Live blog: Team Sky increasingly likely to become Team Ineos; CUK calls for tighter controls on new drivers, Reaction to Campag’s (very pricey) new EPS groupset; Sunderland Nissan to get improved cycle access, Challenge warns on Enve SES wheels +more
SUMMARY
Sunderland Nissan plant to get improved cycle access as part of £10m Government funding package
Chancellor Philip Hammond’s Spring Statement featured £10m of funding for improvements to cycleways and bus routes across the North East.
More than half the funding is for cycling, with new route connections to areas such as South Tyneside’s International Advanced Manufacturing Park and Sunderland’s Nissan plant.
Our old friend Transport Secretary Chris Grayling commented: “Great public transport is key to unlocking the huge economic potential of the Northern Powerhouse. These proposals will help ensure the towns and cities of the North East have the transport systems they need to deliver a prosperous future for residents and businesses.”
(Via the Sunderland Echo.)
Cyclist previewing time trial course killed after driver makes U-turn
19-year-old Team California rider Tate Meintjes was killed on Tuesday while recceing the Redlands Classic time trial course.
The race reports that a car made a U-turn in front of him while he was riding with team-mates.
In a statement, California Highway Patrol said Meintjes was riding west on Sand Canyon Road, behind a Honda Accord, just east of Crafton Avenue. “The Honda made a U-turn directly into the path of the cyclist and the cyclist crashed into the Honda.”
The president of the Redlands Bicycle Classic, Marc Shaw, said: “We are absolutely heartbroken by the tragic collision that occurred Tuesday. The cycling community is a very tight knit one, the loss of such a talented, young cyclist is being felt across all cycling disciplines.
“The race committee is working closely with our entire field of talented athletes and support staff to ensure they are receiving the assistance they need during this difficult time.”
The Redlands Bicycle Classic is deeply saddened to report @TeamCABike rider, Tate Meintjes, was tragically killed in a collision with a vehicle Tuesday morning. Our deepest condolences to Tate’s family, friends & teammates. #RideforTate
Full statement: https://t.co/wLD0VMQqhf pic.twitter.com/SjykGfMfGv— Redlands Classic (@redlandsClassic) March 13, 2019
Movistar TT weapons ready to go for Paris-Nice
It’s a crisp day at #ParisNice, where a key ITT will be contested in Barbentane later on Thursday. Here are our @canyon_bikes Speedmax weapons for the stage, complete with @campagnolosrl components pic.twitter.com/q2CPmuWu6Y
— Movistar Team (@Movistar_Team) March 14, 2019
Dressed in Campagnolo’s finest. Check back for more Campag info later today, we may have a surprise for you!
Well at least Strava's safe...
Since Facebook and Instagram are down…
Just go out there and ride your bike. No excuses!
#FacebookDown #instagramdown pic.twitter.com/Qv01hH1cKg— UCI (@UCI_cycling) November 20, 2018
I think you'll find it's vehicle excise duty
it had no Tax. #Eunit #Walsall back to work after rest days. Officers were doing their paperwork in the car and this was parked by them. It is now on the back of a truck. What a Fab job.
Don’t be flakey…pay your Road tax. pic.twitter.com/uL22uCmg92
— Force Response (@ResponseWMP) March 13, 2019
We understand this happened on a Sundae. The fine was hundreds and thousands, and the area has been coned off for the time being…
Keith Butler, former national champion and founder of the Surrey League, dies aged 80
Today the club is in mourning for one of our most renowned and long
serving members. Keith Butler, architect of the Surrey Cycle Racing League and NPCC member since 1953, passed away this morning in hospital near his home. Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/b8IIgP3BzQ— Norwood Paragon (@norwoodparagon) March 13, 2019
How much? etc etc
Campagnolo have now flipped the switch on their Super Record 12 speed groupset, with the launch of the EPS version. The prices have raised a few eyebrows already, as have the looks, as have the inevitable comparisons with other component brands. Jimmy Walnuts says itr far better than us… (you can read all about the new gruppo here)
David Plowie and Spready Salted ready for action
I’m delighted to introduce London’s newest two cycle way gritters. ‘David Plowie’ & ‘Spready Salted’ join the fleet that help keep our bike routes open and safe whatever the weather. pic.twitter.com/0Mrf6A3rCB
— Will Norman (@willnorman) March 14, 2019
Reckon we can do any better? We’re going with Lil Plough Wow and Gritney Spears to start you off…
Challenge advises against using its tyres with Enve SES wheels
Following yesterday’s shock announcement that the ISO 5775 and ETRTO guidelines governing rim and tyre dimensions are due to be updated this year after lengthy industry discussions, finally bringing about one universal tubeless standard, Challenge Tires has issued a safety bulletin advising against using its tyres with Enve SES carbon rims.
