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Rhianna goes aero; Breaking the Bianchi; Lorry driven through London bike lane; Jeremy Vine – not bright enough?; Bernals & Nibali skip Worlds; Liz Truss - helmet rebel…ish; Lorry drafting (again); Keeping your shed dry (comments) +more in the Live Blog

All today's news from the site and beyond.....
17 September 2019, 14:41
When your Bianchi's steerer tube snaps in a sprint

A bit of a sketchy moment for the IAM Excelsior rider Simon Pellaud at the French one-day race the Tour du Doubs yesterday as the steerer tube of his Bianchi snapped as he sprinted for second.

The video shows the Swiss 26-year-old, who tweeted afterwards, "I will never forget that feeling," wrestling with his bike before sliding across the line to finish fifth … the outcome could have been a lot, lot worse.

 

17 September 2019, 14:33
While Bernal, Nibali and Kwiatkowski are skipping the Worlds...

Tony Martin is going... and at the moment, he looks like this! The heroic German is back on his bike following his horror crash at the Vuelta, and according to this Instagram post he'll be heading to Yorkshire to represent Germany as planned. 

17 September 2019, 11:38
Rhianna goes aero for weird sponsored post

...but not quite aero enough for Adam Blythe, who suggests some aero socks to go with Rhi Rhi's cycling shorts. maybe a TT lid wouldn't go amiss too? 

17 September 2019, 13:44
Jeremy Vine "not wearing enough lights"

Despite CCTV footage from the broadcaster's house showing that he left for work lit up like a Christmas tree (presumably in the early hours of this morning), it wasn't enough for a London black cab driver to pull out into his path, seemingly oblivious. 

17 September 2019, 14:18
UK cabinet minister breaks the law shocker

Admittedly, on a scale of 1-10, failing to wear a bike helmet in Australia ranks somewhat lower than this... 

17 September 2019, 11:57
Lorry caught on camera driving in London cycle lane

Ben Rometsch, who tweeted the clip and photos clearly showing the driver's number plate, says cars, vans and lorries crossing the cycle lane at the bottom of Pitfield Steet is "a regular occurrence": "Someone is going to die on this bike lane soon; cars, vans and lorries are regularly driving across it. THIS IS INSANE." 

It's not known if police are aware of this particular footage yet, but Hackney's branch of the London Cycling Campaign replied to say they will raise the issue with Hackeny Council in a meeting tonight. 

17 September 2019, 12:55
Florida couple arrested for drunk cycling found having sex in back of police car

A couple in Florida who were arrested for riding bicycles while drunk were subsequently discovered having sex in the back of a police car – while handcuffed.

Newsweek reports that a Nassau County deputy saw a vehicle nearly clip Aaron Thomas, 31, and Megan Mondanaro, 35, as they rode their bikes, which had no lights.

The deputy, noticing that the pair – both of whom have prior convictions – smelled of alcohol and had bloodshot eyes, put them in the back of his patrol car.

"While I was outside of my patrol vehicle, Megan and Aaron took their clothes off and started to have sex," he said in his report. "When I opened up the door to stop them, Aaron was naked and Megan had her pants down."

Aaron Thomas and Megan Mondanaro

While Thomas was getting taken out of the car, he managed to flee and was later caught, resulting in an additional charge of theft of the handcuffs he was wearing.

As Newsweek – which headed its piece ‘Florida man and woman have sex in back of police car after getting arrested for DUI’ points out, the state has something of a reputation when it comes to out-there news stories.

It’s a phenomenon that hasn’t gone unnoticed on social media – and there’s even a website (with the tagline, “Worst Super-Hero Ever”) that aggregates news stories in which the term “Florida Man” appears in the header.

17 September 2019, 11:46
Surprisingly irritating...
17 September 2019, 11:21
Lime surpasses 100 million rides
Lime-E bike in Ealing (copyright Simon MacMichael)

Over 100 million rides have now been taken with the bike and scooter share firm globally since their launch in 2017. A current share scheme success story when others have struggled due to low uptake and vandalism amongst other things, Lime now employs over 700 workers and has received $777 million of funding to date.  

