After the year that many of us had, we’ll forgive you from setting up your out of office email before Christmas and simply disconnecting from the outside world for those weeks that span Christmas and New Year. We’re all back now (well, from home) so here is some of the brilliant content from your favourite cycling website that you might have missed.

Not that any of us want to, but let’s kick off with a look back at 2020. Lockdowns, LTNs and ‘a new golden age for cycling, it was certainly quite a year.

2020 Flinger Race Pro Clip Mudguards – front wheel.jpg
2020 Flinger Race Pro Clip Mudguards – front wheel (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

Known more for his controversial (yet entirely sensible) views on helmet wearing, Chris Boardman said that his most controversial post of 2020 was on…mudguards.

Even though it was a busy year for bike shops, a Preston bike shop closed after six decades.

Monopoly bike ride (via Heidi Alexander on Twitter)
Monopoly bike ride (via Heidi Alexander on Twitter) (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

Probably not the best idea given the restrictions at the time. The London deputy mayor came under fire for Monopoly bike ride.

Just what we needed. A Talk Radio host called on the UK to unite against cyclists. He’s subsequently said that he does not see “all cyclists as the enemy.”

We took an in-depth look at the history of one of Britain’s most successful bike brands. Hope and Glory: the story of Hope Technology, a British manufacturing success story.

How many of you can relate to this one? Tales of a 10-speed racer: how getting a Raleigh for Christmas changed my life.

protect and survive 2 – via HM government.PNG
protect and survive 2 – via HM government (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

Jo Burt wrote this brilliant blog. Isolated Incidents #∞ – Protect and Survive (end of year thoughts on C*vid, belonging, Englishness and cycling).

The tech team were inundated with marketing claims last year with so many bike launches and new products. Mat Brett tried to make sense of it all in 2020 bike tech in numbers: it has been an incredible year for statistics!

2020 Round up
2020 Round up (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

Meanwhile, our latest recruit, Anna, took a look at what went right and what went wrong. Good year, bad year: cycling’s winners and losers in 2020.

It might have been done before, but this is nuts. Matt Page’s Rapha Festive 500 in a day: how he did it.

You can still get them in premium stores as the UK distributor told us on Monday, but Brooks England stops sales of ‘Made in Britain’ saddles to UK shoppers – because of Brexit is just one example of the complications that we will probably be facing in the coming months.

Kensington High Street protest (copyright Simon MacMichael)
Kensington High Street protest (copyright Simon MacMichael) (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

So, you take away the bikes lanes – you know, those evil things – and…motor traffic journey times increase. Good work, Kensington

And let’s finish up with some very popular reviews.
2021 Cannondale Topstone Lefty 1 – riding 8.jpg
2021 Cannondale Topstone Lefty 1 – riding 8 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

Review: Cannondale Topstone Carbon Lefty 1

2021 Orro Venturi STC SRAM Force eTap – riding 1.jpg
2021 Orro Venturi STC SRAM Force eTap – riding 1 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

Review: Orro Venturi STC SRAM Force eTap 2021

2020 Lezyne Classic Drive 500 1.jpg
2020 Lezyne Classic Drive 500 1 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

Review: Lezyne Classic Drive 500