Lockdown reading: Cyclist writers' favourite Cyclist articles

Perhaps self-indulgent, but we've picked our favourite long reads to help pass the time for everyone doing their bit for social-distancing
Lockdown goes on and while key workers continue to go to work - often with life-threatingly low levels of safety equipment - many of us with the option to work from home have been doing so for a number of weeks now. Grand plans to read a new novel per week, write a play, grow a vegetable patch and learn a new language are likely to be in varying states of neglect but what most of us haven't neglected is the continuous scroll of news and social media.
As a break from the ever-worsening news, and the ever-more fantastical presentation of the Government's 'successes', we've put together a list of our favourite articles from the Cyclist archive. Have a look, let us know which you like and which we should have included.
Cyclist writers' favourite Cyclist articles
Riding the Colle del Nivolet, the Giro d'Italia's new mountain - Pete Muir
Welcome to the Colle del Nivolet, a climb as beautiful as it is brutal, that featured in the 2019 Giro d'Italia
Big Ride Ethiopia: Into the cradle of civilisation - Pete Muir
Thanks to pristine new roads, Ethiopia is now an exciting destination for cyclists. Expect tough climbs, friendly people and endless views

Classic bikes: A tour of Colnago's Italian factory - James Spender
Ernesto Colnago talks Cyclist through some of his favourite creations at his factory in Italy
In the name of the father: Valentino Campagnolo profile - James Spender
As head of one of cycling’s most revered brands, Valentino Campagnolo grants Cyclist a rare audience at the company’s base in Vicenza
Belle Italia: GFNY Italia sportive review - James Spender
Tuscany’s rolling chalk roads are a slice of cycling heaven, especially when the GFNY Italia comes to town

Haute Route Alpe d'Huez: Swept up before the summit - Jack Elton-Walters
This multi-day event, centred around the classic climb of Alpe d’Huez, proves to be a serious test of both body and spirit that left this rider dizzily surrendering to the broomwagon almost within touching distance of the summit finish
Hansens Cykellob: Ice cream themed gravel sportive makes for a great day's riding - Jack Elton-Walters
The Hansens Cykelløb is a fantastic day out in the Danish countryside, as Cyclist found at the 2017 event
Ride report: Etape du Tour 2019: Riding further than the pros - Jack Elton-Walters
Extreme weather meant that for once the amateurs riding the 2019 Etape du Tour did a longer stage than the pros at the Tour de France, conquering the 30+km climb to Val Thorens along the way

100 years of yellow: The Bradley Wiggins collection - Joe Robinson
Somebody who knows exactly how special the glistening yellow of the Tour can be is Sir Bradley Wiggins, the first Brit to ever win the race, way back in 2012. Cyclist visited his extensive collection of yellow jerseys as well as some other pretty cool stuff
Tro Bro Cyclo sportive review: Hell of the West - Joe Robinson
With its sectors of rutted farm tracks, Tro Bro Leon is Brittany's answer to Paris-Roubaix. Cyclist tackles the amateur event
Oh, what a wonderful Worlds: Yorkshire 2019's legacy - Joe Robinson
The view of many is that this year’s World Championships in Yorkshire were a washout. But don’t believe the naysayers
Ride of remembrance: Granfondo Michele Scarponi review - Felix Lowe, chosen by Martin James
The inaugural Granfondo Michele Scarponi takes in the home roads of the much-missed Italian rider on the anniversary of his death

The world's hardest climb: Mauna Kea, Hawaii - Peter Stuart
Quite certainly the hardest challenge, and longest day of my life. But an experience I will remember as long as I live
We tried legal doping, and this is what happened - Peter Stuart
This made me stronger, fatter, less fit, more fit and at times deeply uncomfortable, but taught me a huge amount about the grey area that sits between clean riding and doping
Disraeli gears: the world's greatest collection of derailleurs - Peter Stuart
This was a topic that was tough to pitch to my editor. You may think that a collection of old derailleurs would be dull, but Mike Sweatman's derailleurs tell a history of cycling that is truly fascinating

The road less travelled: Education First at GBDuro - Sam Challis
How Education First’s ‘Alternative Calendar’ put pro rider Lachlan Morton through the ringer on the GBDuro gravel endurance race
3T Strada Due review - Sam Challis
All the same benefits (and drawbacks) of 3T’s original Strada but with conventional gearing
Shimano v Campagnolo v Sram: The state of play in the groupset wars - Sam Challis
Delve into the developments that will define the future of the battle between the big three groupset manufacturers

Amateur Hour: Cyclist staffer attempts the Hour Record - Stu Bowers
Cyclist's own Stu Bowers took on the Hour Record to see how hard it actually is
California dreaming: Riding in the spiritual home of gravel - Stu Bowers
With its endless forest trails, Santa Cruz County lays claim to being the spiritual home of gravel riding
Cyclist writers' favourite Cyclist articles: Inspired by this from the Guardian