The CRANK with ProCycle Team

Publisher and Managing Editor Vikram Limsay

Editor Rahul K Thomas

Technical Editor Nilesh Dhumal

West Zone Bureau Divya Tate South Zone Bureau Anita Bora

Contributions by Pradeep Gangatkar, Pravin Patil, Krishna Kumar, Arvind Ganesh, Chiromitra, Veloscope Photography, Shubhankar Dey, Samreth Singh, Team T3, Pune Randonneurs, Goa Randonneurs, Mumbai Randonneurs, Bangalore Brevets, IISc Randonneurs, Madras Randonneurs, Hyderabad Randonneurs, Cochin Randonneurs, Utkarsh Rao, Ajay Padval

Registered to Procycle and Sports India Private Limited. Corporate Office: Indiranagar, 889, First Floor, 7th Main, 4th Cross, HAL II stage, Bangalore - 560008. Tel: +91 80 41161902 Showroom: Indiranagar, 37, 11th Cross, 1st Stage, Bangalore- 560038 Tel: +91 80 25202004 +91 98802 16064

Website www.procycle.in. For queries regarding advertising and subscription, mail us at subscribecrank@procycle.in

Cover Photograph: Pinarello FP Uno

Rear cover photograph: The ProCycle car out on the Pinarello FP Uno test runs

1THE PROCYCLE STORE

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IN THIS ISSUE

1. Randonneuring Revolution by Divya Tate

2. ProCycle tête-à-tête with Pravin Patil

3. Gear Review: Hope Pro Rotor

4. Siva’s Road by Anita Bora

5. ProCycle Profiled: Ameet and Priya Bhide

6. BIkers’ Lair: Texas Instruments

7. Pinarello FP Uno - Tested

8. Downhill Diaries: Dighi Hill, Pune

9. Boys and their Toys

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Hey Reader!

We’ve been getting tons of requests to test and feature a road bike and showcase more roadie stuff. Well, this month you get that in spades.

Divya Tate, one of catalysts behind the randonneuring revolution that’s taking over cycling cities, gives us the broad strokes of what the discipline is all about and how it breaks down in India. Anita Bora then takes us down the road that every cyclist in Bangalore loves, and tells you how to go about getting a road named after you.

We bring you the downhill track which began it all and inspired the first generation of slope-shredders in India. And then we show you the rotor that keeps them safe in their saddles (or cranking out of it).

In Bikers’ Lair we feature the first of a number of bike-friendly workplaces. So, if you’re looking to hop jobs and like biking to work, follow this space to figure out who you should be applying to. We also get a glimpse of Giant’s plans in India, in a chat with Pravin Patil.

The icing on the cake is our road test of the Pinarello FP Uno - a bike gets inspiration from its more illustrious siblings, but which is a little more within the reach of regular people like us.

So turn those pages and then get out and ride!

Editor

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HEYA!

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Divya Tate of the Pune Randonneurs is the National Representative to Audax Club Parisien, France. She was part of the first bunch of randonneurs in India, is India’s first woman Super Randonneuse and is one of the leading figures in the long-distance riding revolution that seems to be sweeping across the country. In the first of a two-part series, she tells the tale of randonneuring in India - its genesis and its wildfire-esque spread.

A lot of cyclists around India must have heard the word ‘randonneuring’ and wondered about it. The word is derived from the French word randonnée that means ‘to ramble’, as distinct from ‘to race.’ One may be inclined to think of it as a relaxed tour, but the first attempt at randonneuring will dispel the notion.

Randonneuring is long distance unsupported Endurance Cycling. The rides of 200, 300, 400, 600 and 1000 kms called Brevets de Randonneurs Mondiaux (BRMs) require participants to ride fixed distances, passing

through predetermined checkpoints and complete the course within specified time limits. Unlike a race, all who complete within the set time limit receive equal recognition regardless of their finishing order. To quote Seattle Randonneurs, “This style of riding is non-competitive in nature, and self-sufficiency is paramount. Participation in randonneuring events is part of a long tradition that goes back to the beginning of the sport of cycling in France and Italy. Friendly camaraderie and perseverance are the hallmarks of randonneuring.”

