GCN Show: Does cycling actually help you lose weight?

Aside from discussing the influx of ducks onto cyclo-cross courses - don't ask - Si Richardson and Dan Lloyd are back to present this week's GCN Show and cast their keen eye over the latest hot topic: whether or not cycling helps with weight loss.

It may seem a given - indeed, it did so to us - but fresh research is steadily cropping up which argues that exercise has little to no bearing on a person's weight.

British doctor, Chris van Tulleken, has recently published a book in which he argues that human weight is almost entirely a product of food consumption, whilst Professor Tim Spector has posited on the Diary of a CEO Podcast that exercise does not contribute to weight loss.

Si and Dan are perplexed by the reports, with the idea of lean, razor-thin cyclists contrasting entirely with the idea that long days in the saddle do not have any tangible effect on a person's weight. That is not to mention the weight gain that some cyclists enjoy in their relaxed, retirement years. Surely that is not all down to diet?

To try and answer the question, the pair seek the wisdom of Nigel Mitchell, the author of two GCN books and nutritionist with years of experience working for teams such as Sky and EF Pro Cycling.

Elsewhere, ultra-distance cycling enthusiasts have been set a new logistical, as well as physical, challenge across the Balkans in Eastern Europe. Race organisers of the new Accursed race have planned a route that takes in over 37,000m of climbing across 1,600km - but with one important prerequisite. All riders must get to the start in Albania via sea or land, with a no-fly policy strictly mandated.

Many of those taking part in the event will no doubt be using the fitness platform Strava to record their progress, and perhaps even their commutes to the start line. The platform recently announced an exciting new addition to its services: in-app direct messaging - a feature users have been looking forward to for years.

Read more:

• Messaging comes to Strava: Functionality launches for DMs and group chats
• Transcontinental Race organisers launch new 'no-fly' race

Si and Dan give their reaction to the news alongside paying attention to the rest of this week's cycling shorts, including WorldTour bikes for sale and controversial bike lanes.

Hack/bodge

Tune into this week's GCN Show to find out what Si and Dan made of this week's hack/bodge submissions, ranging from another clever use of a cargo e-bike to a Frankenstein-esque setup spotted on a train. We will be bringing you a new way to upload your hack/bodge entries very soon, here on our website.

On the channels this week:

• Wednesday: How to commute in the winter months
• Thursday: The 5 key differences between a road and a gravel bike
• Friday: The world's best climber vs a flat ride: how will Andrew Feather fare?
• Saturday: We made an off-road Brompton: does it work?
• Sunday: Rouvy's 3 peak challenge: can GCN ride three major climbs in one virtual sitting?

Coming up this week on GCN+

There are some excellent film releases and exciting cyclo-cross races for you to enjoy before the upcoming closure of GCN+.

• OUT NOW: 'Alpe d'Huez': Conor Dunne is joined by ex-pro Fränk Schleck to recount the latter's victory on this mountain in 2006, and amass themselves in the history and legend of cycling's 'Hollywood climb.'
• The non-stop cyclo-cross campaign continues at a canter with the Exact Cross in Essen on Saturday, December 9 before the CX World Cup enters the snowy mountains of Val di Sole on Sunday, December 10. Italy will play host to one of the most hotly anticipated rounds of the season.

Note: Territory restrictions apply on all our race coverage.

GCN's The Cyclist’s Cookbook: Food To Power Your Cycling Life

The Cyclist’s Cookbook brings together 67 of Nigel’s most-loved delicious and nutritious recipes from a hugely successful career at the cutting edge of performance cycling nutrition in an accessible, practical and inspirational celebration of food, cooking and cycling culture for every cyclist. Within its 244 pages, The Cyclist’s Cookbook covers the fundamental principles of how to fuel your cycling – alongside insights into ingredients, cooking, equipment, and more – The Cyclist’s Cookbook brings together everything that any cyclist could want: easy to make but incredibly tasty everyday meals and snacks; indulgent celebration dinners and treats; pre-ride, on the bike, and post-ride recovery food and drinks, through family favourites, time-crunched, healthy and nutritious ‘fast’ food – and everything in between. The wide range of recipes in The Cyclist’s Cookbook reflects carnivore, omnivore, pescatarian, gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan diets and demands, all wrapped up with Nigel’s wealth of WorldTour knowledge, advice, and insights that will help you take the guesswork out of powering your cycling life, every day. “Nigel’s experience will help you eat and ride better” — Si Richardson, GCN Presenter Product Details: Pages: 244 (120gsm) Size: 246mm (h) x 189mm (w) Cover: Paperback Cover Finish: 280gsm, with anti-scuff matte laminate and spot UV gloss finish Weight: 700g approx. Please note: There may be some additional shipping charges for orders consisting of 2 or more books. However, our customer service team will contact you after you have placed the order to advise on delivery options. Click here to explore all GCN best selling books