Performance Process

You asked, we answer. This is an updated version of this week's PP episode with a more listenable (hopefully) modified voice for our Cycling Spy. Say the word spy to us cyclists and increasingly we might think of the @CyclingSpy Instagram account. This pseudonymous account has become a fascinating source of spotted tech, product leaks, and aero observations. One day it’s a new frame, the next a ne...

Say the word spy to us cyclists and increasingly we might think of the @CyclingSpy Instagram account. This pseudonymous account has become a fascinating source of spotted tech, product leaks, and aero observations. One day it’s a new frame, the next a new arm warmer texture. This week, CyclingSpy joins Ronan for a rare, anonymous conversation. Always sharp. Often first. Occasionally blunt. But nev...

Aero testing usually brings wind tunnels, maths equations, and general nerdery to mind. It's time-consuming, requires patience, and a hassle many can't be bothered with. But still, it shapes many of the products we buy today; thus, it affects all our riding. In this episode, Ronan sits down with John Buckley – former F1 aerodynamicist and founder of Streamlines – to explore how real-world aero tes...

Aerodynamics is a cornerstone of modern cycling performance, but how much of what we hear is genuine science, and how much is marketing spin? In this episode of Performance Process , we sit down with Xavier Disley of Aerocoach to dissect the claims manufacturers make about aero gains. From wind tunnel testing to real-world application, we explore the red flags to watch for, the methodologies used...

In this episode, Ronan Mc Laughlin sits down with Thomas Fallon, a clinical specialist, musculoskeletal physiotherapist, sports medicine researcher at Queen’s University Belfast and PHD candidate in cycling injury epidemiology, to uncover the reality of concussions in the sport. We dive into what is a concussion, how to spot one, what to do and why road cycling has the highest rate of head, neck,...

In this special episode, we chat with Ultra-Distance specialist Kevin Benky Benkenstein on his bike and gear selections for a recent race across the Moroccan Atlas Mountain Range. That big ride is the Atlas Mountain Race (AMR), a beast of a ride that covers some 1,300 km with 23,000 m of elevation. It covers every surface imaginable, and both rider and bike are tested thoroughly in the little over...

Big gear work, on-bike strength work, SFR (Salite Forza Resistenza), torque training, whatever name you choose – sticking it in a big gear and grinding away at low cadence has been a staple of our training for generations. A training favourite of many coaches and riders alike, torque training is again attracting attention as videos of pros mashing huge gears do the rounds on social media. But is t...

Are mountain bike tyres actually faster than gravel tyres? Recent trends suggest they might be, with top gravel pros maxing out tyre clearance and opting for wider MTB tyres in major races. But do the claims hold up in real-world conditions? In this episode, we dive deep into the numbers with John Karrasch , a bike fitter, physiotherapist, performance tester, and Escape Collective member who has b...

In this episode of Performance Process , Ronan Mc Laughlin is joined by Jem Arnold, a PhD candidate in exercise physiology at the University of British Columbia, physiotherapist, endurance coach, and Escape Collective member. Crucially, Arnold is also a co-author of the latest meta-analysis on Training Intensity Distribution (TID), a deep dive into whether polarized or pyramidal training truly lea...

In this episode of Performance Process , Ronan Mc Laughlin and Caley Fretz discuss some updates planned for the podcast. Then Ronan sits down with Robert Chung, the creator of the Chung Method, a revolutionary way to aero test without a wind tunnel. They explore how this virtual elevation method has made aero testing more accessible, allowing cyclists to optimise their setups using real-world data...

At the 2024 edition of the Tour Down Under, Ronan Mc Laughlin was joined by aerodynamicist JP Ballard as they walked through the pits to talk about the aero hits and misses within the latest bikes of the WorldTour. For 2025 we’re back with something of a similar theme. This time Dave Rome is joined by the Head of Aerodynamics at South Australian Sports Institute (SASI), John Pitman. Now, with acce...

In this episode of Performance Process , we’re joined by Barnaby Garood of AeroSensor to dive deeper into the world of aero testing at home with the AeroSensor drag measurement system. Barnaby, a former F1 aerodynamicist, shares insights on how the AeroSensor brings aero testing to the everyday rider’s everyday roads, helping cyclists of all levels unlock real performance gains without the hefty p...

In this episode of Performance Process , host Ronan McLaughlin dives into the nuances of indoor bike fitting with bike fit expert Phil Burt. With the rise of indoor training, many cyclists encounter power, comfort, and injury issues they don’t have outdoors. Burt, a physiotherapist with over a decade of experience at British Cycling and Team Sky, shares his insights into optimising your indoor fit...

In this episode of Performance Process, we return to our conversation with Xavier Disley of AeroCoach to explore the practical side of aero testing. From wind tunnels to velodromes, on-road testing at home, and cutting-edge CFD tools, we break down the pros, cons, and real-world challenges of aero testing along with practical tips for each. Whether you’re optimising your position or debating the v...

In this episode of Performance Process , we sit down with Xavier Disley, founder of Aerocoach, to dive deep into the world of aerodynamics in cycling. Disley is the "Aerocoach" and brings a wealth of experience on going faster with no extra effort, having worked with athletes from local time trialists to Grand Tour winners, not to mention his own racing endeavours which include a Masters Individua...

In this episode of Performance Process, host Ronan McLaughlin is joined by Ken Ballhause of Sync Ergonomics and John Pitman, Head of Aerodynamics at the Australian Centre for Sports Aerodynamics. Together, they discuss the custom aerodynamics and aero bars that contributed to Grace Brown’s World and Olympic Time Trial gold medals. They also dive into the cutting-edge advancements shaping the futur...

Watts per kilogram has been the key metric to compare one rider’s power vs. another rider’s for decades already. The higher W/kg you can sustain... the stronger a rider you must be. While it is a critical indicator of climbing performance, however, W/kg does have its limitations when the road flattens out and even on undulating terrain. In this episode, host Ronan Mc Laughlin sits down with Xert’s...

This week's episode of "Performance Process," is a long overdue deep dive with Dan Bigham. Dan is a rarity in the world of sport, not just cycling, blending off the bike engineering and optimisation expertise with on-bike world class achievements. He is both a decorated athlete and one of the most in-demand minds in the sport. As a world, European, and national champion and an Olympic medalist too...