Just as any annual event should be, the 5th La Bicicletta Gran Fondo was bigger and better than ever. Lots of advance planning yielded a host of amazing prizes, an improved route (with plenty of clear signage), our best jersey design, and one George Hincapie coming up from North Carolina for the day. The only thing working against us was the forecasted cold rain, but that miraculously passed by sunrise on the day-of for clear sunny skies, a mild wind, and 18° temperature. Everyone knows God is a cyclist, and this was no time to be messing about.

 

As riders arrived, they were treated to a loot-bag of goodies, cool Diadora sneakers, and a warm breakfast. Those not shmoozing got to play with the new Shimano Dura-Ace 9000 electronic groupset, and try out Assos Zegho sunglasses. Soon enough, Heath gave his last-minute pre-ride chat, and then the ride was off. Each group, the Gran- and Medio Fondo, had a BMW motorcycle as a lead, and three support cars in tow, with extra food and spare wheels. ‘Gruppo compatto’ was the order of the day, with team riders from Jet Fuel Coffee and RealDealRacing controlling the pace, and even helping riders fading in the rear with pacing, encouragement, and a good push when needed. Autumn colours were in full effect, and at the top of every hill many riders were seen staring at the sweeping countryside views.

 

Once back at the Endras BMW dealership, a carb-heavy lunch with lots of wine and cool beer awaited. Everyone rolled in in great spirits, and mostly together. The one exception was David Kim (who abandoned last year’s ride after 10km), who received  a round of applause as he came in  well over an hour behind. Chapeau, David!

 

After everyone was satiated, many raffle prizes were drawn, and then George Hincapie’s jersey and BMC Impec were auctioned off. To serve as a reminder of where the funds were being directed, Kevin Davis retold the story of Ilija Petrovski’s life-threatening bike crash, and his current condition. All the money raised from the auction was being given to support Ilija’s family. It was very exciting to see the winner of the Impec throw it back into the ring, so it could be auctioned off a second time. Even George was impressed at the gesture. Finally, a massive cake was presented to George for his incredible career, and his just-announced retirement from the Pro peloton.

 

Overall, it was a very pleasant day, and had all the qualities of a great day on the bike: good people, a great route, a new kit, the chance to rub elbows with a pro rider, food a-plenty, and prizes. Plus it feels good to raise money for someone so integral to the local cycling community. It’s too bad we have to wait another year to do it all over again.

 

Thank you to all our sponsors (Endras BMW, Diadora, Enervit, Giordana, Pinarello, Shimano, Assos), volunteers, and participants- you all contributed to making it a very special day.

 

More pictures can be seen on our flickr page.

Nobody deserves to suffer from cancer, least of all kids. From this simple idea, our favourite change agent, Jeff Rushton, created a national organization to raise funds for childhood cancer charities which improve the survival rate and quality of life for children impacted by cancer.  We asked ourselves how we could contribute to such a noble cause, so for the second year running, we’ve proudly done mobile mechanical support for one of their events, Tour for Kids Ontario.

Tour for Kids Ontario is a super-well organized 4-day cycling tour which sees 550 participants have a boatload of fun, and raises over $5 million dollars. There’s 25 - 200km daily routes, flash mobs, Celtic bands, themed rest stops, massages, beer, yummy food, and skydivers, too.

But it’s also an emotional experience. Each day starts with heartfelt dedications, there are reminders at every stop about who you’re riding for, you meet caregivers and recipients of the funds, and hear first-hand what it’s like for kids with cancer (and their families) who just try to lead a normal life. The cause is made present and meaningful, each rider understands what they’re riding for, and it unites them all into a strong community- the feeling is palpable. Their passion steers them forward, and it’s no surprise many participants return year after year.

Fixing countless bikes for four days can be physically tiring, but it’s made easier when there’s a cause behind you. All our mechanics had to do, really, is keep the riders riding, which means they’d have a better time, which means they’d raise more money, spread the word, and come back again. We all win.

Congratulations to everyone involved, and we’ll see you again next year!

