We love lapierre. Lapierre Mountain Bikes: Innovative Technology for Leisure and Competition

How did Lapierre become a leader in mountain bike technology. What makes their e:i Shock system unique. Why do professional teams choose Lapierre for competitions. How does Lapierre cater to different types of riders.

The Rich History of Lapierre Bicycles

Lapierre, a renowned French bicycle manufacturer, has a storied history dating back to 1946. Founded by Gaston Lapierre in Dijon, France, the company has grown from humble beginnings to become a global leader in bicycle technology and design. Now under the leadership of Gaston’s grandson, Giles, Lapierre continues to innovate and expand, with three manufacturing sites across France.

What sets Lapierre apart from other bike brands? Their commitment to embracing cutting-edge technology while maintaining a focus on high-quality, aesthetically pleasing designs has been a hallmark of the company since its inception. This unique blend of form and function has helped Lapierre capture the spirit of its native region and establish a strong presence in the cycling world.

Lapierre’s Road to Cycling Greatness

Around the turn of the millennium, Lapierre made a significant pivot towards road bikes, developing an entirely new range that would soon make waves in the cycling community. Their top-end frames featured a groundbreaking lightweight carbon lay-up, weighing in at a mere 900 grams. This technological advancement caught the attention of professional teams and enthusiasts alike.

How did Lapierre’s road bikes gain prominence in professional cycling? In 2002, Lapierre secured a partnership with the World Tour team Française des Jeux (FDJ), a collaboration that continues to this day. This enduring relationship has become one of the longest-standing associations between a manufacturer and a racing team in the sport’s history.

The Symbiotic Relationship with FDJ

• Lapierre provides FDJ with prototype bikes for testing
• FDJ offers valuable feedback for refinement and development
• Continuous improvement based on real-world racing conditions

This partnership has driven Lapierre to produce a diverse range of high-quality bicycles catering to various riding styles. From aerodynamic racing machines to endurance-focused bikes for long-distance rides, Lapierre offers something for every type of cyclist.

Conquering the Mountain Biking Scene

While Lapierre made significant strides in road cycling, their roots in mountain biking run deep. The company’s involvement in the mountain biking scene dates back to the 1980s when they began sponsoring teams worldwide. This early entry into the sport positioned Lapierre at the forefront of the mountain biking boom that swept through the 80s and 90s.

How did Lapierre solidify its position in the mountain biking world? A key moment came in 2003 when Lapierre partnered with Nicolas Vouilloz, a 10-time World Downhill MTB Champion. This collaboration led to the development of a range of advanced and innovative downhill bikes, further cementing Lapierre’s reputation in the mountain biking community.

Innovative Mountain Bike Technologies

1. Collaboration with top athletes for real-world testing and feedback
2. Development of the e:i shock system in partnership with RockShox
3. Continuous refinement of bike designs for various disciplines

The Revolutionary e:i Shock System

In 2012, Lapierre unveiled a game-changing innovation in mountain bike suspension technology: the e:i shock system. Developed in collaboration with RockShox, this electronic suspension system automatically adjusts damping based on real-time feedback from the trail. But how does this system work, and what benefits does it offer riders?

Key Features of the e:i Shock System

• Real-time adjustment of suspension damping
• Sensors detect terrain changes and impacts
• Automatic optimization for efficiency and performance
• Seamless integration with the bike’s overall design

The e:i shock system represents Lapierre’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of mountain bike technology. By automating suspension adjustments, riders can focus on the trail ahead without worrying about manually tweaking their bike’s settings.

Lapierre’s Mountain Bike Range: Something for Everyone

Lapierre’s dedication to innovation extends across their entire mountain bike lineup. The company offers a wide range of models designed to cater to various riding styles and skill levels. Whether you’re a cross-country racer, an enduro enthusiast, or a downhill specialist, Lapierre has a bike to suit your needs.

Popular Lapierre Mountain Bike Models

• Lapierre XR: Cross-country race machines
• Lapierre Zesty: Versatile trail bikes
• Lapierre Spicy: Enduro-focused rigs
• Lapierre DH: Downhill-specific bikes

Each model in Lapierre’s lineup benefits from the company’s extensive research and development efforts, incorporating feedback from professional riders and everyday enthusiasts alike.

The Lapierre Zesty AM 927: A Closer Look

One standout model in Lapierre’s mountain bike range is the Zesty AM 927, equipped with the innovative e:i Shock system. This bike exemplifies Lapierre’s commitment to blending cutting-edge technology with trail-ready performance. But what makes the Zesty AM 927 so special?

Key Features of the Lapierre Zesty AM 927

• Advanced carbon frame construction
• e:i Shock electronic suspension system
• Versatile all-mountain geometry
• High-end component specification

Riders who have spent time on the Zesty AM 927 often describe the experience as “bitter-sweet,” praising its exceptional performance while acknowledging the complexity of its electronic systems. The bike’s ability to tear through singletrack with precision and efficiency is a testament to Lapierre’s engineering prowess.

The Future of Mountain Bike Suspension

As Lapierre continues to innovate with systems like e:i Shock, it raises questions about the future of mountain bike suspension technology. Are we reaching a plateau in suspension development, or will we see even more advanced systems in the coming years?

While the answer remains uncertain, Lapierre’s approach to suspension technology demonstrates a commitment to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. The e:i Shock system, with its ability to automatically adjust damping based on real-time trail feedback, represents a significant leap forward in suspension performance.

Potential Developments in Suspension Technology

• Further integration of electronic systems
• Improved sensors for more accurate terrain reading
• Enhanced battery life and power management
• Increased customization options for riders

As the mountain biking industry continues to evolve, Lapierre is well-positioned to remain at the forefront of suspension technology innovation.

Lapierre’s Commitment to Quality and Innovation

Throughout its history, Lapierre has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to quality and innovation. From their early days in post-war France to their current status as a global leader in bicycle technology, Lapierre has consistently pushed the boundaries of what’s possible in bike design and performance.

How does Lapierre maintain its edge in a competitive market? By fostering close relationships with professional athletes, investing heavily in research and development, and constantly refining their designs based on real-world feedback. This approach has allowed Lapierre to create bikes that not only perform at the highest levels of competition but also cater to the needs of everyday riders.

Key Factors in Lapierre’s Success

• Collaboration with top athletes and teams
• Continuous investment in R&D
• Embrace of new technologies and materials
• Focus on both performance and aesthetics

As Lapierre looks to the future, it’s clear that the company will continue to play a significant role in shaping the direction of both road and mountain bike technology. With a rich history and a forward-thinking approach, Lapierre remains a brand to watch in the cycling world.

Choosing the Right Lapierre Bike for Your Needs

With such a diverse range of bikes available, how can you choose the right Lapierre model for your riding style and goals? Consider the following factors when making your decision:

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Lapierre Bike

• Riding discipline (road, cross-country, trail, enduro, downhill)
• Terrain types you’ll encounter most often
• Your skill level and experience
• Budget considerations
• Preference for specific technologies (e.g., e:i Shock system)

By carefully evaluating your needs and preferences, you can select a Lapierre bike that will provide the perfect balance of performance, comfort, and versatility for your riding style.

Whether you’re a competitive racer looking for every advantage on the trail or a weekend warrior seeking a reliable and fun ride, Lapierre offers a bike to suit your needs. With their commitment to innovation and quality, you can trust that a Lapierre bike will deliver an exceptional riding experience, no matter where your adventures take you.

Bonjour Lapierre ! – Merlin Cycles Blog

Here at Merlin, we are proud to present some of the best bike brands in the world. Lapierre is one of those brands.

So, who are Lapierre?

The post war mood in France was, partly at least, one of hope. Lapierre bikes were born in this era of post war hope and re-generation. Lapierre was established by Gaston Lapierre in 1946 in the town of Dijon. A place more famous for its mustard than its bikes. Lapierre were soon producing bikes which would ‘cut the mustard’, and managed to capture the spirit of the region.

Lapierre have always embraced the latest technological advancements. They matched their love of tech’ with their desire to produce high quality designs for aesthetically pleasing bicycles. Today Lapierre has expanded to three manufacturing sites in France and Gaston’s grandson, Giles, is now in charge.

Road to Greatness

Around the year 2000, Lapierre began to expand its focus on road bikes, developing a whole new range of road bikes. Lapierre’s top end frames featured a revolutionary, lightweight carbon lay-up. The frames using this lay-up came in at just 900 grams. These early high-end frames helped secure a strong partnership with World Tour team Française des Jeux (FDJ) in 2002. This partnership is still going strong today – one of the longest associations between manufacturer and racing team.

The relationship is very mutually beneficial. Lapierre supply FDJ with prototypes that are then refined and developed for production. All based on the feedback from the team.

Lapierre continue to produce a range of quality bikes that cater to all riders; From aero focussed racers, mountain seeking climbers to all-day  sportive / endurance riders. There’s a machine in the Lapierre range to suit all riders.

Move any Mountain

During the 1980’s Lapierre bikes were strong in the mountain biking scene sponsoring many teams around the world. Lapierre was in a strong position in a sport that would boom throughout the 80’s and 90’s, this focused much of their efforts into the world of MTB or VTT as the French call it

2003, saw Lapierre partner with 10X World Downhill MTB Champion Nicolas Vouilloz. Nicolas worked closely with the research & development team at Lapierre to create a range of advanced and innovative downhill bikes to top off the French brand’s strong range of mountain bikes.

During 2012, after several years of working closely with RockShox in the development process, Lapierre released the first bikes with the e:i shock system, an electronic suspension system that adjusts the level of damping based on real-time feedback from the trail.

Lapierre are continually developing new technology and embracing new ways to produce mountain bikes which cater for all types or riders from cross-country, trail and enduro riders to downhill specialists.

Merlin Cycles are proud to present Lapierre – Check our stock here

Lapierre Zesty AM 927, with e:i Shock.

After countless trail hours, car miles, domestic flights and mountain bike events, it has come time to begrudgingly hand back our beloved Lapierre Zesty AM long term test bike.

We’ve made no mystery of the fact that we love Lapierre bikes here at Flow, they tear through singletrack like a pro and their e:i Shock gizmo takes efficiency to an unprecedented level. This one in particular – the Zesty AM729- with its top-tier spec and fancy electronics, attracted its fair share of attention on the trails. And in the end of our time aboard the Zesty we review our relationship as having been bitter-sweet, equal parts joy and frustration.

[divider]A bit of background on the e:i Shock[/divider]

All the big bike brands are frantically duking it against each other out for rear suspension supremacy by using tricky rear axle paths, proprietary shock valving, remote lockouts or, in Lapierre’s case, an automatically-adjusting and electronically-controlled rear suspension system. It’s a confusing time for the consumer, and even for us. They all have their strengths and weaknesses, and the weaknesses in particular keep shrinking each year as the technologies develop. What the heck is going to be next? The future of mountain bike suspension is an unknown to us, where can it all go from here, will it plateau and calm down? Do we really need all this?

Lapierre’s unique electronic intelligent suspension system is not an easy concept to explain – it all makes a lot more sense when you actually ride a bike equipped with this system. Fortunately here at Flow we’ve had plenty of trail time on a wide range of e:i equipped bikes, take a look at our first review of  the 2013 Zesty 314. Lapierre use the e:i on three models of suspension bikes, the XR, Zesty and Spicy.

Lapierre have clearly realised that explaining the e:i system in mere words is a bit of a task, and so they’ve just released this great vid that does a really good job of explaining what it’s all about and how it works.

In the end, we most certainly appreciate what the e:i Shock does, whole heartedly. The best thing about it? You’re always in the best suspension setting for whatever riding you are doing. You don’t have to reach for a lever on a shock, or a switch on the handlebar, it’s all 100% automatic. You are always in the optimum shock setting, and you can’t fool it, trick it or be caught out.

Our test bike here is a 2014 model, but for 2015, Lapierre have greatly simplified the operation of the e:i system, ridding it of the unnecessary display unit and bar-mounted mode adjuster. We recently spent time on the new e:i system, and met the engineers behind the incredibly clever and effective system, whilst previewing the 2015 Lapierre range. We’re also currently testing the new 2015 Zesty TR 829, so come back soon!

[divider]Our Long Term Test[/divider]

The 2014 Zesty AM 927 is a gorgeous bike, immaculately finished, and specced with the finest parts possible for almost $10k. From the forests of Cairns, to the big mountains of Mount Buller, to the flowing trails of Orange and all over the trails of Sydney, the Zesty was that perfect ‘one bike’ that was up for anything. Exploring unknown trails is always a tricky one; what bike to take? Our Zesty always seemed to be the right choice, and we reached for it all the time. We raced it at Bike Buller, the multi-stage event in the big Victorian Alps, with its hour-long climbs and insanely fast descents, tight switchback corners and wide open fire roads. The Zesty was never too much, or not enough bike. We raced it at Enduro events, and wouldn’t hesitate to roll around a multi-lap endurance race either.

Sure, its high end parts make this bike very appealing, keeping the weight low and therefore requiring less effort to pedal around the trails, but the geometry and handing characteristic really lend itself to taking on a wide variety of trails too. 150mm of travel is a fair bit of bounce, but the electronic motors continually zapped away, making sure that you were always in the right setting for climbing, springing or descending. You never get that soggy, energy sapping feeling as your pedal power is absorbed into the the bike as the rear shock compresses, it is firm when you want it, but stop pedalling or hit a bump and it instantly becomes plush and active.

