Five things we learned this month...

1 CYCLING COMBATS CANCER

A study by the National Institute for Health Research shows lower cancer mortality rates among those who commute to work by bike, 16 per cent lower than non-cyclists.

2 WHEEL POWER

Thinking about willpower as an attribute that cannot be fatigued or depleted can improve exercise performance. Trial subjects who reported feeling their willpower was unlimited exercised more than those who believe it’s a finite resource. Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology

3 TURN ON, TUNE IN

Listening to music on the turbo trainer has greater benefits for those doing longer endurance rides than those performing short, high-intensity sprints, discovered researchers from Croatia and Italy. frontiersin. org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00074/full

4 HIGH HEELS

Wearing lights on cycle shoe heels and on the seatpost helps drivers see cyclists better in daylight. Experimenting with rear-facing lights in various configurations, scientists found these positions gave the greatest conspicuity. tigerprints.clemson.edu/all_dissertations/2682

5 COFFEE PERKS

Consuming caffeine during a ride boosts power output by 8 per cent. studies in muscle fatigue by researchers from Australia and Brazil have revealed. journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal. pone.0236592