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Zwift national champion stripped of title ;Rory Stewart's 'cycling is better for your sex life' speech; Trees in cycle lanes 2; 'Disbelief' at Plymouth woman cycling on road with a dog (but is she actually doing anything wrong?) + more on the Live blog

All today's news from the site and beyond.....
04 October 2019, 15:42
British Cyclling Zwift eRacing Championship 2019 (picture copyright Simon Wilkinson, SWPix (7).jpg
Zwift national champion stripped of title

British Cycling has upheld a charge of Unsporting Conduct in the British Cycling eRacing Championships and the winner of the inaugural event, Cameron Jeffers, has been fined, banned and stripped of his title.

A British Cycling statement said: “The charge related to manipulation of pre-race data to gain an unfair advantage via in-game equipment by the winner of the event, Cameron Jeffers.

“Jeffers has accepted a specified sanction of a £250 fine and a six-month suspension from all racing. He has been disqualified from the event and the title has now been awarded to James Phillips.”

British Cycling integrity and compliance director Rod Findlay said: “Defending fair play in our competitions is at the core of our responsibilities as a governing body.

“The fact that we have been able to investigate the offence and uphold the charge reflects the strength of our new disciplinary regulations and our determination to pursue misconduct.”

We’re reading this as ‘he lied about his weight’.

We could be wrong.

04 October 2019, 15:38
The Stray (CC licensed by Neil Turner via Flickr)
Some Harrogate parkland got a bit knackered-up during the World Championships

Heavy rainfall and a pretty decent turnout for the World Championships has apparently left part of Harrogate’s 200-acre (80-hectare) Stray parkland looking like “a battlefield”.

Judy d'Arcy Thompson, chair of the Stray Defence Association, told the BBC: "Everyone looking at it can see the absolute tragedy that's occurred. It looks like a battlefield quite frankly."

She said the organisation was not against the Stray being used for major events but said the World Championships was an "event too far".

"It's a superb free sports arena and so many people use it. To see it like this is devastating and I don't know how all those who normally use it will be able to use it for a long time to come."

However, a spokesperson for Harrogate Borough Council said: "Without minimising what needs to be done, the ground can recover quickly and faster than many would expect."

She added: "Long after the grass has grown, people locally and the estimated TV audience of 250 million, across the world, will remember the spectacular scenes.

"And those memories, and the scenes on their television screens, will bring them back here keeping our tourism industry buzzing, local people employed and putting money into the local economy."

04 October 2019, 15:27
Green End Road cycle lane (via StreetView)
Resident claims "at least 100 cars" have blown their tyres on kerb separating cycle lane from road

Greater Cambridge Project says it is awaiting the results of a safety audit.

Full story here.

04 October 2019, 15:12
Video: Bear chases mountain bikers for over a kilometre of technical trail
bear mtb trail

If there's one thing to really get the adrenaline pumping on a mountain bike descent then it's the knowledge that there's a black bear chasing you down the trail. Single Track Rider and his buddies had exactly that experience while out riding in B.C, Canada, with their ursine adversary chasing them for over a kilometre. Head over to off.road.cc for the video in all its grizzly details... 

04 October 2019, 14:26
Justice (Lonpicman, Wikimedia Commons)
Porsche driver broke skull of man riding Boris bike on her way to Harvey Nichols

“It came out of nowhere” says careless driver about cyclist on roundabout.

Full story here.

04 October 2019, 13:59
Betsy Andreu has more to say to Paula Radcliffe
04 October 2019, 11:26
Rory Stewart's 'cycling is better for your sex life' speech

Rory Stewart has announced that he is to stand down as an MP. The All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group has paid tribute to him by recalling an "impassioned" speech he made about the benefits of cycling.

According to Stewart: "Not only is cycling, as most of us know who cycle, the quickest way of getting to this building in the morning, it is also a way of moving that is much less damaging to the environment.

"And it is much, much better for your health in the most astonishing range of ways: it's better for your weight, it's better for your bowels, it's better for your heart, it's better for your skin. It's better for your sex life... yes, much better for your sex life.

"Recent studies in the United States have shown that men who cycle regularly have a sex life of somebody five years younger than the average.

