Just Cycling News, Hacks and Tips

Whether your legs are currently feeling the aftermath of a brisk weekend club run or you are simply nursing a double espresso while staring at your pride and joy in the hallway, welcome to The Weekly Spin.  It has been a cracking week in the world of cycling. From historic feats in the Alps to debates over bike setup, here are the top five stories every roadie needs to know about. 1. Pogačar Rewrites the History Books Tadej Pogačar has officially wrapped up his fifth Tour de France title, cementing his status among the sport's absolute legends. But the real jaw-dropper came on Alpe d’Huez, where he obliterated Marco Pantani’s 31-year-old climbing record by over a minute. Naturally, Sunday morning café stops across the country were locked in fierce debate: how much of this mind-boggling speed comes down to pure athletic genius, and how much is down to modern 35mm tubeless tyres, massive 1x chainrings, and shovelling 120 grams of carbs down your throat every hour? 2. Montmartre Mayhe...

July is well and truly upon us. For most of us, that means our Sunday club runs are suddenly full of riders pushing a little too hard on the local climbs, and our weekday afternoons are spent stealthily watching live racing on a second monitor while pretending to work.  The cycling world has been in overdrive this week. Between the absolute madness at the Tour de France, some spicy new bike tech, and a ridiculous new Strava challenge, there is a lot to catch up on. If you have missed any of the action whilst juggling work and family life, here is a quick summary of the top five stories you need to know before your next café stop. 1. Pogačar’s Tourmalet Masterclass Did you see Stage 6? Tadej Pogačar launched an absolutely thermonuclear 43-kilometre solo attack over the legendary Col du Tourmalet to seize the yellow jersey. It was a glorious, old-school display of raw power that put serious time into Jonas Vingegaard. Watching a pro sustain those sorts of watts up a hors catégorie c...

July is finally here, which means our Sunday club runs are suddenly full of riders pushing just a bit too hard on the local climbs, and our afternoons are spent glued to the television. The 2026 Tour de France kicked off with a spectacular Grand Départ in Barcelona, and the opening stages have already delivered exactly what we love about the sport: fierce rivalries, inspiring grit, and enough new bike tech to make our bank balances nervous. Let’s dive into the biggest talking points from the opening week. The Ultimate GC Battle: Vingegaard vs. Pogačar The general classification rivalry is already operating at boiling point. Just two years after a horrifying, life-threatening crash, Jonas Vingegaard has delivered a true masterclass in resilience. Visma-Lease a Bike absolutely dismantled the opening team time trial in Barcelona, putting the Dane right back into the yellow jersey. It is an extraordinary comeback story that reminds us all why we respect the sheer toughness of profession...

A Frozen Moment That Changed Everything. Imagine it is 1927. You are climbing the Croce d’Aune in the frozen Dolomites during a professional race . .   Your fingers are so numb they feel like blocks of ice, and your bike is caked in mountain grit . .   You need to change your wheel to tackle the descent, but the wing nuts are frozen solid . .   This was the exact moment of frustration that hit Tullio Campagnolo . .   His struggle didn't just lead to a swear word in the cold, it led to the invention of the quick-release lever, a tool that changed professional cycling forever. From Jewellery to Jargon. For decades, Campagnolo wasn't just a brand; it was the gold standard . .   Legends like Eddy Merckx rode to victory on these Italian-crafted parts.   . If you are of a certain age, you likely remember the first time you heard the crisp, mechanical "click" of their shifters, it felt less like a bike part and more like a piece of ...