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James Cracknell injured while cycling after “altercation” with minicab driver; Cracking DiData TdF vid; Hundreds attend Bjorg Lambrecht’s funeral; Lord Sugar's new cycle helmet; Police Scotland busts #CycleMyths on Twitter + much more on the live blog

All today's news from the site and beyond...
14 August 2019, 17:54
Team Dimension Data put together cracking Tour de France video

Team Dimension Data's fifth participation in the Tour de France last month wasn't their happiest - there was a very public row in the opening days of the race over Mark Cavendish's omission from the team, and the eight riders who did make the squad barely (to borrow a cricketing phrase) troubled the scorers.

Despite that, they've managed to put together a cracking video that stitches together one-minute segments on each of the 21 stages; it's well worth a watch.

14 August 2019, 17:23
James Cracknell injured in bike crash after “altercation” with London minicab driver

Former Olympic champion rower James Cracknell, who earlier this year was back on the water to help Cambridge beat Oxford in the Boat Race, has been injured in a bike crash following what he described as an “altercation” with a minicab driver while cycling in London.

The 47-year-old, who has been signed up to the forthcoming BBC series Strictly Come Dancing, posted a video to Twitter in which he said: "I spent a year riding round Cambridge on a bike and it wasn't a good day for Jake the Snake, the bike that saw me through Cambridge, or me as my Strictly Come Dancing dreams nearly came to an end when I had an altercation with a minicab driver in London. It was nobody's fault really.

"Bit of a bust finger, some road rash on my back, but OK.”

Cracknell, who suffered a brain injury in 2010 when he was struck by a lorry as he cycled through Arizona for a TV documentary, and has campaigned for cyclist to wear helmets since then, continued: "Good thing was there was no street furniture around for me to fall into, I was also wearing a helmet and I wasn't listening to music so I could concentrate and I was focused on what was ahead.

"And that's the important thing to remember (when) cycling, or riding a motorbike or driving around town; it's OK if you concentrate on what you are doing and are absolutely focused.

"I now have switched my focus (from) riding a bike, and in fact doing anything else, to learning how to dance and, to be honest I've got more chance of winning the Tour (de France) than Strictly Come Dancing, but in for a penny … " he added.

14 August 2019, 16:37
Hundreds attend Bjorg Lambrecht's funeral

Hundreds of people yesterday attended the funeral of Bjorg Lambrecht, the Lotto-Soudal rider who died last week following a crash at the Tour de Pologne.

Family and friends of the 22-year-old were joined at the service at the  church of St. Willibrordus in Knesselare, near Bruges, by Lambrecht's team mates, as well as former Lotto-Soudal sprinter Andre Greipel.

With the church full, a big screen was erected in the town square, where many gathered to watch the service, reports The Brussels Times.

Tom Van Damm, president of Belgium's national cycling federation, said: “We have lost a great talent in Belgian sport.

“But today, all my thoughts are with the family and relatives who have lost a son. We have lost several cyclists in Belgium recently. Fate was particularly cruel to Bjorg. If he had fallen a metre farther, he would still be with us.”

Today, the BinckBank Tour also paid its own tribute to him.

14 August 2019, 13:55
No. Nope. Nu uh. No thanks

This might have done the rounds before but Vittorio Brumotti doing his daredevil thing on a road bike is always worth another watch

 

14 August 2019, 12:49
14 August 2019, 12:32
Lord Sugar's got himself a new cycle helmet

So let's get this right. Lord Sugar opposes segregated cycle infrastructure and blames London cyclists for getting involved in road traffic incidents, but says a helmet with flashing lights will make the roads safer for him? Okay ... (On the subject of indicators for cyclists, see John Stevenson's blog here).

14 August 2019, 11:13
Santini release special edition Yorkshire World Champs kits

Which is your favourite? Or are rainbow bands only for World Champions? Or if you wanna heap the pressure on your kids then there is option to kit out any future cyclists out there.

YorksWCKids
14 August 2019, 09:45
Cube launches 2020 road bikes

Cube has revamped its road bike range for 2020. Here are the quick highlights. The flagship road race bike, the Litening C:68X, has been completely updated and elsewhere in the range, there are new paint jobs and spec options.

379200_00_Cube Litening C68X Race teamline 2020

Here’s the brand new C:68X. It’s all aerodynamic with disc brakes and integrated everything.

380210_00_Cube Nuroad Race FE black´n´iridium 2020

This is the Nuroad which looks ideal for UK winter training and commuting with G-One tyres for tackling any terrain and mudguards to keep you dry.

388600_00_Cube Cross Race C62 SLT bluegrey´n´orange 2020

#crossiscoming and there’s the Cross Race ready for an hour of lactic acid hell around a school playing field.

