Cycling Legends

by Avo Kayabalian

Legend – 1922 ❂

1922, fierce battle between Belgian, French and Italian runners. Finally, Firmin LAMBOT ( Belgium ) picked up the yellow jersey. Robert JACQUINOT, man on the photo, was the leader during the first two stages, before knowing a difficult stage in Les Sables d’Olonne.

Legend – 1958 ❂

Darrigade is falling dramatically on the track of the Parc des Princes at the finish of the last stage. Charlie GAUL (LUX) won the 1958 edition, ahead of Vito FAVERO (ITA), and Raphael GEMINIANI (FRA) with a record speed average of 36,919 km/h !

Tour d’Afrique: India

A man selling fish from a box on his bike stopped momentarily to drop a smelt to a cat patiently following him. On the other side of the road an auto-rickshaw driver returning from his chai break shooed two goats out of the back seat of his vehicle and then set off in search of his next passengers. A little further along the street two men sat on their haunches cutting tenon joints for the bed frame they were building while all around the scent of fresh spices from the many spice shops filled the air. This was Fort Cochin but I had experienced similar scenes in more than a hundred other small towns I had passed through on my journey through Southern India.

The complete Tour d’Afrique, India tour, is 4200km long. It is organized in two sections: the first from Agra (starting at the famous Taj Mahal Temple) to Mumbai and the second from Mumbai to Kanyakumari (at the southern most tip of India). Most riders complete both sections, however I chose to do only the second one as I had previously visited many of the towns on the first leg of the tour.

We were 13 riders supported by two vehicles, one for the luggage and one to mark the route with red tape and provide a lunch each day. There were also 8 staff members (two drivers and their two helpers, a trained first aid responder, a tour leader, and two mechanics/sweeps).

This is not a ride in the park: in fact the Tour d’Afrique website warns that riders will be challenged, and for me this was the most difficult tour I have ever undertaken. For a start, I confess I was intimidated by the experience of most of the other riders. Several had completed other Tour d’Afrique tours across Africa, Europe, Asia and the USA. One person had completed a round-the-world tour lasting a full year. So when starting the tour I was unsure whether I would be able to complete all of the stages especially because the last time I cycled on the road was five months prior.

Warnings from the staff indicated that at least half of the riders would probably experience minor illnesses or accidents. This proved to be true resulting in individuals riding a support vehicle for a period of time. My goal therefore was to complete the tour without health problems or accidents. Fortunately I was able to achieve this goal.

The reality of cycling in India is very different from any country where I had cycled previously. There can be pollution of various types. The 2011 census shows that two thirds of households still rely on traditional smoky fuels to cook and less than a third of the population has access to treated drinking water. There are also incongruities for although less that one half of households have toilet facilities, 63% own a telephone connection of which 53% are mobile phones. These facts had to be recognized as we were travelling through some small towns where westerners rarely go so we had to be prepared, at certain times, to eat and sleep like the locals.

The total length of the Mumbai to Kanyakumari section was almost 2300km which we rode in 23 days plus 5 rest days interspersed where there were interesting sights to see. Although this works out to an average of 100km/day some rides were much longer than others and the terrain varied. However the number of kilometres travelled on a given day was somewhat misleading. Other factors proved to be more challenging. For example we cycled 108km on the third day but we also climbed 1870 metres.

Particularly during the first week of the tour we were climbing hills and then descending to cross rivers all day. Add to this the condition of roads which varied considerably from the worst imaginable to some of the best and temperatures that were regularly in the mid thirties Celsius and reached the low forties on a few days. I recall one day around noon I had just reached the top of a hill; a local man was surprised to see me. He reached his arms to the sky and looked up at the sun as if to say, “Only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun.” However when seeing women by the roadside carrying wood piles on their heads and breaking rocks for road construction I felt my task was manageable!

Traffic can also be a factor with which one must contend. Indian drivers follow no rules known to people from the west. First one must accept that most drivers sound their horns several hundred times an hour (no exaggeration). This is not done in anger but simply as a warning that a vehicle is approaching. In fact all trucks bear a sign on the back saying “horn please” as they want to be notified when a vehicle intends to pass.

The ubiquitous motor cycles, while appearing not to follow any rules, have actually made one of their own: when entering a major road from a side road they NEVER STOP but simply merge with the traffic. This can be unnerving to cyclists at first especially when the motorcycle turns to face oncoming traffic. Motor cycles are to be treated with the utmost caution. One member of our group experienced quite a severe accident when she was hit by a motor cyclist paying too much attention to one of our other riders. One must also adapt to pedestrians as they completely misjudge our speeds and can suddenly step off the curb in front of a cyclist. They are accustomed to cyclists travelling at maximum 8km/hr and our hybrid bikes often travelled at three times that speed.