These rides are conducted under the approval of Audax Club Parisien (ACP) France, which is the international governing body for randonneuring that administers and oversees the conduct of BRMs worldwide. Although terrain, climate and other conditions vary across the world, adherence to the rules and regulations ensure that the same standard is maintained. Audax Club Parisien also organizes the Paris Brest Paris widely known as the PBP. A 1230 km ride that has to be completed in 90 hours, the PBP is the oldest

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A RIDE FROM COCHIN. IMAGE COURTESY KRISHNA KUMAR

BY DIVYA TATE

3CRANK with ProCycle JULY 15TH, 2013

RANDONNEURING REVOLUTION!

cycling event in the world that is still being conducted on a regular basis. Conducted every 4 years, its history stretches back 120 yrs, growing tremendously in popularity in the last few decades. In 1971 there were 325 riders from 6 countries; in 2011 it was 5300 from almost 50 countries. PBP and similar Audax events are a great way to meet the worldwide randonneuring community.

Randonneuring in India

On the 31st of January, 2010, a group of about 60 cyclists, including 5 riders from Pune, gathered in the pre-dawn hours, at a traffic island near Worli Seaface, Mumbai. Signed up to ride 200 kms within 13.5 hours, most of the riders had never before attempted riding such a distance within a day. This was the first Brevet

(BRM) ever to be conducted in India and by the end of the day, India had its first group of successful randonneurs. 

From two cities in India in 2010, randonneuring in India has spread to 8 cities in three years. Randonneurs across the country now have a wide choice of climates, terrain and routes to choose from. Within two years India ranked 14th (for points earned by riding brevets) out of 38 countries. Audax India Randonneurs (AIR) is the all-India organisation of randonneurs.

This year, will see nine clubs holding brevets - a busy calendar indeed. For the first time in India, two 1200 km (you read that right!) Audax rides have been planned. One will be conducted by Anil Uchil of Mumbai Randonneurs and the other by Chidambaram S of the Bangalore Bikers Club.

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The 200, 300, 400 and 600 km brevets are called the Super Series and completing this series (in their given timeframes) within the ACP calendar year gives one the status of Super Randonneur

FUEL FOR THE RIDE. IMAGE COURTESY TEAM T3, DELHI

CONTROL POINT. IMAGE COURTESY KRISHNA KUMAR

SOME OF THE OBSTACLES FACED DURING THE FLECHE. IMAGE COURTESY ARVIND GANESH

CATCHING A NAP ALONG THE WAY. IMAGE COURTESY PUNE RANDONNEURS

Another first this year was a fleche, conducted to Hampi by Arvind Ganesh of the Bangalore Bikers Club. A fleche is a 24 hour team event, in which teams attempt the longest distance over a minimum of 360 Km, converging at a predetermined destination to enjoy a hearty breakfast together.

THE CLUBS

Brevets are being conducted in eight cities in India at the moment with Baroda set to join next year. Here’s a quick lowdown on each of the clubs and their history.

Pune Randonneurs

Pune Randonneurs is the oldest functioning randonneuring Club in India, organizing brevets for the 4th consecutive year. Pune's location in the Sahyadris affords riders challenging and picturesque routes in mountainous terrain. Some of the 200 km BRMs ascend 2000 to 2300 metres or 6500-7500 feet. Pune holds the distinction of having the highest percentage of women randonneurs.

Bangalore Brevets

Bangalore is unique in that it has two independent clubs organizing brevets - Bangalore Bikers Club and IISc Randonneurs. With a large base of riders and organisers, Bangalore has taken the lead in organizing many of the Audax events like India’s first 1000, 1200 and the fleche. They conduct an

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PICTURESQUE MOUNTAIN ROADS OUTSIDE PUNE. CONTROL POINT. IMAGE COURTESY DIVYA TATE

SHARING THE ROAD OUTSIDE PUNE. IMAGE COURTESY PUNE RANDONNEURS

REST STOP AT ONE OF THE BANGALORE BREVETS. IMAGE COURTESY VELOSCOPE PHOTOGRAPHY

REST HALT AT NIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY. IMAGE COURTESY CHIROMITRA,, DELHI

A WELL-STOCKED OFFICIAL VEHICLE. IMAGE COURTESY TEAM T3, DELHI

THE BANGALORE BREVETS. IMAGE COURTESY VELOSCOPE PHOTOGRAPHY

annual event over one long weekend in June - the Master BRM which includes all distances that end at the same time and place, in a large gathering of riders.

Delhi Randonneurs

Brevets in Delhi NCR are conducted by Team T3 who have been responsible for the growing the roadbiking community in their area from just 3 to over 300 in the span of just a couple of years. Members plan and participate in a variety of events, including cycle tours, marathons and duathlons. Delhi was only the second city to conduct a 1000 km brevet which saw 6 randonneurs successfully complete the ride.

