Welcome to Wednesday’s Live Blog with Liam Cahill, Simon MacMichael and the rest of the team.
Rohan Dennis ditches sponsors’ bike and helmet as he retains Worlds TT crown; The Mounties always get their … cycling husky?!; More UCI sock height fun; Do you commute in the rain?; Dygert beats 48 of the U23 men in Yorkshire TT + more on live blog
All the news from the site and beyond
Wed, Sep 25, 2019 19:58
SUMMARY
25 September 2019, 19:58
Do you still commute in the rain?
Despite today’s biblical levels of rain, there have still been over 5000 cycling journeys on the Embankment by 7 p.m.
Yes, it’d be higher than that on a sunny day, but it still shows the idea that no one cycles in bad weather is nonsense. pic.twitter.com/ne238dXVzc
— James (@JamesBlurbs) September 24, 2019
Yes, this is the one thing about travelling by bike that isn’t so great. If it’s raining, it’s going to be hitting you.
But as this post shows, in yesterday’s biblical rain, numbers on Embankment were still pretty high!
So, what’s your secret to commuting by bike in the rain?
Pop your helpful hints and any product recommendations in the comments below and we’ll find a pair of road.cc socks for the best/most helpful answer.
25 September 2019, 19:58
Dygart demolishes Women's TT and beats most of the U23 men too
Chloé Dygert
That’s the USA’s 7th gold medal of the Road World Championships#bbccycling pic.twitter.com/ycD0b66dN3
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) September 24, 2019
Chloe Dygart stormed around the Women’s Elite time trial in Yorkshire yesterday, beating the second-place rider, Holland’s Anna van der Breggen, by a colossal 1 minute 32 seconds.
It’s the largest winning margin in a World Championship time trial since Fabian Cancellara beat Gustav Larsson in 2009 by 1 minute 27 seconds.
Chloe Dygert would have been 12th in the U23 men’s race this morning! Putting away plenty of lads going World Tour next year! #Yorkshire2019
— Jacob Tipper ️ (@JacobTipper) September 24, 2019
As UK Pro Jacob Tipper points out. Dygart’s time would have netted her 12th in the U23 Men’s race earlier in the day.
25 September 2019, 19:58
When the mud's so thick, it takes your shoe.
American Pro Bridget Tooley was racing the UCI World Cup Cyclocross in Waterloo on Sunday. Things didn’t exactly go to plan when a crash saw her BOA shoe dial break.
The heavy mud first removed the shoe and then took her sock as well. That left her to ride on an MTB spd pedal barefoot! Ouch…
The shoe was retrieved, but sadly, the sock is still buried.
25 September 2019, 19:58
Dennis to race TT on blank BMC bike?
Rohan Dennis will start the ITT with a BMC bike with covered trademark. https://t.co/ycv1njIOGG
— La Flamme Rouge (@laflammerouge16) September 24, 2019
After a very public falling out with his Bahrain-Merida team at this year’s Tour de France, defending TT World Champion Rohan Dennis is rumoured to be using a BMC TT bike with no logos for his title defence in Yorkshire.
Rohan Dennis’ Merida Time Warp TT bike – the bike we didn’t see at the TdF
The falling out was apparently due to equipment issues which centred around the frame, skinsuit and wheels that Bahrain-Merida provided Dennis.
What was behind Rohan Dennis’ “reluctant” withdrawal from the Tour de France?
We’ll be keeping a close eye on the race, which kicks off at 13:20.
25 September 2019, 19:58
It's stopped raining in Yorkshire! For now
BREAKING: @UCI_cycling commissaire for measuring sock heigh is measuring something else now pic.twitter.com/ZGrymq57Wq
— ProCyclingStats.com (@ProCyclingStats) September 24, 2019
The standing water is receding so hopefully, we shouldn’t have the farcical scenes of yesterday.
At least everyone’s socks are at the correct length…
25 September 2019, 19:58
Evenepoel isn't a fan of the UCI sock rules then
#Yorkshire2019 – Remco Evenepoel vs sock length rule: he had to pull down socks before start, he pulled them back immediately after start. pic.twitter.com/EQCwIWqhG8
— La Flamme Rouge (@laflammerouge16) September 25, 2019
Immediately after rolling down the start ramp, young Belgian phenomenon Remco Evenepoel showed just what he thought of the UCI’s sock length rule.
Will this get him in trouble? UCI commissaires are famously liberal when handing out the fines.
25 September 2019, 19:58
Contador rides Yorkshire worlds course (virtually)
Here’s Alberto Contador casually throwing down some serious watts in Zwift.
