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Banksy broken bike mural sold for six-figure sum; Man buying bike from strangers assaulted and robbed; Drunk cyclist crashes into mayor; Another painful bike lane; Colnago handlebar porn; Denmark go big on cycling; Strava update + more on the live blog

It's Wednesday and Dan Alexander will be picking out the best bits from the cycling world to take you through the middle of the week...
Wed, Feb 17, 2021 09:08
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Banksy broken bike mural sold for six-figure sum; Man buying bike from strangers assaulted and robbed; Drunk cyclist crashes into mayor; Another painful bike lane; Colnago handlebar porn; Denmark go big on cycling; Strava update + more on the live blogbanksy artwork next to broken bike october 2020 - via Banksy on Instagram.PNG
17 February 2021, 17:16
Fabio Jakobsen provisionally scheduled to make comeback from injury in three weeks, however team boss Patrick Lefevere believes it will probably still be too soon

At least provisionally, Fabio Jakobsen is down to race his bike again, eight months on from his horrific crash at the Tour of Poland. However, Deceuninck-Quick-Step team boss Patrick Lefevere said the date was likely to come too soon. Jakobsen was included on Quick-Step's startlist for GP Monseré alongside Mark Cavendish, for the race on March 7.

Lefevere was quick to point out it's unlikely Jakobsen will be able to return just yet. "He just had another operation," the team principal explained to Dutch website Wielerflits. "The stitches will not go out until February 25. Then 7 March will come really too early. He also has insufficient training in his legs. The intention is that he will train for another month. After that, we hope to gradually give him a taste of competition."

17 February 2021, 17:13
17 February 2021, 17:01
Puncture dilema
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by road.cc (@road.cc)

Nightmare scenario for road.cc editor Jack Sexty this afternoon...A puncture within touching distance of home. If I were a football commentator I'd probably call it the 'corridor of uncertainty'. Do you chuck a new tube in when you could be home by the time it's fixed? Or face the awkward cleat hobble back to your front door? Whatever you choose it's going to put a damper on any ride...

Drjmills is all for getting every last pedal stroke out of your spin: "Change the tube at the side of the road and ride home in glory!"

Alexhamilton13 prefers to live life on the edge: "Pump some air into it, ride home quickly to get back before it completely deflates again."

17 February 2021, 16:49
South Ribble Police return stolen bike to owner who had given up hope of finding it
Stolen bike (via South Ribble Police)

Here's a nice news story for a grey Wednesday afternoon...South Ribble Police managed to reunite one victim of theft with their stolen bike. The bike was stolen during a spate of burglaries in October and was found when police discovered it in a shed at an unrelated incident. Fortunately, having seized the bike they were able to trace the owner and got it back to them yesterday.

They encouraged other cyclists to register their bikes with the National Cycle Database, Bike Register.

17 February 2021, 16:37
Thomas De Gendt says he was one of the 16 pro riders to open the email proposal about the UCI's rule changes

Thomas De Gendt told Belgian outlet Sporza that he understands Matteo Trentin's frustration with their fellow riders after the Italian claimed just 16 out 800 pro riders sent the UCI's proposed rule changes bothered to open it. Trentin suggested last week that the pro peloton should spend less time on TikTok and be more proactive about safety issues... 

De Gendt said he was warned by former teammate Adam Hansen that there would be some major rule changes proposed. However, he admitted he understood why so few had read the proposal email.

"I agree with Trentin that riders are not really concerned with all the things that come with the race. Not that we don't care, but sometimes we just don't have the time or feel like doing it. Certainly in this case the period played a role," the Lotto Soudal rider explained.

"The email was sent at the beginning of November. Most riders are then in a rest period. I also put my mobile phone aside for three weeks during that period."

The Belgian was critical of the CPA riders' union which represented pro cyclists' interests at the meetings with the UCI, saying that he felt they had lied in the past.

"The new union has yet to prove everything, but hopefully they will do better. I have very little faith in the CPA because it has already lied to the riders a number of times that they have talked to organisers, but had not. That's how they want to keep us quiet. An example is the stage in the Giro 2020, which was ultimately halved. But it has happened before. The union must also represent us and not just the organisers."