Hyderabad Cycling Club

Actively involved in putting up a variety of cycling events, Hyderabad is in its second year of randonneuring. They have put up a very extensive calendar to accommodate riders wanting to complete their super series.

Mumbai Randonneurs

Mumbai was the birthplace of randonneuring in India and after skipping a year (2011), brevets came back in style in 2012. With the help of Cycling 4 Change the Mumbai Randonneurs have organised the maximum number of brevets this year giving numerous opportunities for cyclists to take up randonneuring. Mumbai will also be conducting a 1200 Km ride in October that will include BRMs of all the distances.

Madras Randonneurs

Brevets in Chennai are organised by a group of dedicated randonneurs who previously used to travel to Bangalore for brevets. While the terrain around

Chennai provides no challenges, the hot and humid climate more than makes up for it, putting every rider’s endurance to the test. The East Coast Road Brevet is a unique ride, hugging the coastline all the way and the constant wind on this route requires riders to form groups and ride in disciplined pace lines.

Goa Randonneurs

True to its culture, randonneuring in Goa is easygoing, with jovial camaraderie, and extremely hospitable hosts reflecting the Goan way of life. Even before Goa started brevets, the cycling community in Goa went out of its way to welcome randonneurs from Mumbai at the end of their 600 Km BRM. The first brevet in Goa entertained randonnerurs from three other

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NIGHT RIDING WITH THE MUMBAI RANDONNEURS. IMAGE COURTESY SHUBHANKAR DEY

CONFERENCE ON THE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT WITH THE MUMBAI RANDONNEURS. IMAGE COURTESY SHUBHANKAR DEY

CHILLING OUT WITH THE GOA RANDONNEURS AT THE FINISH. IMAGE COURTESY SAMRETH SINGH

START POINT OF THE COCHIN CLASSIC 200. IMAGE COURTESY KRISHNA KUMAR

MADRAS RANDONNEURS

cities, who joined the Goa Randonneurs in celebrating the start of this new opportunity. Rolling terrain and the climate make their rides very challenging.

Cochin Bikers Club

Started by a Randonneur from Pune who moved to Cochin soon after his first brevet, Cochin is the latest city to start randonneuring. Their first brevet was a great success, enthusiastically received by the cycling community. Their routes, through verdant greenery, more than live up to the tag ‘God’s own country.’

The Randonneuring Community

The International Brevet calendar published in November of each year keeps the Randonneuring community across the world informed about the schedule of rides to be conducted throughout the year. All clubs in India are happy to receive and host Randonneurs from other cities and countries, and many riders routinely plan their brevet schedule to include BRM in different places. Just as the worldwide Randonneuring community provides much online support and advice, the Indian Randonneurs too stay in touch with each other’s achievements and stories through Facebook and other online communities. Far more meaningful is that Randonneurs across India, bond with each other by sharing Brevet experiences together.

Watch this space for the second part of the story. In it, Divya and Anil Uchil speak to randonneurs across the country, to figure out the answer to the question we are sure is on all of your minds,”What on earth would possess anyone to do this?”

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ROADSIDE REPAIRS. IMAGE COURTESY MADRAS RANDONNEURS

REHYDRATING ON THE ROAD. IMAGE COURTESY MADRAS RANDONNEURS

INDIA WITH CATALUNYA AT THE PARIS-BREST-PARIS. IMAGE COURTESY DIVYA TATE

Giant is one of the world’s largest and most respected bicycle brands. In India lots of riders are big fans of their Revel series of mountain bikes and SCR and TCR road bikes. Recently, we caught up with Pravin Patil, CEO of Sprint Sports Pvt Ltd, the new distributors of Giant bicycles in India. In a candid conversation, he gave us the lowdown on what brought him to cycling and what Giant has in store for Indian riders.

CRANK with ProCycle: First off, a personal one - roadie or mountain biker? We'd love to know which side of the fence you sit on and why.

Pravin Patil: I am both an avid road and mountain biker.

CwP: What do you ride and how often do you do so?

Pravin Patil: I use a Giant TCR Advanced SL with Dura Ace group sets and I have a carbon mountain bike with XTR group sets.

My daily rides of about 35 to 40 kms are on the mountain bike & the weekend ride which is about 100+ kms is on the roadie.

CwP: How did you get into cycling?

