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Clip-in carnage: Tricky transition troubles triathletes; New year, same bad driving caught on camera by Jeremy Vine (+ cop defends not using 'murder strip'); Aero wizard Dan Bigham joins Ineos; Marvellous memes + more on the live blog

Happy New Year! It's the first live blog of 2022 and Dan Alexander is here for your Tuesday updates...
04 January 2022, 16:48
Cyclist thanks passers by for helping after collision

North Shields cyclist Martyn Edwards has thanked the passers by who rushed to help after he was hit by a driver at a roundabout on Thursday. An off-duty policeman and off-duty nurse were amongst the crowd who helped, providing medical attention while waiting for paramedics to arrive.

A neighbour provided a blanket to keep him warm, while another went to tell Martyn's wife. "I feel so lucky," he told the Newcastle Chronicle. "I couldn't believe how many people stopped to help. I have no idea who they are but I would just like to thank everyone for being there."

Martyn's wife Jo added: "He couldn't have asked for any better care than he got from the people who were there.

"People say society has changed and people aren't so kind and thoughtful anymore, but this just brings it home that when something like that happens people will take the time to help."

04 January 2022, 15:33
Out of nowhere...

Play on! He got the ball... 

04 January 2022, 15:28
What is the most frustrating bike maintenance job?

Shout-out to my 3T stem with the bolts facing towards the saddle, meaning tightening and loosening with a multi-tool makes you want to lob your bike in a hedge...but yes, I agree, bottle cages are another frustrating one. Honourable mention to forcing a tight tyre over the rim, especially when it's January, pissing down and you last felt your fingers two hours ago...

Which maintenance jobs really grind your gears?

04 January 2022, 15:02
How not to do bike parking racks

If Carlsberg did bike parking solutions, they'd be a hell of a lot better than this...

04 January 2022, 14:54
Kit controversy: UCI bans Bizkaia-Durango pink kit due to clash with Women's WorldTour leader's jersey

 Women's UCI-level team Bizkaia-Durango have expressed disappointment at the sport's governing body's decision to reject their pink kit due to a clash with the UCI Women's WorldTour leader's jersey. Bizkaia said the decision was particularly disappointing considering it has been their kit for the last six seasons, and that the UCI have rejected two different designs.

Last month, Andy Schleck-CP NVST-Immo Losch (try saying that after a few lagers) were also told to ditch their kit design over a clash with three WorldTour teams who had also gone for an orange, purple and pink colour scheme. The team's rejected (but already manufactured) kit soon appeared up for sale online...

04 January 2022, 14:15
Drops become Le Col Wahoo with triple funding
Le Col Wahoo

Le Col has backed up its passion for women's cycling by investing in the development of female riders via the pro team formerly known as Drops—Le Col. Now, Drops has been...well, dropped, and the team will continue under the Le Col Wahoo banner for at least two more years.

"Our commitment goes beyond the kit," Le Col founder Yanto Barker said. "With the Le Col Wahoo team we have a collective set of matched goals, values and ideas to work on. This is an incredibly exciting team, with some of the strongest young bike racers. It’s been an honour to work with the team for the past few seasons, and we are looking forward to that relationship continuing as Le Col pledge to triple our investment with title sponsorship."

04 January 2022, 13:35
How the Italians do bikeshare
04 January 2022, 12:22
Bizarre Express story digs up six-year-old failed Dragons' Den pitch...seemingly just to have a pop at cycling
Dragons' Den Peter Jones

I'm guessing not many of you took a dip onto the Express' website this morning, but if you have you might have seen this 'personal finance' story...

It centres around Dragons' Den's Peter Jones taking issue with John Readman's cycling pitch for Ride25, a trip allowing riders to cycle from the UK to Australia in 25 individual chunks. The article highlighted Jones' issues with the £1,250 trip, which includes food, accommodation and any medical expenses. The problem? The pitch was from 2015...

We're not really sure why it's been dug up now...someone must have been watching repeats over Christmas. However, the Express shared Jones' views on the trip...which turned into a rant about cyclists more generally..."I find it difficult enough living out in the country as it is.

"When I see and go through groups of like 50 going down the road, it drives me up the wall. You could have a stream of eight hours long worth of cyclists travelling from here to Amsterdam. I think that’s bloody annoying."

So what did we learn about personal finance? Not much.

04 January 2022, 11:54
Aero wizard British Hour Record holder Dan Bigham joins Ineos as 'race engineer'
Dan Bigham breaks British Hour Record

British Hour Record holder Dan Bigham has joined Ineos Grenadiers...but not as a rider. The 30-year-old broke Sir Bradley Wiggins' distance in October and worked with the Danish track cycling team at the Olympics, sharing his aerodynamic expertise.

