It's time for episode 75 of the road.cc Podcast, a two-parter that is as chalk and cheese as we've ever recorded in cycling terms... but that's how we like it!Part 1 is all about folding bikes, and more specifically a fascinating chat with Mark Bickerton, whose father Harry invented arguably the first properly practical, lightweight folding bike in the early 70s. By the early 80s the Bickerton Portable was a big British success story, boosted by a certain low-budget TV ad that became embedded into the public consciousness for various reasons (listen to find out why!)While Bickerton isn't the folding force it once was, the brand name and bikes are still going strong, with Mark also now the main man in the UK behind the very popular urban bike brand Tern. The chat with road.cc editor Jack covers a brief history of Bickerton and folding bikes in general, what's going on with Bickerton and Tern today and Mark's take on these turbulent times for the bike industry. In part two, Ryan and Dan delve behind the scenes at last week’s Paris-Roubaix, where Ryan was lucky enough to head over to northern France and hitch a lift in a team car. Up for discussion is whether the world champ Van der Poel’s domination of the cobbled classics is ‘boring’, British star Pfeiffer Georgi’s hopes for the future, and the thrills and spills of watching a monument from the team car.During his time at the race, Ryan also caught up with 18-year-old Yorkshire-raised Irish rider Patrick Casey, who was making his debut at the Junior Paris-Roubaix for the Grenke-Auto Eder team. Casey’s path to the pro ranks is somewhat different than other riders from these shores in the past, but the lessons he’s already learned during his time in Europe – such as the folly of turning up with two right-hand track mitts to the hardest race of the year – are steadfastly old school…

With Paris-Roubaix, arguably the most hotly anticipated weekend on the pro cycling calendar, approaching fast around the next cobbled bend, episode 74 of the road.cc Podcast features two representatives of the past, present, and future of the Queen of the Classics: Canyon-Sram’s father-daughter duo Magnus and Zoe Bäckstedt, 20 years on from Magnus’ career-defining Roubaix victory.The 2024 Paris-Roubaix not only marks the 20th anniversary of Bäckstedt Snr’s victory at the Hell of the North, but also the first time the Canyon-Sram sports director will be taking on cycling’s most famous one-day race with daughter Zoe as one of his charges, after the 19-year-old joined the German team from EF Education last autumn. The pair discuss Magnus’ 2004 win, what it’s like working together, Zoe’s adjustment to the Women’s World Tour after dominating as a junior, and why Roubaix is the race everyone wants to win.Meanwhile, in part two, British adventurer and explorer Oli France joins us, mid-marathon packing session, just before setting for the west coast of the United States, where he will be taking on phase two of his record-breaking attempt to travel from the lowest geographical point to the highest on every continent, by bike and on foot.He chats about his approach to training and preparing for extreme temperatures and the different physical demands of cycling and climbing, and why – after six weeks slogging through deserts, over tough, sapping roads, and in the freezing cold on his bike – climbing a mountain at the end of it all seems like the “easy part”…

On episode 73 of the road.cc podcast, we hear from two cyclists who tell us their trials and tribulations of trying to get their bikes on the ferry... something that appears to be a tad more difficult that boarding one by car! Our original story about Elaine Baker's ordeal with Irish Ferries ignited much debate, so we thought it was only right to follow up and get all the details. Were Irish Ferries really guilty of "pure discrimination against people on bikes" when Ms Baker was unable to board with a bicycle as opposed to a motorbike? Strap in for a fascinating and wide-ranging discussion. In part 2, George, Jamie and Jack discuss a seemingly innocuous Strava update that has drawn the ire of numerous cyclists on social media. Does it bother you that Strava is now giving us up or down arrows to tell us whether we've done more or less riding than the previous week? We discuss what it means for us, and also bring you news of yet another Strava update that may or may not be more useful than the controversial Weekly Snapshot... At the time of broadcast, our listeners can also get a free Hammerhead Heart Rate Monitor with the purchase of a Hammerhead Karoo 2. Visit hammerhead.io right now and use promo code ROADCC at checkout to get yours.