378410_00_Cube Agree C62 SLT petrol´n´red 2020

The C62 SLT its below the C:68 and looks really good. Expect some competitive prices.

339050_00_Cube Agree Hybrid C62 SL carbonred 2020

If you want an e-road bike, Cube has you sorted with the Agree Hybrid C: 62 SL.

14 August 2019, 09:43
Desperate measures


View this post on Instagram


Topskillz, 10/10 for effort. #yourbikehatesyou #elastoplast

A post shared by Tim (@sideways_tim) on

Hopefully no-one will be needing the first aid kit any time soon…

14 August 2019, 09:36
TRIUKcompAugust2019-new
Win nearly £3k of bike goodies!

We put this competition up yesterday, but a few site gremlins were chewing away at the entry form. We've managed to lure them into the microwave now, so you should be able to enter just fine. And you should! You can win a Focus Izalco Frameset, a Rotor Vegast Crankset and a Topeak Joe Blow Elite pump, together worth £2,893!

Enter here!

14 August 2019, 09:36
14 August 2019, 09:17
E-bike riders who caused driver to crash sought

Merseyside Police are seeking two people who were riding a black e-bike who crashed into a black Ford Focus, causing the driver to swerve off the road and sustain minor head and arm injuries.

The incident happened at 12.05am yesterday morning on Upton Road, Birkenhead close to the junction with Bidston Road.

PC Craig Williams of the Matrix Roads Policing Unit said: "We want to identify those on the bike as a matter of urgency, to ensure that they are safe and well and receive the appropriate medical treatment. If you know who was involved, please do the right thing and let us know.

“I also want to urge anyone who witnessed this incident, or has home CCTV or dashcam, and captured this collision to get in touch, so we can establish the circumstances and take the necessary action.”

14 August 2019, 08:47
Police Scotland bust #CycleMyths on Twitter

Police Scotland’s Roads Policing Unit has launched a campaign on Twitter using the hashtag #CycleMyths, aiming to set the record straight on many of the misconceptions that many people have about cyclists and the law.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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24 comments

Avatar
Chris Hayes | 4 years ago
1 like

Still, a bit more free publicity for Mr Cracknell...I'd almost forgotten about him.  Whatever next?

Avatar
Simon E replied to Chris Hayes | 4 years ago
1 like
Chris Hayes wrote:

Still, a bit more free publicity for Mr Cracknell...I'd almost forgotten about him.  Whatever next?

+1. An altercation that is "nobody's fault"?!? Gimme a break, we're not that stupid.

Alan Sugar (another hypocrite with a massive ego) can go f..k off too. Worra knob. And I agree 100% with John Stevenson regarding those pointless gadgets. As the old saying goes, a fool and his money are easily parted.

Avatar
Crippledbiker replied to Simon E | 4 years ago
1 like
Simon E wrote:
Chris Hayes wrote:

Still, a bit more free publicity for Mr Cracknell...I'd almost forgotten about him.  Whatever next?

+1. An altercation that is "nobody's fault"?!? Gimme a break, we're not that stupid.

Alan Sugar (another hypocrite with a massive ego) can go f..k off too. Worra knob. And I agree 100% with John Stevenson regarding those pointless gadgets. As the old saying goes, a fool and his money are easily parted.

I have a first edition of that helmet, it's a Lumos - though I run mine in solid lights only, since I believe that blinking lights are actually more dangerous due to the inability to track the cycle they're on.

It's very useful since, as a handcyclist, if I've stopped at the lights I cannot signal and start off at the same time - I need my hands to crank with.

The inbuilt lights are also useful - the front ones show where your head is pointing and therefore roughly where you're looking, and I've found that staring directly at people with the lights on works better at preventing people stepping or pulling out on you, than without.
From behind, the triangular red lights and their height are quite visible - certainly more visible than most other options available to me as a handcyclist.

Also, I'd struggle to have them nicked (all my lights being fitted to the wheelchair section of my h'cycle notwithstanding); they're combined lights that come in with you without your having to remember to take them off the bike, and it's a single item to charge - though since they're not technically "affixed" to the bike, you're not technically in compliance...

The brakelights are a waste of time, though, and Sugar is still a tit - but please remember that not everybody has the exact same usecase, and whilst indicators on bikes are kinda daft, putting them on a lid that already had lights on is less so.

Oh, and turning on the helmet starts Strava, so that's nice.

Avatar
ChrisB200SX replied to Simon E | 4 years ago
1 like
Simon E wrote:

+1. An altercation that is "nobody's fault"?!? Gimme a break, we're not that stupid.

These things just happen... like car "accidents".

Avatar
Rick_Rude | 4 years ago
1 like

I don't even want to wear a helmet, never mind a stab proof vest. Don't like impose your restrictions on me man!

