How many watts could a Coca-Cola can pulley wheel system save you?; Londoners turn to bikes during rail strike — hire rentals soar; Timmy Mallett’s UK cycling tour reaches John O’Groats; Wout’s out of national champs; Tour teams + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
Timmy Mallett's UK cycling tour reaches John O'Groats
I’m attempting to circumnavigate Britain on my bike
I set out with the idea it might take around 100 days.
I’m on day 79
Every day in every way I’m trying to live in the moment & paint the adventure#thecyclingartist #roundbritain@Spokes_Bagshot @OrdnanceSurvey @SPCKPublishing pic.twitter.com/9HgqrNc6NY— Timmy Mallett (@TimmyMallett) June 22, 2022
For anyone, like us, following Timmy Mallett’s UK tour progress on Strava you’ll have noticed him edging up the west coast of Scotland, nearing the northern tip of the UK. Yesterday, he reached the most northerly point on his ride — the goal for many long distance adventures — John O’ Groats…
Many more have started following his progress — detailed in daily debriefs on Strava and paintings along the way — prompting roadside meets such as yesterday’s: “There was a man waiting at a bus stop. He waved at me in greeting. ‘I’ve been waiting for you! I wrote in to Wacaday and I’m so excited to meet you….’ Royston and Vicky run a caravan park, the ferry view, and I’m introduced to his whole family — four generations with big smiles and great story. They are making a great life and business in far North Scotland with lovely quirky original touches.”
At John O’Groats, Mallett met riders triumphantly completing LEJOG, or tentatively setting off in the other direction, before heading onwards to Wick for the night.
“It’s a great feeling to turn that corner and start the journey south… Heading homewards. It’s at least 1,500 miles to go but I felt a new spring in my pedals and new energy,” he told his Strava followers.
You can join us in following Timmy Mallett’s progress on Strava…
Wout's out of Belgian national champs after banging knee on handlebar
Wout van Aert will be wearing team-issue Jumbo-Visma kit at the Tour de France (until he takes yellow or green, of course…) after announcing he will not be defending his Belgian national championship title.
The 27-year-old hit his knee on his handlebar while training at altitude in Tignes last weekend, something his team says has caused “minor irritation”. With a little over a week until the Tour, they’re taking no risks, meaning Van Aert won’t ride the road race or time trial.
“I think it’s a real shame that I can’t defend my jersey. I would normally never forgo a Belgian championship. I also regret missing the time trial because it just didn’t fit the schedule. However, this is the wisest decision because I don’t want to jeopardise the Tour,” he said.
Tiesj Benoot, Nathan Van Hooydonck and Tosh Van der Sande will represent Team Jumbo-Visma at the race.
"This is the type of stuff what Twitter is really made for…" - Matt Stephens
This is the type of stuff what Twitter is really made for… pic.twitter.com/BDTar4Rbyf
— Matt Stephens (@RealStephens) June 22, 2022
Tour teams: Israel - Premier Tech, Lotto-Soudal, AG2R Citroën Team, DSM, Groupama - FDJ announce their line-ups
Talking of the Tour, it’s team news time…
Chris Froome is going to his tenth Tour de France having made the cut for Israel – Premier Tech’s stage-hunting outfit…
Israel – Premier Tech: Chris Froome, Michael Woods, Daryl Impey, Simon Clarke, Jakob Fuglsang, Omar Goldstein, Krists Neilands, Hugo Houle
Other teams to announce their line-up in the last 24 hours…
Lotto-Soudal: Caleb Ewan, Philippe Gilbert, Tim Wellens, Brent Van Moer, Florian Vermeersch, Andreas Kron, Frederick Frison, Reinardt Janse van Rensburg
Groupama – FDJ: Thibaut Pinot, David Gaudu, Stefan Küng, Michael Storer, Valentin Madouas, Kevin Geniets, Olivier Le Gac, Antoine Duchesne
Team DSM: Romain Bardet, John Degenkolb, Alberto Dainese, Chris Hamilton, Kevin Vermaerke, Andreas Leknessund, Nils Eekhoff, Martijn Tusveld
AG2R Citroën Team: Ben O’Connor, Bob Jungels, Oliver Naesen, Benoît Cosnefroy, Aurélien Paret-Peintre, Geoffrey Bouchard, Stan Dewulf, Mikaël Cherel
How many stage wins between that lot? I’ll say three…
Londoners turn to bicycles during rail strike — bike hire rentals soar
This week’s rail strike, aided by the glorious summer weather, has opened the eyes of thousands to the feasibility of commuting in London by bike…
Massive up take in cycling yesterday due to the strike.
But not a single media house keen to show it or talk about it!!!
