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“Like a medieval torture device”: intimidating towpath barrier ridiculed on social media; Richmond Park bike ban relaxed; Free Amsterdam bike collections to unclutter streets; Driver swerves cyclist, but is the driver wrong? + more on the live blog

Welcome to your Friday live blog, with Jack Sexty in charge and the rest of the team making ocassional contributions
19 June 2020, 15:17
"How do you even walk through that?" Towpath barrier that looks like a "medievil torture device" ridiculed

While cyclists will occasionally stumble across barriers on shared paths that were (presumably) originally intended to stop motorbikes and other vehicles that shouldn't be using the route, sometimes things get a little too overzealous... the example above being one of them.

Described as "a medievil torture device" and "the lovechild of a park gym and a cattle pen" amongst other things, it looks unclear how one would even walk through it; although Big Nick who posted the photos to Twitter say he did eventually manage to bypass the curious defence.

Last week, Sutton Coldfield Police were criticised and accused of potential discrimination for saying that a barrier had been installed to stop "swarms" of cyclists using it to make a "quick getaway"; although unlike the example above that would look more at home in Guantanamo Bay than the British countryside, this one was actually criticised for being too flimsy to stop the two-wheeled cyclists it intended to halt, and would instead simply penalise wheelchair and recumbent users.

19 June 2020, 14:24
Richmond Park cycling ban lifted further, but weekend restrictions still stand

A controversial ban on cycling in Richmond Park that was first introduced in late March has seen more restrictions lifted, with cyclists of all ages now allowed to ride in the park's grounds at any time during weekdays.

The initial ban in the early stages of the UK lockdown was due to "congestion", claimed Royal Parks, and this was partially lifted to allow cyclists back in before 10am and after 4pm on weekdays at the start of June. Although the latest easing will be welcomed news, it still means that only key works and under 12's are permitted to cycle in Richmond Park on weekends. Some are suggesting that the easing should extend further to allow cyclists to use the park at weekends too; however in their update published today, Royal Parks still insist that the weekend measures are to "prevent serious congestion at park gates."

19 June 2020, 16:31
Happy Friday
19 June 2020, 13:58
16-year-old riding 3,500 miles to raise money for his mother who is stranded in Sudan
michael wright - via gofund me june 2020.PNG

Michael Wright came to the UK from Eritrea four years ago to live with his sister after his father - a UK passport holder - passed away. His mother Lindsay was unable to get a visa to go with Michael to the UK, and was forced to flee Eritrea and settle in Sudan due to civil unrest. Michael says he has visited his mother twice in four years and was also shocked at the living conditions she had to endure in Sudan, so wants to raise money to support her until he is 18.

The Abergavenny Road Club rider has now set himself the challenge of riding 3,500 miles in ten weeks, which is roughly the distance between the UK and Eritrea. He said: "I want to raise money for my mum so she can live safely.

"Cycling has always been part of my life and it has helped me through tough times.  It is the national sport of Eritrea. I want to be a professional cyclist one day, it is my dream. 

"I started the challenge on June 1st to see if it is realistic and doable. I've actually cycled over 500 miles since June 1st which means I can do it."

You can add a donation to Michael's GoFundMe page here.

19 June 2020, 13:15
Mitchelton-Scott/Manuela Fundacion debacle: representatives still insist a contract was signed, and are 'shocked' deal has been pulled
Mitchelton-SCOTT Team and Pirelli 2020

The weirdest pro cycling sponsorship story of 2020 is continuing to get weirder, as a former pro who represented the non-profit Manuela Fundacion in their negotiations with GreenEdge (the parent company behind the Australian team currently known as Mitchelton-Scott) has told an Italian news outlet that the collapse of the deal was "completely unjustified". 

2000 Giro d'Italia winner Stefano Garzelli told Cicloweb: "I want to clarify everything as soon as possible, my image has been tarnished as well as that of the Manuela Fundación.