25 September 2019, 19:58
Rohan Dennis switches back to former team's bike and retains World TT title
Rohan Dennis, who abandoned the Tour de France mid-stage on the eve of the individual time trial, reportedly in a row with his Bahrain-Merida team over his equipment and specifically his time trial bike, switched back to a (unbranded) BMC Timemachine today – the same bike he used to win the world title last in Innsbruck last year – and retained the rainbow jersey.
[scald=674003:sdl_editor_representation]
The Australian, who has not ridden for Bahrain-Merida since then, finished 1 minute 9 seconds ahead of Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel after the 54-kilometre ride from Northallerton to Harrogate.
Filippo Ganna of Italy was another 46 seconds back in the bronze medal position, while Great Britain’s Alex Dowsett finished fifth, 2 minutes 2 seconds behind the winner.
25 September 2019, 19:58
When your mum and dad have both won the rainbow jersey ...
Rohan Dennis and wife Melissa Hoskins’ son wasn’t born when his dad won the world championship time trial in Innsbruck last year – but he was there in his mum’s arms as dad crossed the line to retain his title in Harrogate this afternoon.
Besides the two world championship golds Dennis has won on the road, he also has a brace on the track, both of those in the team pursuit – an event in which Hoskins, who has six silver and bronze medals from the worlds herself, won her own rainbow jersey in 2015.
Anyone want to bet against the nipper earning one in his own right in 20 or so years’ time?
25 September 2019, 19:58
Yorkshire- rainbow country!
Looks what’s just appeared in Harrogate! #Yorkshire2019 pic.twitter.com/4E0IHClXnz
— Ned Boulting (@nedboulting) September 25, 2019
25 September 2019, 19:58
The Mounties always get their … cycling husky?!
The Mounties always get their man, according to the saying – and now they’ve also collared a cycling husky. Or more accurately, a person riding a bike dressed in a dog costume.
CBC reports that after a husky mascot outfit was stolen from the Prince George Humane Society animal charity earlier this month, there have been a number of sightings in Prince George, British Columbia, of someone wearing the costume while riding a bike in the city.
Susan Phillips, a local schoolteacher who spotted the canine cyclist and hadn’t realised the costume had been stolen, told CBC: “I thought of Wile E. Coyote. This is downtown Prince George. You never know what you’re going to see. So I smiled and kept driving.”
The outfit for the charity’s mascot – named Chance, and who appears at events to help raise funds for it – would cost between $3,000 and $5,000 to replace, but public sightings helped the Royal Canadian Mounted Police track it down on Sunday.
RCMP Corporal Sonja Blom said: “A female was arrested at that time; however, she has been released without charge pending further investigation.”
25 September 2019, 19:58
Rohan Dennis ditches team sponsors' bike and helmet to retain world TT title
Any doubt that Rohan Dennis has burnt his bridges with Bahrain-Merida – his last race for them was when he disappeared mid-stage at the Tour de France on the eve of the individual time trial in Pau – dissipated today when he rode a BMC Timemachine bike and sported a Kask helmet as he retained his time trial title at the UCI Road World Championships in Yorkshire this afternoon.
Merida, of course, are the UCI WorldTour outfit’s bike sponsor, while Rudy Project supplies its helmets and eyewear. But the ex-BMC Racing rider – who rode its Timemachine to the rainbow jersey in Innsbruck 12 months ago – stuck with the same model of bike, without decals but fooling absolutely no-one – as he triumphed in Harrogate this afternoon.
That’s given rise to a rather unusual situation in which Bahrain-Merida have not acknowledged one of their riders winning a rainbow jersey this afternoon (it’s pretty safe to say that the Australian will be elsewhere next year), their last tweet being to wish Antonio Nibali, also on his way out as he heads to Trek-Segafredo with brother Vincenzo, a happy birthday on Monday.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
It's @AntonioNibali's birthday.
Let's celebrate together!
#RideAsOne pic.twitter.com/bMs4VmdsAU— Team Bahrain Merida (@Bahrain_Merida) September 23, 2019
Meanwhile, over on BMC’s Instagram account …
25 September 2019, 19:58
What’s going on with Rohan Dennis and his bike choice at the World Championships (and his helmet too)?
We investigate what the hell is going on with Rohan Dennis riding a BMC time trial bike rather then the Merida of this team Bahrain-Merida’s sponsor.
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Son of a Marathon runner, Nephew of a National 24hr Champion, the racing genetics have completely passed him by. After joining the road.cc staff in 2016 as a reviewer, Liam quickly started writing feature articles and news pieces. After a little time living in Canada, where he spent most of his time eating poutine, Liam returned with the launch of DealClincher, taking over the Editor role at the start of 2018. At the weekend, Liam can be found racing on the road both in the UK and abroad, though he prefers the muddy fields of cyclocross. To date, his biggest race win is to the front of the cafe queue.