One thing we kept on wishing for, was a FOX shock in place of the RockShox Monarch. It’s no secret that a FOX rear shock in most cases feels smoother, more sensitive and reacts faster than a RockShox. This 2014 model Monarch is better than last year’s one, but still at high speeds and when the trails became choppy, those fast and repetitive impacts seem to choke up the shock. For 2015 however, the new Monarch’s have improved out of sight again, new model bikes we’ve ridden with 2015 Monarch shocks are far smoother and sensitive.

We chatted to Lapierre’s suspension engineer about the working relationship with RockShox, and why FOX was never used with the e:i Shock. It turns out that FOX simply weren’t that interested in working with the e:i Shock folks, and the current Shimano/FOX electronic systems were simply not fast enough to work with the e:i system. RockShox shocks may not be the smoothest, but their damping internals are able to be changed at 0.01 seconds, that’s the key to the operation.

When it all began, fresh out of the box.

But, for all our praises of this bike comes some disappointing negatives. At the risk of sounding a bit brutal we were not 100% stoked on the 2014 e:i Shock’s hardware durability or visual appearance. Due to a few niggling electronic component issue – all of which were swiftly rectified under warranty – our Zesty has spent a portion of its life in varying states of operation. At times these niggles dominated our thoughts when riding, and left us wondering if the bike would be better without the electronics.

Pike fork, Maxxis tyres, Bontrager saddle, and a singletrack exploration adventure in Orange, NSW.

The issues we had lay in the connectivity of the electronic points, both at the head unit and at the main internal junction, suffering from the elements most likely. Inside the frame, above the bottom bracket is a little junction of wires, soldered together and waterproofed with heat shrink. Ours had issues, and the junction wires were replaced by our local Lapierre dealer. We also had problems with the display unit going blank intermittently, but Lapierre have just released an updated head unit has a more positive connection between the computer display and the housing. We know this technology is young, and these kind of early generation issues are inevitable, but it is frustrating nonetheless.

On a more positive note, the upcoming 2015 version of this bike with its refined and simpler e:i Shock ‘Auto’ system will blow the 2014 model out of the water. We’ve ridden the 2015 system extensively, and look forward to more users having a better experience with e:i on the new system. Improvements to the 2015 system include the connections between the wires inside the frame. Gone are the soldered and heat shrink-wrapped junctions of wires, in place are new durable and weatherproof plugs, like you would find inside the frame of a Shimano Di2 bike. The display head unit is gone entirely too, as is the remote buttons near the shifter. This is all good news as far as we’re concerned – the system is much simpler visually and in its user interface.

The head unit controls all the action, and also doubles as a regular cycle computer with some basic functions.

[divider]Upgrades[/divider]

We couldn’t help ourselves, a RockShox Pike had to happen. The 150mm travel 32mm FOX TALAS fork that came stock on the bike didn’t match the whole bike’s ready-for-action attitude. We opted for a 160mm Pike, which no only beefed up the front end with bigger diameter 35mm legs (in place of the FOX 32mm legs) but also lifted and slackened the front end. With a 160mm fork, the Zesty was beginning to look more like the Lapierre Spicy (which shares the exact same frame) which comes stock with a 160mm fork and a few more burly parts. Maybe we wanted really just wanted a Spicy all along?

The RockShox Pike, nothing beats the smooth and controlled action. Since its inception, the Pike has become a real ‘must have’ part for mountain bikes all over the world. Do yourself a favour, give one a try.

The Schwalbe Nobby Nic tyres, like the skinny FOX fork are nice and light, but were holding back the Zesty’s true capabilities of going really, really fast. We’ve also not really been big fans of the Nobby Nic unless the soils are really soft; we find they ping and slide around on hard packed surfaces, which is quite scary at times.

A pair of gummy Maxxis 2.35 TLR 3C (tubeless ready, triple compound) were a good swap; the Minion front and High Roller II added weight and a bit of drag, but the traction trade-off was well and truly worth it. No flats, burping or cuts occurred, but the eye-poppingly good braking control from the High Roller on the rear was short lived as the tall and aggressive centre knobs shredded fairly quickly.

Nothing bites like a Maxxis High Roller II when you grab the rear brake. Max control!

Everyone has a favourite seat, and the Bontrager Evoke is one of ours. In favour of the the Fizik Tundra, the Bontrager would save our buns on the longer rides.

We would typically muck around with the cockpit of a long term test bike, but in this case it remained unchanged. The length of the stem, ride and width of the bars was perfect. Even the grips stayed on the whole time.

Aside from the fork, the biggest change made to the Zesty was the ENVE M60 wheels. These lustrous hoops don’t need much of an introduction to road or mountain bike riders, they are the cream of the crop of carbon wheels. There is no better place on your bike to throw money at, the performance boost is huge. An excellent suspension fork is better than just a good one, but the differences with a top-notch set of wheels is night and day over a stock set.

What the ENVE wheels did to the bike was three-fold. Weight dropped significantly, the tyres were given a wider profile, and the bike’s direct and fast handling was lifted to the next level. The M60 rim is a fair bit wider than the stock Easton Havens, and in our opinion the wider the better. The tyres can be run at lower pressure to add major amounts of traction without experiencing a squirming or spongy ride. The contact patch of the tread was increased too as the casing of the tyre is set wider. But the best bit (not just the looks) is how they ride. The ENVE wheels know where you’re going, they feel stiff and strong without feeling harsh, and really encourage harder riding. Our ability to hold a rough line was noticeably more confident, and the rolling speed was wild, so damn fast.

Wanna go faster for around 3.5K? Just add Enve wheels.Deep, wide, shiny and fast.

[divider]Ride[/divider]

Zestys love speed, cornering and making light work out of the trickiest trails. They are a true all-mountain bike. They have a knack for hauling around a flat corner, and ripping through the tight and twisty sections. A short rear end is to thank for its nimble handling in tight terrain, and we love the way the Zesty pulls a manual or flicks around a switchback. Up front, a roomy top-tube gives the bike a nice dose of length. Pair that to a short stem, and you have a nice balance of room for stability, but also fast and responsive handling. Pretty much ideal for a lightweight 150mm bike.

The overall low weight was instantly evident on the first ride, not just getting up climbs with less effort, we found ourselves able to pop over sections of the trail, searching for smoother and faster lines like we had loads of energy. Lifting the bike and placing it down where you want it is super easy. And there is no doubt about it, the e:i Shock component (when it’s working) is superb. If you can put up with the noisy motor zapping away, you will quickly forget about the fact you’re carrying a battery, accelerometers, computers and cadence sensors on board and you’ll just leave the computer in auto mode, and just ride. It is perfect efficiency, and it’s completely automatic and intuitive and instant.

Moments before disassembly to be returned to original spec, our beloved Zesty is moving on.ENVE M60 wheel set, after months of abuse, they are still worthy of the hype. Dead straight, air tight and fast.All the cables are internally routed, but the hydraulic seat post cable would rattle inside the frame at times. Nothing a bit of foam squashed into the frame wouldn’t fix.The Relay motor adjusts the rear shock continually as instructed by the computer.The Zesty nails that 150-160mm all mountain bike category. It’s always going to be high up on our list of favourite bikes.

[divider]Verdict[/divider]

In comparison to a regular bike test, a long term test lets us delve deeper into how a bike performs over time, allowing elements like durability and different setup results factor in to the test. In this case, we did have durability issues with the electronics, but that was it. We made a couple spec changes, but aside from the tyres, nothing actually needed replacing.

We often hear people saying that they think mountain bikes ‘don’t need’ electronic suspension. That’s true. But that doesn’t mean it’s not a positive development, and in reality it’s simply an evolution of what are already very advanced machines. Take a look at a high-end modern bike; carbon framed, carbon wheeled, hydraulically damped, amazing strength to weight ratios – these bikes are not simple any more. We’ve accepted electronics into just about every other aspect of out lives, from our timepieces to our toothbrushes to our cars, why not our bikes too?

If it wasn’t for the hardware issues we had with the electronics, we would have been 100% happy with this bike. We know there are countless Lapierre owners out there who have never had any troubles, so maybe we just had bad luck. We really enjoyed this bike, and we think that Lapierre is onto a great thing with e:i. Now we’re looking forward to the 2015 range resolving the niggling issues we had and reinstating the public’s belief in what we think is one of the leading suspension designs ever made.

Lapierre Spicy Team Edition – Review

Lapierre first gave birth to the Spicy back in 2007. Since then, with feedback from DH legend Nicolas Vouilloz, it has become recognized as one of the go-to bikes for exploring off the beaten track in big mountains, as well as smashing down enduro race tracks around the world, something Nico isn’t too shabby at doing. The bike has evolved during that timeframe, with the 150mm travel Spicy Team Edition tested here, being the most advanced and also the most expensive example of the breed. Retailing for $8,000 USD and sporting electronically aided suspension, this is the French company’s no-holds-barred attempt at creating the ultimate mid-travel bike, and it is actually close to what Nico actually uses during race weekends, sans a few rather special near one-off components that only a handful of the world’s fastest racers can get their hands on. Don’t want to shell out that kind of money? Lapierre also offers their Spicy 527, available in both E:i and a non E:i versions, for $5300 and $4500 USD; and the Spicy 327 (available only in Europe) for $2599 Euro.

Like previous editions of the Spicy platform, it features a 160-millimeter fork, but from there the bike has undergone a host of changes. Most visibly, the wheels have been bumped up to 27.5-inches to take advantage of the mid-size wheel’s ability to carry speed on rough ground – critical for a bike that was designed to be a race bike first, play bike second. Additionally, the cockpit gets more room, with 15-millimeters added to the top tube length of the small and medium sized frames, and 10 millimeters to the large. The remaining changes are more subtle, with the biggest being the reduction in rear-wheel travel from 160mm to 150mm. As in previous years, this frame is exactly the same as its little brother, the Lapierre Zesty – the Zesty, however, receives less travel up front and components more suited for less demanding trail riding than smashing down mountainsides at warp speed.

Frame Details

The Spicy has a clean look to it, thanks in large part to the internally routed cables, even if its frame doesn’t having the flowing lines of some other designs out there. The slack front end gives it a ready-for-business appearance, as does the sturdy looking rear end, and many motor racing fans will recognize the black, blue, and red accents as being close to those historic Martini Racing colours – a neat touch, even if it wasn’t on purpose. For those who cringe at the thought of having to swap an internally routed cable, Lapierre has used teflon guides that should make it a snap, while keeping the lines from rattling inside the frame, and there is also an option to route the rear brake line externally if you don’t want to deal with bleeding it after installation. As with the majority of carbon frames on the market that have been designed to rip down serious terrain, a burly looking frame guard can be found on the underside of the down tube that protects against rock strikes.

Both the front triangle and the seat stays are composed of different blends of carbon fiber in order to maximize strength, while the bike’s chain stays are aluminum in order to maximize durability in an area that sees a lot of abuse. The front triangle is manufactured as a true monocoque, meaning that it’s molded in a single step, versus being comprised of different carbon sections that are then glued together in a second operation. This not only plays a part in the claimed 300-gram weight savings, compared to the alloy frame, but it is also said to create a stiffer and more reliable product. Lapierre certainly isn’t the only brand that takes a monocoque approach to frame construction, however, and the Spicy is made using techniques that have been proven over many years.

Geometry and Suspension

Despite the wheel size change, geometry on the 2014 Spicy remains surprisingly close to its 26-inch predecessor. There’s the longer top tube we previously mentioned, but the head angle has been slackened by a half degree as well. However, the seat tube angle and chainstay length remain the same as the 2013 model, although doing that meant eliminating the seatstay brace in favour of joining the stays at the upper rocker link. Another change can be found at the bottom bracket, with it dropped by 18 millimeters order to compensate for the larger diameter wheels, and should noticeably boost the bike’s cornering performance.

On the suspension side of the Spicy, we have two things going on: first, Lapierre’s Optimized Suspension Technology plus (OST+) and their E:i system. The OST+ suspension design utilizes a Horst Link rear dropout pivot in order to remain active under braking, but Lapierre’s suspension engineers went to work to combat pedal bob by using chain tension to keep the back end from moving excessively when the rider is on the gas. This is always a balancing act, with designers having to decide exactly how much suspension activity they want to trade for more efficient pedalling. For 2014, this linkage was tweaked to offer more grip when climbing, a larger sag range to better customize the ride, a more linear compression curve, and greater stability when pedalling hard. In other words, Lapierre is saying that it’s better in every regard, which is kind of what you’d expect them to say, isn’t it?

Secondly, we have E:i (electronic intelligence). It’s an electronically controlled system, proprietary to Lapierre and a two sister companies in Europe, that was created in collaboration with RockShox. In a nutshell, a computer handles inputs from two accelerometers – one on the stem, one on the fork leg – and a cadence sensor in the bottom bracket shell that all tell the shock how it should be performing: locked out when smooth, to wide open in the big stuff, and everything in between. For a more complete breakdown of the nuts and bolts of this system, see Pinkbike’s article on this technology. The E:i system is obviously more complicated than a standard setup, but it is quite simple to operate: the arrows on the remote change the shock mode from “Auto” to “Locked”, to “Medium”, or “Open”; and the center button changes the display to show information like cadence, speed, time in motion, etc. In the auto settings, the computer controls servo operated floodgates that can shift the shock from wide open to completely closed and anywhere in between in one tenth of a second. A rechargeable battery mounted near the bottom of the down tube powers the system for up to 25 hours of continuous use.

Suspension Setup and Bike Fit

Despite the high-tech nature of the E:i system, suspension setup is per the norm: start by setting sag on the shock and fork, tweaking the rebound to your liking, and then adjusting from there as needed. However, the bike’s E:i system should allow you to not be forced to compromise the its descending capabilities with a firmer set-up for non technical trail riding – in theory, it will add platform as needed, enabling one to err on the side of plush rather than punishing. The one point to note during setup is that it must be done with the suspension set to full open, just as you would do with any bike that offers different levels of compression damping.