17 February 2021, 15:26
Banksy's broken bike artwork removed and sold to collector for six-figure sum
banksy artwork next to broken bike october 2020 - via Banksy on Instagram.PNG

The Banksy artwork of a girl hula-hooping with a bicycle tyre has been sold for a six-figure fee and has been removed. The mural appeared outside a Nottingham beauty salon in October and was claimed by the mysterious artist who said it was taking a pop at the government poster featuring a ballerina named Fatima who should retrain in 'cyber'.

Just a month later the bike chained in front of the mural disappeared, presumed stolen, but was actually removed for safe keeping. The artwork was carefully removed by workmen this morning after gallery owner John Brandler told the BBC he paid a "six-figure sum" for the piece and wanted to preserve it and put it on display. Brandler owns a number of Banksy's pieces, including Seasons Greetings.

The collector added that he believes he saved the piece just in time as the perspex screen over the picture was causing damp damage. A spokesperson for Nottingham City Council confirmed that they had sought Banksy's approval to move the piece to a different location.

Local resident Jasinya Powell expressed her disappointment at the artwork being sold. "It's capitalism at its finest - it's all about the Benjamins [money] at the end of the day," she told the BBC. "It got people talking about Raleigh, about Nottingham, about what the city has produced and done."

17 February 2021, 14:47
17 February 2021, 14:22
Man buying bike off strangers hit over the head and robbed
Thames Valley Police logo

A man buying a bike off two strangers in Reading was hit over the head and robbed of his money last Friday. Thames Valley Police say the incident happened in London Road at around 7.30pm on February 12 when a man thought he'd agreed to buy a bicycle off the two offenders. An argument broke out after the men demanded more money before the victim was hit on the back of the head and robbed.

Police say the victim was uninjured in the assault and that they are looking for the two offenders who are described as white men, between 30 and 40 years old. One was 6ft and wearing a green jacket. The other was 5ft 10ins and wearing a black jacket with blue jeans. Both were described as being medium build.

PC Philip Marchant said the incident was distressing for the victim and encouraged two members of the public who saw the incident to come forward. He said: "We would like to speak to anyone who saw what happened or has details about this incident. Specifically, we would like to speak to two members of the public who were passing at the time of the incident and intervened as they may have information that could help with the investigation.

"Further, if you think you know who the men described are, we would like you to get in touch. Please call Thames Valley Police on 101 or make a report online and share any CCTV if you think it picks up this incident. If you would prefer to remain 100 per cent anonymous, you can call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

17 February 2021, 14:04
Denmark spends big on cycling network
Cycling in Copenhagen (picture credit Ty Stange via Copenhagen Media Centre)

The Danish government has pledged more than half a billion kroner (roughly £60 million) for improvements to the country's cycling network and to help promote cycling as an accessible mode of transport. CPH Post reports a little under £45 million has been earmarked for 20 projects involving implementing bike lanes on state roads. Around £17 million will be used to build bike lanes on smaller municipal roads. "We agree that the funds will go to bicycle projects that help make it more attractive to get in the saddle,” said transport minister, Benny Engelbrecht.

17 February 2021, 12:35
Strava update debate
Strava update

The new Strava update is out, as you can see from the location info next to the time at the top of this activity. Useful if you're scrolling your feed and want to see where all your riding pals have gone on holiday...oh, wait a second. We've seen a couple of comments with privacy-related concerns but that seems to be something which comes with the territory when uploading your ride's GPS data. Non-GPS data rides won't use the feature...Thoughts?

On our Facebook page, Kieran Barry was pleased with the new feature saying: "Good update. Also appreciating the activity search feature."

Strava story comments

 

17 February 2021, 12:13
Pure unadulterated handlebar porn

Have you ever seen a more fetching set of bars than this? The Campag Kid, who specialises in building bikes equipped with (you guessed it) Campagnolo parts, says it took about 8 years to source these Mapei-themed Colnago integrated bars. The finished build will be a Colnago C59 Mapei, which we'd probably sell a kidney and any other non-essential organs to have a go on when it's ready. 