While the two topics discussed on episode 72 of the road.cc Podcast are both high on the cycling world’s list of talking points this week, they notably sit at opposite ends of the seriousness spectrum (unless you take your time trial helmet debates very seriously, of course). In part one, George and Ryan are joined by a former Wiggle Chain Reaction Cycles employee, one of the 450-odd staff members laid off as part of the online retailer’s demise and recent rumoured purchase by Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group, who discussed what life was like behind the scenes at the beleaguered brand as Wiggle CRC lurched from crisis to crisis in recent months following the collapse of its parent company. The ex-employee also chats about the contrast between Wiggle’s grand expansion plans and the struggling state of the bike industry, the “shock” of the company’s collapse (amid hopes that it could continue on), and the abrupt, “hard and fast goodbye” dished out to its staff, and the future for Wiggle’s house brands such as Vitus and dhb.Meanwhile, in an altogether more frivolous part two, Ryan and Jamie sit down to discuss the topic that’s dominated the agenda at Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico this week: Visma-Lease a Bike’s bonkers new Giro Aerohead time trial helmets (oh, and Bahrain-Victorious’ fire service-style helmets, too). We ask the important questions: Has helmet design finally jumped the shark? Do these increasingly extravagant air-cheating shapes actually make a difference? Will the UCI ban Giro’s bold new look? And, finally, was it designed by a five-year-old?

In episode 71 of the road.cc Podcast, we’ve got two great guests and two great topics to discuss… namely sportswashing and low traffic neighbourhoods. We’re arguably missing a debate about helmets, but otherwise it doesn’t get much more road.cc Podcast than this! In part 1 Ryan is joined by Darach McQuaid, the former chairman and current advisor to pro cycling outfit GreenEDGE Cycling, to discuss some big elephants in the room when it comes to the dichotomy between professional cycling and cycling as a mode of transport. Find out why, according to Darach, that cycling’s “terrible” business model makes it very difficult to turn down any significant investment, and what he thinks should be done to make cycling as a sport align with its environmentally-friendly routes as one of the most sustainable ways to get around. In part 2, we build on our recent coverage of a very local battle that has garnered national attention. Lorna Devenish, an active travel campaigner and spokesperson for the Heavitree and Whipton Liveable Neighbourhood Group, talks us through the battle against misinformation since active travel schemes were introduced in and around the city of Exeter, and attempts to explain why such strong feelings were whipped up by the introduction of LTNs in the area. Vandalism, protests, intimidation of local politicians, “dodgy” data… this saga has it all, and at the heart of it, many residents simply want to be able to walk, cycle and wheel around their local area in a safer environment. At the time of broadcast, our listeners can also get a free Hammerhead Heart Rate Monitor with the purchase of a Hammerhead Karoo 2. Visit hammerhead.io right now and use promo code ROADCC at checkout to get yours.

At the start of 2024, the London Cycling Campaign’s Women’s Network, a coalition of cycling groups in the capital, published a report, titled ‘What Stops Women Cycling in London?’, which detailed the shocking extent to which women riding their bikes in the capital face a barrage of verbal and physical abuse, sexual harassment, and intimidation from motorists and other road users.The report, which surveyed 1,000 women who cycle in London, found that nine out of ten said they’d experienced abuse while riding their bikes, and almost 80 per cent said this gendered harassment and intimidation – including the intimidatory use of vehicles – happened at least once a month, with one in five revealing that it had made them give up cycling, either temporarily or permanently.On episode 70 of the road.cc Podcast, Ryan is joined by Eilidh Murray, the London Cycling Campaign’s Chair of Trustees, and Kate Bartlett from the Women’s Network to discuss the report’s shocking findings, its accompanying hard-hitting video, the gendered abuse and aggression directed towards female cyclists on a shockingly prevalent basis, how anti-cycling and misogynist behaviour overlap, and why such behaviour has been “normalised” by those on the receiving end of it.Kate and Eilidh also explore in-depth the ways in which we can all make cycling safer for women, including the need for education to change the patterns of behaviour of both motorists and their fellow cyclists, and the implementation of safe, protected, joined-up infrastructure which also focuses on the needs of women, as well as the Women’s Network’s ambition, through the report and its group rides and activities, to make cycling a safe, inclusive space for all.At the time of broadcast, our listeners can also get a free Hammerhead Heart Rate Monitor with the purchase of a Hammerhead Karoo 2. Visit hammerhead.io right now and use promo code ROADCC at checkout to get yours.