> Dan Bigham breaks Sir Bradley Wiggins' British Hour Record

The WorldTour giants have appointed Bigham to the intriguing role of 'race engineer'. 

"His work in the pursuit of time trial and aerodynamic excellence makes Dan Bigham one of the most respected engineers in the cycling world," a team statement explained.

> Dan Bigham (doesn't) discuss Danish ‘tapegate’ controversy, plus North Coast 500 and Cannondale's history continued on road.cc Podcast episode 5

With Bigham's aero skills and the world champion's monstrous power, will anyone able to beat Top Ganna in 2022?

04 January 2022, 11:29
Motorway cop defends Jeremy Vine not using 'murder strip' cycle lane

Mark Hodson of the Central Motorway Police Group channelled his inner Surrey traffic cop to educate one unhappy replier claiming Vine should have been in the painted cycle lane.

Retired police cycling instructor Anthony Hunt added to Hodson's point, "Jeremy Vine was correct to take that position to protect his daughter from cars or maybe a truck trying to squeeze through and take his daughter out for the sake of five seconds progress. It’s a no-brainer really."

04 January 2022, 10:36
Marvellous memes: How long until racing starts again?

Cyclo-cross fans might take issue with me saying racing needs to start again. For what it's worth, wrestling control of the telly for the Boxing Day WVA v MVDP v Pidcock battle was well worth it. "They're not even riding their bikes," was heard muttered as the field lugged their machines up the stairs...

With the Australian races cancelled it looked as though Argentina's Vuelta a San Juan would be the season curtain-raiser on the road. Alas, that has now been cancelled too...

04 January 2022, 10:22
Welcome to the road.cc family, Ryan!

We have a new face to introduce...Ryan has joined the road.cc team. Good news: you won't have to put up with me live blogging every day. Bad news: there isn't any...Happy 2022!

04 January 2022, 09:54
New year, same bad driving caught on camera by Jeremy Vine

Not even 10am on our first day back and Jeremy Vine has delivered the goods. A "safe" three-mile cycle across town on a Sunday afternoon interrupted by a driver taking issue with the presenter riding in the middle of the lane and not in the painted cycle lane in the door zone. 

Needless to say the new year hasn't brought a change in attitudes on social media...

04 January 2022, 08:47
Clip-in carnage: Tricky transition troubles triathletes

Was it really worth clipping your shoes to the pedals to save a few seconds if you're then going spend the next minute faffing about trying to get your feet in?

In fairness, I think we can all sympathise with the clip-in struggle, we've all cocked it up at some point or other. Thankfully there's never normally someone with a camera at a big event ready to capture your crisis and share it to thousands online...

Rider 101 got off to a strong start, head of the pack, looking good for a quick exit...unfortunately that pre-clipped in strategy didn't quite go to plan, and soon saw him heading back the way he came. At least 77 was quickly on hand to distract the camera..

Back with 101 and the slow start continued, will someone please help him...oh, here comes 158 running past, going for the moving mount and...he's on the deck. Way to make 101 feel better about life.

Just when you think the shennanigans are complete 11 and 59 keep the party rolling (or perhaps not rolling is a better description)...and then the crowning glory...bike upturned with the chain being put back on. How many of these will just put their shoes on before clipping in next time? 

Dan joined road.cc in 2020, and spent most of his first year (hopefully) keeping you entertained on the live blog. At the start of 2022 he took on the role of news editor. Before joining road.cc, Dan wrote about various sports, including football and boxing for the Daily Express, and covered the weird and wonderful world of non-league football for The Non-League Paper. Part of the generation inspired by the 2012 Olympics, Dan has been 'enjoying' life on two wheels ever since and spends his weekends making bonk-induced trips to the petrol stations of the south of England.

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68 comments

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Awavey | 2 years ago
0 likes

unless the UCI are changing the WWT leaders jersey, which is possible I guess, but it was basically purple last year and we had two teams wearing predominantly purple kits, with not a murmur of protest from the UCI.

And it was that purple clash which kicked off the whole rush to change to fruit salad kits instead, which appears to have also claimed AWOL O'Shea as another victim even though again their kit like Andy Schlecks team was pre-existing colour set

But I dont see how Bizkaia-Durango clashed with the purple UCI WWT jersey, if anything its more of clash with Drops Le Col Wahoo.

 

 

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wycombewheeler | 2 years ago
0 likes

Clearly not enough room to pass JV at the pinch point, and exactly why the experienced cyclist should be behind the novice/child.

With the front cyclist taking a wide line to deter a squeeze pass, and the rear cyclist obediently staying in the cycle lane, the car is almost certain to pass through the pinch point adjacent to the novice cyclist.

