Innehållsförteckning för October 6, 2022 från Cycling Weekly

As you’ll have seen on the cover, this week’s magazine is focused on sustainability and cycling. I’ve always prided myself on the green credentials of our pastime, but the more I’ve learnt over the last few years the more I realise how naive I’ve been. While many of you, like me, will ride a bike rather than drive a car whenever you can, we do have to be honest about the impact we have on the environment. The kit we buy, the travel, the waste… it all factors into the bigger and overwhelming topic of climate change. This issue isn’t, however, a blueprint for what to do, and neither does it give definitive advice for how to be a fully sustainable cyclist. The topic is too big and complicated for…

Until his plane landed last week, Remco Evenepoel had not set foot on Belgian soil since before the Vuelta a España began in August. Now he’s a national hero and everybody wants a piece. From the journalist who took some Belgian fries to the airport just to get a story about Evenepoel eating their chips (he obliged), to Specialized and RSC Anderlecht presenting him with gifts – everyone is seizing their moment to get in the picture with the new champion. There was further evidence of this all around Brussels on Sunday, with special Remco cakes having been made for the of his honorary citizenship. Additionally, not far from the Grand Place, Brussels’s cheeky Manneken Pis statue was sporting a Belgian national cycling team jersey in Evenepoel’s honour. It’s all…

18. Electrify all team vehicles: Teams have their vehicles provided to them by a motor sponsor, and we proposed that from next season all leased vehicles should be electric. Technology is improving, but the massive distances that need to be covered in a typical race day means that this proposal is not 100% workable just yet. 19. Cap the distance between stages: We suggested that the non-race route distance between a stage finish and the next stage start should be no longer than 100km, although races would be allowed an exemption once every seven days to permit transition days, for example. Driving 500km in a single race day, as happens, is not necessary. 20. Less frequent Grand Tour foreign starts: The UCI has said it will no longer allow more…

2% of all trips were made by bicycle in England in 2021 112 volunteers from under-represented groups supported the 2021 World Championships 150,000 e-bikes sold in the UK in 2021 1,380 FLIGHTS from Brussels to New York, the equivalent of 2,292 tonnes of CO2 produced by the 2021 World Championships in Belgium. 2022 in Australia will likely be much higher 430 MILES The distance you need to ride instead of driving to save the carbon equivalent of manufacturing a bike 630,000 bidons estimated to be used in the professional peloton each year (EF) 45% target for reduction in carbon emissions from pro cycling by 2030 44,000 tonnes of bicycle tyres and inner tubes go to UK landfill each year 15 million bicycles are thrown away every year 364,000 bicycles produced daily worldwide 197…

Jennifer George is not the kind of rider easily deterred from riding her bike. “My background is such that I know the best thing you can do is get back on as soon as possible,” she says, almost by way of introduction. That background includes growing up riding horses around the Scottish countryside and, for the past eight years, as a highly successful bike racer. Today, however, the 39-year-old is telling me about something that happened to her earlier this year that has knocked her confidence so badly she doesn’t know if she will ever again ride alone on her local roads. “I’d been out for about two-and-a-half hours,” George begins to recount the incident in April that changed everything for her, “and I was less than 20km from home…

I have a non-cycling friend who recently transitioned to being a cycling friend. He insists my example was not part of his decision-making process; indeed he says he’d have taken up cycling years ago were it not for me. But now he’s knackered his ankles running, and you know the rules. His specific complaint is that I never write anything for new riders. Which is probably true, mainly because I’ve only been riding for 28 years so I’m barely past the training-wheel stage myself. But he makes a point. There are some thoughts I might usefully pass on. For example, you can almost certainly corner faster than you do. On a dry road there’s a remarkable amount of grip, and if you commit with confidence you can carry a lot…

Gregg Booker completed a boyhood dream by clinching victory on the Monsal Head hill-climb close to his home. The Summat CC rider who lives near the Bakewell climb has had several previous attempts at winning the Sheffrec CC event, finishing third in 2018 and fourth last year. Booker was not to be denied this year and helped by a slight tailwind up the 600-metre long climb he posted a winning time of one minute and 19.4 seconds. “I’m a local boy and it’s nice to bring it home – it means a lot” The course record remains at 1-14.2 set by Malcolm Elliott in 1981 some 16 years before 25-year-old Booker was born. “It means a lot as I’m a local boy and it’s nice to bring it home, it…