On episode 69 of the road.cc Podcast, we delve into the reasons and behavioural patterns that underpin most, if not all, of the 887 (and counting) examples of close passes and dangerous driving that make up our Near Miss of the Day series, aided by a road safety expert currently undertaking a PhD study on the relationship between motorists and cyclists on the road. Will Cubbin, the manager of the Safer Essex Roads Partnership was inspired to dive into academia following an unfortunate encounter with a close passing driver, who lambasted him for being ‘in the middle of the road’, Will chats to Ryan about his PhD research and the interesting methodology behind his new co-authored study titled ‘Close passes caught on camera: How knowledge and behavioural norms relate to perceptions of liability when cars overtake cyclists’. In part 2, Ryan and Suvi catch up with road.cc and off.road.cc contributor Matt Page, who is also one of the people behind the sold out Battle of the Beach gravel (and sand, obvs) event that is taking place between the 6-7 April. With UK road racing experiencing numerous struggles and diminishing numbers, are gravel events what is needed to make cycling events in Britain boom again? At the time of broadcast, our listeners can also get a free Hammerhead Heart Rate Monitor with the purchase of a Hammerhead Karoo 2. Visit hammerhead.io right now and use promo code ROADCC at checkout to get yours.

It’s episode 68 of the road.cc Podcast and we’re turning our attention once again to the troubling state of the bike industry and its worryingly shaky prospects for the year ahead, following the news that Orange Bikes – one of the UK’s most iconic cycling brands and a staple of the mountain bike scene – has appointed an administrator.To discuss what lines in store for the bike industry in 2024, Ryan and Jack are joined by Rory Hitchens, a long-time bike industry stalwart and the founder of brand-new agency Greenleaves Cycling. While Rory insists to us that the recovery of the bike industry is a “three to five year” project, he also asserts that cycling is not alone in the challenges currently wreaking havoc on the global economy. And, in any case, it’s not all doom and gloom. While the road bike market continues to be squeezed, Rory notes that the ‘bottom’ of the bike pyramid – the bikes that propel many people to work or school or the shops – has the opportunity to flourish in 2024, despite the challenges gripping the rest of the industry.Meanwhile, in part two, Jack is joined by road.cc’s news editor Dan Alexander and Oli Pendrey, the creative and photography force behind the site, and the man responsible for the spectacular Sgt. Pepper’s Lovely Cycling Club Band image that accompanied Dan’s review of the year in cycling. We take a peek behind the curtain (you lucky listeners) to chat about how our majestic Beatles homage came about, the work that went into making it (again, sorry Oli), and the stories and cycling and cycling-related characters of the past year that inspired it.At the time of broadcast, our listeners can also get a free Hammerhead Heart Rate Monitor with the purchase of a Hammerhead Karoo 2. Visit hammerhead.io right now and use promo code ROADCC at checkout to get yours.

It's episode 67 of the road.cc Podcast, and we're turning our attention to cycling safety ahead of the festive season. It's perhaps not the cheeriest of subjects, but a crucial one - and there is hope for the future thanks to hard-working activists such as the folks at the More Than A Cyclist Campaign.We speak to Rob Anderson, who tells us the main aims of the More Than A Cyclist Campaign and the process behind its visceral new campaign video. Find out how the passionate volunteers behind the campaign are trying to get their message heard via social media and hard-hitting billboards, while reaching out to politicians and other influential figures to reach those beyond the cycling community. In an altogether more frivolous part two, Tony, Ryan, and George turn their attentions to the looming behemoth that is Christmas and, most importantly, what they hope will be waiting under the bike ornament-packed tree on 25 December. The trio also discuss their all-time favourite Christmas presents, which range from flashy go-faster gifts like wheels and aero helmets to the trusty old tool kit and even ski gloves – while Ryan explains why a certain pro cyclist’s books are possibly better left submerged inside their stocking…At the time of broadcast, our listeners can also get a free Hammerhead Heart Rate Monitor with the purchase of a Hammerhead Karoo 2. Visit hammerhead.io right now and use promo code ROADCC at checkout to get yours.

