Like this site? Help us to make it better.

The latest episode of the road.cc Podcast puts the bicycle industry under the magnifying glass as we look at the lack of standardisation when it comes to components, accessories and even clothing, as well as discussing what can be done to encourage larger would-be riders, who often feel daunted and disheartened at the lack of suitable bikes and clothing sizes, to get in the saddle.

Listen to the road.c Podcast on Apple Podcasts Listen to the road.cc Podcast on Spotify Listen to the road.cc Podcast on Amazon Music

Whether it’s headsets, mounts and chargers for GPS and other electronic devices, tubeless wheels and tyres, seat posts or – perhaps most notoriously – bottom brackets, the bike industry is full of examples of parts and components that vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.

Add in various pedal and shoe systems and even seasoned riders, let alone newbies, can find themselves presented with a head-scratchingly bewildering array of products to choose from and, crucially, in many cases will need to ensure that what they’re buying will be compatible with the bike they are buying it for.

In this episode, host George sits down with the road.cc tech team to talk through some examples of the frustration caused by the lack of standardisation in the industry, its environmental impact, and what can be done to resolve the situation. (Spoiler – according to road.cc tech editor Mat, “It’s never going to happen.”

The second segment in this episode sees road.cc’s Jack and Mildred join George for a chat with Steven May from Knaap e-bikes, which targets its bikes at larger riders, among others.

Among the topics they discuss is how to get people who aren’t into bikes onto bikes, plus the intimidation some might feel when they walk into a bike shop, not least due to the lack of suitability for them of the bikes on offer, and the sizing of clothes, which as anyone who has rifled through the racks will know often tends towards the smaller sizes.

The road.cc Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music, and if you have an Alexa you can just tell it to play the road.cc Podcast. It's also embedded further up the page, so you can just press play.

Collective bicycle cover by Laka exists to rewrite the rules of insurance so it's something people stand with, not against. Laka has been voted best cycle insurance provider for the last four years running - no excess, no depreciation, no contract, no funky fine print and a five-star customer service. 

To find out more visit: laka.co

Offer code: ROADCCPOD30 for 30 days free bicycle insurance (new customers only) 

We’ve noticed you’re using an ad blocker. If you like road.cc, but you don’t like ads, please consider subscribing to the site to support us directly. As a subscriber you can read road.cc ad-free, from as little as £1.99. 

If you don’t want to subscribe, please turn your ad blocker off. The revenue from adverts helps to fund our site.

If you’ve enjoyed this article, then please consider subscribing to road.cc from as little as £1.99. Our mission is to bring you all the news that’s relevant to you as a cyclist, independent reviews, impartial buying advice and more. Your subscription will help us to do more.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

Surely the cycleway through the Northern Quarter has been designed for the thirsty, caffeine deficient cyclist to grab a latte from an unsuspecting...

"Was there inappropriate speed? Yes, it's not excessive speed but you were driving at above the speed limit."...

Since I'm pretty sure three in every three cyclists feels less than safe on our roads, I'm not sure that this survey has any validity whatsoever;...

It is not a lubricant so almost useless on a bicycle where there are few places for water displacement given the use of alloy, carbon and sealed...

Its not a bashing without Hambini being involved. I know some people find him a bit of a twat but there are methods to his rather insaneness. 

I hate all these non-standard thru-axle designs.  Another reminder that roads weren't made for bicycles though.

Should have been wearing hi viz.

If you're on a budget the USE Vybe is around the £100 mark for approx 400g. 

I am sure they could do better than leather bar tape. leather? Oh come on , must be much better, more technical materials 

Editorial, general: info [at] road.cc Tech, reviews: tech [at] road.cc Fantasy Cycling: game [at] road.cc Advertising, commercial: sales [at] road.cc View our media pack

Report an advert on road.cc

All material © Farrelly Atkinson (F-At) Limited, Unit 7b Green Park Station BA11JB. Tel 01225 588855. © 2008–present unless otherwise stated. Terms and conditions of use.