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Live blog: 3T launch Exploro Speed gravel bike, Pedal Me cargo bike taxi branded “delusional” in Dragons’ Den trailer, another quirky Planet X anti-sales pitch, Van Avermaet’s stunning new bike + more
SUMMARY

Some stories you may have missed at the weekend
Glasgow could host first combined World Cycling Championships in 2023
Near Miss of the Day 239: Van driver tailgates and executes close pass
US amateur cyclist tests positive for five banned substances
Man trying to stop thief stealing his bike in New Mexico shot dead
Canterbury City Council to clamp down on “reckless” food delivery riders
Video: Take a look at Greg Van Avermaet's stunning new bike
Like Samuel Sanchez before him, Greg Van Avermaet isn’t shy about letting the world know he is the reigning Olympic road champion – clock those gold shades and helmet. Now, he’s even got a gold bike – in the shape of this Giant TCR Advanced SL. Here he is talking through it in this video.
How many TdF winners does it take to change a tyre?
An absolute belter from a few years back!
How many @LeTour winners does it take to change a tyre? @chrisfroome @GeraintThomas86 #cycling #cyclinglife #cyclist @TeamSky #teamsky #bike pic.twitter.com/D9lFB7kB7x
— Trans World Sport (@TransWorldSport) January 18, 2019
Elliptical chainrings are so last year...
Planet X are at it again
If you’re on the British bike retailer’s mailing list, you may have noticed some pretty unusual anti-sales pitches in the run up to Christmas – including some ‘For a Bob’ deals, flogging hats and chain cleaners for 5p with a photo of the late Bob Monkhouse alongside, and some further deals promoted by William Shakespeare. This time they didn’t get that far, simply using this text convo for their weekend newsletter instead…
The weekend’s big talking point 1: “They are always in the way” says Farmer who did close pass in tractor before throwing cyclist and bike to grass verge
Imagine if he had to drive his tractor around Central London… you can read the full report from Saturday here
The weekend’s big talking point 2: GPS computers of the pros… It’s not all Garmin any more
Liam has a look at what computers the pros have on their bars (you probably didn’t need a computer to work that bit out) – you can read the full rundown here
Another example of incredible Netherlands cycling infra
I love my country, where this is simply possible! Sint Michielsgestel, NL. pic.twitter.com/2RtyNnQlno
— Mark Wagenbuur (@BicycleDutch) January 20, 2019
We can dream!
Pedal Me cargo bike taxi firm called 'delusional' on upcoming episode of Dragon's Den
We’re on #dragonsden this Sunday…you might want to watch. Here’s a little teaser:https://t.co/grpwk8RLhh
— Pedal Me (@pedalmeapp) January 21, 2019
Why they’re promoting this we’re not so sure but Pedal Me, a London-based cargo bike taxi and delivery start-up, have revealed a teaser of their upcoming appearance on Dragon’s Den that will go out this Sunday on BBC Two. From the clip it appears their pitch didn’t go too well, with the Dragons berating the young entrepreneurs for their business model that they say is open to being hijacked by the likes of Uber. Pedal Me argue that such companies wouldn’t have the combined cargo bike, skills and tech knowledge to do it as well as them, to which they are branded “delusional” by fashion magnate Touker Suleyman.
We’ve noticed a pattern for Dragons getting it a bit wrong in the past when it comes to cycling/mobility/transport pitches in the Den; and from our point of view, why can’t there be more than one cargo bike taxi firm in London even if Uber were to muscle in? Their crowdfunding campaign was very successful, raising £350,000 in just a few days in October last year, so best of luck to them we say. Head over to Pedal Me’s website to find out more and download the app if you want a ride.
Blue Monday? Ride your bike!
Yes it’s bloody cold out, but on this the most depressing day of the year according to someone somewhere, going out for a ride and the endorphins released with it will cheers you up no end…
3T launch the Exploro Speed, complete with race-ready spec
3T’s Exploro gravel bike is sold as an all-rounder that can also be used on tarmac, and now the brand has introduced the Exploro Speed with a racier spec to satisfy those who want to use their Exploro to go fast. The frame is the same, but the Speed models are offered with carbon mid-depth wheels, optional Torno Ltd cranks and Sram Force 1x groupsets. Builds start from €5,200 for the Team build and go up to €7,200 for the Torno Ltd version. Head over to 3T’s website for more info.
