John Marvel
@marveljohn32.bsky.social
Engineer by profession. Cyclist by choice. Software engineer with 20+ years in IT, writing about technology, cycling, and sustainable cities. Inspired by Scandinavian simplicity.
IT Specialist | ESG & Climate Risk Analytics | Sustainability Technology
IT Specialist | ESG & Climate Risk Analytics | Sustainability Technology
Hail cancelled a Vuelta stage. Extreme heat shortened the Tour. At some point, weather stops being part of the race. And starts deciding whether the race can happen at all.
cycleit.substack.com/p/when-the-w...
cycleit.substack.com/p/when-the-w...
When the Weather Stops the Race
Professional cycling has always had a complicated relationship with weather.
cycleit.substack.com
September 5, 2026 at 4:14 PM
Hail cancelled a Vuelta stage. Extreme heat shortened the Tour. At some point, weather stops being part of the race. And starts deciding whether the race can happen at all.
cycleit.substack.com/p/when-the-w...
cycleit.substack.com/p/when-the-w...
Every kilometre slowly wears down the tyres, creating particles that can end up on roads, in dust, and eventually in waterways.
It makes the sustainability conversation more interesting. 🚲🌍
cycleit.substack.com/p/the-hidden...
It makes the sustainability conversation more interesting. 🚲🌍
cycleit.substack.com/p/the-hidden...
The Hidden Plastic Footprint of Cycling
We celebrate bicycles as zero-emission vehicles. But what happens to the rubber that disappears from our tyres?
cycleit.substack.com
August 29, 2026 at 7:46 AM
Every kilometre slowly wears down the tyres, creating particles that can end up on roads, in dust, and eventually in waterways.
It makes the sustainability conversation more interesting. 🚲🌍
cycleit.substack.com/p/the-hidden...
It makes the sustainability conversation more interesting. 🚲🌍
cycleit.substack.com/p/the-hidden...
A bicycle moves people with very little infrastructure. 🚲
Starlink moves information where infrastructure doesn’t reach. 🛰️ What happens when the two ideas meet?
Read the full story ↓
cycleit.substack.com/p/the-bicycl...
Starlink moves information where infrastructure doesn’t reach. 🛰️ What happens when the two ideas meet?
Read the full story ↓
cycleit.substack.com/p/the-bicycl...
The Bicycle, the Satellite, and the Last Mile
How do we give people more freedom with less infrastructure?
cycleit.substack.com
August 23, 2026 at 11:04 AM
A bicycle moves people with very little infrastructure. 🚲
Starlink moves information where infrastructure doesn’t reach. 🛰️ What happens when the two ideas meet?
Read the full story ↓
cycleit.substack.com/p/the-bicycl...
Starlink moves information where infrastructure doesn’t reach. 🛰️ What happens when the two ideas meet?
Read the full story ↓
cycleit.substack.com/p/the-bicycl...
The death of 19-year-old Finlay Tarling in the Volta a Portugal raises a difficult question: who pays for safety in professional cycling and what happens when the race can't afford enough of it? 🚴♂️💔
cycleit.substack.com/p/how-safe-i...
cycleit.substack.com/p/how-safe-i...
How Safe Is Professional Cycling When the Race Leaves the Tour de France?
On a professional cycling calendar, some races look like a television spectacle.
cycleit.substack.com
August 17, 2026 at 9:20 PM
The death of 19-year-old Finlay Tarling in the Volta a Portugal raises a difficult question: who pays for safety in professional cycling and what happens when the race can't afford enough of it? 🚴♂️💔
cycleit.substack.com/p/how-safe-i...
cycleit.substack.com/p/how-safe-i...
Your doctor might prescribe you a bicycle. 🚲
150 minutes of moderate activity a week can help prevent and manage chronic disease. And yes — cycling counts.
I looked at what the research says. cycleit.substack.com/p/your-docto...
150 minutes of moderate activity a week can help prevent and manage chronic disease. And yes — cycling counts.
I looked at what the research says. cycleit.substack.com/p/your-docto...
Your Doctor Might Prescribe You a Bicycle
Why 150 Minutes of Movement a Week Is Becoming a Medical Recommendation
cycleit.substack.com
August 15, 2026 at 12:36 PM
Your doctor might prescribe you a bicycle. 🚲
150 minutes of moderate activity a week can help prevent and manage chronic disease. And yes — cycling counts.
I looked at what the research says. cycleit.substack.com/p/your-docto...
150 minutes of moderate activity a week can help prevent and manage chronic disease. And yes — cycling counts.
I looked at what the research says. cycleit.substack.com/p/your-docto...
A bicycle empire just collapsed.
Accell owned Raleigh, Koga, Haibike, Lapierre, Ghost, Batavus, Sparta and more. After the pandemic bike boom came excess inventory, falling demand, huge debt.
Now the Dutch court has declared Accell bankrupt. 🚲
cycleit.substack.com/p/how-the-ac...
Accell owned Raleigh, Koga, Haibike, Lapierre, Ghost, Batavus, Sparta and more. After the pandemic bike boom came excess inventory, falling demand, huge debt.
Now the Dutch court has declared Accell bankrupt. 🚲
cycleit.substack.com/p/how-the-ac...
How the Accell Bicycle Empire Collapsed and Why It Matters to the Entire Industry
Raleigh, Koga, Haibike, Lapierre, Ghost, Batavus, Sparta, Winora, Babboe… What do these brands have in common?
cycleit.substack.com
August 12, 2026 at 4:49 PM
A bicycle empire just collapsed.
Accell owned Raleigh, Koga, Haibike, Lapierre, Ghost, Batavus, Sparta and more. After the pandemic bike boom came excess inventory, falling demand, huge debt.
Now the Dutch court has declared Accell bankrupt. 🚲
cycleit.substack.com/p/how-the-ac...