They estimate that one in four Lime trips replace a car journey, and collectively their users have travelled 25 million miles by e-bike or e-scooter that would have otherwise been taken by car - preventing 1.2 million gallons of gas from being burned. 

17 September 2019, 11:13
Vincenzo Nibali and Michał Kwiatkowski also skipping World Championships
vincenzo-nibali-2019-giro-ditalia-picture-rcs-sport-lapresse

While you'd expect that anyone who's anyone in pro cycling would do their utmost to get on the start line for the sport's premiere one-day road races, Vincenzo Nibali is the latest name to confirm he won't be appearing after we heard that Colombia's Egan Bernal has also dropped out. Nibali told La Gazzetta dello Sport that he was not on form, and didn't believe he was even fit enough to play a supporting role for his Italian teammates.

Meanwhile, Michał Kwiatkowski has not been named in Poland's squad, citing fatigue in the tweet above as his reason for the no-show. What's going on, something to do with the great (terrible) British weather perhaps? 

17 September 2019, 10:19
Matt Stephens - what a funghi ... !
17 September 2019, 10:06
A little bit drafty...

Here’s a video that falls into a genre that has popped up regularly over the years – a cyclist drafting a lorry at speed, in this case 80 kilometres an hour.

Checking the name of the firm on the truck, this one seems to be from Ecuador, though we can’t see this chap following Giro d’Italia winner Richard Carapaz to Team Ineos.

It bears remarkable similarities to a video from closer to home that we featured a few years back – from Greater Manchester, in fact.

Drafting trucks, of course, is not a good idea, but someone who has the skills to pull it off and has turned it into something of an art form is the Brazilian Evandro Portela whom we featured hitting a speed of 124 kilometres an hour behind a lorry – and who then went on to set a Guinness World Record for the highest draft-assisted speed achieved on a bike on a public road, at 202 kilometres an hour.

17 September 2019, 07:06
Egan Bernal won't be riding at the Road World Championships after all

Despite being named in the Colombia squad hours earlier, Egan Bernal has ultimately decided not to race at the Road World Championships. Initially reported by Colombian news outlets on social media, sure enough the Colombian Cycling Federation have now announced on their website that the 22-year-old will not be in their senior men's squad in Yorkshire. 

The CCF said that Bernal was included by head coach Carlos Mario Jaramillo, but decided yesterday, the deadline for registrations, to decline the call-up. Bernal will now be replaced by Carlos Betancur, who will join Nairo Quintana, Fernando Gaviria, Álvaro Hodeg, Sebastián Molano, Sebastián Henao, Esteban Chaves and Daniel Martínez in Colombia's eight-man squad. 

17 September 2019, 06:55
Sir Dave Brailsford is back on his bike
dave brailsford ride sep 19.PNG

After revealing a prostate cancer diagnosis recently and having undergone a 5 hour operation last month, the Team Ineos GM is now back on his bike proper after uploading a 50km ride to Strava. Over the last couple of weeks Brailsford appears to have been walking and also uploaded a quick spin on a hybrid and an indoor spin bike. Photos on his Strava account show he's taken to using ISM saddles, with their trademark split nose design renowned for their pressure-relieving qualities. 

17 September 2019, 06:41
Yeah.

Arriving at road.cc in 2017 via 220 Triathlon Magazine, Jack dipped his toe in most jobs on the site and over at eBikeTips before being named the new editor of road.cc in 2020, much to his surprise. His cycling life began during his students days, when he cobbled together a few hundred quid off the back of a hard winter selling hats (long story) and bought his first road bike - a Trek 1.1 that was quickly relegated to winter steed, before it was sadly pinched a few years later. Creatively replacing it with a Trek 1.2, Jack mostly rides this bike around local cycle paths nowadays, but when he wants to get the racer out and be competitive his preferred events are time trials, sportives, triathlons and pogo sticking - the latter being another long story.  

