freerider
Issue 12 | November 2012 | Free Download www.freeridermag.in
EDITORIAL
COVER - Rider: Alex Salikan| Photo: Vinay Menon EDITORIAL - Rider: Vineet Sharma| Photo: Vaibhav Nijhowne The Team:
Yeah Bro! Our magazine has completed 2 years in existence! Overall these two years have been wonderful and we are so stoked to see how our sport, races, and the number of riders are developing. Our last issue of 2012 is here and probably the most hectic one. You must be wondering why? Because we partying at so many mountain bike and BMX events happening around. Vinay hucking in B.C Canada, while I was lost in the trails of Himachal during the MTB Himalaya; from where I never felt like coming back. Soon I found myself riding my bike in super hot Rajasthan while our associates were busy checking out the BMX events happening in Chandigarh and Bombay. Not to mention the products we were reviewing at the same time. But we love this and that’s why Freerider Mountain Bike Magazine is growing so fast and becomes super strong as we welcome our new addition to the team ‘Nilesh Dhumal’ who will be showing how to fix your bikes and components. Nilesh aka Nelly has been a great support to Freerider Mountain Bike Magazine since day 1. Feel free to bother him anytime if you have any kind of tech questions about your bike, or your love life. I would like to thank all the team members, riders, photographers, contributors and readers worldwide who have supported us. It’s hard to mention all the names here, but without you; Freerider Mountain Bike Magazine would have been just like any regular magazine. Because of this overwhelming response, I proudly announce our first ever printed issue that will be released in January 2013! This will be a special printed version (For January only) that can be ordered online from our website. All our 2011 and 2012 issues will still be available to download and read from our website. While you are reading our 12th issue, our crew Vinay Menon, Nilesh Dhumal and Gautam Taode will be gearing up to race in MTB Kerala which will take place on 3rd to 4th November. The prize money of this race is insane and many UCI riders will be reporting at the venue. Our crew will be the only Indian riders competing in the four cross category along with professional UCI riders. Meanwhile I will be getting ready to meet the mountain bike pioneer Gary Fisher, and then head out for riding in the Himalayas in super cold weather. Keep following the updates on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/freeridermtbmag) and keep yourself updated. We wish you a Happy Diwali, Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year in advance! A big thanks to everyone that made it happen!
Vineet Sharma Editor-in-Chief
Editor in Chief: Vineet Sharma vineet@freeridermag.in Deputy Editor: Vinay Menon vinay@freeridermag.in Contributing Editor: Vaibhav Nijhowne vaibhav@freeridermag.in Technical Editor: Nilesh Dhumal nilesh@freeridermag.in BMX Agent: Dipak Panchal Trail Correspondent (U.S.A): Kevin Pabinquit Freerider Mountain Bike Magazine #2434-A, Sector: 39-C Chandigarh. 160036 INDIA. ........................................................ This magazine is intended for free distribution and is only available through our web portal www.freeridermag.in ........................................................ Feel free to write or contribute. E-mail at: vineet@freeridermag.in
Contributing Editors and Photographers Rahul Thomas, Tangi Rebours, Ashish Sood, MyFlicks.com, Ankur Kaul.
CONTENTS EXCLUSIVE STORY MTB Himalaya | 4 EPIC TRAIL STORY Summer Twenty12 BC | 19 RIDER PROFILE Tangi Rebours | 26 WRENCHING WITH PRO CYCLE Chain Love | 29 FRESH JUICE Answer ProTaper + More | 33 INDIAN TRAILS AM’ing in Coorg | 44
NOTE: We have done our best to make sure that all content in this issue of Freerider mountain bike magazine is accurate, but would emphasise that we at Freerider mountian bike magazine accept no responsibility for any errors in the magazine/content or any errors caused to your computer while reading our magazine.
lore Himachal Pradesh probably the best way to exp is nt eve ure ent adv yan ala re charged for e. The legendary Him h more than 70 riders who we wit mla Shi m fro MTB Himalaya is not just a rac d rte sta ya Pradesh eighth version of MTB Himala uncharted trails of Himachal gh ou thr e hik and e on your mountain bike. The rid uld ers wo adows. the next nine days, these rid cks in beautiful villages and me tra gle this 500 Km adventure. Over sin h lus s, hill wn do e ing climbs, intens which are packed with demand
Words & Ph o
tography: V
The HASTPA team redesigned this epic stage race with fresh ideas brought about with an experienc e of 7 years pedaling through the most gruesome Himalayas. This experience and dedication resu terrains of the lted in advanced route, better cycling conditions, and revamped structured management, for an altog and improved cycling adventure. ether distinct
ineet Sharm
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We at Freerider Mountain Bike Magazine were proud to associate with MTB Himalaya and were stoked to meet the riders from different backgrounds and experience this year’s race in the pristine Himalayas. This has been my fifth trip with the MTB Himalaya, formerly known as MTB Himachal, and every trip has been better than previous, barring the first one of course. But let’s not get stuck in memories, they so often make the current experience seem so much less.
I was not surprised to be greeted in Shimla by some known faces who had already reported at Hotel Holiday Home. The environment was just like some festival is going on. Hotel parking full of banners and bikes parked around and more riders reporting at the same time, while some of them were going through the final registrations for the race. All the riders and volunteers assembled in the evening for race briefing by the HSTPA team, which answered all the queries and displayed the route map during the briefing. The crowd was a mixture of experienced riders who have been to this race before, and few amateur or leisure cyclists who were nervous after hearing about the route conditions. All the nervousness ended with delicious dinner and chilled beer. The new riders felt relaxed after talking to the veteran riders about the race. Bollywood actress Preeti Jhangiani was also present at the venue and was overwhelmed with the event and how cycling is progressing in India. Narinder Singh, the guy who scaled Mt. Everest recently was also present. Narinder soon realized that he should have got himself registered himself for the race. The feast ended and all the participants were ready to hit the sack and charge up for the race day.
