road.cc recap: our ten favourite stories this week

1. Cycling in your 80s can mean having the immune system of a 20-year-old

There's a lot of bad news out there, so we'll start with the good stuff: cycling helps rejuvenate your immune system, according to a recent study. The BBC reports on research published in the journal Aging Cell which found that some long distance cyclists in their 80s had the immune systems of 20-year-olds. A separate study, published in the same journal, found that cyclists preserved muscle mass and strength with age while maintaining stable levels of body fat and cholesterol.
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2. Gravel clothing is a thing now 

Rapha's new Explore collection includes bib shorts with pockets, and it comes hot on the heels of the new Aussie Grit brand founded by F1 star Mark Webber. We predicted in the article that gravel clothing might be becoming a thing, and sure enough... a couple of days later Vulpine's new Gravel shorts appear on their website. 
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3. You can now buy a £430 Endura skinsuit

Feeling a big sluggish on the club 10? The Drag2Zero Encapsulator might be the garment for you, which Endura claim is the fastest piece of cycling kit in the world. There's also a 'cheaper' version, the Roadsuit, which is a mere £329.99, and you can also pick up the Aeroswitch two-in-one TT and aero road lid for £349.99.  
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4. Ass Savers launch first front mudguard called the Speed Mullet

They deserve your money just for the name, surely? While it won't save your ass, the Speed Mullet does claim to keep your feet a bit safer from spray. The universal fit is designed to be attached easily to any bike in seconds, regardless of the frame size or cable routing, and it costs €11.95. 
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5. Thousands of pounds raised for South African triathlete who was victim of chainsaw attack while cycling

We heard the horrific news from South Africa this week that Mhlengi Gwala, who was in training for the forthcoming national championships, was riding his bike near the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban in the early hours of Tuesday morning, and was attacked by three men who tried to sever his legs before fleeing. More positively, an appeal to raise funds for a South African triathlete has raised over £35,000 and counting at the time of writing. Get well soon, Mhlengi.    
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6. Broken rib for Mark Cavendish in Tirreno-Adriatico crash

Mark Cavendish's Dimension Data team have confirmed that the Manx sprinter broke a rib when he crashed during the team time trial at the opening stage of Tirreno-Adriatico. The injury to Cavendish, who was resuming racing after recovering from concussion sustained in a crash at last month's Abu Dhabi Tour, comes less than a week and a half before Milan-San Remo - a race he has never missed after winning it at his first attempt in 2009.
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7. 400 cyclists killed or seriously injured due to potholes in past decade - and trend is worsening

On National Pothole Day, we were treated to the depressing news that almost 400 cyclists in Great Britain have been killed or seriously injured since 2007 due to crashes caused by potholes. The figures have prompted Cycling UK, which says that casualties are on “a steadily worsening trend,” to urge the government to take action. 
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8. First Look: Pipedream A.L.I.C.E. gravel and adventure bike

Some exciting new bike news from our sister title off.road.cc - The Pipedream A.L.I.C.E (All-Purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment) is an adventure or gravel bike designed for self-supported big days out. We've just taken delivery of a frame and fork for review from the makers of that rather radical mountain bike hardtail, the Moxie, for rather different but no less hardcore forays.
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9. Near Miss of the Day 106: Impatient driver can't wait to overtake

The 106th edition of our dispiriting yet necessary regular feature shows a motorist putting a cyclist, the occupants of a car coming in the other direction, and themselves at risk simply to save a couple of seconds.
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10. Wiggins hits back: "I’d have more rights if I’d murdered someone"

We've said it a lot over the last year or so, but it's not been a good week for Bradley Wiggins or Team Sky. Wiggins hit back angrily at a report published yesterday that suggested he may have broken anti-doping rules, saying “I’d have more rights if I’d murdered someone.” The Combatting Doping in Sport report, compiled by the House of Commons Digital, Media, Culture and Sport Select Committee after an 18-month inquiry, was highly critical of Wiggins and Team Sky, with whom he raced from 2010 to 2014.
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