I’m here in Montreal for two days with Henry, and a number of other Specialized dealers from across Canada, for their 2013 Product Launch. From the outset, I thought it would be all seminars and nodding heads, but it’s much more like summer camp for cyclists. There was a great dinner and stand-up comedy  last night, hanging with new folks, super-fun MTB test riding, and yes, seminars sprinkled in for good measure.

With today’s MTB-focused programming, I was out of my element for two big reasons: (1) We don’t really sell MTB at La Bicicletta, and (2) I’ve never ridden a MTB in my life. But today changed all that, and I must say I had a lot of fun (and scrapes) in the process. During the morning product seminar, I was almost completely lost, so I just paid attention to the two Cross Country race bikes (Stumpjumper & Epic), since I know those are most ideal for Toronto MTB conditions (ie. very fast)- the former being a hard tail, the latter a dual-suspension bike.

Both bikes focus on two things: (1) superior handling – with just 29” wheels offered, you almost sit into the bike, and it rolls over obstacles much easier than 26”, and (2) great suspension, courtesy of the ‘Brain’, which is efficient, yet knows to slacken on tougher terrain. The Epic goes one step further with ‘Autosag’, which gets the rear suspension dialed correctly, and easily, in 30 seconds.

Later, at a nearby ski hill, I got to test ride both bikes. On my fist run, I chose the S-Works Stumpjumper. It felt very fast, and super responsive, much like a good road bike. I felt very much in-tune with what I was rolling over, even if every rock I hit deflected energy back at me, and threw me a little off my line. Riding up, and down, with Al from Pedal Performance and Bill from Chain Reaction, their technical skills were polished, but with my good fitness, I was able to stick with them (lest I get lost like Heath did last year).

The S-Works Epic, in stark contrast, initially felt mushier. I even stopped to check if the ‘Brain’ was opened up all the way (ie. most slack). It wasn’t! I was on my own now, so just opened up the throttle and went as fast as I could, sticking to the same route as before. I then realized the Epic isn’t any slower than the Stumpjumper, it just flattens out the trail, and helps you glide over things much more easily. Kevin, our rep, told me despite the Epic weighing 2lb more, you’ll still ride faster, because the bike keeps you feeling fresher, longer. It’s very cool to be riding such a game-changing bike, and ‘getting it’ straight away. Today of all days, Kulhavy won Olympic gold on one (a World Cup first), which reinforces the impact of how the dual-suspension Epic has changed the game.

By now I was starting to feel a little more risky, and thought it be wise to follow someone from Quilicot, as he bombed through the technical, washed-out trails. I kept him in my sights until a rock threw me over and cut up my knee. But I still came back to the chalet drenched in sweat and mud, and happy about it, too. I think I know how I’m going to stay in shape this winter.

Tomorrow it’s back to normal (ie. road), when I get to do the ultimate Specialzed test: Venge vs. Tarmac vs. Roubiax. Stay tuned! But first, dinner and a reggae band. Jah mon.

 

I have a bone to pick with our entire country's lackluster reception of Ryder Hesjedal's win at the Giro d'Italia. But first, let's call a spade a spade: Winning the Giro is one of the highest achievements in all of professional cycling. Full stop. Winning the Giro also ranks as one of the most impressive athletic accomplishments across all sports. Full stop. Despite this amazing feat, for a country always in search of homegrown sports heroes, Canada doesn't know how to react.

 

As a country, we celebrate sporting successes only from NHL hockey or the Olympics. All else is merely a sideshow, a flash-in-the-pan. This year, however, there are no Canadian teams in the playoffs. And our approach to the Olympics is problematic- our Own The Podium program focused too heavily on gold medals, and less so on amateur sporting values. Besides, can you even remember a single gold medal winner's name? We want winners, but don't recognize the ones we already have. If Ryder was of European nationality, he'd already be a made man- within cycling, and after retirement.

 

Although he received a decent amount of national media coverage, I was annoyed by the inability to accept his win on its own merit. The questions, 'what will he do at the Tour de France?', or 'can he win at the Olympics?' were never far. Again, our definitions of success needs to be redefined- those within cycling know that the Giro-Tour double is a very rare feat, and the Olympic Road Race is tailored for a sprint finish suited to Mark Cavendish.