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Day1: Shimla to Gada Guffar
Nice cool morning welcomed the riders who were geared up and quickly finished their breakfast. Usually the day starts with lot of waiting which can’t be avoided. The riders assembled in the hotel parking and waiting for confirmation to start. After the road was clear and safe for cyclists, they all cranked to the Ridge from where the flag off was scheduled. The chief guest for flag off, who is an Indian Army high ranking officer arrived on time and got the event on track. Djurabek Ataev, a solo rider who was on a India cycle tour all the way from Uzbekistan was too excited after this long wait. “I just cant wait to ride again” he exclaimed. The short joy ride rally reached at the 1st stage start which was all gradual and was completed by everyone without any issues. The second stage was also good in the start but the long climb on the last stage sucked out the energy of many riders who were racing for the first time. Most of the riders reached the campsite in dark where good food, bon fire and hot water for bath was waiting. The first day was dominated by the young and gifted rider from Nepal, Narayan Gopal followed by Solo rider Richard McDowell from the UK who has cycled at some amazing locations while working in Serbia, Australia, Brazil, Italy, Dubai and now India. He’s working with the steel industry now and has also started competing in Triathlons, with an IronMan on the horizon.
Day2: Gada Guffar to Tani Jubad
The second day start was easy and the all the participants were stoked to hear about the epic downhill stage today. But the first stage was full of climbs. But whatever goes up must come down, and that’s what exactly happened on the second stage which was full of gravity. According to one of the weekend riders from Pedal Yatris (A cycling group from New Delhi): “This track is a true test of skill and fitness and I have never experienced anything like this before,� The downhill stage crossed villages full of jeep tracks and some steep turns. Steve Cousins, another British rider who was racing in weekend category happily shredded his full suspension rig on this stage. All the participants were thrilled to complete the second stage and were happy to see fresh cooked lunch at the halt before the hike section. The non competitive hike section was not so easy as most of them imagined. Bikes falling down while hiking, Riders slipping here and there was a common sight on this stage. Soon the new riders were seen having hard time and were not too happy during the stage. Not to mention the third stage which included some climbs had to be finished. Being the only camera guy on this stage, I had no option but to hike for 11 Km till I spotted a team vehicle which transported me to the end of the stage. It had already become dark and cold. The second day was also led by the Nepali boys Narayan Gopal who was joined by his fellow rider Aayaman Tamang who was always spotted with a smile on his face.
Day3: Tani Jubbar to Kullu Sarahan The next morning everybody were surprised to explore the beautiful campsite of Tani Jubbar which is situated at around 8000 Ft. A small man-made lake is situated just few steps away from the campsite giving a whole new look to the campsite. The numbers of riders have become smaller as the weekend racers finished their journey. The first stage of the day is a downhill section, bit scary when you have to take all those steep turns on narrow tarmac. The 2nd stage of the day was also completed with a smile on everybody’s face as the stage was gravity assisted. A 2km hike section awaited the riders which was completed by all the riders and was followed by a short gradual stage. Another hike section of 1.5 Km was scheduled after lunch and the day was finished after a long climb to Kullu Sarahan where the riders reached in dark. The next day was a rest day where the participants washed their bikes and riding gear. The day was mostly spent basking in sun and few people hiked to a nearby waterfall. The weather changed suddenly in evening. Rain and hailstorm made the weather very cold but the night was clear and super cold. Local music band played near the bonfire where everybody was present in merry mood.
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Day4: Kullu Sarahan to Bahu The day was originally planned to end at a place called Chhawad, but was modified as it would have turned out to be very long. Today all the riders are settling into their own grooves and discovering themselves riding with similar people. The previous rest day resulted in new friendships and fun rivalries. The first stage (A Downhill stage) which also decided the best downhill rider of the event started right below the campsite. Nepali mountain biker Narayan Gopal started his day with his much deserved Yellow Jersey. The downhill stage from Kullu Sarahan is really epic and the descent is surrounded by nice vegetation and waterfalls all the way.
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The whole day was finished smoothly and for a change the riders reached the campsite on time “In Daylight� and were happy with this fact. As usual the committed HASTPA team took care of setting up the camp at this another beautiful campsite. All of us were given hot water everyday to wash off dust and sweat and food to refuel with. The kitchen staff has been doing commendable job to provide tasty food on time... everyday. The famous Kingfisher beer was provided on every campsite to ease desiccated throats. After the results were displayed, the news spread out quickly that Richard McDowell was the best downhill riders, followed by Aayaman Tamang from Nepal and Johan Bentinck.
Day5: Bahu to Gada Gushaini The fourth race day decided the best downhill rider, and the fifth from Bahu to Gada Gushaini would expose the best climber of the event. The first stage of the day finished at the highest point of the race ‘Jalori Pass’ situated just over 3000m. One could spot struggle on every riders face on this stage. Most riders would just ask anyone “How more?” But the photographers and volunteers who were present there or the first time had no idea what to say. Watching the Indian Army boys Shishir Man Singh Karki, Naresh Barman and Ramesh Chandra Joshi on this stage was a pleasure. These boys eagerly wait for this stage where they excel every year. Unfortunately the Indian Army team was short this year as they were not sponsored by them. However the climb stage was again dominated by the Nepali rider Narayan Gopal. Narayan has been coming for this event since last two years and was assisted by his friend Aayaman Tamang. Both the riders were really happy the way the race was organized and plan to return again. “Food is so good” exclaimed Aayaman. Both the riders were supported by Himalayan Singletrack from Nepal and made them proud with excellent sportsmanship. Solo Master rider Andre Deplechin was present again this year. Andre has inspired and impressed so many riders and continues to impress with his love for this sport. He sometimes questions himself “Why am I doing this?” and in two minutes he declares that he would going to the Yak Attack again in 2013!
The riders celebrated on Jalori top, and few of them prayed in the temple. The second stage of the day started which went all the way to the campsite in Gada Gushaini. The place is also famous for fresh water Trout fish which was served in dinner that cold night.
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Day6: Gada Gushaini to Craignano The 6th day start was probably the coldest. Riders woke up to a layer of frost all around. Participants from warmer places like Bombay, Orissa, Bangalore were desperate for the sun to come out. The riders gained the warmth with chai and started getting ready for the day. Two Solo riders from Canada John Funk and Gerry McCuaig representing Team Dead Goat were having a blast in this race. John, who visits India very often found about MTB Himalaya AKA MTB Himachal number of years ago but could not get time to race till now. “Racing the MTB Himalaya 2012 was a real shot of good luck for me!” says John. “The Indian Himalaya is a great range of mountains, culture, people, and as I found out MTB trails. Where else can you ride a backroad of twenty eight K’s that doesn’t stop climbing, demanding at best one or two shifts out of baby ring. Follow this up with a rolling decent of double track that requires a single track read, and you have one of seven days.” John Funk who raced on his Santa Cruz 29er is also very satisfied with the support staff and the way the race was organized.