Pravin Patil: I have been a cyclist since my school days, I used to ride a Hero Ranger, later bought Hero Hawk and so on..However, got to serious cycling about 3 years back.

CwP: People cycle for all sorts of reasons - fitness, beating traffic, the environment and so on. Why do you cycle (apart from it being your line of business)?

Pravin Patil: Good question and you responded with my answer in your question. It is important to understand how a bike feels after 25 kms, after 50 kms and even more so after 100 kms. The slightest screeching of the smallest component creates a lot of irritation to the rider and this can be understood and appreciated only when you are in the saddle and not from the air-conditioned boardroom.

All the above apart it helps me keep fit and do my bit for the environment.

CwP: The distributorship of Giant is a new role for you. Tell us about it.

Pravin Patil: Yes, the role is new, though the business is not. We had the choice of a few of the largest and best brands in the world. In our initial business plan we had envisaged a 3 – 4 brand strategy in bicycles and a few brands in accessories. However when Giant came our way we gave up everything else as no other brand had the extensive variety of Giant. We decided to have a single marriage and be completely committed to Giant along with our brand Sprint. We have also planned a complete accessories and spares strategy and have signed contracts for exclusive distribution with few of the best brands in the world to offer a complete cycling experience to cyclists in India.

Our team has more than three decades of combined bicycling expertise (Rajiv Chhibar and Gautam Dalal have rich domain experience in their fields of sales and marketing respectively) and cutting edge retail presence and plan to fully leverage the depth that Giant offers.

CwP: What are your views on the Indian market and what your plans for the future in India with Giant?

Pravin Patil: We are bullish about the Indian market and believe it has a great potential. However we feel it needs more investment and commitment to grow this industry.

CwP: There is growing activism for greater implementation of cycling infrastructure in this country. In what way can (or will) Giant help in supporting it and, consequently, the cycling public?

Pravin Patil: We are open to any such support that may be required, however it should ultimately result in corresponding business growth as we are an enterprise and need to make money to plough back into the business and grow this industry in India.

CwP: Over the last year or so we've seen big international brands invest in the racing scene in India. Will this change the competitive cycling game in India and give it a shot in the arm? Do you have any plans in this regard?

Pravin Patil: Support to competitive cycling is one of the greatest things to happen. It is important to create champions to make the sport popular. Look at Hockey, it was the very popular as long as we were the world champions, look at what happened to cricket after Kapil Dev and team won the World Cup, look at what happened to badminton after Saina Nehwal won an Olympic medal. I think it is the responsibility of the leader to support and be the change agent. If we get a good team we will be more than happy to support them.

CwP: If there was one thing you could change about cycling-related policy in India, what would it be?

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ProCycle Tête-à-Tête

PRAVIN V PATIL - CEO, SPRINT SPORTS

Pravin Patil: Creating cycling infrastructure is the most important thing to do and I feel JNNURM and all municipal corporations should have the mandate to promote cycling and a part of Urban development. For the reasons of traffic congestion, environment, and promote healthy living. They do make a half-hearted effort to create cycling lanes, however the lane is either not there, if on few road it exists it suddenly disappears, or has cars / vegetable vendors parked on them. I think more than policy it is a matter of implementation.

I have met a few municipal commissioners across the country and I know that the policy and budgets both exist. The issue is implementation.

Import duty is a lengthy debate and calls for a complete discussion and understanding of the subject by the industry and the government.

CwP: Are there any interesting cycling-related experiences you would like to share with our readers?

Pravin Patil: Oh there are many but cycling in Leh / Ladhakh is the most divine thing to do. While the Himalayas have a lot of trees and greenery to enjoy, Ladhakh is a cold dessert and has its own charm. In my opinion, motor vehicles are too fast and walking is too slow. Cycling is the best way to see the world around you.

CwP: What is your vision of the cycling future in India?

Pravin Patil: Cycling is all set to grow in India, Sprint & Giant will bring products and deliver services to Indian cyclist the finest of International biking experience and be a catalyst to this growth. The sustainable growth for this business shall depend on an entire ecosystem to be built, which we understand as quality bicycles, quality accessories and initiating consumers to the experience. We shall work on these pillars, to keep the future of cycling bright in India.