 

If Canada can't bask in Ryder's Giro victory, does anyone benefit? Cervelo saw a 10% rise in sales after Carlos Sastre’s 2009 Tour victory, but perhaps they’ll see the same, or greater rise, in the wake of their recent takeover by Dutch conglomerate Pon Holdings. Perhaps our national and provincial Ministries of Health, and Sports Promotion can utilize this, but only time will tell.

 

The bigger story here is Canadian cycling talent has matured, and has arrived onto the world stage- we just haven't taken notice. Michael Barry, Svein Tuft, Guillaume Boivin, Dominique Rollin, the entire Spidertech team- all world class cyclists. Imagine if they were all on the same team? They’d receive invitations to any race in the world.

 

Maybe this proves the cultural shift towards acceptance of cycling as a sport, and legitimate mode of transportation, needs to happen from the grassroots level; our homegrown sports heroes aren't going to affect anything after all. Let’s celebrate Ryder’s win a little longer, and let it stew into our national consciousness a little more.

Team launches tend to be quite stuffy affairs, so we opted for something more interactive and fun. Hosted by team sponsor Endras BMW in Pickering, event logistics were perfectly executed all night. Upon our arrival last night, Heath, Mardi, and I were directed to the valet parking, and told where to sign up to test drive the new 3-Series Beemers. Not a bad start.

Once inside, the party was already well underway. A banquet table was constantly being refilled with more platters of yummy food (oysters! prosciutto! olives!), which nobody could get enough of. At the other end of the showroom was an open bar, with glasses of wine and bottles of beer at the ready. All the while a DJ was playing a cool set of electro mash-ups.

Team captain Ed Veal, along with teammates Big Mike Mandel and Nick DiCristafaro were already on their stationary trainers, keeping warm, and interacting with the crowd. People were very curious about their racing machines, so Ed invited one gentleman, clad in sequined leather pants and gold jewelery (no joke!) to hop on and give it a go. He was so stoked about it, he even mock-raced Mike, although it was an arcade game. Everyone got a good laugh.

Unfortunately most of the team wasn’t there to represent, but with good reason: they’re away racing. In Elite Men’s, that includes young upstarts Logan Cornel & Jeff Moote, and old faithfuls Darko Ficko, Ken Ng, and Sean Kelly. The powerhouse Elite Women’s squad includes former national champions Lyne Bessette & Merrill Collins, Leigh Hobson, Julia Bradley, Emilie Roy and Krista Ruby.

The contrast between bikes on display (motor vs. pedal) was comical, quite frankly. BMW’s salesmen were eager to show off an S1000RR superbike, which has 193 hp, but weighs a mere 200 kg. How strange, then, that a fully-packaged Pinarello Dogma2 costs more, and you still have to sweat to make it work- even with electronic shifting!

The night wrapped up with a raffle giveaway of a $2500 shopping spree at the shop, won by a rookie rider. A big thanks to our gracious hosts at Endras BMW (especially Mark Endras, Sally Byun, and their photographer who fixed my camera), and to everyone who came out.

More pictures from the night can be found on our flickr page.

Are all customer interactions the same? I used to think so.

At its simplest level, people come here for a transaction: we provide a service, or a product, in exchange for money. While true, that’s a pretty cut-and-dry observation which isn’t very humane or personable. The folks who come here are generally as excited about their bikes as we are, so we get the pleasure of developing and maintaining meaningful retailer-consumer relationships. But this one-on-one model is only part of a bigger picture, of which there’s different dimensions.

Last week, two Tour for Kids participants in the store who were previously strangers struck up a conversation, and then a connection. Phone numbers were exchanged and ride plans were made. And that was it. We, as a store, don’t have to be the focal point of every relationship. We can also be the conduit for relationships which transcend the store, thereby fostering a community of riders. Does this mean we’re turning into a community centre? Or a social enterprise? Not yet, at least, but elements of it are there.

