The clocks have finally gone forward in the UK! While the evenings are getting lighter, the spring weather is still throwing everything it has at us. If you ventured out into the gales this weekend, you know exactly how the pros felt racing in Belgium. If you stayed indoors, you probably made the smarter choice.

Here is the latest news that matters to the grit-loving Muckers community as we roll into April.

1. The Art of the Echelon

This weekend’s Gent-Wevelgem was a masterclass in survival. With crosswinds battering the riders, the peloton shattered into echelons within the first hour. It was pure chaos, with riders desperately fighting for an inch of draft just to stay attached to the group.

For the Muckers, it’s a great reminder of why we practice drafting so heavily in our Thursday Race Nights. The physics might be slightly different on Rouvy, but the panic of losing the wheel in front of you—and watching the gap slowly grow from 2 meters to 10 meters—feels exactly the same. Keep your eyes on the w/kg of the rider ahead and never let the elastic snap!

2. Do We Really Want “Realistic” Cobbles?

The indoor tech world is trying its hardest to bring the outside in. The latest trend hitting the market is a new wave of “active rocker plates” that use motors to simulate the violent shuddering of riding over real Belgian cobbles.

While the tech is incredibly clever, it begs the question: is this actually fun? Part of the joy of riding indoors on a Tuesday night is that you don’t have to rattle your fillings out while pushing 300 watts. We suspect most of the Muckers community will stick to a smooth, quiet trainer setup, but for the true masochists among us, the “jackhammer” setting is now available somewhere.

3. The Ultimate Winter Grit

We love celebrating a ridiculous endurance effort, and the Highland Trail 550 winter record being broken this week is one for the history books. A lone rider just tackled 550 miles of Scottish singletrack, bogs, and snowdrifts in under four days.

Next time you find yourself complaining about a tough 10% gradient on a virtual climb, just remember someone out there is currently pushing a loaded mountain bike through a freezing Scottish bog in the pitch dark. It puts the pain cave into perspective!

4. Paris-Roubaix: Pick Your Pressure

With the “Hell of the North” coming up next weekend, the UCI has officially banned the new hubs that allow riders to change their tire pressure while riding. It means the pros will be back to the old-school gamble: run them high for speed on the tarmac, or low for survival on the cobbles.

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Mucker’s Takeaway: Whether you are fighting the spring gales outdoors or dialing in your setup for a smooth Rouvy race indoors, the Mucker spirit is all about pushing through the friction. Keep the pedals turning, and we’ll see you on the start line this week!

Ride on!