april 2023

Prologue

The principle of accessibility

I invite you to read the article «Without eyes» by Gabrielle Anctil on page 18 of this magazine. It made me realize how lucky I am to be able to ride a bike whenever I want. While this accessibility is gratifying, it's not universal.

My influencers

The Mont-vélo gang

After introducing you to the bikes that have marked my life, I'd like to pick up the thread of my cycling biography by highlighting the importance of the people who have crossed my path and contributed to my trajectory on two wheels. A tribute to those who have inspired me in the practice of what I consider the most beautiful, noble and demanding of all sports.

Report

Without eyes

I'm joining a handful of cyclists at the Claude-Robillard Center in Montreal's north end for a ride to the east end of the island. These cyclists share a particular interest with me: they're passionate about cycling, and love to ride and explore new corners of Quebec, sometimes on multi-day adventures. Nothing discourages them, not even bad weather. The only difference between them and me, in the end, is quite simple: these cyclists are blind.

Mountain Purchasing Assistant

The joy of choice

The last three years have been difficult for cyclists looking for a new bike: supply was rather anemic and the used market demanded almost the same price as new. This is now a thing of the past. The runaway production machine has filled warehouses and retailers' stockpiles. It will therefore be much easier to find what you're looking for, even if certain categories of bikes in high demand will go fast.

electric

Spain without false passes

Some countries have countless mountain passes: Spain is one of them. The Iberian Peninsula abounds with exceptional cycling routes amidst the peaks, and offers a very favorable climate all year round. Making a selection of the best passes is a real challenge. That's why we've focused on the beauty of the panoramas rather than the difficulty of the routes...

The Alps, or a tour of the great outdoors

The idea? Start at Lake Geneva and descend to the Mediterranean via a string of legendary passes in the French Alps. The plan? Make the trip in semi-assisted mode, carrying nothing but your courage from village to village, hotel to hotel. The result? Nothing less than the best cycling trip of my life.

Destinations

A short guide for cyclists

Travelling by bike usually means communicating, photographing and camping, in other words, respecting and interacting. Asking questions about the countries we visit and writing about them, in other words, reflecting... and interacting again, through written media. Jonathan B. Roy shares his thoughts on the subject.

Advice

Good (or bad) reasons to buy a bike designed for women

Women's bikes: marketing bubble or real need? Quite a debate. The main reasons for turning to a bike said to be designed for women are usually size, weight and, yes yes, color choice. But does the construction of a bike have to be gendered to suit women's needs? Not necessarily.

Between rocks and roots

Harmony on the South Shore

It took just six minutes to fill the hundreds of seats on offer for the Montérégie Cycling Club outing. People come to the CCM for the cycling, and stay for the atmosphere.

Meeting the clubs

Marianne St-Gelais

Ça roule! is a series of video vignettes broadcast on Vélo Mag's digital platforms featuring three cycling enthusiasts and their cycling. We present them here as they appear. At the same time, it's also possible to enter the Equipped to Ride contest, details of which can be found on our social media pages and on the page of these enthusiastic bloggers. You can even tell us who your favorite cycling personality is, who will join this trio of stars in our magazine.

On the move!

Baptism in Bolivia

The road turns into Tajikistan less than 10 km after Villamontes. Three years after crossing Central Asia, I'm back on a soft, winding road climbing to the heights of the Altiplano. The arid «high plain», with an average altitude of 3,750 m, stretches across the west of the country.

Selected excerpts

Three untruths not worth telling

Simplistic rules are popular. This often leads to unfounded popular beliefs. It's high time the cycling world got rid of the following three!

Geek Corner

Anti-inflammatory foods under the microscope

Sportsmen and women, whether recreational or competitive, can be prone to inflammation. Certain foods have the potential to calm or aggravate this natural reaction. The idea of being able to manage pain through food would make many athletes, including cyclists, very happy.

Nutrition

The ABCs of interval training

Putting together a proper interval training session isn't as simple as it sounds. Here's an overview of best practices.

Training

How do you prepare for a stage race?

Taking part in a stage race or multi-day cycling event requires special mental and physical preparation. This type of tour has its own unique logistical aspects. How do you prepare for such a long-term challenge? Three specialists, one in mental preparation, another in physical preparation and an experienced cyclist, give their advice on this question.

Health