As a bike shop, creating and maintaining ‘retailer-consumer’ relationships is nice, but there’s deeper  value in creating and maintaining ‘rider-rider’ relationships with those who are just as passionate about their bikes as we are. It seems the transaction itself is only the beginning of what’s possible here. Once business changes from being transactional- to relational-driven, it is nothing short of disruptive, with unknown synergistic results. But what happens to that community of cyclists outside our four walls?

I personally get out of bed everyday wanting to share my excitement for bikes with anyone whose attention I have: the sense of adventure, discipline, camaraderie, sustainable transportation, knowledge empowerment, etc. But to share this just with our customers would be too limiting. We really do believe in the importance of community, and a culture of giving. We want to give you a platform to elevate you to have experiences that we both didn’t know was possible. In this disrupted economy, we can measure what we do by its social impact, and not just by hard-nosed economic sensibility.

In this third level, where our activities are driven by selfless generosity to support the cycling community at large, there’s still tremendous value to be created. The object is to draw you further into the delightful world of cycling, regardless of where you shop, or what you ride. As long as you're out there, everyone wins.

This year, we’re getting involved in the cycling community in some fresh, new ways (which you’ll be hearing more about):

1. Jet Fuel - La Bicicletta racing team

2. RealDealRacing - La Bicicletta racing team

3. A series of cycling workshops and group rides at the Evergreen Brick Works.

4. Road to Valor book launch, with the authors present, telling the heroic WWII stories of Gino Bartali, on June 26th

5. Tour for Kids Ontario 4-day mechanical support

6. The 5th Annual Gran Fondo, returning to Niagara County, on September 30th

See you out there!

 

This is my journal following the Canadian Women's National Team as they compete in Europe during their Spring campaign. I am the team mechanic, driver and general support staff.

 

Three years ago the National Team made a commitment to build a European base to give Canadian riders a home away from home, and a place to learn the ropes of racing in Europe. The CCA rented a house in Tilt-Winge, Belgium that has plenty of room for athletes, staff and equipment. Located in the heart of Belgium with good access to the airport and an endless supply of top-quality races, the house also has a long history as a base for many top riders, such as Mark Cavendish.

 

The Women's team landed in Brussels on March 27^th and started their European campaign with the Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders), a 127km race through the fields of Flanders, over the hills and cobbles of many famous roads and battlegrounds.  On the 30^th we did a race reconnaissance to get our bearings on the twisty, confusing roads of Flanders. The riders rode all the climbs and cobbled sections of the course. Our impression was that the course is very challenging, both technically and physically, but that's to be expected, as this is a World Cup event. The day ended at a fantastic B&B where we were served dinner, and will be spending the next couple of days while the girl’s race.

We're off to a great start, because Joelle Numainville finished third at the Tour of Flanders. Can I remind you this is a World Cup race? Since this a build-up trip for the Olympics,  this is a fantastic beginning! Congratulations Joelle!!!!

 

Stay tuned for more trip reports, as I will update and add photos when possible. For the time being, check out more trip photos here.

 

We always have a great time at the Toronto International Spring Bicycle Show, and are looking forward to seeing the crowds, and the deals fly once again. This year we're going to freshen up our approach, and do things a little differently. What you can expect to see is twenty very unique 2012 bicycles, many of which are the only ones of their kind in Canada. But there's more...

As for the bargains, the big change for this year is we'll be bringing seventy four completely new 2011 bicycles with screaming low prices. But, since we place so much importance on a cyclist being fit to their bike properly, Heath will actually do bike fittings in our booth to make sure you're buying the most comfortable bike for yourself.

What else?

Oakley sunglasses are priced at $100.

There will be twenty rolling-racks of clothing (for all seasons), with everything marked at 50% off.

All 2011 shoes and helmets are coming down as well, and are marked at 50% off.

You need wheels? How about Fulcrum Racing Zero clinchers for $1199, or Zipp 303/404's for $1499? Not aero enough? How about Zipp 808 Carbon Clinchers? Or Mavic Cosmic Carbone's with a PowerTap hub?

Michelin tires (Pro4, Pro3 Race, and Lithion2) and tubes will be there in large numbers, priced with 'are you crazy' prices. And I can't forget Vredestein Fortezza's, my favourite all-around clincher tire.

