16-year-old arrested after cyclist's altercation with four car occupants; Pimlico Plumbers edit "cycle fascists" rant; Islington protest against LTNs; 'Road rat' Facebook post backfires; Everesting record smashed (plus bike check) + more on the live blog

Surrey Police are appealing for witnesses after an altercation between a cyclist and four car occupants on Kingston Road, Camberley.

At around 3:15pm on 29th July, Surrey Police say a black Peugeot containing four men was involved in a near collision with a cyclist at the junction, adding: "The cyclist and men from inside the car were then involved in an altercation, during which, damage was caused to the doors, windscreen and tyres of the car. The men in the car left the scene followed by the cyclist."

The cyclist was described as Asian with black hair and brown eyes, and was wearing a grey hooded top with grey jogging bottoms during the altercation. A 16-year-old boy has now been arrested on suspicion of attempted GBH, robbery and possession of an offensive weapon, and he is currently in custody.

Surrey Police have appealed for anyone with information or dash cam footage to contat them quoting the crime reference number PR/45200079183. 

Spotted by our news editor Simon out and about in London today. Hopefully that gaffer tape won't melt in the sun...

. @ronanmclaughlin has set a new everesting world record, absolutely smashing Contador's time

Official time 7hrs 04mins 41secs. An incredible ride! Dan claims it's because he coached Ronan 12 years ago... pic.twitter.com/XYSLLEhI0u

— GlobalCyclingNetwork (@gcntweet) July 31, 2020

As we reported this morning, Ronan Mc Laughlin has destroyed the Everesting record, taking it down to 7:04:41 from Alberto Contador's 7:27:20 set earlier this month. As you can see on these photos shared by Global Cycling Network, Mc Laughlin's bike was built for the job and it's a franken-bike in every way. So far we've identified that he was riding a Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL6 frameset with a current Campagnolo Record single chainring, previous generation Campag Super Record brake levers with a TriRig Omega X front brake and Shimano Dura-Ace C35 wheels. There's a CeramicSpeed Oversized Pulley Wheel System on the rear mech, and up front a set of 3T bars with the drops sawn off are attached to a slammed Deda stem. According to CyclingTips, Mc Laughlin also had his shifting modified so there were just three working gears.

Mc Laughlin - who still races at elite level on the national scene but now works full time as a cycling coach - was also fundraising for the Community Rescue Service, and is aiming to raise £8,848 (yep, that's the total elevation needed to complete an Everesting attempt). He's currently at just over £2,200, click here to donate. 

Upper Street is blocked right now by hundreds of protesters against Islington Council’s ‘people-friendly streets’ traffic measures. pic.twitter.com/0RDb513SB2

— André Langlois (@SeldonMoore) July 30, 2020

First time I've seen people campaigning for more traffic! The council is completely right to take these measures, protecting the people of Islington from pollution and danger - it's time Londoners start using alternative, sustainable, future-proof means to get about

— Nicolas Clark (@NicolasClark) July 30, 2020

They'd probably get their point across better by protesting exclusively on the pavement and not the road 😙

Because they're making traffic free streets look appealing

— CommuterCurd (@CommuterCurd) July 30, 2020

Protests took place in Islington yesterday against 'people-friendly streets' introduced by the council recently to curb pollution, make roads safer and stop rat-running drivers in residential areas. 

Some noted the irony that the protests were actually a pretty good advert for people-friendly streets; however some of those against the council's measures cite reasons such as lack of consultation, concerns about emergency vehicle access and congestion on the surrounding streets. 

Rebecca Kelly told the Islington Gazette: “We’re not cabbies - I’m not even a motorist, I’m a cyclist. Those roads in East Canonbury are big enough for everyone. I don’t think they need to be exclusively for cycles. There’s no problem with social distancing down there. They’re not congested roads but the roads around them are congested.

“Why not give residents access? We’re not a cash cow.”

“It’s about pro-democracy. We weren’t given a say. There’s no impact report, impact statement, about how it affects the needs of the community. It isn’t so simple for everyone to just jump on a bike.”

