11 things we've learned this week

1. These two-wheeled things are the future...

In the days after last month’s earthquake in Mexico, over 1,000 cyclists linked up to deliver medical equipment, tarpaulins and food around Mexico City. The city’s unofficial ‘bicycle mayor’ now wants to double the number of daily bike trips to 280,000 by 2019 to combat what is thought to be the world’s worst congestion. “At the city’s worst moment, we were there and able to provide mobility when nothing else – not even emergency vehicles – was moving around,” explained Carreón.

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2. Delivering takeaways can take you places

...and not just front doors in the case of Rory Turner, a former fashion director at the International Fashion Institute - who has took a job at Deliveroo to train for a Land’s End to John O’Groats (LEJOG) ride. “Because I’ve retired, Deliveroo is a good way to train as it means I’m covering around 25 to 50 miles a day. I’m living from my pension too so it’s nice to have a little bit more money coming in that can go towards the accommodation when I’m cycling, because no money raised will be going towards that”, Turner said. 

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3. The gauntlet has been laid down for Froome

So he may just be trying to promote his race, but Giro D'Italia director Mauro Vegni has challenged Chris Froome to ride next year’s 101st edition of the race to launch an attempt to make history by becoming the first rider to win all three of cycling’s Grand Tours in the same season. "He has to have the desire to try and become the first rider to achieve this feat," Vegni said. "It would be historical." Historical indeed, but possible? That's another matter. 

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4. Contador's anti-power stance is questionable

“If you’re riding up a climb and you know you can’t exceed 400 watts, and Sky are taking turns at the front at 400 watts, you don’t dare attack because you’ll burn yourself out, in 2 kilometres you’ll blow up", said Contador in his argument to ban power from the peloton. Does he have a point? We're dubious...

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5. You can't pray away a cycle superhighway

You weren't thrilled by the plans of Catholic Church of Our Lady of Grace & St Edward worshippers, who said they would pray to prevent the creation of TFL's Cycle Superhighway 9 that they said would disrupt congregations. Details revealed this would be highly unlikely, and in any case, wouldn't they be better devoting their energy towards praying against polutive vehicles whipping past the church? 

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6. This is the saddest doping case we've come across, and every reason for zero tolerance towards doping in sport

The son of Raimondas Rumsas, who finished third in the 2002 Tour de France, tested positive for growth hormone. Raimondas Rumsas Junior’s test results come after his younger brother Linas died in May. In response to his death, police launched a doping-related investigation into five people, including Raimondas Senior.

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7. Bianchi and e-bikes? Controversial...

Bianchi, that most Italian of Italian bike brands, shocked the world with the announcement of an e-bike. Yes, that’s right, your favourite celeste bike company is entering the e-bike market. It caused a furore on road.cc's social media channels, with some of you reeling in horror and others defending the rise of the e-bike for making cycling accessible for all. Hear hear to the latter, we say...

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8. Don't always trust your sat-nav...

A cyclist filmed cycling along the M25 was shepherded along by a concerned motorist and then offered a lift... with the driver learning that the cyclist had been guided onto the motorway by his sat-nav! “We put the bike in the boot, he got in and off we went. We were talking in the car and I just remember being in shock.
“I was dumbfounded. I just remember I kept saying to him ‘did you not realise how dangerous it was what you did?’

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9. Frankie rides again, in a fitting tribute to Michele Scarponi

The macaw that would often ride alongside the late Italian cyclist on his training rides was photographed on the head of Scarponi's friend Luis Angel Maté. Maté's red Cofidis kit may be less of a match for Frankie's plumage as Scarponi's Astana jersey was, but her fans will be happy to see her out and about enjoying a ride again. 

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10. Maybe you're not the only one doing it, but we hope you are...

“I wasn’t selling drugs, I didn’t kill a child … I put a motor in my bike to feel more comfortable while racing. They’ll make an example of me, but I think this will be a good thing for cycling because I’m not the only one doing it.” That was the defence put forward by 43-year-old plasterer Cyril Fontayne, caught with a motor in his bike in a category three race. *facepalms*... 

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11. Gianni Moscon is towing a fine line

 FDJ rider Sebastien Riechenbach has lodged formal complaints with Italian police and with world cycling’s governing body, the UCI, against Gianni Moscon, whom he claims pushed him off his bike on purpose during yesterday’s Tre Valle Varesine race in Italy. The Swiss rider, who had been scheduled to ride Il Lombardia on Sunday, sustained a broken elbow, with the injury bringing his season to a premature end. Is the Sky rider too toxic to justify his place in the team after his latest mishap?  

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