What are some of your unpopular cycling related opinions?

Xc bikes are more versatile than gravel bikes

In the future we will look back and consider the recent years to be a period where we produced ugly bikes: discs, dropped seat stays, aero frames, oversized box tubes and head tubes, curved forks, Di2 batteries.

All have sacrificed aesthetics for meaningless gains.

Think a 1980's Escort XR3, or Opel Corsa with post factory added flared wheel arches, power bulges and over sized rear spoiler. I will admit I thought they looked good at the time, but now look back and ask myself what were we thinking.

Recently got a Trek Domane 2 because it was the best spec I could afford. Definitely the best bike I ever had but god do I hate how it looks compared to my "crappy" old Barracuda Tifosi.

I also hate all these black parts on a bike. I miss chrome handlebars and brake calipers

For varicose veins.....😉

2x10 speed is peak number of gears.

11 speed is annoying because it isn't an even number

12 speed is unnecessary

🙉

Sean Kelly should be forbidden from quoting unnamed sources when he's passing on accepted wisdom and cliché while doing commentary.

Cant agree with this, having done lots of both.

In short, it all depends on how fast you are going.

Running a 5k in 15 minutes is not the same as running a 5k in 25 minutes is not the same as running a 5k in 35minutes.

What I would agree with though is that with running, its easier to put in a High Intensity work out. 8 x 200m sprints is hard to replicate on a bike. Maybe cycling up the hill in Howth at max speed possible would be close.

Most people don't need lycra to cycle.

Fine if you only have one bike, but battery lights are handy as you can transfer them between bikes.

The last 30 minutes of a sprint stage is more interesting than 95% of mountain stages.

I do get your point, but it’s a compromise. Do you swap derailleurs in the same way?

If you have three bikes, buying a few spare brackets is a lot cheaper than buying three sets of lights.

I do like dynamo lights though. I only have a dynamo headlight on one bike, but it's genuinely very good and the headlight bit has never been stolen or vandalised, which surprised me pleasantly.

Rear reflectors with built-in LED(s), kickstands and ring locks are underrated on bikes that are intended for city cycling. Don't know if that's an unpopular opinion, but those things aren't themselves all that popular.