The 15 millimeters of extra top tube length on the Team, compared to last year’s Spicy, is a welcome change. The cockpit of the 2013 bike was just a bit too cramped. By comparison, the medium sized frame’s 605-millimeter top tube paired with a 55-millimeter stem gave us a nice, comfortable feel: not too long for our tastes, but not too short, either. And, despite the larger wheels, there was plenty of stand-over room too. In short, the fit felt just right. We do need to mention one flaw on our test bike, though: we hijacked a pre-production model that featured more man-sized seatstays than the production model (15-millimeters wider, to be precise). As a result, we found ourselves scuffing our heels frequently for the first few rides. After that, like when riding a bike with a low bottom bracket and learning when to avoid pedal strikes on trail obstacles, we modified our pedal stroke to make this a non-issue. However, some riders may find even the tapered stays of the production bike to be distracting when pedalling, particularly with DH style shoes and platform pedals.

Climbing

Anyone expecting the 150-millimeter-travel Spicy Team to climb like a bag of rocks will be pleasantly surprised. With the E:i turned off, the bike climbed as one would expect a properly set up longer-travel machine to ascend – with good traction and acceptable pedal feedback, even big out-of-the-saddle efforts don’t penalize the rider with too much monkey motion. That said, it is certainly not a rocket ship when fighting gravity. But, with the E:i engaged, the bike climbed like a billy goat: every ounce of effort went into moving the bike up the trail. On quicker paced trail climbs, the rear suspension still engaged on obstacles to offer extra grip when needed. When slowed to a crawl in steeper, technical terrain, however, the E:i system tended to keep the rear locked out, resulting in lost traction in moments when it counted the most. Switching the E:i off in such situations allowed the OST+ rear suspension to grab that brief moment of traction required for getting up and over all but the slickest obstacles. Turning the E:i setup on and off during a climb isn’t ideal, and we’d recommend that anyone who owns the bike spend time playing with the different levels of damping control that is available in the system in order to find one that works best for their terrain.

Downhill and Technical Handling

No bones about it; the Lapierre Spicy Team is a light weight, but it tracks like a heavy-duty trail bike with DH balls. The combination of rock solid chassis, a DH inspired cockpit, mid-sized wheels, and top-shelf suspension components make it amazingly capable. It’s incredibly stable at speed, yet also incredibly agile when needed; direction changes are effortless… you can flick this bike at will, regardless of speed. And while it has ten millimeters less travel than last year’s Spicy, the suspension pretty much gobbled up anything in its path – large, square-edged hits included. That suspension, combined with the laterally stiff frame and SRAM’s Rail 50 wheels, meant that it held virtually any line we dropped into. But even when adrift in those “Oh shit, h-a-n-g ON!” moments, the combination of slightly larger wheels, point and shoot stiffness, and don’t-have-to-think-about-it suspension got us through every time.

The E:i System

The E:i system was an eye opener. We admit that some of us had disliked the idea of E:i before testing it – after all, how can some algorithm tell the suspension what the rider really wants? The whole idea seemed to be disconnecting the rider from the bike, and it just seemed like something that an already good machine didn’t need. But with E:i everything was near seamless: no longer were we reaching for a compression lever on the shock when approaching climbs, only to have to fumble for the “open” setting when the fun started. Instead, it was hit the gas for the climb and the bike took off like a monkey. Get into a bit of trail chatter and the suspension would smooth it out. Drop into the kind of pucker found on the ‘Shore or the high speed chunder of big mountain descending and it was taking everything you threw it at and asking for more, allowing us to focus on one thing: going as fast as possible. Rather than disconnecting us from the bike, E:i did the complete opposite by allowing us to forget about everything but the ride.

We tried the E:i system in all of it’s automatic settings, from the nearly open feel of ‘Auto 1’ to the XC racing-firm Auto 5. Within a short time, we settled on utilizing either the ‘Auto 2’ or ‘Auto 3’ settings. Auto 1 – even with the OST+ set correctly – offered a bit too much suspension bob when standing to hit the gas coming out corners, while Auto 4 and 5 were just too firm for our liking. In slower-paced technical, or pedal-intensive terrain we’d hear the servo-motor on the shock click and whir as we pedaled, setting the right amount of supple compliancy when getting into roots and rocks for us to carry speed, yet also setting just enough platform to remain easily flickable. Trying the same lines with E:i in it’s open setting gave us just as much traction, but when forced to pedal out of the saddle, we found ourselves going into the bike’s travel too much whenever we stabbed the cranks for more speed. We also had to put noticeably more effort into flicking the bike over obstacles. Staying seated in situations like that did offer better pedalling, but that also robbed us of the ability to power over most of the rough stuff. In short, the E:i system was consistently more efficient than leaving the suspension in it’s open setting. That’s not to say the bike’s suspension performed poorly when left open; it just wasn’t as efficient under power, particularly when standing to hammer on the pedals, than when the E:i was engaged.

Throughout the duration of the review we were only able to “fool” the robot bike in two scenarios. This happened when braking late on the same high-speed left-hand berm while in the Auto 2 setting; E:i appeared to mistake the compression of the fork for rider induced low speed compression and kept the shock locked out even though we weren’t pedalling, producing a rough, brake jack-like feeling completely at odds with the bike’s normal performance. However, that same corner offered no problems for either the Auto 1 or Auto 3 settings, nor were we able to duplicate that brake jack elsewhere in the Auto 2 setting. When queried, Lapierre pointed out that our test bike was fitted with an earlier production version of the E:i software that did see some revisions that might remedy this foible, although we didn’t get our hands on the updated version to confirm this.

E:i Durability

So how durable is the E:i system? After all, it’s a pretty penny on top of what’s already an expensive bike, and the display appears to be awfully vulnerable perched atop the stem. Plus, if it’s going to fail after a month or six, why bother with it? Well… the display atop the stem is just that: a display. Once the E:i is set up, one can remove the display and E:i will continue to function. Only a severed cable or loss of power will cause the system to fail, in which case, the suspension will simply revert to full open. As to long term abuse; we’ve had just four solid months on the bike, but we were far from gentle with it – it was used in pissing rain, desert heat, below freezing temps with sleet, and it never failed. In fact, the E:I system worked so well that we went from doubting that electric assisted suspension should exist on bikes, it to not wanting to give it (or the bike) back. The caveat here is that anyone purchasing their own Spicy Team is going to keep the bike for a lot longer than four months, but we do have to say that we have confidence in the system’s long-term reliability.

Component Check

• SRAM Rail 50 Wheels – The Rail 50s were rock solid. We beat the snot out of them, and while they did go out of true a bit during break in, they developed no dents, dings, or flat spots. Once re-trued, they held up perfectly for the remainder of the test.

• RockShox Monarch RT3 Shock – We were somewhat surprised to see an in-line shock on this bike, particularly when it’s stated purpose is Enduro racing. However, on long descents, we never experienced suspension fade from overheated oil or cavitation in the shock. And it’s worth noting that for most of his EWS campaign, Nico ran this same rear shock… the exception being on a couple of the more DH oriented EWS races where he ran a Monarch Plus RC3.

• Easton Cockpit – Bar-width and stem-length are personal choices, and while the 750-millimeter-wide Easton Havoc carbon bars will work well for a lot of riders, there will be riders who want a wider bar?.

• RockShox Reverb Stealth seatpost – We are definitely a fan of the Reverb, particularly the Stealth version. However, the seals on this one began to fail after only two months of use, requiring a complete rebuild. Not good.

• XX1 Drivetrain – The bike’s 30-tooth chainring was spot on. Even though the chain was in good shape, the rear pulleys showed a surprising amount of wear near the end of the test and had to be replaced. Otherwise, zero complaints.

Pinkbike’s take:

Lapierre

Catching Up With Aliza Lapierre – iRunFar

After a long break from racing, Aliza Lapierre won the 2021 UROC 100k in Virginia last weekend. In this interview, Aliza talks about what it was like to get back into racing after such a long break, if the competitive experience has evolved for her, and how she embraced adventure running with friends during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Catching Up With Aliza Lapierre Interview Transcript

iRunFar: Meghan Hicks of iRunFar. I’m with Aliza Lapierre. It’s a couple days after her win of the 2021 UROC 100k in Virginia. Hi, Aliza, how are you?

Aliza Lapierre: I’m doing well. Thanks for having me, Meghan.

iRunFar: Where are you sitting right now?

Lapierre: I’m sitting in my kitchen in Richmond, Vermont.

iRunFar: The northern part of the state?

Lapierre: We are in the northern part of the state. So we’re in between Burlington, Vermont and Stowe, Vermont.

iRunFar: And it’s officially mud season there right now.

Lapierre: It’s mud season, stick season, pretty gray and overcast, damp, wet, cold, and five minutes later maybe 70 degrees [Fahrenheit]. The season just can’t make up its mind.

iRunFar: I feel like a lot of people watching this are really going to identify with that. It seems to be that season in a lot of parts of the world right now. Congratulations on your win on Saturday. You said right before we started this interview this was the first time you’ve left your state since the COVID-19 pandemic started.

Lapierre: That is correct. Actually the only time I’ve left the county is a few times is to go skiing at Stowe which is about 20 minutes away from my house so leaving the state was a pretty big deal. We’ve really adhered to the Vermont state guidelines for COVID-19 protocol and that meant no traveling for about a year, so it was nice to get out of the state even though I love it so much. But I also love exploring and seeing different parts of the country so it was a pleasure.

iRunFar: What made you choose UROC as your debut post-pandemic event?

Lapierre: I’ve always wanted to do UROC. It’s always drawn a fairly competitive field. They’ve got some great singletrack down in Virginia. There’s not a ton of racing up around these parts this time of year just because of mud season and the trails are opening up. I really wanted to stay fairly close to home, otherwise it’s going to California or something, which at this point I wasn’t ready to commit to with COVID-19. I was lucky enough that [race directors James Russell] Gill and Francesca [Conte] were welcoming to have me. It was fun to get down to Virginia to see more of the landscape down there.

iRunFar: When was the last time you put 100 kilometers on the legs in a day?

Lapierre: I’ve definitely done some big training days and some FKT attempts, but it would definitely be last fall so it’s been a while.

iRunFar: I was thinking it must have been a race before the pandemic, but you did something solo or independently during the pandemic that was a bunch of miles?

Lapierre: Yeah. It was probably just about equal to 100k day I put in on the Long Trail. Much, much more elevation and technical terrain. It was good to get the legs turning over and actually be out running and racing.

iRunFar: What was it like to be in a race with other human beings and a bib number and aid stations and all those things?

Lapierre: It was almost like a bit of relearning just because all those things are different now. There’s no more normal. You don’t just go to packet pickup and hang out with your friends and pick up your bib. You go at a certain time, you’re socially distant, you wear your mask at the start line, you space out. It’s not a mad dash for the pole position off the start. So I was definitely anxious and I definitely kind of dove into the protocols deeper so I was prepared.

Aid stations were all single-serve food so everything was prepackaged. There was no community M&M bowl or bowl of chips or anything like that. You were committed to taking a whole little bag of X, Y, or Z. You had to have your mask on, which is all great because that is how we stay safe. Definitely looks a little bit different but overall I would say the feel of the community and just the encouragement and the thrill of racing is still there.

iRunFar: Talk about that thrill for a minute because I think that’s something that is pretty alive in a lot of us. There are a few people who have raced but the majority of people who are watching this feel that thrill inside of them, but they haven’t been out there yet.

Lapierre: For me, it started a couple days before with the travel. It was exciting packing up all my gear and going through it. Just the preparation was exciting. Then I was really, really anxious at bib pickup and at the start line, almost to the point where I was like, “Is this worth it? Is what I’m feeling worth it?” And then as soon as we spread out and we were all just out on this beautiful open landscape it was like, “Oh, this is why I do it.” Literally we were all cheering for each other and saying hello and almost letting our guard down and it was like, “This is why I do it. This is what I missed.” I missed being around these amazing people. We’re all out here competing but we’re also all out here supporting each other. It was just really touching and I felt a lot of gratitude to be able to be back out there.

iRunFar: You won the race by quite a lot.

Lapierre: I did.

iRunFar: I’m hearing lots of people talk about how the last year has really affected their competitive mindset, changed it in some way. Has that changed for you? Did you feel the fire of the past? What was it like competitively?

Lapierre: It was kind of interesting. Leading up to the race, it became clear that the competitive ladies that were originally signed up weren’t going to be able to attend. Alyssa St Laurent was from Canada and she couldn’t get across the border. She and I have sort of battled in some Western States 100 events and some other events, so I was looking forward to pushing her and having her push me and of course just seeing her. Corrine Malcolm originally was signed up. Her and I have battled. Unfortunately she got injured. My coach reminded me, “It doesn’t matter who’s on the start line. You’re there to do your best and compete against what you can do.”

Over the past year, I think my mindset has shifted a little bit. My running group has changed some. I’m running with this fantastic group of ladies. We call ourselves the Women of the Wilderness. So we call ourselves the WOW group. We go out and do these epic adventures. We laugh a lot, we cry some. Our pace doesn’t matter but we always have the most incredible stories and overcome stuff we never thought we could. Before I was always looking at my time and my pace, trying to prove and be faster on certain routes. During the pandemic, it was sort of like, “I’m going to slow down, enjoy being out here, enjoy these wonderful women I’m with, and sort of teach them how to navigate the sport and the terrain and how to be prepared in the wilderness as we take on big sections of the Long Trail.”

