Montreal bicycle courrier company Cycle-Bird founder Cameron Novak recently found himself in a spot of trouble when he got his chain stuck while trying to haul a desk home from NDG. Here is what it looked like when a gang benevolent of CCCDF members showed up to help.
Disclaimer: No jokes here, this is what these people actually do every day of their lives.
From our friends at Cyclo Nord-Sud. This event is open for everyone to bring their items for sale.
Here it is, what we have all been waiting for. Jean-Roch has once again worked his magic and produced one of the nicest jerseys I have ever seen.
The pattern on the side panels is called Razzle Dazzle. It was a form of military camoflauge used to bugger up the aim of someone shooting. If that sounds confusing, well, that is exactly the point!
The sponsors logos are obviously not final but this is enough to start thinking about all those great hours of gazing at yourself in front of the mirror that you will have this summer.
by Jacques G
Thanks to Tommie Loyer we had the rare chance to participate in a reserearch project at CEPSUM that involves VO2 max and PAM testing. I won’t bother to say what my results were, in fact I should probably be ashamed. My own research was on the subject of whether a plate of Huevos Rancheros consumed one hour before physical exertion would have a positive effect on endurance.
So I made it through a few minutes of pedaling without any problems. The results were inconclusive but my breakfast stayed where it was supposed to be. Then I got home and watched this video from a recent news cast and suddenly I was ready to vomit.
Let’s review some basic ideas here. I will do this in the form of the classic conversation I have to endure with coworkers and car drivers about 50 times each winter. It never changes.
C: You shouldn’t ride your bike in the winter.
J: Why Not?
C: It’s dangerous.
J: Why is it dangerous?
C: Because there are cars on the road, and it is slippery.
J: So then, shouldn’t it be the cars that…
And thats where the conversation breaks down. The point where someone realizes that they actuually have to take resopnsibility for their own actions and admit thay are doing something that is untimately fucking up other people’s lives.
I think the lighting in this photo is good, it hides how miserable everyone looks.
Last week it felt like the weather was teasing me. The sun had been melting snow for days and the roads were dry and clear. It seemed like the perfect day to go riding on the mountain. Too bad the skate-bike has not been invented yet.
That grey stuff in the photo is a solid sheet of ice and it looks like it is going to be there for a while. Hopefully some snow will come this week and stick to the top of it.
What was interesting is that the battered remenants of the ski trail and all the little side trails which are normally too soft to ride on are now able to support a bicycle. Unfortunately they are too pockmarked with foot prints that it is not exactly a pleasant workout. So not a day for ‘cross bikes but I think if you had a suspension mountain bike it could be a lot of fun.
I eventually did make it to the top of the hill through a combination of dogged determination and general ignorance of better ideas but every single jogger passed me on the way.
The new year is here and with it a new batch of skin.
Several club members have shown their support for community bike shop projects in Montreal this year by appearing in the 2012 mechanics’ calendar.
This publication now in its second year has as its purpose to help new and starting community bicycle shops in Montreal. Continuing the mandate of Right to Move-la Voie Libre, the Petit Vélo Rouge project is aimed at taking bicycles out of the waste stream and keeping them between people’s legs. They have been chosen as the principal benefactor for this year, the remainder of funds raised will go to the RTM community outreach budget. Blah Blah Blah… party time!
The calendars are printed and you may have already seen them for sale around town. To celebrate their release there is a little party this Friday… the 13th! (we’re talkin’ January 2012)
Doors open at 9pm (this point is completely moot on any party invitation, but, compulsory)
There will be local microbrew in abundance, film and projections tasteful and otherwise, yummy little pizzas and ice carving for all (tools provided).
The start of cyclocross season looms less than a week away and the sense of anticipation at CDF HQ is becoming problematic. We doubt anyone needs more reasons to look forward to this wonderful time, but just in case here is a dozen:
1. The people you work with probably don’t know what it is.
2. There’s no “getting dropped” in ‘cross. Even with races becoming increasingly competitive as the sport gains in popularity, cyclocross remains a very accessible introduction to bicycle racing.
3. Something to do with beer. Not sure why.
4. Cyclocross is the fastest growing cycle sport in the history of time*.
*Or so we are told. You better hop on this bandwagon before it’s too late! Remember how you waited till this summer to get a fixie? Lesson learned.
5. Cowbell
Official musical instrument of Cyclocross.
6. You don’t need to be on a team. But it’s still cool if you have a really sweet one.
7. You don’t need to shave your legs. …though we hear you’ll be faster if you do.
8. Affable Czech Bro-PRO (and reigning Men’s Elite World Champion) Zdeněk Štybar.
Lie down witht the Stybar
9. Cross bikes are awesome. If you could only have one bike, it would be a cross bike.
10. Getting covered in mud. We should do this more often.
11. It’s fun to watch too. Races are short, fast and exciting. Plus, you get to see the riders go by a bunch of times.
12. You have nothing better to do. We certainly don’t.
Time for a way overdue post congratulating Croix de fer member Jacques G for completing the 1230km Paris-Brest-Paris in 82h57m!
Unlike most other cycling events PBP isn’t a race (though it did start out as one), but rather a Brevet. Also called a Randonnée, a brevet is a cycling event in which amateur cyclists must cover great distances within a given amount of time (usually the time necessary to complete the route at a speed of 15km). Overseen by the Audax club parisien, PBP is the Big Mama of all randonnées and requires that participants qualify by completing a series of shorter events (200km, 300km, 400km and 600km) put on by local randonneur clubs spread all over the world. The Club vélo randonneurs de Montréal is one such club who organizes events in the region.
Originally a race, the ~1200km trek from Paris to Brest and back was held a bit sporadically over the 60 first years of it’s existence with amateur events held alongside the professionals’ race until the latter was dropped in 1951. Since then, it’s been a purely amateur affair, though don’t let that title fool you; completing PBP is a serious feat requiring several months or years of preparation. At the sharp end of the peloton, riders race against the clock (not to mention around the clock) to secure fast times and high placings. The best times are usually registered around the 45 hour mark, which makes for an average speed in excess of 27km/h including breaks!
Again, kudos to Jacques. Hope you get some rest!