We don’t yet know the exact details of the new standards but Challenge reveals the update to the guidelines stipulates a minimum 0.7mm rounded radius on all hooked rims.
Challenge claims that Enve SES carbon rims do not comply with this updated standard, having “two sharp 0.2mm radii in their hooks that leave parallel cuts above the bead”. For this reason, Challenge does not recommend using its tyres on Enve rims.
Here’s the important bit from the press release:
Challenge has noted failures of its clincher tires, communicated by consumers and athletes, caused by the sharp edges on the ENVE SES hooks. This international design standard violation has been communicated back to the affected consumers, shops, endorsed teams, ENVE and their parent company, as Challenge has been made aware of problems. ENVE, however, continues to produce and promote usage of the said SES models, as part of their line.
Challenge has consequently been forced to list the specific ENVE SES rims as not compatible with any Challenge clincher tire models, on the website. Challenge asks that consumers do not mount ENVE SES wheels with any model of Challenge clincher tire whatsoever.
Failure to follow this warning could cause the ENVE SES wheel to cut Challenge’s quality casings resulting in explosive air loss from the tire and/or inner tube, potentially causing a crash and injury to the rider.This bulletin also aims at providing the technical clarification, that only a precisely defined 622.0mm+-0.5mm bead seat diameter, specifically defined wall height and center channel, as described in the new above standards, will safely and easily allow proper tire and rim fit and function. Challenge has regularly been attending standards meetings and being involved for the past three years in confronting the market’s accelerated changes, such as the implementation of progressively wider rims, carbon fiber clinchers rims and tubeless and tubeless ready tire technologies. Challenge has invested time, knowledge and energy together with other elite bicycle industry companies to address and update tire & wheel fit issues with the ETRTO and ISO.
Challenge handmade tires have been produced for close to 20 years using the same handmade processes that have been proven over the past 50 years at the highest levels of racing without significant failures – if the rims and wheels comply with internationally accepted design standards. And this applies for both aluminum and carbon fiber rims.
Regarding carbon fiber rims, there had also been other periodic problems in the past with some carbon rims that had cut our (and other tire manufacturers’) tire casings just above the beads. These tire cuts were however normally caused by less than optimal QC at the factory, resulting in quality issues of improper finishing at the tire hook during production. Normally roughness at the hook was due to failure to completely remove resin flashings created while molding the rim. Proper finishing leaves the required 0.7mm min. radiused rim hook smooth, without roughness, thus eliminating a potential tire failure.
In the above cases, Challenge has routinely and successfully worked with the wheel suppliers (including ENVE) to fix the problems or replace these wheels to the consumer. However, specifically with ENVE’s SES model wheels, it is the first time that Challenge has known of a rim hook design that does not meet the above recognized design criteria, reason for which Challenge feels compelled to follow up with the release of this informative bulletin to protect its customers
Paris-Roubaix cobbles could do with a good clean and polish
There’s not been a muddy edition of Paris-Roubaix in over a decade but if they held it today, could this year be any different? If the cobbles stay as muddy as they are right now we could be in for a surprise.
Cycling UK calls for tighter controls on all new drivers
Cycling UK has expressed its support for ‘Graduated Driver Licensing’ (GDL) – a system where conditions are imposed on novice drivers.
Young drivers are over-represented in reported collision and casualty statistics and the charity says that this is influenced by the current training and testing system’s strong focus on vehicle handling (which is not too much of a challenge for most young people); insufficient focus on hazard perception; and a failure to put enough emphasis on social responsibility and emotional control.
