autumn-winter 2022

Prologue

Conquerors of the useful

It doesn't take long for our contributor Maxime Bilodeau to tell me about his first Ironman, completed last August. The swim went very well, as he followed the good legs in front of him, the bike portion went like clockwork (well, 180 km in 5 hrs 44 min, anyway...), and the first 21 km run loop proved «pleasant», as he puts it. «I chatted with the participants,» he says. As for the rest, we enter a sphere where the words supernatural, sublime and ecstasy emerge at the same time as the flame in his eyes lights up.

Podium

Marianne Théberge: for the love of sport

Canadian U23 mountain bike champion Marianne Théberge has the talent and racing intelligence to win at the highest level.

My stars

The old stove's platoon

The first made many sweat, literally. The second helped lead Quebecers to the WorldTour. The third helped develop cycling in Quebec. Vélo Mag spoke to these retirees to whom the cycling community owes a great deal.

Cycling in Budapest, Hungary

The champion mechanic

«I don't really have time to talk to you,» Kiss Árpi warns me in his workshop, before starting a conversation... that lasts four hours. From the purity of driving without derailing to communist smuggling, the former messenger finally had a lot to say!

Destinations

Californian autumn

I wanted to stretch my cycling season by a week. I chose California as my destination, the mild temperature in November and the beauty of the scenery being my first selection criteria. In fact, my main aim was to test my bike-camping equipment on a gravel bike over a ten-day period.

Les chemins de traverse: duty to remember in Gaspésie

In the hinterland of the Gaspésie, you can still see the remains of villages that turned out to be ephemeral. And they're best discovered by gravel bike.

Light cycle touring in Chaudière-Appalaches

You don't have to go halfway around the world, or even deep into the boreal forest, to enjoy a transcendent bikepacking experience. All you have to do is look around your backyard.

Bromont-sur-neige

«You'll be looking far ahead: that's the best way to be stable on your bike,» Maxine points out as she swings her arms and legs to warm up. We take our first fatbike class at the Centre

national de cyclisme de Bromont. It's freezing cold, but that doesn't stop us from considering cycling a winter sport too.

Bike tests

Spherik SFC: the pleasure of going fast

On the trails, everyone loves to ride on snow. Some people like to ride on snow FAST... as fast as possible!... whether it's to get a top spot on Strava or just for the pleasure of feeling the wheels fly over the hard-packed trails. These performance enthusiasts turn to well-equipped high-end frames, with 27.5" wheels and carbon frame and fork. This is the clientele for which the new SFC is designed.

Racing fat

More and more of us are convinced enthusiasts, members in good standing of the winter biking sect. Owners of a plump bike we bought at a good price a few years ago, but which no longer lives up to our expectations. The time has come to spoil ourselves, to take it to the next level. A lightweight, high-performance carbon frame with the latest equipment. To choose among these beautiful frames that all look the same, we have to look at small details, compare geometry, mounting and features. Here's how to make a first selection.

Norco Fluid FS A1: generous by nature

Norco has pulled out all the stops to bring us the completely redesigned Fluid FS. It's an all-terrain bike for beginners and experts alike. Presented in four versions (A1, A2, A3, A4) and five sizes (S, M, L, XL, XXL), it will appeal to a wide range of riders, both large and small. The frame tested is a pre-production version of the Fluid FS A1.

Advice

Photo: the perfect frame

Marie Ledoux, Laurent Bilodeau, Guillaume Milette, Yan Kaczynski and Julien Payette-Tessier are constantly out and about. On the road or in the mountains, they earn their living photographing and filming their favorite sport. Framing,

focus, equipment: Jonathan B. Roy asked them what the perfect recipe was for bike photography.

Training

Do I have a personal trainer?

With the off-season on the horizon, it's a good time to start working with a coach. Should you?

Nutrition

Proteins: powdered or in food?

Carbohydrates are a nutrient of choice for cyclists wishing to optimize their performance and recovery. However, one nutrient is often overlooked by these athletes: protein. Protein is found in a wide range of foods, as well as in powdered supplements. What about protein powders?

Health

- Fit organs for better pedaling
- A logbook for better performance