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His friend Gerry McCuaig who whom I met in India during Sikkim MTB 2009 was also really happy the way the race was organized. Gerry who also actively participates in various mountain bike races like Trans Rockies, BC Bike Race, L Ruta De Los Conquistadores, El Reto Dl Quetzal in Guatemala and Trans Andes was not so lucky on the second last day of the race as he suffered with stomach infection and decided not to race. But these two tough Canadian riders had amazing time during this race.
The 62Km day continued with beautiful scenery and some action. Suncross rider from Chanidgarh ‘Darshan Singh’ who was performance was appreciated by everyone crashed during a stage and almost twisted his wrist and bruised his leg. This determined rider decided to continue the race… which he did. Another rider who has been regular with MTB Himalaya is Datta Rai Patil who always completes the race “Without Shoes”. This tough barefoot rider has never worn shoes in his entire life and has no problem racing without them! The riding continued on jeep tracks winding through lush valley and villages where the locals would be out to cheer. The day ended with usual results. Narayan Gopal wasn’t letting go of his lead upfront and Aayman followed him closely while the Brit Richard kept the pressure on from the 3rd place.
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Day7: Craignano to Shimla
The last day of the race has arrived. Relaxed start was much deserved by these survivors. The only 2 female riders in the event Monica from Chanidgarh and Malvika Jain were not too happy as they got attached to this beautiful Himalayan state and didn’t feel like leaving at all. Malvika, sponsored by Chainreaction cycles describes MTB Himalaya as bone rattling, cranium crunching, teeth chattering, head banging race. Malvika says “MTB Himalaya, a race I had been waiting 3 years to do, but every time something came up and got cancelled. Finally in 2012 everything seemed on track. Also if I didn’t do it this year, the world would end and I would never get to do it! So I took leave from office, making it clear well in advance and at every opportunity I got that I would be away, practicing hard on Saturday mornings, skipping all Friday night plans, getting the wonderful online store – Chainreactioncycles.com to back me up and finally made it to MTB Himalaya. It was great too to run into my old cycling gang – Pedal Yatris, as enthusiastic as ever!” Most of the riders were feeling just like her. That hollow feeling which makes you retrospective and introspective about life in general where you ask yourself the question- what now? “I’m Glad it is over, but I don’t want it to end” said one of the riders. Over 8 days in the remotest of places on the planet you are humanly bound to form that bond with one another. It’s a bond you can’t explain to your family and friends when you go back. It’s the sheer joy of experiencing a lot of pain together.
With mixed feelings and emotions, the ride started which was roughly 30Km out of which the competitive section lasted for only 20Km. The backup vehicles started routing back to Shimla from alternative route so that the bigger task of the day ‘Podium finish and Closing ceremony’ can be executed. Knowing HASTPA would you be surprised if they had kept the best for the last? The last section according to a majority of the riders was the best. “It was scary at times, I think the landslides helped the adrenalin flow”, said one rider. The riders loved every bit of it. Aayman Tamang topped this section and finally bagged a yellow jersey for himself. However overall standings of course did not change with Narayan Gopal clinching the 8th MTB Himalaya title. A school dropout at 16, Aayman Tamang won the 1st runners up place- He is just 19 and has his prime waiting for him. The Ironman from the Great Britain Richard McDowell showed why he is still feared in races down south. He bagged the 3rd place and says he will back with more next year.
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The prize distribution ceremony saw many elite officials in the government, come and speak about the benefits of Mountain Biking and Eco tourism and applauded the role, riders and HASTPA have played over the years to promote the sport of mountain biking. “The idea is to get Shimla on the Mountain biking map of the world “said Mr. Mohit SoodPresident HASTPA. The 2012 MTB Himalaya ended with much awaited dinner party in Hotel Landmark (Shimla). All the riders, hardworking volunteers, dedicated organizers and beautiful media people and other officials were present at the closing ceremony and now waiting for the 2013 MTB Himalaya.
CHECK DETAILED RESULTS WITH TIMINGS: http://www.mtbhimalaya.com/result-2012/
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Words & Photography: Vinay Menon The summer of twenty twelve came along super plush for me with Nepal’s Mustang region escapade, Bengaluru Turahalli DH race Podium and tons of good old Pune City hometown trail rips with buddies. Soon enough the heavy monsoon clouds were taking over my town. It had been two years since Id hit the bright trails of B.C. Canada, so escaping to B.C. it was! With Bengaluru DH Race dirt still fresh on the downtube, I packed in my trusty old Specialized Demo 8 (Oak Bay Bikes) and cruised the clouds into Vancouver, B.C.
R E M M SU 2 1 y t n e Tw BC
This summer visit I was teaming up with my buddy Alex Salikan from Vancouver City. A trials rider in the concrete forest, Alex rips through the root infested trails of North Van when the trees come calling. After stepping into the time zone and building my bike it was time to spin those dirt hungry wheels. Vancouver has a neat Dirt Jump park right in the middle of the city. Our first warm-up zone for what we had lined up for the next few weeks. Some dirt hits later we caught up with the trials riding soldiers of Van City. Ready to fight the park benches, stair sets and ledge drops, these saddle-less bike shredders were destroying one street spot after another. Kevin Liu, Chris Hii, Olivier Regniere, Robby, Brandon Law, Sam Song were hopping their way through Van City structures like there was no tomorrow. Once this urban war had sublimed, Alex, Florian Graeber and I opted to hit Mt.Fromme over the weekend. A bright sunny day sneeked in the light through giant trees over trails like Upper Oil Can, Ladies Only and tons of other master pieces of shovel love. After couple of laps down the mountains age smoothened trails, it was time for me to hit the road to Saskatchewan with the FLOW Riders. Joining the FLOW Riders crew this summer was definitely a highlight of my B.C visit. “Dangerous� Dan Cowan, Mike Laudrum and Andrew Baker (Banshee Bikes) packed in the FLOW Bus with Ramps and ladder bridges hanging on the trailer. While we drove through the flattest roads like sleep deprived zombies, the summer temperature was hitting its peak more like what you would expect in India. As Chocolate milk, sunflower seeds and malt beverage kept the van awake; we were entering the town of Regina, our destination for the demo over the next one week.