"Gerry Ryan's words yesterday were a cold shower, and totally unjustified; the agreement was concluded and signed. As far as we are concerned, we go on."

It's reported that Garzelli was involved enough to quit his job as a commentator for Italian TV channel Rai Sport, and fully expected to be managing the team under the new Manuela Fundacion name. GreenEdge have said nothing since releasing a statement yesterday clarifying that to them, the deal will no longer proceed.

19 June 2020, 13:09
Utrecht 1982 vs Utrecht 2020: is Britain still in '82?

Continuing the Dutch theme, here's the same street in the cycling mecca of Utrecht 38 years apart, with Jeremy Vine amongst others suggesting that the UK is still more like the photo on the left...

19 June 2020, 11:27
Amsterdammers can now have their unused bikes picked up for refurbishment to help unclutter the streets
Amstersam bikes on railings plus swan - via wiki commons

If you've visited the Dutch capital, you'll be familiar with the huge number of bikes left around the city's many bike racks... and when they're all taken up, sometimes railings can be four or five deep with rusty old choppers that don't appear to be in use; in fact it's often cited that the Netherlands has more bikes than people, and now the
Municipality of Amsterdam has a scheme to address the issue.

The initiative allows residents to make an appointment to have their unused bike collected free of charge, and then the bikes are refurbished by apprentice mechanics to be sold on. The bike must be unlocked or the key must be handed over before informing the collectors of the bike's location, and they will take anything from wrecks to bikes that simply aren't used any more.

Gemeente Amsterdam say: "Is your bicycle crumbling in the bicycle rack? Used bicycles can be transformed with additional usable parts. This will also create more space on the street. The whole city gets improved!"

19 June 2020, 11:04
Muc-Off launches 'No Puncture Hassle' inner tube sealant
muc off new inner tube sealant june 2020.PNG

If you're not a tubeless convert and don't care much for patches or carrying loads of spare tubes, then Muc-Off's new No Puncture Hassle could be the thing for you. It's described as a "proprietary water-based non-hazardous formula", designed specifically for use with inner tubes. Suitable for all bike types, they say it can seal off holes up to 4mm and the hose is compatible with both Presta and Schrader valves. It also has 'anti-corrosion inhibitors' to protect alloy rims and valves.

No Puncture Hassle is available now through Muc-Off dealers and via Muc-Off's website for £9.99 a pot.

19 June 2020, 09:20
Driver uploads video of near miss with falling cyclist 'for insurance underwriting purposes'... but some think the driver is in the wrong

The video upload is accompanied by text explaining that the cyclist "only has injuries consistent with falling off a bicycle" and that the upload is for "insurance underwriting purposes only"; however the video was discovered and shared on social media, with many suggesting that the driver was in the wrong.

From the car's dashcam we see a cyclist come into view at 7 seconds into the clip, who then falls in front of the car a couple of seconds later. The driver swerves and ends up in a hedge, narrowly missing the cyclist; however some comment that the driver may have been going too fast considering the wet conditions and single-track country lane, and others are even suggesting that the cyclist could have slammed the brakes and fell because they feared a head-on collision. The speedometer on the bottom left appears to show that the car was travelling at 32mph before the driver took evasive action.  

A comment under the original YouTube clip above says: "If it was another car, they would have crashed. Unfortunately this bad driving is accepted in most places."

Another says: "Travelling a bit quick for the road conditions and with no thought to anyone else on the road."

19 June 2020, 08:50
A quarter of UK commuters will 'default to using the car' if barriers to cycling aren't addressed, say British Cycling
northern ireland bad cycle lane

New research by the HSBC UK and British Cycling partnership has found that although the UK is set for a huge rise in cycle commuters when the lockdown is lifted, 26% of those surveyed say they will default to commuting by car if 'barriers' to cycling aren't addressed.

