11 things we've learned this week

1. Bikes. Lots of bikes...

We've been out in Germany for the Eurobike media days and the build-up to the tour de France Grande Depart in Dusseldorf. We've seen sexy new bike after new bike, the highlight being the innovative 3T Strada with a 1x drivetrain and 28mm tyres

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2. Jan Bakelants' podium girl comments landed him in a spot of bother

Jan Bakelants better watch himself around the podium girls at this year's Tour de France, after bizarrely being quoted in a Belgian magazine as saying that he would be carrying a "packet of condoms" with him in case any of them happened to be around. It might only have been in jest, but bon't flatter yourself Jan...
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3. It's a limited edition model... and it's looking good

Canyon have partnered up with Düsseldorf's finest cycling-mad techno band Kraftwerk to produce this limited edition frame. Just 21 models (and they're looking good) of the Canyon Ultimate CF SLX Kraftwerk will be available to the public, going on sale on Monday 3 July at Noon CET for €10,000.

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4. EPO might not be so performance-enhancing after all

In news that is sure to make a certain disgraced former Tour champion feel like there's a glimmer of hope, a study published in The Lancet Haematology found that EPO has “little effect” on the performance of amateur cyclists during road races. Researchers from the Centre for Human Drug Research (CGDR) in Leiden, the Netherlands, undertook a double-blind, randomised trial involving 48 well-trained male amateur cyclists aged between 18 and 50, although they did find small improvements under laboratory conditions

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5. The prominence of airbag cycling 'helmets' is blowing up

Swedish company Hövding has announced a partnership with Absolutely, one of Britain’s oldest courier businesses, that will see it supply the London-based firm with its innovative airbag cycle ‘helmet’. The announcement coincides with the start of a three-month trial, with couriers wearing the airbag – which is stowed in a neck collar, with a gas cylinder deploying it when necessary – also sporting Absolutely x Hövding cycling jerseys. You had a lot to say about this fledgling tech in our comments section...

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6. Froome has well and truly put rumours of a Team Sky departure to bed

The defending Tour de France champ, recently linked in the French press with a move to BMC Racing, has said he is set to sign a new deal with Team Sky that would keep him at the British UCI WorldTour outfit until 2021. Froome says he has "complete trust" in the team. 

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7. Bradley Wiggins can turn his legs to anything

Tour de France champ, history-making Olympian, celebrity ski-jumper... and now Wiggo says he's aiming to turn to rowing in a bid to make the 2020 Olympic team. Well if anyone can, etc etc...

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8. Road rules always kick up a debate

You had a lot to say about news that British Cycling’s Turning the Corner campaign is calling for a universal rule to give way when turning to reduce the risk of cyclists and pedestrians falling victim to left hooks. The organisation has recently commissioned research which revealed that such a move could also reduce motor traffic queue lengths by 43%, but there's still some questions over such an initiative would work in practice.

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9. The Biskiple is an interesting concept, but might annoy the neighbours

"This is ok if you're happy to keep applying for skip permits from your local council, and you're okay with your neighbours putting their rubbish into it when no one is looking. So probably not okay then."

...said one of our commenters. Maybe this idea is destined for the skip...

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10. The Irish national road race brought up the equality in cycling debate once more

Riders taking part in the Irish national women's road race were told to pull aside to allow the men’s race to pass this weekend. According to the organisers, the women were riding "too slowly" and were asked to pull in to avoid a clash between the two races.Poor planning, and should they have moved? 

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11. The tech behind le Tour is getting ever more space age. 

Brain stimulators, pocket labs that track your haemoglobin levels on the go... they're both things riders at this year's Tour de France have been using in their preparations, with the array of gadgetry now available to them reaching saturation point, it seems. 

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