Then and Now:100th Run of the Tour de France

1903. peloton around Maurice Garin, winner of the 1st TdF

2013, Marcel Kittel winner of the 1st stage

Cyclists ki ABC : p

Top 10 Hydrating Foods!

Definitions : Cyclists Style : D

Why We Love Cycling : )

"...see the cyclist...give them the space, time and respect they deserve...beyond the metal, they are a human being."

Today morning the day started with the news of a tragic accident a few kms from where I live. Roma Chatterji, the Head Coach of the National Cycling Team (Juniors) was with her team for practice on the expressway when a speeding cab came and hit her bike from behind. It didn't stop until she fell head down on the road, the impact of which somehow loosening up her helmet and flying into the air. She was rushed to the hospital by her fellow coach but very sadly there were no signs of life detected upon arrival. 

It's not a mere coincidence then that I stumbled upon this video made by the family of a Cyclist killed in a hit and run albeit in a distant country. I like to believe that we Cyclists are a community sans borders and the same issues assail us wherever we ride. Please, please sensitise those around you to, "...see the cyclist...give them the space, time and respect they deserve...beyond the metal, they are a human being." as so beautifully said by Tanya Pavlis sister of the Cyclist Kevin Pavlis in whose memory this video has been made. 
Please read on....

"Today I saw a silver pickup truck going down the road with a sticker on the lower right bumper. The sticker read “biker repellant” with and arrow pointing to the diesel exhaust pipe. That bumper sticker stirred a dormant anger and sadness in me.

I talked to my 37 year old brother Kevin almost every day. Kevin was my brother and my best friend. Often he told me stories from his daily bike commute to work. “Someone purposely tried to run me off the road today.” “Someone yelled ‘Get off the road’ and honked at me today.” “Someone threw an almost full can of soda at me today.” I finally asked him to stop telling me about the harassment. It was difficult to imagine that he was being treated this way. I often wondered if these drivers ever stopped and reminded themselves that the cyclist was a human being who had a mother, a father, a daughter, a wife, a sister and friends. Kevin was a kind and giving person. He genuinely loved helping others. He had a difficult life, but was one of the happiest people I have ever known. His smile was unforgettable.

On June 11th 2009, while riding his bike, Kevin was struck by a teen driver. He died in the early hours on June 12th.

In memory of Kevin, I would like to ask drivers to see the cyclist. Please give them the space, time and respect they deserve.

They are more than a machine.
Beyond the metal, they are a human being."

-Tanya Pavlis sister of Kevin Pavlis

*The people on the side of the road, in this video, are not actors. They are Kevin's family, including his now 6 year old daughter, and friends.

Beyond the Metal

from Sidewayz Films

http://vimeo.com/68102591

RIP Ruma Chatterji

The cycling community is extremely saddened to hear about the tragic passing away of Ruma Chatterji, Coach of the National Junior Team. She was with the National Team at practice today morning on the Greater Noida Expressway, when at around 6 AM, a speeding cab, a Swift, hit her from behind. She sustained severe head injuries and was taken to Kailash Hospital, Noida but could not be saved, succumbing to her wounds. The team is in a state of shock at the incident which happened in front of their eyes. As for the perpetrator, the cab driver is absconding after leaving the car behind.

Hailing from Kolkata, Ruma started cycling in the late 1970s, going on to represent India thrice in international competitions and serving as a coach seven times. She was part of the national team since the 2010 Commonwealth Games. It was with her as a coach that India produced their best ever show in the Asian Championships in March, winning four medals. A dedicated coach and a strict disciplinarian, she was much loved by her wards.

The 51 year old leaves behind her mother and five sisters. Our heartfelt condolences to Ruma's loved ones. May God grant them the courage to bear this irreparable loss. The cycling community extends its support and stands with them in this moment of grief. Rest In Peace Ruma.