17 February 2021, 11:56
Bike converted into mechanically-propelled vehicle seized by police in Manchester

Greater Manchester Police seized this mechanically-propelled bike. They say the conversion meant it should be classed as a mechanically-propelled vehicle and needed insurance...

17 February 2021, 11:19
New figures show bike theft down 20%
Bicycles (Credit Seopa Ltd)

The latest crime figures from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) show that reported bicycle crimes fell by 18 per cent in Northern Ireland in 2020 compared to 2019. During the first lockdown from March to May, there was a 15 per cent decrease compared to May 2019. The region of the UK where cyclists were most likely to have their bike stolen was Cambridgeshire which recorded 3.9 bicycle crimes per 1,000 residents, followed by London with 3.3 and Thames Valley with 2.1. In comparison, Northern Ireland recorded just 0.37 bicycle crimes per 1,000.

Responding to the figures, Greg Wilson of bicycle insurance company Compare NI.com said: "As the country cautiously prepares to emerge from lockdown, there’s a possibility the number of bicycle thefts might rise sharply, given the increase in bikes available to opportunistic thieves. So bike safety and comprehensive insurance will be important - especially since a large percentage are new owners and perhaps unaware of what’s available to protect themselves and their bicycle."

17 February 2021, 10:21
Drunk cyclist who crashed into Belgian mayor goes viral

 

A drunk cyclist who rode into a Belgian mayor doing a TV interview has gone viral, eight months after the incident happened. The Brussels Times reports the Hasselt mayor, Steven Vandeput, finds the video's popularity surprising but also quite funny. The clip went viral after being posted on YouTube by Meme Tycoon and has now been viewed almost four million times.

"3.6 million views is a lot," Vandeput laughed. "I have also read the comments under the video, and I must say I find it all quite funny. I was only left with a bruise. The man clearly did not agree with some decisions I made as mayor. The police then took the man away anyway, because he continued to be difficult even after the collision."

A local media report at the time of the incident claimed the cyclist was drunkenly ranting about the "benefits of communism" before the incident with the mayor who represents the Flemish nationalist party N-VA. The mayor confirmed he hadn't launched a complaint and only asked that the man goes home and sleeps off the alcohol...

17 February 2021, 09:11
17 February 2021, 08:58
"It makes my head hurt": Another painfully bad cycle lane

Emily shared this photo of a bike lane in Manchester saying: "Manchester has a new contender for its worst cycling infra attempt," and it's hard to argue...Squeezing cyclists into one half of a bike lane is a new one, especially next to a busy A-road. After the new development next to the cycle lane was built, the footway and cycleway were resurfaced, but nothing was done to prevent cyclists having to ride head first at each other.

One reply did point out that there may be slight hope in that as part of the Active Travel Fund, the council are due to better link cycling routes to the city centre along the the A56...So perhaps this infrastructure may soon be a thing of the past...

Dan Alexander

Dan is the road.cc news editor and has spent the past four years writing stories and features, as well as (hopefully) keeping you entertained on the live blog. Having previously written about nearly every other sport under the sun for the Express, and the weird and wonderful world of non-league football for the Non-League Paper, Dan joined road.cc in 2020. Come the weekend you'll find him labouring up a hill, probably with a mouth full of jelly babies, or making a bonk-induced trip to a south of England petrol station... in search of more jelly babies.

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AlsoSomniloquism replied to mdavidford | 3 years ago
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If I'm expected to join a carriageway with faster moving traffic I would like to maintain the speed if safe so I think in the context of the above, it is better the way it currently is.

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mdavidford replied to AlsoSomniloquism | 3 years ago
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AlsoSomniloquism wrote:

If I'm expected to join a carriageway with faster moving traffic I would like to maintain the speed if safe so I think in the context of the above, it is better the way it currently is.

If safe, you still could - it would still only be a give way, wherever it was located. If there are people approaching along the cycle lane in the other direction, I'm not convinced suddenly swinging across their path to get to the road is safe, even if technically it tells them to give way.

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AlsoSomniloquism replied to mdavidford | 3 years ago
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But it isn't one give way but two, one to let the oncoming bikes come and then one onto the carriageway itself. If approaching it I would want to only need to respond to the vehicles coming behind me and not the ones in front as well. (Obviously hoping they give way as mentioned). As I said in one of my other posts, I'm not defending the stupidity but think the design is obvious on how it is supposed to work, and now seems to have been there 13 year minimum so I suspect it either isn't used or does it's job as is. 

