The bike saddle is one of those parts of the bike that can easily be taken for granted. It's easy to forgo upgrading your saddle in favour of sexier upgrades like wheels and pedals.

Saddle position, however, is one of the most crucial elements to ensure you can ride comfortably and efficiently on your bike - no matter what your discipline. 

If your bike saddle isn't positioned correctly it can lead to a number of issues, some of them major like knee and hip problems and some minor like poor pedal efficiency and loss of power.

There's a common saying amongst cyclists that 'cycling never gets any easier, you just get faster'; a nod to the fact that riding hard will always be tough.

But there are several ways to get speedier faster and perhaps make the ride marginally easier along the way.

Upgrading components is a sure-fire way to save seconds off your ride, allowing you to beat that PB or even claim the KOM on a strava segment. Here's our top 3 upgrades to make your bike faster, and your wallet thinner.

The Tour de France is one of the oldest major sporting events in the world, and with such heritage comes some unwritten rules and customs which may seem odd to the uninitiated. 

These rules may be commonplace at the Tour de France, but they can also apply to other races, not just the big Grand Tours. Here are some of the more prominent ones that you're likely to notice whilst watching the race:

Leader's First

The race leader's team has responsibility for being at the front of the peloton at the start of the race. They are responsible for marshalling the peloton until the day's breakaway has been formed and the initial pace-setting, with other teams joining them later on. 

This isn't always the case but on most stages you will see the race leader and his team at or near the front for the race starts, unless the start is particularly unusual or a large number of riders are attempting to breakaway.

The Tour de France - the greatest spectacle on the cycling calendar and one of the biggest sporting events in the world - starts this Saturday, but what do all the jerseys and competitions mean?

As with any stage race there are several competitions running at the same time which will have difference riders competing for them thoughout the 3 week duration. Here we go through them to give you an idea of what each one is about.

Tyre pressure is something that affects us all, it can influence performance as well as comfort on the bike and it can be difficult to get the pressure right.

The subject itself is often the talk of club riders' cafe stops - along with the benefits of compression socks and what the runner up of the 2003 Tour de France is doing now - but no longer will the mysteries of tyre pressure be kept from mere mortals!

This in-depth guide will explain tyre pressure, what it's measured in, the effects it has and how to choose the right one for you. No pressure.

Descending is fun, but it can also be scary. Especially on long, technical descents where you need to concentrate for every twist and turn.

The professional riders like Vincenzo Nibali and Chris Froome make descending look easy, even when they are pushing themselves and taking risks, but descending is a skill which can be honed just like any other.