“Neat idea” or “style over substance”? Your thoughts on THAT bike storage capsule that wants to kill off the saddlebag; Even saddles aren’t safe from London bike thieves; What’s the UCI done this time?; Evans wants 100 new stores + more on the live blog

Short of someone stealing your bar tape or removing a bottle cage, we reckon nabbing a seatpost/saddle is the most desperate form of bike theft. After 20 years of cycling in the city, one veteran of London riding returned to their bike at London Bridge to discover they’d become the latest victim of saddle stealing.

Had to happen at some point..
byu/CrazyLittlePuppy inlondoncycling

The perch pilfering had an extra twist however, the thief responsible leaving their own “trashy” saddle behind, maybe as an apologetic means of getting the victim home? More likely, they just didn’t want to carry another…

“Had to happen eventually,” the rider quite philosophical about the whole experience said. “They left their trashy one behind. Their crap seat made cycling home two miles easier than standing up all the way. Small mercies, huh! I’ll try and frame this as a nice upgrade for some poor unfortunate soul. May your ass regret this forever, may your chain rust, and may you never find a working pump.”

That’s the spirit!

“I suppose at least they were kind enough to give you something to cycle home on,” someone looking more positively at the situation commented.

“I’m sorry but that’s actually hilarious that they left you one behind almost like an apology,” someone else added.

The humble seatpost clamp, often easily undone with just an allen key, is one of the easiest of targets for a scavenging bike thief. While most people assume (correctly most of the time) that nobody would be mad enough to steal my saddle, it does happen and there were more than a few people on this thread who had suffered the pain in the arse (literally) over the years.

“When they stole mine they left me to cycle home without one… Remember it well —was 1997 after I’d run my first-ever half marathon. Quads really hurt standing up for that ride — added injury to insult. Guess it served me right — it was a quick release saddle.”

Another added: “I had mine nicked in 2018 outside IronMonger Row Baths. That was a long nine miles home standing up. I have a short bit of chain on the rails I can put a lock through now.”

Guess the only thing now is to let you lot get your stolen saddle stories in the comments and we’ll share some later on.

What if you need to move a piano to a school? I’d like to see your bike do th…… 🚲🎹

[image or embed]

— Spencer (@plotfolk.bsky.social) 25 September 2025 at 06:37

Everyone’s favourite topic — UCI points…

Just a quick one from the UCI here that from 2027 road teams will benefit “from a limited number of points” based on the results obtained by their riders in other disciplines. This will apply for the track world champs, cross-country mountain bike at the Olympics, as well as certain cyclo-cross and gravel events. 

The T&Cs state this will be “applicable for male riders who are in the top 20 of his team’s road ranking and for female riders in the top eight of their team’s road ranking. No points from these other disciplines will be added to the UCI Individual Ranking or the UCI Ranking by Nation for road. Simulations over the coming months will confirm the scale of points coming from results in these other disciplines.​”

Fair enough for teams to benefit if their riders are off ripping up other disciplines? 

> Trump administration blocks imports of Giant bikes over forced labour allegations

So, how do you stop your saddle/seatpost being nabbed from a bike rack?

mdavidford: “I usually have a cable running through the saddle rails to deter this kind of opportunist thievery. But I once had someone undo it all, presumably only realise the issue of the cable at that point, and just walk off with the post, which is a pretty impressive level of bastardry really.”

Impressive level of bastardry is a phrase I’ve mentally banked for future use…

Barraob1: “I’ve often thought about filling in the bolt with lead solder, but most thieves are coonts and will wreck something out of spite.”

Maybe we’ll all have to start taking our seatpost with us. ‘Sorry I’m late, guys… just had to undo this to make sure nobody steals it…’ Alternatively, avoid all maintenance and let that seatpost get so seized that not even a London bike thief could get it free. Then you just have to think about securing the saddle and you’re safe.

Anyway, on the topic of thefts where the victim gets a consolation prize, check out this mad story from Rendel Harris, whose brother-in-law didn’t get a consolation prize at all, rather a full upgrade.