Tips For Riding In Rain

With the monsoons having arrived in full spate, keeping in mind some rain riding tips will help in making the most of the weather and enjoying the ride.

Bike Essentials

• Fenders are a good idea if you commute to work as the rainwater on the roads is oily and dirty. Long, full coverage fenders are the best bet or even short fenders with mud flaps.

• Lighting improves visibility when it's raining, so keep your lights flashing even in the daylight.

• LED lights are inexpensive and do a good job in the rains.

• A flashing red LED rear lamp is a good investment for stormy riding.

• Saddles can be kept dry by covering with a plastic bag. Shower caps work very well as saddle covers.

Riding Strategy 

• Reduce your speed to compensate for slick roads and reduced visibility.

• Brake early, accelerate slowly and take the corners carefully.

• While taking corners, put as much of your weight on the outside pedal and lean your body more than the bike.

• Avoid riding through large puddles since there's no way to know their depth or if there's a pothole hiding underneath.

• Watch out for rainbow edged patches on the road as they are an indicator of oil build up.

• Keep an eye out for manhole covers, wet leaves and steel grids as they become very slick, especially just after the rain has started.

Clothing

• Waterproof Jacket or Rain Cape provides adequate coverage. The Rain cape has the added advantage of being easy to take on or off, although it can act like a sail in crosswinds.

• Go for bright colours to increase visibility.

• Wicking or dry feel fabrics should be worn for increased comfort and breathability.

• Avoid wearing cotton clothes as they soak up water.

• Footwear can be kept dry with shoe covers. Wear lightweight walking/hiking shoes.

• Baseball cap worn under the helmet is great for protecting your face from the pelting rain and keeping your head dry.

• Clear lens sunglasses should be worn so that the obstacles can be seen easily.

Storing stuff

• Ziplock bags are good for storing your cell phones and other delicate items before putting them into your bike bag.

Bike Maintenance 

• Chain should kept well lubed so it does not rust or squeak.

• Make sure that the chain is dry before you use a lube and use a heavier lube.

• Wipe the bike with an old towel after a rain ride to prevent corrosion.

• For even better protection, give a quick rinse with fresh water, follow it with towel drying and lubing.

Why You Should Ride A Fixie : p

It's All About The Bike : )

On the list of FAQs to a cyclist, the most frequently asked is, "So, when did you start cycling?" My answer, "At two n a half years" is factually correct...well, it was a tricycle, but it still holds true right? I was five when I got my first bicycle. It came with four wheels (two extra for support), though that didn't last very long kind courtesy my Dad who turning a deaf ear to Mom's protests promptly proceeded to take off the support wheels. You see, he was from the old school and therefore of the firm opinion that the only way to learn cycling was to fall off a few times, which was pretty much in sync with his theory of jumping into the deep end of the pool to learn swimming! Needless to say I ended up doing loads of both, falling off and jumping in...and if cuts, bruises and scrapes were medals, I would be wearing enough rows to beat a Russian general! I take this opportunity to acknowledge my gratitude to the manufacturers of Band-aid, Dettol and the Tetanus vaccine who ably supported me in these endeavours. As for Mom's opinion of Dad's army style induction of his daughter into sports? Well, let's just say it's best not discussed here! 

Now, about my first REAL bike! I remember it as 

clear as day, the exact moment I first set my eyes on it. I was in class 3 and my Dad had gone to Delhi for some official work. He was flying back in an AN-32, and Mom and me had gone to receive him at the airport. I remember we were waiting and quite a few people had already disembarked but we couldn't spot Dad. Then suddenly, I saw him walking towards us from a different direction, wheeling alongside this shiny, gorgeous, red beauty! It didn't sink in at first, but then I saw my parents smiling in anticipation of my reaction, and I knew! With a whoop of unmitigated joy in full view of all those in the vicinity, I ran and hugged...my bike, while poor Dad stood by patiently for his turn : p

As the years went by, a bevy of cycles followed and there were countless rides...to parks in the evening on school days and friends' homes on Sundays; the library in the mornings and the pool in the evenings during long summer vacations; packing backpacks with sandwiches and biscuits to head out for picnics with friends...et all. Even when I went off to college, my bike would be ready and waiting when I came back from the hostel on holidays. As a matter of fact, the very first time my husband saw me was when I rode past him on a bright green BSA with a satchel full of books on my way to the library. Then came a long break of almost 15 years until the 10/10/10 ride which got me back on the saddle and there's been no stopping since!

