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In the Drops: The Cycling Chef does vegan, Marlon Moncrieffe’s New Black Cyclones, Oura ring health tracker and Black Country, New Road
So it looks like time isn’t slowing down in 2025. Shame. It’s not a shame that it’s In the Drops time again though.
We’ve had a busy start to the year at Cyclist, and our first magazine of the year hit the shelves of WH Smith and co this week, including a couple of big articles from me. I’d recommend subscribing.
In the digital world, we’ve also been treated to a new episode of the podcast featuring the great Lael Wilcox, the return of pro road racing and reviews aplenty from our own Laurence Kilpatrick.
To top it all off, techspert Sam Challis has reviewed the latest Pinarello Dogma F, our resident railway mapper Ewan Wilson has been busy dreaming up a Grand Tour Down Under, and Robyn Davidson has the juice on Caleb Ewan’s move to Ineos.
Let’s get In the Drops.
The Cycling Chef: Plant Powered Performance by Alan Murchison
Alan Murchison is back with a new Cycling Chef book, and this time it’s vegan!
With recommendations from the likes of former Hour record holder Dan Bigham, gravel racing dominator Sofía Gómez Villafañe and top chef Tom Kerridge, Murchison’s collection of plant-based recipes is sure to go down a treat pre-ride, mid-ride and post-ride, whether you’re a vegan or not.
While it’s been trendy to scorn vegans for a while, it should be common knowledge that at least a reduction in meat intake is a good idea for most of us.
All Michelin man Murchison’s vegan recipes are stuffed with valuable nutrients to keep you fuelled and healthy with a blend of breakfasts, snacks, dinners and desserts to help you energise or recover.
- Buy it now from Bloomsbury (£19.80)
New Black Cyclones: Racism, Representation and Revolutions of Power in Cycling by Marlon Lee Moncrieffe
Book #2 of our selection – yes there are lots of books about cycling, you can check out our favourites here – is the second cycling-focussed release by former track national, European and world champion and current writer and researcher Marlon Moncrieffe after the award-winning Desire Discrimination Determination: Black Champions in Cycling from 2021.
New Black Cyclones, as the title suggests, looks at racism in cycling. Moncrieffe asks questions of cycling’s history and future to discuss whether steps towards equity and equality are being made. He talks to Black pros as well as people from across the community including commentators, members of national bodies, grassroots cyclists, teachers, activists and more from Europe, the US and Africa to find out how they’re disrupting the sport’s traditional status quo.
- Buy it now from Bloomsbury (£18)
Oura ring
Health and fitness trackers aren’t new, most people reading this have probably either had or still have some form of watch tracking their heart rate, steps and sleep. But it might be time to let your wrist breathe because the latest big name in the game is the Oura ring.
Finnish company Oura says the finger provides the most accurate reading on more than 20 metrics, and it uses ‘research-grade sensors’ to track heart rate, blood oxygen, body and skin temperature and more. With the companion app, it will give you classic readings like sleep scores and activity tracking (yes, it can connect to Strava) alongside stress levels, heart health and, for women, cycle tracking and predicting.
Perhaps the most interesting for cyclists at the moment is its tracking of heart rate variability (HRV), and in our recent feature explaining HRV, we heard from Oura’s data science advisor Marco Altini and found out Jayco-AlUla coach and Australian Cycling’s head sport scientist Peter Leo uses an Oura ring.
The ring itself is made from titanium, is lightweight, water-resistant and non-allergenic, and Oura says the ring’s battery life is up to seven days and takes 80 minutes to fully charge.
- Find out more and get one now from Oura (from £299)
What we’re into this week: Black Country, New Road (and also Bluesky)
New releases are always a bit dry at the end of the year, so I’ll save my next new music playlist for my next In the Drops. That will no doubt include the recommendation I’m making instead though.
I’ve spent most of this month replaying the work of Black Country, New Road, one of, if not the, greatest band of the 2020s.
They started off as a seven-piece, releasing critically acclaimed and Mercury-nominated debut album For the First Time in 2021. However just a few days before their second album, the absolutely sensational and even more criticially acclaimed Ants From Up There, came out in 2022, frontman Isaac Wood left the band due to his mental health struggles.
For many bands that would be that, but on they go as a six-piece, releasing a live album in 2023 with all new songs that proved beyond doubt that they would be fine, with arguably some of their best work on that record.
I’ve not described what kind of music they make, because I think you should see for yourself. I will recommend you listen to the albums in order, no shuffling allowed.
The first single of their next project is out on 30th January, so there’s plenty of time to catch up.
One last thing, Cyclist is on social media platform Bluesky, which is similar to Twitter but not connected to Musk, Zuckerberg and co. You can follow us at @cyclist.co.uk.
The post In the Drops: The Cycling Chef does vegan, Marlon Moncrieffe’s New Black Cyclones, Oura ring health tracker and Black Country, New Road appeared first on Cyclist.