN Pre is a blend of simple & complex carbohydrates, offering instant and sustained energy release. So unilke the crashes that you experienced with other sports drinks, the complex carbohydrate breakes down in a slower manner within the body, thereby offering a sustained energy release.

RRUNN During is an isotonic blend of simple carbohydrates, electrolytes, Sustamine for fluid uptake, and Betaine for cellular stress protection. This is a unique formulation that not only rehydrates you on the go, but also gives you added energy for endurance and helps negate the ill effects of environmental stress such as heat and humidity.

RRUNN Post is a 4:1 carbohydrate:protein ratio formulation, that offers 10g of Pea Protein Isolate with each serving. Phytonutrients such as Ashwagandha and Curcumin have been added for recovery & antioxidant properties, and all the electrolytes have also been included so your salt/water balance can be addressed.

Along with this, Unived has other supporting products such as the RRUNN Salt Capsules, RRUNN Endurance Gels, Lean Pea Protein, and other vegan vitamins & mineral products.

Supplements are an integral variable in the overall mix – if used correctly, and balanced well with the other variables, they can assist in remarkable results with respect to peak performance.

You may read more at www.unived.in

16

CRANK with ProCycle APRIL 15TH, 2017

Paceline

CityTalk

On the saddle… in the City of JOY

O

k so we would be lying if we say food is not one of the first thing that comes to mind when we think of the eastern gateway of our country, Kolkata. Rossogulla, Sandesh, Macher Jhol, Kosha Mangsho, Jhalmurri, Frankies, Puchka, Mishti Doi, the original Indian Chinese …the list is endless…. and so are the calories ! And so whats the best way to burn them?…by pedalling of course through the roads and bylanes of this beautiful hsitoric city which otherwise may be difficult to access And that’s exactly what “Discover on Wheels” the popoular cycling club of Kolkata is all about. Started out of pure love for the sport by Pedlers, Nishant Maheshwari, Subhajyoti Sensharma and Supratim Pal in 2015 the club aims to spread the joy of cycling and remain fit and healthy. They believe that Cycling improves ones brainpower, health, happiness and relationships. Since inception the club has gained a lot of popularity and has over 6000 fans on Facebook and about 125 active riders between the ages of 15-55 Discover on Wheels catres to the need of both casual and competetive cyclists of the city. Apart from organizing casul weekend rides the club also organises duatholons and brevets in Kolkata The founders themselves take their riding seriously. Recently, a three member team of club riders Subhajyoti, Rahul Pasari and Sumanta Rana Gupta successfully completed the challenging Deccan Cliffhanger by riding 600 kms from Pune to Goa under 30 hrs. Club member Anirban Acharya has cycled the length and breadth of the country and is now plans to embark on a world tour on his two wheels The core team believes that cycling is a great socialiser. They keep the riders motivated with rides to different routes and locations.

Group Rides

They also experiment with various food joints for breakfast after the ride. “Cycling can take you to places which you would have otherwise not visited. East Kolkata Wetlands is one such place.

Riders enjoy these outings. Health benefits and weight loss are just a happy outcome.”

The club adheres strictly to safety and traffic norms and insists that riders wear proper cycling gear like protection, reflective clothing and lights Cycling as a sport and hobby is grwing and which is indicative of the increasing members of the club but the founders wish more women riders to join to popularise the sport even amongst ladies So come on Kolkata ladies, saddle up and leave the boys behind with your pedal power. CRANK wish you and the Discover of Wheels a great future

CRANK with ProCycle APRIL 15TH, 2017

17

Showcase

Montra Fixie

M

ontra has been a leader in quality performance bikes and slowly gaining momentum in the lifestyle segment.

After the launch of Helicon in 2016, Montra has come up with another style statement the Fixie.

Whether you need a fixie bike for city commuting, urban cycling, fitness, or just cruising, Montra has just sorted it for you. Fixie is one of those great, reliable models that you can depend on.

Featuring a steel frame and a signature style design and logo, Fixie is a strong and solid road bike with features you can’t resist. The handle bar in true fixie style are narrow and sleek. It sports the premium XMR handlebar and stem. The Fixie sports a carefully though contrast red WANDA tyres. It offers two frame sizes MEDIUM (18.0IN), LARGE (20.8IN) to suit rider requirements. The stealer is beautifully crafted signature style Montra logo and design which is sure to make the heads turn. The clean weld, classic gunmetal grey colour contrasted with signature Montra Red colour on tyres and stem the bike is a beauty. The bike has been “DESIGNED IN ENGLAND” and will surely remind you of the legacy and class of the classic European design.

