Innehållsförteckning för June 11, 2020 från Cycling Weekly

I rode with a friend at the weekend. It was the first time I’d ridden with another human being since early March. It was wonderful. Someone to talk to, and a wheel to follow. At first there was excitement. That gave way to nervousness when the practicalities of social distancing on the move became apparent. That then gave way to a more relaxed approach by the end of the ride. I think we managed to keep two metres apart for most of it (we took it to mean that the two-metre space had to be between our heads) but there were definitely brief moments when we were closer – it was unavoidable. Now the rules have been relaxed further still to allow groups of six to ride. The question is:…

SIMON SMITH, GREAT YARMOUTH CC “It’s not about how far or fast you go, or what you ride… just ride” How are you doing? I’ve been keeping busy during the lockdown. I’m a primary school teacher, so while it hasn’t been business as usual, there has been plenty to do. I spent several weeks working from home as I have asthma and picked up a chest infection just before lockdown! I’ve been back in school for a few weeks now, working with the children who were allowed to come to school. It’s great to be working with a group of four to seven year olds – they keep you on your toes. How are you keeping yourself motivated to ride right now? It has been difficult to maintain the motivation…

The Cervélo S3 and I enjoyed a long and fruitful partnership pre-lockdown, when I managed to cover some decent distances around my home lanes, where its speed saw me gain PBs on almost every route. It took on a very early season puncture-strewn sportive without missing a beat and the only time I sensed a chink in its armour was during some South Wales epics when steep climbs and sidewinds were the order of the day. It’s a bike that flatters even the most tired of legs and I’m pretty sad to be parting ways with it.…

Cycling has a longstanding and undeniable relationship with beer and wine. One of the leading WorldTour teams, Mitchelton-Scott, takes half of its name from one of Australia’s most respected wineries, Mitchelton Wines. Meanwhile, the opening fixture in the Ardennes Classics takes its name from a beer: Amstel Gold Race. In the weeks preceding the Dutch race, Kwaremont beer is a regular sight on the advertising hoardings at the Belgian Classics – and the Belgian love of combining bikes and beer is practically a national pastime. In 2016, non-alcoholic wine company Eisberg emerged on to the cycling market, sponsoring a number of races including the Tour of Britain and Women’s Tour. In 2019, they were co-title sponsors of Canyon-Eisberg. The label’s continued presence in the sport is attracting more consumers, according…

Despite an influx of entries, there aren’t many changes to either top-10 leaderboard this week. An impressive junior entry from Calum Moir went straight into fourth place in the men’s ranks; the 15-year-old hit 1,211 watts, despite weighing less than 55kg. Moir is just below fellow 15-year-old, Matthew Brennan – kids these days, eh? The highest new female entry was Kate Taylor, with 687 watts, putting her in fifth place. The only woman to have broken 1,000 watts so far is Fleur Stoops, with 1,006; and the overall highest outright peak is 1,968 watts by 18-year-old Jack Hartley from Sheffield, profiled below. HIGHEST MAX POWER SO FAR: JACK HARTLEY What’s your cycling background? It all started at age 3½ with the removal of my stabilisers! I rode trials and BMX…

Dr Marlon Moncrieffe, the academic whose work has shed light on the experiences of Black-British cyclists, has called for the entire British cycling community to come together and create greater inclusion for minority-ethnic groups. His intervention comes in light of the death of George Floyd in the USA, which has seen four police officers charged with his murder. Writing in The Road Book, Moncrieffe said his work, ‘Made in Britain’, which has been displayed in public exhibitions in Brighton and at Herne Hill Velodrome in London, was a “response to the suffocation of ‘whiteness’”, and intended to give a voice to Black-British riders and the discrimination they faced. He added that his research was partly triggered by “commercial and media manipulation of British cyclists’ successes”, such as the attention given…

Frankie finds a friend Frankie, the parrot that was famous for riding with Michele Scarponi before his death in 2017, has found a new pro cycling friend. He has been pictured in Gazzetta dello Sport riding with Antonio Nibali (Trek-Segafredo), who has recently moved to the town of Filottrano, where Scarponi lived, to live with his girlfriend. 2 weeks The time the peloton could find itself under quarantine in Italy if someone tests positive for coronavirus at the Giro d’Italia in October. Race director Mauro Vegni was set for crunch talks with Italian health officials this week over the health protocols at the rescheduled three-week stage race. Italian news outlet TuttoBiciWeb reported Vegni said that stage starts and finishes and whether the race will be held behind closed doors were all…

▼ Issy Sherwani-Keeling from Hemel Hempstead cycled 761 miles in aid of NHS Charities Together on a turbo-trainer in her back garden. The 21-year-old spread the distance out over five days, cycling up to 120 miles a day, with the odd hour-long foray onto the road. At the time of writing she had nearly doubled her £250 target, raising £428. ▼ Scots pensioner Bob Hossack raised more than £1,000 for the NHS by doing his own virtual ride to Land’s End from his home in Gourock. Riding on the road, but staying within his local area, he notched up at least 12 miles every day from the start of lockdown in March, and at the latest tally had ridden a total of 773 miles, with £1,113 raised on his JustGiving…

