Welcome to a new week on the live blog with Simon MacMichael, Jack Sexty and the rest of the team.
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
All the news from the site and beyond as we start a new week
Mon, Jan 21, 2019 16:30
SUMMARY
21 January 2019, 16:30
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
21 January 2019, 16:30
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.
21 January 2019, 16:30
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
21 January 2019, 16:30
Elliptical chainrings are so last year...
21 January 2019, 16:30
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…
21 January 2019, 16:30
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
21 January 2019, 16:30
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
21 January 2019, 16:30
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!
21 January 2019, 16:30
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.
21 January 2019, 16:30
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…
21 January 2019, 16:30
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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Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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Latest Comments
MaxiMinimalist 8 minutes ago
Bland and overcooked spaghetti
StuInNorway 44 minutes ago
@mdavidford That would seem likely.
mdavidford 48 minutes ago
@StuInNorway Presumably they pulled out from the parking on the other side without paying any attention to the oncoming traffic / police car.
Clem Fandango 59 minutes ago
@StuInNorway photos taken a week apart. Ragebait. ;-)
mdavidford 1 hour ago
@Rendel Harris If there were two people assigned to it full-time, (with a break for Christmas) then in accounting terms that might be considered four months...
Rendel Harris 1 hour ago
@Nigel Garage Not very good adding up for an accountant, Nigel. The police received the formal complaint on November 18th, 2024, and closed the case after calling the journalist in "early February" 2025. So essentially two-and-a-half months tops, with the Christmas period in the middle. The police deal with investigations as a matter of priority, a complaint of harassment from an academic about a journalist would be well down the list. It's more than likely that the complaint was received and logged and put in an in tray, once someone got round to dealing with it they called the journalist to offer right of reply and then closed the case. Or do you think they spent "four months" (a temporal impossibility) carrying out extensive investigations into the case without ever calling the accused? Try applying common sense instead of your prejudices.
jackcycles 2 hours ago
You do, however, accept that the police had a 4 month window - from November to February - where the met police engaged in a criminal investigation into a Times Education journalist for asking two polite questions about alleged plagiarism via email. You don't know how long, during that four months, they actually spent investigating it, but we do know the investigation was open for 4 months... they might have been working on the case 24/7 for all we know, just at a police pace (Don't forget those donuts and cups of tea take a long time to consume). Out of morbid curiosity, why do you think the police did that, rather than try to solve crimes?
StuInNorway 2 hours ago
Re : Police passing car and cyclist, I am confused. Between the 2 images the cyclist appears to have progressed a cars length or 2, and the car behind him the same, as far as I can see both have pulled over to allow the Police to pass. I'm more confused about WHERE DID THE ***ing GOLF COME FROM in the 2nd image ?
Rendel Harris 2 hours ago
@mark1a However they didn't, of course, spend four months investigating it as Nigel alleges. They received a formal complaint of harassment from Arday's solicitors at the end of November and called the journalist to offer him right of reply to the allegations in February, then closed the case. Anyone who has had any dealings with the rozzers knows how glacially slow their processes are, a three month delay does not mean they are diligently beavering away exploring all avenues in the interim.
Surreyrider 2 hours ago
I bought a Giant Defy (bad move, moved it on) in 2021. The Giant dealer told me rims would only be hookless within two years and scoffed when I doubted his claim. And here we are. And here am I on hooked rims.
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…