However, unlike the original fixie concept, Montra has provided freewheel at the rear to match the mindset and habit of Indian riders.

18

CRANK with ProCycle APRIL 15TH, 2017

Technical Specification and Features MODEL NAME

FIXIE

FRAME

FIXIE 700C, URBAN SPORT, STEEL

FORK

700C, STEEL, RIGID FORK

CRANK

46T STEEL BLACK CHAINRING, 170MM

BOTTOM BRACKET

NECO, STEEL, BB CATRIDGE, BUILT-IN AXLE

COG SET

16T CASSETTE

CHAIN

KMC Z410

RIMS

700C, ALLOY, DOUBLE WALL, 36-HOLE

HUBS

KT, STEEL, 36-HOLE

TIRES

WANDA, 700X28C (RED)

PEDALS

NECO, RESIN BODY

BRAKES

RADIUS, ALLOY, V-BRAKE

BRAKE LEVERS

RADIUS, ALLOY, 2 FINGER

HANDLEBAR

XMR, STEEL, STRAIGHT TYPE BAR, L: 480MM

STEM

XMR by ZOOM, ALLOY, L: 100MM, D: 28.6MM

HEADSET

NECO, CH-281, STEEL

GRIPS

MONTRA GRIPS, L: 125MM, END RED

SADDLE

MONTRA COMFORT SADDLE

SEAT POST

ALLOY, L: 300MM, D: 25.4MM

SIZES

MEDIUM (18.0IN), LARGE (20.8IN)

COLOUR 1

GUN METAL GREY

It’s a bike that is a jewel for any bike lover who is looking for a fixed gear urban bike. While Montra has been careful in the pricing of the bike the components have not been compromised with. Made of steel and containing brand name components, this fixed gear single speed will not let you down. If you still think it’s not enough, Montra offers “LIFETIME WARRANTY” on the frame against any manufacturing defects.

Price: Rs.13,400 (MRP)

SUBSCRIBE NOW!

1YEAR ` 720 12 ISSUES at 40% OFF the cover price DELIVERED TO YOUR DOORSTEP PLUS some surprise goodies along the way To subscribe, mail a cheque in favour of ‘PROCYCLE AND SPORTS INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED’ to our corporate office (address below) along with your details or drop by one of the ProCycle showrooms (adresses below) and pay cash.

For queries, call Joseph Anish on +91 97415 77884 or email anish@procycle.in Showroom: l Indiranagar - #226, 1st Main Road, Service Road, Domlur 2nd Stage, Indiranagar, Bangalore - 560071.

Tel: +91 98802 16064 l Koramangala / HSR Layout - New #12, Old #75, Service Road, Jakkasandra Extension, Koramangala 1st Block, Near HSR 5th Sector, Bangalore - 560034 Tel: +91 80 2550 1967 l Sanjaynagar - #126, 80ft Road, RMV 2nd Stage, Ashwath Nagar, Bangalore - 560094 Corporate Office: Indiranagar - 226, 1st floor, 1st Main Road, Domlur, 2nd Stage, Indiranagar, Bengaluru - 560071. Tel: +91 80 41161902

PlanetSaddle

Stars of extreme endurance

W

hen more is not enough, it’s not always a crisis, for some it’s an opportunity to test their limits, especially true in case of many of our new age extremeendurance athletes from India who are rocking the International endurance race scene with a bang. There has been a steady increase in the number of participants from India and marquee extreme endurance evens.

You can see that being manifested by the number of Indians at The PBP (Paris–Brest–Paris) one of the oldest endurance bicycling events of the world. From 15 Indian Participants in 2011 to 56 in 2015 and from 2 finishers in 2011 to 20 in 2015 the numbers speak for themselves In this edition, CRANK caught up with a few of the turbocharged Indian athletes and who are making all of us proud in International events and are proving to be an inspiration for many. We bring to you profiles and stories of gut an determination of a few stars who have already participated and of those who are straining their muscles in preparing for events to come

The Ultraman Florida The recently concluded Ultraman Florida 2017, an invite only elite endurance event is designed to test the ultimate endurance limit of an athlete. The event saw saw some phenomenal performances by 5 Indians. ULTRAMAN is the highest and toughest title to be earned in an endurance sports after an IRONMAN. It’s an event that has a challenge of completing a 10 KM swim; 421.1KM cycling and 84.3KM run to be completed in 3 consecutive days with a 12-hour cut-off time on each day in various categories. Arunaabh Shah in 2016 was the first Indian man to finish this challenge and Dr. Anu Vaidyanathan our country’s first lady full ironman has also successfully completed the Ultraman This year five Indians attempted and finished the ultraman and we bring you their story

20

CRANK with ProCycle APRIL 15TH, 2017

Prithviraj Patil a young management consultant from Maharashtra was yearning to do the extra post his successful Ironman.

