Tom Fortune
Freelance Journalist and Mountain Biking Expert
Tom’s latest articles:
Gravel Bike Vs Hybrid Bike: Essential Differences Explained
Gravel and hybrid bikes are cut from the same cloth, but some key differences make each unique. There are some key differences that can help make up your mind when deciding which is best for you in the battle of gravel bike vs hybrid bike.
Cross Chaining: What Is It, And Is It Really That Bad For Your Bike?
The nature of cycling leaves plenty of room to form bad habits. Some bad habits …
What Are Brifters In Cycling? Everything You Need To Know
Love it or loathe it, the term “brifter” is now well-established in the cyclist’s vocabulary. But if you’re not familiar with them, this might leave you wondering: what are brifters, and why do they matter?
Single-Speed Mountain Bikes: Are They Actually Any Good?
Single-speed mountain bikes divide opinion more than any other. The single-speed MTB is a rare …
Tandem Bike: The Complete Guide To All Types of Tandem Bikes
Riding a tandem bike can be lots of fun. It can allow two people with …
How To Remove A Cassette From a Bike In 6 Steps [With Video Guide]
To remove a bike cassette: you need two tools — a chain whip (holds the …
The Bike Derailleur Explained: Everything You Need To Know
A bike derailleur is the spring-loaded mechanism that moves the chain between gears. Modern bikes …
How To Pump A Bike Tire: A Complete Guide
To pump a bike tire: identify the valve type (Schrader = wide car-style; Presta = …
What Is A Hybrid Bike?
Different types of bikes are adapted to different terrain. Mountain bikes might be fantastic for …
Standing Up On A Bike: How (And When) To Ride Out Of The Saddle
Whether you’re a mountain biker or roadie, you’ll split your rides between sitting on the …
Hardtail Bike Vs Full Suspension Bike: Which Is Better Suited For My Riding?
In the market for a new mountain bike but wondering whether to go for a …
How To Track Stand Like A Cycling Pro
There are a few cycling skills and tricks that look great and can earn you …
How To Remove Bike Pedals In 2 Steps [With Video Guide]
To remove bike pedals: use a 15mm pedal wrench or 8mm Allen key (depending on …
How To Measure Bike Wheel Size: A Complete Guide
To measure a bike wheel size, look at the sidewall of your tire — it’ll …
How To Size A Kids Bike: A Complete Guide (With Kids Bike Size Chart)
Choosing the right bike for your child involves more than just picking the coolest and …
Bike Tire Valve Types Explained: Schrader Valve, Presta Valve, Dunlop Valve, And Bicycle Tire Valve Caps
There are three bike tire valve types: Schrader (the wide one used on car tires …
Sprint Triathlon Training Plan
If you’re new to triathlon, figuring out a sprint triathlon training plan may be a little daunting for …
12-Week Olympic Triathlon Training Plan
So, you’ve just signed up for your first Olympic triathlon? Time to get serious about …
The Century Ride: How To Train For A 100 Mile Bike Ride (+Training Plan)
A century ride is a 100-mile (160 km) bike ride. Most cyclists need 8–12 weeks …
Bike Security: How To Lock A Bike Up Properly
Your bike is a considerable investment, but if someone steals it, the value of the …
Complete Guide To Bike Chain Length: How To Size A Bike Chain
To size a bike chain correctly: the most reliable method is the “big-big plus 2 …
Cycling Calf Muscles: Does Cycling Work Your Calves?
Cycling builds the gastrocnemius (the upper, visible calf muscle) and the soleus (the deeper calf …
How Many Calories Does Cycling Burn? Here’s Our Calories Burned Biking Calculator
A 70 kg (155 lb) cyclist burns roughly 30–35 calories per mile at a moderate …
The Rise Of The Recumbent Road Bike: How To Choose The Right One For You
A recumbent road bike puts the rider in a reclined seated position with feet forward, …
Peloton Seat Hurts? How To Make The Peloton Seat More Comfortable
Many Peloton users complain that their Peloton seat hurts, especially those new to the equipment. …
Cycling Training Zones Guide: Heart Rate and Power Zones Explained
Cycling training zones split effort into 7 levels based on power (% FTP) or heart …
Types Of Bike Pedals: Every Type Explained
One of the most critical points of contact you have with your bike is the …
Peloton Vs Mirror Vs Tonal: Which Is The Best Home Workout Tech?
