The only innovation I am not totally convinced about is that bloke talking training tips for cycling long distance... I think the all concept of "training" for an event clashes a bit with the concept of "randonneur"... I hope this trend doesn't spread beyond the page... last thing I want is a copy of Arrivee full of nutrition, kit, gear and training advice on how to ride faster for longer.
As a complete newb to this, I would say some training tips are useful. It would save me asking so many questions here.
Suitable related topics that would be of interest to a newbie like me include: "Cut out the faff: Improve control discipline to save time and improve average speed", "Pain in the arse: how to improve on bike comfort", "Which is better M&M's, mars bars, or custard creams as audax fuel" "Going further: From 200 to 300" "going further: from 300 to 400" "going further: from 400 to 600" "The big one, doing your first 1000+ ride"
Would happily buy a beer to who ever can contribute the 1st, 4rd and last of those...
Compostable packaging is superior to paper, which has to be, manufactured, then after disposal processed and reconstituted. Compostable packaging comes from a waste product already, and breaks down after about 12 weeks after composting. Paper production is very energy and water intensive and isn't the eco friendly material it's made out to be even when recycled. http://www.theworldcounts.com/stories/Paper-Waste-Facts https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paper_recycling#Energy
Yes, but, where as paper comes from trees that are grown on non grade A farm land, potato start is derived from grade a farm land that would be better used feeding people. Then you have the fact that for most people, decomposition of the starch bag would be done in an anerobic environment, meaning it's likely to produce Methane rather than CO², which as a green house gas is effectively 25x more potent.
Also a paper envelope is more reusable (Reduce, reuse, recycle). For the majority of my paper envelopes that I receive, they tend to have at least one more life as a shopping list note pad, place to sketch stuff, packing list etc...
There are arguments for both. Tho I think we can agree that either paper or starch based packaging is infinitely better than dinosaur derived plastic.
Now if they could just rename the magazine back to Arrivee from it's current AWWOO...
J