- News

Live blog: Tao Geoghegan Hart claims second victory at Tour of the Alps; Police in Leeds catch 11 drivers in one hour during close pass operation; boys lend officers their bikes for (successful) police chase; motor that stops bikes falling over + more
SUMMARY

Boys lend officers their bikes for (successful) police chase
The Northampton Chronicle reports that two boys have been thanked by Northamptonshire Police after they lent officers their bikes for a police chase.
At about 12pm on Monday, three men broke into a builder’s yard in Carisbrooke Way, Daventry, and tried to steal a dumper truck by driving it into the back of their transit van.
A member of the public called it in and after the suspects abandoned their van, a foot chase ensued.
Various members of the public pointed officers where to go before two boys lent them their bikes to continue the chase.
Two men were caught and charged.
Police Sergeant Matt Bailey, said: “The public support during this incident was fantastic and led directly to the capture, arrest and charging of these two individuals.
“I would like to thank all of them for their help but especially the two boys who lent me their bicycles – it was great to know how much they wanted us to succeed in catching up with the suspects.
“These two young men have been written to and invited to spend a day with us on response, which I hope they’ll take up as it’ll be great to spend the day with them and show them a day in the life of a response officer.
“This incident was a great example of how effectively the public and the police can work together and with the teamwork displayed on Monday, the thieves had no chance.”
US cyclist charged after being hit by police officer turning right on red
Covering the Corridor reports that a Virginia cyclist has been charged with not paying attention after a police officer drove into him while turning right at a red light.
In most parts of the US, motorists are allowed to turn right on red.
Here’s the incident from the police vehicle’s perspective.
And here it is from side-on.
Campagnolo trickle 12 speed down to Chorus level


New groupset, more sprockets, plus 48/32 chainset and 11-34 cassette options. Read all about it here.
Here's a stat for you...
Julian Alaphilippe has won every one-day race he’s started this year except for the ones where Mathieu van der Poel was also riding, which were all won by Mathieu van der Poel
— The Road Book (@CyclingAlmanack) April 24, 2019
A stat that won’t be particularly welcomed by Julian Alaphilippe, we’re guessing…
Dutch innovators TU Delft and Gazelle have made a smart motor that stops bikes falling over
The motor offers steering assistance, propping the bike up straight again if it senses you are leaning too much and are about to fall, and keeps the bike stable at speeds of over 4km/h. It’s a prototype at the moment, and TU Delft have been researching how and when bikes do and don’t fall over for the past 15 years.
Will it work on a mountain descent at 50mph, we wonder?
Suspended sentence for impatient driver who knew he'd caused cyclist's crash but said it was 'karma'
Ralph Keemer was held up, so he drove in front of Laura Fidler and braked. She needed surgery. He failed to stop and showed no remorse.
Great Britain teams confirmed for Tour de Yorkshire


A men’s and women’s team in GB kit will take to the startline of the Tour de Yorkshire, taking place between 2nd-5th May. Here are those teams:
Men
Jim Brown
Sean Flynn
Ethan Hayter
Dan McLay
Joe Nally
Will Tidball
Ben Turner
Women
Rhona Callander
Dani Christmas
Anna Docherty
Lauren Dolan
Nikki Juniper
Jess Roberts
Leeds Police warn drivers over close passing cyclists as 11 are caught in one hour
Leeds Police South have revealed the results from an hour of observing motorists on the A63, and close passing on cyclists appeared to be rife. 11 drivers were caught in one hour passing too close, and a further five were dealt with for not wearing seatbelts and two more for speeding. They say: “This initiative isn’t about picking on or penalising motorists, it is about making sure our roads are safer for everyone. With the success of Tour de Yorkshire we support our partners in wanting to get more people to feel confident in cycling in the county by making sure the roads are safer for cyclists and all vulnerable road users.”
Transfer Rumor - Nibali's Trek Segafredo Deal is Done


