The hottest Cycling Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Sports Topics

American Sprawl and Dutch Neighborhoods

Erik Examines • 492 implied HN points • 01 Jan 26
🪑 Design Cycling
  1. Dutch suburbs pack more people into smaller private spaces but make up for it with lots of nearby public green areas and local amenities, while many American suburbs have large private yards but little shared public space.
  2. Extensive, safe bike infrastructure lets people of all ages get around easily by bike, which gives daily exercise and independence and reduces the need for a car.
  3. Countryside near Dutch towns is close, walkable, and full of reachable destinations like tea houses and historic sites, whereas much of the American countryside is farther away, less walkable, and usually requires driving and planning to enjoy.

Why the founder of a popular cycling blog sold it and then left to launch a competitor

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 349 implied HN points • 05 Dec 25
💼 Business Cycling
  1. Wade Wallace started CyclingTips as a hobby while he was in Australia, and it grew into a successful news website. He focused on sharing stories and insights that people loved, even without formal journalism training.
  2. After selling CyclingTips and struggling with the changes from the new owners, Wallace launched Escape Collective, which relies on paid subscriptions instead of ads. This model aims to offer independent, quality journalism in cycling.
  3. Escape Collective focuses on building a community around cycling, encouraging members to contribute ideas and insights, and Wallace prefers a smaller, tightly-knit team over a large staff. He believes in the power of direct support from readers to create valuable content.

0 catharsis

derailleur • 779 implied HN points • 18 Sep 23
🎾 Sports Cycling
  1. The post is about reflecting on the Vuelta 2023 race.
  2. The author has complex feelings about the outcome of the race.
  3. There is a mention of the camaraderie between Roglič, Vingegaard, and Sepp Kuss.

high drama over the krka

derailleur • 959 implied HN points • 18 Jun 23
🎾 Sports Cycling
  1. The Tour of Slovenia's fifth stage featured high drama over the Krka river.
  2. The top contenders in the race were separated by mere seconds, making the competition intense and close.
  3. Matej Mohorič won the stage, honoring a fallen cyclist and emphasizing the importance of cherishing every moment in cycling.

at what point do we stop?

derailleur • 999 implied HN points • 17 May 23
🎾 Sports Cycling
  1. The Giro d'Italia race has seen multiple major contenders falling due to various reasons like crashes and illness.
  2. There is increasing concern about the safety and well-being of athletes in cycling events, especially in challenging conditions.
  3. There is a need to address weather-related challenges in cycling by making the sport's institutions more resilient to such events.
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pale grit

derailleur • 999 implied HN points • 04 Mar 23
🎾 Sports Cycling
  1. The post is about the 2023 strade bianche men's race
  2. Italian riders Alberto Bettiol and Andrea Bagioli are ahead of the peloton on dusty roads
  3. To read the full post, a 7-day free trial subscription is available

digital winners, analogue race

derailleur • 899 implied HN points • 19 Mar 23
🎾 Sports Cycling
  1. Bike races like Milan-Sanremo hold historical significance and are a mix of tradition and unpredictability.
  2. The decline of written media in sports journalism impacts how fans perceive and consume cycling events.
  3. Mathieu van der Poel's victory in Milan-Sanremo links back to his family history and showcases the importance of strategy and endurance in road cycling.

the lonely pinnacle

derailleur • 699 implied HN points • 03 Apr 23
🎾 Sports Cycling
  1. The Tour of Flanders has a rich history and culture tied to the region of Flanders.
  2. The race is characterized by challenging conditions, with riders facing harsh roads and tough competition.
  3. Tadej Pogačar's victory showcased his exceptional strength and skill, proving him to be a dominant force in cycling.

kids these days

derailleur • 739 implied HN points • 25 Feb 23
🎾 Sports Cycling
  1. In a cycling race, young riders like Mathis Le Berre and Arnaud De Lie showed strong performances despite challenges.
  2. Dylan van Baarle emerged victorious in the race and demonstrated his strategic riding skills.
  3. The dynamics in cycling races reflect a shift in generational talent and strategy, with experienced riders like Van Baarle still prevailing.

Six British cyclists were investigated for banned testosterone use

Honest Sport • 99 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
🎾 Sports Cycling
  1. Six British cyclists were investigated for using banned testosterone, which raised concerns about doping in the sport. Elevated testosterone levels were found in their tests but could not confirm illegal use at the time.
  2. A doctor for British Cycling ordered testosterone to the Manchester Velodrome, claiming it was for an unnamed rider, raising further questions about the integrity of anti-doping measures.
  3. Doping cases in British cycling are not widely shared anymore, making it hard to know how many cyclists have faced similar investigations in recent years. This change in transparency has made tracking doping issues more difficult.