Endurance man Lee Williams (North Hants RC) became the first rider in almost 70 years to beat the Pembroke to London road record last week, taking 4min 17sec off Ken Joy’s 1953 mark. Williams completed the 240-mile route in 10hr 17min 43sec, triumphing despite setbacks including a diversion and less than perfect weather. Williams said it was amazing to be able to take a record from such a legend. “All credit to him – it shows how strong he was when he did it,” he said of Joy. Williams wasn’t the only one racing from Pembroke to London that day. Kate Bradley (Born to Bike) made an attempt on a first women’s record, but her 13hr 25min was ultimately not enough to meet the 12hr 30min RRA standard time. As…

I am an experienced cyclist and expolice officer. Last month I was nearly knocked off my bicycle by a police car after the officer failed to stop at a give way sign at a traffic island. I swore to myself. The patrol car then followed me and put his blue lights and sirens on. I immediately stopped, thinking he was going to apologise. The officer then asked me to repeat what I had said. I did this and berated him for his driving. He said I had committed a public order offence for which I could be arrested. To say I was shocked is an understatement. I made a formal complaint minutes later via the phone to his local station. I have also written to the police HQ re this…

Have you ever wondered about the carbon footprint of the magazine you’re holding? The answer, we’d imagine, is probably not. Still, as we assess the environmental impact of the sport of cycling, it’s only fair that we turn the spotlight on ourselves as well. In the name of transparency, we’ve delved deep into our reporting, printing and distribution processes, all with the hope of offering an insight into our green credentials as a publication. The outlook is promising, but there’s work to be done. On the road So far this year, our team of journalists have reported from the roadside at 12 races across central Europe and North America. The flights required to travel to and from these events have seen us contribute to around 10 tonnes of carbon dioxide…

CW asked Dr Marianne Trent, clinical psychologist and host of The Aspiring Psychologist Podcast, for her advice on how to process a terrifying experience. In order to function and go about our everyday lives, we have to feel safe. An event that abruptly shakes our sense of safety can make us feel incredibly vulnerable and full of doubt. At times like this, it is important to remain self-compassionate. 1 It was your right to get out and cycle; you weren’t out looking for trouble, trouble found you. There can be a tendency to blame oneself, but what happened was not the result of any choices you made. Symptoms of trauma may include sleep changes, feeling ‘on edge’, jumpy or hypervigilant, and replaying the distressing thoughts and images in your mind.…

Gifting a win is simply letting someone else take the victory. There are two broad approaches to this act of magnanimity. The first is when you’re taking the overall lead in a stage race, and you let a breakaway partner take the stage win. This avoids you looking greedy (a bit late for that really, since you’re taking the overall lead, but that’s the rule), and possibly increases the chances of them or their team doing you a favour a bit later in the race. Or in another race. Or at some vague point in the future. If you’re doing this, you simply let them outsprint you. Don’t take the mick entirely and sit up applauding, but equally don’t put yourself in the position where you have to slam your…

Andrew Feather sent a message to his rivals for the National Hill-Climb Championships by smashing the course record on the Horseshoe Pass last weekend. After winning the title in 2020 the 37-year-old lost his crown to Tom Bell last year on Winnats Pass. However, this year’s course on the Old Horseshoe Pass in North Wales is almost twice the length, at a gradient of 12.5%. Sunday’s event on the nearby Horseshoe Pass was slightly longer in length and not as steep, with Feather posting a winning time of eight minutes and 34 seconds, knocking 17 seconds off the previous course record. “I think I did 485 watts for eight and a half minutes, which was a power personal best,” said Feather. “The Nationals is a bit steeper so it’s a…