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Our venue, the fair grounds in the middle of the city was building up for the week’s carnival. With its giant wheel, grub stalls, product booths and a flood of the city’s population, our mountain bikes were sure screaming out of the chaos.
Assembling the FLOW Show ladder bridges and kickers at the venue didn’t take much effort, thanks to the well-designed setup ‘FLOW Show’ has come to be known for. Day 1 of our demo was a little dull as the rains kept us rolling slow. But as the week turned along, clear skies smiled upon us and got Mike throwing down his signature ‘suicide no handers’ and clicked X-Ups on a heavy D monster of a bike. While Andrew Baker was tossing himself off the 15ft step down on a hardtail, both of them kept the awestruck audience wide mouthed as they navigated across the dreaded ‘Skinzilla’ and the demented ‘Discombobulator’. Every FLOW Show includes a local shredder in the mix. The town of Regina has a handful of air friendly riders around. One of them, Mason Blackmore maintained the air miles off the 6ft kickers with ‘three pointers’ and styled whips. As “Dangerous” Dan used the microphone to glue the spectators to the flowing rush, I opted to get a better aerial view of the event, tossing off the step down and launching off the bright green kicker all day juggling between my bike and camera.
Having three shows a day and full blast evenings, I was super stoked to able to join the FLOW Riders unit for the summer. With a week of riding at the festival, our green van rolled out of Regina town, Vancouver bound. Once in Vancouver city, joined by Alex, a Greyhound wagon rolled us into the mecca of mountain biking. Home to wicked trails like A-Line, Schleyer, Crank it up, Freight Train and infinite more, Whistler is one of the most visited bike parks on the planet. If that wasn’t enough, the Crankworx festival pulls in a sea of bike fanatics from around the globe. Landing into Whistler Village surrounded by bikeosapiens and good weather we spun full swing grabbing the seasons pass and hitting the Gondola. Since our Whistler schedule was spanning almost three weeks, it was sure to be one insane visit.
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Crankworx is one of the best times to be in Whistler if you want to high five your favorite Pros down the mountain. It sure gets a little clogged up on the trails through the weekend with a gazillion rider’s spinning wheels all day. But how many times in a year one could ride all morning and then check out the biggest riders of the sport battle it out for the most coveted titles, for an entire week all on one mountain. Crankworx Whistler is where it’s at! Being joined by some of our German bros from Van City, Florien Graeber and Florien Stier the Whistler trails were seeing an extremely stoked clan! For Alex and me, riding the double black trails most of the days was part of the plan and the super techy sections on ‘Goats Gully’ were a challenging punch for me.
Occasionally training behind Andrew Baker (Banshee Bikes) on the trails, sure got us speeding down some previously lagged sections. While in Whistler, few of my friends from Victoria, B.C joined in as well. Denise Howden and Derek Kidd who were an integral part of my 2010 ‘B.C Bike Parks’ trip, were teaming up with us for the weekend. With Derek blasting out on a 650b, shredding down the mountain slopes with my old gang brought back some memories. Along with an insane time on the trails, witnessing some of the finest riding ever seen, Whistler Bike Park during the Crankworx week is unexplainable. One has to experience it firsthand! The three weeks in Whistler just buzzed by before we could even burp out the trail dust. Next up was a visit to “Dangerous” Dan Cowan’s home trails. The trail asylum on Bowen Island! Only seen in the bike videos and magazines, I was advised by some of the godfathers of the sport to be on my game if I was thinking of riding the Bowen Island trails. I was not surprised when I arrived on the island off the ferry. Dan was hosting our stay through the visit. With tons of good times ahead and legendry tales on our mind, Alex and I hit the Bowen Island Community Bike Park for couple of warm-up runs down ladder bridges and teeter-totters. The park which is only a few minutes ride from Dan’s house has couple of dirt doubles, super skinnies, the ‘discombobulator’ and a few more of Dan’s mental inventions. All free to be ridden/walked for the masses.
While the island’s population is pretty sparse, the trail force of Dan Cowan, Mike Laudrum and a few more hard working soldiers, is a clan that’s dug and ripped some of the gnarliest trails on the planet, let alone the island. The hills are dark with century old trees and trails that are apt for the vertically challenged! With a mix of super skinnies, big air flight runways, creepy roots and loamy descents, techy bar rumble chutes, the trails on Bowen are a work of art that can only be appreciated by the spinning wheels of a flying bikosapien.
Training behind Mike and Dan on their home turf was intense. These guys sure know a thing or two about FLOW! As for Alex and me, navigating through some of the legendry skinnies, blasting down magnetic steeps and launching off of some beautiful drops was a real high. Bike park sessions, followed by shuttling up the mountain and BBQ at sun down was the routine we maintained through our visit. Bowen for sure is calling us for more shred, soon! A big thanks to Dan and Natalia for letting us bunk at their beautiful home and all the good food! It was now time for Alex and me to transfer ourselves from Bowen Island’s tree barks to Van city’s concrete pillars.
While Alex was flying out of town on vacation, I joined Andrew Baker and his buddy Braden Hughes for some more speed laps down Mt.Seymour in North Van. One of the oldest trail networks in B.C, Mt.Seymour never disappoints. A sunny day had us running into our buddies digging on the trails. These volunteers need a pat on their back for keeping the local trails in the best possible state each season. Thanks guys for all the shovel hours!
With high fives, crash scars as souvenirs and catching up with old buddies; my 2012 B.C visit was summing up with a 24hr flight back to Mumbai, India. Onto the monsoon saturated mountains of Pune with home boys, the backyard trails never get old!
Big thanks to Alex Salikan and his parents for putting up with me. Dan Cowan, Andrew Baker and Mike Laudrum for the wicked trail laps and mad times. Martin Littlejohn (Bike Parks BC) for all the support. Thanks to all of my buddies who made this visit a pack of good times; Olivier Regniere, Denise Howden, Derek Kidd, Diarmuid McNamara, James Peacock, see you all soon!