UAE-Team Emirates coach and sports director John Wakefield believes that moderate drinking should not be discouraged, whether you’re an amateur or WorldTour pro. “I’ve personally got no problem with it – if it’s in moderation,” the South African says. “If it’s Friday night and you want a beer or a glass of wine with your partner, then that’s no issue. You can’t be a robot 24/seven because it will lead to eventual burn-out. Responsible drinking breaks that robotic cycle.” Timing when you drink has to be factored in, he adds. “If your peak racing season is mid-April to the start of June, and you want to be in 100 per cent shape, then abstain or drink to a minimum during that period. But when you’re not needing to be in…

YARDARM LAGER – 0.5% Jump Ship, Scotland CW says: Light and crisp; good ‘real-lager’ taste but not quite as much flavour as the best low-alc rivals here. ALKOHOLFREI ‘PINE CONES’ PILS – 0.5% Rothaus, Germany CW says: Really does taste like a full-bodied German pils; lets you imagine you’re at a Bavarian beer festival – without making a disgrace of yourself. WEIRD WEATHER IPA – 0.3% Mikkeller, Denmark CW says: Brewed in Belgium, this is a light, summery beer with a pleasing fruity tang. Bonus points for the bonkers can design. PLAYGROUND IPA – 0.5% VandeStreek, Netherlands CW says: Titillating mouth-feel, thick and fruity, with vibrant colour and just the right degree of tartness. A work of art. LOWLANDER WIT – 0.00% Lowlander, Netherlands CW says: Made using reclaimed orange and lemon peel, this does…

I’ve heard about a risk of myocarditis in cyclists who’ve had Covid-19. What is it, and should I be worried about it? Viruses can affect the heart muscle (myocardium) and the pericardium, which surrounds the heart. As Sars-Cov-2 is a new type of virus, we do not yet have much information about how frequently the heart is affected in Covid-19. When inflammation of the heart – myocarditis and/or pericarditis – does occur, it requires complete rest, under medical supervision, to recover. Another indirect effect of Covid-19 on the heart can be increased heart rate due to release of inflammatory molecules, so-called “cytotoxic storm”. More than ever, you need to play it safe – if in doubt, rest. A pro cyclist recently tweeted that he consumes 120g carbs per hour while…

Stem-gazing, or wattage-watching, wasn’t really invented in 2012, but it was in that year’s Tour de France that it was brought to the attention of the world by one of its prime exponents, Team Sky’s Chris Froome. Totally undistracted by France, Froome finished second to team-mate Bradley Wiggins. He brought the same ruthless focus to winning four Tours of his own, without once being able to tell you how many fingers you were holding up. As bike computers and GPS units have become more sophisticated, there is less and less reason to look anywhere else. Where, once upon a time, our forebears had no choice but to look helplessly at their surroundings and be bored rigid by things like mountain vistas and passing wildlife, we are blessed with something more…

Despite riders and clubs waiting before riding in bigger groups, many of us are riding with a partner – advantages of which go beyond mere company. Having someone else to tour your local lanes with provides safety should an accident occur, as tragically happened in the South-West last week. Robin Snelson from Falmouth Wheelers said: “We have several older members in their 70s and 80s who are going out three or four at a time on e-bikes, and other members who feel vulnerable on their own. “We had a club member who passed away last week due to suspected heart failure while out riding. “He was riding with another club member who applied CPR, following the instructions of the paramedics on the phone. Sadly he passed away three days later…

How have you stayed motivated with no racing on? We’ve always been able to ride outside in the Netherlands and the weather has been fantastic, so I’ve been really motivated to get outside and train. I’ve realised that I really like what I do! But there have also been downs where I have asked: what am I doing this for? When the new calendar was released and the team started searching for training camps, I felt so excited. Brand What have you learned during the lockdown? I tried to fix my garden but I’ve found out that I can’t stay focused on it for long. Normally I have the excuse that I’m not at home, but now when I’m there all the plants are still dying! They need so much…

1 When was Raleigh founded? 2 In 2009 classic British bike brand Pashley enlisted the help of which Olympic gold medallist to help it sell bikes? 3 A longstanding fixture on the British domestic calendar until its demise in 2001, when was the Tour of the Cotswolds first run? 4 Saddle brand Brooks originally started making goods for another sport when it was founded in 1866, which one? 5 CW columnist Dr Hutch has many accolades on his palmarès, but which World Championships has he won four times, more than anyone else, aboard an iconic London bike brand? 6 Which male rider has racked up the most top threes in the British National Championship road race with six trips to the podium? 7 Beryl Burton is the most successful woman in…

