How many watts could a Coca-Cola can pulley wheel system save you?; Londoners turn to bikes during rail strike — hire rentals soar; Timmy Mallett's UK cycling tour reaches John O'Groats; Wout's out of national champs; Tour teams + more on the live blog

How many watts could a Coca-Cola can aero pulley wheel system save you? Check out @100Climbs author Simon Warren's amusing addition...https://t.co/a8D0pgQjLJ #cycling pic.twitter.com/g2OaeR8Kou

— road.cc (@roadcc) June 23, 2022

Well, I can't believe I didn't put two and two together and make the joke about the gravel version being a Red Bull or Monster can, that seems like an open goal in hindsight.

A couple on the same lines. On Facebook, Barry Bean suggested: "Weight weenies can get aero benefits AND save weight by using a light beer can instead of coke."

While I'd say comment of the day goes to hawkinspeter: "That Coke can thing is ridiculous. They should have at least tried to go with Diet Coke or Coke Zero for the weight savings." Superb.

On my biggest tangent of the day, someone else suggested you can still enjoy the nectar that is Limonata San Pellegrino in its original non-low sugar form. *googles Classic Italian Taste San Pellegrino* My god, can this be real? Available in Waitrose (obviously), Sainsbury's and many other supermarkets. What a wild Thursday evening I've got in store...

The Fred Whitton can (maybe) claim to be the UK's hardest sportive. 112 miles in the Lakes with all the big-name climbs: Kirkstone, Honister, Newlands, Whinlatter, Wrynose, Blea Tarn, Hardknott. It's a bucket list ride for any UK rider willing to go deep into the pain cave.

Well, Gavin Towers is doing the route TEN TIMES in TEN DAYS...

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Gavin Towers (@gavinttowers)

You might remember Gavin from a story we wrote this time last year when he was attempting to break the record for fastest circumnavigation of Britain by bike, completing the route in 31 days, unfortunately nine days off the 22-day record, but earning the respect of everyone.

An effort even more incredible when you learn Gavin has a degenerative eye condition which means he's partially sighted (Gavin's website illustrates what this is like) and suffers from a narrow field of sight.

In developement in the lab as I type.

— Simon Warren (@100Climbs) June 23, 2022

The Aero version of CeramicSpeed's oversized pulley wheel system launched on Tuesday with a wallet-shredding, eye-watering, relationship-ending price tag of €739...

But could you achieve the same 2.5 seconds saved over a 25km time trial — that CeramicSpeed says its new creation does — all for the price of...well, a can of Coke?

This is probably where I need to point out we're just having a laugh... before you head off to the shops at lunchtime...all credit to 100 Climbs author Simon Warren for this amusing addition...

Real world tests have so far proved inconclusive, felt maybe like 1W improvement. I have some wind tunnel time booked next week to get proper results. #aero pic.twitter.com/0fj8eWEd5J

— Simon Warren (@100Climbs) June 22, 2022

We await the wind tunnel results with bated breath... 

Looking at around the £550 mark +VAT.

— Simon Warren (@100Climbs) June 22, 2022

Middle class pop.

— Simon Warren (@100Climbs) June 22, 2022

Can't go wrong with a Limonata on a hot day (even better pre-sugar tax, of course)...

I think this whole aero derailleur thing is soda pressing.

— Andy (@cyclist_andyc) June 22, 2022

That was fun... 

Main image: Simon Warren

This week's rail strike, aided by the glorious summer weather, has opened the eyes of thousands to the feasibility of commuting in London by bike...

Massive up take in cycling yesterday due to the strike.
But not a single media house keen to show it or talk about it!!!
Also bike based commuters were moving more efficiently than other forms of commuters and not polluting but taking other modes pollution. pic.twitter.com/UxO0YyPB2Y

— Sanjay Lalwani (@i_SanjayLalwani) June 22, 2022

Don't fear, Sanjay. We're happy to talk about it...

So, in fairness, were the Evening Standard who shared the news that the Santander Cycles hire scheme recorded its second highest number of rides on Wednesday. There were more than 67,000 hires, more than double the daily average of 27,000.

The cycle superhighways were recording huge numbers of two-wheeled journeys too — Embankment's had seen more than 8,700 journeys by 1pm, while Transport for London reported it was the busiest day ever for e-scooter hires, with more than 10,000 journeys on their trial scheme.

TfL is hoping to capitalise on increased demand by expanding the scheme in Southwark, building eight new docking stations and releasing 500 e-bikes this summer.

Hello from #Chiswick #C9

London is cycling home. pic.twitter.com/aTLUFmMsnn

— Drew White (@drewsnx) June 22, 2022

Space for cycling in #London:
How it started: die in 2013 How it's going pic.twitter.com/AzJtQCtHkQ

— EricEatsPickles (@EricEatsPickles) June 22, 2022

"Huge numbers of people have taken up cycling since the pandemic," David Eddington, head of cycle hire at TfL, said. “We are determined to keep Londoners cycling and build on this further."

Main image: @JimFrayling/Twitter

This is the type of stuff what Twitter is really made for… pic.twitter.com/BDTar4Rbyf

— Matt Stephens (@RealStephens) June 22, 2022

I'm attempting to circumnavigate Britain on my bike
I set out with the idea it might take around 100 days.
I'm on day 79
Every day in every way I'm trying to live in the moment & paint the adventure#thecyclingartist #roundbritain@Spokes_Bagshot @OrdnanceSurvey @SPCKPublishing pic.twitter.com/9HgqrNc6NY

— Timmy Mallett (@TimmyMallett) June 22, 2022

For anyone, like us, following Timmy Mallett's UK tour progress on Strava you'll have noticed him edging up the west coast of Scotland, nearing the northern tip of the UK. Yesterday, he reached the most northerly point on his ride — the goal for many long distance adventures — John O' Groats...

Many more have started following his progress — detailed in daily debriefs on Strava and paintings along the way — prompting roadside meets such as yesterday's: "There was a man waiting at a bus stop. He waved at me in greeting. 'I've been waiting for you! I wrote in to Wacaday and I'm so excited to meet you....' Royston and Vicky run a caravan park, the ferry view, and I'm introduced to his whole family — four generations with big smiles and great story. They are making a great life and business in far North Scotland with lovely quirky original touches."

At John O'Groats, Mallett met riders triumphantly completing LEJOG, or tentatively setting off in the other direction, before heading onwards to Wick for the night. 

"It's a great feeling to turn that corner and start the journey south... Heading homewards. It's at least 1,500 miles to go but I felt a new spring in my pedals and new energy," he told his Strava followers.

You can join us in following Timmy Mallett's progress on Strava...