We’ve got no confirmation yet, but word is that Vincenzo Nibali will be a Trek Segafredo rider from next year. Bahrain Merida yesterday announced that Mikel Landa will be their leader for the Grand Tours in 2020, leaving Nibali, winner of all three Grand Tours, without dedicated team support. These rumors aren’t new. We first heard whispers in January. But it seems that the transfer will be confirmed today. Even more interestingly, Nibali is currently throwing down continuous attacks in the Tour of the Alps. Maybe he’s letting his legs do the negotiating?
Thousands of Ineos fracking protesters expected at Tour de Yorkshire next weekend
You can expect plenty of ‘land art’ for the helicopter shots.
What are cycle lanes like in your town?
Graham from Bournemouth sent us this video.
“The traffic here is awful,” he writes. “Most days it’s actually the cars holding up the bicycles. I dont appreciate being told to use cycle lanes (which has happened multiple times) when quite clearly there’s a reason behind not doing so.”
Graham wants the council to do bike lanes properly.
“At the moment all they do is stick pretty pictures of bikes on pavements.”
Tao Geoghegan Hart claims his second victory of the week at the Tour of the Alps
Can he hold on? Of course he can. @taogeoghegan outsprints Vincenzo Nibali to take another memorable #TotA victory pic.twitter.com/9OK0RU6M5d
— Team Sky (@TeamSky) April 25, 2019
TfL to pilot continuous green man at ten pedestrian crossings
Capital’s transport body confident its vehicle detectors will pick up oncoming cyclists.
Help us to bring you the best cycling content
If you’ve enjoyed this article, then please consider subscribing to road.cc from as little as £2.49. Our mission is to bring you all the news that’s relevant to you as a cyclist, independent reviews, impartial buying advice and more. Your subscription will help us to do more.
13 Comments
Read more...
Read more...
Read more...
Latest Comments
@FionaJJ These officers deployed next-level stupidity, and it must be difficult for the police to find people this dim. It doesn't even need rolling-roads or whatever, just a reputable bike computer on a quickly changed mount for the difficult cases where a proper EAPC has been modded, although you would need to look hard in Lancashire to find a police officer who knows how to make a pedal cycle go. Most illegal electric motorbikes are immediately obvious, not least because the crim is wearing a face mask. I saw an obvious one tonight coming out of Garstang Sainsbury's, not pedalling but without a face mask because everybody knows that the police only come into the town to hide away in the police station 200 yards away.
Gustav Gullholm.. that's not a good look mate
@Chris RideFar I think what you meant to say was "REMOVE this and put it on PODCAST CC".
As Mary Whitehouse never said - one doesn't have to read the article if one doesn't want to read about an off-road bicycle.
@FionaJJ In London they're allowed to stop on single and double yellows to deliver packages or empty pillar boxes; in practice they take this as carte blanche to park wherever and whenever they want, such as this chap on the Brixton Road who pulled into the bus/cycle/motorcycle lane without indicating, as I approached at 20mph, to park on a red route, response to a remonstrance, "I suppose you never get post delivered do ya?"
@Rendel Harris We have a pavement parking ban, but around here at least, royal mail vans are already exempt, subject to certain caveats, such as allowing at least 1.5m, and only being stopped to do their work.
It was already embarrassing for the police that they made such a mess of their attempt to determine whether a bike was legal or not, but I had assumed it was a group of well intentioned, but under-trained officers acting on their own initiative, having spotted something they thought looked not quite right. I'm now discovering this was a planned activity, something sufficiently organised to have been given a name - Operation FRISLEN, designed specifically to identify and remove illegal e-bikes and scooters. It's apparent that the officers were sent out without adequate training, never mind the kind of equipment that should be used for this sort of work. I'm not saying they always need specialist equipment to spot all illegal bikes, but at least if they'd been given a demonstration with that equipment, they'd have realised why their approach was not going to end well.
Have put drop bars on a 2001 B1 mtb, a 2007 stumpy hardtail and a 2010 stumpy full suss. In all cases fairly basic conversións leaving gearing and wheels broadly the same and concentrating on correct positioning of bars and fit. Oddly, with all 3 I was happy with the result when recently done, but after a few months found that the extra speed on easy trails was more than offset by the lack of ability (probably mine) on tougher routes and finally preferred flat bar with slammed and inverted stem as best overall compromise. Good fun playing around, though.
The photos in this review look they are for a different bag?
This is a strange reactionary knee jerk overall. But what is this "are essentially motorbikes in disguise" waffle? "One letter claimed that high-powered electric ‘e-bikes’ were “essentially motorbikes” in disguise, with many being used without lights, helmets, or any hi-vis clothing." Surely, they simply ARE motorbikes?
13 thoughts on “Live blog: Tao Geoghegan Hart claims second victory at Tour of the Alps; Police in Leeds catch 11 drivers in one hour during close pass operation; boys lend officers their bikes for (successful) police chase; motor that stops bikes falling over + more”
Crime fighting cyclists!
Crime fighting cyclists!
hawkinspeter wrote:
Disgraceful example. 3 pictures and only 1 helmet and that wasn’t being worn!
Rick_Rude wrote:
You’d be surprised at the cushioning effect of 80’s hair.
hawkinspeter wrote:
Is that Nicole Kidman with her original nose?
brooksby wrote:
Yes, but how does she smell?
hawkinspeter wrote:
Well, wearing all that early eighties nylon…
Criminals – should have
Criminals – should have number plates and insurance!!!
Well done West Yorkshire
Well done West Yorkshire Police.
ktache wrote:
Exactly (I don’t think there’s such a police force as “Leeds Police”).
So the cyclist in Virginia
So the cyclist in Virginia was charged with not paying enough attention after being run over by a police officer…who presumably wasn’t paying enough attention?
This world is screwed up isn’t it?
Plus – don’t read the comments from the WY Police tweet, it’ll only make your blood pressure worse!
Kendalred wrote:
American junctions are weird though. In most cases although they are traffic light on red, the right turn lane is actually a give way to traffic coming across from the left junction. If a cyclist or pedestrian moved across a giveway junction like that as a car had the opportunity to pull out it would be the crosser who was probably more at fault.
American law enforcement is also built more around “the car is the star” then over here as pedestrians can be ticketed for crossing the road anywhere but designated crossings (Jay-walking).
Motorists – should have
Motorists – should have number plates and insurance …. Bollocks!
Motorists – should have
Whoops