Exclusive: Sir Bradley Wiggins took ketones in Tour de France-winning year

Honest Sport • 99 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
🎾 Sports Cycling
  1. Sir Bradley Wiggins used ketones, a performance-enhancing drink, during his Tour de France victory in 2012. Ketones were originally developed for US Special Forces and were considered legal but controversial for athletes.
  2. UK Sport conducted a secret project involving ketone testing on British Olympians, including Wiggins, leading up to the London 2012 Olympics. They were worried about the perception of unfair advantage if this information leaked.
  3. Despite the claims of Team Sky and Wiggins denying the use of ketones, internal documents reveal a clear strategy to manage public relations around the use of this substance in British sports. The situation shows a grey area in sports nutrition and ethics.

I didn't go to my graduation

The Nature of Training • 19 implied HN points • 16 Jun 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Cycling
  1. Feeling frustrated and disappointed from traditional sports science education led to a journey of self-discovery and obsession with Complex Systems.
  2. Transitioning from competitive cycling to coaching unlocked new patterns and aspects influencing performance, beyond traditional theory.
  3. Discovering the Science of Complexity provided a new lens to address training problems and integrate diverse passions into a coherent field.

White Guys on Bikes: A Love-Hate Letter to the Tour de France

House of Strauss • 33 implied HN points • 23 Jul 25
🎾 Sports Cycling
  1. The author enjoys the Tour de France but feels conflicted about the predominance of white athletes in cycling. It's surprising to learn that many competitors might openly support conservative views.
  2. The piece shows how some people wrestle with their identity while participating in activities that are often seen as elite or white-dominated. It's interesting that enjoyment can sometimes clash with awareness of these issues.
  3. Unlike the author, others may watch events like the Tour de France without focusing on the competitors' backgrounds. For some, it's just about enjoying the sport without worrying about the politics involved.

Winter cycling - part 2, ‘The Handbook’

The Third Place • 39 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
🎾 Sports Cycling
  1. Prepare gradually for cycling in cold weather to adjust to temperature changes and stay motivated.
  2. Choose the right bike for winter conditions, such as regular bikes for short distances, e-bikes for longer distances, or fat bikes for snowy terrains.
  3. Get essential winter cycling gear like gloves, boots, and warmers to stay comfortable and safe during rides in cold weather.

Winter cycling - part 1

The Third Place • 39 implied HN points • 30 Dec 23
🏝 Travel Cycling
  1. It's not too cold to cycle when you have the right equipment, making winter biking easier and enjoyable by keeping you warm.
  2. Snow maintenance by the city is crucial for promoting winter cycling - the city's culture towards winter maintenance impacts cycling infrastructure.
  3. Cycling can be a viable mode of transportation in winter when proper snow maintenance is done, allowing for a cultural shift towards prioritizing biking over driving.

The Timeline: Team Sky and British Cycling – when success surpassed ethics

Honest Sport • 19 implied HN points • 17 Dec 23
🎾 Sports Cycling
  1. Team Sky started as a clean cycling team, but they faced many challenges and made questionable choices on their way to winning major events like the Tour de France.
  2. They experienced controversies related to doping, including secret drug tests and hiring doctors with questionable backgrounds which raised ethical concerns.
  3. Despite achieving significant success at competitions, the team's actions led to scandals that complicated their reputation and the integrity of their victories.

Psychling

Skeptic • 52 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
🎾 Sports Cycling
  1. The unfolding of life is influenced by a mix of genes, environment, and unexpected contingencies like chance events.
  2. Small decisions and chance occurrences can have significant impacts on the course of one's life.
  3. Personal narratives often present unpredictable events as rare, but in reality, contingency is a powerful force shaping our lives.

Two returns to Nice via Paris

The ZIPster • 35 implied HN points • 08 Mar 24
🏝 Travel Cycling
  1. Observing the transformation during 6 weeks post-surgery and enjoying the restored privileges, like cycling and walking, can be rewarding.
  2. Traveling by train from Paris to Nice provides a scenic view of the French countryside while experiencing the well-funded national rail service.
  3. Exploring the coastal towns like Villefranche sur Mer on bike reveals challenges and delights, offering a taste of local delights and picturesque scenery.

Street Appeal

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 19 implied HN points • 14 May 21
🎭️ Culture Cycling
  1. The history of street materials can be fascinating. For example, some roads in Seattle are made of old sandstone from 40 million years ago.
  2. The Giro d'Italia bike race highlights how different types of stone impact performance, like the slippery San Pietrini cobbles in Italy.
  3. Understanding the types of rocks used in construction can help avoid mistakes when building. Rock types like basalt and travertine have unique qualities that are important.

The Journey of the First Cycling Power Meter: A Story of Innovation with Uli Schoberer

The Healthtech Initiative • 1 implied HN point • 14 Feb 24
🎾 Sports Cycling
  1. Uli Schoberer created the first cycling power meter to enhance performance and revolutionize training for cyclists worldwide.
  2. The power meter faced challenges in development, particularly in data transmission, but was eventually adopted by national cycling teams and used in space fitness research.
  3. The evolution of cycling technology included advancements in power meters with features like Bluetooth, memory storage, and high-resolution data collection, providing cyclists with valuable training insights.