Also bike based commuters were moving more efficiently than other forms of commuters and not polluting but taking other modes pollution. pic.twitter.com/UxO0YyPB2Y— Sanjay Lalwani (@i_SanjayLalwani) June 22, 2022
Don’t fear, Sanjay. We’re happy to talk about it…
So, in fairness, were the Evening Standard who shared the news that the Santander Cycles hire scheme recorded its second highest number of rides on Wednesday. There were more than 67,000 hires, more than double the daily average of 27,000.
The cycle superhighways were recording huge numbers of two-wheeled journeys too — Embankment’s had seen more than 8,700 journeys by 1pm, while Transport for London reported it was the busiest day ever for e-scooter hires, with more than 10,000 journeys on their trial scheme.
TfL is hoping to capitalise on increased demand by expanding the scheme in Southwark, building eight new docking stations and releasing 500 e-bikes this summer.
London is cycling home. pic.twitter.com/aTLUFmMsnn
— Drew White (@drewsnx) June 22, 2022
Space for cycling in #London:
How it started: die in 2013 How it’s going pic.twitter.com/AzJtQCtHkQ— EricEatsPickles (@EricEatsPickles) June 22, 2022
“Huge numbers of people have taken up cycling since the pandemic,” David Eddington, head of cycle hire at TfL, said. “We are determined to keep Londoners cycling and build on this further.”
Main image: @JimFrayling/Twitter
How many watts could a Coca-Cola can pulley wheel system save you?
The Aero version of CeramicSpeed’s oversized pulley wheel system launched on Tuesday with a wallet-shredding, eye-watering, relationship-ending price tag of €739…
But could you achieve the same 2.5 seconds saved over a 25km time trial — that CeramicSpeed says its new creation does — all for the price of…well, a can of Coke?
This is probably where I need to point out we’re just having a laugh… before you head off to the shops at lunchtime…all credit to 100 Climbs author Simon Warren for this amusing addition…
Real world tests have so far proved inconclusive, felt maybe like 1W improvement. I have some wind tunnel time booked next week to get proper results. #aero pic.twitter.com/0fj8eWEd5J
— Simon Warren (@100Climbs) June 22, 2022
We await the wind tunnel results with bated breath…
Looking at around the £550 mark +VAT.
— Simon Warren (@100Climbs) June 22, 2022
Middle class pop.
— Simon Warren (@100Climbs) June 22, 2022
Can’t go wrong with a Limonata on a hot day (even better pre-sugar tax, of course)…
I think this whole aero derailleur thing is soda pressing.
— Andy (@cyclist_andyc) June 22, 2022
That was fun…
Main image: Simon Warren
The gravel version is on its way too...
In developement in the lab as I type.
— Simon Warren (@100Climbs) June 23, 2022
Gavin Towers riding ten Fred Whittons in ten days
The Fred Whitton can (maybe) claim to be the UK’s hardest sportive. 112 miles in the Lakes with all the big-name climbs: Kirkstone, Honister, Newlands, Whinlatter, Wrynose, Blea Tarn, Hardknott. It’s a bucket list ride for any UK rider willing to go deep into the pain cave.
Well, Gavin Towers is doing the route TEN TIMES in TEN DAYS…
You might remember Gavin from a story we wrote this time last year when he was attempting to break the record for fastest circumnavigation of Britain by bike, completing the route in 31 days, unfortunately nine days off the 22-day record, but earning the respect of everyone.
An effort even more incredible when you learn Gavin has a degenerative eye condition which means he’s partially sighted (Gavin’s website illustrates what this is like) and suffers from a narrow field of sight.
Reaction time: Coca-Cola goes aero
How many watts could a Coca-Cola can aero pulley wheel system save you? Check out @100Climbs author Simon Warren’s amusing addition…https://t.co/a8D0pgQjLJ #cycling pic.twitter.com/g2OaeR8Kou
— road.cc (@roadcc) June 23, 2022
Well, I can’t believe I didn’t put two and two together and make the joke about the gravel version being a Red Bull or Monster can, that seems like an open goal in hindsight.
A couple on the same lines. On Facebook, Barry Bean suggested: “Weight weenies can get aero benefits AND save weight by using a light beer can instead of coke.”
While I’d say comment of the day goes to hawkinspeter: “That Coke can thing is ridiculous. They should have at least tried to go with Diet Coke or Coke Zero for the weight savings.” Superb.
On my biggest tangent of the day, someone else suggested you can still enjoy the nectar that is Limonata San Pellegrino in its original non-low sugar form. *googles Classic Italian Taste San Pellegrino* My god, can this be real? Available in Waitrose (obviously), Sainsbury’s and many other supermarkets. What a wild Thursday evening I’ve got in store…
Hayters gonna Hayter
Ethan Hayter and younger brother Leo are the British men’s national time trial champ and U23 champ following this afternoon’s TT champs in Castle Douglas.