Avatar
ktache | 4 years ago
4 likes

Nah Rick, Stab resistant vests for all pedestrians, perhaps mandatory, only way.

Avatar
Rick_Rude | 4 years ago
4 likes

Just got stabbed. Good job I had a first aid kit. Need to promote the use of first aid kits as stabbings are inevitable and nothing can be done about them.

Avatar
ktache | 4 years ago
4 likes

Burt, it's very easy to say "helmets" or "lights" or "reflectives" or even "bikeability" because that doesn't in any way affect the drivers who say it.  I'm guessing Cracknell drives, and personally has proper knowledge of the need to drive safely at all times, and doesn't sometimes, he breaks the speed limit, drives while tired, a bit distracted, other things on his mind, maybe a drink (perhaps not drunk, but you know one doesn't hurt).  Now I have decided not to do any of these things, because of my personal experience that mistakes while in charge of a motor vehicle is terribly painful and destructive to those on the outside (and sometimes inside) by never driving.  Getting drivers to change the way they drive is almost impossible.

And he does get paid to say Helmets.

 

Avatar
brooksby replied to ktache | 4 years ago
2 likes
ktache wrote:

Burt, it's very easy to say "helmets" or "lights" or "reflectives" or even "bikeability" because that doesn't in any way affect the drivers who say it.  I'm guessing Cracknell drives, and personally has proper knowledge of the need to drive safely at all times, and doesn't sometimes, he breaks the speed limit, drives while tired, a bit distracted, other things on his mind, maybe a drink (perhaps not drunk, but you know one doesn't hurt).  Now I have decided not to do any of these things, because of my personal experience that mistakes while in charge of a motor vehicle is terribly painful and destructive to those on the outside (and sometimes inside) by never driving.  Getting drivers to change the way they drive is almost impossible.

And he does get paid to say Helmets.

Cracknell was hit by the wing mirror of a truck travelling at 70 mph and suffered a brain injury which caused severe personality changes, memory loss, the whole shebang.  I'm still personally not entirely convinced that his helmet really helped, I think he was just very very VERY lucky (relatively speaking)...  But, as you say, he is paid to say "Helmets" a lot.

Avatar
burtthebike replied to brooksby | 4 years ago
0 likes
brooksby wrote:
ktache wrote:

Burt, it's very easy to say "helmets" or "lights" or "reflectives" or even "bikeability" because that doesn't in any way affect the drivers who say it.  I'm guessing Cracknell drives, and personally has proper knowledge of the need to drive safely at all times, and doesn't sometimes, he breaks the speed limit, drives while tired, a bit distracted, other things on his mind, maybe a drink (perhaps not drunk, but you know one doesn't hurt).  Now I have decided not to do any of these things, because of my personal experience that mistakes while in charge of a motor vehicle is terribly painful and destructive to those on the outside (and sometimes inside) by never driving.  Getting drivers to change the way they drive is almost impossible.

And he does get paid to say Helmets.

Cracknell was hit by the wing mirror of a truck travelling at 70 mph and suffered a brain injury which caused severe personality changes, memory loss, the whole shebang.  I'm still personally not entirely convinced that his helmet really helped, I think he was just very very VERY lucky (relatively speaking)...  But, as you say, he is paid to say "Helmets" a lot.

Is he still paid to promote helmets?  I know he was sponsored by the helmet manufacturer when hit by the truck, but is that still true?

Avatar
brooksby replied to burtthebike | 4 years ago
1 like
burtthebike wrote:
brooksby wrote:
ktache wrote:

Burt, it's very easy to say "helmets" or "lights" or "reflectives" or even "bikeability" because that doesn't in any way affect the drivers who say it.  I'm guessing Cracknell drives, and personally has proper knowledge of the need to drive safely at all times, and doesn't sometimes, he breaks the speed limit, drives while tired, a bit distracted, other things on his mind, maybe a drink (perhaps not drunk, but you know one doesn't hurt).  Now I have decided not to do any of these things, because of my personal experience that mistakes while in charge of a motor vehicle is terribly painful and destructive to those on the outside (and sometimes inside) by never driving.  Getting drivers to change the way they drive is almost impossible.

And he does get paid to say Helmets.

Cracknell was hit by the wing mirror of a truck travelling at 70 mph and suffered a brain injury which caused severe personality changes, memory loss, the whole shebang.  I'm still personally not entirely convinced that his helmet really helped, I think he was just very very VERY lucky (relatively speaking)...  But, as you say, he is paid to say "Helmets" a lot.

Is he still paid to promote helmets?  I know he was sponsored by the helmet manufacturer when hit by the truck, but is that still true?

You may be right, actually.

He was a "brand ambassador" for Alpina Helmets ("the helmets that save your life when you're hit by a truck at 70mph", or something) but I can't find that he's now paid.

