The dashboard for our website lists our most popular articles for the day, month, year and all-time. It’s fun to see that some older articles have real staying power. That’s the beauty of good science and good history—it doesn’t become outdated quickly. Here are four articles that continue to be popular and relevant:
Are gravel bikes slower than road bikes?
One of our most popular posts looks at each factor that can make gravel bikes slower than road bikes—and also explains why it doesn’t have to be that way. Read more…
Why you should wear a helmet — but not insist that others wear one
The science behind helmets—why it’s a good idea on an individual level to wear one, but why insisting on helmets can make cycling less safe by reducing ridership and distracting from the real issues of safety. Read more…
Why Square Taper Bottom Brackets?
Metal cranks and metal frames work best with square-taper bottom brackets. Carbon cranks and carbon frames benefit from larger bottom bracket spindles and ‘modern’ standards. Mixing the two doesn’t work as well—aluminum cranks with oversized spindles are heavier than necessary, and the bearings don’t last as long. Read more…
Which hand for which brake?
One of the most confounding questions in cycling: Which hand should control which brake? We look at history to explain why some countries mandate left-front/right-rear and others the opposite—and why it really doesn’t matter much unless you’re a die-hard motorcyclist transferring those skills to cycling. Read more…
More good reads:
If you’ve enjoyed these stories, here are more good reads—perfect for your holiday wish list or as gifts to other cyclists in your life: