Canadian Cycling Magazine

my poor beater bike

My poor beater bike. As I write this, it’s in the basement of the Canadian Cycling Magazine office. I don’t usually bring it inside, no matter the weather. That star treatment is reserved for test bikes and my more precious race machines. The only reason the beater is inside is that the back gate is frozen shut. Maybe the guilt I feel for the way I treat the beater is trumping any duty I have for chiselling out the gate. The bike could use a warm place for a few hours a day, a little TLC.The beater used to be more of a star, when I first got it. I treated the aluminum-frame cyclocross bike well, before and after rides and races. Another bike has since taken its place at…

letters

LETTER OF THE ISSUEBig Ride in Cape BretonWhen I turned 50 years old, my wife and I did a month-long motorbike trip through Nova Scotia, Cape Breton and P.E.I. While we were there I had cardiovascular issues, which were fixed by a stent when we got home. When I retired, I took up cycling and regularly ride more than 8,000 km per year.I turned 65 this past September. It’s been 15 years since I first had my issue. With the OK from my doctor and wife, I convinced (rather easily) my two cycling buddies to join me on a trip around Cape Breton’s Cabot Trail on our road bikes. The three wives agreed to be our sag drivers and provide support.We decided to do the trip clockwise from the Margaree…

contributors

Rachel DaviesStraight Talk for Women BikepackersRachel Davies is an outdoor instructor and guide who works across Canada and writes about her wild experiences as much as possible. Whenever she’s not cycling, she can be found hiking mountains or paddling lakes and oceans.Rachel StetsonBook Review: Saving LucyRachel Stetson is a thrill-seeking bookworm with a soft spot for rescue dogs. She loves riding her bike in 24-hour and marathon-style mountain bike races, which she trains for with her dog and best friend, Starbuck, running behind her on the trails.Stuart KernaghanBuyer’s Guide: Aero Road, Ebike, All-Mountain/Trail, XCStuart Kernaghan is a writer, photographer and rider based in North Vancouver. He prefers riding trails, especially new ones, but he’s been known to throw on a full Lycra kit from time to time. His favourite place…

vintage velo

Hairnet Helmet“I’m not sure this helmet ever had a brand logo on it,” said Michael Barry. “My father carried them in his shop. As with most of my racing gear, I was quite proud of this helmet and, with stickers found in the store, I put my name on the back and the club name, Bicyclesport, on the front. At some point, I had seen one of my childhood heroes, Laurent Fignon, with his name on his hat, so I thought it would be cool to do the same.”The hairnet helmet was one of the earliest forms of head protection. It appeared in the 1900s. “Riders were still using them right up until the UCI mandated hardshell use at the pro level – that was in 2003,” Barry said. “The…

the calendar

APRIL1 Watch out! It’s April Fool’s Day. Someone, like James “Cranky” Ramsay, might try to pull a bike-related prank on you. Read some tales that feature “Cranky” in the role of “Pranky.”11 If you are in Nashville on a Thursday, you can check out Opry Country Classics at the Ryman Auditorium in the evening, after you’ve spent a day cycling along the Music City Bikeway. Read more about riding in the Tennessee state capitol.12 Riders compete in the under-17, junior and paracycling national track championships in Milton, Ont.14 Paris-Roubaix takes pros over its punishing cobbles. Last year, Peter Sagan won this Monument, a victory he chronicles in his book. Read a review of the three-time world champion’s book.17 Tory Nyhaug turns 27 today. He won the elite national BMX championships…

news

The downhill career that started on a whim“‘On the way home from cross country nationals, we’re going to head to DH nationals,’” Elliot Jamieson remembered telling his parents. “My dad said, ‘I don’t know. It’s a bit out of the way.’” Jamieson’s family had travelled from their home in White Rock, B.C., to Canmore, Alta. for cross country nationals on July 21. The junior rider finished fifth in his category. In the enduro competition, he was first overall. “‘Oh, I already registered, so we’re going to head over there,’” Jamieson said. “So that ended up turning out pretty well.” He finished third at downhill nationals a week later in Invermere, B.C., a competition he manoeuvred into almost on a whim. Then, in September, he was third at the DH world…