Councillor  Rowena Champion said the council was taking a "once in a lifetime opportunity” to improve the streets, adding: “Local people know their streets better than anyone else, and we are listening closely to the views and suggestions they have given us via our Commonplace webpage

"In addition, we will be consulting with local people 12 months into each people-friendly streets scheme to ask if they would like the measures to remain in place permanently."

After 30 years of trading, Cycle Surgery's last high street store in Bishops Square closed today, with the website set to cease operations on 31st August. All online sales through the month of August will come with an extra 10% discount. 

Cycle Surgery said in a statement: "As the brand closes its doors for the last time, it thanks all its loyal customers for their support over the years and leaves them in the capable hands of its sister brands within the Outdoor and Cycle Concepts group. 

"Cotswold Outdoor, Snow+Rock and Runners Need will continue to trade and support those customers in search of quality cycling gear from the best brands by offering a small range of cycling product online. The group still prides itself on providing quality product from the best brands, alongside friendly service delivered by passionate experts."

To all the cycle fascists and their TFL pals who think they know how to run my business: https://t.co/s2B8yAePtH pic.twitter.com/hkkPRst4Y0

— Pimlico (@PimlicoPlumbers) July 30, 2020

Why the hell would you tweet something as asinine as this? And I'm your customer! You obviously want me to swap my bicycle for a 4x4, because that's really going to reduce traffic.

— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) July 30, 2020

I am one of your customers and I will never use your business again.

— Jo Rigby (@Jo_Earlsfield) July 30, 2020

In an, erm, 'bold' move that appears to have ruffled a couple of high profile feathers, the owner of the London plumbing company has took the time to commission the above image accompanied by an extraordinary rant against cycle lanes. It says:

"I’ve had enough of cycle fascists whining about their precious road space when what they really want is to run all non-cycles off the road; and I’m also sick of the bike bureaucrats who have taken over TFL, and who as we speak are painting great swathes of Central London's roads blue, making it next to impossible to run any kind of service business.

"Businesses like mine, and many others that rely on the transport of large amounts of equipment, tools and goods about the city cannot operate on bicycles. It is a ridiculous proposition. Any fool can figure out it doesn't work. And please don't tell me to get a cargo bike because unless they are the size of a van or a lorry and can be made secure they are exactly as useful as a chocolate teapot.

"London is a city of commerce but that cannot continue if we hand the roads to these freeloading helmet heroes who believe they have a god given right to the roads to the detriment of all other users.

"The level of stupidity at play here is unbelievable. But then we are dealing with people who care about nobody but themeslves (sic) and where they can go, at the expense of their fellow Londoners, in their precious blue bike lanes."

The person behind the Pimlico Plumbers Twitter account claimed they actually have "nothing against" cyclists, replying to one comment: "As a cyclist there's no animosity towards you here & as a customer the issue is that increasingly we cannot get to you in reasonable time because of jams caused by allocation of space for cycle lanes that are often empty."

Anyone wanna tell them? 

1/ I have some sympathy with your view that focusing on commercial vehicle emissions - which comprise just 16% of land transport emissions - is a bit of a red herring, but when twice the average number of cyclists have been killed over lockdown, this comes across very crass.

— Cllr Jon Burke (@jonburkeUK) July 31, 2020

2/ You should be supportive of measures that reduce the number of private motor vehicles on our roads, which will significantly benefit socially-useful businesses like yours, emergency services, public transport, pedestrians, and cyclists.

— Cllr Jon Burke (@jonburkeUK) July 31, 2020

After Alberto Contador broke the record earlier this month in a time of 7:27:20, it's now been blown out of the water by 33-year-old Irishman Ronan Mc Laughlin in a time of 7:04:41. Mc Laughlin isn't a full time professional cyclist, but raced for Ireland at the 2012 Road World Championships and for the An Post/Sean Kelly/Chain Reaction team between 2008 and 2013.  

Is a sub-7 hour clocking on the cards? We probably won't have to wait long at this rate...