"And it's also much better for your happiness. So this is something that should be deeply encouraged and the more people we can get cycling and the more people that we can get walking the better."

04 October 2019, 11:24
Prince  of Wales Road, Norwich (via Norwich Cycling Campaign).PNG
Norwich levels off infamous tree pits in cycle lane – claims that was always the plan

Norwich Cycling Campaign said that the “inept design” with tree pits dotted along its length would make the city “a laughing stock.” Each tree bed stretched more than halfway across the lane.

Full story here.

04 October 2019, 09:28
shimano-grx-launch51.jpg
Shimano's new gravel groupset ridden

David Arthur went to Germany last week for the opportunity of a first ride on Shimano's brand new GRX groupset, the Japanese company's response to the growing gravel and adventure bike market. 

You can read his first ride impressions here

04 October 2019, 09:04
Wind Hill
Make Wind Hill mountain bike park great again

Wind Hill has suffered an arson attack and theft.

They’ve got a crowdfunder going.

04 October 2019, 09:03
Are women more risk averse when cycling? Are they more likely to experience harassment & aggression?

Some interesting debate in the replies to this tweet.

There are a few comments about at spate of deaths in London when several women were killed by trucks while cycling.

Regarding suggestions that women are at greater risk from lorries because of lack of assertiveness, a cycle-lorry safety expert said at the time there was no evidence for this and that it was more a case of the vehicles themselves being "insanely unfit" for city streets.

04 October 2019, 09:02
“Extreme danger” for cyclists at Regent’s Park this week

Frieze Art Fair’s on at Regent’s Park this week, which means more cars and also HGVs.

A number of cyclists are warning that it isn’t safe and motor traffic is being poorly managed.

04 October 2019, 08:15
Plymouth drivers in 'disbelief' at woman cycling with dog on a lead

Plymouth Live reported that 'astonished motorists said they couldn't believe their eyes as the dog raced along to keep up with the cyclist'. 

The shocked eyewitnesses continue to say how shocked they were: "It was about 2.30pm yesterday on one of Plymouth’s busiest roundabouts and when we asked her what on earth she thought she was doing, she couldn't see anything wrong.

"We were just astonished that she didn’t see a problem in what she had just done."

Is there a problem with what the lady and her dog were doing? There's nothing in the Highway Code that says she is, but who are we to judge...

04 October 2019, 07:57
Wheelie embarrassing...
04 October 2019, 07:50
Baby boy for Geraint and Sara Thomas

G finally caught up with the world this morning to let us know that his baby boy was born earlier this week. 

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.  

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42 comments

Avatar
leqin | 4 years ago
1 like

It is so gratifying learning that its just as easy to be a small penis tosser cheating on Zwift as it is being a small penis tosser cheating in the peleton - who'da thunk it - maybe Lance can have a go at this, or better still isn't it going to be a laugh when it turns out some never seen before Zwift champion is a 80 stone tub of phucking lard who trains on diet coke and more packets of crisps per day than Jim Davidson.

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Muddy Ford | 4 years ago
0 likes

I cycle with dog on occasion, but always on quiet country lanes. If I hear a car approaching I stop. I am predictable, no animal is 100% predictable no matter how well trained they might be. I think she was cycling too fast for that little dog. If it stumbled her momentum would have dragged it and hurt it. She might have braked badly as a result and both could have been run over by the following car. This looks irresponsible.

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Markh8195 | 4 years ago
1 like

I cycled with a dog on a lead ( or not on the lead) for years.  They take to it fine. My first dog would run with the bike at heal (or wheel) in traffic quite safely.  Could take junctions and was brilliant - never an issue.

 

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HowardR | 4 years ago
1 like

It may not be entirely ethical but has anyone tried harnessing 'teams' of cheetahs to a bmx type bike? It could make for an interesting Olympic event.

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Bentrider | 4 years ago
3 likes

So the story is basically,

"Video Gamer uses Cheat Codes!"

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Kapelmuur | 4 years ago
0 likes

OK, I’ll ask Rory Stewart the obvious question. What if your partner isn’t a cyclist?

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Sniffer replied to Kapelmuur | 4 years ago
0 likes
Kapelmuur wrote:

OK, I’ll ask Rory Stewart the obvious question. What if your partner isn’t a cyclist?