Add new comment

23 comments

Avatar
Philh68 | 4 years ago
0 likes

Bromptons are really popular in Australia with tourists from Asia. They released a special 20 year gold model for the Asian market this year, only 1000 of them. Needless to say the few that made it to Australia were snapped up fast. But as for locals riding Bromptons, I rarely see them.

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ktache | 4 years ago
1 like

Highly trained professional?

I don't really understand how a big trailer behind you stops you seeing basic road signs in front of you.

Signs from the highway code that you are meant to need to know for a standard driving test...

 

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Natrix | 4 years ago
1 like

How did Florida man take his clothes off whilst handcuffed??????

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ktache | 4 years ago
1 like

It does suggest that she seems unaware of regulations the are in force in other parts of the world, that does not bode well for effective and easy trading.

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FrankH | 4 years ago
0 likes

"Another Law Liz has broken this week; it's illegal to cycle in Australia without a helmet."

I'm all for having a go at cabinet ministers but she doesn't appear to be cycling. Is it really against the law in Australia to sit on a bike without wearing a helmet?

Avatar
Philh68 replied to FrankH | 4 years ago
1 like
FrankH wrote:

"Another Law Liz has broken this week; it's illegal to cycle in Australia without a helmet."

I'm all for having a go at cabinet ministers but she doesn't appear to be cycling. Is it really against the law in Australia to sit on a bike without wearing a helmet?

It’s not illegal to cycle in Australia without a helmet. It’s illegal to cycle on a road or road-related area without a helmet. And in the Northern Territory, adults are exempt from wearing helmets when riding on footpaths or cycle paths. Furthermore, there are exemptions on medical and religious grounds in some states.

Sitting on a bike with a foot on the ground is not riding. But I know where that photo was taken, it’s near the ferry wharf at McMahons Point. Liz is clearly on a footpath, and it’s illegal to ride a bike on footpaths in NSW (and Victoria, it’s allowed in other states and territories). That’s another $114 fine in addition to the $344 for not wearing a helmet if we’re going to be sticklers for the rules… because as cyclists we always obey the rules. Don’t we?

Avatar
cafezinh062 replied to Philh68 | 4 years ago
1 like
Philh68 wrote:
FrankH wrote:

"Another Law Liz has broken this week; it's illegal to cycle in Australia without a helmet."

I'm all for having a go at cabinet ministers but she doesn't appear to be cycling. Is it really against the law in Australia to sit on a bike without wearing a helmet?

It’s not illegal to cycle in Australia without a helmet. It’s illegal to cycle on a road or road-related area without a helmet. And in the Northern Territory, adults are exempt from wearing helmets when riding on footpaths or cycle paths. Furthermore, there are exemptions on medical and religious grounds in some states.

Sitting on a bike with a foot on the ground is not riding. But I know where that photo was taken, it’s near the ferry wharf at McMahons Point. Liz is clearly on a footpath, and it’s illegal to ride a bike on footpaths in NSW (and Victoria, it’s allowed in other states and territories). That’s another $114 fine in addition to the $344 for not wearing a helmet if we’re going to be sticklers for the rules… because as cyclists we always obey the rules. Don’t we?

In Victoria it's  illegal to ride without a helmet on a bike path through a park! I got done last year. $200 fine if I recall.

 

Avatar
Philh68 replied to cafezinh062 | 4 years ago
0 likes
cafezinh062]</p>

<p>[quote

wrote:

In Victoria it's  illegal to ride without a helmet on a bike path through a park! I got done last year. $200 fine if I recall.

yes, considered a “road-related area”. Pretty much anywhere that resembles a path anywhere on public land and they’ll try and ping you for it. National parks, fire trails, you name it. Australian road rules reg. 13-1(c) defines it as “an area that is not a road and that is open to the public and designated for use by cyclists or animals”.  Which makes me wonder what happens if you just ride where bicycles are forbidden…

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FrankH replied to Philh68 | 4 years ago
0 likes
Philh68 wrote:
FrankH wrote:

"Another Law Liz has broken this week; it's illegal to cycle in Australia without a helmet."

