Riders on the storm at the Dutch Headwind Championships; Cycling and NFTs - what's the point?; Cycling and disability: does cycling present itself as a ‘uniquely virtuous activity’?; The Great Gravel Debate + more on the live blog

A researcher at the University of Salford who specialises in inclusive active travel has criticised Stockport Council’s plans for new cycling infrastructure which she claims will restrict access for disabled cyclists.

Harrie Larrington-Spencer told the Manchester Evening News that the council’s active travel plans, which include installing chicanes, bollards and barriers to combat anti-social behaviour on some cycle routes, don’t “meet the legal access requirements”.

The 31-year-old, who has reduced function in her left arm and hand after being hit by a car five years ago says that disabled people who use non-standard cycles and larger scooters will find it particularly difficult to negotiate the barriers.

“The very basic bare minimum the council should be doing, they don’t reach that, which morally is pretty disgusting. There’s a minimum and the council is trying to worm their way out of it,” she said.

“You are limiting who can access these routes, which is terrible.”

Harrie claimed that the council has misunderstood the Equality Act, by making arguments about ‘balancing’ the needs of disabled people with tackling anti-social behaviour.

In a recent meeting, Dean Fitzpatrick told Stockport Council: “I think in the way we have got unsafe, selfish, speeding, erratic car drivers, we also have the same with cyclists and we also have the same with people on scooters.”

“As councillors, our job is to try and balance everything for the whole community.”

But Larrington-Spencer says the issue is “not about balance. Disabled people have the right to access these spaces. You should be able to use the same walking and cycling routes that non-disabled people can use.

“Anti-social behaviour is a separate issue that they should be tackling. I have never seen police on these routes before. If they want to tackle anti-social behaviour, that’s what they should be doing.

“At Nelstrop Road, they have removed the barriers and put in lights and improved the surface so I can connect to Fallowfield loop to Heaton Chapel and I can go into the Active Neighbourhood area as well," she said.

"That’s a nice example of an inclusive cycle route by removing barriers. So they know what they need to do and how to do it - which possibly makes decisions like this even more frustrating.”

Following this morning’s blog entry, one of the founders of the NFT and Blockchain-based Bike Club, Tyler Benedict, got in touch with road.cc to defend the project.

Benedict, who also founded the cycling tech blog Bikerumor, said that despite the criticisms directed at the project on social media, the launch of Bike Club is “a good thing for the cycling community”.

“There are a lot of NFT scams out there, for sure,” Tyler told road.cc.

“You don’t need to take my word for it, or Rich’s, or anyone else’s, but the four founders have put our real names and identities behind Bike Club, along with our combined 60+ years in the industry, so our reputations are on the line.

“This isn’t something we take lightly, nor is the responsibility to deliver on the promises we’re making.

“We believe we’re building something truly special here. I think we’re going to surprise a lot of people (in a very, very good way).”

Tyler and artist Rich Mitch will appear on an upcoming episode of the road.cc Podcast to discuss their plans for Bike Club, both fungible and non-fungible. So keep an eye on the blockchain for that...

Here's a tale from the weekend from road.cc's own Simon MacMichael:

My mate Col got smacked in the ear by a wayward practice shot by one of the subs at half-time @DulwichHamletFC yesterday, he was a bit out of it for a few minutes.
Bit later on, he got his cycle helmet out of his bag and stuck it on, much to the amusement of The Rabble 🤣 pic.twitter.com/htlfjhnT9a

— Simon MacMichael (@simonmacmichael) February 6, 2022

What this tweet doesn’t mention in just how fast the ball was travelling … curling and dipping, but missing the goal (which I presume was the intended target) and smacking my friend squarely on the right ear.

It was like a sucker punch and it’s fair to say he didn’t quite know where he was for a couple of minutes, and someone went and found a couple of paramedics who checked him over and made sure everything was okay.

A few minutes later, he said, “Hang on… ” and started rummaging around in his bag, pulled out his cycle helmet and stuck it on, which probably got the biggest cheer of the second half from the home crowd on an afternoon that ended in a 3-1 defeat.

As it turned out, lightning – or in this case, the football – didn’t strike twice and the helmet was not put to test.

Haven't seen anything as blatantly punishable as this all season. What's Van Alphen done to her to warrant this treatment I wonder? https://t.co/fT23DbU59i

— Katy M (@writebikerepeat) February 5, 2022

An interesting debate started on Twitter yesterday concerning the language we as cyclists use to promote our favourite activity, mode of transport, sport, or hobby, especially when it comes to disability.

The debate began when disabled activist Charli Clement tweeted a photo of a sign in the Library of Birmingham which instructed visitors to “burn calories, not electricity” by using the stairs:

tw // calories

This is so grim from @LibraryofBham. Disabled people shouldn’t feel ashamed for needing to use a lift that uses electricity, and many others will be triggered by talk of calories and exercise. There’s no need for this in a public library. pic.twitter.com/lqGdgmxGxk

— Charli Clement (@charliclement_) February 5, 2022

One Twitter user, who we featured on the blog last week, questioned whether there was anything wrong with the sign, saying: “It seems like the same argument as saying that we shouldn't encourage people to ride bikes because not everyone is able to ride a bike.