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If you’ve been looking for some monster stopping power on your ride, be it trail, downhill, freeride or all-mountain rig, your search ends here. Hope’s insanely bling ‘floating’ rotors have the stopping power of a concrete wall. The body of the rotor is steel, mated to an aluminium central carrier (the colourful bit) which attaches to your hub. For you weight weenies, this results in a significant weight reduction while simultaneously allowing it to expand and contract with temperature changes, without the accompanying bending of the rotor. Thus, the rotor stays true for much longer than the standard all-steel competition. We’ve had these babies for nearly three years and have only had to true them once. The two pieces are connected with rivets. This causes the rotors to ‘float’ resulting in reduction in overall rotor flex. If looking badass wasn’t enough reason for the serrated edge, it actually assists in cleaning the pads as it passes through the calliper and also aids in cooling. The overall aim of cooling the rotor in every way possible has resulted in a high performance component, perfect for even the most demanding rider.

The Hope floating rotor comes 140, 160, 180, 183, 185, 200, 203 and 205mm sizes and in a whole range of colours, all of them dead sexy!

Go. Get!

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GEAR REVIEW

HOPE FLOATING ROTORS

At one point of time I thought the greatest honor for a cyclist was to be recognized and rewarded. This was until I rode on Siva's road in Bangalore. And realised it's not. The greatest honor is to have a road named after you! This particular strip of road – a back route to Devanahalli airport,if you look it up on Google now says “Siva's Road”.

The name comes from none other than cyclist Siva Sai N, resident of Whitefield. And this is how it all happened.

In his own words, Siva was coming back home from the airport one day and the cab driver decided to take this route. He was quite fascinated as it seemed well-tarred, scenic and low in traffic. As a cyclist, there's only one thought that can run through your mind when you see such a road.

Later says Siva, a motley bunch got together and started off (after an exchange of long emails warning cyclists about carrying food, water, puncture kit, etc.) what was supposed to be a 60km ride to discover then unknown territory.

The cyclists of course loved the road. It had all the elements to make it interesting. “What made it really popular was the road quality, few speed breakers, and less traffic (which has increased drastically). It was also less monotonous than riding on a road that curves and turns than NH4 towards Kolar,” says Siva.

Back in 2009, Siva and the group weren't as calorie conscious as they are today so the villages along the way provided welcome breaks for refreshments. Since they traded their baggies for spandex the idli industry along the way has taken a hit.

Siva’s Road begins on Old Madras Road about 14 kms from Indranagar 100 feet road. The turnoff is marked by a sign for the airport. From there, it is a long stretch with gulmohars arching over and providing some much needed relief. The first village is Mandur, which doesn't have anything interesting. The one to watch out for is around 10 kms from the start point, called Budigere. Here opposite the bus stop, a small idli point was discovered – it's blink and miss - so keep an eye out. It's a favourite today with cyclists - either on the way or the return; make sure you wolf down a few for much needed nutrition and energy.

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IN AND AROUND TOWN

WORDS AND IMAGES BY ANITA BORA

SIVA’S ROAD (AND THE ART OF GETTING A ROAD NAMED AFTER YOU)

A VINEYARD ON SIVA’S ROAD

LINED WITH GULMOHARS

After Budigere the road shows off its curves and you can admire some lovely vineyards on the way. There is quite a bit of rolling terrain which always makes for an interesting ride. This road also has another reason why cyclists love it – fewer speed breakers to deal with. Unfortunately, it's also the very reason why this road has become a haven for speeding motorists. In fact, just the other day we encountered a local bus which looked like it was in the mood to plow down a rider or two. Cab drivers have discovered the road in greater numbers, so be careful while riding as most of them are well over the speed limits.

A few kilometres after Budigere, further down is also a small turn-off which has been freshly tarred and

1312CRANK with ProCycle JULY 15TH, 2013

A CYCLIST ON A LEISURELY SUNDAY RIDE

GETTING READY FOR SOME SERIOUS MILES

makes for some nice sprinting practice. They haven't put the speed breakers yet, so keep a look out for it and if you're riding as a group, it could be a good stretch to belt it out.

Siva confesses that their first ride on this road was nearly 92 kms and took them 4 hours and 15 minutes (total of 6 hours and 50 minutes). Today, of course, with cleats, road bikes and killer attitudes to go along with it, that timing is history.

After this stretch there are a few climbs which will burn of your idli breakfast. The shade disappears, but if it's early enough in the morning, the pleasant scenery gives you relief. Any rider knows the dangers of stray dogs and we are happy to announce that this road is relatively free of them.