It’s another great day to be a Hayter. 😍
Defending champion @ethan_hayter blazes to the Elite Men’s title in an astonishing time of 50:38.525. 🔥
2⃣ @DanBiggles22 (51:52.629)
3⃣ @JamesthingyShaw (52:09.869) pic.twitter.com/PywpAWLjnU— British Cycling (@BritishCycling) June 23, 2022
Ethan beat British Hour Record holder Dan Bigham by more than a minute…James Shaw was third. Leo took the W, covering the U23 men’s distance in 26 minutes on the nose. Callum Thornley and Charlie Bailey completed the podium there, while in the women’s U23 event, reigning elite road race champion Pfeiffer Georgi added another national title to her palmares. The elite women’s event is still to be decided.
“I had nobody in my ear, so it was just me and my thoughts.” 😌
Reaction from your new national time-trial champion in the Under-23 Women’s category, @pfeiffergeorgi. 👏🇬🇧#NationalRoadChamps pic.twitter.com/nIfLcPHYU6
— British Cycling (@BritishCycling) June 23, 2022
Elsewhere on the continent, Remco Evenepoel is Belgium’s new TT king, Flanders champ Lotte Kopecky the nation’s queen, while in France there was something of an upset as Bruno Armirail beat Remi Cavagna. Audrey Cordon-Ragot won the French women’s event.
Cycling to Glastonbury
Hello, @glastonbury!
Took just over three hours to cycle from Bristol. Two of the hills in the Mendips were pretty gruelling,but me and my borrowed Brompton made it over them.
Straight past the traffic and into the site. A doddle pic.twitter.com/BFrqgA1qKL
— Kaya Burgess (@kayaburgess) June 23, 2022
> Glastonbury urges fans to cycle to festival amid rail strike disruption
23 June 2022, 08:01
23 June 2022, 08:01
23 June 2022, 08:01
23 June 2022, 08:01
Apologies, I dipped out for this cracker...back on live blog duty now...
Firefighters delayed by Low Traffic Neighbourhood... because vandalised bollard wouldn't unlock
The simple mechanism which allows emergency services to remove the bollard using a key was damaged by vandals
23 June 2022, 08:01
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Two further points deserve a mention: 1 - We DESPERATELY need real research into cycling and disabled people. Narratives around cycling vs disabled people are common, and cannot be dismissed because we do not have objective research into how many disabled people cycle, and on what forms of cycles. From my own knowledge, huge numbers use standard cycles - but I have no demographic data of actual or potential use, only surveys of experience from disabled people who DO cycle. 2 - In respect of point 1, 40% of disabled adults (and 1/3 of retired people) do not have a driving licence - non disabled adults is 22% do not have a full driving license. That is published ONS data. To invert that - 60% of disabled adults have a full driving license, compared to 78% for non-disabled. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/disability-accessibility-and-blue-badge-scheme-statistics-2023-to-2024/disability-accessibility-and-blue-badge-statistics-england-2023-to-2024 This is a question about basic equality.
@KiwiMike In the first paragraph it says "It requires the matching £25 Thule InLock Universal Panel to fit to your bike" which weighs 730g. I mentioned Ortleib panniers because they are quite heavy. You can get much lighter panniers. Saying a pannier is lightweight compared to Ortleib panniers isn't saying very much. For example the Altura Ultralite Vortex Waterproof also doesn't use a plastic rack mount, weighs 260g and currently costs £40 on their website. It does not need a Thule InLock to mount to the bike. I see their Altura Thunderstorm Adventure 15L Pannier weighs 690 grams, which also doesn't need the InLock. There is a trade-off here between weight off the bike vs weight on the bike but both items are still relatively heavy compared to other "lightweight" products. A Tubus Fly rack for example weighs less than 400g. This rack and two of the Altura Vortex panniers don't weigh much more than the Thule bag on its own without the InLock and rack.
@licenced I would be all in favour of grants for ebikes for people like yourself, at a minimum making up the shortfall between the cost of an equivalent unpowered bike and the powered one. As I said above in response to Trolly, the financial benefits of helping people with disabilities to get out and ride, in terms of alleviating the burden on the NHS of treatment for mental and physical illness caused by lack of exercise and independence, would mean the investment would quickly pay for itself.
I don't know enough about Ayr local politics to get a proper handle on this, but those Independents look like the type of Foggy from the "Last of the Summer Whine" party we currently have throughout England, who are Reform or Restore without the logo. Given the Conservative Party culture-war politics since about 2023 they now 'have permission' to be cavemen in public, and to make populist claims divorced from any evidence - which is the facilitator of policy failure. I'm not sure what game the Labour MP is playing, but the constituency has had MPs from SNP, Con and Lab within the last 10 years elections so is contested (but not usually marginal) and perhaps tends away from extremes (Corbyn really poleaxed Lab in 2019).