So that’s driven me quite a bit even though that’s not competitive, that’s become a new passion, to help other people learn how to do this and how to believe in themselves. Just teaching people how to get out of the door and be prepared has been what I’ve been into the past year.

iRunFar: That’s really amazing and if you’re taking adoptees just…. [raises hand]

Lapierre: You can adopt me! You have skill and ability and knowhow.

iRunFar: I think we’d learn a lot from each other.

Lapierre: I do, too. Yes.

iRunFar: It is still a volatile world. Trail running is kind of coming back but at the same time races are happening, many are being canceled or postponed. Do you have plans for the rest of the year?

Lapierre: My plans have recently been canceled/postponed because of COVID-19 and permitting. It’s kind of in flux right now. I’m not really scrambling to fill my calendar. I’m going to play the wait-and-see game. Again, my personal comfort with traveling to the other side of the country or trying to leave the country right now is not something I’m looking to do. I’m sort of still feeling out the waters and taking little steps. So we’ll see. I’m content with big days in the mountains and continuing to explore around here. I do hope there are opportunities to race as well.

iRunFar: In the meantime, spend time with the Women of the Wilderness.

Lapierre: Yes. I missed them dearly while I was racing. They were of course texting me about their epic adventures, and there was a mishap with a cut finger and how you deal with that with just some hand warmers and some gummy bears and how you make do.

iRunFar: Amazing. Congrats to you on your win of the 2021 UROC 100k. I really look forward to seeing what comes together for you in the rest of the year.

Lapierre: Thank you for your time and I appreciate all you guys do for our community.

iRunFar: Yay. Thanks Aliza.

An Ever So Spicy Race Bike from Lapierre in for Test

With elite French enduro pilots like Adrien Dailly, Isabeau Courdurier, Chloe Gallean, and Nico Vouilloz pushing the Lapierre Spicy to the edge, the bike has been leaned against more than one EWS podium. This CR 7.9 Spicy that we have in for review is the 29″ carbon fiber version that a lot of aspiring enduro racers might have their eye on, with its durable build spec, top-shelf suspension that offers 170mm of travel front and rear, and a reasonable price (€5,299) given the component spec.

The full-carbon Spicy frame has cleanly routed internal cables that have been nice and quiet thus far, and the ports keep those cables out of the stick and stone firing line. In place of a traditional down tube protector, the Spicy has a stash box where riders can pack a tube and CO2 so there’s no need to lash things to the pretty silver paint. A geometry flip chip at the main pivot allows riders to switch between 29″ and 27.5″ rear wheels as they prefer.

Geometry measurements on this size medium are on the playful side, with a 440mm reach, 433mm chain stays, and a slightly steeper 65° head tube angle. The seat tube angle is a touch slacker at 74.5° though that’s easily adjusted by slamming the saddle forward. I would like to test the size large bike, with its 465mm reach, but the jump from a 430mm seat tube length to a full 460mm would compromise the dropper post fit. A longer stem will likely sort out the sizing, and I will test several different options over the next few months of riding.

In addition to its wildly adjustable Öhlins RXF36 R TTX18 3 Air fork and TTX22M coil shock this build comes with a proper set of grippy tires. The 2.5″ Maxxis Assegai up front and 2.4″ Minion DHR II rear should sit well with the bike’s intentions. That rubber wraps a set of DT Swiss E1700 Spline wheels that we have enjoyed on countless test bikes in the past.

Slowing the Spicy is controlled by a set of trusty Shimano XT four-piston brakes, and the drivetrain is mixed with an XT derailleur and crank, SLX shifter and chain, and a 10-51t cassette. These components were clearly selected with longevity in mind.

There won’t be a need to trim the handlebar, as the Lapierre brand tube comes in a 760 x 31.8mm size on the small and medium frames with a 45mm house brand stem. The Lapierre-brand saddle looks like a love-it-or-leave-it shape, so we’ll see how that goes, and the JD Dropper offers adjustable travel but I’ll be keeping that at the full 150mm.

This Spicy build weighs 15.25kg (33.62Lbs) with a set of Saint clipless pedals mounted up. Stay tuned for the full review of this good looking gravity sled later this spring.

Dominique Lapierre’s Love Story

Is he the world’s best and highest paid ambulance chaser, or a deeply committed journalist with an ingrained ethic and finely tuned sense of outrage?

When he was 17, Dominique Lapierre set out to conquer the world with US$30 in his pocket. He covered 30,000 miles and made a killing with his first book, A Dollar for a Thousand Miles. It was the beginning of an extraordinary literary journey that would see him crisscrossing the globe for the next four decades, chronicling some of the biggest stories of our times—the liberation of Paris in Is Paris Burning, the birth of Israel in O Jerusalem, India’s freedom struggle in Freedom At Midnight, the discovery of the AIDS virus in Beyond Love. These along with other books like The Fifth Horseman, Freely on Russian Roads, Chessman Told Me, Or I’ll Dress You in Mourning, City of Joy and A Thousand Suns have collectively sold more than 100 million copies worldwide.

The books made millions for Lapierre, enough for him to retire to a chateau in the South of France if he chose. But the 71-year old author has continued to press on, not just writing exhaustive research-based books including his most recent three-year effort It was Five Minutes Past Midnight in Bhopal, but also overseeing the two NGOs that he has set up to help the poor in and around Kolkata. Lapierre’s work among the poor in India has its origins in the work he did on Freedom at Midnight. In the years they spent researching, he and Larry Collins interviewed more than 1200 people, travelled 250,000 miles, collected a ton of archives, 10,000 feet of film and 1000 photographs. But most of all, he discovered Mahatma Gandhi. “Gandhi was a great politician, a saint, a prophet,” says Lapierre, “he practised what he said. If you read Gandhi you will find the answer to all problems of humanity, forever. He belongs to the world, not just to India. It is sad that he isn’t fashionable anymore.”

Gandhi’s life was the inspiration when he made the decision to spend two years in the slums of Kolkata in the early 1980s on a personal journey of discovery. Where fellow Frenchman Louis Malle saw only horrors in this Indian city, Dominique saw indestructible beauty in man’s struggle to survive. When he told his French and American publishers he wanted to write a book on his experiences, they were aghast. “What? You want to write a book on a bunch of lepers living in the Kolkata slums,” they asked incredulously, “You won’t sell five copies!” However Lapierre knew the story of the rickshaw puller Hansari Pal—whose broken bell he carries as a talisman to this day—would shake the world. He was right. City of Joy has sold over 8.5 million copies in 31 countries and touched so many hearts that he received over 2,00,000 letters with cheques and offers to work in the slums.

Where other authors go home after telling a good story, Lapierre puts his royalties where his mouth is. He has donated over US$5 million to set up The City of Joy Foundation in Kolkata through which he runs shelters for leprosy patients and handicapped children, dispensaries, schools, rehabilitation workshops and sanitation schemes. He has helped treat and educate  9,000 leprosy-affected children and dug over 500 tube wells in villages where young girls once spent the whole day scratching for a bucket of water.

That the rickshaw puller’s death should not be in vain, he set up the Southern Health Improvement Samiti for the eradication of tuberculosis, which has treated over four million patients and launched vaccination programmes in over a thousand villages in the Ganga delta. He runs three hospital boats to provide medicine to people who live in islands which are not found on any map. It reminds him of an incident when he was mad at the media. “When I had a press conference to launch these boats, journalists were simply not interested. I chartered a bus and took 50 of them to a new institute for the poor and when they arrived after a two-hour journey they grumbled, ‘Mr Lapierre, you did not put mineral water in our bus!’ I said, ‘You are complaining about mineral water when we are meeting people who survive on the polluted water of the Ganges?’ Your media is very choosy and it rarely goes into the slums. It’s one thing to report on scams, it’s another to portray the greatness of these people and why their condition should be changed. You have to spend time in the slums to understand what it is to be infested with roaches and rats, the noises, the smells, the disputes between families: only then can you understand that millions of people are faced every night with atrocious basic conditions of survival.”

Listening to his accounts, it is hard not to suggest that his books present an idealised version of India’s poor. That they are, in fact, more like disaster tourism which exercises a morbid fascination for some. It’s the old axiom that bad news sells better than good, disaster stories sell better than coffee table books on say, Indian art. He’s quick to retort: “I do not have a taste for disaster! On the contrary I am talking about hope, courage and resilience. Poverty is a curse to humanity but when within this framework you find so many positive values, it is very inspiring. It tells you man is indestructible. I did not care if City of Joy sold only five copies because to me these people are the real heroes of our times.”

As are the victims of Bhopal, a city still coming to grips with the worst industrial disaster in history, killing between 16,000 to 30,000 people and poisoning 50,000 others. When a social worker, Satinath Sarangi, approached Lapierre for help in opening a gynaecological clinic for women suffering the aftermath of the toxic gas emission, his interest was aroused. When he discovered victims could not be cured even 15 years later because Union Carbide had never revealed the true composition of the deadly gases that erupted from its factory that night, he decided to investigate further. With Spanish author Javier Moro, whose book The Mountains of Tibet is an eyewitness account of that country’s occupation by China, Lapierre spent three years tracking down the protagonists of the Bhopal tragedy across the world. “Imagine, when we finally tracked down one of the Indian engineers on duty that night in a remote village in Maharashtra, he said ‘I’ve spent 15 years waiting for you,’ as he opened a cupboard full of old records that told the inside story of Union Carbide in Bhopal.” Lapierre says he wrote It was Five Minutes Past Midnight in Bhopal for two reasons; first, so that people never forget Bhopal, which could have happened in any country and second, that it should serve as a warning to manufacturing companies everywhere that such a thing could easily happen again.

What were the high points of writing this book? “I went to Bhopal and fell in love with this beautiful city of the begums where the big festival every year is not cricket or football but poetry and mushaira. A city where I am told, a driver once kidnapped a poet and made him recite shairi at gun point for seven hours before releasing him. Wasn’t it in character that one of the engineers responsible for inserting a small plastic disc between a water pipe and a gas pipe, which could have broken the chain of disasters that fateful night, left early because he wanted to attend a special mushaira in Spices Square that night?” The book makes chilling reading because it documents the disintegration of a state-of-the-art industrial plant through poor maintenance, union politicking, bad planning and sheer disregard for international standards and safety procedures.

The book which was released in India last month recently won the prestigious Prix des Maisons de la Presse, the French publisher’s award for the best book of the year. It has already sold two million copies in France and Spain, half of the royalties of which will go to the victims of Bhopal. Yes, there were times when he had to battle strong emotions of anger and frustration when he researched the events but, he claims, his primary focus was the plight of the victims. “Even 15 years after Bhopal not a single person has been brought to trial. The way the wind was blowing that night, it killed the slum dwellers and spared the rich up in Shyamla hills. Even though Union Carbide announced a compensation of US$430 million none of it has reached the poor. It is a real problem to get compensation if you lost a family member that night. First, you have to pay baksheesh to the bureaucrat who will record your claim and it’s all the way up like that. Tell me, how can they ever turn the page?”

Co-author Moro says part of the Carbide money was diverted into a beautification project in Bhopal and that the BJP treated the victims in an extremely partisan manner: “They evicted the Muslim families in the area who were also the poorest, destroying their shacks as encroachment. So the Muslims were victimized both by Carbide and the BJP politicians.” He also goes on to say that “Dominique seldom allows his emotions to get the upper hand. It’s not as if he hasn’t come up against vested political interests in the years he has worked in the slums. There are always politicians who think it’s an easy way to campaign to criticize this Westerner who’s coming to popularize the poverty of India, yet they themselves have never spent a night in a slum.”

He can afford to adopt the moral high ground, it’s something he’s earned out of all the work he has done here. Lapierre visits Kolkata several times a year to spend time in the slums and in the Sunderbans. “These people have given me more warmth and vitamins of life than any rich tycoon can,” he says, “Of course I take precautions. I don’t drink water, only boiled tea; I don’t eat anything, just some rice. It is true I cannot live exactly like them but I have gone a long way towards sharing their situation and their lives. I have a very long love story with India.”

This story was first published in the October 2001 issue

Image courtesy: Ashima Narain

Get to Know Hendrix Lapierre

For the first time since taking Stanislav Galiev a decade ago, the Washington Capitals have taken a player out of the QMJHL with a draft pick — and it was a big one. With their first-round pick, the Capitals did exactly what they should have: swung for the fences. At this point in their history, with a thin prospect pool, the Capitals needed to take a chance on some high end talent, no matter the negatives, and that’s what they did when they took center Hendrix Lapierre.

Last summer, Lapierre was seen as a legitimate top-ten, even top-five pick for the 2020 NHL draft, but after an injury-riddled season where he suffered three concussions and a neck injury he only played 19 games (although Lapierre did note during his post-draft media time that he actually only suffered one concussion). When he was finally cleared to play COVID-19 hit and the season was cancelled. He never had a chance to prove he still has elite talent.

Great job by Washington. This Lapierre kid has always been one of the Top 5 amongst his peers since minor hockey. He has all of the tools to become a major contributor & I LOVE the pick. I know the injury is a concern but Washington just got a Top 7 pick if he stays healthy.

— North American Central Scouting Independent Bureau (@MarkSeidel) October 7, 2020

And that is exactly what Lapierre brings to the table. He has elite playmaking ability, possibly among the whole draft, at least top three. His vision and passing ability are NHL ready it seems. It’s funny he wears 92 because he looks a lot like Evgeny Kuznetsov when he’s on the ice dishing out passes. He does a great job at slowing down the play, playing the perimeter then finding that tiny hole to set up scoring chances; essentially a Kuznetsov.