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Latest Comments
Gm_Crop 39 minutes ago
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 :/
IanGlasgow 43 minutes ago
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
Rendel Harris 2 hours ago
@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.
Bill H 2 hours ago
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.
pbunyon 2 hours ago
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").
chrisonabike 3 hours ago
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.)
belugabob 3 hours ago
yes, but people will still object - which was my point.
Astralstroll 5 hours ago
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...
Mr Anderson 6 hours ago
@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.
MaxiMinimalist 7 hours ago
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.
24 thoughts on “Rohan Dennis ditches sponsors’ bike and helmet as he retains Worlds TT crown; The Mounties always get their … cycling husky?!; More UCI sock height fun; Do you commute in the rain?; Dygert beats 48 of the U23 men in Yorkshire TT + more on live blog”
Commuting in rain? Why would
Commuting in rain? Why would you not when the alternatives are so horrid? It’s only water.
Wet commuting tip? Have
Wet commuting tip? Have somewhere dry and warm to dry your kit before home time. Nowt worse than putting wet kit back on (I suppose climate breakdown or Nuclear armageddon are worse, but you know what I mean). Mudguards are essential, even the strap on type are better than nothing. Use lights even in the daytime when it’s raining (some would advise lights all the time anyway). A peaked cap (casquette) is great for keeping the rain off your glasses – if it stops then just flip the peak up, hipster style!
Another hint – staying warm is more important than staying dry (but both is better!), so windproof tops and merino where possible.
Thank you ‘Gods of the
Thank you ‘Gods of the Internet’ for the fungal toenail cream ad immediately below that one shoe off story.
As @geomannie 531 says, it’s
As @geomannie 531 says, it’s only water. I’m only ever an hour away from dry clothes. If I get soaked on the way in, I hang my kit in front of air conditioner outlets on the building opposite. I can access from our basement, hang up so it’s covered from above and hey presto the hot air dries my kit by lunchtime.
Praise the God of Full
Praise the God of Full Mudguards. I don’t wear waterproofs as I get too hot. I wear technical clobber, designed for running, that dries out really quickly.
It’s not the rain that’s the
It’s not the rain that’s the problem, it’s the standing water from poor drainage , hidden potholes and grief from riding more primary to avoid the gutters that puts you off!!
lllnorrislll wrote:
This.
I don’t care how wet I get but I don’t like the feeling of being unable to avoid a big patch of standing water wondering what lurks beneath.
I actually like the ‘epic’ feeling of powering along in the rain. Feels fast.
PRSboy wrote:
This.
I don’t care how wet I get but I don’t like the feeling of being unable to avoid a big patch of standing water wondering what lurks beneath.
I actually like the ‘epic’ feeling of powering along in the rain. Feels fast.— lllnorrislll
“Epic” plus “what lurks beneath”
The problem with commuting in
The problem with commuting in the rain isn’t getting wet, it’s that motorists forget how to drive, and that the P fairy will inevitably visit. I’ve only ever had her visit in the rain and swapping a tube by the side of Bethnal Green Road in sheeting rain is a less than enjoyable experience.
jollygoodvelo wrote:
Same goes for any extreme weather. I have studded tyres for when it’s icy, but I fear the numpties skating around in their rear wheel drive cars with summer tyres.
jollygoodvelo wrote:
Have you noticed they seem to drive more quickly in wet weather? It’s almost like they enjoy they swishing sound of water under their tyres. Bizarre.
dobbo996 wrote:
No I haven’t, ever.
Office drying facilities are
Office drying facilities are a bit lacking here, so I take at least a spare pair of dry shorts and socks in my bag.
Spare socks and pants at work
Spare socks and pants at work. And newspaper to stuff into the bike shoes.
The bridleways I have been recently riding go up and down a bit, and many had become stream beds earlier in the day and had been stripped back to rocks and even the chalk base. With occasional deeps sections of mud and silt. It had been a relatively dry late summer and early autumn, up until this week.
I drop a gear or two and a few mph in the rain, more so in the really heavy stuff. But sealed away in their protected metal boxes many motorists seemingly do not adjust their driving style. Forgetting their vision is somewhat impared, especially their side windows and mirrors. Let alone braking distance and grip on the road.
I too have spiked tyres, and the level of traction is phenomenal, and it is the behaviour of the motorists that is truely terrifying when the roads become covered in snow and ice.