Considering buying some high-tech home fitness equipment but struggling to decide which is best for …
What Is A Good Peloton Output? And How Does Peloton Calculate Output?
Peloton Output is one of the most essential pieces of data to highlight your progress …
Tempo Training Cycling Guide: How To Perform A Tempo Ride
Tempo training cycling is a great alternative to Zone 2 training and an excellent way …
Average Bike Speed: What’s A Typical Cycling Speed?
Average bike speeds: a casual cyclist on flat ground averages 10–12 mph (16–19 km/h); a …
Bike Tire Pressure Explained: All You Need To Know
Road bike tires typically run 80-130 psi, gravel/cyclocross 35-60 psi, hybrid 50-70 psi, and mountain …
What Is A Bidon In Cycling?
A bidon is a cyclist’s water bottle — the term is French, used widely in …
Recovery Rides: How To Cycle For Recovery
A recovery ride is a low-intensity 30-60 minute spin at Zone 1 (under 65% max …
Coffee Before Cycling: The 4 Performance Benefits (And 5 Drawbacks)
Caffeine is one of the most effective legal ergogenic aids — 3-6 mg per kg …
Zone 2 Training: Cycling Endurance Training Guide
Zone 2 cycling sits at 65-75% of max heart rate or 56-75% of FTP — …
Lower Back Pain Cycling: Causes and Solutions
Lower back pain in cyclists is most often caused by poor bike fit (saddle too …
Average Sprint Triathlon Time: How Long Does A Sprint Triathlon Take?
The average sprint triathlon finish time is 1:30-1:45 for men and 1:40-2:00 for women — …
The Complete A-Z Guide To Cycling Terms: All the Bike Slang and Expressions To Know
The most important cycling terms every cyclist should know fall into seven categories: bike anatomy …
Cycling In London Guide: 17 Tips To Safely Navigate London By Bike
London is intimidating for many reasons, especially for cyclists. If you are new to cycling …
The 35 Best Cycling Quotes: Inspiring Bike Quotes
The most-quoted cycling sayings come from Eddy Merckx (“Don’t buy upgrades, ride up grades”), Greg …
Who Invented The Bicycle? The History Of The Bike
The bicycle was invented in 1817 by Karl von Drais, a German baron who created …
What Is The Ideal Cyclist Body?
The”ideal” cyclist body is a subjective concept with no single answer. Even among professional cyclists, …
Cyclist’s Legs After Tour De France Stages, and Why They Look Like That
After 21 days of racing, Tour de France riders show extreme leg vascularity, visible muscle …
How Long Does It Take To Bike 10 Miles?
The average cyclist takes 5-7 minutes to bike a mile on flat terrain (roughly 8-12 …
12 Famous Cyclists You Should Know
The cycling world is full of characters, legends, and heroes. These famous cyclists have earned their places in the history books with legendary wins, viral videos, and incredible stunts. We thought that we should put together a list of some of the world’s most influential and famous cyclists.
15 Triathlon Transition Tips To Save You Time
So you have worked hard for months training for a triathlon. You are feeling strong …
Proper Cycling Form – 14 Tips For Best Riding Practice
Proper cycling form starts with bike fit (saddle height, fore/aft, reach, bar drop), then layers …
Cycling Interval Training Workouts: Boost Your Speed and Power
The most effective cycling intervals for fitness gains are: 4×4 minute VO2 max efforts (raises …
How To Cycle Faster: 9 Tips To Speed Up
The fastest gains in cycling speed come from three things: building threshold power with structured …
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