Riding a bicycle is an indescribable feeling that is perhaps best summed up by Diane Ackerman, "When I go biking, I repeat a mantra of the day's sensations: bright sun, blue sky, warm breeze, blue jay's call, ice melting and so on. This helps me transcend the traffic, ignore the clamorings of work, leave all the mind theaters behind and focus on nature instead. I still must abide by the rules of the road, of biking, of gravity. But I am mentally far away from civilization. The world is breaking someone else's heart." Well said, coz when I'm on the saddle, there's only place for a quiet sort of joy and peace in my heart. Cheers to happy trails ahead!

On roads less travelled...

Go as a pilgrim and seek out danger
far from the comfort

and the well lit avenues of life.

Pit your every soul against the unknown

and seek stimulation in the comfort of the brave.

Experience cold, hunger, heat and thirst

and survive to see

another challenge

and another dawn.

Only then will you be at peace

with yourself

and be able to know and to say;

“I look down the farthest side of the mountain,

fulfilled and understanding all,

and truly content that

I lived a full life and one

that was my own choice”

~ James Elroy Fleck

Important Notice !!

There have been two attacks on fellow Cyclists in the past 10 days. Both the incidents took place when the rider was alone. The attacks were deliberate and with the intent to cause harm. The perpetrators were travelling in cars and hit the cyclists intentionally. Thank god the riders escaped without any fatal injuries. 

It is advisable to not ride alone but if you must, then please be extremely cautious. 

Ensure that you are wearing your Helmet. 
Ride in the Cycle Lanes wherever you can.


Rider : Thomas K
10th June 2013
6.30 PM

"Today as I was riding my bike when a blue Indica almost ran me down deliberately. It was 6.30 PM The incident took place just past the traffic light near the dnd flyway towards Akshardham. There were four louts in it. They laughed as they nearly pushed me into a bus that had just turned off the dnd onto the road and was on my right. Only the grace of god saved me.
*Missed noting the car number !! Was too shaken... Reported it though the Police didn't seem to care!"

Rider : Divin S
31st May 2013
8 PM

"On Friday evening, around 8 PM near Pari Chowk, some hooligans driving a car hit Divin from behind while he was riding.It was an intentional hit and not an accident.They made some racist comments before hitting him. He was seriously injured and was admitted to a hospital by an auto driver. He was in hospital for three days and the Doctors have asked him to take 2-3 weeks of rest. He lost his phone, so was not able to contact anyone. The Police came but did nothing as usual. He said the the helmet saved him from a severe head injury."

Please Ride Safe folks!