I commuted in to work by bike
I commuted in to work by bike today ( as I do most of the days I work ) the rain was about the worst I can remember, in many years, but it was very mild ( 15 degrees Celsius or there abouts ) so it certainly didn’t stop me. Getting wet doesn’t bother me, getting wet and cold, bothers me. As long as you wear enough clothing to stop you getting a chill, that’s really the key thing. A lightweight jacket, some covers for my shoes ( it’s not cold enough for full boots yet ) and a pair of Neoprene gloves, and job’s a good’un. My stuff dries out in the heated lockers we have at my place of work, so it will be dry by the time I leave.
We are lucky to have lockers,
We are lucky to have lockers, shower area and drying cupboard so no reason not to cycle in really. Apart from the numpties on the road. The rain has meant traffic has been worse the last few days as people who would have walked, cycled or used public transport decide driving is better. Had a real close near miss where a car decided to change lanes right as I went past with no indication or warning. The video evidence is currently winging its way to WMP via their dashcam portal as we speak (Although I don’t know if they do anything with them).
If it’s cold and wet, then
If it’s cold and wet, then waterproof socks such as Sealskinz are great, usually wear a thin pair of wool socks underneath. I find covers really fiddly to get on/off, which is time consuming for a commute. The waterproof socks means I can use my shoes for a bit longer before resorting to winter boots.
To master Dennis jnr, Please
To master Dennis jnr, Please refer to rule #16
Respect the jersey
I just put a smile on my face
I just put a smile on my face before I go out the door. It usually stays on my face as I get wetter, because there is no point sulking. The smile gets broader as I pass vehicles waiting for traffic lights to change and queueing at roundabouts. Then, once at work I joke with collegues about the sodden state of me and answer their teasing comments of not buying a car.
This is really all true. I find riding in the rain truely exhilarating, even when dark. The worst thing about wet weather riding is not having mudguards. I hate the feeling of the inner legs getting wetter than my torso, but apart from that, a smile, good lights and kit; away you go!
Pushing50 wrote:
Just a smile to fend off the rain you say? Maybe some road.cc socks will make that smile even bigger?
Check your email!
Don’t mind getting rained on
Don’t mind getting rained on during the return trip but don’t like it on the way there. If its raining when i get up I’ll drive. My waterproof stuff is boil in the bag so pointless really.
Looking out of window now……car.
I do a short commute (about 2
I do a short commute (about 2 miles) to the station in all weathers, but if it’s raining then I don’t bother doing the full commute home (about 22 miles) and instead get the train back. I just don’t enjoy riding in the rain.
Husky on a bike? Is this going to spawn some new kind of cycle pursuit race? Whatever next – squirrels playing chess?
Chloe Dygert proves that hi
Chloe Dygert proves that hi-tech isn’t needed to win Gold.
How refreshing to hear that she left her power meter at home and went on “feel”. Coppi, Anquetil and Merckx didn’t use one either to name a few. Hayley Simmonds said that she would need to review her numbers as they were good, yet her performance time did not seem to match up! So, there we have it! Chapeau Chloe! Your “gut feel” put 92 seconds into your world-class competitors.
So, stick on some Old Dunlop high pressure tyres on 27.5 steel rims and go out and learn to understand what your body is saying rather than looking at your screen.
Concorde CX, Bonjour! Que pense tu?
Numbers, numbers, numbers!
Numbers, numbers, numbers! Power in Watts, Calories in grams of food, Weight in Kilograms, Torque in NewtonMeters, cadence in RPM, and inclines in %!
No wonder Mental Health doesn’t get talked about, there’s no time left.
In a recent issue of Cycling plus the editor(?) wrote a small frontispiece which mentioned somewhere that he still needed to lose a few kilos in order to…. I can’t remember what. This was posted next to a picture of the author proudly stood by his bike in his cycling gear.
What’s my point? Well, he didn’t look overweight! In fact many would be proud to look as lean as he did! Suddenly, I recognised myself. I too strive to lose a few kilos. I too am about the same height and weight as the editor. Rubbish, we are exhibiting a dangerous trend of body dysmorphia. This is a Mental Health issue and should not be being promoted by anyone. Look at some of the world-class athletes. They are exceptional individuals. Most of us are not. Especially those of us pushing on in years. No, I am not recommending obesity. Your survival in hospital with illness is generally acknowledged as better if you have a little extra covering.
Exceptional athletes push their bodies to extremes. Look closely, do they look well? Do they look relaxed? When Wiggo won the TdF in 2012 I reckon he looked ill. Now he’s put the weight back he looks well, at least physically! Starving yourself to look good or perform better athletically is irrational and a perfect example of short-termism. There is a price to pay and that may involve those around you as they take care of you! I welcome your thoughts.