Cycling Weekly December 30, 2021

Once again I’ve come up a few miles short in our annual CW5000 mile challenge. I say a few, at the time of writing I’m closing in on 4,000 miles for 2021. I’ll probably sneak in a little below that (our household has just been hit by every winter bug doing the rounds), but even if I do that’s still double what I managed last year, so I’m happy with that. The CW5000, along with my little aero project (turn to page 32), reinvigorated my riding this year and I’m happy to say I was fitter this summer than I have been for many years. My 130-mile ride in June to mark 130 years of Cycling Weekly was my biggest single ride since 2012, I hit power PBs through the year, set…

A new rule compelling time triallists and hill-climbers to use front lights in events has been labelled a “box-ticking exercise that does little for rider safety”. The new regulation was introduced this month immediately following the CTT (Cycling Time Trials) AGM, along with a second rule that also makes helmets compulsory in events. “It feels to me like a simple box-ticking exercise,” said aero expert and time triallist Dr Xavier Disley of the front light rule. “I’m not very happy about it. Because it’s not about having lights, it’s the fact that it’s not a safety regulation. If it were a safety regulation, there would be information around what lights you can use, what size and shape and lumens and everything. And there’s nothing about that at all.” His comments were underscored by…

As an aerodynamics guru who has worked with riders ranging from domestic time triallists to Grand Tour winners at his company Aerocoach, Xavier Disley is keen to use his knowledge to attempt to minimise any negative performance effect introduced by having a front light. It would only be small, he said, but it would have a negative effect. “It will have an impact of some amount,” he said. “And people do lose TTs by the odd second. An extra 10 grams on your bike for hill-climbs or time trials won’t really make any difference. Aero-wise, it will make more of a difference.” When we spoke to him he had already amassed a number of front lights with the intention, the following week, of carrying out aero testing with them in order to get…

As Britain’s most successful team pursuit rider Ed Clancy hangs up his racing wheels he’s hoping to continue working inside the British Cycling system in his post-riding career. Speaking at the Track Champions League earlier this month Clancy told Cycling Weekly he was in talks with BC to move into working in the research and innovation team. “I’d love to stay involved with the British Cycling R&I team, perhaps work with some other disciplines, we’re in talks about that at the moment but we’re yet to confirm anything,” he said. He said he’d like to work with “skinsuits, wind tunnels, bikes, tyres and all that stuff”. Earlier this year British Cycling was given the Boardman wind tunnel by Halfords and is in the process of moving it to the Etihad Campus, just next…

CHARLOTTE BROUGHTON Nothing in cycling should come for free It’s common for racers in the UK to have jobs to support their cycling ambitions. This can be tough – workplaces that understand cycling commitments are hard to come by. Over the years I have worked many different jobs to support my cycling. At the moment my jobs consist of mostly writing and cycling modelling gigs. Due to Covid, a lot of shoots have been pushed back due to stock issues. This has been tough at times as these jobs have been great at fitting around my long-Covid symptoms, hospital appointments and riding. Especially as currently I would struggle to hold down a nine-to-five job. Therefore, recently I was thrilled when another modelling job came along. It was a good gig and laughs were usually had.…

Laugh all you want, but as soon as they came out with the Impossible Whopper, I nearly broke my nose running into their front door. Borby Kennedy The lads do have to chow down 6,000-10,000kcal a day in a Grand Tour. Seems like a good fit. Tomás Metcalfe A bit better than alcohol and/or cigarette companies. Rey Ellin I suppose nothing new. McDonald’s was a co-sponsor of the Amore e Vita team a couple of decades ago. Steve Lack Burger King of the Mountain? Sanford McKenzie Nothing like doing 100km+ on Sunday with the local bunch then heading to Burger King. Overdue partnership. Matt O Bee Clothing by Fat Lad at the Back would be an obvious choice. Steve North You think the pros don’t throw fast food down their throat any chance they get? Tom Douek So…