Overtraining probably isn’t behind your weight loss plateau – here’s why

When it comes to improving our physical fitness, the time you don’t spend exercising (often known as “recovery”) is as important as the exercise and training you do. Not only is recovery important for anyone who wants to build muscle mass, but taking enough time to recover between training sessions is also important for avoiding …

How many calories do riders burn during the Tour de France?

Imagine you begin pedaling from the start of Stage 17 of this year’s Tour de France. First, you would bike approximately 70 miles (112 km) with a gradual increase in elevation of around 1,300 feet (400 m). But you’ve yet to hit the fun part: the Hautes-Pyrénées mountains. Over the next 40 miles (64 km) …

Cycling is 10 times more important than electric cars for reaching net-zero cities

Globally, only one in 50 new cars were fully electric in 2020, and one in 14 in the UK. Sounds impressive, but even if all new cars were electric now, it would still take 15-20 years to replace the world’s fossil fuel car fleet. The emission savings from replacing all those internal combustion engines with …

Virtual Tour de France shows how esports has come of age during the lockdown

Andy Miah, University of Salford Elite sports events are still largely closed to the world – but July 2020 has still been an unprecedented month for the global sporting calendar thanks to the world’s first Virtual Tour de France, which – despite the name – was based nowhere in particular, as riders took part from …

Mountain bikers can strengthen the connection between humans, nature and recreational space

Jim Cherrington, Sheffield Hallam University Lockdown and socialising restrictions have led to many people increasingly appreciating the great outdoors. In many areas there has been a sharp increase in the number of people out cycling and walking every day.

Road Safety: switch to cycling to keep others safe

Analysis from the UK Department for Transport compares the risk of being injured when you are cycling, driving, or walking. Motorcyclists have an especially high risk of death, followed by pedestrians and cyclists. Those in vans, buses, or lorries are safest. Rachel Aldred, University of Westminster and James Woodcock, University of Cambridge