Hendrix Lapierre to the Caps at 22. The Caps are swinging for the fences here. Lapierre didn’t play much last season due to injuries. He’s very pass first but his production at even strength and efficiency both suggest that he can deliver when healthy. pic.twitter.com/ua8HImLZOY

— GTAnalytics (@GTAnalytics_) October 7, 2020

On the negative side, he’s not exactly known as a shoot-first type of player (much like Kuznetsov). And until Hendrix starts shooting the puck more, teams will always play the pass. Lapierre needs to make the opponent think he will rip it as well so it opens up some ice for his teammates to get into scoring areas. The good news is in the two games since the QMJHL started their season, he has three goals.

Unlike Kuznetsov, however, Hendrix is a two-way center. He works extremely hard on the backcheck and retrieving the puck in the defensive zone. He has the smarts and work ethic to help his team out before moving the puck up the ice into the offensive zone where he works his playmaking magic. He could certainly be better on the defensive side but it’s a great start to see the effort at the very least.

Hendrix Lapierre is going to be a grand slam if he stays healthy. He’s the guy people may look back on and say “how on earth did we pass on this kid?”

— Rachel Doerrie (@racheldoerrie) October 7, 2020

Lapierre still needs to get stronger and develop more of a willingness to get into the middle of the ice. His skating is also very good but you’d like to see a little bit more speed in his north south game. But his speed is still good and with his hands he can dangle in and out of players as he attacks them.

Unfortunately with Hendrix only playing 19 games last season, we don’t have a big enough sample size to draw any real conclusions or present any data visualization for him. And that kind of sums it up, right? Lapierre’s lack of playing leaves a big question mark. Did the COVID break help him reinforce his strength and avoid injury, or did it hinder him with lack of playing time?

Thankfully after that rash of injuries, he is by all accounts very healthy and ready to go. The Athletic did a great piece about what his doctors and physical therapist are doing with him to make sure he’s ready to move on from his injuries.

It’s all a big question but if Lapierre stays healthy and grows his game he has a legit chance on turning into a legit 60 assist player at the NHL level while being a top six center. Only time will tell. But we do know that he is extremely hungry and ready to get out on the ice to prove all the doubters wrong.

“Articles – Bicycle Crimea

RockShox active rear shock

Lapierre Bikes teamed up with RockShox to release a new suspension system called the E.I Shock.

The automatic system controls the compression and locking settings of the rear shock absorber using a system of sensors that register the compression forces.

The system consists of a stem-mounted unit, bottom and top fork acceleration sensors, cadence sensors on the bottom clamp, and a small electric motor that adjusts the shock absorber based on the system’s report.

The system has been in development for the past five years, with RockShox contributing to the hardware and Trelock, the bike lock manufacturer, of the software.

Lapierre already has three E.I.

In addition to Lapierre, bicycles with the E.I Shock system will be produced by Ghost and Haibike (buy a bicycle in St. Petersburg), all of which are part of the Accell group.

We have not received confirmation from Ghost and Haibike yet, but Lapierre will offer the new technology as an option for the following models:

• XR 29 – 3 Models
• Spicy 516 and 916
• Zesty 314, 414, 514, 714 and 914

How does it work?

The on-board computer receives data from both acceleration sensors and the pedaling sensor and determines which settings need to be made for the rear shock absorber.After receiving data from the sensor about the movement on the bumps, in one tenth of a second, the system makes the necessary adjustments to the shock absorber, this is exactly the time during which the rear wheel reaches the same bump, as Lapierre reported, this corresponds to a speed of 36 km / h.

There are actually four scenarios that can be configured:

• Pedaling on a flat surface – Shock lock
• Slight Roughness Pedaling – Medium Compression Settings
• Pedaling on large bumps – fully open
• Pedaling – Fully Open

While the technology will be optimized for specific bikes when consumers get them, RockShox has the ability to independently adjust open, middle and locked modes.

Acceleration sensors at the top and bottom of the forks provide information to the system about the nature of the unevenness to which the rear wheel is moving and the system adjusts accordingly.

How will the system perform in wet weather?

We have been advised that the entire system can be completely submerged in water for an hour without being harmed. Lapierre also reported that they sprayed the system with a powerful jet of water, as a result of which the head unit on the stem moved, but this did not affect the operation of the system in any way.

What is the duration of the work?

On one charge, the system will work for 25 hours. Like Shimano Di2, it turns off automatically when not in use.

Fully charges the system in three hours.

If the battery deteriorates, the charge runs out, the wire breaks, the shock absorber will remain in the last configured mode, but it can also be adjusted manually using a socket wrench. It does not have a dial for adjustment, but it does allow a change in state from fully open to closed.

If the control unit breaks down when the shock absorber is in a locked state, the shock absorber will not break with a strong impact, the protective air release function will prevent this from happening.

What else is there on the head unit?

The removable head unit is the backbone of the system and is controlled by a unit with stem-mounted buttons that are few and easy to use. This gives you the ability to tune the shock from fully closed to open on the fly and set the different damping modes as needed.So you can manually set the mode of operation, while the automatic mode is really great and works great.

In addition to adjusting the shock absorber, the system displays speed, time, stopwatch, travel time and battery status.

This technology is currently 100% exclusive to Lapierre, Ghost and Haibike.

When you press the manual control buttons, you can hear a slight rumbling of the motor, which changes the parameters of the shock absorber almost instantly, and its operation is truly enjoyable.In automatic mode, it really starts to steer itself, when getting out of the saddle and pedaling hard, the rear shock locks immediately and impressively unlocks when hitting a bump.

What is really hard to realize is how often the automatic system makes adjustments – up to 200 times a minute, much faster than you might think when looking at the system.

You can really feel the difference when pedaling uphill as the shock is in the middle or locked state and pedaling is at its best.

For the system to work, it is important to set the plug correctly. If you ride on a very rigid fork, you will lose information about unevenness during the reverse travel of the fork; for this, the sensitivity of the system can be compensated by the settings on the control unit.

We’ve only done a few trips with this system, but will be using it for the rest of the week and will report back when we try it out for more time. Initial impressions are very good and this system may be the best choice for enduro or cross country competition and general riding, as well as for fans of unusual things.

Source – http://www.bikeradar.com – Translation – http://www.cyclenews.ru

Bicycle transport and lifestyle

Many are accustomed to the fact that Americans are an automobile nation. Imagine your surprise to know that bike is a fairly common vehicle in the United States.

California is trying to lead a healthy lifestyle, not in words, but in deeds. The authorities of this state have managed to create a special atmosphere in which cycling culture takes almost the first place.There are even special maps in every major city in California that show all the bike routes. Moreover, different colors are used to mark bike lanes that are physically separate from roads and lanes for cyclists on the carriageway.

Map of bike paths in San Francisco:

Cycle paths popular:

In small towns, almost every street is equipped with bike paths . Bicycle stands are available in every school and every store.And if we are talking about a sports store, then bicycle parking is not only on the street at the entrance to the store, but also inside it!

There are also lanes for cyclists on the roads between neighboring cities. .

Unlike Ukraine, in the USA cyclist is the same participant in the movement as a motorist. For him, there is a scale of penalties. For example, children under 12 are not allowed to ride without a helmet (otherwise, parents will have to pay a $ 500 fine).It is also forbidden to drive without front and rear lights in the dark ($ 100 fine). If you’re lucky with a police officer, you can get off with a verbal warning. In the event of a meeting with an evil servant of the law, everything can end with an overnight stay in a local prison. In any case, next time you will think a thousand times before riding a bike in the dark without working lights.

And what if you cannot travel long distances on a mountain bike and are only ready for short trips so far? OT is at your service, in which the cyclist feels quite comfortable.Most importantly, the bike is transported free of charge. Only the travel of a person from point A to point B is paid for.

If we are talking about an electric train, and they are double-decker in America, then there are two carriages for cyclists: at the beginning and at the end of the train.

Each carriage can carry 40 bicycles , which travel on the ground floor. In order to ensure safety when transporting a bicycle in an electric train, the bicycle carriage is equipped with racks where you need to attach your bicycle while the train is moving.Fastening is carried out by means of guy wires with hooks. The racks and stretch marks are already in the carriage, you do not need to bring anything with you.

Places for cyclists , located on the second floor, only 20. If there were not enough seats in the carriage for bicycles for everyone, they can go to other carriages. It is completely safe to leave your bike unattended. It is advisable to hang a tag on your bike indicating the starting and ending point of travel. This makes it less likely that your bike will be covered with other bikes, as you can attach up to four bicycles to the rack.

If we are talking about a bus, then everything is ready for the comfortable movement of a cyclist . There are stands at the front of the bus where you can park your bike. The shipping company’s website contains instructions with photographs of how to use these racks.

Finally, the metro. It also highlights special carriages in which you can park your bike . If there is no desire to ride a bike in the subway, then any platform is equipped with racks where you can attach your bike with a cable or a lock.

There are rules for transporting bicycles in every form of public transport. If these rules are grossly violated, the bus driver, train or metro conductor has the right to drop you off at the nearest stop. In extreme cases of disobedience, the police are called.

The developed bicycle infrastructure allows for mass events to stimulate the refusal to travel by car. Information about the upcoming event is being shared through cycling communities, websites and word of mouth.A day is chosen, sponsors and volunteers are invited. The last time such an event was held on May 10, 2012 in San Francisco.

The event was named Bike to Work Day. “Reinforcement points” were marked on the city map, where volunteers handed out bags stylized for the event free of charge. The bags contained: maps of cycling routes cities and counties, rules of behavior for a cyclist, instructions for easy repair of a bicycle, reflective strips, a helmet flashlight, energy bars and drinks, as well as advertising brochures of sponsors, one way or another related to cycling or sports theme.Since San Francisco is located in the “Silicon Valley”, then among the sponsors one could find names known to the whole world: Adobe, Google, Symantec and HP.

Bicycles can be used by all ages. Small children are carried in bicycle strollers.

Older children ride their own bikes.

Cycling in California is so popular that no one shy away from surprise when meeting a person in a bicycle helmet in a store, office, etc. Seasonal bicycle storage is very developed not only in the USA but also in Europe, and is no longer a novelty in the CIS.

Shimano Saint 2013

An updated version of the excellent Shimano Saint group was recently delivered to us for extensive testing. We took out the scales and here is the first fruit of our labors. Just pictures of the weighing of the components, as well as several close-ups claiming to be artistic. And don’t pretend you don’t like it.

The Shimano Saint group is unlikely to win the competition for the lightest components, but it is the long-established standard for power and reliability.Therefore, we have extremely high expectations for these new components.

We have already described the technological innovations in detail, so just take a look at all these numbers tested by ParkTool scales.

Brakes

Front brake

Declared weight of the rear brake: 302g.

Reliability is hard. Can make everything out of titanium?

Lever

Declared Weight: 123 gr. They probably didn’t weigh the shifter right out of the box, along with the pre-installed shift cable.

System

Official weight: 931 g. according to the press release. Could it be the weight of the system with the carriage? On our scales, a complete set (system and carriage) showed 918 grams. In any case, the new Shimano Saint system is lighter than promised.

Carriage

Pedals

Declared weight: 500 gr. Take a look – these pedals are “fattened pigs”. The weight could be considered insignificant, but nowadays most riders have downhill machines weighing 12 kg or less.and every extra gram counts. The good news is that we’ve only heard rave reviews for these mountain bike pedals.

They are supplied with pre-installed cleats and additional interchangeable cleats and washers. Want to increase your grip? Simply screw in additional cleats or add (remove) washers to achieve the desired level of foot hold on the pedal. We don’t like to limit ourselves, so we screw in all 11 studs for maximum grip.

Chain

Shimano XT ten speed chain.Be careful when installing as it is directional. Also, it is designed with the harsh conditions of use in mind. Special grooves help reduce chain twisting and dirt pick-up.

Rear derailleur

New ten-speed derailleur featuring Shadow Plus technology. Officially declared weight: 280 gr.

For pricing and details, see our initial review here. We also have some leaked information about the Zee group, the budget replacement for the Saint.

90,000 First day draft results: four Russians in the top 21

Rangers pick Lafreniere at # 1

New York general manager Jeff Gorton didn’t have any surprises and named Alexi Lafreniere as number one. The 18-year-old Quebec native, who was at home with his family, immediately donned a Rangers jersey and became the 41st Canadian (out of 58), selected first in the pick. And the first since 2015.

For the second time in history and for the first time since 1969, when the universal draft was introduced (when all players of the required age became available for selection), the Rangers were chosen under the first number.Lafreniere is an important piece of New York’s makeover. Last year, they chose forward Kaapo Kakko under No. 2.

“An incredible feeling,” said Lafreniere, who has never been to New York. “The Rangers are a great organization, and I am honored to be a part of it. I have been looking forward to this moment for a long time, so hearing my name was very pleasant for me and the whole family. We are all very happy. ”

Video: New York calls Lafreniere the first draft pick

Askarov went to Nashville

No wonder Yaroslav Askarov was compared to Pekka Rinne in scout reports.“Nashville” needed a new goalkeeper for many years, and the Russian has every chance of being.

Askarov was named the best goalkeeper of this draft and was also compared in potential with Martin Broder, Carey Price and Andrey Vasilevsky. The Predators chose him at number 11, a record for Russian goalkeepers. In total, he became the fifth Russian goalkeeper selected in the first round. Before him, they were Evgeny Ryabchikov (No. 21, Boston, 1994), Semyon Varlamov (No. 23, Washington, 2006), Andrey Vasilevsky (No. 19, Tampa Bay, 2012) and Ilya Samsonov (No. 22 , Washington, 2015).

“To be honest, I haven’t thought about it and I don’t know what to say,” Askarov said during a zoom conference.