@OldRidgeback Leith Walk news: https://cycling.scot/news/scotland-s-bike-lane-networks-break-new-records Vehicle counter statistics: https://storage.googleapis.com/dft-statistics/road-traffic/downloads/traffic/local_authority_id/dft_traffic_local_authority_id_29.csv (from https://roadtraffic.dft.gov.uk/local-authorities/S12000036)
@OldRidgeback Unfortunately I don't think it's true that cycle journeys outnumber car journeys in Edinburgh. The latest news I heard (will post link separately) was that there was a recent survey (conducted in May 2026) in which the number of bikes exceeded the number of cars on Leith Walk in the morning rush hour. Whilst that is positive news, the unspoken implication is that outside of the morning rush hour, in locations other than Leith Walk, and potentially at time of year other than May (which typically has fairly clement weather), the number of cars still outnumbers the number of bikes. I haven't found good statistics for "number of trips" by mode, but Government statistics (link to follow) show far more cars than bicycles at pretty much every counter location in 2025.
The team bibs are excellent. I've tried Assos, Endura, Veloccio, 7mesh, Fox, Castelli. No question for me, the Rapha ones are the best ... tested at Istria300 and ~20,000km per year training. I buy their bibs despite not being a fan boy - models wearing mustaches is a huge turn off. I do like their support of Lachlan and Kate Courtney. From my perspective ... buying bibs every 3-4 years does not seem enough to sustain a company. I do not buy anything else because I get my jerseys from events. If event promoters offered an upcharge to get a Rapha jersey for the team event, I'd try it.
Their statement reads the same as the copy for this bibs
@Rendel Harris I reckon this can be fixed with a simple new law. The operators of vehicles on list A (ebikes, escooters, range rovers, teslas, carbon race bikes, bmws, and so on) may not pass, obstruct, or even approach vehicles on list Z (my bike).
I know Ayr is a bit teeny compared to Edinburgh but it's worth noting that cycle journeys in Scotland's capital now outnumber car journeys. Clearly, some Scots want to take advantage of active travel.
18 thoughts on “How many watts could a Coca-Cola can pulley wheel system save you?; Londoners turn to bikes during rail strike — hire rentals soar; Timmy Mallett’s UK cycling tour reaches John O’Groats; Wout’s out of national champs; Tour teams + more on the live blog”
Is that the actual JoG sign,
Is that the actual JoG sign, or just classic Mallett headgear?
I suspect he’s worried about
I suspect he’s worried about the past catching up with him.
Oh – hadn’t spotted the “cap
Oh – hadn’t spotted the “cap+helmet” combo (clearer in the picture in the article).
Fast AND safe?
Cap plus helmet plus visor.
Cap plus helmet plus visor.
It appears that anti-LTN
It appears that anti-LTN vandals damaged the locking mechanism of an LTN bollard, resulting in a fire crew having to stop and chop down the bollard in order to attend an emergency call-out. Rather ironic.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-61906785
AidanR wrote:
Usually bollards are our friends, but that one sounds like some kind of traitor
Lot’s of roads NOT being used
Lot’s of roads NOT being used by drivers; time to rip them out?
Expect certain sections of
Expect certain sections of the media to self combust with this change as TfL starts fining people for driving into solid white line cycle lanes, I suppose the question is how many miles of solid white line cycle lanes, that arent otherwise protected from driving into, in London this will actually apply to.
https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2022/june/tfl-to-begin-using-new-enforcement-powers-to-improve-cycle-safety-on-its-roads
Already seen twitter rants on
Already seen twitter rants on it.
Not driving in the cycle lane is too difficult for some.
Was the rant along the usual
Was the rant along the usual bingo calls of “but cyclists don’t pay tax” etc?
you mean like this?
you mean like this?
https://metro.co.uk/2022/06/23/new-rule-coming-in-that-will-divide-drivers-and-cyclists-even-more-16876550/
To be fair, the point of the
To be fair, the point of the white line is to divide drivers and cyclists…
That Coke can thing is
That Coke can thing is ridiculous.
They should have at least tried to go with Diet Coke or Coke Zero for the weight savings
Just to point out that
Just to point out that Sanpelligrino limonata can now be had in full sugar once more. Classic Italian Taste.
It’s the only full sugar (and no other sweeteners) that I can get at the moment, with no caffeine, coca cola being my daytime fizzy, but I do like a sweet fizzy in the evening. Any suggestion?
Like bananas / cloves?
Like bananas / cloves? Schneider Aventinus?
Good luck to Gavin Towers on
Good luck to Gavin Towers on another Fred Whitton – it’s absolutely baking up here today!
Quote:
Fixed that for you, guys 😉
Seriously, though – OMG
Aero derailleur pulley/cage?
Aero derailleur pulley/cage?