The research found that 1 in 5 UK commuters said they were more likely to cycle to work post-lockdown, but many expressed reservations about infrastructure and traffic levels. 44% of respondents said quieter cycle routes would encourage them to ride more, plus less vehicle traffic (42%) and more cycle lanes (39%). Some also expressed reservations about initiatives provided by their employer, with 37% saying better bike storage facilities would encourage them to cycle. 15% also revealed that they simply weren't confident enough in their cycling ability to commute by bike.

To halt the number of people who are more likely to drive when public transport isn't a safe option, British Cycling's CEO Julie Harrington has called on the government and businesses to ensure as many of those journeys as possible are made by bike, saying:

“It is important that as a country we take advantage of the enthusiasm for cycling over recent weeks to ensure it is a long-term trend rather than merely a flash in the pan. Government, businesses, and all of us have a responsibility to make the most of this moment to create a greener and safer commute for all.

“We need to enable those who can travel by bike to choose cycling in order to ease the pressure on public transport and create space for those for whom cycling is not an option. That means cycling must be a viable alternative wherever possible.

"Helping more people to get around by bike will ensure they do not turn to driving to work, which would be a terrible backwards step for the environment and the fitness of the country. Cycling can help create a greener, fitter and healthier nation, and at this time of real change for the country, now more than ever we know that cycling can be a force for good.”

19 June 2020, 08:08
Bike sales could still be down in 2020 despite huge lockdown boom, according to new forecast
london-cyclists-hyde-park-corner-copyright-britishcycling.org_.uk_

The new forecast from market research specialists Mintel predicts that while UK bike sales could tip over £1 billion a year by 2023, they expect 2020 to only reach £842 million compared to £940 million last year.   

Mintel says: “The COVID-19 crisis and its economic impact have ushered in a period of unprecedented volatility in the cycling market. The crisis has provided a boost to demand in the immediate term, but bike sales are likely to fall later in 2020 as an anticipated deep recession bites.

"The likely repercussions of COVID-19 on cycling participation are complex. The UK lockdown is disrupting patterns of behaviour, which initially resulted in lower levels of weekday cycle commuting overall, but a boost to weekend leisure riding.

“As lockdown restrictions ease and Brits return to the workplace there is likely to be a shift from crowded public transport to crowded streets. The fact that at the beginning of the year a third of adults who didn’t currently cycle said they would consider doing so in the future suggests there is huge potential to increase cycle participation rates. Once spending recovers from the impact of the recession, the long-term market potential is strong."

Despite this setback Mintel claim things look generally promising for the future of cycling, with 32% of non-cycling respondents to a survey saying they would consider cycling in the future. They also report that e-bike sales grew by 40% in 2019, although the 100,000 sold in 2019 represents around just 4% of all UK bike sales.

19 June 2020, 08:38
Peter Sagan's 'relaxation' technique after a long training session

The multiple world champion has been known to pop the odd wheelie, sometimes in races, and here he is again wheelie-ing up a mountain somewhere in Austria. Never change Mr Sagan...

19 June 2020, 10:39

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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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28 comments

Avatar
Rick_Rude | 3 years ago
0 likes

The interest in cycling will wane with the weather. If we'd not had such an amazingly sunny lockdown I doubt the boom would have ever happened. Once autumn chills begin and work in actual workplaces resumes, thr bike will go back in the shed or on gumtree. Could be some bargains on the way!

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Hirsute | 3 years ago
0 likes

"The world is made up of "ifs, buts and maybes"; the problem as I see it social media in general now allows everyone to have an opinion. Those opinions are often polarised. Here's my take having followed a link from the road.cc website: 1. Was anyone in the car hurt? Doesn't appear so. 2.Was the cyclist injured? Doesn't appear so. Good. I imagine the cyclist feels glad he wasn't injured and driver is glad he didn't injure the cyclist or those in the car. 3. An insurance matter. 4. A Police matter (maybe). I'm happy for both the driver and cyclist."

 

So much for defensive driving and cycling !