Cycling UK would like to see:
- A minimum learning period of at least 12 months
- An intermediate/probationary stage, which would prohibit driving at night and on motorways amongst other things
- More widespread use of black boxes
Analysis carried out by IAM RoadSmart in partnership with the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) last year found that young drivers quickly picked up skills needed to avoid single-vehicle crashes, but took longer to acquire those needed to avoid vulnerable road users.
The road safety charity said this was possibly because of poor hazard perception skills.
Chief Executive Officer, Sarah Sillars, said the results showed, “that in the formative years of driving, there is clearly a need for post-test training to continue, to build experience that can reduce the number of needless tragedies on our roads.”
British Cycling pays tribute to Keith Butler
“Everybody at British Cycling was deeply saddened by the news of Keith Butler’s passing on the morning of Wednesday 13 March.
“As the first man to win both the amateur and professional national road race titles, team manager for the Great Britain Cycling Team at the 1986 UCI Road World Championships in Colorado and latterly as a member of the Board, Keith will forever sit among the pantheon of greats who pioneered the sport on these shores and laid the foundations for those who followed.
“He was also a longstanding member of the Road Commission and South East Regional Board, and one of the inaugural inductees in the British Cycling Hall of Fame in recognition of his lasting contribution to our sport.
“We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to Keith for the tireless and unfailing contribution he made throughout his life, and his legacy lives on through the racing scene in Surrey and all of those who have been inspired and supported to ride through his endeavours.
“The thoughts of everybody, both at British Cycling and in the wider cycling community, are with Keith’s family and friends at this difficult time.”
Dockless bike-sharing business model "a joke" says urban transport expert
Team Sky increasingly likely to become Team Ineos
Still not officially confirmed, but…
55m10s in and Ineos, the UK chemicals and energy company, named as a replacement sponsor for Team Sky https://t.co/7uv4E9ivDl
— the Inner Ring (@inrng) March 13, 2019
We reported that this was on the cards a couple of weeks ago.
Ineos is the chemicals giant founded and run by Britain’s richest man, Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
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Latest Comments
For a moment there I thought that said Silca were going retro and bringing back omerta...
Would they have been able to finish that bit properly if they hadn't lopped a couple of grand off the budget to get it under £500k?
@chrisonabike "The countryside is difficult when it comes to transport choices. " You're not wrong. "Recreational cyclists – as evidenced by the folks on here – will likely cycle anyways, probably even if it was banned!" Twice.
@Rendel Harris whoa there son, put away that tinfoil hat. The Telegraph (a trusted broadsheet since 1855) was merely quoting home office figures, which shows knife crime rising steadily under Khan, even after 2019. By the way, on the off chance you're out tonight, make sure you keep your back to the wall on the way home? There's a good chap, despite our differences I'd hate for anything bad to happen to you.
@Nigel Garage Is that the Telegraph that has the same obsessive hatred of Lord Khan as yourself, doubtless for the same reasons (brown, Muslim, left wing, popular, successful, caned the Tories three elections in a row)? The Telegraph that in 2024 claimed London gun crime had risen 2,500% in a year when in fact it had risen by 1%? If the Telegraph says it's Monday I check my watch to see if it's true. Knife crime offences have risen under Khan, by about 50%, from 9,086 offences in 2016 to 13,850 in 2025. What the Telegraph doubtless failed to mention is that a large part of this increase is due to stricter knife laws having been brought in in 2019, so that many offences that previously wouldn't have been recorded as knife crime now are. They doubtless inadvertently failed to mention that the number of under-25s injured by knives has fallen 25% since 2016, and the overall number of hospital attendances for knife crime has fallen 50% in the same period. Probably also didn't mention that homicides have fallen to the lowest level since records began in 1990, despite the population rising by more than two million people over that period. One imagines they also failed to mention that the Tory governments from 2010 to 2024 slashed over a billion pounds from the Metropolitan Police Service budget? Thought so. "Just this evening it was reported that legendary comedian Paul Whitehouse was the victim of an attempted mugging in Islington while using a cash machine, it’s completely out of control." In 1995 I was mugged at knifepoint in Bath, does that mean knife crime in Bath was completely out of control then?