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brooksby | 2 years ago
0 likes

WTAF are those bike stands in Mayfair??? no

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IanMK replied to brooksby | 2 years ago
3 likes

Bike stand at Bodmin Jail (on the Camel Trail). I think it's over the old grave pit.

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Captain Badger replied to IanMK | 2 years ago
1 like

IanMK wrote:

Bike stand at Bodmin Jail (on the Camel Trail). I think it's over the old grave pit.

Aww wow, look at all the sharp edges to scrape your paint on

We're spoiled as cyclists

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IanMSpencer | 2 years ago
4 likes

I guess BikeSnob NYC is not local, otherwise he would have made at least a passing reference to the joy that is fitting mudguards to a road bike.

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Tom_77 replied to IanMSpencer | 2 years ago
4 likes

IanMSpencer wrote:

I guess BikeSnob NYC is not local, otherwise he would have made at least a passing reference to the joy that is fitting mudguards to a road bike.

Planning to fit a pair of mudguards at the weekend, will probably involve a drill and a hacksaw. I'm expecting 3+ hours for what should be a half hour job.

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Dingaling replied to Tom_77 | 2 years ago
2 likes

Fitting new mudguards to a bike must be the worst job going. 18months ago I bought a set of SKS Longboards for my Genesis Gravel bike. For some inexplicable reason the mounting points at the front are halfway up the inside of the fork legs. That positioning of the mounting points meant the stays had to be cut to different lengths. The next issue was the front rubber flap was too low so I had to drill out the bridge rivets and re-rivet it further back. The result of that little exercise was the stays had to be cut again and the angle of them meant the ends had to be bent to fit through the top bracket of the mudguard.

I hope the mudguards never need replacing. I'd sooner strip the whole drive train down and clean it any day of the week.

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Sriracha replied to Dingaling | 2 years ago
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Regarding the mounting points halfway up the fork, I wonder whether (by design or accident) it makes it safer. If something jams under the mudguard and it all starts to rotate towards the fork crown, the mudguard should lift away from the tyre and hopefully release the object. But it is a pain to fit, in my case the lower stay was only just long enough.

As to the flap being too low, I thought that was the whole point? Stops the crop spraying onto the chainrings and thence into the entire drive train. Might save having to strip it down and clean so often  1

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Dingaling replied to Sriracha | 2 years ago
0 likes

I'm not sure about the possible safety aspect. I'll let you test that one. I rely on on the stays pulling out of the clips before I go over the handlebar.

Yes, the flap should be lower than normal mudguards but on the first fit it was nearly on the floor hence the refit. It is very effective at keeping the shoes and shins cleaner but could be longer at the top. I find that at anything over, around, 15mph I get covered in the spray off the top of the front wheel.

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SimoninSpalding replied to IanMSpencer | 2 years ago
1 like

Upvote for the stupid 3T stem though. There will be a barely used 100mm one listing on Ebay as soon as I can be @rsed if Dan needs one for another of his stable!

Will probably come up with a better sales pitch when I do list - "as used by road.cc editor" has a nice ring to it!

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brooksby replied to IanMSpencer | 2 years ago
1 like

I think it rains in NYC too...

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Captain Badger replied to brooksby | 2 years ago
0 likes
brooksby wrote:

I think it rains in NYC too...

Tender, tough, too tragic to be true...

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IanMSpencer | 2 years ago
4 likes

Vine is just experiencing typical Councilistis. Draw a line and if there are hazards choose:

a) draw the line anyway.

b) stop the cycle lane and leave the cyclist in the lurch.

 

This cycle lane was amended 2 months ago. I am starting to believe that they consider it complete although the pavement has no shared use indicators and they haven't yet fully reinstated traffic islands removed after resurfacing.

To accomodate a permanent cycle lane on the other side, they shifted the centre line and removed the uphill cycle lane. As there is now no room for a cycle lane and a car lane, they chose (b) and simply stop the lane marking before there is any opportunity for the cyclist to exit the road, nor is there any forward visibility of the road markings - the drivers, especially HGVs, are more fixated on oncoming traffic with the narrowed lane.

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SimoninSpalding replied to IanMSpencer | 2 years ago
3 likes

Intereresting one as the arrow is telling cyclists to take to the pavement, but there isn't a sign to say it is a shared use path?

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brooksby replied to SimoninSpalding | 2 years ago
6 likes

I think the sign on the road should be translated as wanting cyclists to please just F off out of the roadway...  They don't actually want them to carry on riding anywhere else.