I am sure Rory manages on his own

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peted76 | 4 years ago
0 likes

Cameron Jeffers has dealt with the issue of his weight at length, it was raised at the championship and afterwards.. his explanation seemed to make sense to me at the time. That a riders weight is taken in the mornings not at 6pm directly before a zwift race...  and that it wasn't specified when the weight should be taken or 'when' it needed to be accurate, he delved further also.  Stripping him of his title so long afterwards seems like nonsense to me.

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ibr17xvii replied to peted76 | 4 years ago
0 likes
peted76 wrote:

Cameron Jeffers has dealt with the issue of his weight at length, it was raised at the championship and afterwards.. his explanation seemed to make sense to me at the time. That a riders weight is taken in the mornings not at 6pm directly before a zwift race...  and that it wasn't specified when the weight should be taken or 'when' it needed to be accurate, he delved further also.  Stripping him of his title so long afterwards seems like nonsense to me.

 

He's put up a YT video about it, basically he "cheated" to get the Tron bike that he then used to qualify him for the finals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk4tGTZ6TfY

Avatar
bigbiker101 replied to ibr17xvii | 4 years ago
0 likes
ibr17xvii wrote:
peted76 wrote:

Cameron Jeffers has dealt with the issue of his weight at length, it was raised at the championship and afterwards.. his explanation seemed to make sense to me at the time. That a riders weight is taken in the mornings not at 6pm directly before a zwift race...  and that it wasn't specified when the weight should be taken or 'when' it needed to be accurate, he delved further also.  Stripping him of his title so long afterwards seems like nonsense to me.

 

He's put up a YT video about it, basically he "cheated" to get the Tron bike that he then used to qualify him for the finals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk4tGTZ6TfY

He has been shafted, I find this decsion to appauling, BC needs to have a serious look at itself, espeically when he gained the bike before the rules were written, I've read the rules and I can't see any rule that says you can only ride a bike you have acheived within the game.

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crazy-legs replied to bigbiker101 | 4 years ago
1 like
bigbiker101 wrote:
ibr17xvii wrote:
peted76 wrote:

Cameron Jeffers has dealt with the issue of his weight at length, it was raised at the championship and afterwards.. his explanation seemed to make sense to me at the time. That a riders weight is taken in the mornings not at 6pm directly before a zwift race...  and that it wasn't specified when the weight should be taken or 'when' it needed to be accurate, he delved further also.  Stripping him of his title so long afterwards seems like nonsense to me.

 

He's put up a YT video about it, basically he "cheated" to get the Tron bike that he then used to qualify him for the finals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk4tGTZ6TfY

He has been shafted, I find this decsion to appauling, BC needs to have a serious look at itself, espeically when he gained the bike before the rules were written, I've read the rules and I can't see any rule that says you can only ride a bike you have acheived within the game.

The fact he accepted the sanction and put a video up explaining how he did it suggests he knows he was wrong and he accepts that he's not been shafted at all but actually it's a fair decision. If he felt he was being shafted, he'd surely have appealed it.

Avatar
Milkfloat replied to crazy-legs | 4 years ago
1 like
crazy-legs wrote:
bigbiker101 wrote:
ibr17xvii wrote:
peted76 wrote:

Cameron Jeffers has dealt with the issue of his weight at length, it was raised at the championship and afterwards.. his explanation seemed to make sense to me at the time. That a riders weight is taken in the mornings not at 6pm directly before a zwift race...  and that it wasn't specified when the weight should be taken or 'when' it needed to be accurate, he delved further also.  Stripping him of his title so long afterwards seems like nonsense to me.

 

He's put up a YT video about it, basically he "cheated" to get the Tron bike that he then used to qualify him for the finals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk4tGTZ6TfY

He has been shafted, I find this decsion to appauling, BC needs to have a serious look at itself, espeically when he gained the bike before the rules were written, I've read the rules and I can't see any rule that says you can only ride a bike you have acheived within the game.

The fact he accepted the sanction and put a video up explaining how he did it suggests he knows he was wrong and he accepts that he's not been shafted at all but actually it's a fair decision. If he felt he was being shafted, he'd surely have appealed it.