Animals are tolerated everywhere in India including the roads. While the cow is sacred in most regions in other areas there will be more black pigs roaming the roads. At other times goat herds block the road, carts pulled by water buffalos or bullocks may be lumbering slowly along or monkeys scurry across without warning. And just when you think you have seen it all you will round a corner and encounter elephants on their way to a religious or marriage ceremony.

I am fairly certain that no one reading this article has been a competitor in the Tour de France. However cycling in India may be the closest thing you could experience. Crowds of smiling children will cheer and call out as you pass through the small villages. Motor cyclists will pull alongside either to chat or to examine your gear train. Motorists signal you to stop as they have a question to ask. School children try to pass you on their local Hercules bikes that have only one gear and are so heavy and the frames are so strong that it is rumoured that there are competitions to see if the strongest man can bend a frame: so far no one has!

Regardless of the kilometres we travelled there were often opportunities to visit incredible sites. Those that I visited included:
- The Kanheri Caves built by Buddhist monks from the 1st to 9th centuries in Sanjay Gandhi National Park outside of Mumbai. Each of the caves comprises a stone plinth for a bed and a water supply fed by an ancient system that still works! Many of the caves also have intricate carved reliefs of Buddha and Bodhisattvas. Other members of our group preferred to visit the Elephanta Caves situated on a island near Mumbai.
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- The Janjira Fort built by Abissinian Siddis from 1567-1571. It comprises 22 acres and was so impregnable that it was never captured by the Portuguese, British or Marathas. Inside is a palace in Mudgal and Gothic style, a mosque, 19 towers and many cannons (originally there were 572).

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- Bedami caves cut from solid rock. This area was the capital of people who ruled much of Karnataka from the 6th to the 8th centuries. The caves include impressive sculptures of Hindu figures including Shiva, Ganapati and Nandi.
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- Hampi, which was the capital of the Hindu empire from the 14th to the 16th centuries. This site is best described as a vast open museum of giant temples, palaces and market streets.
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- Mysore Palace. The original palace was a wooden structure that burned down in 1897 but was rebuilt in 1912 as a stone structure with marble domes, solid silver doors, and the best materials from around the world including glazed tiles from England, stained glass from Scotland and chandeliers from Czechoslovakia.
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- Munnar is a hill station in Kerala State. Its elevation (average 2000 metres) gives it a salubrious climate in fact it was the only place on my tour where I felt cool. Three rivers join here to give it a green climate that suits the approximate 30 tea plantations that are situated here.
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- Fort Cochin (Kochi) is one of the few real tourist towns we visited. Walking around its streets one can see the influence of early Christian, Arab and Jewish settlers. It is renowned for practising Ayurveda (an alternative system of medicine), spice markets, Chinese fishing nets, the Dutch Palace and the Jewish Synagogue.
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- Kanyakumari was our final destination. It is the place where the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean meet. It is also a place where one can see both the sunrise and the sunset. To prove that we had arrived our photo was taken facing the twin rocks showing monuments of Swami Vivekananda and Saint Thiruvalluvar.

However, often it was the small things that impressed me just as much: the police chief in a small town who insisted that three of us, who happened to be cycling together at that point, join him for a drink of chai. Or the couple I met in a small dusty town when I stopped to check my directions: he was dressed simply but his wife was perhaps the most beautiful Indian woman I have ever met. Her dress was red with gold appliqué and her jewellery was of the finest, from her nose-rings to her necklaces.

The final thought I am left with is the smiles, the curiosity and the warmth of Indian people wherever we cycled. Yes, there may have been times when responding to the thousands of greetings we experienced along the route seemed just one too many, but the smiles were infectious and the genuineness of everyone was in no doubt. We learned that there are different ways to see a situation. One member of our group recalled an incident that happened to him. He was awakened during the night by a dog barking so he dressed and went to the entrance to the hotel and threw a stone at the dog to chase it away. The night watchman looked at him and asked why he would want to do that: the dog was simply doing what a dog does!

John Gradwell

My First (but not last ) Gran Fondo by Mark Schachter

Before I even begin to recount my adventures a word of advice .Travelling with your bike by air is fraught with many caveats. You are at the mercy of the airline agent when you check in regardless what it says on the website as far as extra baggage charges. On the way there I was forced to pay 50 dollars for the privilege of transporting my giant. On the return I was surprised to learn that different rates apply and I now only had to pay 35 dollars for the bike box  but also a 50 dollar handling fee. Add that to the cost of the box ($25 for the week) assembly and disassembly of the bike in san Diego ($140 ) because I am severely mechanically challenged and all that extra gas I burned driving the bike around in a  Chevy Traverse I rented. I guess my CCB forum banter buddy and 401 challenge boss Gene was right .It would have been way cheaper to rent. Lastly make sure you leave yourself at least two hours to make connecting flights as the airline employee who carries the bike between terminals has no sense of urgency and you will make the connection but your bike wont necessitating another trip back to the airport 6 hours later to retrieve your trusty steed.

