Five cycling trends from 2024 are about to die out, and Anthony and Sarah aren't holding back about which ones deserve to go. From questionable UCI leadership and subscription fatigue to greenwashing and a pointless folding gravel bike, they break down what won't survive into 2025—plus they settle a heated debate about whether aero or lightweight wheels actually make you faster.
Key Takeaways
- Aerodynamic wheels outperform lightweight wheels on flat roads at speeds above 25 km/h because drag reduction is your biggest energy cost; lightweight wheels only win on climbs and rolling terrain
- Subscription services for cycling broadcasts are becoming unsustainable—moving races off terrestrial TV behind paywalls shrinks the sport's audience and alienates casual fans, particularly younger generations
- Greenwashing in cycling gear is ending; consumers are shifting from fast-fashion bike culture (upgrading every 2 years) toward buying one quality, durable frame that lasts a lifetime
- The folding Gravel Brompton is a gimmick—Bromptons are urban commuter tools designed for last-mile connections, not gravel, and the thicker tires actually make them harder to ride
- Normalized power is the metric that matters for variable-intensity rides because it accounts for physiological effort, whereas average power can mask huge effort spikes (like criterium sprints) that don't reflect true exertion
- When riding in a group, respect club consensus on safety—even if you're confident descending with a super tuck, your choices affect others who may have to deal with your crash
Expert Quotes
"It's a totally different physiological toll on your body so normalized power captures that physiological toll—so even though you could have an average of 200 watts for that session with all the sprints, your normalized power could be 250. — Anthony"
"How can a governing body let this happen—how can Cycling Ireland whose mandate is to promote cycling in Ireland not step in to support a 15-year-old race with no marshalls needed on a closed circuit? — Anthony"
"I don't see any advocacy going on, close passes are worse than ever, the road racing calendar is totally falling apart—it's an absolute joke. At what point do Cycling Ireland members stop being so polite and just say enough is enough? — Anthony"