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E L I F O PR R E D I R
Keeping Up With
TANGI Full Name: Tangi Rebours Nickname: Pimous Hometown: Brest in Brittany, France Favorite Drinks: Beer Music: Electronic
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FR MTB MAG: You have influenced so many riders in Nepal including many riders in India. What do you think about the progressing scene there? TANGI: The scene in Nepal is growing day by day, more and more young riders are coming for this sport. I think each local rider is the best ambassador for the sport as he will encourage his friends and family to practice, the number will extend, and then the level of riding will increase too. FR MTB MAG: Your greatest achievement to date: TANGI: To be able to share my passion and make a living with it. FR MTB MAG: Tell us more about your current bike and what makes it so special? TANGI: I have been riding the new Commencal Meta SX, it has 160 mm travel, the perfect bike to handle a climb and I have a blast on the downhill. The new suspension has even more grip than before and it’s more fun to ride; you really feel confident in any situation with it. It doesn’t need any maintenance and in more, it really looks sexy…I just love it.
FR MTB MAG: When did you start racing? TANGI: I started racing XC and DH in 98 until 2002, and then it took me 10 years before I compete in another one. I am not really enthusiastic about racing but I will like to see the development of Enduro DH race in Nepal and India. I see more a future for Nepal and India in Enduro race rather than pure XC or DH race. We really have the right spot and the potential to organize some big Enduro DH races here. FR MTB MAG: You have been living in Nepal for decades. What do you like the most about this wonderful country? TANGI: Trails everywhere, the Nepalese hospitality and of course the Dhal bat. FR MTB MAG: We have always seen you racing, enjoying on Commencal bikes. What is it about Commencal bikes you like the most? TANGI: Commencal are really fun bike to ride, the geometry and philosophy behind the brand are oriented to have a maximum of fun; and they are efficient too when you see all the wins they got in races all over the world. FR MTB MAG: Describe your riding style. TANGI: People like to put some label, I just like to ride up and down, looking for freedom with my bike, but I have a preference when it’s going down.
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FR MTB MAG: What are your current and future goals in life and what are you doing to achieve these goals? TANGI: For the present, spend the maximum time to ride in the high mountain with my new Meta SX, I love to ride in Mustang…Try to find some time to make new video, time and motivation, sometimes I just want to ride my bike and I forget the rest. For the near future, we plan to expand Commencal to India too with the same philosophy like in Nepal and Bhutan, helping to develop the sport at all the level and makes people have fun when they ride their bike, any kind of bike. I plan to visit again India in beginning 2013, meet as many local riders, share experience and have fun with them on the trails. FR MTB MAG: You were involved in a video documentary in Mongolia recently, can you tell more about that project? TANGI: Last summer I have been with Gary Thomas, a talented British filmmaker, to Mongolia. We were invited during 2 month in West of Mongolia to develop mountain biking. The first mountain bike school of Mongolia should open next summer, there is an urge potential to ride and I am sure that the very young riders ( we started by teaching to kids of 5 years old ) will become really good and will continue to develop the sport in their own country. I am already exited to go back next summer. FR MTB MAG: Before we wrap it up, do you want to give any shout-outs or Words of advice? TANGI: It doesn’t matter what other say to you. Just follow your own way…
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Technical Editor: Nilesh Dhumal Words & Photography: Rahul K Thomas
Every cyclist yearns for his or her bike to feel as smooth and flawless as they remember it on the day they bought it. And yet, most riders don’t get the pleasure of that. This boils down to arguably the most essential part of the drivetrain – the chain. Most journeymen riders have their own theories on chain maintenance involving anything from high-end Teflon lubes to hair oil.
Wrenching with
There is nothing quite like a bit of TLC (tender loving care) to keep your ride in the best of health and today Nilesh Dhumal of ProCycle shares his secrets for extracting optimal performance from his chains.
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Nilesh often gets asked the question, “For how many kilometers will this chain last?” Now, while customers want a straight answer to this, unfortunately there really is no simple or exact way to define this. You see, how long (or short) a time a chain lasts, depends on many factors ranging from the rider’s preferred choice of gears to the terrain in which the bicycle is ridden to climatic conditions, lubrication techniques and so on. Given so many variables it is impossible to determine exactly how long a chain will last. ProCycle advises periodic inspection and maintenance of the chain to ensure that no nasty surprises are sprung on the rider out on the road or trail.
CHAIN INSPECTION If you’re wondering how to make out whether your chain is worn out and needs to be replaced, Nilesh demonstrates a really simple way to do this without even having to remove the chain from the bike. It requires nothing more than a tape measure or a steel ruler.
1. Place the ruler along the chain with the zero alongside one rivet while making sure the chain is kept under tension. An alternative is to take it off the bike and hang it up, but this isn’t required really. 2. Look at the corresponding mark 12 complete links away 3. An unworn chain (or a new chain) will line up exactly with the 12-inch (or 1 foot) mark. If the chain is worn out the rivet will fall somewhere past the inch mark on the ruler
This should tell you whether its time for you to replace that worn out old chain or whether a simple bit of servicing will suffice to make your drivetrain butter smooth.
For even more accuracy and ease, there are now some cool new tools in the market such as the Shimano Chain Checker or the Park Tool Chain Check. Freerider Mountain Bike Magazine | 30
CLEANING A CHAIN While it is indeed possible to do a decent job of cleaning a chain while on the bike, ProCycle recommends taking it off the bike. While this might seem daunting to a lot of people, Nilesh shows how easy it is thanks to a little innovation incorporated in a lot of today’s chains. Depending on the brand of chain it is called the SRAM Powerlink, KMC Missing Link and so on. Its basically a link in the chain (as you can see in the picture) which can be opened up using a pair of needle-nose pliers thereby freeing the chain from the drivetrain a far cry from fiddling around with a chain tool in order to remove rivets.