He chose the Ultraman and went all out to not only get picked but to also successfully finish it. He focused on his training, mostly on swim and run as cycling is his strong point. “As I had raced both my ironman races with injuries. I made sure I would go easy on myself this time. Training started 3-4 months prior the race and I eased into it. I would keep all the three disciplines in race sequence of extreme endurance cycling once or twice a month for my body to get used to it I.e. long swim was followed by long bike very next day and long run day after”

Prithviraj Patil

As per Prithviraj, the strength of the athlete depends largely on his crew and the event is a great platform for interacting with not only the athlete but also the crew who have much experience to share Dr. Kaustubh Radkar is an acknowledged star already. A 16 time Ironman finisher across all 6 continents, an achievement only a handful across the world can boast of.

He is also the Ironman certified coach and founder & Coach at RadStrong and also the founder of RadRx, a healthcare management services that include sports medicine, cardiac and cancer rehab. For Kaustabh, Ultraman was definitely the next step and wouldn’t have been difficult considering his experience and the fact that he completed Ironman & 2 full marathons Dr. Kaustubh Radkar - Kona World Champtionship Qualified

Abhi - Stage 3 Finish

as part of his training. But life had different plans for him and it seems wanted to test him further. It increased his difficulty rating by adding an injury, a dose of fever before the race and a fire ant bite during the run forcing him to run with a swollen feet. But always the winner the mind took over the body and he achieved a successful finish. Another feather in a crowded cap !

Abhishek Mishra, is a man with a passion to test his limits. He sets a goal each year, that seems unrealistic in the beginning and then he systematically works on it to achieve it. He has finished 45 half and 20 full marathons and about 12 Ultra runs with the longest being the Delhi to Lucknow run a distance of 505kms. He is also a motivational speaker and now a ULTRAMAN. Abhishek approaches his training in an unconventional manner. It’s not about fixing a schedule for him. He integrates it in his day-to-day life. He followed a similar approach even for his Ultraman schedule. “i finished the Ultraman because of the basic endurance i have built in past 4 years. The incorporation of all three sports in your schedule is important” Abhishek feels that his journey of the event has touched his soul and has given him memories to last a lifetime. Holding the tri-color at the finish line makes him ‘Ultra’-proud and he now aims to summit the Mt. Everest !

Manmadh Rebba an Architect by profession had self-coached, self-trained and self-funded himself for the event. It took him 13 years to recover from a life threatening drowning experience to even get close to the water, then with a little push from a friend in

2013 he could for the first time swim from one end of the pool to the other and there started a memorable journey that turned his years of fear and doubt, into a victory. In preparation of the event, Manmadh completed 2 Ironman events and also had a strict regimen, his entire life revolved around the training. He is currently working on a project for San Diego International Airport leaving him with limited window to train. So he customized his 60 hrs training plan. He would wake up at 4:30-5:00AM and train for 1-2 hours on his trainer and follow it up with a short run or yoga before fixing his breakfast, then rushed to work by 7:30 am. He squeezed in short runs at lunch time and swims at 6pm. While weekends were for long rides followed by short runs 30 min -45 min. He cooked his own food and kept a track of everything that his body required to be in the right condition for the race. Manmadh plans to round off the year with Ironman 70.3 Oceanside, Ironman Lake Placid, one more full distance Ironman and a bunch of biking events and hiking for strengthening different muscle groups.

Milind Soman, A man who needs no introduction. In fact the man who made extreme endurance popular in the country. A well known face in the lifestyle, sports and fitness world with a huge fan following. For all his achievements, Milind displays his characteristic humility when he says “It was very thrilling I feel anyone interested in extreme sport must experience the Ultraman. It teaches a lot physically, mentally and spiritually. It was amazing to have my mother accompanying me who has been an inspiration always.