@Backladder Do locals never drive to Thornhill for the cafe, community centre, school, vets etc.? Yes, this is "proper countryside" and maybe most people simply drive the fair ways to the big town (Dumfries!). The countryside is difficult when it comes to transport choices. I do know that in many places where it's made less unattractive people do choose the car less often. I'm not convinced more than a couple of the locals would walk on that road. Kids and older people cycling there seem rather unlikely also. But maybe they're hardy folk? Recreational cyclists - as evidenced by the folks on here - will likely cycle anyways, probably even if it was banned!
@jackcycles I can hear the Pub Landlord - "I'm sick of all those cells going to foreigners! I want to see Great British bike thieves in Great British prisons!" Given Mr.Farage has made a big thing about security while simultaneously refusing the offer of it * ... ... I'm guessing he'll be for blaming his pet hates for "an epidemic" of bike theft. Then refusing to use the police budget to tackle cycle crime, taking a millions from some dodgy donor "to fix crime", after which he'll refuse to answer any questions about what it was spent on **... * Apparently because it wasn't commensurate with his ego - sorry, his public profile - because "I'm bigger than the leader of the opposition!" ** AFAIK the latest explanation for the donations is "none of your business". Looking forward to the next report of eg. a judge receiving a large "personal gift, no strings attached" from the mob and offering the same explanation!
New Northwave winter boots, in Snow White? Don't they realise how filthy our roads are in winter?? Silca Omata, lovely retro computer, but about £400 too expensive.
@Eton Rifle you're walking around blind without a stick. Violent crime is up massively under Khan, and recently people don't even bother reporting it any more.... What's the point? It's been deprioritised in favour of policing twitter. Just this evening it was reported that legendary comedian Paul Whitehouse was the victim of an attempted mugging in Islington while using a cash machine, it's completely out of control. I'm sure that Khan does get threats from nutters, but my point was that so does Farage, and he doesn't get the same level of publicly funded protection despite having a higher profile. So it's completely below the belt to allege some kind of wrongdoing in funding his own. Per telegraph: "Crime has soared in London in recent years. There were nearly 100,000 thefts or attempted thefts in the capital in 2025, compared with about 45,000 in 2019, Home Office data show. During Sir Sadiq Khan’s tenure as Mayor, knife crime has increased by nearly 72 per cent, sexual offences are 63.2 per cent higher and “theft from the person” – which covers theft and attempts to take items directly from a victim – has more than tripled to nearly 100,000 incidents."
"haven’t got out there yet! " Well worth a visit, but plan your route carefully, there are a few diabolically steep hills on the back roads or if you want to ride to the Lowther golf ball.
19 thoughts on “Live blog: Team Sky increasingly likely to become Team Ineos; CUK calls for tighter controls on new drivers, Reaction to Campag’s (very pricey) new EPS groupset; Sunderland Nissan to get improved cycle access, Challenge warns on Enve SES wheels +more”
Quote:
Translation: Please, O God, please don’t close the factory!!!
“Chancellor Philip Hammond’s
“Chancellor Philip Hammond’s Spring Statement featured £10m of funding for improvements to cycleways and bus routes across the North East.”
While we can all welcome investment into cycling, let’s put this into context, and laughable doesn’t really do it justice.
Instead of a comprehensive, clear, properly funded investment programme for cycling, the “government” grudgingly give us back a crumb or two. They have huge plans for road and rail spending, but cycling, the best value transport investment gets almost nothing. Transport policy is worse organised than Brexit, and always has been.
Laughable? Pathetic, miserable, ultra-shambles is a better description.
Will this help when Brexit
Will this help when Brexit causes the factory to close as Nissan move production elsewhere?
road.cc wrote:
I rate this 99
Police car is parked on
Police car is parked on double yellows, and with wheels on the pavement. Wonder if they gave themselves a parking ticket?
Ermm, there’a already miles
Ermm, there’a already miles of cycle paths around the Nissan plant, I use them every day. Not crap ones either, they’re wide enough to squeeze past the HGVs that use them as a parking lane for overnight stops
I’ve never heard of a
I’ve never heard of a graduated driving licence, so thanks to CUK and road.cc for making me aware.
