unlocking efficiency how to save over 75 watts on cobbled

Ah, the techies at Cyclingnews have been turning their brains inside out, it seems. This time they've wrestled a whopping 75 watts of energy savings from cobbled roads. I hear your gasp of astonishment. Yes, cobblestones! Those bumpy, bicycle-wrecking, rear-end-numbing relics of roads we all love to hate.

Some boffins with nothing better to do, presumably, have managed to find an energy saving of over 75 watts (equivalent to a vibrant pot of Earl Grey Tea, if you're wondering) on these cobbled fiends. This is even after taking into account the complex aerodynamics of pushing a bicycle over terrain better suited to a medieval horse and cart.

This work echoes the immortal words of Thomas Edison: ‘I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.' The tech challenges continually rear their maddening heads, even in the restful world of cycling, but as the stubborn Brits we are, we give them a cheeky wink and carry on to find solutions.

So, what's the moral of this? In the grand melee of technology, there's always a bit of room for a shed-load of persistence and a dash of cunning. A bit like using Yorkshire Tea bags twice, it might not work perfectly, but by George, we’ll still enjoy a half-decent cuppa. Read more here.