I had two Indians crewing for me and they did a fantastic job. It is after all a team effort. We grappled with some cut off related technical issues that the crew overcame despite their relatively less experience. Ever the team man, Milind thanked the Merida India team which supported him.“I have a busy travel schedule connected with my engagements and they ensured I got the same model in every city I travelled to during my preparation months. It made a huge difference on race day” he said. ”In the future if there is nothing more challenging to undertake, I may even create an event” Now that would be something. A signature Milind Soman extreme event!

CRANK congratulates all of them for the grit they have showcased and now we bring to you other stars who are preparing for the LEL, the London Edinburgh London.

Manmadh R -Crew at work

Milind Soman - image courtesy Florida Ultraman

CRANK with ProCycle APRIL 15TH, 2017

21

London Edinburgh London (LEL)

T

he LEL is emerging as the one of the toughest biking challenges of the world where a big Indian contingent is expected to participate. LEL or London–Edinburgh–London is a randonnée bicycle event of 1400KMS between London (England) and Edinburgh (Scotland) to be completed in 100 hrs. It’s the flagship event of Audax UK and is considered as the toughest cycling event in the United Kingdom both because of the terrain and extreme weather conditions. LEL started in 1989 and it’s held every four years and 2017 is going to be the eighth edition. We at CRANK caught up with four athletes diligently preparing to know about their preparations and hopes.

Thiruvengadam Ashok is a passionate test engineer, and is the founder of STAG Software. He got hooked to long distance cycling in 2011 and then running in 2013. The tryst with brevets and Super Randonneuring (SR) reached the crescendo in 2015 when he completed the PBP, a 1200km tour of the French countryside. “At 250km to the end, when it looked like an 84hour finish, I thought it was shame not to enjoy the brilliant French countryside.

I slowed down, sang loudly, slept on the open field under the gorgeous sun and finished in 87h “.

He also enjoys running Ultras and has done two 24h runs and one 100KM run and a few FMs (3:49PB) and numerous HMs (1:45PB).

His training plan doesn’t follow any strict regimen instead he experiments with upping the challenge continuously, and mixing it up with long distance running. He plans to complete one set of SR rides, one official 1000km brevet as part of training and hopes to do a few all night rides with a couple of hill rides thrown in. The idea of LEL stuck to him while he was driving the route on his car, and like they say there has been no looking back and he is looking forward to the challenge this July Mayank Tripathi, a 28 year young, Marketing Manager at True Elements is an LEL aspirant this year. He is a podium winner in a variety of local races and is a seasoned Super Randonneur and was 8th ranked in General Classification at Tour of Nilgiris 2015. He is currently focusing on long distance cycling of 400 and 600 kms to improve his endurance and also practicing to ride in nights to train in near-similar conditions.

LEL for him “is an opportunity to meet and interact with riders from all over the world”, and he is looking forward to completing the ride in a respectable time!

22

CRANK with ProCycle APRIL 15TH, 2017

Sharavani’s first experience on the cycle was in 2008, when she took to it to counter her growing walking disability, but not until 2015 did she find her calling. Once she started riding regularly with the local club and also solo, she discovered the thrill of endurance biking. She signed up for the TFN in both 2015 & 2016 and completed it successfully never letting her health come in between. TFN in the first year left her charged up so much that closed 2016 with 11000 + kms and also completed the challenging Manali-Leh cycling tour of 575 kms and now she is also a SR. LEL came naturally into scheme of things to help her satiate the desire to seek more endurance challenges – “a new country, an international event, the toughest tour....sounded like the right mix to take me to the next level in cycling. I am really looking forward to another life changing experience” Her training plan is very simple and tough, what further makes her more determined is her desire to overcome the physical disability. She rides 4 times a week and trains with a coach Ironman Deepak Raj. The training includes intervals, tempo and endurance rides, both indoors and outdoors. This is supplemented with Yoga for flexibility and core thrice a week and work out with the physiotherapist for strength training, glutes, core etc. In the summer months there is swimming and trips to the hills for elevation training.

She also hopes to do another SR before the main event Nimish Makadia a 44 YO fitness trainer and a qualified cycling coach, who was also a professional cricketer took to cycling in 2011. He has successfully completed the TFN, Desert 500 Challenge and a few SR’s. He wanted to do PBP, but missed the opportunity and now he is all out training to complete the LEL CRANK wishes all of the very best in their LEL endeavor and a crisp salute to all endurance athletes who are flying the Indian flag high at global events.

