Why the 20mph zone time trial ban could be the “tip of the iceberg” for British racing + Chris Froome’s bike set-up mystery explained

Could the widespread implementation of 20mph speed limits across the UK spell the end of Britain’s long and venerable history of time trialling? On episode 65 of the road.cc Podcast, we turn our attentions to Cycling Time Trial’s recent refusal to sanction courses that feature 20mph zones, and the serious impact this could have on clubs and the time trialling scene in general. Meanwhile, later in the episode, we delve into a mystery that has baffled cycling fans for centuries (or at least the last three years)… What is going on with Chris Froome’s bike?

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In September, as I’m sure you all know by now, a 20mph default speed limit in built-up and residential areas was introduced throughout Wales.

And earlier this month, Cycling Time Trials, the governing body for races against the clock in England and Wales, responded to the speed limit change, which has also been reflected across many parts of England, by writing to its districts informing them that courses which take place on 20mph zones cannot be used or sanctioned, and that they “must ignore any suggestion” that the speed limits do not apply to cyclists.

> Cyclists fear safe time trial courses will be lost as governing body introduces ban on events in 20mph zones

To discuss this marked change in policy – which has led some cyclists to worry that time trialling in general could be under threat in the UK – Dan and Ryan are joined by solicitor Jonty Gordon, the chairman of Caernarfon-based Clwb Beicio Egni Eryri and director of 1816 Cycles, who believes that the ban will have a devastating impact on the number of useable time trial courses in England and Wales.

Jonty also assesses the legal and safety ramifications of Cycling Time Trial’s new policy, how it could lead to youngsters and women turning away from the sport, and why it may prove merely the “tip of the iceberg” when it comes to the future of bike racing on British roads.

Spot the difference...

In part two, Ryan sits down with professional bike fitter Luke Craddock, the owner and director of Synergy Performance, as they both try to wrap their heads around Chris Froome’s recent, rather controversial bike set-up comments, which saw the four-time Tour de France winner reveal he had noticed “huge discrepancies” between his current Israel-Premier Tech position and the one he used during his gloriously successful Team Sky days – a revelation described as a “load of BS” by former pro Michael Rasmussen.

During the interview, Luke uses his bike fitting expertise to assess how Froome’s 2015 and 2023 set-ups could be up to three centimetres apart (and how the multiple grand tour winner could fail to notice such a “huge” discrepancy) and the impact of the British rider’s almost career-ending 2019 crash on his set-up, while noting that positioning on a bike is not an exact science – even for those sticklers to detail at Ineos.

At the time of broadcast, our listeners can also get a free Hammerhead Heart Rate Monitor with the purchase of a Hammerhead Karoo 2. Visit hammerhead.io right now and use promo code ROADCC at checkout to get yours.