Well, when I go to Clifton, I will count the number of cycles I see!! Of course people cycle in Clifton, even if it is hilly! The uni isn't far away, and I would imagine lots of the students cycle!
Both the sock and the pizza were given too much media attention in this case, IMO. Of course, VT didn't keep either as a trophy, or they would have been found in his flat.
The fact that the police had arrested the landlord, and then had to let him go,cannot have inspired confidence in the public. When VT was arrested, the public must have been relieved. At first, a number of people thought it was another mistake ( look at old fora threads from the time), but once he appeared to have "confessed", that was it: CJ was a goodie, and VT was a baddie!!! Very few people would have thought any further than that. The fact that he had no previous form and no motive just didn't count.
Most people to whom I have spoken, remember the case as "the one where they arrested the landlord". They don't even remember who was finally convicted of Joanna's murder.
As for "confessions" and guilty pleas, I cannot help recalling the case of Simon Hall, who confessed after protesting his innocence for a number of years. From what I have read, most people accept his confession as proof of his guilt. It doesn't seem to occur to people that he might have been an innocent man who had a complete breakdown! !