As you go nearer to Devanahalli village, there is another diversion to the left that is well tarred and quite long. Another option is to continue straight till one reaches the village. The road is a quieter more scenic access road to Nandi hills. As we all know, it will be quite a few years before we see Airport road restored to some kind of order.

On weekends, this road is becoming a popular one for cyclists. On Sundays, this is also local community racing team Spectrum's training route so you will see a line of parked cars lined up on the right at the beginning. Yup, lots of riders drive out there before hopping in the saddle to attack Nandi. The whole trip is nearly a century and makes for a great workout.

Right now, the gulmohars in full bloom make the road even more beautiful than usual. Go on a relaxed breakfast ride and enjoy it while the season lasts. Have some breakfast, stop and breathe in fresh air, indulge in an elaneer (coconut water), take photos for keepsakes, and just drink in the beauty of Siva's road (unless you're training for the next big race!).

I still had last one question. How did the name come about? Siva reveals that it was fellow cyclist Deepak Rao who submitted the name ‘Siva's Road’ on Google Maps and lo and behold, it was accepted.

So for all your cyclists out there who discover new unnamed roads – you still have an chance of making history and getting a road named after you!

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AFTER A LONG HARD RIDE SIVA - HE WHO HAD A ROAD NAMED AFTER HIM

IMAGE COURTESY SIVA SAI

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PROCYCLE PROFILED

When Priya picked-up a bicycle that turned out to be too big for her, Ameet pinched it and got back in the saddle after ages. One thing quickly led to another and before anyone knew it, Ameet had graduated to a road bike, ridden the TFN (twice), completed a half-Ironman and became part of the the Spectrum racing team. Today, he’s a regular figure on the Bangalore cycling scene and though he travels a lot, he always tries to set aside pedalling time when he’s back.

AMEET

faucibus porta egestas, quisque praesent ipsum fermentum tempor.

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Priya is a runner who wanted to try something a little different. So she went out and bought a bike. That bike turned out to be too large and it kickstarted Ameet’s riding. She traded it in for another hybrid on which she started riding regularly in the mornings with longer rides on the weekend. She then heard about the TFN, trained for and rode it first in 2010 and then again in 2012. Nowadays she rides mostly on weekends.

PRIYA

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Ever left your gorgeous bike in a dusty corner of your office compound and spent all day worrying about it? Ever seen a co-worker wrinkle her nose as you walked by drenched in sweat? Ever wondered what it’d be like to work for a bicycle-friendly company?

Well, we’ll tell you, though saying Texas Instruments is bicycle-friendly is something of an understatement. They have a bicycle club which promotes riding among their employees, a financing scheme which allows you to purchase vehicles (like that Bianchi you’ve been drooling over for a while) and they even have bicycle checkup camps organised at the office. To ice that cake they’ve now installed a bicycle parking lot which wouldn’t be out of place in a Scandinavian country. There’s not only space to park and lock your bike, but you even get a massive locker where you can stow your gear instead of having to lug it around with you. The parking space is located right next to a gymansium with showers to ensure you can walk to your workstation without sending your coworkers running for air freshener.

We can hear you running to tweak that CV already!

BIKERS’ LAIRTEXAS INSTRUMENTS

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TESTED!

PINARELLO FP UNO

PRADEEP GANGATKAR CRANKS AWAY ON HIS NEW PINARELLO FP UNO

Pinarellllllohhh!!

You’ve seen them whispering up monstrous climbs on TV, fittingly ridden by men and women of pure sinew, united and driven by a love of pain. The very name of this Ferrari of roadbikes (or is Ferrari the Pinarello of sports cars?) rolls off the tongue evoking images of a drop-dead hot Italian lady. Something than one can but dream of..

And yet, here we have one to test. And, wonder of all wonders, we think that it just might suit the recreational rider who wants that hint of romance on his morning rides.

The FP Uno is Pinarello’s entry-level offering (if something in the range of a lakh and a half could be called that) - a bike which has some of the design of its legendary siblings in a more affordable package.

The owner of this particular bike, Pradeep Gangatkar, was looking for his first roadbike and

wanted something a little more distinctive. Suffice it to say he is out there somewhere on the road, enjoying every minute and mile of his decision.

The FP Uno frame is made from triple-butted 6061 aluminium alloy and is hydroformed. It has a carbon rear triangle and carbon fork with their asymmetric stays and legs. This basically means that the carbon tubes on each side are not identical - they have been designed differently to absorb shock and forces unique to each side. The Onda fork’s unique wavy design is one of the hallmarks of Pinarello’s bikes and the FP Uno gets the same. At about 1300-odd grams, the frame is not the lightest in its category for sure but writing it off would be a big mistake. It is a composed performer and an excellent climber, well-suited for attacking.

