road.cc live blog: A Garden Bridge, Dutch-style … and Arise, Sir Cyclist!

Yes - he gives the total - 419.67km - in his post above. Point being, though, that the 'hyperbole' comments were when the claim was that "300 km in a week" was insane. Obviously 420km in four days rates somewhat higher on the insanity index, but that's a different discussion. [Not sure how much higher - is the distance per time to insanity relationship linear, or exponential? Or perhaps even, er, hyperbolic?] That said, I've done about the same distance as Valtteri in three days (albeit not on gravel), and I don't think I'm insane (others here may have other opinions). I'm certainly not a super-fit top-level athlete.

You reference the Panaracer GravelKing ZX, but the tread pattern and width is a almost identical to their GravelKing Slick Plus tyre. The only difference seems the additional 10mm width, and a fancier looking sidewall, along with whatever 'handmade' actually means. Be interested to hear a comparison of the ride quality. I use these Panaracer tyres in 40mm and for me, in the UK on dry, mixed surface rides they're absolutely perfect. And at £30 cheaper I'd need some convincing to switch.

Cargo bikes are vehicles.

*Some* carparks are considered public places - depends on the carpark. And a 'common sense' understanding of 'accessible to the general public' may not accord with what's a public place. Your common or garden supermarket carpark will be, though.

Geometry?

@Mr Blackbird I remember years ago taking my daughter to see the start of a stage for a post-TdeF race in France. We watched the Départ Fictif, and my daughter asked "why are they going so slow?". I pointed out that I would barely be able to keep up with them even at that speed...

@StevenCrook I actually do run a business using cargo bikes. And we have never had a theft of any bike or any property. (And that’s after over a decade of trading) You just adapt accordingly and carry what you need - it’s not rocket science, almost any dumbo can work it out. I have a job tomorrow and we have cargo bikes going to two locations in London. Nothing will get stolen, the cargo bikes will get exactly to their destination with no fuel costs or congestion charges and without sitting in traffic. We will set off without worrying about getting stuck in traffic or road closures. And we don’t have to listen to LBC either as we cycle and thus avoid getting our heads filled with loads of ignorant baiting.

@ktache No, of course they aren't immune. Are you saying cargo bikes can be made as safe as vehicles? I'd think that would be a first requirement...

@Ad Hynkel Exactly, cargo bikes aren't the only way to cut down on the van traffic. A mate of mine in the restoration business has to use his van sometimes to get his heavy equipment on site, so he'll take his van at the start of the job with all the kit and supplies he needs, cycle commute the rest of the week and then drive van, kit and bike home at the end of the job. Not always possible, I accept, for people like emergency callout plumbers who may need a large range of supplies with them, not knowing what they'll be facing, but lots of trades could cut down on their van use with a little planning and a change of mindset. In the case of my friend, he's a keen cyclist but his reasons are simply pragmatic: with a job in central London every day he uses the bike not the van he saves £18 in congestion charge, sometimes as much as £80 in parking charges, and about ninety minutes in travel time.

@Nigel Garage So you've taken out the racist bit in case people correctly interpret it as racist and replaced it with something completely different. Unfortunately for you I've already quoted it and I'll do so again: according to you the Asian-heritage lady holding office is "[what one would] expect with the population of London being made up the way it is". That's very different to "voting the way it does" and weasel words and edits will not prevent people seeing your comment for what it was and you for what you are.