I dropped my bike off for unpacking and assembly early the morning after I arrived then grabbed my trusty Garmin 800 preloaded with the map and headed off to do the route in the car. The route starts off right in the heart of little Italy, then runs along the harbour past the cruise ships, past the naval academy, and through the suburbs of the city before heading out into the incredibly scenic outskirts. There are formidable looking mountains as far as the eye can see .I drove with one hand and held the garmin in the other as it guided me precisely along the course until at 150k it decided that I may want to redo the whole ride again and it sent me back to the timed hill climb. I find out when i actually do the ride that the garmin wanted me to get on the bike path to the end of the ride and that’s why it showed me off course. The timed climb is a 12k ascent up honey springs road with grades anywhere from 2 degrees up to 12 degrees and an ascent of 2000 feet. The total climb for the ride is 5000 feet. I start to get a bit worried when i realize it took me a little over three hours to do the ride in the car.

The Saturday before the ride there is a bike expo to pick up your packet and sweater and I am surprised to find I can squeeze into an XL size to go along with the XL bib shorts I bought before leaving at Gianella

Thanks Sue Anne!!!!

I take advantage of the free mechanical services to get my derailleurs adjusted (i wonder if they would have assembled the whole bike out of the box if I asked) by a local mechanic who is enrolled at Mcgill next fall. I take the bike out for a little shakedown spin and then try and get a good night’s sleep after preparing all my gear.

I arrive at the parking lot at 6:00am the next morning, pickup a paper map (still not 100% confident in the garmins abilities) and then face that age old dilemma of what to wear. There is no wind to speak of but it it only 46 Farenheit (6C) with a forecast high of 62F (16C) I opt for a balaclava, long sleeve gloves and a cycling jacket over my CCB sweater. Unfortunately my timing chip is under my jacket and so I get no reading as i go by the beginning of the timed climb (more about that later)

I line up at the starting line trying to stay far enough back that i don’t get sucked onto that vortex of those riders competing for king of the mountain trophy. I estimate there to be about 1500 riders about half appear to be doing the 100k route by the colours of their bibs and the rest doing the 173k full route. They are mostly locals who appear to know each other and some who even remember me from the AYH (American youth hostels) rides I did down there in the 80’s.At 7:25 someone massacres the American national anthem and we are led out onto the route to the sound  of  the  three Ferrari pace cars struggling to keep their spark plugs clean while rolling along at 30-35k an hour. I keep my distance from other riders and in the first thirty Km  I see three crashes where I notice riders still  lying motionless on the road even though it appears the crash happened before  I arrived.

Our first stop is 30k into the ride at the Olympic training center and the route takes us through every type of sporting venue imaginable with Olympic hopefuls engaged in training activities. I turn up the hill and realize that I am overdressed but I press on .My bib does not register as I pass the timing machine so I make a note of the time and the distance so far to check my progress up the incline. About a km later I reach the turnaround point for  the 100k ride and my riding partner tries to convince me to join him and turnaround but I still feel strong so I press on. On the steepest portions of the climb I wish I had a compact crank and thank god that I ordered one on the new bike. I pass quite a few riders on tri /TT bikes as well as someone riding a fixie. The King of the mountain winner does it in 29 minutes the queen of the mountain in 32 minutes. It takes me 75 minutes and I make a note to check the results for people in my age group later and to incorporate more hills into my training regimen as I know i can do better.