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brooksby | 3 years ago
0 likes

On the "How do you even walk through that?" story - did someone just tick every single box on the requisition form?

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Hirsute replied to brooksby | 3 years ago
6 likes

They didn't tick the disabled access box I hope.

 

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brooksby replied to Hirsute | 3 years ago
1 like

Maybe the 'disabled access' box wasn't accessible enough...?

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eburtthebike replied to brooksby | 3 years ago
3 likes

brooksby wrote:

On the "How do you even walk through that?" story - did someone just tick every single box on the requisition form?

It was left over from the war; it's to stop tanks.

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brooksby | 3 years ago
4 likes

On the 'driver uploads video' story, I would like to draw the court's attention to a previous story relating to cyclists falling off:

https://road.cc/content/forum/248629-i-cant-help-it-if-cyclist-falls-ove...

(cough - cough - killer driver Dr Helen Measures)

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Sriracha | 3 years ago
6 likes

Good job it's a different crew that installs the road traffic signs else they'd all be down the middle of the lane. They've even had pause to reflect and moved one of the bollards by a few cm. I'd seriously love to know the workflow and competencies employed to yield such a result!

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CygnusX1 replied to Sriracha | 3 years ago
5 likes

Sriracha, you're being unreasonable - if they moved the bollards further over to the kerb then drivers would not be able to park their cars half on the pavement. 

If they moved them to the left then the cycle "lane" might actually be usable and some cyclists may actually use them. Like this, the council can say "we spent the money, nobody used them and so we won't spend any more"

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Butty replied to Sriracha | 3 years ago
0 likes

Must be the same council who decided to repaint zigzag lines on a local ped crossing during lockdown despite there being many large potholes where they wanted to paint. They duly painted the lines into the numerous holes to make it look a dogs dinner. 2 weeks later the potholes then got filled in........

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Hirsute | 3 years ago
8 likes

32 mph in the wet, on a narrow single track...OK

Lost count of the number of collisions I have avoided when driving simply by going slowly at and near hazard points (sometimes I have been stationary as a result).

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mdavidford replied to Hirsute | 3 years ago
6 likes

And you forgot, round a blind bend...

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PRSboy | 3 years ago
3 likes

The main barrier to me using my bike to commute is that I have no shower at work, so its dry days only as I've tried washing with a flannel and basin after a 16 mile rainy cross-country commute; I was covered in grit and road grime and it didn't work very well. Then getting back into wet gritty lycra for the return journey was lovely.

Even if I did, in these post-COVID days, I don't know how feasible it is to have shared shower facilities any more.  Not sure what can be done about that.

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Awavey replied to PRSboy | 3 years ago
1 like

It's a good point on the showers in a Covid environment,our office had showers,not that I chose to use them as they were a bit gross and you couldn't lock the door properly,and not that the office is open except for skeleton staff who have to be there,but the showers are out bounds now & their water has been disconnected as part of the buildings Covid19 security process. So I dont know how as you say that's going to work, assuming one day we get allowed back.

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AlsoSomniloquism replied to Awavey | 3 years ago
0 likes

I have been in our work a couple of times for quick checks on physical kit. The four individual shower / WC rooms are currently still open but with 2m signs everywhere. However the large drying cabinet has been taped shut. So yes, you can shower and get clean, however you can't dry your towel or wet clothes if you have any. 

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Sriracha replied to PRSboy | 3 years ago
2 likes
PRSboy wrote:

Even if I did, in these post-COVID days, I don't know how feasible it is to have shared shower facilities any more. 

Why would there be an issue with showers, of all places? Covid is spread through droplets of saliva when infectious people talk, or cough, sneeze ... or spit. You can then either breathe in the droplets directly, or transmit them indirectly through touching your mucuous membranes after touching a droplet bespattered surface.
However, soap and water are enough to degrade the virus, and wash away surface contamination. Overall at work, I'd have thought the shower was the safest place to be!

