Gel On Your Cornflakes

After a long break Team GOYC is back with a short chat about the future of Hog Hill Race circuit, which we learn is far from secure. The road track, on the edge of North East London, had to be shut because damage to the tarmac made it dangerous to ride on and followed a nasty accident where a rider suffered serious head injuries. Successive dry summers has apparently caused deterioration which has led to big cracks meaning repairs were urgently required. We hear how plans to fix the circuit have been stalled because the damage is greater than expected and therefore more costly, leading to concerns as to when it will reopen for road racing. Please subscribe and let us know your thoughts on [email protected] or message us on Instagram @gelonyourcornflakes

In the latest episode Rupert gets on his mountain bike to race XC in the resurrected Beastway series at Hog Hill. After catching his breath, he chats with Ollie Daw, part of the team who have brought back the summer series for every Friday in June. Team GOYC also look forward to the third year of the VIA Crits at Coal Drop Yard, Kings Cross, Central London. Andy chats to organiser Mike Mooney about the event which is fast becoming a fixture on the racing and cycling calendar. Mike gives us the low-down on the massive festival of cycling in the heart of the capital, which includes a showpiece E/1/2 race on Saturday night, now part of the new Rapha Super League, and the GRA-VIA gravel race kicking off in town! Please subscribe and let us know your thoughts on [email protected] or message us on Instagram @gelonyourcornflakes

In this episode we are joined by Sam Calder, founder and boss of Rule 28, the London-based aero brand. Sam discusses how he started Rule 28 almost by accident after experimenting with aero gains while at university. In the conversation he talks about the frustration and the flattery that comes with spotting world tour teams and leading track and TT racers wearing his gear. He also dispels one or two aero myths - including tight is not always right. Please subscribe, tell a friend, and get in touch on Insta on @gelonyour cornflakes and on email [email protected]

In the latest episode team GOYC talk track pumps and wonder whether they are becoming a thing of the past with new cheap and portable hand-held electric pumps. They discuss why it could be better to avoid cycle destinations for your cycling training and holiday trips. And things get awkward when Rupert discusses his new road bike and how it has more than a passing resemblance to Alex’s. Please subscribe and let us know your thoughts on [email protected] or message us on Instagram @gelonyourcornflakes

In the latest episode Andy and Alex talk to Sean Epstein, chair of Regents Park Cyclists, about the unseen work that goes into keeping riding in the central London park viable. Sean discusses how RPC has fought to be recognised as an important voice among decision makers, opposing road calming measures on the Outer Circle, working with police to target bike robberies in and around the park and advocating for riders in the media. Hope you enjoy the episode. Please subscribe, tell a friend and get in touch on Insta @gelonyourcornflakes or [email protected]

It’s been a while, but Gel on Your Cornflakes is back with the first episode of season 3. The team discuss new aero bars being produced by East London brand Avec and whether the nifty set up will fall foul of UCI rules Rupert argues they could put riders in breach of regulations while Andy thinks they will just make a commonly used position more ergonomic. Alex says he has the crayons out and is working on his own design. The conversation turns to the extreme measures being used and discussed to combat the growing menace of bike robberies in and around London. Please subscribe and let us know your thoughts on [email protected] or message us on Instagram @gelonyourcornflakes

In Episode 13 we talk to up and coming young racer Alex Franks about his ambitions for 2025. Alex describes his experience riding for top Belgian feeder team Cannibal B Victorious, how he took time out riding at the top level and is now determined to have another crack at making it to the pro peloton. Elsewhere TT ace Jonny Allen, who rides for Elysium Kalas Race Team. updates us on his plans to crack the Scottish hour record, which is now pencilled in for May. The GOYC crew also talk winter training, weights, gym etiquette and discuss the pros and cons of Training Peaks’ new Zwift-like app, TP Virtual. Happy Christmas listeners and subscribe to make sure you hear future episodes in 2025.

In the latest episode we talk with David Bates about his experience riding the Spanish Badlands Gravel epic - his exhaustive training, threshold testing and the drama that unfolded in the Andalusian mountains and deserts. We also reveal how a major cycling retailer claims bike sales are at their lowest level this century as the team discuss the ongoing industry doldrums. Alex argues we should be switching to smaller wheels on road bikes and Rupert lets us in on his new weapon in the battle against tubeless punctures - tractor sealant. Hope you enjoy the episode. Please subscribe, tell a friend and get in touch on Insta @gelonyourcornflakes or [email protected]

This week’s episode features a voice diary of endurance rider Willy Castro as he battles his way through an epic 1,050km endurance ride through the Ardennes. His voice notes give a fascinating insight to the physical and mental challenges he faced on the epic trip which took more than three days. Elsewhere Team GOYC talk tyres, punctures and tubeless, how much does a season of crit and road racing cost and night cycling in the Peak District. Please subscribe so you always get the latest episode straight away, give us a review if you liked and send us your thoughts on Insta @gelonyourcornflakes or [email protected]

This week the GOYC team speak to a popular figure on the London cycling scene; Mike Mooney. Mike's well known in the regional CX leagues, in Hackney for his time at Hub Velo, and now around King's Cross leading rides and working at VIA. In his youth, Mike road for GB and in this episode he talks about trying to make it as a pro road-racer. Before that, the team chat Tour de France, Panini stickers, and Andy's new bike.