I get quite the surprise when i arrive at the top of the timed climb and see most people turning around and heading back. when I inquire I am told that since the timed part is over most people turn around and head back and end up with 70 miles total Everybody warns me that the last 100k are brutal and that I  would be smart to follow their lead .I figure I need the kms if I am ever to be ready for the 401 so I press on and encounter some more steep climbs. Finally I arrive at the next rest stop and it looks like a scene out of  Saving Private Ryan .Bodies are strewn every where , people are limping around and some are sitting on chairs. I see people loading their bikes into cars of those who have come to pick them up and many others on the phone begging for lifts. I am incorrectly told that is the end of the climbing for the day and I believe it as I rocket down the sides of canyons with the wind buffeting me and2000 feet drop sheer cliff faces on my right and switchbacks that make this one of the most technically demanding descents I have ever done .I start to see less and less riders and at the 115k mark I  run out of water and food  and start cramping on every uphill of which there are plenty. My goal had been to finish by 5:00pm in order to get a medal but now I realize that John Phlllipson was right when he told I probably didn’t  have that kind of mileage in my legs so early in the season. I make the decision to stop at the 142k rest stop and beg  for a ride back in a sag wagon while repeating to myself that line from  the Jimmy Cagney flick “Public enemy” “I ain’t so tough”. On my way there I keep getting passed by sag wagons that are loaded to the gills with abandoned riders and their bikes with no room for me. I explain my severe cramping to the sag wagon drivers and lack of food and water. They give me a peanut butter and banana sandwich a bottle  of water and some electrolytes (Hammer Nutrition brand) .In deference to the fact that that was Elvis Presley’s favourite meal I give them my best Elvis “thank you very much “ imitation and get back on the bike  .I’m feeling stronger here and now I just want to finish. At 151k I come to where the garmin went haywire a few days back and it goes haywire again.I am told by the sag wagon driver there the route continues on the bike path. The sag is full with three riders and their bikes. There is an African American a Hispanic girl and an Italian from LA. I challenge then to get back on their bikes and finish the last 14k (9 miles) with me but they are adamant about staying in the van until I hurl enough racial insults at then to piss them off to the point  where they threaten me with bodily harm if they do get out of the sag. I offer to submit to any physical punishment they can dish out but only in the parking lot at the finish line. I lure them out of the comfort of the SUV and we all start riding along the most beautiful bay side bike path I have ever seen. I soon drop Rick and Othello but Marybelle cranks up the pace and we complete the ride at 30-32kph.We cross the finish line get our medals and head off for a well deserved meal of penne, tomato sauce and salad. I look at my Garmin and it shows 9300 calories and 173k.I am sitting there enjoying the meal and being off my bike after 10 hours in the saddle when Othello (who by the way rides the same trek as Franky D) comes up behind me yanks me to my feet and proceeds to give me a bear hug and thanks me for getting them to finish the ride. I spend about half an hour chatting with him and Rick as we store our gear back in our cars and then I spend some time chatting with the organizers of the event. I am dismayed to find that everybody who came over the finish line got a medal even those some people with the 108mile bibs came back at 11:00am.I explain to them that to do 108 miles in three and one half hours with the climbing involved would put them  all in the lead peloton at the tour de France

 

I envy you guys doing the new York gran fondo I would love to join you but Ella’s son is getting married that weekend. Anybodywant to join me at the GF in Ottawa July 21st

 

Mark

 

 

 

Spinathon 2012, Saturday, March 24, 10:30am – 11:30am CCB Hour!

Once again this year, the West Island YMCA, located at 230 Brunswick in Pointe Claire (across the road from Fairview) is hosting a Spinathon and fund-raising day in support of the YMCA Strong Kids Campaign.

Over two dozen CCB members take advantage of the YMCA Cardio Cycling program to keep them in shape for the outdoor season.  In 2011, the CCB attended the Spinathon is large numbers and helped raise in excessive of $20,000 for the program.  Again this year, the Y is throwing open the doors to invite everyone to be part of this fun day. The Spinathon starts at 8:30am and concludes at 12:30pm.   Long time CCB member Roger MacDonald is already committed to cycling for all four hours!! While everyone is invited and encouraged to spin as long as they wish, we have designated 10:30am – 11:30am as the CCB Power Hour.

There is a suggested donation of $30 and tax receipts will be issued. Food, Drink, Prizes and a fun time is guaranteed. Last year, decked out in our CCB jerseys, the CCB support of this event was recognized and appreciated by both the Y administration, and the members of the Y who were made aware of the CCB and its presence in the community. A great morning of exercise, a “no drop” ride, and a great chance to reconnect after a long, cold winter… what could be better!

I urge you to get involved and help show the community that we ride in, that we are an integral part of it! To reserve a spot, please e-mail me at nixster@live.ca.

I look forward to seeing you there.

Nick Van Haeften

It ain’t over until…..

Just because the kids are going back to school does not mean the cycling season is over.

Ok, we may have had a hurricane/tropical storm interfere with our century but that did not stop some brave souls from showing up.  Here is a brief report from Mark Schachter, “Greetings fellow esteemed members, just a note to let you know that while you were lazing in your beds this morning your dedicated member at large and (did I ever mention it) past president was out at the 201 presiding over the most successful century

ever in the 39 year history of the CCB.  I am proud to announce that it was an accident incident and injury free ride that went off without a hitch

and was completed in record time (12 minutes) after which all the participants (all 6 of them) went home with ever lasting memories of the event.”

