The Cycling Science
Podcast
Each episode takes a landmark piece of cycling research, interviews the author or a leading expert, and asks one question: what does this actually mean for how you train?
Take-home messages
Each episode extracts the practical implications from research — not just what the study found, but what it means for your training.
The authors themselves
Where possible, we interview the paper's authors directly — getting the nuance and context that a summary can't capture.
Where the research sits
Every episode contextualises new findings within the existing body of knowledge — so you understand not just the study, but the science.
All episodes
20 episodes · science you can use
Episode 19 Interview with Prof Rob Lamberts – Reliability of Recovery Heart Rate Variability
In this episode I interview Prof Rob Lamberts and we discuss his recent publication ‘Reliability of Recovery Heart Rate Variability Measurements as Part of the Lamberts Submaximal Cycle Test and the Relationship with Training Status in Trained to Elite Cyclists’. European Journal of Applied Physiology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-023-05385-z. Prof. Rob Lamberts, head of Research at the Division [ ]
Episode 18 – Atrial fibrillation in cyclists, interview with Prof Gerry McCann
In this episode I speak to Prof Gerry McCann who is a heart specialist with a subspecialist interest in MRI scanning; he conducts experimental research in people to better understand heart disease and clinical trials to assess the optimal investigation strategies and treatments for patients with, or at risk of developing, heart disease. Professor McCann [ ]
Episode 17 – Interview with Prof Ron Maughan, everything nutrition
Ron Maughan obtained his BSc (Physiology) and PhD from the University of Aberdeen, and was based in the Medical School there for almost 25 years before moving to England. He is now semi-retired but is still a Visiting Professor in the School of Medicine at St Andrews University. He spent much of his career trying [ ]
Episode 16 – Cycling into old age ‘The Royal Academy of Octogenarian Cyclists’
In this episode I interview Ray Marentette who has established a very unique Facebook group the Royal Academy of Octogenarian Cyclists which now has over 1,100 global members. We discuss the initial reason for starting the page and its very grand title, we then discuss how it has developed and what it offers its members. [ ]
Episode 15 – Incorporation of 30s sprints into your endurance ride, Dr Nicki Winfield Almquist interview.
In this episode I interview Dr Nicki Winfield Almquist who is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. We discuss one of his publications The Effect of 30-Second Sprints During Prolonged Exercise on Gross Efficiency, Electromyography, and Pedaling Technique in Elite Cyclists published in the International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance. https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/ijspp/15/4/article-p562.xml. [ ]
Episode 14: The effect of aerodynamic time-trial position on gross efficiency
In my interview with Chris Fennell we discuss the importance of optimising aerodynamic position for successful time-trial performance. Air resistance is the major resistive force for cyclists on level ground accounting for up to 96% of a rider s power output. Over the past few years the time-trial positions have become more extreme in the quest [ ]
Episode 13 – Dr Mia Burleigh – Interactions between diet(nitrates) and oral bacteria in the regulation of human health
In recent years there has been a significant interest in using nitrate supplements to enhance athletic performance with sports nutrition companies producing beetroot and cherry supplements to try and increase our nitrate intake. In this interview with Dr Mia Burleigh, who is one of my colleagues at UWS, I discuss why nitrate supplementation might be [ ]
Episode 12 – Interview with David Smith MBE
This interview covers his life story, all of the ups and downs to where he is now, training on his bike 14-16 hours a week trying to build up his strength with an eye to the UCI World Championships in Glasgow in 2023. A miracle baby who defied death, surviving a crippling childhood and medical [ ]
Episode 11 – Technical Innovation 3, Another first for SRM with the X-power Pedal
In this episode I had the great pleasure of chatting to someone who I have known for about 25 years and has had a profound influence of cycling over the last 30 years. Uli Schoberer is the inventor of the first power cranks and founder of SRM. His products have been used at world championships [ ]
Episode 10 -Technical Innovation 2 – Aero wheels re-invented
Streamline Cycling with Aerodynamic Interchangeable Rims Over the last few years there certainly has been a proliferation of deep section rim wheels to give you that aerodynamic edge and of course they look cool as well. The basic physics of why deep section rims are faster is fairly simple, spokes do a lot of chopping [ ]
Episode 9 – Technical Innovation 1 – Shokbox bike box
In this interview I speak to Martin Greene founder and inventor of Shokbox, a new design for a bike box. I like many of you take my bike to many places so that I can have the comfort of riding my own bike rather than hiring son and not being quite sure what you are [ ]
Episode 8 – Investigating the best design of Interval training?