The two subjects we're discussing on episode 66 of the road.cc Podcast are arguably chalk and cheese, but equally as interesting we hope you'll agree! In part 1, Jack and Ryan are joined by Jack Gebhard, Chief of Staff for the Conservative MP for Worcester, Robin Walker, about cycling's curious relationship with 'wokeness'. With 'woke' having morphed from a term to describe those who are alert to racial prejudice and discrimination to a catch-all associated with a whole host of issues such as race, politics, gender and the climate – and often used in a negative way by those that use it – where did the link between cyclists and woke come from, and is it even true in the slightest? In part 2, Ryan is speaking to Lidl Trek’s Lucinda Brand and cyclocross specialist Eli Iserbyt at the recent Cyclocross World Cup even in Dublin, before sitting down with Jamie to discuss how ‘cross fits in to the modern pro cyclist’s schedule. After UCI president David Lappartient's recent comments suggested that riders would have to take part in cyclocross World Cup events if they want to race at the event’s World Championships, does this mean we’re approaching the end of the multi-discipline era where the likes of Pidcock and Van Der Poel regularly appear at the biggest cyclocross races? At the time of broadcast, our listeners can also get a free Hammerhead Heart Rate Monitor with the purchase of a Hammerhead Karoo 2. Visit hammerhead.io right now and use promo code ROADCC at checkout to get yours.

Could the widespread implementation of 20mph speed limits across the UK spell the end of Britain’s long and venerable history of time trialling? On episode 65 of the road.cc Podcast, Ryan and Dan are joined by solicitor and club chairman Jonty Gordon to discuss Cycling Time Trials' recent refusal to sanction courses that feature 20mph zones, and the serious impact this new policy could have on clubs, courses, cyclists trying to get into the sport, and the future of racing on British roads in general.In part 2, Ryan sits down with professional bike fitter Luke Craddock, the owner and director of Synergy Performance, as they both try to wrap their heads around Chris Froome’s recent revelation that his current bike set-up is “centimetres apart” from his grand tour-winning Team Sky days. How has the four-time Tour de France winner’s set-up changed so much over the time and is it possible that it’s all an “oversight”? Or is an ageing Froome just making excuses?At the time of broadcast, our listeners can also get a free Hammerhead Heart Rate Monitor with the purchase of a Hammerhead Karoo 2. Visit hammerhead.io right now and use promo code ROADCC at checkout to get yours.

For episode 64 of the road.cc Podcast, Ryan is talking to the intrepid and indefatigable Han Lu, who has many a story to tell from her epic Transcontinental adventure. When many others would have 'scratched', Han carried on despite many setbacks and finished the mammoth Transcontinental Race route across Europe after a whole month of riding, and approximately 4,000km covered! From preparing for the race, to getting on that start line, dealing with exhaustion and mechanical mishaps and finishing her incredible journey, find out what it's like to test yourself day and night for such a duration, and whether Han thought it was all worth it (spoiler it was totally worth it!) At the time of broadcast, our listeners can also get a free Hammerhead Heart Rate Monitor with the purchase of a Hammerhead Karoo 2. Visit hammerhead.io right now and use promo code ROADCC at checkout to get yours.

Episode 63 of the road.cc Podcast is coming at you a week early, because hot off the press are shocking reports regarding the future of Wiggle Chain Reaction Cycles. What happens if the cycling and multisport retail giant folds, and are we surprised about the reports considering the turmoil the whole bike industry has found itself in throughout 2023 so far? George and Jack are joined by Rory Hitchens, a long-time bike industry stalwart and the founder of brand new agency Greenleaves Cycling, to break down what the hell is going on, and what we think will happen next. In part 2, Ryan, Adwi and Jack discuss professional cycling's 'idiot problem', inspired by a particularly idiotic social media post sent out (and swiftly deleted) by a pro cyclist recently. Is the number unsavoury incidents and bad behaviour better, the same or worse in cycling than other professional sports? Listen on for our thoughts and analysis, and have your say on the road.cc forum. At the time of broadcast, our listeners can also get a free Hammerhead Heart Rate Monitor with the purchase of a Hammerhead Karoo 2. Visit hammerhead.io right now and use promo code ROADCC at checkout to get yours.