1. Open up the power link by placing the needle nose pliers (such as Park Tool’s Master-link Pliers) on either side of the link and squeezing the side plates out of its locked position. 2. Remove the link and then run the chain out of the drivetrain. 3. Drop the chain and links into a tray or even a bottle with degreaser. I recommend Muc Off, Finishline or Park Tool degreasers. 4. Shake the chain thoroughly in the liquid until you see all the muck come off the chain. 5. Clean the chain off in water until you are sure all the degreaser (and muck) has been removed. 6. Wipe the chain dry. This is essential because any lube applied over a wet chain will not adhere to the links. 7. Use a brush to clean the jockey wheels, cassettes and cranks to ensure you don’t get any muck back on your clean chain. 8. Re-install the chain using the easy-breezy power link.
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If you’re worried that you don’t have fancy tools and suchlike, don’t be. ProCycle shows how you can still do this pretty easily with the chain on the bike and using things you should have lying around at home. All you need is a brush (toothbrush will do), some degreaser and a few rags. 1. Begin with scrubbing the chain with the brush to remove the loose dirt 2. With the chain free from dirt, apply degreaser to the chain and allow it to soak into all the links. This will remove any debris and sticky residue you can’t see, and make for a freerunning chain. 3. Rotate the cranks backwards a few times to get the degreaser right into the links. 4. Allow to drip-dry, or wash off with clean water. 5. Use a clean rag to wipe the chain completely clean.
CHAIN LUBRICATION Now you have a nice clean chain, its time to lubricate it. We’ll cover this in two equally important sections:
B: How to lube the chain
Some cyclists use spray-on lubes which they point directly at the rear of the sprocket or at the derailleur cage. ProCycle prefers to avoid spray-on lubricants because the lube tends to be applied rather unevenly and you can get too much oil where you don’t need it. On occasion, due to the pressurised canister, the oil spreads on the rims or disc rotors causing Oddly enough, this seems to be the most controversial subject when it comes to chain care. Perhaps this is because we in India have been used to our old cycles being lubed with damage to brake pads and affecting braking performance. sewing machine oil, coconut oil, hair oil and just about any kind of oil. But Nilesh says there Nilesh prefers to apply the lubes mentioned earlier by slowly running the pedals backwards and applying a single drop of lube to each chain link. While this might seem a tad over-zealare a number of reasons why these are less than ideal for the purpose. Household oils are usually vegetable oil and are acidic in nature leading to a wearing down of the chain metal. ous to some, it all boils down to that old adage, ‘a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.’ Another popular choice seems to be automotive oil. Unfortunately these are high in viscos- It also ensures that the chain is not over-lubed, which tends to happen if lube is liberally (and quickly) applied, leading in turn to its own set of problems. ity and simply can’t penetrate inside the chain links where the lubrication is really needed. The other major downside of these oils as lubes is that all of them (household oils and auto- Once the entire chain is lubed, he runs spins the pedals and quickly moves through all the gears. This ensures that the lube is also spread evenly through the entire cassette and over motive oils alike) attract mud, grit and debris which then form a thick paste on the chain. Over time this has a grinding effect on the chain, leading to far greater wear and tear than it all the rings. He then runs the chain a few times through a dry cloth, to ensure that any would otherwise be prone to. The spreading of the paste from the chain also leads to wear excess oil is mopped up. Voila! You have a fresh, chain and a drivetrain that’s raring to hit the road or trails. and tear on the cranks and cassette. Not to mention the fact that it simply doesn’t do the job it is supposed to – lubricate. The other popular choice is WD40 but this is no good at all The first time you do this, it might seem to take ages. No fear, you’ll soon pick up the knack of it and be able to do it in a jiffy. And you will enjoy your next ride so very much more, not since it’s a solvent (not a lubricant) which evaporates eventually. ProCycle recommends using Teflon-based lubricants from Park Tool, Finishline and Muc Off least because of the sweat you put into it. in dry weather and wet lube (from the same brands) in the rains.
A: What lube to use
Watch this space for more ProCycle tips on how to care for your bike. Freerider Mountain Bike Magazine | 32
FRESH JUICE Words & Photography: Vineet Sharma
Wi so de b ch we d ars a e An ckin ecid re on sw g o ed to e of t er u t wh ou up he o h r r gra m av ed, de ost e b be ou de ee efy r b ma ni n b , wid ike a nded usi e P nd ne ro spe thing ss for Tape nt ov thes ov r 72 er e d er a a 30 0 AM mo ys, n ye ars bar th by .
answer
ProTaper 720 AM Bar
Stretching out a 720mm wide, the medium rise Answer Pro Taper 720 AM Riser Bar is strong as hell and we felt pretty confident while going fast on those rocky and technical trails. Without any doubt this bar offers good comfort, control and extra leverage on all sections including long days and climbs. The Pro Taper 720 AM is made out of 7050 alloy and weighs at 315g which is not too heavy on the bike. This anodized red baby is available in four colors and has cutmarks that can be cut to desired length.. But why would you want to do that?
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Rove AM Stem
Another good point is that Pro Taper 720 AM ergonomics work with all stem combinations. So we also pimped the bike with the Answer Rove AM stem. This baby is a 6066 forged post CNC machined beauty which comes in 5 sizes from 60 to 100 mm length with 8 degree rise. The Internal & External Tapered walls in stem body helps reducing those extra grams and keeps it strong at the same time. Combining the Pro Taper 720 AM bar with the Rove AM stem resulted in better handling with lot of confidence on trails including long ride session on road. The stem weighs around 180g with bolts and may not be the lightest thing. But combined with the Pro Taper 720 AM bar, it sure is one of the best cockpits around. The Answer Rove AM stem comes with 3 & 5mm headset spacers and star nut and top cap and is also available in different color options.
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Words & Photography: Vineet Sharma
CHAIN-L All of us must have tried loads of chain lubes in all these years. Some of us look for no noise, smooth rolling, or a lube that attracts no dirt. But the most important requirement of a chain lube is ‘Lubrication’. We were asked to test the Chain L No.5 lube and were totally convinced that it does the job well. Chain L which hails from New York may not the most popular lube available in the Indian market, but satisfies with most important requirements of a chain lubricant. So what makes it different than any other lube? Chain-L approached a bearing-wear problem and formulated it consistent with their theory of how chains wear and how best to combat it. Chain L was road tested with racers, messengers, and others; refining it over the span of almost a year before they began selling to the public back in 2007. When we tried it, this is what we found. It made our ride quiet and smooth while staying clean (For short time). This lube is pretty thick, just like mustard oil, but it goes deep into the chain just like any other lubes. Though it takes little more time than thinner lubes, but it stays on for longer period too. The Chain L lube was tested in hot, humid and rainy season and worked very well. We also travelled little more than 500Km in 6 days without any issues. The lube actually stayed for that long! (The chain did turn super black.) Chain L has already proved its worth, but to complete the test, we will be riding around in the winters in different locations with Chain L and we are quite sure that it won’t fail.
