"Damned if you don't, nearly killed if you do": Impatient driver beeps 20mph cyclist for not using bike lane; Pro cyclist arm wrestling; MacA-skills; 30s cycleway or car park?; Formolo's wild boar training crash; Unique bike theft + more on the live blog

Need a flash new bike? Want to buy it from an equally flashy outlet? Factor's UK partner has been renamed, and under the new banner of Vires Velo will sell Factor bikes from an 'Experience Centre' in Norfolk.

What's an Experience Centre? I hear you ask...

Well, it'll be a showroom, including an expanded workshop, coffee lounge and dedicated bike fitting studio. In essence, your one-stop new bike shop... if you're in the market for a Factor, that is. Vires Velo's showroom will have all the latest bikes and components from Factor and Black Inc, and managing director John Bailey promises to offer an "urivalled experience for cyclists in the UK".

He said: "We are excited that this new facility, along with investment in an advanced new bike fitting system and our continued exclusive partnership with Factor/Black Inc can provide an unrivalled experience for cyclists in the UK."

I’m getting beeped at because I’m at the wrong side of the magic paint lane - which as you can see is little better than a farm track - doing 20mph downhill and have held this motorist up for a few seconds in their desperation to reach the traffic lights. #cycling in #Sheffield pic.twitter.com/7zQsEw3qBR

— CyclingInASkirt (@CyclingInASkirt) January 12, 2022

You can almost see the steam coming out of this driver's ears as the lights turn to yellow as they speed up in a last-ditch bid to avoid the life-changing misfortune of having to wait for 30 seconds at the lights. Even better when the cyclist you've just beeped for apparently holding you up then rolls smugly to the front of the line.

So why did they feel the need to beep? It seems likely the key to that is in this rider's decision to not use the 'cycle lane'. When I say cycle lane, maybe 'painted strip of rutted tarmac closest to the gutter' would be another angle...

It's a 'get out my way' beep, isn't it?

CyclingInASkirt regularly shares clips of cycling issues and poor driving from Sheffield. In this clip, using gravity and one of the Steel City's numerous bergs, they're descending at 20mph... hardly holding the traffic up, is it?

One such previous clip involved an incident on the same stretch of road, perhaps explaining why you would be more vigilant to hold primary position and be seen..."Same stretch of road - damned if you don't, nearly killed if you do...."

Please help me identify this reg & driver - had a VERY lucky escape yesterday (downhill, wet, good brakes saved me) next time, someone else might not be so lucky. #cycling in #Sheffield. I’d like to explain to them why my kids are terrified of me using a bike just to get to work. pic.twitter.com/dNIoVDj15l

— CyclingInASkirt (@CyclingInASkirt) April 30, 2020

Someone needs to read our strength training for cyclists feature, eh Phil? 

Toms Skujiņš came out on top of this 'battle' with former pro Phil Gaimon, but which pro would be the best arm wrestler? In the retired category I reckon André Greipel and Marcel Kittel would be tough to beat. Of the current crop...Filippo Ganna or Alexander Kristoff? Although I'm saying Tim Declercq could lever his limbs to Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl's arm wrestling title...

At the other end of the scale: got to be Chris Froome and Nairo Quintana. Sorry chaps, don't think this is one for you.

Thanks for 10.9 million hires! 🎉 🚲

2021 was a record-breaking year for Santander Cycles all thanks to you.

Let’s continue cycling in 2022. Download the Santander Cycles app today to get pedalling ⤵️ https://t.co/26cDbiMa5g pic.twitter.com/I7K1S1bxOe

— Transport for London (@TfL) January 12, 2022

Today I ended up cycling down the remnants of the 1930s cycle way on Chester Road in Birmingham. It is a car park for residents, all but one of whom seem to have plenty of space on their drives. @carltonreid @badlyparkedbrum pic.twitter.com/kSQaws8v6j

— 2WG.Brum (@2wheelsgoodBrum) January 11, 2022

Why use the driveway when there's a perfectly good 1930s cycleway to dump your motor?

That's the questions 2 wheels good Brum was asking after weaving around this slalom course...we counted 12 (plus one on the pavement) during the 30-second clip.

And that's just the shorter version...here's the extended edition... (granted, not quite as fun, or long, as the Lord of the Rings extended edition, but fantastic all the same).

Giving some local knowledge, 2 wheels good Brum explained how the 'infra': "Was built in the 1930s and has had some new signage and white lines to create a two-way route for cyclists. It is terrible to ride even when empty, but it has become a car park for local residents, most of who seem to have sufficient parking space on their own property already."

So what did it look like in its heyday? 

Here's the same stretch of cycleway, viewed from the other direction, (possibly) in the 1930s. People did cycle on it then. pic.twitter.com/DdZNna2NHq

— 2WG.Brum (@2wheelsgoodBrum) January 11, 2022