I'm all for having a go at cabinet ministers but she doesn't appear to be cycling. Is it really against the law in Australia to sit on a bike without wearing a helmet?

It’s not illegal to cycle in Australia without a helmet. It’s illegal to cycle on a road or road-related area without a helmet. And in the Northern Territory, adults are exempt from wearing helmets when riding on footpaths or cycle paths. Furthermore, there are exemptions on medical and religious grounds in some states.

Sitting on a bike with a foot on the ground is not riding. But I know where that photo was taken, it’s near the ferry wharf at McMahons Point. Liz is clearly on a footpath, and it’s illegal to ride a bike on footpaths in NSW (and Victoria, it’s allowed in other states and territories). That’s another $114 fine in addition to the $344 for not wearing a helmet if we’re going to be sticklers for the rules… because as cyclists we always obey the rules. Don’t we?

If we're going to be sticklers for the rules, that's $0 fine for not riding a bike on a footpath in addition to the $0 for not riding a bike while not wearing a helmet. yes

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brooksby | 4 years ago
0 likes
Quote:

resulting in an additional charge of theft of the handcuffs he was wearing.

And a bill for cleaning, I'd hope?

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Philh68 | 4 years ago
0 likes

A cycleway big enough to drive a truck through, never seen that here in Australia so I had to look it up on Google. That lorry on the cycle way at Pitfield Street, are you sure he didn’t just pull up for a kebab? Any time I see a sign that says best kebab I’ve got to find out if it’s true!

I have some sympathy for the driver, they don’t make it easy for you when you’ve got 40ft of trailer behind you, and one way streets limiting your options. Still shouldn’t have done it, but maybe it’s not as clear cut as it looks. I am puzzled that there’s no bollards or other annoyances to both drivers and cyclists though. Nothing like my council, it’s more bollards than path here!

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Hirsute replied to Philh68 | 4 years ago
2 likes
Philh68 wrote:

I have some sympathy for the driver, they don’t make it easy for you when you’ve got 40ft of trailer behind you, and one way streets limiting your options. Still shouldn’t have done it, but maybe it’s not as clear cut as it looks.

I expect he was delivering to Sainsburys

https://goo.gl/maps/KpruwsSMqAYdkyd56

And doesn't understand road signs or they were in his blind spot.

Lorries like that should simply be banned from such built up areas.

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Philh68 replied to Hirsute | 4 years ago
0 likes
hirsute wrote:

I expect he was delivering to Sainsburys

https://goo.gl/maps/KpruwsSMqAYdkyd56

And doesn't understand road signs or they were in his blind spot.

Lorries like that should simply be banned from such built up areas.

sainsburys sell yorkstone do they? I’d be looking for a nearby construction site. Banning artics from built up areas isn’t realistic when it comes to construction supplies, but they should use traffic controllers if there’s access or egress issues. 

The outside turning radius for those  lorries is 12.5 metres, meaning you need at least 25 metres width to u-turn. Heavy rigids can have just as much difficulty though because of the wheelbase and overhang. If the choice was reversing back the way it came, doing a 3 point turn by reversing into a one way street or use the cycle way in crawl gear, I can see why they’d use the cycleway. Far safer than reversing a lorry that size. But I’d make sure I had a council permit and traffic control for it.

 

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Hirsute replied to Philh68 | 4 years ago
2 likes
Philh68 wrote:

sainsburys sell yorkstone do they?

No doubt that will be his story

Quote:

I’d be looking for a nearby construction site. Banning artics from built up areas isn’t realistic when it comes to construction supplies, but they should use traffic controllers if there’s access or egress issues. 

The outside turning radius for those  lorries is 12.5 metres, meaning you need at least 25 metres width to u-turn. Heavy rigids can have just as much difficulty though because of the wheelbase and overhang. If the choice was reversing back the way it came, doing a 3 point turn by reversing into a one way street or use the cycle way in crawl gear, I can see why they’d use the cycleway. Far safer than reversing a lorry that size. But I’d make sure I had a council permit and traffic control for it.