“Also, if people who don't need it don't use it, the people who DO need it won't have to wait so long for it to arrive.”

Judy’s reply prompted further discussion – led by Scottish historian and disability campaigner Dr Michael Riordan – on how cycling, as an activity, promotes and presents itself:

Which doesn’t mean I am anti-cycling (I’m not), or that we should try to make cycling accessible to more disabled people (we should), but claims cycling is a virtuous activity can exclude many from the virtuous elite, so cycling promotion needs to be more careful with language

— Dr. Michael B. Riordan (@michael_riordan) February 6, 2022

Protected cycle lanes are actually about providing options for people who don't currently cycle (because they feel it's unsafe). Children, elderly, etc are in those groups. It's not about fit people getting anywhere faster.

— Sarah Harbour (@LwtEmmaBird) February 6, 2022

for many elderly/disabled people cycling not going to be viable form of transport (mode use stats show this). Disabled folk weren’t inc’d in cycle-first strategies like London’s. Believe in good infrastructure, but presenting cycling as virtuous risks alienating those who can’t

— Dr. Michael B. Riordan (@michael_riordan) February 6, 2022

I want a walk/roll first policy.

That's nearly everyone.

Cyclists are next on the list. Not first.

— dee harvey (@deeharvey) February 6, 2022

What do you think? Should we be more careful with the language we use to promote cycling? And is it true that we should we try to avoid presenting cycling and cyclists as part of an exclusive and “virtuous elite”?

For some reason, cyclists aren't using the new protected bike lane. pic.twitter.com/4179YUxZCD

— Peter Flax (@Pflax1) February 6, 2022

If you’re one of those riders who enjoys consistently telling the club run that you could hang on during a pro race, then you’re in luck.

Elite is bringing out a new monthly race series on Zwift called the Elite Pro Series, giving amateur riders the unique opportunity to line up on the same start line as professional cyclists.

Movistar and Équipe Cycliste Groupama-FDJ pros are confirmed for the first round, as well as riders from the men’s and women’s Movistar eTeam.

Courses will vary from month to month so everyone gets a chance to race on a course that suits their strengths.

Kicking off on 17 February at 6.30pm GMT, the first event will be held on the Magnificent 8 course, in Zwift’s main map, Watopia.

The length of the course is 28.6km (17.8 miles) and has minimal elevation gain (131m, 430 ft) - it’s one of the flatter routes, with the only climb being the reverse Hilly KOM. So suitable for those who have, shall we say, neglected the turbo trainer over the winter…

The six pros that are competing are: Matteo Jorgenson (Movistar Team), Alicia González (Movistar Team), Tobias Ludvigsson (Groupama-FDJ), Lewis Askey (Groupama-FDJ), Vidar Mehl (Movistar eTeam) and Steph Clutterbuck (Movistar eTeam).

If you think you can hang with the pros, you can register on Zwift’s website.

To be honest, I’m still banging on about the time I rode up the Oude Kwaremont with Johan Museeuw on RGT…

Het was een van de zwaarste edities tot nu toe. Wind, regen, zand, alles werd tegen de deelnemers aangegooid met snelheden tot 90 km/u. Fietspetje af voor iedereen die de Kering heeft getrotseerd op een fiets zonder versnelling maar met hoog stuur 🙌💪⚡️🌨💨🚴🏼 #nktegenwindfietsen pic.twitter.com/corir7Zy9d

— NK Tegenwindfietsen (@NKTegenwind) February 6, 2022

Forget Valenciana, forget Bessèges, and definitely forget the Saudi Tour – the real racing this weekend was to be found on a nine-kilometre dam by the North Sea.

The Dutch Headwind Cycling Championship is an annual time trial event which takes place on the Oosterscheldekering barrier during stormy weather.

Participants have to ride the time trial on a high bar, single speed bike provided by the organisers. As extremely windy conditions – of Wind Force 7 or higher – are necessary to stage the event, the race has no fixed date on the calendar. Riders have to be prepared at any time to race and are warned by the organisers three days before a storm is due.

This year, the 200 entrants faced one of the hardest editions to date – with wind speeds of up to 57mph, along with rain and sand thrown in for good measure.

Jurjun van der Velde won the men’s event, covering the 8.5 kilometre course in 20 minutes 23 seconds, while Lisa Scheenaard, an Olympic medallist in the double sculls, won the women’s race with a time of 22 minutes 53 seconds.

Not sure what the UCI’s extreme weather protocol makes of the whole thing…

The Dutch National Headwind Championship combines two of the nation’s greatest annoyances: cycling and weather. #FunFact There is not a single Dutch person on the planet who has not used either or both of these things as an excuse for being late. https://t.co/ceRIgSE84L

— Richard de Nooy (@RicharddeNooy) February 6, 2022

Dutch Headwind Championship today. Nutters. https://t.co/KcV6U8SfkD

— Ned Boulting (@nedboulting) February 6, 2022