THE RACE BRITISH CYCLING TT SERIES This 10-miler is “just for fun” and won’t get you any BC points sadly but it should attract a decent field. Thurs 11 June, 18:30 THE WORKOUT LE COL RIDE WITH BRADLEY WIGGINS Can you hold on to Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins’s wheel? You should only need to average around 2.5W/kg to do it apparently but it may not all be that easy. Thurs 11 June, 18:00 THE CAFE RIDE RCC CAPTAIN’S RIDE Join Rapha founder Simon Mottram for this sociable 50-minute spin around the desert and hills of Watopia. Also, if you can’t make this one, there’s another on 18 June. Thurs 11 June, 18.00…

Here is a rather nerdy comment on the wonderful 1938 photo of the Anerley BC 12 (CW June 4). Alec Horwood is actually riding west on Smallfield Road, Horley, just before turning left at the King’s Head crossroads to ride south on Balcombe Road. I’m very familiar with the location, having cycled past it every day on my way to school. Also, my father was a member of the Anerley, living in Croydon at the time of the photo before moving to Burstow near Smallfield during WWII, where I was brought up, always riding a bike. Thanks for the excellent magazine, which I’ve read for many years despite not being a racing man but a tourist. Robin Padbury, email Ed - Thanks for the clarification, Robin. We’re always surprised and…

While he’s not yet obliged to do so, Tom Pidcock moved up from the U23 ranks for the most recent cyclo-cross season to become a fully fledged elite rider. Having got so used to winning almost at will (the previous season he won seven out of eight U23 races he took part in, including four World Cup rounds and the World Championship), Pidcock has had to dial back his expectations – something that has not come easy. “The hardest thing was I was used to winning so much, I’ve had to change my mindset,” he concedes. “Before, I didn’t race if it wasn’t for the win. I didn’t care if it wasn’t for the win. And now, I’ve had to learn to race for top-fives and top-10s.” There is also…

Like you, we’re adjusting to a new way of life right now, working our way through as best we can. But one thing that will remain part of our lives is riding our bikes. There may be no racing for a while, and our riding is limited, but we’re still cyclists and always will be. Our content will now be focused on helping you through the months ahead with inspiring stories and advice on how to cope in a rapidly changing world. When it’s all over, we look forward to getting out and riding with you once again. Cycling is more than a sport, it’s a way of life Cycling Weekly will be there to help you through the months ahead Subscribe NOW for as litt le as £28.99 or…

Competitors in early races often took bottles of wine in their handlebar bags to sustain them. Many carried a drop of spirits – to keep the cold out, they would say. But they were just reflecting society, doing what others did in their daily work. One rider, an enthusiastic amateur known as Count Pépin de Gontaud (no, not an actual Count), who entered the 1907 Tour de France, hired two pros to carry his booze, explaining: “I’m completely useless without food and wine.” To nobody’s surprise, he got no further than stage five. Spectators often passed alcohol to riders. In one unfortunate incident, on a boiling hot day during the 1950 Tour, a competitor from North Africa, Abdel-Kader Zaaf, grabbed a bottle held by spectator, drank its contents and started…

You spent much of ‘lockdown’ in Finland with your partner (F1 racing driver) Valtteri Bottas before heading home to Monaco. Did you train together? Yes, we’ve been doing almost all of our training together. A lot on the bike, both road and MTB, as for him it’s good cardio and he even joins in on some of the efforts. We’ve even done some Zwift sessions together which, for me helped with motivation. Home gym sessions have also been quite complementary for us both, especially core and leg exercises, and some speed and skill work to help keep the brain active and reactions sharp. We were fortunate in Finland to have comparatively more freedom, and I was able to try ice hockey and karting once things opened again, which was fun,…

It’s not quite true to say that there is no bike racing at the moment. There have been some very occasional and highly isolated outbreaks of competition happening near Cambridge. The standard of the racing is not very high. But the aggression is total, and the passionate rage at a poor result is so great that I’m just baffled as to why no one has picked up the TV rights. I’ll tell you what happened. About halfway through the lockdown I had a video chat with a friend. We rhapsodised about how quiet the roads were. I boasted of doing a circuit of tiny rural roads that we often ride together and having seen three cars in an hour. “That’s nothing,” he said. “I did eight miles on the A10…

Embarrassingly this box features me again, for the second consecutive week. On a ride a few days ago, I felt a strange pulling down on the front of my right foot. There was an unusual squeaking noise. I had a seized pedal bearing – a quaint old mechanical problem from the last century. I could hardly turn the pedal by hand, and it was hot to the touch. But 30 miles from home, I just had to make the best of it and keep riding. Worst of all were the old horror stories about riders having an ankle broken by a sudden total seizure of a pedal bearing. For that reason I pedalled homewards one-legged for over an hour like a time-trialling flamingo before it finally dawned on me that…