We'll round out the offerings with indoor trainers (Kurt Kinetic, Tacx, CycleOps), floor pumps (JoeBlow, Blackburn AirTower 4), handlebar tape (Lizard Skins, Fizik), and computers (CatEye, PRO).

But wait. We're motivated to make the sale, so we'll even price-match anything you see down at the show. Our prices will not be beaten!

We're also sponsoring a lounge area with Cafe Domestique and canadiancyclist.com, so go on by and have Krys treat you to an espresso while you rest your feet. Drinks will be brewed on site for free, but any donations you choose to make will support the Ontario Youth Cup Series.

Our booth will be right in the middle of the showroom floor, with the big La Bicicletta tent raised up high, so hopefully you can spot us easily.

Our mantra this weekend is: 'nothing comes home', so come find us before Henry realizes how low we've priced everything.

 

After 566 days of uncertainty, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) finally handed Alberto Contador a two year sanction for his positive test for clenbuterol, stripping him of his 2010 Tour de France and 2011 Giro d’Italia titles. While the facts cannot be argued, Contador claimed he did not intend to dope; rather, he innocently ate a piece of contaminated steak served to him by his trusted team staff.

 

If we’re to take Contador for his word, who’s at fault then? The team cook? The directeur sportif? Is he ever not responsible for what goes in his body? If Contador honestly didn’t intend to dope, is there a precedent-setting case that can be used in his aid? In Rouleur Magazine issue 27, journalist Herbie Sykes recounts such a case: the story of the first professional cyclist stripped of his license, and banned from racing.

 

Fritz Gallati was a pre-race favourite to win the 1961 Stayer World Championships (a now-defunct motor-paced track event). Before a qualifying round, his soigneur on the Swiss national team overdosed him by needle injection. Nearly passed out on the track, Gallati was rushed to hospital, where a blood transfusion revealed him a cheat. He was immediately suspended by the Swiss Cycling Federation, and publicly humiliated. However, Gallati swore by his innocence, and an investigation eventually revealed the truth: his soigneur accepted a 10,000 Swiss Franc bribe to ‘help’ him win the race. Gallati was absolved of guilt, and his license was reinstated.

 

Even if Contador is taken for his word, the fifty years between his and Gallati’s case makes all the difference in outcome. Simply put, Gallati’s time was more innocent, when professional cyclists weren’t seen as dopers. Compared to recent years, numerous doping scandals have shamed our sport the world over, chased fans and sponsors away in droves, and long-standing races have folded as a consequence. Too many high-profile cyclists have been found guilty of doping, and yet most maintain their innocence, claiming one exception or another. No die-hard cycling fan wants to see their hero proven a fraud, but enough is enough. How many times can our trust be abused? Cycling’s judicial bodies are now willing to make examples out of any any transgressor, and rightfully so. Contador deserves his two year ban, his intent be damned.

Now that winter’s arrived in earnest, event planning for next season is fully underway. The revamped RealDealRacing club kit is in production, the JetFuel team has been restructured with Andrew Randell at the helm, and now the Hell of the North ride is expanding. This coming Easter Sunday the true crazies will be offered a longer, tougher route, in addition to a Heck of the North route just for the squeaky-clean roadies.

 

 

 

Since inception in 1987, the Hell of the North always followed the same route and distance. For the first time ever, we’ll move the start/end away from the shores of Mussleman’s Lake to Mark Endras’s family farm 30km away (route posted here). An initial scouting report from Ed Veal used phrases like ‘sweeping bends’, ‘fast gravel’, ‘constantly rolling’ and ‘Hulk smash’. That, combined with a reliable Northern wind, and the unpredictable Trench, will surely provide lots more war stories- not that they were ever lacking.

 

Catering to the road-bike-or-nothing crowd which was never fully comfortable with this ride, we’re introducing a gentler Heck of the North route not requiring knowledge of knobby tread patterns, appropriate tire pressure, or SPD pedals. This route will include gravel sections, but can otherwise be done on a regular road bike with slicks. No mounting / dismounting required, and the Trench will be excluded.

 

Bring your ‘A’ game to the unofficial 2012 racing season opener.