Enduring Advice

We’ve been offering advice for the last 25 years, and a look back through the archives reveals the top tips that have stood the test of time.

- Rob Spedding

#1 NUTRITION

The 1990s are recognised as the decade where we started to care more about our diets, especially those of us interested in exercise and training. We started drinking more skimmed milk than full fat in the ’90s and bagged salads were introduced to supermarkets. On the flip side it was also the decade of Sunny Delight… In 1992, Cycling Plus was reasonably light on nutritional knowhow. So much so in fact the Fast Food nutrition regular introduced in issue one lasted, erm, one issue. It did include eggcellent advice though!

THAT’S SO 1992...

Eggs are an easy way to get protein into your diet. They also provide an excellent range of amino acids to help regulate the metabolic processes and muscle structure. Eggs contain vitamin B, which is important to working muscles as it helps release energy from carbohydrates and fat. Eggs will also provide you with iron, folate and vitamin B12, which assist in the formation of the red blood cells that transport oxygen. Don’t worry about the cholesterol in eggs – it’s saturated fat you should restrict while keeping fat below 35 per cent of your energy intake.

TIMELESS ADVICE?

Absolutely, 25 years on and we’re still egging you on to eat eggs. Sports nutritionist Will Girling wrote in issue 322: “With a protein digestibility score of 97 per cent, eggs also provide all nine of the amino acids needed to promote muscle recovery and the building of lean tissue.” Will agreed with our ’90s take on eggs and cholesterol. “The American Heart Association has announced that consuming eggs has no ties to increased cholesterol or cardiac consequences.”

#2 CYCLO-CROSS