“My brother-in-law had a weird variation on the saddle swap story recently: he cycles to the station and then commutes by rail, going to retrieve his bike from the station bike storage on the way home. One evening he discovered that somebody had stolen his front wheel and left another front wheel with a puncture leaning against his bike.

“The thing was, both the replacement wheel and tyre were of far better quality than the ones stolen from his ‘beater, doesn’t really matter if it gets pinched, okay to leave at the station’ bike! 

[I’d keep taking it back for upgrades until one day you come back to find your locks around this…]

“We’ve been wondering ever since what sort of emergency rush the thief (can you even call them a thief if they leave a replacement of higher value than what they took?) must have been in to resort to such an exchange.”

Incredible. I’m off to the station as we speak praying for some Enve deep sections and Conti GP5000s by the end of play. That’s how it works, right?

One of cycling’s worst-kept secrets is official, Juan Ayuso joining Lidl-Trek after his imminent departure from UAE Team Emirates. It was one of the biggest stories of the Vuelta, protests aside, Ayuso and his team exchanging a war or words following the announcement (premature in the rider’s opinion) that he would be leaving the team at the end of the season.

> “They’re trying to damage my reputation”: Juan Ayuso brands UAE Team Emirates “a dictatorship” in extraordinary interview just hours after sudden exit confirmed

His destination has now been confirmed, Ayuso joining Lidl-Trek on a deal until the end of 2030 and signing a five-year contract.

“I’m really excited,” he said of the transfer. “Joining Lidl-Trek is the start of an important new chapter in my career, and I’m motivated to keep growing as a rider. Change always brings new energy and ambitions, so I can’t wait to get started.

“From the outside you can see the team has built a strong identity, with a lot of unity and ambition. The long-term project they’re putting together is something quite unique and special. It feels like a place where I can take the next step in my development, surrounded by riders and staff who share the same goals. I want to keep improving in the biggest races; the team has the ambition to become the best team in the world, so I’m really looking forward to contributing to that success.”

It will be interesting to see how the team adapts to Ayuso’s presence in their ranks. Lidl-Trek won nine Grand Tour stages this season, six at the Giro, two at the Tour and one at the Vuelta, those victories primarily coming thanks to Mads Pedersen and Jonathan Milan’s sprinting talent. Will we see the team turn its back on its classics/sprint-heavy line-up to pursue GC ambitions? 

> UCI announces minor relaxation of controversial upcoming narrow handlebar rule — but minimum 40cm overall width will remain

Evans Cycles has announced a wave of new store openings, the Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group-owned cycling retailer aiming to open 100 new branches in the coming years, with Monday seeing the opening of a glitzy new store just off Regent Street in London.

It’ll be 4,500sq. ft. and will “showcase over 180 bikes and a carefully curated selection of the world’s best cycling brands”. There’ll also be a fully-stocked Shimano Service Centre including Brompton-accredited servicing.

> Evans Cycles slashes annual losses from £22.8m to £3.3m as company starts recovery from bike industry’s “well publicised supply chain issues”

Interestingly, to mark the launch, Colnago will be back on the Evans line-up, while there’ll also be “an extended range of the newly relaunched Vitus brand”, one of the old Wiggle Chain Reaction names that now falls under the Frasers umbrella. We’ll have more on that soon…

Elsewhere, Brompton, Trek, Specialized, Cube and Endura will have “extended ranges” in store, Evans Cycles’ managing director Robert Bentley saying the brand is “continuing to push itself when it comes to what customers can expect from a bike retail experience”.

The London launch is to be followed by a new Edinburgh store opening next month. The store in London’s West End is at 43 Margaret Street (W1W 8SB) and opens on Monday 29 September.

In a release communicating the news, Evans told us: “This new wave of store openings highlights Evans Cycles’ ongoing investment in physical retail as a central pillar of its growth strategy, ensuring riders nationwide can access expert advice, trusted servicing and an unrivalled choice of bikes and accessories under one roof.”

