Road cycling kit has changed a lot in the last 50 years - as Ed Hood reminds us what passed for "de rigueur" gear in shoes, jerseys, shorts, helmets, glasses and more. Keep track of how many of these you actually wore - reader with the best story wins a pair of PEZ socks.

The Giro di Lombardia was born in 1905, and Giovanni Gerbi – called the 'red devil' – was the first winner. The story of his break – planned in a devilish way, and realized with so much strength – has become a well known legend, which has the taste of a fable both ingenious and malicious.

This Saturday sees the 116th Il Lombardia, one of the oldest Monuments. Ed Hood isn't old enough to remember the first edition in 1905, but has had a romantic relationship with the 'Race of the Falling Leaves' for a long time. He casts his memory back to his first visit to the Northern Italian race in 2007.

While 2022 marks PezCyclingNews' 20th anniversary, there are other milestones worth recognizing. For those riding virtually this year marked the 10th edition of The Tour of Sufferlandria, but for those wanting to ride outdoors and enjoy the pleasures of vintage machinery, roll out those steel bikes and head to Austria in June for the 10th edition of the wonderful In Velo Veritas, held in the wine region north of Vienna.

Let's step back in time for a look at a classic machine from Italy decked out in Italy's finest Campagnolo C-Record of the era - a Tommasini Diamante. From Italy to North Carolina to the International pages of Pez, it's Readers' Rigs time.

Stage 17, the penultimate stage of the 2020 Vuelta a España, finishes on the summit of the Alto de La Covatilla. Back in 2012 the second last stage of the Vuelta finished on another mythical climb - The Bola del Mondo. Ed Hood and Martin Williamson were there for PEZ, this is the story of their day, with updated big photos.

Our man in Spain, Alastair Hamilton, has cast his eye on a Spanish icon; José María Jiménez. The Spanish climber was in the Pantani mould, and like the Italian he came to a sad end. Jiménez was a hero to many. 'El Chava' was one of the last pure climbers; exciting to watch, but ultimately tragic.

Vuelta a España Retro: With this year's Vuelta a España making a return to Asturias and l'Angliru on Sunday, Ed Hood got his diary and photo album out for one of his favourite days on a Grand Tour. The mythical climb of the Alto de l'Angliru sticks in the memory for reasons both political and sporting - Ed's day on the Angliru.

The world is a different place from last year, and thanks to Covid-19 our lives have changed. It's Tour de France time (yes, it shouldn't be in September) and Ed Hood should be 'Roadside' in France. He's at home in Scotland reminiscing over the good and the not so good points of the Tour.