 

I see it very differently. The organisers made this a pay to play money spinner for Zwift in order to win a UCI championship.  The guy did not cheat in qualification or the actual race, he had someone fast track him to the tron bike that he used later on, before rules had been set.  A bit like someone being given a decent bike to ride the TdF rather than a knocked Apollo from Halfords.  The competitors should have been given the same bike for the races, rather than having to pay to earn better bikes by subscribing to Zwift for a long time, let alone the fact that if you are a newcomer to Zwift you are penalised.  The whole situation is a cock up by BC, the UCI and the conflict of using Zwift.

Avatar
roubaixcobbles replied to peted76 | 4 years ago
1 like
peted76 wrote:

Cameron Jeffers has dealt with the issue of his weight at length, it was raised at the championship and afterwards.. his explanation seemed to make sense to me at the time. That a riders weight is taken in the mornings not at 6pm directly before a zwift race...  and that it wasn't specified when the weight should be taken or 'when' it needed to be accurate, he delved further also.  Stripping him of his title so long afterwards seems like nonsense to me.

 

It's got nothing to do with his weight, he used a bot to make it look as if he'd ridden 2000k at 200W so he could get the Tron TT bike that he used in the championships.

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Hug | 4 years ago
0 likes

I quizzed my daughter about riding a bike whilst holding a lead to a dog as I thought it was illegal. She replied that she had spoken to a friend of hers (a policeman) about it and he said that whilst the dog was under control it was acceptable, but if the dog does something untoward then you are
a) not in full control of the bicycle and
b) not in control of the dog. 

So it's okay so long as everything is okay, but otherwise it isn't. I have a cat who is too lazy to run alongside a bike (or get off the sofa), so I didn't pursue it ;-).

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Tom_77 | 4 years ago
0 likes
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bikercat | 4 years ago
2 likes

On my last visit to hospital after being hit by a car I sat next to a cycling dog walker who had multiple breaks to his left arm and leg after he had gone one side of a lamppost but his dog went the other side. Dog was fine apparently.

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Crazyhorse | 4 years ago
0 likes

Cycling whilst walking a dog is not advisable. The Highway Code (Section 66) advises cyclists to 'keep both hands on the handlebars except when signalling or changing gear'. Some exceptions to this guidance might be 'reasonable' proving the cyclist can demonstrate they are in full control, but it is v difficult to see how a cyclist can maintain full control of their bike, for example, in an emergency stop or in avoiding an unanticipated hazard in this case. I would think this is plainly obvious to anyone who has ridden a bicycle. 

It might well be considered 'reckless' cycling (which I believe is an offence?). At the very least, it potentially puts other road users (and the dog) at risk. If the cyclist's behaviour injures another road user this breach of the HC would certainly be an aggravating factor in sentencing.  The fact that some motorists (many?) are also irresponsible is not relevant. And that is without even considering the welfare of the poor dog which is demonstrably jeopardised, not least in this case given its somewhat diminutive stature - poor li'l bugger...

 

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alansmurphy | 4 years ago
0 likes

Wboy - yep and had a go at it with my Husky.

 

I think dogs should be banned from the roads, and cars. Sorted. Try that you pug loving fuctards!

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Simmo72 | 4 years ago
0 likes

Maybe Rory.  Maybe.  But not whilst trying to get used to an Arione saddle.  I was shredded.

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Jackson | 4 years ago
1 like

When it comes to the mayoralty of London I'm basically a single-issue voter. I'd vote for Rory Stewart if he came out with some serious pro-cycling plans, but it seems as though the individual boroughs will always be able to block new infra so who knows if he could actually get more done than Sadiq Khan. He'd struggle to be less effective.

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WBoy | 4 years ago
0 likes

Has nobody ever heard of bikejoring?

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Sriracha | 4 years ago
3 likes

Actually, I can see the motorists point. That dog should be wearing a helmet.

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dobbo996 | 4 years ago
2 likes

One of my two cats, Monty, likes to run alongside me as a cycle up the rear lane. I swear he would follow me all the way to work if he could - I have to stop, take him home and lock the cat flap. I've been toying with the idea of a cat basket on the front, see how he takes to it.  