Our 34 km time trial was not affected by the weather.  Roughly 20 teams showed up and judging by the pictures everyone had a good time.  The post event BBQ also had a huge turnout.  See the website for more pictures.

There are still lots of good rides left this season so don’t put the bike away just yet.  The rides get a lot more relaxed as fall sets in so don’t miss out on some really great riding.  The groups tend to be smaller and more focused on fun than distance.

 

Finally, don’t forget to reserve Saturday the 22^nd of October for the end of year party where you can come out and see what people look like dressed in their finery (surprising how good we look all cleaned up and without helmet hair!).  The DJ has been hired and he promises to get your toes tapping.  The event will take place at the Royal St. Lawrence yacht club and more details will be forwarded shortly.

 

Many members of the CCB and BCC favor the use of Camelbak water bottles. A
number of members fill the bottles with water or some form of energy drink. In both
cases, the bottles and the bottle caps may be subject to growth of mold, which, in my
opinion, is not only unsightly, but potentially detrimental to one’s health.

We have four Camelbak water bottles at home which I rinse with dish soap and warm
water after every ride. First I soak the water bottles in warm, sudsy water and then
rinse both parts with cool, clear water. Then I fill the bottle with cool water, screw on the
top and squeeze the water out of the bottle so as to remove any residue soapy residue
from the drinking valve at the cap. I then remove the cap to allow the bottles to air dry
upright.

Until recently I thought this was keeping our bottles clean, but about a week ago, I
purchased a new bottle to replace one that we had lost. When I cleaned the 3 plus one
new bottle for the first time, I noticed that the Jet Valve in the cap of the new bottle was
a bright blue and that of the older bottles was black. The liquid we drink passes through
that Jet Valve before entering our mouths. Why was it black?

Upon closer inspection of the cap and the Jet Valve (see Photo 1) and relying on my
child hood mischievousness, I sought to determine how I could clean the black Jet
Valve. I first managed to remove the soft rubber mouth piece. I accomplished this by
using the dull side of a dinner knife wedged between the lower, bottom part of the
rubber mouth piece and the shut-off valve (see Photo 2). I then slowly levered the knife
against the hard plastic so it pushed up the edge of the soft rubber while I
simultaneously pulled at the top of the mouth piece. With a little patience, the mouth
piece came off.

Once I had removed the soft rubber mouth piece, the Jet Valve was readily accessible.
It was black while the new one was a bright blue. I took a soft, clean and moist cotton
rag (about 5 x 3 cm in size) and slowly wiped the top of the Jet Valve. To my surprise
and applying a very soft touch, underneath the black coating hid the original blue color.
Once the top of the Jet Valve was back to its true blue, my continued curiosity
questioned whether the internal parts of the Jet Valve were also dirty. To check, I slowly
twisted one corner of my cloth into a small spiral and pushed the pointy end of the spiral
into the top of the Jet Valve (see Photo 4). I pushed and simultaneously screwed the
spiral further into the valve. When about 3 cm of the cloth had entered the valve, I
slowly and carefully pulled it out. As it emerged, the cloth was completely covered in
black “stuff”. Regardless of what the black material really was, I knew it needed to be
removed so I repeated this procedure several times until the cloth came out clean.
I then filled the bottle with water, put the cap back on and flushed the internal parts of
the cap by squeezing out the water.

Then praying to all the gods I knew, I went about re-assembling the valve. I slowly
pushed the soft rubber mouth piece back onto the valve while lining up the various
curvy bottom parts and to my eternal joy, it was soon back to its original state. I then
proceeded to clean the two other bottle caps which I also found to be very dirty.
What surprised me more than anything is the amount of black mold that had been
hidden inside the valve itself. I recommend that you clean your bottles and caps
frequently, especially if you use sugary, energy drinks. I also assume there are other
ways of cleaning the inside of the Camelbak Jet Valves, so consider this a “homegrown”
uncertified, means to an end.

Disclaimers:
(1) Please don’t hold me responsible for any damage you may cause to your bottles. If
your patient and careful, there should be no damage, but there are no guarantees given
or implied.
(2) The underside of the caps and interior of the bottles should be cleaned throughly
with a small bottle brush as well.
(3) I don’t recommend using Javex to clean the bottles as I don’t know the impact that
the chlorine will have on 2the plastic and rubber components
(4) I also do not recommend cleaning the bottles in dishwasher as the heat may deform
the plastic.
(5) Camelbak does sell cleaning tablets for the bottles, but after I spoke to their
customer care staff, they don’t know if the tablets will also throughly clean the cap
components.