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mdavidford replied to AlsoSomniloquism | 3 years ago
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What about what the people coming the other way want, though? With the current arrangement, if you get there and do have to give way to traffic on the road, you're then blocking people coming the other way, so both of you have to wait.

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OnYerBike replied to HarrogateSpa | 3 years ago
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Having looked around on streetview, the one thing I'm still not clear about is the intended use - it appears to connect a side road to an industrial estate.

I'm going to take a punt and say that the A56 is a pretty important route in and out of Manchester. The majority of the A56 appears to have absolutely no cycling infrastructure. To me, this stinks of another situation where some city planner has identified a "quiet route" that tracks the A56 but wiggles in and out of industrial estates and residential streets in order to avoid cycling on the A56, and in doing so ends up being twice as long and three times as slow. They can then justify only putting in infrastructure where it meets the A56, and only considering that one flow of cyclists.

I've seen it time and time again: rather than making the direct route more attractive to cyclists, cyclists are directed to use back alleys. This is my primary concern about LTNs as well - they might make residential streets more pleasant for cycling, but they do very little to make the main roads more attractive. Main roads are, almost by definition, the roads that most people want to use to get from A to B, and that doesn't change just because someone is on a bike. If a cyclist feels the need to choose a longer, more tortuous route for their journey because they don't feel comfortable using the "obvious" road then that is a failure of the road network and planning system. 

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AlsoSomniloquism replied to OnYerBike | 3 years ago
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It leads onto an unsegreated two way lane on the other side of the road, or the one way cycle route along the one way road to the left. The stupidness is instead of taking advantage of the opened up pavement to make it truly two way even there, they decided to leave as is. If you see the original area, a large fence meant the if the path stayed the same thickness, peds and bikes would clash at the blind corner. 

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Awavey replied to HarrogateSpa | 3 years ago
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absolutely, not denying it has issues at all, but it is what is and has seemingly been like that for a while.

my point was simply that cant be claimed to be the worse even in Manchester, & its not even close to the worse from elsewhere in the UK, the Warrington cycle campaign produced two books,and, could probably be well onto a 3rd or 4th by now if theyd wanted, of things that are far worse than that

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arowland replied to Awavey | 3 years ago
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And having a 'two-way traffic flow' sign right in the supposedly one-way part of the cycle lane isn't confusing at all? Oh, wait a moment, it is facing the wrong way, so it must be for the benefit of the motor traffic...

I am sure that cyclists trying to make sense of the junction they are approaching along the one-way bike lane won't be distracted at all by having to avoid a road sign post planted in their lane, will they? In fact I think road signs that refer to completely completely different lanes from the ones they are planted in is a great idea! I look forward to dozens of 'cycle lane' signs erected in the middle of motor carriageways. Sure no-one would complain about that.

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ktache replied to Awavey | 3 years ago
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I will say it looks a little bit confusing, but...

It does look as though it's seperated from the dangerous motor vehicles, even curb protected, not just magical white paint or the very half-arsed "advisory" dashed line.

The surface looks smooth, not rough or rutted, with changes of surface or potholes.

It looks free from most obstructions, there does appear to be a lampost to one side, but I cannot see any bus shelters, bins, trees, advertising things, huge signposts meant primarily for motorists or black bollards plonked right in the middle.

I fail to see prioity being seeded at minor side roads with accompanying "cyclist dismount" signs, or weird chicanes or speed bumps.

I'm guessing my bar has been set pretty low...

 

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AlsoSomniloquism replied to ktache | 3 years ago
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ktache wrote:

I fail to see prioity being seeded at minor side roads with accompanying "cyclist dismount" signs, or weird chicanes or speed bumps.

I'm guessing my bar has been set pretty low...

I was going to show a shared path down a road near me where it changes sides several times and crosses a side road and at each road crossing, they have cyclist dismount signs. So cyclists can cycle on the "pavement" but not across the road. However I have just noticed on Streetview that the signs are not there as of Apr2019 so must have only recently been put up.

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