“Every child has goals and dreams,” the goalkeeper said. “I am one of those. When I started playing hockey, I had a dream to get into the NHL. And I am glad that today took the first step towards its fulfillment.”

It is noteworthy that the Predators’ choice was announced by the team captain Roman Yossi, who won the Norris Trophy as the best defender of the NHL this season.And then he showed me a “Predators” sweater with the name of Askarov.

Askarov now plays for SKA in the KHL along with another Nashville forward, Yakov Trenin, who recently renewed his contract with the Predators for two years. Trenin will be called to the NHL by the beginning of the training camp, but the two teammates have not really had time to get to know each other.

“We only managed to train once with him, so I didn’t have time to get to know him,” Askarov said. “But we’ll talk about this soon.”

Askarov added that he was not nervous before moving to North America.Moreover, this will happen no earlier than 2022, when his contract with SKA expires.

“So far, there is no excitement, – Askarov said. – Maybe then it will, but not yet. But there is a desire and passion to come. I am very happy to become a part of Nashville.

The goalkeeper added that as a child, his idol was Jonathan Quick from Los Angeles, and in comparison with Vladislav Tretyak, the Russian replied: “I want to be not Tretyak, but Askarov.”

Video: “Predators” chose goalkeeper Askarov at # 11

Four Russians in the top 21

Few expected four Russians to be selected in the first round.The choice of Askarov and Rodion Amirov was predicted, there were certain doubts about Shakir Mukhamadullin, but even TV people were not ready for the choice of Yegor Chinakhov at number 21. Neither Sportsnet nor NBC had prepared highlights for the player they named “Columbus.” NBC host Bob Mackenzie even said that Chinakhov was not in his top 93 (the first three rounds), and in a number of ratings the Avangard forward did not even make it into the top 200. An extremely curious situation for a 19-year-old player who could have been drafted last year, but who passed by all the teams.

In the rating of the Central Scout Bureau among the players who played in Europe, Chinakhov was ranked 30th. However, according to General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen, the Russian was in the top ten in the Columbus rating.

“Yegor and I know very well,” Kekalainen said during the zoom conference. we had a chance to go lower, but in 25 years in hockey, I learned that if you have one player that you rate so highly, you have to choose him.It was in our top ten and we are very happy to receive it. He has a good set of skills, a throw, he can play one-on-one. In general, Yegor possesses many qualities that he can apply in the NHL and North America. “

Amirov was chosen as the 15th number by Toronto. Rodion became the most highly selected Russian in the history of Maple Leafs. 19-year-old left wing The striker has been compared to Auston Matthews and Nikita Kucherov. The Salavat native had a good start in the KHL and will strengthen Toronto’s already strong attacking group.

“We liked his game last year, and I like it when he manages to prove himself at the KHL level,” said Kyle Dubas, general manager of Toronto, about Amirov. its speed, outnumbered and forechecked. ”

Video: Toronto Picks Amirov in # 15 Draft

Mukhamadullin Among Three Devils Picks

New Jersey was one of three teams to be drawn three times on Tuesday.Under the seventh number, the Devils made a choice in favor of the Swedish striker Alexander Holz, center forward Dawson Mercer under the 18th number, and the Russian defender Shakir Mukhamadullin under the 20th number. “Devils” can definitely be congratulated on a successful first round.

“I didn’t expect to be chosen so high,” Mukhamadullin said during a zoom conference. “I was very happy, my heart almost jumped out of my chest. The Devils win the Stanley Cup.

Mukhamadullin noted that among the NHL players he likes John Klingberg, Miro Heiskanen and Victor Hedman. “I learn a lot from these players,” said the hockey player, who considers himself a “two-way attacking defender.”

Video: The Devils drafted Mukhamadullin at # 20

Los Angeles chose Byfield

The Kings chose the second number between two forwards: Quinton Byfield and Tim Stutzle. And in the end, they leaned towards Byfield, who became the highest chosen black player in history.Previously, this title belonged to Evander Kane (2009, Atlanta Thrashers) and Seth Jones (2013, Nashville Predators), who were selected under the fourth numbers.

Ottawa’s Three Picks

The Senators have creatively approached Tim Stüzle’s third draft pick. This was done by the unchanged host of Jeopardy! (Russian counterpart – “Own Game”) Alex Trebek in a form stylized as a game. The last German third-draft pick in 2014 was Leon Dreiseitl (Edmonton).

Tweet from @Senators: Who is Tim St��tzle? #NHLDraft #Jeopardy pic.twitter.com/KfYKyEcqMj

Ottawa were one of the main players in the first round of the draft, where they had three picks. It was expected that Cole Perfetti or Marco Rossi would be chosen under the fifth number, “Senators”, there were rumors about goalkeeper Yaroslav Askarov, but the Canadians chose the path of further strengthening the defense and named Jake Sanderson. He became the first defender and first American to be drafted in 2020. Now Ottawa have an even more impressive group of defenders: Thomas Schabo, Eric Brannstrom, Lassie Thomson and Sanderson.A champion team can be built around this. At number 28, the Senators named center-forward Ridley Greig, who for his aggressive style of play will be loved by his fans and hated by fans of other teams.

On Day 2 of the draft, with no trades, Ottawa will pick nine more times, including four in the second round.

First Round Surprises

The main surprise of the first day of the draft was Chinakhov’s 21st pick, but there were other surprises as well.Marco Rossi and Cole Perfetti were many named among the top five or six players, but much to the delight of Minnesota and Winnipeg, both centers were available after the first eight names. As a result, “Wild” made a choice in favor of Rossi (which would not make the competition easier for Alexander Khovanov), and “Jets” were named Perfetti. Moreover, the choice of “Winnipeg” was touchingly reported by Crystal Haverchuk – the widow of the legend of “Jets” Dale Haverchuk, who died of cancer on August 18.

Video: Blue Jackets drafted Chinakhov under # 21

In total, two exchanges were recorded in the first round, and both times with the participation of Calgary.First, the Flames lost their 19th choice to the Rangers, exchanging them for 22nd and 72nd. And then they gave the 22nd choice to “Washington”, having received the 24th and 80th.

“New York” at number 22 chose defender Braden Schneider, which is certainly very happy. As well as “Washington”, under the 24th number chose the striker Hendrix Lapierre.

Canadian Dominance

19 Canadian players were selected in the first round of the draft, the highest number since 2003. Then, among the 30 numbers of the team, 19 Canadian names were also named.And in second place were four Russians. In total, players from seven countries were named on Tuesday. Also from Germany (2), Sweden (2), USA (2), Austria (1) and Finland (1).

Two players from Germany were selected in the first round of the draft for the first time in NHL history.

Emotional point of the first round

At the end of the evening, the Sharks’ number 31 was named forward Ozzy Weisblatt. Moreover, an employee of “San Jose” Doug Wilson Jr. announced the choice in sign language.This was done because Ozzy’s mother is deaf and raised her five children using sign language. His family’s reaction is priceless.

Tweet from @NHLGIFs: Doug Wilson Jr. and the @SanJoseSharks draft Ozzy Wiesblatt with ASL. Wiesblatt’s mother is deaf. ������ #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/9PB07n4VnM

Results of the first round of the 2020 draft:

1. Alexi Lafreniere, n (New York Rangers), Canada
2. Quinton Byfield, n (Los Angeles Kings), Canada
3.Tim Stüzle, n (Ottawa Senators), Germany
4. Lucas Raymond, n (Detroit Red Wings), Sweden
5. Jake Sanderson, s (Ottawa Senators), USA
6. Jamie Drysdale, s (Anaheim Ducks), Canada
7. Alexander Holz, n (New Jersey Devils), Sweden
8. Jack Quinn, n (Buffalo Sabers), Canada
9. Marco Rossi, n (Minnesota Wild “), Austria
10. Cole Perfetti, n (Winnipeg Jets), Canada
11. Yaroslav Askarov, at (Nashville Predators), Russia
12. Anton Lundell, n (Florida Panthers), Finland
13.Seth Jarvis, n (Carolina Hurricanes), Canada
14. Dylan Holloway, n (Edmonton Oilers), Canada
15. Rodion Amirov, n (Toronto Maple Leafs), Russia
16. Kayden Gooley, s (Montreal Canadiens), Canada
17. Lucas Reichel, n (Chicago Blackhawks), Germany
18. Dawson Mercer, n (New Jersey Devils), Canada
19. Braden Schneider, s (New York Rangers), Canada
20. Shakir Mukhamadullin, z (New Jersey Devils), Russia
21. Egor Chinakhov, n (Columbus Blue Jackets), Russia
22.Hendrix Lapierre, n (Washington Capitals), Canada
23. Tyson Forster, n (Philadelphia), Canada
24. Connor Dawn, n (Calgary Flames), Canada
25. Justin Barron, s (” Colorado Avalanche), Canada
26. Jake Neighbors, n (St. Louis Blues), Canada
27. Jacob Perrault, n (Anaheim Ducks), Canada
28. Ridley Greig, n (Ottawa Senators) ), Canada
29. Brendan Brisson, n (Vegas Golden Knights), USA
30. Maurice Burke, n (Dallas Stars), Canada
31. Ozzy Weisblatt, n (San Jose Sharks), Canada

Read “Inn of the Thirteen Hanged” – de Coque Henri – Page 2

– It is not his fault, my friend, that the road is so bad, – said the young woman.

“My dear aunt is absolutely right, uncle,” the young man confirmed. “It’s not Lapierre’s fault that the snow and rain have washed out the road so much.

– Eh! Damn it! The fifty-year-old gentleman continued arrogantly. – I know that Lapierre is not to blame for the poor condition of the road, but at least he could … Aw! .. We won’t get there, I assure you! peasants to keep the road in good condition?

The young man shook his head ironically.

– God knows, the peasants of this canton have more important things to do and roads!

– What is more important? What do you mean by that, Firmen? Doesn’t this forest — most of it — belong to the Countess de Chalet?

– Belongs, uncle.

– This means that her peasants, just like other quitrent, are obliged to serve the lord’s duty!

– Well, well … Go tell this to the people who have risen in the local cantons, those who are called barefoot , tell them this – and you will see how they will accept you.

– Let them meet as you like, as long as they obey. Don’t fool me, my dear nephew … Barefoot! Completeness! Do you really believe all this nonsense? Risen Roughs! And why did they rebel, pray tell?

– I don’t know much about politics, uncle, but let me say that these peasants, taking advantage of the riots caused by the nobility, who opposed the king almost throughout France, and pretending to act in the interests of the Cardinal Minister, the fierce enemy of feudalism So, I will allow myself to say that these Barefoot have decided to throw off the yoke, which is becoming more and more burdensome and unbearable for them!

– Well, well !…. You allow yourself to talk nonsense, Firmen! Your Barefoot are ordinary lazy and foolish, and nothing more! And I am convinced that the Cardinal Minister does not approve of their behavior at all! Just think! .. A painful yoke! Isn’t it this yoke that gives bread to these fools?

– They claim that they would work much more willingly if they were more free!

– More free! More free! What will become of the gentlemen if there are no more servants? crowd !…. Ay! .. Well! We got up completely! .. Look, Firmen, what’s the matter. Could it be that Lapierre might have thought of leaving us here to spend the night?

The carriage really suddenly stopped in the middle of the road for the reason that we will now explain.

For several minutes Lapierre had noticed in the distance some kind of black hill, which seemed to him all the more suspicious because he could not determine either its form or its essence in the twilight.

Being by nature an awkward ten, Lapierre continued to drive forward, not even bothering to notify his master, Baron de Ferrier, who was traveling with his wife and nephew Firmen Laprad, about what bothered him so much.

But, having approached the distance of a pistol shot to this object, or rather to the objects, and being able to discern what they were, the brave coachman was forced to stop with annoyance.

These objects were a horse and a man: the animal lay stretched across the road, apparently staying at its last gasp.

The man was thirty-five or forty years old; he was short, ugly and very poorly dressed. Crossing his arms, with a tear frozen in his eyes, he stood beside him, sadly looking at the horse that was dying.

Firmen Laprad, who, condescending to his uncle’s request, jumped out of the carriage as soon as it stopped, like the automedon [2], was convinced of the insurmountable obstacle to continue the journey. The road in this place was a landslide, overgrown with juniper, and was littered with stones. There was no other means of going further, otherwise than to cross the corpse of a dying animal.

Death, whatever form it takes, striking the noblest of creatures or the lowest creature, evokes a feeling of awe even in not the most tender hearts.

Lapierre and Laprad did not say a word, contemplating the picture we have described.

But then behind them, from the carriage, a harsh voice rang out. Baron de Ferrier was impatient. In the next instant, his head appeared in the window of the door.

– Well, what is there? He shouted. – Why aren’t we going? An abyss here, or what?

“No, uncle, no,” answered Firmen Laprad. – Fortunately, it was not the abyss that stopped us, but …

– But …

– Here, in the middle of the road, a man whose horse fell.

– Well, let him raise her!

– Hm! I’m afraid the poor animal will no longer be able to rise.

– So what? Will we be forced to stay here forever because of this fall? Only this was lacking! Lapierre, go tell this traveler to clear the way for us! .. If necessary, help him, help, and hurry, hurry! He raised his head and looked at the carriage …

Lapierre, who obviously did not like such an assignment, threw the reins in annoyance and, jumping off the box, went to the traveler.

Firmen Laprad, out of curiosity rather than a desire to help, followed the coachman.

But as soon as the latter was at a distance of half a dozen steps from the stranger, he quickly turned around and, drawing a pistol from his belt, cocked the trigger.

