march 2023

Prologue

There's plenty new in Vélo Mag this year. They'll be varied, but they'll all have the same ambition: to talk about people and help you pedal better.
On the human side, you'll meet people who love to pedal, or to make us pedal. As for our specialists, they'll be there to give you advice.

My influencers

After introducing you last year to the bicycles that have marked my life, David Desjardins continues the thread of his cycling biography by highlighting the importance of the people who have crossed his path and contributed to his trajectory on two wheels. To begin with, the Gestev gang: Chantal Lachance and Patrice Drouin.

Chosen piece

Following the great success of the first volume of Les Histoires à dormir dehors, Vélo Québec Éditions is releasing Volume 2 of Jonathan B. Roy's adventures. Roy: 20,000 km by bike, from Asia to South America. In each 2023 edition of Vélo Mag, you'll find a selection of stories from his journey. First extract: China, the most difficult of the 40 countries he crossed.

On the move!

Ça roule! is a mini-series presented on Vélo Mag's social networks, featuring portraits of three cycling enthusiasts, Lydiane St-Onge, Marianne St-Gelais and Lucas Sierro, as they share their stories and their love of two-wheeled adventures...

Destinations

Tortosa, Catalonia's well-kept secret
Sea or mountains? An agonizing dilemma when it comes to choosing between these two sources of pleasure. In Tortosa, in the heart of the Ebro region, in the southernmost part of Catalonia, Spain, it's good to have both close at hand. What's more, cycling is king here. Discover a corner of paradise to explore in any season.

Chemins de traverse: Côte-du-Sud, far from the coastline
A stopover at the gateway to the Bas-du-Fleuve for an intermediate gravel bike getaway.

Advice

Fatbike: countering the spring crowns
I can't wait for spring, the most beautiful part of winter! It's not as cold, the sun is shining and the light is beautiful. The sun turns the snow to granules during the day, and the frost hardens it at night, transforming the trails into well-compacted, ultra-rapid highways. From mid-March to mid-April, with a little luck and a few tricks up your sleeve, conditions are ripe for memorable outings.

Report

Nature is Bike: gravel cycling with an Angevine twist
The tranquil town of Angers, in western France, was seriously shaken up by the Nature is Bike festival. Europe's leading event for gravel and adventure biking, Nature is Bike features epic journeys, lively debates, enriching encounters and product discoveries. Here's the story of four hectic days where the "chemin de traverse" is at the top of the bill.

Meeting the clubs

Explore the city with Fines Garnottes
In each issue, our contributor Jonathan B. Roy meets members of cycling clubs.

Between rocks and roots

Lord of the Squirrels
If trails could communicate, they would greet Marie-Christine Daignault as she passed. The mountain biker knows them, respects them and loves to promote them. In future issues of Vélo Mag, we'll be giving her the chance to introduce us to places and people, and to give us some useful tips on how to make the most of our outings.

Purchasing assistant 2023

The joy of choice
After a few difficult years for cyclists in search of new equipment, it seems that this season the shortage is less acute. Clearly, now is the time to find a new bike. Here's an overview.

Geek Corner

Three profitable gestures to boost performance
In this new column, our contributor Martin Turgeon looks as much at the mechanics of the bike as the mechanics of the body. His goal: to help you become a more efficient cyclist. Beware: he doesn't hesitate to debunk a few preconceived ideas.

Equipment

Don't change your bike, upgrade it.

Nutrition

Weight management: the ideal time to take action
It's tempting to want to lose a little weight in anticipation of the sporting events you'll be taking part in over the summer. But beware: if performance and well-being are important to you during your outings, it's a good idea to think about periodizing your nutrition during training. Here's how.

Training

Drawing inspiration from the pros
Of course, nothing can be extrapolated from case studies. But taking a closer look at the realities of extraordinary athletes does have the merit of opening up avenues for reflection on one's own training methods.

Health

Where's the fun in that?