Accell owned Raleigh, Koga, Haibike, Lapierre, Ghost, Batavus, Sparta and more. After the pandemic bike boom came excess inventory, falling demand, huge debt.
Now the Dutch court has declared Accell bankrupt. 🚲
cycleit.substack.com/p/how-the-ac...
Wax or oil? It’s not just about watts. Why is “waxer” sometimes almost an insult? 🚴♂️
cycleit.substack.com/p/why-chain-...
cycleit.substack.com/p/why-chain-...
Why Chain Wax Is Better for Your Bike and the Planet
Why I Switched from Oil to Wax—and Why the Debate Over Bike Chains Sometimes Feels More Like a Religious War Than a Technical Debate.
cycleit.substack.com
August 8, 2026 at 10:51 AM
Wax or oil? It’s not just about watts. Why is “waxer” sometimes almost an insult? 🚴♂️
cycleit.substack.com/p/why-chain-...
cycleit.substack.com/p/why-chain-...
Where do bicycles live?
The best cycling cities don't just build bike lanes—they build homes for bicycles. Here's how Scandinavia and the Benelux make bike storage part of everyday life, and why it matters.
medium.com/@marvel_joh3...
#Cycling #UrbanPlanning #BikeInfrastructure
The best cycling cities don't just build bike lanes—they build homes for bicycles. Here's how Scandinavia and the Benelux make bike storage part of everyday life, and why it matters.
medium.com/@marvel_joh3...
#Cycling #UrbanPlanning #BikeInfrastructure
Where Do Bicycles Live? The Hidden Infrastructure Behind the World’s Best Cycling Cities
“A developed country is not a place where the poor have cars. It’s where the rich use public transportation.” Urban planner Enrique…
medium.com
August 3, 2026 at 9:05 AM
Where do bicycles live?
The best cycling cities don't just build bike lanes—they build homes for bicycles. Here's how Scandinavia and the Benelux make bike storage part of everyday life, and why it matters.
medium.com/@marvel_joh3...
#Cycling #UrbanPlanning #BikeInfrastructure
The best cycling cities don't just build bike lanes—they build homes for bicycles. Here's how Scandinavia and the Benelux make bike storage part of everyday life, and why it matters.
medium.com/@marvel_joh3...
#Cycling #UrbanPlanning #BikeInfrastructure
The safest cycling countries didn't become safe because more people wore helmets. They became safe because fewer crashes happened in the first place. That's an important distinction and one at the heart of the debate over mandatory helmet laws.
My new article:
cycleit.substack.com/p/when-laws-...
My new article:
cycleit.substack.com/p/when-laws-...
When Laws Don't Always Mean Greater Safety
If helmets really do reduce the risk of head injuries, an obvious question follows: why not simply require every cyclist to wear one?
cycleit.substack.com
July 25, 2026 at 8:29 AM
The safest cycling countries didn't become safe because more people wore helmets. They became safe because fewer crashes happened in the first place. That's an important distinction and one at the heart of the debate over mandatory helmet laws.
My new article:
cycleit.substack.com/p/when-laws-...
My new article:
cycleit.substack.com/p/when-laws-...
Reposted by John Marvel
Substack adds an AI detector to help spot blogs written by no one
Substack adds an AI detector to help spot blogs written by no one
Substack is combatting “Claudefishing.”
buff.ly
July 21, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Substack adds an AI detector to help spot blogs written by no one
The best bicycle helmet can reduce injury.
It can't prevent the crash.
That's why safer cycling isn't just about better helmets—it's about better streets, lower speeds, and infrastructure that prevents collisions in the first place.
cycleit.substack.com/p/why-even-t...
It can't prevent the crash.
That's why safer cycling isn't just about better helmets—it's about better streets, lower speeds, and infrastructure that prevents collisions in the first place.
cycleit.substack.com/p/why-even-t...
Why Even the Best Bicycle Helmets Can’t Prevent Concussions
During the first half of the 2026 Tour de France, rider safety once again became one of the biggest talking points of the race.
cycleit.substack.com
July 21, 2026 at 8:17 PM
The best bicycle helmet can reduce injury.
It can't prevent the crash.
That's why safer cycling isn't just about better helmets—it's about better streets, lower speeds, and infrastructure that prevents collisions in the first place.
cycleit.substack.com/p/why-even-t...
It can't prevent the crash.
That's why safer cycling isn't just about better helmets—it's about better streets, lower speeds, and infrastructure that prevents collisions in the first place.
cycleit.substack.com/p/why-even-t...
One mistake. One crash. One moment.
Months of preparation can disappear in seconds.
That's the beauty—and cruelty—of cycling. Grand Tours aren't won by strength alone, but by managing risk and uncertainty.
My latest piece:
cycleit.substack.com/p/when-one-m...
Months of preparation can disappear in seconds.
That's the beauty—and cruelty—of cycling. Grand Tours aren't won by strength alone, but by managing risk and uncertainty.
My latest piece:
cycleit.substack.com/p/when-one-m...
When One Mistake Changes the Tour: What Jonas Vingegaard's Crash at the 2026 Tour de France Teaches Us
The Tour de France is a race where the difference between victory and defeat is often measured in seconds.
cycleit.substack.com
July 21, 2026 at 5:35 PM
One mistake. One crash. One moment.
Months of preparation can disappear in seconds.
That's the beauty—and cruelty—of cycling. Grand Tours aren't won by strength alone, but by managing risk and uncertainty.
My latest piece:
cycleit.substack.com/p/when-one-m...
Months of preparation can disappear in seconds.
That's the beauty—and cruelty—of cycling. Grand Tours aren't won by strength alone, but by managing risk and uncertainty.
My latest piece:
cycleit.substack.com/p/when-one-m...