The worst drivers are the entitled teenagers who think they know it all because they’ve just passed their test, so restricting them until they’ve gained experience has to be good for everyone, especially vulnerable road users.
burtthebike wrote:
I do agree with the GDL recommendations in the report, however I would be inclined to go even further. Restrictions on the type of vehicle that you are allowed to drive being my main objective. New drivers of say less than 6 months experience may only drive vehicles up to 1200cc. After 6 month probationary period a new licence allowing this restriction to be relaxed to 1600cc for a further 6 months. then 1800cc, 2000cc etc.
My reasoning being that they cannot just jump into the parents powerful automobiles until after a reasonable amount of time honing their driving skills on a compulsory Green P plate and/or getting a second hand hot hatchback blinged, pimped and souped up to race around in.
Pushing50 wrote:
But your theory is a bit flawed in that limiting the cubic capacity won’t necessarily mean the car isn’t as/ too powerful compared to one with a larger cc. There is a 3 cylinder 1ltr Fiesta that pumps out 100bhp….
PP
Pilot Pete wrote:
But your theory is a bit flawed in that limiting the cubic capacity won’t necessarily mean the car isn’t as/ too powerful compared to one with a larger cc. There is a 3 cylinder 1ltr Fiesta that pumps out 100bhp….
PP
[/quote]
Hi PP, I guess that there is a flaw in the theory of just limiting the cubic capacity, so as allured to in my previous post, more restrictions on the type of vehicle; and not just the cc. For example, not allowed to drive a 3 cyclinder 1ltr Ford Fiesta that pumps out 100bhp (or similailar models)
Pilot Pete wrote:
And formula 1 cars of the ’80’s pumping out 1000 BHP out of 1500 cc turbo charged engines
What may be more realistic is to limit them to unmodified cars, that according to the manufacturer’s information are eg 100 bhp then 150 bhp or similar.
burtthebike wrote:
The problem is that those who don’t have a license will still go out and drive, usually more recklessly, as have appeared in quite a few news stories over the last year or two.
And while many new drivers are reckless, there’s also plenty of drivers out there who have had a license for 15-20 years who drive appallingly, just because they can now afford something that flatters their driving ability like an Audi or BMW and allows them to drive more quickly than they would be able to handle in certain other cars. This seems to lead to them taking greater risks and making poor judgements.
RobD wrote:
Don’t forget all those who will go out and get a surprisingly powerful motorbike on ‘L’ plates, and then never quite upgrade it to a ‘full’ licence…
brooksby wrote:
Graduated car licences will, almost certainly, never catch on – families will claim (despite any reality) that they can’t afford to pay for repeated tests/own and run/space to keep a small car for the new driver in addition to the parent’s powerful cars. It is the insurance premiums on powerful cars for young drivers that are effectively doing this job already. Those that don’t care about insurance certainly won’t care about licences.
Motorbikes, however, are much more restricted by law based on age, licence and power, but it’s usually very easy to bypass/disable the restrictor kits on bigger bikes which is sometimes just a washer restricting the air intake.
If you don’t upgrade your licence to a full one, you have to re-do the CBT every 2 years (unless you’re riding a 50cc moped on a very old car licence).
LastBoyScout wrote:
Graduated car licences will, almost certainly, never catch on Except that it has been successfully applied in a number of countries in one guise or other.
It is the insurance premiums on powerful cars for young drivers that are effectively doing this job already. Good point
madcarew wrote:
Here in our nanny state of Victoria, Australia, we have graduated licences for new drivers called a Probationary licence for 3 years. For the 1st year it has restrictions such as not driving with any passengers under the age of 25 (I think), not even carrying a mobile phone in the vehicle in the 1st year and also vehicle restrictions based on a Power to Weight ratio.
brooksby wrote:
double post
brooksby wrote:
bl**dy Edge…
burtthebike wrote:
New Zealand introduced this in (?) the early 90’s. Was instrumental in halving the road toll of people under 25 (and contributed along with other measures to a halving of the road toll generally).