Ace time trial athlete Jonny Allen is the special guest chatting with the GOYC team this episode. Jonny, racing for Elysium Kalas, finished third in the amateur Word’s TT last year and discusses adjusting ambitions following an early season injury. He talks about his ambitions to improve on last year’s effort in the 35-39-year-old category, in this year’s Rainbow Jersey contest due to take place in Denmark at the end of August. And he also reveals he is targeting an attempt at the Scottish Hour record early next year. Alex, Rupert and Andy talk aero tyres and ask why a set of car disc brakes pads cost around the same for a set for a road bike in Rupert's new 'Top Gear' section. Enjoy the episode, subscribe and tell a friend.

It’s back! Team GOYC’s long holiday is finally over and Rupert, Alex and Andy return with a belting interview with the UK’s number one racer of last year. For an amateur podcast about amateur cycling, guests don’t get much bigger than Clay Davies who topped the British Cycling rankings last year. Clay reveals how bad luck with the day job, created a training window which laid the foundation of his amazing 2023. The team also discuss the impressive Via Cycling festival at Kings Cross and Andy’s own experience helping to run a race series. Don’t forget to subscribe.

North London Dirt’s Andrew and Philip Diprose join the Gel on Your Cornflakes team for the final episode of the first season of Gel on Your Cornflakes. The brothers talk about the hugely popular gravel ride which has helped to develop the off-road scene in the capital and how its 300 places sell out as soon as they go on sale. This year’s edition rolls out from N16 on May 11 and as with previous NLD’s, has a unique route picking its way through London’s obscure alleys and paths into the Herts and Essex farm tracks and bridleways. Before turning to gravel, Alex, Rupert, Andy, Philip and Andrew talk Lime bikes, TPU tubes, holiday bike rentals and Strava show offs.

Lee Lavery, who organises a 10-mile time trial in the heart of London, is this week’s guest, discussing how spots for the event sell out almost as soon as they go on sale. The Tuesday Tens attracts riders from across the capital and beyond and last year’s testers included the six-time National Time Trial champ Alex Dowsett, who calls the Lea Valley Velo Park weekly contest the ‘biggest club 10 in the country’. Alex, Rupert and Andy also discuss the Dales Divide, the ultra race which covers 600km and almost 8,000 metres of climbing, and hear how appalling conditions led to many riders scratching, on the route which crosses the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors twice. The GOYC team investigate London bike crime and reveal that bikes worth almost £13.5 million were stolen in 16,180 thefts, with just 170 of the cases resulting resulting in a charge or caution. They also chat about fuelling long or tough rides and explore the merits of making your own carb drinks and gels.

This week the GOYC team talk with James Hawkins, the man behind Yorkshire’s Yomp Bonk Crew, who has been picked out by Ed Clancy as a model for the future of the domestic race scene. James tells us how lockdown riding club YBC developed into a major force behind events like the recent Peaks 2 Day stage race which attracts the cream of UK riders. Alex reveals surprising results of his own investigation into the weight differences between high end Dura Ace cranks and the much cheaper 105 version. While Rupert and Andy reflect on their training camp in the Spanish sun.

This week Alex, Andy and Rupert talk circuit racing and interview Chris Denman who puts on the popular Miche West Thames race series at the Hillingdon on Tuesday nights in spring and summer. Chris remembers how the series emerged in the 80s and 90s from racers who competed on an unused A road before they secured the existing site in West London. He reveals his love of attacking racing and says more clubs and teams should be looking to keep the scene alive. Team GOYC also discuss the Spanish amateur race which was raided by anti-doping officials and there’s verdict on last week’s chat on Veet leg-hair remover….yes, it does the trick!

In this week’s episode the GOYC team talk to Michael Humphreys, who runs the long-standing Beastway XC summer series at Hog Hill, Redbridge. As well as discussing how his passion for mountain biking remains as strong as it did when the series started 31 years ago, he reveals the battles fought to keep racing alive in East London and Essex. Michael asks some tough questions on the Olympic legacy, revealing clashes with Sebastian Coe, and questions how well Lea Valley Velo Park is serving grass roots cycling. Before that Alex, Rupert and Andy talk about THAT TT helmet, the new TCR and its 2.68 watt savings and …how to shave your legs!

In this week’s episode, GOYC attends opening weekend in Belgium, chatting to a few big names and giving an insight into how to track the cobbled classics, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne- Brussels-Kuurne, on the ground. We provide an update on the Hell of the Ashdown sportive that we covered in the previous episode. The event started in heavy fog with frozen lanes and featured one rider being hit by a deer - both are fine! This episode’s interview covers the British domestic road race scene with Seb Otley who has taken over running the newly rebranded Portsdown Classic in Hampshire, previously Perfs Pedal. Seb discusses the challenges facing race organisers, but also the excitement of running the first major event of the year – you could say it’s the UK’s opening weekend – which attracted two times Giro stage winner Alex Dowsett, and triple Olympic Gold medalist Ed Clancy among a strong amateur field. instagram.com/gelonyourcornflakes/

In this week’s episode Rupert, Alex and Andy talk about the changing landscape of cycling media, and reach some surprising conclusions about the superiority of old school print news like ‘The Comic’, Cycling Weekly, despite the mass of online info. The three also discuss this week’s upcoming Hell of the Ashdown sportive up 2,000m of Kent hills over 100km and feature an in-depth interview with organiser Paul Haley, of Flamme Rouge Events. Paul talks through how he and the team manage the sell-out 1,500-rider event which, although not a race, is seen as a great early season tester for a lot of teams, as well as a great challenge for enthusiasts. Topics covered include fueling riders, how they deal with pranksters trying to sabotage the route and how last year just 60 riders finished in under four hours. Check out more details on HOTA at flammerougeevents.com and slide into our Insta DMs with your thoughts @instagram.com/gelonyourcornflakes