To make the bike affordable, it comes with a budget but well-chosen kit. Groupset is Shimano Tiagra with a decent range for hill riding. It gets a nice little upgrade on the shifters

1918CRANK with ProCycle JULY 15TH, 2013

THE GORGEOUS ONDA FORK CARBON TECHNOLOGY

THE ONDA REAR TRIANGLE

with Shimano 105 STI having a better cable routing system than the Tiagra.

Wheel duties are done by the excellent Reynolds Shadow alloy clincher wheelset. This is a good set for training which preforms solidly in all conditions. The front rim is 24mm to the 28 of the rear thereby saving on weight while providing stiffness and better power delivery at the rear, where required.

Rest of the components are from Pinarello’s ever-reliable house brand ‘Most.’ Paint, finishing and attention to detail are all typical Pinarello - flawless.

The FP Uno, as we mentioned before, is not the most starved roadbike of its category i.e. its a tad heavier than the competition. But, dismiss it at your peril. Those wavy lines do more than just look beautiful - they work, eating up vibration as you cruise across the tarmac. The

2019CRANK with ProCycle JULY 15TH, 2013

6061 T6 ALLOY MATED TO CARBON

REYNOLDS SHADOW - SOLID TRAINING WHEELS

SHED YOUR OCD. THINK ASYMMETRIC

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TIAGRA GROUPSET WITH 105 SHIFTERS

PINARELLO’S ‘MOST’ FINISHING KIT

handling is excellent with a sharp and responsive front ensuring excellent cornering. It not only climbs like a goat, it allows you to descend at speed with confidence.

Whats the verdict? Well, this is no Dogma obviously. But, if you’re a recreational rider or community racer, the Pinarello FP Uno will more than satisfy your need for speed and handling while simultaneously giving you that warm, fuzzy feeling you get when you know you own a little slice of legend. All at a fraction of the cost of its more illustrious siblings.

We’d like to thank our friend Pradeep Gangatkar for letting us test his gorgeous new ride for our readers. Happy riding man!

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Rider: Ajay Padval Photographer: Utkarsh Rao

Trail Location: Dighi Hills, Pune, Maharashtra near Lohagaon, Kharadi

The Track

The track is about a kilometer long and gnarly! It is steep with some big ruts and rock gardens ending in some steep steps. A major part of the trail is exposed with some heart-stopping drops. Dighi Hill might have beenl used as a watch tower in ancient times. There is a temple dedicated to Lord Dattatreya on the hill and also a small ashram just behind the temple. You can enjoy a great view of Pune city and the landings and take-offs at Lohgaon Airport. The views are even better at night with Pune’s lights glittering in the black. The surrounding part of the hill is a Indian Army training ground with tank roads for testing and practice areas for the jawans. A lot of this area is off limits so watch out for signs and red flags. Exercise EXTREME CAUTION!

DOWNHILL DIARIES

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STAIR RIDE

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GEAR THAT TURNS MEN INTO BABBLING BOYSBOYS’ TOYS

POLAR BOTTLE

THE DOUBLE-WALLED POLAR BOTTLE USES A BARRIER OF AIR AS WELL AS A FOIL LAYER (WHICH REFLECTS SUNLIGHT) TO KEEP YOUR DRINK COLD ON THOSE LONG RIDES. CONVENIENTLY, UNLIKE MANY OTHER BOTTLES, THE NOZZLE CAN ALSO BE REMOVED THEREBY ALLOWING YOU TO CLEAN IT EASILY.

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ZEFAL DOOWAH TROUSER STRAPS

A SIMPLE THING INDEED BUT ONE WHICH EVERY SINGLE BICYCLE COMMUTER OUT THERE YEARNS FOR - A QUALITY TROUSER CLIP. ZEFAL’S DOOWAH COMES IN BRIGHT NEON AND BLACK, HAS REFLECTIVE TAPE ON IT AND DOES AN ADMIRABLE JOB OF KEEP YOUR TROUSER LEGS OUT OF THE WAY OF CRANK AND CHAIN.

FOR MORE DETAILS DROP US A LINE AT TORQUEWRENCH@PROCYCLE.IN

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GET OUT AND RIDE!