It's the unfortunate saga that just keeps rolling on (or coming to a very abrupt halt if you're one of the unfortunate cyclists affected), and on episode 62 of the road.cc Podcast we've got the view of a specialist product recall solicitor on Shimano's failing cranksets and the "mess" that has ensued since. Thomas Jervis of Leigh Day Solicitors does not hold back in his assessment of how this recall (or 'inspection program' if you live outside of North America) has gone so far... If you didn't know already, road.cc turned 15 recently. In part 2, George catches up with Dave and Tony about what it was like to see the site grow from its humble beginnings to the biggest road cycling website in the UK. It's been one heck of a journey, thanks for reading, listening and watching us for the past 15 years!At the time of broadcast, our listeners can also get a free Hammerhead Heart Rate Monitor with the purchase of a Hammerhead Karoo 2. Visit hammerhead.io right now and use promo code ROADCC at checkout to get yours.

Episode 61 of the road.cc Podcast is slightly different to what we had planned originally, because Shimano has finally acknowledged that there might be an issue with some of its previous generation Ultegra and Dura-Ace cranksets... We discuss what happened, how it compares to other big bike industry recalls in the past, what Shimano has had to say so far and what we think about the whole saga. We also sent some broken cranks off to a doctor of mechanical engineering, and discuss the findings from his report in brief. In part 2, Jamie nerds out with Matt Harvey of Enduro Bearings to talk about everything bike bearing-related. Are ceramic bearings really worth it? Find out everything you need to know!

It’s something of a nostalgia fest on the 60th episode of the road.cc Podcast this week, as we’re joined by retro bike restorer extraordinaire and leading proponent of the lost art of ‘drillium’, the Campag Kid, for a fascinating discussion about the roots of his obsession for classic bikes and illustrious Italian components, the lengths to which he’ll go to satiate that 50-year-long obsession, and how his real-life career in the automotive industry can often butt up against – literally – his love for cycling.The Campag Kid is a cycling enthusiast and former racer who has acquired a cult online following restoring and building Campagnolo-equipped bikes. He’s also one of the few devotees keeping alive the retro art of drillium, the practice of hand drilling holes in components for aesthetic and weight purposes pioneered by Eddy Merckx for his Hour Record attempt in Mexico in 1972 and picked up by British time trialling great Alf Engers.During his chat with Jack, Jamie, and Jo, he chats about his introduction to the sport as an inquisitive 12-year-old, how he earned his lifelong nickname, his favourite projects, why he spent 18 months sourcing a chain, how he balances his enthusiasm for cycling with his work designing cars and motorbikes, and why cycling’s love of retro will continue to live on.

In episode 59 of the road.cc Podcast, George, Jack, Ryan, and Simon gathered around the table to discuss the week’s big news story – the much-debated extension of London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone, which after months of often toxic political and online discourse, finally came into force on Tuesday in outer London. While the extended ULEZ only affects a relatively small number of drivers, some bike companies have sensed an opportunity in recent weeks to convince the capital’s residents to swap their non-compliant vehicles for a bike. But will ULEZ convince some motorists to give up their car for a bike? And will the policy, along with other measures seemingly designed to entice people out of their private motor vehicles (such as Low Traffic Neighbourhoods and cycling infrastructure), help make London safer for people on bikes?Or does the recent plethora of bike offers, as some on social media have suggested, only add further fuel to the (conspiracy-stoked) fire that ULEZ is simply another way to curtail the God-given right of British citizens to drive? Needless to say, it was a lively chat.Meanwhile, in part two, Jack caught up with Bryan McCullough, a physio and bike fitter who specialises in injury recovery for cyclists as part of his company ‘The Bike The Body’.In a really interesting discussion, Bryan chats with Jack about how cycling can be a perfect route to recovery following major surgery, thanks to its low impact nature and range of motion, and why the all-important bike fit can prove even more essential as you aim to regain your confidence and strength on the bike.