WorkBayWatch

Smart Lube

F

or most riders, lubricating the chain may not be top priority, but using the right lube, at the right time the right way in the right quantity can actually make a huge difference in the ride quality. From no noise ride to easy shifting drivetrain to enhanced life of the chain, everything depends on this activity. We at CRANK bring you the expert advice to do it the right way.

The Three most critical variables are weather (which lube to use in what weather conditions), how clean you keep your chain and how you apply it. If the rides are mostly in wet or muddy trails, it’s a good idea to use wet chain lube, with its thicker consistency it will stick around longer even in a downpour. Similarly for arid conditions the dry lube works the bestand Performance lube is for typically race conditions with ceramic bearings. Now once you have decided what to use let’s move on to this next step.

be cleaned often and the chain should be cleaned before you apply the lube. After washing your bike down take a cotton cloth to wipe the chain of any water or excess oil. Now once you have done that make sure the chain is on the highest gear at the rear and the lowest at the font so that it’s easy to whip the bike of any dirt and also if you have a disc brakes you do not contaminate it. Open the lube valve and start spinning the chain and start to apply on the below Jockey wheel at the rear derailleur do this once or twice which will make sure all parts of the chain is lubed. Our expert recommends doing this before your ride and when you wake up in the morning wipe of the excess before you get onto the saddle.

These simple and effective technique will help you have a smooth ride and your keep your chain last a little longer before you need to change them. Choosing your lube is easy if you need help do get in-touch with your local bike shop for assistance.

Whether you use the wet lube or the dry one, the drivetrain should

CRANK with ProCycle APRIL 15TH, 2017

23

CrankActive

In this issue we feature the active sport of WhiteWater rafting

W

hite water rafting or river rafting is an extreme recreational sport that uses an inflatable raft to navigate through a body of water and can be done by both amateurs and professionals. Of late this has become a popular corporate team building activity since the need for team building is a unique requirement to succeed in the sport. If you haven’t got a chance to experience this thrilling water sport yet then pack your bags and be ready to try it this summer.

The Thrill and excitement of the sport lies in the force & level of the rapids, which are nothing but rough patches on a flowing river and are measured in Grades. The grades range from 1-6 and the higher numbers indicate the roughness of the course.

Grade I and II rapids are considered easy and require minimal maneuvering skills as the waves are low and the flow of the water is not very fast. Grade III rapids are moderate and at times the strong currents and irregular waves make these difficult to

24

CRANK with ProCycle APRIL 15TH, 2017

maneuver without professional help. The rapids at Grade IV and V are considered slightly difficult and to some degree dangerous as there are intense waves and huge vertical drops in the flow of the river and therefore requires proper skill and precise maneuvering. Grade VI rapids are considered the toughest and the most dangerous and are limited to experts only But like all adventure sport, irrespective of the grade of the rapid, it is extremely important to observe the safety norms and discipline.

While there are a lot of professional terms & techniques, for the amateur two of the main techniques used are called punching and high siding. Punching requires the crew to paddle the raft fast, so that it gains enough speed to push through the hydraulic current and high siding is used if the raft turns sideways, in order to prevent the raft from flipping, rafters move to its higher side to balance the raft.

great rafting experience. The Ganges in Rishikesh, Beas in Kullu-Manali & Indus River in Ladakh are good for grade I – III rapids and suited for beginners. Tons river in Uttarakhand,Kameng & Lohit Rivers in Arunachal Pradesh, Zanskar in Ladakh, Kundalika in Maharashtra andBarapole River in Coorg are very good with level III-IV category rapids. Bhagirathi in Uttarakhand, Teesta in Sikkim and Brahmaputra in Arunachal not only have higher grade of rapids, the rafting there is for a longer distance of 150+ kms and therefore they are more of an expedition of 6-10 days than just a day of rafting. Serious rafting enthusiasts carry the entire camping equipment and raft down the river from one point to other.

One can experience the sport anytime between September to April with few of these places closing down during peak winters. The cost can range anything between INR 1500 to 6000 a day including stay and food. Its imperative to ensure the operator you chose has good equipment and follows all safety norms and procedures

India has a lot of exciting places that offers

Action rafting

ToyCentral

A must have tool for all those who want to change seat posts. Especially Pro Riders wanting to replace stock seat posts with customised ones. A simple handy tool rather than a complicated vernier to measure tube inner diameter

GET OUT & RIDE!

©PROCYCLE AND SPORTS INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED

WWW.PROCYCLE.IN