That’s not to say all current stores are staying. We’ve noticed several close in recent times, most recently editor Jack noting his local Stafford store is running a closing down sale, while there have been numerous other recent news stories on local news sites saying their stores are off too. It all sounds like a reassessment of where the retail sites should be, and we’ve no word on how many will close, but the aim for 100 new stores is no small undertaking, especially when the past years have been so challenging for the bike industry.

Got my 10 y/o a bike. Bike shop wanted £30 to build it. Ex-wife said pay it but I refused & built it myself. First time he used it he tried to do a wheelie & the handle bars came off, grazing his face & hands. Gave him £20 to say he did it playing 5-a-side. Still £10 up.

— Fesshole🧻 (@fesshole) September 24, 2025

Need something for the commute home? Here’s Ryan, David Walsh and Pippa York having an in-depth discussion about plenty of the most important topics from the world of pro cycling.

From life on the Tour, York’s struggles before, during, and after her career, the trans debate in sports, and whether cycling has changed over the last 30 years, it’s a big one…

> “I told myself, just let Robert Millar go!” Pippa York and David Walsh on gender, following the Tour de France, and why pro cycling isn’t Disneyland

In a week dominated by sponsors’ views of Israel-Premier Tech, Selle Italia has given us the following statement this afternoon: “Selle Italia is aware of the discussions concerning the Israel–Premier Tech team. Our commitment has always been to cycling and to the values it represents: passion, performance, and inclusivity. We are in dialogue with the team to follow the evolution of this matter.”

Célia Gery digs deep with one last effort to claim a brilliant win — and the rainbow jersey — in the Women’s U23 World Championship Road Race in Rwanda! 🌈 pic.twitter.com/r9WPAjz9cW

— Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) September 25, 2025

Imogen Wolff was Britain’s highest finisher in the women’s U23 road race in Rwanda this afternoon, the first time it has been held as a standalone event. Ferguson was held back to the U23 version by British Cycling, rather than joining the elite women who she’s been racing (and often winning against) all year, but things did not go to plan.

Ferguson appeared in trouble fairly early on and was dropped well before France’s Célia Gery took the victory.

Tomorrow it’s the turn of the junior men before the elite women take to the brutal course on Saturday, followed by the men on Sunday. What a weekend we have in store.

Did somebody say Three Peaks? 

I spent yesterday getting to grips with this, the PakBrite Carbon Capsule Pro, a modular carbon storage system that hopes to replace “clunky saddlebags” with £150 “aerodynamic capsule” featuring 300-lumen brake-sensing rear light. We’re getting one sent into the office so we should have some real-world thoughts pretty soon.

So, what do we reckon?

StevenCrook: “Interested. £150 interested? I guess if I allow 70 for the light and that leaves 80 for the ‘bag’. Hmmm. At that price I’d want to have more storage I think. But it’s a neat idea.”

Rendel Harris: “Totally style over substance, a flexible fabric saddlebag is much better for squashing in as many necessaries as possible. This one might suit a very organised person who carefully selects tools and extras that will fit inside a hard cylinder with geometric efficiency, for those of us rushing around last thing on a Sunday morning grabbing tyre levers, inner tubes, sweets et cetera from various jackets and bags used during the week to cram in the saddlebag, not so much. Additionally, I can’t believe that having a whacking great protuberance like that sticking out from your seat post is more aerodynamic than having a saddlebag neatly strapped in right under the saddle. Finally, it weighs twice as much as a fabric bag of double the capacity. And all this for a mere £150!”

Dunnoeither: “Is it me or is this like trying to loose weight by replacing toast with baguette? Super expensive baguette that is… There are only two things that can really beat a small saddle bag and that is frame storage and bespoke 3D printed boxes that mimic frame storage. Both will take a little time to become widespread and until then I will happily use my small and unobtrusive saddle bag. And being the old, stubborn pervert I am I will also continue to use front derailleurs.”

Derailleur perverts of the world unite!

HLaB: “I haven’t used a saddle bag in years, they’d always break for me or damage their contents. I prefer a bottle cage tool holder for most rides, a tool wallet for longer rides or on my longest ride a top tube bag. I can’t see me desiring this pod even if it was a third of the price.”

OnYerBike: “They think saddlebags are ‘clunky’ yet this is their solution.”