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IanMSpencer replied to SimoninSpalding | 2 years ago
0 likes

Even better coming the other way is the wand added at the start of the full bike lane, on a bend, where drivers have been encouraged to drive in the cycle lane as they have gone for minimal road markings so there is no centre line. The bent and battered plastic posts (with the 10cm cycle lane sign on the wand being the only hint of a changing roadscape) testifies to the number of people who have had a suprise.

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IanMSpencer replied to SimoninSpalding | 2 years ago
2 likes

And how many people do you know have broken their hip riding up a dropped kerb at the wrong angle?

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wycombewheeler replied to SimoninSpalding | 2 years ago
7 likes

you're mistaken, the sign is directing cyclists to pop into the first house on the left.

Presumably some nice coffee and cake will be waiting.

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HarrogateSpa replied to IanMSpencer | 2 years ago
2 likes

If space is at a premium I guess it's sensible to think of a less-than-perfect solution. I agree it seems to be a shared use footway uphill, and a cycle lane downhill.

I doubt the cycle lane is 2m, or even 1.5m, and the physical protection is minimal. Orcas and wands would be better than just orcas.

In general I'd prefer to have a protected cycle track when I'm going uphill.

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IanMSpencer replied to HarrogateSpa | 2 years ago
1 like

The principle is great, the execution is appalling.

There is a 40mph post which is due to be removed as the road is residential, has a number of large properties like Sunset Senior Living and a golf club and is the scene of regular accidents at a junction further up. I suspect that the design criteria for the revised layout with reduced lane widths is 30mph. It's an ex-trunk road, obsolete after the M40 was built but the 40mph remained.

Unfortunately, they run the cycle lane on the pavement across the heavily used flat and care home entrances. In two months they have not put any markings on the pavement, so it is unclear how they expect the cyclists to interact traffic at those junctions; I suspect they think cyclists will give way - I have news for them on that score. It then passes in front of a bus stop before dropping onto the road again. Then there is bin day...

So they could have put in a dropped kerb on the roundabout at a more acute angle, making a desirable escape from the pinch point, widening the pavement where the 40mph sign is currently.

For about a month, they didn't have the Orcas and it was great. Then they put them in right down to the island - I live off to the right at the roundabout going downhill so I want to exit the cycle lane at about 20-25mph to merge with the traffic, can't do it with orcas.

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Global Nomad | 2 years ago
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welcome Ryan, will be good to have a 15 year old reporting........enjoy your new job

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AlsoSomniloquism | 2 years ago
10 likes

A story from 6-7 years ago in the Express? Finally stopped talking about Diana's death then?

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eburtthebike replied to AlsoSomniloquism | 2 years ago
3 likes

AlsoSomniloquism wrote:

A story from 6-7 years ago in the Express? Finally stopped talking about Diana's death then?

Just a pause: normal service will be resumed soon and it'll be on the front page on Friday, latest.

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mdavidford | 2 years ago
10 likes

Quote:

So what did we learn about personal finance?

Not to rely on the Daily Express for advice?

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marmotte27 | 2 years ago
10 likes

New year began badly for me too. 4 assholes inside 10 minutes on the first day commuting, two close passes into oncoming traffic, one woman driving down a one way street the wrong direction, one guy overtaking me the wrong side of a traffic island, thereby nearly colliding with a driver wanting to turn out of a side street (and yet making signs at me afterwards...)

Re the comments on the Jeremy Vine video: It beats me how so many people can react to a video like this, or any other document, of this kind, absolutely without engaging with a single one of its points...

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SimoninSpalding replied to Lance ꜱtrongarm | 2 years ago
5 likes

Now just think how much less effective this sage advice would be if all cyclists wore identically coloured official issue high visibility tabards. The thinner rearmost cyclist would disappear against "fatty in front" thus putting them at significant risk from law abiding drivers taking important phone calls and drinking their coffee.

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Mungecrundle replied to SimoninSpalding | 2 years ago
10 likes

How about if cyclists rode side by side? Larger one on the outside of course.

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SimoninSpalding replied to Mungecrundle | 2 years ago
5 likes

But then they would be contravening "road safety expert" Nick Freeman's version of the highway code where cyclists must ride in single file, with any other approach being "totally illegal".

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TriTaxMan replied to Lance ꜱtrongarm | 2 years ago
9 likes

Garage at Large wrote:

Agree with other commenters on the God-awful cycle lane in the Vine clip - this kind of "infrastructure" is worse than having none at all. The other thing I note about the clip is that Vine is riding ahead of his child. At first this might seem odd, but it does tie in with my sage advice of having the fatter cyclist ride in front of the thin one, so that the thin cyclist is always visible. So full marks to Jeremy on that one.

Oh look..... more wonderful fat shaming "joking" from Nigel, add that to racism and mysoginy.

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