Harrison Wood signs for Cofidis Twenty-two year-old Brit Harrison Wood is joining French WorldTour team Cofidis for 2023. The young rider, who is currently supported by the Rayner Foundation, said: “Becoming professional has been a dream for me since I started cycling. I really liked being a trainee in the team: it feels like being part of a family. I am also progressing with my French, I will continue to take lessons this winter to be even more comfortable with my team-mates.” t Mas beats Pogačar to prevail in Giro dell’Emilia Enric Mas (Movistar) surged to victory in the Giro dell’Emilia on Saturday, dropping two-time Tour de France champion Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) in the closing moments of the race. It was the Spaniard’s first race win in 18…

As a Future brand, Cycling Weekly is committed to reducing its impact on the planet. Last December, Future launched its own responsibility strategy in a bid to become a more sustainable, transparent business. A key target of this strategy is achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions, which the company hopes to do by 2026. Other commitments include turning to renewable energy sources, installing LED lighting in our offices, and setting a plastic-free policy. To ensure these promises are kept, Future has a Responsibility Committee which oversees and reviews the company’s, and Cycling Weekly’s, day-to-day practices.…

Alpkit Morphosis Vest £67.99 Weight 177g Having won awards for its work on sustainability, along with being the first UK outdoor brand to publish in-depth and measurable annual sustainability reports, Alpkit is committed to making consumerism as transparent as possible. Head over to the Alpkit website and you’ll see that its claims are substantiated along with evidenced raw material claims, processes and manufacturing. Its work on committed recycling through donation of kit through its Continuum Project, repairing (not just its own brands) and giving back to the community are key to its sustainability principles. Along with the fact that 10% of Alpkit is owned by staff and customers means it can make long-term decisions that aren’t driven purely by shareholder profit. Alpkit says a brand that delivers welldesigned kit that…

My goal for this Project was to ride 10 miles in less than 20 minutes. It was a simple, specific target, and one that was never going to be easy to achieve. Now here we are six months on and I have to confess to you, dear reader: I failed. I’m making no excuses and will admit I’m disappointed, but there are plenty of positives to take away. Firstly, I’ve enjoyed being accountable to the Project – because you were reading, I knew I couldn’t jack it in! By midway through, I realised the goal was slipping from my grasp: family and work commitments were such that my training hours were seriously squeezed. Conscious that going sub-20 was growing less realistic by the day, I remained determined to give it…

HILL CLIMBS SUN, 2 OCT Sheffrec CC (Monsal Head, Derbyshire, 675 yards): Men: 1. Gregg Booker (Summat CC) 1:19.4 2. G. Wood (Cycling Sheffield) 1:22.2 3. A. Kenway (Brother UK) 1:22.5 4. C. Biddle (Bikestrong-KTM) 1:22.6 5. J. Shillabeer (0503) 1:22.8 6. J. Hartley (Team Sheffield) 1:25.3 Women: 1. Bithja Jones (Pankhurst Cycles) 1:39.9 2. E. Verroken (Lifting Gear Products) 1:55.8 3. R. Lineker (Velo Bavarian) 1:58.9 4. A. Plowman (Kendal CC) 1:59.5 5. G. Sargent (Saint Piran) 2:00.4 6. E. Avill (Storey Racing) 2:06.4 SAT, 1 OCT Chippenham & Dist Wheelers (Bowden Hill, Lacock, Wilts): Men: 1. Morgan Curle (Rogue Racing) 4:24.76 2. J. Rees (Bikestrong KTM) 4:34.12 3. L. Walton (North Hampshire RC) 4:36.41 4. A. Oates (PDQ Cycle Coaching) 4:41.96 5. I. Gardner (Wahoo Endurance Zone) 4:44.46…

A couple of weeks ago, in the village my family comes from, I was sitting with my bike outside a cafe. I got chatting to the guy at the next table. “Have you ever met… now what’s his name… He’s a racing cyclist… His parents still live up the hill,” he said, and went on to describe my family’s house in detail. “Anyway,” he continued. “Surprised you haven’t heard of him. He’s a pretty big name. He won the World Championships a few years back, rode the Tour de France, holds the world record. Can’t put my finger on his name. You see him around here sometimes.” If that’s my reputation, you’d think I’d get a bit more respect from the local traffic. Although clearly I’m not as memorable as…