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Words & Photography: Vineet Sharma
cross mark Many riders love this tire, many hate it too. We spent last month testing the 26 X 2.10 Maxxis Cross Mark which offers a nearly continuous center ridge for low rolling resistance on hardpack dirt, with enough spacing to grab wet rocks or roots. Slightly raised side knobs add cornering grip. We must admit that it’s faster than any tire we’ve ever checked and really good for light off roading. Cross Mark delivers outstanding straight line speed and excellent grip on hardpack and even on tarmac!
Is it really good for roots and rocks?
To some extent it can be ridden, but the side walls feels bit fragile when going over these obstacles and most of the times I had to wrestle with the bike so that I don’t slip while banking fast. We did not test the tire in hardcore wet conditions yet, but going through some wet patches was just fine, thanks to the unique tread pattern designed by Maxxis with the help of Swiss mountain bike hero and World Champion Christoph Sauser. Overall the tire performance was really impressive and Cross Mark certainly goes like the wind in a straight line. It can be a very good choice for weekend riders or people who commute on mountain bikes. Maxxis Cross Mark retails for INR 1000 and is definitely a value for money. It is being imported by Suncross bikes in India.
Words & Photography: Vinay Menon
SOMBRIO RUCKUS Freeride Gloves When it’s time to give a high5 to the trail dirt during a crash, you don’t want to be doing so without a pair of decent palm savers. Earlier in June I came across the Sombrio Ruckus FRD/ MTB Gloves. With a simplistic no Velcro closure, cuff less design the Ruckus is well suited for an XC spin while its rugged enough for a DH toss. The 4mm Gel heel palm pads are a good addition to the impact prone zones. With the usual silicone prints on the braking fingers and minimal bulk while grabbing the grips, the Ruckus comes with a soft terry sweat wipe over the thumb. A true mountain biking glove, these little palm savers are light enough for the Indian summers too! I’ve run them for XC/DH and even few road bike rides. An all-wheel size performer, the Sombrio Ruckus gloves are good value.
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DA BOMB SOCK
Words & Photography: Vineet Sharma
These cool looking mountain bike socks feature great graphics, color scheme. Da Bomb Bomb socks are constructed with 70% cotton, 15% spandex, 10% lycra and 5% nylon. These socks fit nicely and the mesh zone is nicely spread which does not leave your feet stinky at the end of a day riding. Infact they do a good job of taking sweat away from your feet. Inspite of having moisture wicking properties, cool graphics and nice fit, It seems that these socks are wearing off quickly compared to others.
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Words & Photography: Vineet Sharma
DVS - Throttle | Hart & Huntington Shoes Sporting some of the world’s greatest skateboarders in their lineup, it’s no surprise that DVS Shoe Company is taking the world by storm. They use of classic skate style with their own twists on design as well as giving the endorsees an active part in the designing process gives DVS an edge over the competition. Founded in 1995 by Kevin Dunlap and Tim Gavin, DVS (pronounced like the word “devious”) holds SoCal roots, being based in Torrance, CA. As all good brands do, DVS started cranking out performance based kicks for male skateboarders, but now that they have been creating gear for various extreme sports. Ever expanding, DVS brings in new talent all the time, and team DVS has moved outward to include not only top-notch skaters but snowboarders, moto cross riders and surfers.
We tried and tested the solid looking DVS Throttle Hart Shoes which are not commonly found. These skate shoes were designed with special collaboration between Hart and Huntington and DVS. The shoes are pretty solid and also feel good while riding on the trails and BMX. Featuring an air-bag unit in heel for extra cushioning during impact is one of the best features we found. Sure-fit elasticized tongue makes sure your shoes stay on during your ride. Some of you may find the tongue bit bulky; however this sure-fit elastic tongue makes sure that these shoes stay on during your ride no matter what the situation is. There is also a hidden secret stash pocket for your small essentials.
Solid construction is a big plus point for these shoes but the styling is ace too. The lightweight rubber outsole features Hart and Huntington angel graphic. The sole also provides maximum grip and cushion. These shoes are not specifically designed for mountain biking, but they grip really well with platform pedals on mountain and BMX bike. Apart from riding comfort, they provide plenty of comfort when you are wearing them all day, thanks to the soft and resilient removable PU midsole. Even though they are not designed for mountain biking, we loved them and they’re tough, look good and work great at the same time. These shoes are still holding up well after 3 months of riding, washing, and while hanging out with buddies. We are pretty sure they are ready for more beating.
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Cannondale, founded in 1971 is well known for their neat frame designs and lefty forks. The company has come a long way and has been doing pretty good in India too. From high end racing bikes to regular commuting bikes, they got it all. We sourced one of their hardtail cross country bike ‘Trail SL 2’ back in July from our fellow rider Ankur Kaul. The bike was tested on our local trails to high altitude areas in Manali. Available in 4 sizes and with a price tag of 53,000 INR, the Trail SL 2 sports some really good components found on much expensive bikes from competitive brands available in India. This light weight cross country bike features a nicely designed frame with sleek dropouts, 1.5” headtube on optimized 6061 alloy. The Rock Shox Recon TK 100 air fork makes the package perfect in that price tag.
Words & Photography: Vineet Sharma
S E T
D E T
The shiny blue and white paint job is nicely done on this lightweight frame with decent geometry and aesthetics. The Rock Shox Recon TK 100 fork is one of the best features on this bike. This solo air fork comes with lockout and beefy 1.5” steerer combined with a Cane Creek headset. The fork responds really well if tuned properly. The strange part we observed that the shock pump is not sold with the bike and has to be bought separately. Make sure to get a compatible shock pump from your dealer or you might end up damaging the fork. The trouble free “27 speeds” Shimano components are also good for that price tag. The Shimano Deore rear derailleur and shifters combined with Shimano Alivio front derailleur performed without any issues in all conditions. Maddux DC 3.0 rims with Formula hubs are average. The Kenda Small Block tires are well suited on this bike and make the ride smooth in city. They are decent for light offroading too.