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Philh68 | 4 years ago
0 likes

I’m surprised there’s not a specific UK offence for cycling with an animal on a lead, but it’s a stupid thing to do.  Maybe a charge of careless or inconsiderate cycling could be made, if authorities deemed it necessary.

Its a specific offence here, Australian Road Rules rule 301 prohibits leading an animal from a vehicle (which includes bicycles) and imposes a $76 fine. And there can be further charges of animal cruelty if the animal sustains harm or injury. I wouldn’t do it to a dog. Simple rule is, don’t make the dog walk or run anywhere you wouldn’t barefoot. Road surfaces can  become hot enough to burn, and dog paws are not meant for pavement.

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

Road surfaces can  become hot enough to burn,

You know this is from the UK right?

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Sriracha | 4 years ago
1 like

On what device do they assume the vast majority will watch this video? On a mobile, or on a computer screen? Why oh why do they insist in borking portrait video with those stupid blurry wings?
As to the substance of the issue - I fear for the dog. However, I doubt the dog does. Moreover, clearly none of the imagined catastrophes has actually happened. Sometimes I think we live under the constraint of theoretical yet unproven risks, and are dimished thereby. The dog could be left to grow fat and bored at home, in safety.

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ktache | 4 years ago
0 likes

If that is "one of Plymouth’s busiest roundabouts" then it must be a mainly car free paradise.

 

I have a take on the more women being run over and killed by HGVs than men thing, and I do wish to try and be a bit careful, but for me, I believe that women are generally more law abiding than men, and so when they ride, as they are being perfectly law abiding, they may think that others around them will be law abiding too, and so maybe more at risk, especially from right hooks by lorries.  Don't know.  Just putting it out there.

For me, and it's a bit dark, but you need to survive your initial few getting run overs before you can truly understand how unbelievably stupid and selfish motorists can really be.  And then ride appropriately.

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dobbo996 replied to ktache | 4 years ago
0 likes
ktache wrote:

If that is "one of Plymouth’s busiest roundabouts" then it must be a mainly car free paradise.

 

I have a take on the more women being run over and killed by HGVs than men thing, and I do wish to try and be a bit careful, but for me, I believe that women are generally more law abiding than men, and so when they ride, as they are being perfectly law abiding, they may think that others around them will be law abiding too, and so maybe more at risk, especially from right hooks by lorries.  Don't know.  Just putting it out there.

For me, and it's a bit dark, but you need to survive your initial few getting run overs before you can truly understand how unbelievably stupid and selfish motorists can really be.  And then ride appropriately.

From what an recall, most of these deaths have been the result of riders using dodgy infrastructure that led them into danger zones, particularly up the inside of heavy trucks. In their minds, they weren't doing anything wrong and thought they were safe. The Devil himself couldn't get me to ride inside anything larger than an SUV and even then it would be an ultra-rare thing for me to do. I used to drive a large panel van and know just how crap the blind spots are, so I stay well away from vans and trucks and buses.

 

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

I have a take on the more women being run over and killed by HGVs than men thing, and I do wish to try and be a bit careful, but for me, I believe that women are generally more law abiding than men, and so when they ride, as they are being perfectly law abiding, they may think that others around them will be law abiding too, and so maybe more at risk, especially from right hooks by lorries.  Don't know.  Just putting it out there.

For me, and it's a bit dark, but you need to survive your initial few getting run overs before you can truly understand how unbelievably stupid and selfish motorists can really be.  And then ride appropriately.

Yes, a bloke commenting on how women ride, got to be careful. 

But, from observation, I agree. I see women on bikes waiting patiently in queues of traffic for lights to change, situations like that, and I think, please think more of your own safety and be less strictly law-abiding. Find gaps and use them. 

The laws of the road are not written with the safety of cyclists in mind.

Avatar
ROOTminus1 | 4 years ago
2 likes

I'm more in disbelief that roundabout is so empty during daylight hours in the video. I don't think there's anything technically "wrong" with what shes doing, but it's far from sensible, especially as there's a bus lane on the exit she rode past and a proper crossing from there to Astor Park / East End if that's where she was headed.

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