 

Perhaps they could use smaller lorries and accept there will be more trips. Your numbers on the area required to use the vehicle simply illustrate its unsuitability for a dense environment.

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burtthebike | 4 years ago
6 likes

"Lorry caught on camera driving in London cycle lane"

I'm sure the Met cycle safety team will be straight onto this, as soon as they've finished booking all the cyclists riding furiously.

Avatar
Bmblbzzz | 4 years ago
1 like

"Lorry caught on camera driving in London cycle lane"

Wow, even road.cc now has self-driving lorries! Come on, the lorry wasn't caught, the driver was caught driving a lorry in a London cycle lane. 

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ktache | 4 years ago
0 likes

I feel for you brooksby, there is nothing better than fixing, servicing or general fettleing in the warm and dry in front of the telly.  It makes it much easier to bring myself to do it, especially during the foul winter months, when you have to do more of it anyway.  Stripping down wheels and pedals in a big comfy chair, luxury it is.

Are you at least allowed to fix punctures to your inner tubes in the house?

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

I feel for you brooksby, there is nothing better than fixing, servicing or general fettleing in the warm and dry in front of the telly.  It makes it much easier to bring myself to do it, especially during the foul winter months, when you have to do more of it anyway.  Stripping down wheels and pedals in a big comfy chair, luxury it is.

Are you at least allowed to fix punctures to your inner tubes in the house?

Yes, but the bike stays outside 

Avatar
peted76 | 4 years ago
2 likes

I watched that bloke drafting that lorry through my fingers.. what a headcase, I do hope the lorry was aware of what he was doing.

 

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StuInNorway replied to peted76 | 4 years ago
3 likes

When living in Edinburgh in the early 90s, drafting te local busses was normal practice, but there were 2 good reasons... Back then the drivers were nice and often flashed their hazard warning lights to let us know they'd seen us drop in behind, in return we made sure we let them see when we departed too.
Secondly, the brakes on the busses then were to put it mildly, crap. (Slipstreaming an empty artic was not advised as a friend found out they stopped rather quicker)
 . . . Ah the memories of screaming down North Bank St/The Mound looking back to see we had a Police van following at a "we might want a word" distance and simply hoping we made the lights at the bottom.... We did, and thanks to a black cab doing a quick U-turn the Police didn't. (Might be the last time I was glad to see a cabbie doing a quick U turn without looking.)

peted76 wrote:

I watched that bloke drafting that lorry through my fingers.. what a headcase, I do hope the lorry was aware of what he was doing.

 

Avatar
ktache | 4 years ago
0 likes

A lot of sheds are terrible places to store anything, they get damp and everything put into them rots.  I have had to place a bicycle in them a points in my life and it's not good for it.  Any tools left in there start to die.  Often very unsecure too.  Some are good, but that's relatively rare.

Garages and basements are better.

I have two in the living room at the moment, right by the front door. One of them is to be mothballed.  The Ti XTRd hardtail is locked to the bed.  Luckily my better half is "accepting" of my habit.  Rented flat, security is always an issue.

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

A lot of sheds are terrible places to store anything, they get damp and everything put into them rots.  I have had to place a bicycle in them a points in my life and it's not good for it.  Any tools left in there start to die.  Often very unsecure too.  Some are good, but that's relatively rare.

Garages and basements are better.

I have two in the living room at the moment, right by the front door. One of them is to be mothballed.  The Ti XTRd hardtail is locked to the bed.  Luckily my better half is "accepting" of my habit.  Rented flat, security is always an issue.

I'm not allowed to bring my bikes through or into the house, not even to work on them 

Avatar
Pub bike replied to ktache | 4 years ago
1 like
ktache wrote:

A lot of sheds are terrible places to store anything, they get damp and everything put into them rots. 

To keep your shed dry, raise it up off the ground on bricks with a layer of plastic damp proof course on top of the bricks. That should keep out rising damp.  Add some miniflo guttering to get the water away from the cladding on the walls.   You could also add membrane inside to keep out further moisture. 

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