Cannondale SL 2 Specifications: •Frame: Trail SL, Optimized 6061 alloy, SAVE, 1.5” headtube •Fork: RockShox Recon Silver TK, 100mm, Solo Air, lockout, rebound, 1.5” steerer. •Crank: Shimano FC-M430-8 44/32/22 •Brakes: Shimano BR-M445 Hydraulic Disc •Front Derailleur: Shimano Alivio •Rear Derailleur: Shimano Deore •Rims: Maddux DC 3.0 •Tires: Kenda Small Block 8, 26x2.1” •Rear Cogs: SRAM PG-950 , 11-32
The bike performance on flat trails and climbs is not too bad. The light weight frame does help in these situations. But after couple of off road session, the cheap looking platform pedal did give up.
We were always worried about them to fail soon. Honestly, we would suggest you to switch to better platform or clipess pedals to avoid failure on those trails. Shimano pedals can be considered to match the setup of Cannondale Trail SL 2.
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Coming to the stopping power - the Shimano BR-M445 hydraulic disc brakes are good for short time and require lot of cleaning after wet, slush ride session. In other words, be ready to spend good time maintaining those brakes. Overall we would give this bike a very well deserved 4 star rating – Mainly because of the fork given in this price tag and overall build quality compared to other bikes out there in the Indian market. Cannondale Trail SL 2 can be a very good option for those of you planning to get serious for mountain biking. Not to mention it can be upgraded later on. The bike we tested is a 2012 model and 2013 models are going to be in stores soon. The bike is expected to be available with similar components and new graphics. Though we are not sure about the updated price.
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AM’ing in Coorg Words & Photography: Vaibhav Nijhowne
I’ve been mountain biking in the hills of Coorg every summer for the past 4 years. For the benefit of the uninitiated, Coorg (AKA Kodagu in the local dialect) is a district in the south west of Karnataka, very well known for its vast expanse of coffee plantations and wide ranging tropical flora and fauna. It’s a long train journey to get from Delhi to Bangalore – 36 hours on average including 2 nights in the train (which I absolutely LOVE) – followed by an 8 hour road journey to Coorg. The reason for mentioning this is not to discourage you from wanting to go there. It’s my attempt to communicate the message that despite this long drawn travelling, Coorg is completely worth the time and effort taken to get there. And if you happen to be a mountain biker looking for some All Mountain trails, then this is just the place you should be heading to!
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We stay in Honey Valley, a really quaint coffee estate run by the hospitable Chengappa family. Honey Valley, as the name suggests, was once the largest producer of honey in the country! Apart from honey, there is plenty of coffee, cinnamon, pepper, insects, snakes and birds. The last 3 in the list are obviously not grown in the estate, and just happen to be around in abundance.
Honey Valley is situated in the midst of dense forests and hills and is abundant in offroad trails of all sorts – from sketchy rock gardens, to steep uphill climbs, to gnarly descents and very flowy undulating jeep tracks a haven for today’s All Mountain rider. I have been lucky to have 5 inches of air suspension front and rear on my bike that has allowed me to take full advantage of the topography of the land here.
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A lot of the places in and around the estate are accessible by jeep tracks – be it the numerous waterfalls and streams, the highest peak in the region Tadiyandamol or the flowing meadow like hilltop of Kabbe Motte. Need I mention that the best way to traverse these routes is on a mountain bike! I will throw in a word of caution, the first time you venture out of the Honey Valley Estate; you will end up climbing a 1 km stretch of steep uphill rockgarden. To date, this is one of the toughest short climb sections I have encountered on my bike. Vadhu Pass, at the end of that climb rewards you with multiple trail options to choose from after you’ve caught your breath back from that tortuous climb. Like with all climbs, the effort is completely worth it. The view from there is spectacular and the trails heading out of there are each better than the one before it! My favourites are the ones that undulate for a long time.. You learn a lot about how to maintain your momentum on a trail like this. Speed up on the downhill and then hold most of that pace up the subsequent climb as well. Then there are the super long downhills on smooth jeep track which become scarily fast ! On the way back, they do take their revenge though! The Coorgi trails are the best thing to throw at riders who hate climbing! Whatever goes up, has to come down! You will rarely find a flat section here and even if you do, it won’t last long. God didn’t believe in horizontal surfaces when Coorg was being made. You’re either riding uphill or downhill most of the time. And that’s what makes it most interesting. After spending a week or so on the trails in Coorg, you will feel so much fitter and faster than when you began on day 1. Even the daunting Vadhu Pass is less elusive as I begin to time my ascent from Honey Valley all the way up to the top.
Apart from pure speed, this is also an awesome place to improve on your technical skills on the offroad. Thanks to all the various kinds of trails you can find here. Downhilling, braking, cornering, climbing up rockgardens, root sections, crossing streams, drops, single track through forests. I have Coorg to attribute for a large portion of the offroading skills that I’ve developed over multiple visits to this beautiful trail ridden land! The one thing one has to be careful about here is – there are many private estates dotting the area and some of them do not like trespassers, especially the vanilla plantation owners (yes Vanilla!). So be careful not to get carried away and shred through somebody’s backyard without their approval. One other thing I forgot to mention about Vadhu Pass is the nocturnal walk. You must go up there in pitch dark and sit in the middle of the meadow and watch the fireflies perform a light show exclusively for you. The trees surrounding you light up at timely intervals making it look like an organised light sequence, almost like runway lights! It’s a spectacular sight.
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For those of you who are fond of the pig, Coorgi households are also famous for the way they cook their pork. So be sure to try it when you are there. You’ll need all the energy and protein after you’ve been riding the trails day in day out. And they are so tempting; you will go back the very next day to ride them again. Just be ready to expect short stretches of everything… there are few long flowy sections. More of quick climbs followed by quick descents ending in short rocky patches followed by another quick climb and the cycle goes on and on. Perfect terrain for some real good training if you ask me! I did say I’ve been here for the past 4 years, but having relived it all in my mind while writing this article, I can say without a doubt that I will carry on going there as often as I get a chance to! Ofcourse it HAS to be with my mountain bike… it’s the only way to roll!
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