In this episode I look at the science behind the design of interval training in an interview with Arthur Bossi (@ahbossi) who is in the final stages of his PhD, that dreaded writing-up . We specifically discuss one of his papers (details below) from his PhD which has just been published. Interval training is very widely [ ]
Episode 7 – Interview with Dr Shawn Bearden, Science of Ultra
I had the great pleasure to interview Dr Shawn Bearden, who was one of my inspirations to create this podcast. Shawn has his own super successful podcast The Science of Ultra , where he conducts interviews, has a coaches corner and some individual information about ultra trail running. He is a former soccer player who, after [ ]
Episode 6 – A successful riders perspective of Cycling Science
In the last episode I discussed the translation of research with Dr Laurent Bannock and for this episode I wanted to explore what it is like for a successful rider and how science could guide their training.The rider is Andy Bruce who I have known since he took up cycling in 2011. In this short [ ]
Episode 5 – Translation of Research to Practice
A joint podcast with Dr Laurent Bannock, Institute of Performance Nutrition (www.theiopn.com), We do Science Podcast . Both Laurent and I have an interest in the translation of research into practice and how practitioners, coaches and athletes can first of all access appropriate information but also how the latest research influences practice. We discuss how research [ ]
Episode 4 – Crash Bang
In this episode we discuss a recent paper on acute injuries in mountain bikers published in the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine. Injuries are always present in mountain biking so this paper tries to provide a bit more detail comparing amateur and elite riders. Stoop, Rahel, Erich Hohenauer, Thomas Vetsch, Tom Deliens, and Ron [ ]
Episode 3 – Critical Power
Sorry it has taken a bit longer than expected to complete our third episode, but here it is. Episode 3 Critical Power Research Paper and Interview I speak to Dr Paul Morgan about his paper on ‘Critical Power’ and its potential relationship with TT performance and FTP. Morgan, Paul T., Matthew I. Black, Stephen [ ]
Episode 2 Cycling and pollution
Research Papers In this episode we discuss the findings from a research group in Canada who have recently published two papers from the sams study where they had some cyclists exercise while inhaling diesel fumes. Giles, Luisa V., Christopher Carlsten, and Michael S. Koehle. 2018. “The Pulmonary and Autonomic Effects of High-Intensity and Low-Intensity [ ]
First Episode ‘Energy Deficit’
Episode 1 1.Introduction to the hosts of the Cycling Science Podcast 2. Background of the Cycling Science Podcast hosts 3. Research paper review Keay N, Francis G, Hind K. Low energy availability assessed by a sport-specific questionnaire and clinical interview indicative of bone health, endocrine profile and cycling performance in competitive male cyclists BMJ Open [ ]
First episode of the Cycling Science podcast coming soon!
We are busy recording content for the new podcast, starting out with a very high profile interview. Details to come.
The hosts
Three exercise scientists and coaches — the scientific rigour to evaluate the research, the practical experience to apply it.
Prof. Richard Davison
Professor of Exercise Physiology (Retired)
Introduced to cycling at age 11, Richard competed in time trials and cyclocross before studying Physiology and Sport Science at Glasgow University and completing a PhD in Exercise Physiology. He coached the Scottish Commonwealth Games Road Squad (1991–1994), won 6 Scottish Time Trial Championships, and has coached Olympic, Commonwealth Games, and British Champion-level riders. He organised the 1st World Congress on Cycling Science in Edinburgh (2010) and served as President of the European College of Sport Sciences Congress, Glasgow (2024). He spent 22 years helping British Cycling create their coach education scheme and is authoring the Handbook of Cycling Science.
Prof. Geraint Florida-James
Edinburgh Napier University (Retired)
Academic lead at the Mountain Bike Centre of Scotland at Glentress and Research Lead for Sport, Health and Exercise at Edinburgh Napier. Has coached World Cup and professional World Enduro Series MTB athletes and conducted contract research on pollution and performance for UK Sport and the British Olympic Association. Associate editor of the Journal of Science and Cycling.
Dr. Lesley Ingram
Lecturer, Edinburgh Napier University
A competitive cross-country cyclist who reached World Cup level, now coaching athletes across cross-country, enduro, and ultra-endurance disciplines. Holds a BSc (First Class Honours) in Sport and Exercise Science and a PhD in exercise immunology from Edinburgh Napier University.
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