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I'll counter that by saying the Bryton 750se I have drives me nuts at times. Inconsistantly picks up on routes created on Komoot and the app re-syncs every few seconds when trying to set up the device and sends me back to the home screen. The most infuriating one is that I turned live track on. Once. It now won't turn off and repeatedly flags up the live track is starting, and then disconnecting every few seconds whilst riding. I haven't timed it but it wouldn't suprise me if 10-20% of the time the the screen is covered with an error message. That's been about 6 weeks now. Other than that it's great :/
RE: Police launch road safety operation... by clamping down on cyclists using footbridge Meanwhile in Glasgow, Police Scotland are riding their motorbikes over the pedestrian and cyclists only bridge. https://x.com/FietserGlasgow/status/2065106152917012523?s=20
@Paul J Van Schip certainly seems a bit of a dick, but he's a European and multiple World Champion on the track, pretty sure you don't get there without having some talent in your legs.
Poor Vincent cannot get over the simple fact that given the choice people prefer dedicated cycling spaces, rather than pretending to be cars like vehicular cyclists.
What is the point of the fancy air sensor if it can't account for changing weather conditions?? If all you care about is a delayed approximation of aerodynamic watts in steady conditions, you don't need any special sensors for that. Just your speed on a decently flat course is enough to approximate rolling resistance and drivetrain losses. And the rest must be aero. If you assume a less aero body position at the same watts, your speed will drop while rolling resistance also drops, which means approximated aero watts goes up. And that's enough to demonstrate what you've shown in your testing protocol ("I sat upright and the number went up a little while later").
Your correction is accurate - it's almost always been "the (lack of) thought that (doesn't) count". "Massive" - less than a billion a year spent on active travel (trying to catch up / building a network across the entire country) Not massive - 6 billion every year (2026-2030) spent on road *maintenance* of existing "already built, goes everywhere, very convenient" road network for inactive travel Ultimately the reason "cycle infra" is *needed* is those unbelievably colossal amounts spent every year (and for more than a century now) on making mass motoring not just viable but apparently the "best choice" for most journeys. As the Dutch and others have shown, the majority of people *are* prepared to cycle and even mix with very light, slow local motor traffic *if* cycling is also made safe and convenient for the whole of their journey (including secure parking at both ends). (The history of the financial drivers of the current situation are a complex topic but note that while people complain about "crumbling roads" and underfunded motor infra - with some reason - by us continuing the fuel duty escalator freeze (for example) we're actually helping motorists pay *even less* for that activity / subsidising more of the cost of driving than ever.)
yes, but people will still object - which was my point.
So ' Priority of Road Users' and 1.5 metre clearance at 30mph has been been reduced to 'sharing'? NCN route 2 here in South Hams is an absolute scream with white vans, tractors and total idiots who refuse,or are totally incapable,to reverse on high Devon banked lanes ...means you have to get off and pedal back to a passing place....could be at that all day...so I don't bother...
@MaxiMinimalist Agreed. The big problem I see now is today's parents grew up being driven to their schools, and therefore, see private motor vehicles as the only viable form of transport. The vast majority of UK infant and primary schools have a catchment area that is within easy walking distance from home to school. Yet, the traffic caused by pupils being driven to/from school is astonishing. Banishing the "School Run" should be a priority for all schools.
When I was a kid (that was during the previous millenium when phones were connected to a plug in the wall), I rode my bicycle to school, music academy, sport grounds, parties even during the winter. The government didn't have to spend, correct that, didn't have to think of spending massive amounts of money to build cycling specific infrastructures. Over the past 3 or 4 decades, cars have grown bigger, taller, safer (for their drivers) and faster. Meanwhile, motorists have become abusive, aggressive, hypersensitive to people moving on two wheels, aka cyclists. Spending billions upon billions on new infrastructure won't address the crux of the matter. Sadly.
7 thoughts on “Live blog: 3T launch Exploro Speed gravel bike, Pedal Me cargo bike taxi branded “delusional” in Dragons’ Den trailer, another quirky Planet X anti-sales pitch, Van Avermaet’s stunning new bike + more”
That gold TCR is stunning!!
That gold TCR is stunning!!
I’m surprised BTBS hasn’t
I’m surprised BTBS hasn’t been by to say that Dutch bike path is actually very dangerous…
jacknorell wrote:
Its funny you mentioned them – I was only thinking that I hadn’t seen any posts from them for a while
brooksby wrote:
Its funny you mentioned them – I was only thinking that I hadn’t seen any posts from them for a while
— jacknorell
Because the Dutch always ride in a safe manner and there is never any risk of a low speed head impact where a helmet might prevent injury.
And helmets encourage dangerous riding of course.
OK – note to self – never
OK – note to self – never ever evere ever EVER let froome dog or thomas near any of my bikes.
leqin wrote:
That clip has the look of a piss-take. Of course they can change a tyre, they just grab the nearest mechanic.
I don’t imagine that the
I don’t imagine that the Dragon’s Den dragons ever ride a bike for transport – shiny high end motors and black cabs, I imagine are more their style…
No wonder their record on anything bike related isn’t so good…