“My friend,” he said to Lapierre, “I heard what your master ordered you, and I assure you that I myself am in despair of the delay caused by my misfortune. But I must warn you, however, that if you show excessive haste – as you are ordered to – clear the path … of this fall … I will have to put a bullet in your forehead, which I would not want to do.This carrion is mine … and it is still breathing … and as long as it breathes, no one will dare to touch it. What can you do: I am by no means a noble noble traveling in four … but a poor nobleman who had the weakness to love his only horse, his faithful servant … an old friend … Now my servant and friend is dying, and I want him to die peacefully.

This little speech, delivered in the most courteous tone and accompanied by the equally convincing gesture of an armed hand, seems to have made a strong impression on the coachman, who only answered it with a silent bow.

On the baron’s nephew, however, the words of the stranger made a completely different impression.

Turning pale at the sight of the pistol, seized with an incomprehensible nervous tremor, Firmen Laprad quickened his pace and approached the traveler with an expression of the strongest anger on his brow.

The man with the horse was not at all disturbed by the appearance of this new character with an aggressive physiognomy.

– Sir! – cried Laprad in a shrill voice. – I can’t believe I just heard the words of a nobleman! Since when, pray tell, is it allowed to threaten with murder a servant who obeys the orders of his master?

– My God, sir! Yes, since the very ones, as not too far-sighted gentlemen allow themselves to order their servants to do bad deeds.

– Bad deeds! So, in your opinion, it is a bad act to send a coachman to ask you to get your dead horse out of the way?

– Let me, first of all, remind you that I was not approached with a request, but with an order … and I do not like to follow orders, no matter who they come from … And then, I have the honor to report to you that if my horse and blocked the road … she hadn’t died yet. Look, she’s still breathing … Oh! Already very weak! .. A minute or two – and my poor Taro will breathe his last! So, sir, as long as there is at least a drop of life in him … I will not budge.Perhaps this is somewhat stupid of me, but I will reproach myself all my life if I cause Tarot suffering at the moment when he is on the verge of death … However, when everything is over and when with the help of your coachman I clear the road, you, sir, or anyone else, you can get any satisfaction. Pistols are only for over-zealous servants; I have a sword for the gentlemen. Antenor de La Pivardière, gentlemen, at your service.

90,000 Movies about dancing: In the rhythm of the heart | We Love Dance. We love dancing

A film that was created to outshine Step Up.

Released: 2011

Genre: Melodrama

Director: Charles-Olivier Michaud

Cast: Milen Saint-Sauveur, Nico Achambaut, Paul Castel, Marina Dusse and dr.

The problem of the attitude of parents to the hobby of their children for dancing is a rather hackneyed topic in the cinema. If you read the standard descriptions for the Canadian film Heartbeat, offered by review sites, they are unlikely to catch you with interesting details.Everything is standard: the main character named Delphine (Milen Saint-Sauveur) is a student brought up in the best traditions of an intelligent family, who, out of her love of dancing, meets the “guy from the streets”, Mark (Nico Arshambaut). Together they are preparing to participate in the casting of a world-famous dance show. Parents are shocked, a friend has become an enemy, and studies are going downhill. Trivial, right? No matter how it is! In the Rhythm of the Heart – a film that was created to outshine Step Up and The Last Dance Behind Me!

The depth of emotion and technicality of the dance performances demonstrated by the actors cost the team a lot of work.And the main advantage of the film, according to the director’s idea, is the deeper psychological problems raised in a number of plot lines. To many, these drawn-out dramas may seem boring, but not to the female lead actress. The fact is that the real age and character of the actress chosen for the role of Dolphine – Mylène St-Sauveur , practically repeats the image of her heroine. And even the problems with her parents are familiar to Mylene firsthand: in the circle of her friends, according to the actress herself, there are more than enough such examples! So it was not difficult for the actress to convey the full depth of feelings and drama of the plot, but as for the dancing, it was hard.

For films about dancing, either top stars or professional dancers are chosen, and the cutie Milen had a hard time – she had to learn how to dance so that the audience would believe and be inspired by her movements. And then the main character of this film came into play – Nico Archambault . Without him, the dance performances of the film would not only lose in entertainment, the picture might not have taken place at all. The storylines unfold on the streets of Montreal, whose dance community is rather withdrawn and distrustful of outsiders.To make the picture realistic, the director certainly wanted to invite real Montreal underground dancers, but they did not agree to take part in the filming for any money until Niko appeared on the set. Nico himself grew up in the suburbs of Montreal, surrounded by the culture of the streets, which from infancy absorbed all the skin cells. At the age of 7, he began dancing, then entered the school of Louise Lapierre, and later continued his studies at the Academy of Contemporary Dance in Montreal. At the age of 17, Niko left for Paris, where he became a member of the 4U boy band.

At one time, in pursuit of self-improvement, Nico took master classes at the most famous centers of dance art – Center du Marais in Paris, Broadway Dance Center in New York and Millennium Dance Center and Edge Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles, danced in Canada, the United States, Cuba, Mexico, France, Switzerland, Belgium and Egypt. Niko is not only a good dancer, but also has experience in filming films. His choreography in Heartbeat is very natural, and the support and tutoring he provided to Mylene ensured the success of the film.

However, even the experienced Niko was not easy: dancing with the thought that you have a microphone in your hair, a wire is attached to your back, and the picture of the production itself is limited by camera lenses, for which you cannot make a step or pass with your hand or foot! This is a completely different reality for a dancer! But for a real professional, this reality opens up new possibilities, because on the screen, the dance can be shown to the audience in a way that no scene in the world will show! As for Mylene, she was in constant tension: even if the complex stunts were performed for her by stuntmen, in scenes with close-ups the actress had to maintain the same tension, energy and level of performance that the professionals demonstrated for her.Nico and his wife Wynn Holmes have staged and honed Mylene’s choreography day in and day out.

The film presents the most popular styles – hip-hop, b-boing, papping, locking, house, a little contemporary; it was diversity that was the goal of the production of Niko and his wife. Nico has a variety of styles in his arsenal – from modern and hip-hop to jazz and step, and the dancer is proud of the awards: Young Professional Award at the Triple Dance Threat Convention in 2006, THE PULSE ELITE PROTÉGÉ OF THE YEAR, presented by star-choreographer Brian Friedman, and first place in the first season of “SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE CANADA”.Niko also added his experience to the script, making changes to it, bringing the picture closer to the realities of the dance world.

A duet of sincerity of emotions and skill of a talented dancer splashes out on the viewer with a stream of a variety of impressions. Whether the director managed to surpass the legendary “Step Forward” is up to you, but, you must agree, the boldness of this idea leaves no chance for indifference!

About the company / Velomisto

Let’s get acquainted ..

It is true that the best job is the one that is at the same time your hobby.We were lucky in this matter – professional cycling gradually grew into a favorite thing.

The team of the online store is made up of inveterate cyclists, passionate about cycling culture and cycling bikes, various riding styles, personally repeatedly dismantled and assembled them from screw to screw.

We are participants and prize-winners of bicycle races, various types of championships, bicycle tours in Ukraine. They actively support the development of cycling in Brovary and in the Kiev region.

Why Velomisto?

Agree that a cyclist – a professional and a trader – a businessman has a different approach to the sale of cycling goods. A simple trader, by and large, does not care what to sell. Without really delving into the subject of trade, he will press on loud, annoying advertising, fashion trends, marketing moves, on a mass segment of consumers who can get a low-quality product in a beautiful wrapper and at a great price.

A cyclist smells technical junk a mile away.He hates to deal with low-quality bicycle equipment. He latently distances himself from low-quality goods and seeks to sell what he would choose personally for himself, would advise his friends and family. It so happens, consciously or subconsciously, that the cycling professional treats his customers exactly as friends and acquaintances. Would a friend be advised to buy something bad?

We have spent our entire adult life next to bicycles. We know everything about them! We understand the features of each design, model, detail.Who is better than us to give good advice to our clients? Recommend the best bike or accessory for them? Will select a product according to their individual needs? Will it save you from excessive costs, help you save your health and money?

If you are an avid cyclist, a cycling participant and a follower of cycling culture, looking for only the best, high-quality, reliable in cycling equipment – make the right choice, become a regular customer of the Velomisto bicycle store! Being a customer of Velomisto shop is profitable!

We undertake to assert that we have a number of significant advantages over our competitors.And we urge you to personally verify this.

Because we are:

• we have our own workshop at the store, where bicycles are assembled, adjusted, and re-equipped;
• in addition to the manufacturer’s warranty, we give our own seller’s warranty; promptly and efficiently carry out warranty service, repair;
• we make the first service for a new bike – free of charge!;
• guarantee the lowest prices on the market !; we are ready to make a bet – if you find somewhere a lower price for a product purchased from us, we will make you an even more advantageous offer !;
• we offer very interesting terms of purchase by installments;
• we love our regular customers, we treat them with care; we are implementing a number of attractive bonus programs for them;
• love giving gifts to our clients!

What else is interesting?

It is easy to make sure that the assortment of our store is quite extensive and diverse.We try to ensure that everyone can find everything they need with us, taking into account the variety of personal preferences.

All bikes in our store:

• Exceptionally new, factory-assembled;
• only from manufacturers that have proven themselves in the market, have all the necessary quality certificates;
• are warranted by both the manufacturer and the seller.

When buying a bike from us, we offer the best options for completing it with equipment and accessories.

Before sending it to the buyer, be sure to check and customize it. We value our reputation and cannot afford to send a defective product to our client.

For our customers from Kiev and Brovary, we will deliver a bike ourselves, already assembled and configured. And we will make him in our bicycle workshop the first MOT after 200 km of run – for free!

If our words do not convince you, check us in action. Make your first purchase from us! And we will try to ensure that we have established long-term and mutually beneficial cooperation.

90,000 Love and sexuality. Romantics and voluptuous.

“One! “And the shy romantic turns into an unbridled voluptuary,” Stanley Ipkis remarked from The Mask after a series of reincarnations. In general, English-language films and literature are surprisingly psychological and even psychotherapeutic. Here and here, as if between things, one of the most serious human problems is mentioned – the gap between love and sexuality. It is this break that often becomes the reason for the drying out, cooling of the marital relationship and, at the same time, passionate adventures on the side.In Russian cinema, however, “psychology” is also encountered. Here is a quote on the mismatch between love and sexuality, or rather its consequences from the movie “Men”: You just don’t know one thing: why we love some and marry others ”. Any comprehensive, sane, without esoteric discussion of this gap and ways of “stitching” it was found only in one of the books of the Somatic Experiencing (TM) Trauma Institute, founded by Peter Levin – “Healing Developmental Trauma”.

Its authors – Lawrence Heller and Elaine Lapierre – based on their practice, came to the conclusion that the gap between love and sexuality manifests itself in those who have suffered developmental trauma of one kind or another, as well as in those who are at an age sensitive to issues of sexuality (4 -6 years old), experienced rejection, reproaches or punishment from parents about the emergence of sexual manifestations and curiosity, and at a transitional age (12-15 years), problems arose between mother and son or father and daughter against the background of growing sexuality and growing up.
. People with this mismatch may gravitate either to the pole of love (romantic type) or to the pole of sexuality (voluptuous type). Romantics, if it’s easier to say, love, but do not want, and voluptuous people want, but do not love. In both cases, people are incapable of full-fledged marital relations. Romantics can go into asceticism, moralizing, sex-free marriages, and voluptuous people into promiscuous sexual intercourse, pursuit of sexual records and free-love, or rather, love-free relationships.
And in one more person a romantic and a voluptuous person can live at the same time. He may love a beautiful lady or even her image and not dare to touch her with “dirty hands” and at the same time enjoy pleasures with a large number of different women.

Continuation of the conversation about the mismatch of love and sexuality follows.

90,000 Where to drink organic, biodynamic and natural wines in Moscow

Wine expert Anton Obrezchikov explains in which restaurants (sometimes unexpected) and bars you can find organic, natural, biodynamic and vegan wines.We start with a short, immersive vocabulary.

What is organic wine?

Several types of wines fall under the status of organic at once, and not all of them have this component that is the main one. Actually, organic means the use of only natural fertilizers. In addition, before applying the coveted organic logo to the label (a single EU certificate, French Agriculture biologique, German Ecovin and Bio, American USDA Organic), the winemaker must confirm the biochemical purity of the land (you can plow on a tractor and pick grapes with a special harvester).By and large, organics are only evidence of the ecological well-being of the vineyard.

Topic details

Natural wines: unusual wines from rare grape varieties for antiglobalists

Natural wines: unusual wines from rare grape varieties for antiglobalists

And what about biodynamic?

Biodynamics is a doctrine that grew out of the course of lectures “Spiritual Science Foundations of Successful Development of Agriculture” by Rudolf Steiner.In relation to wine, this means caring for vineyards in the phases of the moon, walking a horse with a plow, friendship with birds and insects, homeopathic fertilizers for vines – No. 500 (manure matured in a cow’s horn) and No. 501 – (quartz matured in a cow’s horn) … Biodynamists have their own certificates (Demeter, Biodyvin). All biodynamic wines are a priori organic, but this is not the main thing in them, but the production process harmonized with cosmic forces.

So, what is natural then?

In the case of natural wines, also a priori organic, the emphasis is on the natural course of the wine-making cycle and the minimal intervention of the winemaker in this process.It includes gentle care of the vineyard, hand picking of grapes, fermentation with natural yeast, non-use of preservatives and, above all, sulfur dioxide – a classic preservative that prevents bacterial contamination of wine. Natural winemakers also have their own bottle badges, such as Nature & Progrès, although these are rare.

It should be understood that sometimes wine falls under all three categories at once, or even under some fourth. The most controversial example in this sense is wines for vegans.