For episode 58 of the road.cc Podcast, we’re turning our attention to two very different ends of the cycling spectrum, by exploring what it would be like to completely give up on any and all forms of motorised transportation – and to circumvent the globe in the process – before going in-depth on all things aerodynamics, and why a more efficient jersey could help you along on even the most sedate of Sunday spins.First up, Jack sat down with Markus Pukonen, a Canadian firefighter and founder of the nonprofit organisation Routes for Change, who returned home to Toronto this summer after spending eight years making his way around the world – without availing of one single motor throughout his entire journey. Yes, that even includes lifts. In a fascinating discussion, Pukonen – who has never owned a car throughout his life – chats about his eight-year-long human-powered trip, which he undertook to raise funds and awareness for small environmental and social organisations he encountered along the way, and the effects of cycling, walking, canoeing, kayaking, handcycling, and rowing his way around the world, while even pogo sticking an environmentally unfriendly Prime Minister out of office in the process.In part two, Jamie chats to Dr B Xavier Disley, the owner of AeroCoach, a UK company geared towards improving all things aerodynamics, working closely with riders to make them faster as well as coming up with innovative new products. We all know about the benefits of aero equipment and clothing at the highest level, but can a more efficient jersey, bib shorts, or even socks really make a difference for amateur cyclists riding around at 15mph? And that’s before we tackle that age-old cycling question: Does shaving your legs make you more aerodynamic? As Xavier explains to Jamie, a smooth leg could be the cheapest route to some easy watts saving and performance benefits, and – in any case – you wouldn’t buy a hairy bike, would you? Though we’ll leave what you do to your arms up to you…

For this special bonus edition of the road.cc Podcast in association with Hammerhead, our 57th episode, we’re coming at you live from the inaugural ‘Super’ UCI Cycling World Championships in Glasgow! Ryan and Jamie discuss the crazy men’s road race, and ‘that’ big not-so-secret bike launch from Specialized, with Remco Evenepoel and numerous others debuting the all new Tarmac SL8 in the elite men’s road race. We’ve also been chatting to locals, volunteers and participants during the first ever multi-discipline cycling world champs to see what they’ve made of this special event.   In part 2, and fresh off the back of the wet and wild elite men’s road race, Ryan sits down with Michael Matthews of Team Jayco–AlUla for a fascinatingly open and honest discussion. The 32-year-old tells us what he thought of the controversial course for the road race, his opinion on THAT protest and the neutralisation and more broadly, what life is like as a pro cyclist and how bike racing has changed throughout his career.

It's time for episode 56 of the road.cc Podcast. Last weekend, just in case you were doing your best to avoid the news, Rishi Sunak promised the UK’s motorists that he was “on their side”, as the Prime Minister ordered a review of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods in England. The review comes as the debate over green active travel policies continues to sharpen in the wake of the Conservative Party’s win at the recent Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election (called following the departure of the famously active travel-friendly PM Boris Johnson), a narrow victory credited to the Tory opposition to Labour mayor Sadiq Khan’s plans to extend London’s Ultra-Low Emission Zone. Sunak’s opposition to ULEZ and LTNs, the latest strategic manoeuvre in the pre-general election battleground, isn’t the only move away from the green active travel policies held by his party in recent years, with the Prime Minister also recently hinting at plans to push back the date that sales of new petrol and diesel-powered cars will be banned, while funding for cycling infrastructure – including the new government body Active Travel England – has also taken a hit during his tenure in charge.In the second part of the latest episode of the road.cc Podcast, Jack, Simon, and Ryan sit round the table to discuss what Sunak’s latest pro-driver pledges mean for the next general election, how they represent a shift away from past Conservative policy on cycling, active travel, and climate change (led by Johnson), and what impact they could have on the future landscape of cycling in the UK. Before we get to all that political chicanery, Ryan chats with Bristol couple Anna and Mark Cordle, who recently made the headlines after they set up a parking space for their family cargo bike outside their home – which, a year after it was installed, has been the subject of threats by the local council to remove it… because it was taking up a car parking space.In a really interesting discussion which touches on the differing perceptions and treatment of people who ride bikes to get around compared to those who use cars, Anna and Mark detail the reasons why they needed the space for their young family, how it was greeted by their neighbours, their current struggle against the council, and why planter-based bike parking spaces may provide an organic way forward for active travel in the UK’s cities.