U Know U are a Cyclist when... : p

1. You tell a family of 5 in a crowded mall to "hold their line."
2. Your spouse says "If you buy another bike I'm going to leave you" and you think, "I guess I'm going to miss him/her."
3. You have more water bottles than you have drinking glasses.
4. You have more cycling jerseys than work shirts.
5. Your cycling jersey IS your work shirt.
6. Your legs are smoother than your wife's.
7. The nicest pair of shoes you own have cleats in the soles.
8. You are walking along a street and you signal left.
9. You go to your local store on a bike.
10. You sulk when in cars, on hot days.
11. You sulk when in cars, on cold, windy, snowy days.
12. You get withdrawal symptoms if off the bike for more than a day.
13. When anybody mentions distance you immediately think of how long it would take to cycle it.
14. You point at pot holes, but you are driving in your car alone.
15. While driving your car you yell at your passenger "Car back" as a vehicle approaches from behind.
16. Your bike is worth more than your car.
17. You put more miles on your bike than your car.
18. Weather forecasts can be broken down into 2 categories: good biking weather, bad biking weather.
19. You put your bicycle in your car, and the value of the total package increases by a factor of 4 (or better).
20. You find out you are going to have a child and the first thing you think about is how you will schedule your rides to avoid divorce and still be a parent.
21. You spend 2X the money on cycling wear that you do work clothes.
22. You can tell your wife with a straight face that it's too hot to mow the lawn, then bike off for a century.
23. You dream of winning the lottery and the first thing you think of is how many/which bikes can I buy?
24. You buy a car based on whether or not a bike will fit in the trunk/back, with the rear seat folded down.
25. You open your car window and yell out "On your left" when passing cars on the freeway.
26. You have not one, not two, but three permanent chain ring scars on your right calf.
27. Your bike sleeps with you in the living or bedroom.
28. You wear a heart rate monitor during sex.
29. You check out all other guys/girls legs to see if they are better than yours.
30. Your spouse can't take it anymore and takes up cycling.
31. You wonder why a $500 bike has 24 gear ratios, while a $20,000 car or truck only has 4.
32. You crash...and insist on getting to the bike shop to have your bike checked out BEFORE going to the hospital.
33. You can't seem to get to work before 8:30am, but you don't have a problem meeting your buddies at 5:30am for a ride. 
34. You’ve given your bike a nickname.
35. You know that pain is just fear leaving your body, before it returns through your hamstrings.
36. You’ve heard the words “Just a friendly ride, no one gets dropped” while rapidly falling back in the pack.
37. You hate headwinds, hills and trucks parked on the shoulder of any descent.
38. You forget all the pain, headwinds, humidity and hills within days of a long ride, and start dreaming about the next.
39. You’ve washed off that chain ring grease “tattoo” on your calf so often that you went ahead and got a real one there.
40. When camping, your bike stays with you in your tent.
41. You’ve considered what can still be accomplished in life while a broken collarbone heals.
42. You’ve misplaced an hour of your life cursing, sweating and twisting a wrench, unaware that one of the pedals threads the opposite way.
43. When your loved ones have assigned a separate hamper for your dirty bike clothes, and placed a hazmat label on it.
44. You can ID five brands and sixteen flavors of protein bars in a blind taste test, but on most long rides you would eat wet shoe leather, properly salted and containing a balance of electrolytes, of course.
45. Approaching a rider from behind, you’ve thought, “I will attack until your lungs cease to function properly, you collapse in the gutter and call out for your grandma’s quilted afghan.” Then offered a respectful nod as you blurred by.you check out everyone else’s legs to see if they are better than yours.
46. You know the difference between a Presta and a Schrader valve.
47. You wear more tights than a children’s theater group performing Peter Pan.
48. You are an expert at spotting thunderstorms, tornados, windstorms, marauding cattle and ice cream stands from a distance.
49. You have been caught in a thunderstorm while still in the saddle blinking away water and grinning all the way home. 
50. You learned a long time ago that it doesn’t matter how light or fast, just get on that bike.
51. You have defined the 8 stages of road kill decomposition through daily observation.
52. You have tested your hypothermic limits and found that they can be expanded with pedal speed, layering and hot cocoa.
53. Your wallet is clear, made of plastic and sports the designer label Ziplok.
54. You have more up-to-date knowledge of bike specs, gear and equipment than the staff at your local shop.
55. You think about each hill as a cyclist, even when you are driving in a car.
56. You know how many miles you rode last night, last week, last year.
57. You have a Biker’s Tan. (bottom 2 /3 of your legs, lower 1/2 your arms, and two little circles on the tops of your hands)
58. You get sad when your Biker’s Tan fades.

~ Author Unknown (compiled from the net)