He is still however the vice president of Headway, so he's not exactly an unbiased commenter.

Avatar
Hirsute replied to brooksby | 4 years ago
3 likes
brooksby wrote:
ktache wrote:

Burt, it's very easy to say "helmets" or "lights" or "reflectives" or even "bikeability" because that doesn't in any way affect the drivers who say it.  I'm guessing Cracknell drives, and personally has proper knowledge of the need to drive safely at all times, and doesn't sometimes, he breaks the speed limit, drives while tired, a bit distracted, other things on his mind, maybe a drink (perhaps not drunk, but you know one doesn't hurt).  Now I have decided not to do any of these things, because of my personal experience that mistakes while in charge of a motor vehicle is terribly painful and destructive to those on the outside (and sometimes inside) by never driving.  Getting drivers to change the way they drive is almost impossible.

And he does get paid to say Helmets.

Cracknell was hit by the wing mirror of a truck travelling at 70 mph and suffered a brain injury which caused severe personality changes, memory loss, the whole shebang.  I'm still personally not entirely convinced that his helmet really helped, I think he was just very very VERY lucky (relatively speaking)...  But, as you say, he is paid to say "Helmets" a lot.

I thought it was the quick arrival of the trauma team and their skills which saved him.

Avatar
burtthebike | 4 years ago
7 likes

Perhaps if James Cracknell had spent all that time, effort and money promoting road safety instead of helmets, the roads would be safer.

Avatar
RobD | 4 years ago
2 likes

Good on police Scotland for actually doing something, unfortunately I have a feeling there's going to be a lot of "whataboutery" from car drivers who can't bare to be slowed down for all of 10 seconds on their highly important journey.

Avatar
ktache | 4 years ago
1 like

And everytime that Lord Sugar is mentioned I can post the excellent, and sadly missed, Atwarwiththemotorists blog about situational awareness.  

https://waronthemotorist.wordpress.com/2015/12/31/cyclists-need-more-sit...

 

Avatar
Organon | 4 years ago
0 likes

Execute Rule 66!

Avatar
brooksby replied to Organon | 4 years ago
1 like
Organon wrote:

Execute Rule 66!

That's right, and if the Jedi had all worn helmets (like the clone troopers) then they wouldn't have been wiped out!

Avatar
ChrisB200SX | 4 years ago
5 likes

How does one overtake a group of cyclists riding two-abreast if cyclists should not ride three-abreast??

Perhaps the same way you overtake a car with passengers sat two-abreast? Ah, suddenly travelling more than two-abreast is allowed!

The two-abreast "rule" is such nonsense.

Avatar
tulip_girl100 | 4 years ago
7 likes

Argggh this is so frustrating. Rule 66 of Highway Code states that cyclists 'should' never ride more than two abreast...... Therefore not a legal requirement. I'm not saying it is right to ride more than 2 abreast (I distinctly agree with it) but if you are going to quote the law, then at least quote it correctly!

Avatar
Secret_squirrel replied to tulip_girl100 | 4 years ago
3 likes
tulip_girl100 wrote:

Argggh this is so frustrating. Rule 66 of Highway Code states that cyclists 'should' never ride more than two abreast...... Therefore not a legal requirement. I'm not saying it is right to ride more than 2 abreast (I distinctly agree with it) but if you are going to quote the law, then at least quote it correctly!

 

Some good tweets there and to be fair to police Scotland they are mythbusting - not law quoting, ie including best practises, not just what the law says.

Avatar
StuInNorway replied to tulip_girl100 | 4 years ago
0 likes
tulip_girl100 wrote:

Argggh this is so frustrating. Rule 66 of Highway Code states that cyclists 'should' never ride more than two abreast...... Therefore not a legal requirement. I'm not saying it is right to ride more than 2 abreast (I distinctly agree with it) but if you are going to quote the law, then at least quote it correctly!

Agreed, and in all honesty, a group of experienced cyclists on road bikes that ride together regularly, can safely ride 3 abreast (especially if staggered slightly) without taking any more space than 2 mates out for a tootle on their mountain bikes having a chat as they ride 2 abreast legally.

Avatar
burtthebike replied to tulip_girl100 | 4 years ago
0 likes
tulip_girl100 wrote:

Argggh this is so frustrating. Rule 66 of Highway Code states that cyclists 'should' never ride more than two abreast...... Therefore not a legal requirement. I'm not saying it is right to ride more than 2 abreast (I distinctly agree with it) but if you are going to quote the law, then at least quote it correctly!

oops

Avatar
martinkiely | 4 years ago
0 likes

Just a bit...

Avatar
Seventyone | 4 years ago
2 likes

Seem to be some formatting issues

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