The Cycling Addiction

Dr Andrew Langdown spent a lifetime scaling two mountain peaks - eminent hip-surgeon, with unique insight into cycling biomechanics. And, multiple age-group time-trial National Championships as a cyclist.

Then, on Dec 23rd 2021 - whilst cycling home from an all-day operating list, Andrew was hit by a car. Andrew spent Christmas 2021 on ITU at the hospital he works at, with a traumatic brain injury, 3 vertebral fractures and a cheekbone fracture. Andrew's survival was helped by one of his surgical colleagues passing the scene of the accident, and providing life-saving treatment. Dr Langdown's evening can range far and wide, as well as providing a natural bridge from The Midlife Cyclist to the Cycling Addiction (which Andrew has code-named Obsessive Cycling Disorder)

An evening with Matt and Ben and a possible mystery guest. Matt and Ben will show a few clips of their film. These are designed to provoke a conversation with the audience - topics could include:

Central casting could not have cast better protagonists, designed to torture each other – discuss?

Stellar supporting cast – Eddy Schepers, Robert Millar, Patrick Valcke, Davide Boifava

“Everyone’s Gotta serve somebody, right?” But some aren’t born to serve – Roche, Hinault, Armstrong and Visentini – was this Boifava’s mistake?

Empowering female riders, Breaking down barriers. Growing the sport.

Sarah and Holly are reluctant leaders in the world of UK women's bike racing. Sarah is the founder and Team Principal of London Academy. A new kind of women's racing team that Cyclefit was keen to support when ex-Bianchi professional rider, Sarah approached us. London Academy is a mentor-led bridgehead that powers women forward from having an interest in competitive, to wherever their drive and talent can take them. 

The International gravel racing scene reminds us of professional mountain-biking in the late 1980's and 90's. Lots of talented individuals who are living and racing as one person teams and brands. Project Holly is to see what happens if we devote the same level of support that we give the professional riders and teams that we work with (and London Academy), to Holly. Can we help Holly close that small gap that takes her to the top step of the podium in major international gravel races?

Cycling Legend, Peter Georgi talks us through the complex answer.

Peter did almost make it. He was a hugely talented junior road and track rider. But like many of his generation, failed in his ambition to become an international professional athlete. Not because of a lack of talent, but like so many before, Peter stumbled because of a vacuum of information and science, which was all too easily back-filled with opinion and tradition. Like many racers before and since Peter 'doubled-down' on training. Which almost never works.

Peter is the perfect person to help us consider the proposition as to whether we could or indeed should ride Le Tour. Not only has he coached amateur and professional riders he has coaxed them over every col! Here are some of the topics we may cover:

• Training to ride Le Tour route
• Nutrition
• Psychology
• Bike-handling skills
• Equipment and clothing
• Dealing with the unexpected!

What makes us stop? Our heart, our muscles, our brain? A complex question that has never been resolved. Dr Mark Kirkman leads our discussion.

Dr Mark Kirkman PhD in in Exercise Science (Sports Physiology) - University of Cape Town Sports Medicine. As well as an unsurpassed knowledge of anatomy and biomechanics, Mark's coaching philosophy works very well for many clients. "Coaching is 20% the application of the latest science & data. And 80% excellent communication - we have to understand our athlete's intellectually and emotionally, in order to illicit the best training and competition response. We must be their sporting advocates," 

"Most of us think along straight lines, like a bus or a tram - and this applies to scientific researchers who should know better."Professor Christiaan Barnard (Surgeon who performed first heart transplant in 1967)

What every cyclist needs to know about mental health, pain, and preparation for your big rides and events?

The universal truths of the cycling brain that encompass the professional peloton to the the recreational cyclists?

What the evidence tells us about mental health risks and preparing for your next big ride?

Professor Michael Liebrenz

"It was serendipitous that our paths eventually crossed. Whilst researching my current book, The Cycling Addiction, Michael's name kept coming up on tangential research papers. We were both interested in the competitive cyclist's brain - motivation, variance, potential problems etc. We corresponded and spoke many times, which culminated in me flying to Zurich to meet Professor Liebrenz and his PhD researcher, Alex, at the World Championships. The collaboration and sharing of ideas and research continues and the book is progressing well. Both Michael and I are pleased and energised that the whole subject matter of cycling mental-health has exponentially gained acceptance and exposure since we started our respective work."

Bike-racing's ultimate pragmatist – Rarely heard insights from Robert Millar's time in the pro-peloton, with Pippa York & Guy Andrews.