Topic details

“Between Complexity and Imperfections”: an excerpt from the first book on natural wines

“Between Complexity and Disadvantages”: an excerpt from the first book on natural wines

Catharsis – vegan wine

Did you think all wines are vegan because they are made from grapes? But no. Wine production is a technologically lengthy and varied process, it has a place for a variety of operations.The purpose of the so-called pasting is to stabilize and clarify the wine. This requires an absorbent that would absorb all the sediment. Usually, substances of animal origin are used for this. Casein (milk protein), albumin (cattle blood), gelatin (collagen, animal bones) and, the most old-school variant, egg white. The vegan-friendly options remain bentonite (clay) or laborious and slow filtration of the wine as an alternative. Some of these wines are certified.

Topic details

Meet one of the most influential women in the world of wine Isabelle Legeron

Meet one of the world’s most influential women in wine, Isabelle Legeron

Petnats and carbonic maceration

Producers of wines of all styles of interest to us have their own favorite “form factors” due to the peculiarities of the production technology. This is especially true for those who are interested in more natural wines – here they like carbonic maceration (a special type of fermentation in closed vats, which once gained popularity in connection with Beaujolais Nouveau), orange wines (hello, Georgia) and petnata: petillant naturel, they are also PetNat, sparkling wine produced by the “old-fashioned method”, méthode ancestrale, which has existed as long as wine is bottled, since the second half of the 17th century: Benedictines from Limoux poured still unfermented wine into bottles, where it fermented further, giving bubbles and sediment …In short, read counter-labels more often. Or more, talk to the employees of your favorite bars, wine people love to talk too. Below are the most suitable places for such conversations from our point of view.

Big Wine Freaks and Maxʼs Beef for Money

Two restaurants Real Authentic Wine

© Big Wine Freaks

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© Maxʼs Beef for Money

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Maxʼs Beef, historically the first place in Moscow with a natural map, is still distinguished by a good selection of petnats and oranges.The first, low alcohol and not too sparkling, are ideal on weekend mornings: German 2Naturkinder from Sylvaner, Austrian Fuchs und Hase, PetʼNat Vol 5, Gruner Veltliner and Welschriesling blend from Kamptal, sparkling pignoletto Sui Lieviti from the Viteto winery in Viteto -Romania. The second – a more languid and evening version: Muscat from Roussillon Jolly Ferriol Nature M. or Friulian blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc Radikon Oslavje.

Topic details

Drink Green Tights: Big Wine Freaks and the Organic Revolution

Drink Green Tights: Big Wine Freaks and the Organic Revolution

In the flagship Big Wine Freaks, in addition to a large selection of exotic by glasses, natural for some time can also be found under Coravin, a device that allows you to keep bottles open for a long time, including wine from Jura by Champs Poids by Jean François Ganev, orange Timotheus Weiss by Gut Oggau …There are also naturalists in the champagne section – Agrapart, Olivier Horiot, David Léclapart. There are even natural wines from the USA – Oregon Kelley Fox and Californian Elizia. Both restaurants, as well as the naturmagaz located door to door with Big Wine Freaks (from 1000 rubles per bottle), are directly related to the wine trading company Real Authentic Wine.

Barrel

Wine bar from “Rumochnaya in Zyuzino”

At first, this place at Winzavod raised concerns: whether the creators of Ryumochnaya from Zyuzino, one of the most reckless alcoholic establishments in the city, which turned the theme of Soviet and post-Soviet alcoholism into art, would be able to merge into a difficult, completely differently arranged wine history.Everything turned out largely due to the stake on exotic wine that can amaze a neophyte. Natural wines are part of this program. The most impressive thing here is the Chilean País Salvaje made from wild grapes. There is also an Alsatian Riesling from the biodynamist Pierre Frick and Dorabella, a sulfurless pulsar from Jura. The interior is neatly crammed into real vats for storing wine, and the round holes in the ceiling, in which the lamps are mounted, are actually hatches.

Tokyo

Vegan organic and biodynamic wine at the same time

A seemingly ordinary sushi bar almost opposite the Conservatory suddenly turns out to be a godsend for those who like to follow international wine trends in city maps.To store the wines selected for Vlada Lesnichenko’s card, a transparent nominal humidor enclosure has been created in the hall, in which there is room for everything – biodynamics, natural wines and even more. As you know, the line between organic and biodynamics can be quite thin: one often does not exclude the other, and sometimes the third. For example, Australian winemaker Dave Paxton and his AAA Organic Shiraz Grenache are both organic and biodynamic wine. It would seem that much more – but not only.It’s also vegan.

“Wine Bazaar”

Organics on Bolshaya Sadovaya

© “Wine Bazaar”

In the “Bazaar” on Sadovaya there is always something to choose from petnats. For example, cabernet sauvignon petnat from the already mentioned Jolly Ferriol winery from Roussillon or something from the Fanny Adams line – the fruit of a joint project of Vladimir Basov’s wine trading company RAW with Crimean winemaker Pavel Shvets.For example, Rose Arms, pink petnat from Kokura, Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon. As for the non-sparkling ones, given the constantly changing weather, there are two options. On cool natural days, you should pay attention to the non-gray wine called Paeriza from one of the weirdest wineries in La Mancha, Samuel Cano, whose bouquet in the glass develops from tones of berries to bright notes of smoked meats. A more “sunny” version is Raisins Gaulois from the guru of the “Gamay” variety and the carbonic maceration of Marcel Lapierre.In other “Wine Bazaars” the selection of organic and natural wines is less.

Uilliamʼs

Natural and Biodynamic in the Secret Map

Here biodynamics and natural wines are part of a large and complex program. “We share with our guests what we love ourselves. Therefore, biodynamics, natural and organic matter are in the map. Not because it is fashionable, but because it is delicious and does not have a headache. The map is updated frequently because drinking the same thing is tiresome.Now we are launching a special secret map, in which # people in theme will find various rare items, but many wines from the main list come to Russia in small quotas, ”says chief sommelier Evgeny Kovalenko.

From Evgeny’s point of view, biodynamics and natural wines are, first of all, fun: “Lluerna Els Vinyerons is“ grandma’s compote ”, and grandmother’s compote is always great. Unlitro Costa Toscana Rosso Ampeleia – Tuscany, but drunk like juice. Liter. Liter juice pack.Invigorating juice. Ambonnay Rouge by Andre Beaufort is an elegant piece. Wine does not stand still for a minute – a continuous evolution in the glass. Quiet Champagne is always curious. Never order Contadino by Frank Cornelissen! Never order if you like plain Sicilian wine! Etna is not Sicily for you. But pleasure is immeasurable. ”

“Pies, wine and goose”

Organics and biodynamics not marked in the map, they say, you yourself will understand

© “Pies, Wine and Goose”

In some ways the most unexpected place on the list.The ironic cuisine of Alexander Zhurkin, as it follows from the name, which is rich in associations, repels, on the one hand, from a simple Russian pie, on the other, from a farm goose. At the same time, wine here is under the jurisdiction of Anton Panasenko, one of the most knowledgeable domestic sommeliers in the entire short history of this profession in our country. Of course, Panasenko, who started back in the late 1990s (like, by the way, Vladimir Basov from RAW, as well as winemaker Pavel Shvets – all of them are from the legendary “catfish” of the first wave), it is difficult to surprise with anything, biodynamics in particular, because he began working with her many years before the current boom.

“We have plenty of such wines,” says Anton, but they are on the map not because of this boom, but because they are interesting in themselves, and not because of the production method. We do not highlight them in the map. For me it is important not how this or that wine was made, but whether it is good wine. Just as nationality, religious views and the social status of someone are not important to me – if only a good person would be! And whoever chooses wines precisely on this basis will find them in our map with his trained glance himself. ” We dare to recommend something like the Chianti Classico by Querciabella, a vegan, biodynamic and organic winery that has been organic for thirty years.

I Like Wine / I Like Wine 2.0

Organic, natural and biodynamic

“It’s interesting for us to work with this segment,” says Elena Lebedeva, chief sommelier. – Since we are bringing the topic of wine to the masses, talking about it, introducing it, making it fall in love with it. Natural wines are different, they are alive, what kind of wine will actually turn out to be – you will only find out when you open the bottle. We try to immediately pour these wines into the caraf to give it more freedom and air to fully open.If you start to figure out who is still producing organic matter, who is biodynamics, then most of the wine list will be both, it’s just that not everyone is talking about it, not everyone is shouting, moreover: many winemakers belong to the mentioned categories – by default. But natural wines are definitely a separate category that requires explanation and immersion. ”

Indeed, there is plenty to choose from in all three categories: we can safely recommend paying attention to such wines as the rare Oxerua variety performed by the main Alsatian avant-garde artist Pierre Frick, an unfiltered orange traminer from old vines with the telling name Mit Achtung from Lower Austria , nero-dʼavola from the main Sicilian “naturalist” Arianna Ockipinti.

Twins Wine Space / Wine & Crab

Wine bar with food of brothers Berezutsky

© Twins Wine Space

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Opened in St. Regis at the beginning of summer Twins Wine Space is as close as possible to the format of a wine bar of all the projects of the team. As usual, the map, although smaller in volume than in other places, is still balanced and traditional in the best sense of the word.It seems that there is plenty of biodynamics here, but this is such a biodynamics that does not shout about itself either with loud labels or an abundance of certificates. Konstantin Nosach, sommelier of Twins Wine Space and Wine & Crab: “The Twins Wine Space wine list is based on the classics. Among natural ones, I can cite as an example one rather rare position – a still rosé wine from the Champagne region, from the Côte de Bar commune, from the winemaker Olivier Orio, a representative of one of the oldest wine-making families in Champagne. For a long time they sold their grapes, since 2000 they began to make just still wines, since 2004 – champagne.About ten thousand of all cuvées are made. In Russia, the quota is 180-200 bottles per year. We will add similar things to the map in the future, but, based on our usual policy, we will take only the rarest and most valuable of what is on the market. ”

Blush Wine Bar

The cheapest of all the places on the list (thanks!)

The Blush, which opened this summer in Daev Lane, has finally turned Sretenka into the most actively developing wine route in the city.The name is in honor of one of the types of rosé wines. The owner of the establishment is Daniil Shitov. The place was created with the participation of Sergey Antonov, aka Village Sommelier, widely known in narrow wine circles, who took part in the opening of the first Wine Bazaars, Wine & Crab and many other correct wine places not only in Moscow, but also, for example, in Tambov.

The card is divided into price categories for the cost of a bottle: 890 rubles, 1250 rubles, 1600 rubles, 2150 rubles. and 2800 p. per bottle. Any ten of them can be opened and sold by glass at random during the day for 230 rubles., 370 rubles, 480 rubles, 610 rubles, including organics with biodynamics, – Tuscan red, unfiltered and with wild yeast Nero del Gobo from Camigliano from Sangiovese Sira, Merlot and the white variety Vermentino, about the same wild Austrian gruner from Georg Schneider, as well as the already mentioned Chilean Pais Salvaje, one of the strangest wines on the market.

“Owl and Bear”

Wine list for those versed in a modest interior

© “Bear and Owl”

Not too noticeable for the uninitiated wine establishment on Pokrovka, opened by sommelier Yuri Plesh.The best example is that the entrance to a good wine bar doesn’t have to be on the first line. Organics, biodynamics and natural are just part of the general picture of “a comfortable and quiet institution for those who know,” although in fact the number of positions we are interested in is approaching several dozen. It is worth paying attention to the sulfite-free and unfiltered Marie Cécile from Château le Puy, atypical champagne from André Beaufort, the Hayborian “Red Sonja”, which is actually a Cabernet Franc from Burgenland, petnat from “Gruner” from Christopher Koch, “supernatural” from Maury , unfiltered Portuguese rufiyaa from the Dao region, which comes side by side.

Wine Religion, Cevicheria, Tartaria and Vineria

Lots of natural wine

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Liza Stakhanova’s establishments, regardless of location, have always been distinguished by the desire to work with all the most relevant novelties that appear on the market. Therefore, in addition to “tights” (Pampaneo Airen) and Le Coste Litrozzo, which have become the most popular natural wines in the city, there is a rather impressive section of natural wines, which includes more than two dozen wines.Among them, it is worth noting both the side-by-side Jurtschitsch Grüner Veltliner Terrassen (in WR) and Vale da Capucha Fossil Lisboa (in Cevicheria), as well as wines from the main sections of the cards from winemakers Johannes Zillinger (Lower Austria), Marcel Lapierre and Damien Kokle (Beaujolais), Julien Altaber (Burgundy) and many others.

Bambule

Sliding card and selection by label

© Bambule / Mark Boyarsky

The place on the revived Solyanka, diametrically opposite to the stiffness of wine culture in its classic version, of course, could not do without wines of the most fashionable format.The map was created by Marusya Milovidova (Tehnikum, “Gorynych”). The map turned out to be laconic and beautiful, especially as regards the section of sparkling and petnata: Kalkspitz by Christoph Hoch from the Austrian Kremlin, sparkling wine from a rather rare Portuguese variety “baga” from Luis Patu. There are also a number of off-card wines that come in small batches and are drunk so quickly that it makes no sense to record the very fact of their appearance.

Topic details

Wine, cocktails and food at Bambule on Solyanka

Wine, cocktails and food at Bambule on Solyanka

“Vinoteka number 15”

The most important wine bar on the topic

© “Vinoteka number 15”

Pyatnashka continues to be a cult place, in spite of the fact that new wine bars, like the old Harms women falling out of the window, keep opening and opening.From innovations: the wine list has turned into a small informative newspaper with a crossword puzzle and charades, so it has become even more interesting to read.