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quiff replied to Sriracha | 3 years ago
0 likes

Government guidance for offices is just that shower / changing areas need enhanced cleaning, and to be kept clear of personal items. The bigger issue (assuming 2m distancing stays) is more likely to be the reduced capacity of changing areas and increased numbers of people wanting to use them.    

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racyrich replied to PRSboy | 3 years ago
0 likes

When I used to race I always rode to work, minimum 12 miles, more usually 40 and up to 100 on Wednesdays. Never had a shower at any of my workplaces; soap and a flannel in the basin had to suffice.

But if you're commuting you must use a mudguard bike on wet road days. It's not actually often you'll get wet from falling rain in the mornings. 

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Bigpikle | 3 years ago
16 likes

Cyclist clearly moves over as they see the car and hits some slippery crap on the edge of the road. If the car had to drive into a hedge to avoid them it was clearly going way to fast. Highway code is clear you should drive at a speed that allows you to stop safely in the distance you can see.

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Kendalred replied to Bigpikle | 3 years ago
14 likes

I suspect that if the rider had not fallen, then the driver would have passed far too close and far too fast. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if the approach speed caused the rider to take evasive action and subsequently fall. 

As was mentioned, if that had been another car travelling at the same speed in the opposite direction, then it could have been even worse. 

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Fursty Ferret | 3 years ago
6 likes

In parts of California there are big signs on popular routes used by cyclists, saying "Bike may use whole lane". Seems a simple thing but reinforcing to everyone that bikes are just as entitled to the road has a big impact on confidence. Also stops stupid overtaking and moves bikes out of the door zone.

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Durin90 | 3 years ago
9 likes

32 mph on a single country lane? Guy's hazard peception must be like "If I crash, I crash"

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OldRidgeback | 3 years ago
12 likes

I'd say the driver was going too fast along that country road. With high greenery like that plus a wet road surface, low speeds would be more suitable. It's is ridiculous that some roads like that may actually have higher speed limits. On a wet day you shouldn't really be doing more than 20mph if it's that narrow and with such restricted visibility.

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nniff replied to OldRidgeback | 3 years ago
4 likes

It's a speed limit, not a target.  It seems that not a lot of people know that.

Not a dig at you BTW - too fast and it would have been, at best, up close and personal with the wing mirror for the cyclist

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Shades | 3 years ago
17 likes

Doesn't feel like a cycling revolution; roads feel even more 'toxic' than pre-COVID.  Lots of frustrated people returning to the roads; too fast, too close and too impatient.

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Velophaart_95 replied to Shades | 3 years ago
5 likes

Have to agree; we're back to normal and the driving is probably even worse. All the talk of things changing was just that; talk. 

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JohnMcL7 replied to Shades | 3 years ago
1 like

It was great to see quieter roads and a lot more people out cycling you don't normally see but I'm finding exactly the same as you now even on quiet back roads marked for cycling I've had several dangerously close passes by impatient drivers.  I don't know if it's any worse than normal or feels worse after the quieter roads but after clocking up a good few miles on the road I've not ridden my road bike in the last couple of weeks as aside from the genuine risk of injury or worse it's just horrible enduring so many near misses and worrying about each one that passes.  

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Awavey replied to JohnMcL7 | 3 years ago
0 likes

I'd agree it's hard to compare as I'm riding more miles at times I wouldn't normally be on the road,yet it just feels busier & worse than it should be.Normally it was only my commute that was horrid due to the route I had to take, always seemed full of angsty pent up frustrated drivers and maybe once in a blue moon I might encounter the one bad driver at all other times. But now its practically every ride,any day,any road and I'm encountering that kind of stuff multiple times per ride, today's was a truck that got close enough I could feel the heat from the engine/exhaust on my legs,and it was one of those you knew was coming so breath in and hold on. How a newbie would have reacted to that I dont know I suspect probably put them off cycling on the road for life.

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