Newspapers reported to press standards body over misleading photos; Dowsett’s first Zwift race; Trackstand G&T from Elinor Barker; Spider-man + hex key + rollers; Pub painted yellow for the Tour de Yorkshire facing £20,000 fine + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
Elinor Barker's trackstand G&T
Dylan Groenewegen delivering groceries by bike
Last week we reported on Astana pro Davide Martinelli, who said he was “the happiest man in the world” delivering food and medicine in his home town of Lodetto in Brescia.
Jumbo-Visma sprinter Dylan Groenewegen’s doing something similar. And apparently he’s doing it in his team gear.
Even geen koers, maar wel tijd om te helpen. De komende tijd bezorg ik op de fiets boodschappen bij ouderen en zorgverleners die dat nu even niet zelf kunnen 🛒🔥 Heb je als zorgverlener of oudere hulp nodig of wil je zelf helpen? ➡️ https://t.co/gZ1YMOH7J3#StaySafeTogether pic.twitter.com/4ruo0dlKFG
— Dylan Groenewegen (@GroenewegenD) April 8, 2020
A bite from a radioactive spider gave him mad skills on the rollers
Harlech street no longer the world’s steepest
You may remember that the Guinness Book of Records last year recognised Ffordd Pen Llech in Harlech as the world’s steepest street.
Welsh Cycling celebrated by heading to Harlech for the Harlech Hell Climb.
Well there’s been a rethink. The BBC reports that the criteria for the record have been changed and measurements now follow a road’s centre line.
“The findings revealed that in order to fairly assess the different shape of the streets, whether they’re straight or curved, steepness must be measured by the central axis – the centre line of the road,” explained officials.
This means that the gradient of Ffordd Pen Llech has gone from 37.45% down to a piffling 28.6%.
The upshot is that Baldwin Street in Dunedin, New Zealand, is back on top again with a gradient of 34.8%.
All your cycling Kickstarters in one
Change from 50 euro for this stunning invention from Eddie im Mike’s Bikes, Dun Laoghaire pic.twitter.com/3wFML3zx3u
— Bill Gleeson (@gleesonb) April 8, 2020
G+T trackstand update
A few of you are questioning Elinor Barker’s gin-to-tonic ratio.
It’s also been pointed out that this is not necessarily a stunt that will become easier with practice.
Also…
She's had a few unsuccessful goes at that judging by those jeans
— Ian Myers (@TweekySenior) April 9, 2020
The correct way to judge whether cyclists are maintaining a safe distance from each other
Misleading press pictures of Regent’s Park cyclists reportedly have reportedly led to aggression from some drivers.
Thanks to @HamandHigh for covering the facts – that the cycling community is observing #mindthegap . Our gratitude to @justinmckie of @RPcyclists and @Lungs_of_London for working on this https://t.co/TRkA8lDEK4 pic.twitter.com/ehvT5xiG2z
— London_cycling (@london_cycling) April 8, 2020
Free membership of London Cycling Campaign for NHS workers
If you work for a London NHS Trust or hospital and cycle to work, @london_cycling is offering you free membership during the coronavirus crisis. https://t.co/yUT7glmBBE
— APPGCW (@allpartycycling) April 9, 2020
Seattle bike lane markings
US car designer talks about his love of bikes
We hadn’t heard of the improbably-monikered Chip Foose. Apparently he designs cars.
He’s into bikes too and it’s interesting to hear a different perspective.
Some pretty interesting bikes in his collection too.
Pub painted yellow for the Tour de Yorkshire facing £20,000 fine
What colour should a Golden Lion be? White apparently.
The owners of the Golden Lion in Todmorden, Calderdale, have been threatened with a £20,000 fine and jail for painting their building yellow.
Yorkshire Live reports that they painted the pub yellow in anticipation of the Tour de Yorkshire passing through – although the race has since been postponed.
The council actually threatened the fine last week while they were still in the process of painting it. Apparently someone had complained.
Matthanee Nilavongse, who owns the pub, explained: “I understand that we are a listed building, but the building has in fact been orange and pink in the past. We also understand that we are based in a conservation area, so there is a bit of confusion at the moment, but I’m hopeful we can cut through that.”
Free cycling memberships for NHS staff
Another reminder that Cycling UK is offering free membership to NHS staff. Please pass the news on to anyone you know who could benefit.
Membership includes access to third party insurance and legal advice.
The charity says that over 500 staff have taken up the offer so far.
Details on how to sign up here.
London Cycling Campaign are also offering free membership for NHS staff. It also includes insurance, plus a range of other member benefits.
Details on that one here.
They’re also offering a free advice service via Facebook Messenger at https://www.facebook.com/LondonCyclingCampaign or on 020 7234 9310 or at advice@lcc.org.uk.
Met Police tell drivers to slow down after cyclist is killed in road collision
The London Evening Standard reports that speeds of up to 142mph have been recorded in the capital during the lockdown.
A female cyclist was killed on Tuesday morning. She was hit on the A24 London Road at the junction with Tudor Avenue and Palmer Avenue in Worcester Park, Sutton.
A second cyclist suffered life-threatening injuries after a collision with a motorcyclist near Euston station later the same day.
According to Transport for London, while there has been a 68 per cent reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured since March 20, provisional data indicates that the crashes that have occurred have been more serious.
Detective Superintendent Andy Cox, head of the Met police’s road command, said: “We are seeing speeds of 142mph, 140mph, 134mph. The 134mph was in a 40mph zone.
“In 20mph zones, [drivers] are averaging 37mph, even though it’s 20mph. These are the zones where our key workers are cycling to work, where there are pedestrians.”
Siwan Hayward, TfL’s director of compliance and policing, added: “We are doing all we can to ensure London’s critical workers — particularly those in the NHS — are able to travel safely to and from work.
“Simply put, no one should be travelling on the roads unless they’re making an absolutely essential journey, and that journey should be safe and under the speed limit.
“Breaking the speed limit is dangerous and especially reckless during this time of national crisis. Action will be taken against drivers who put themselves and others at risk.”
Video: Alex Dowsett’s first Zwift race
Dowsett says he’d never done a Zwift race until this week – in part because he does, “plenty of normal racing.”
Technically, this was a group ride – but as Dowsett points out, they rank you at the end, “so it’s a race.”
Sample quotes:
- “I have no idea how sprint finishes work on this. That said, I have no idea how sprint finishes work in the pro tour”
- “Shit me – that was hard”
- “It’ll keep you fit and keep you inside”
Did he mention that he was at altitude?
Newspapers reported to press standards body over misleading photos of cyclists
Over the weekend, a number of newspapers were accused of distorting the truth through their use of misleading photos of cyclists.
Images were published in the Mail Online and the Mirror that appeared to show groups of cyclists huddled closely together in London’s Regent’s Park.
The newspapers suggested cyclists were flouting strict social distancing rules, but the photos were taken with a long lens that foreshortens the shot and gives a false impression of proximity.
The Times then did the same with photos of cyclists on Box Hill.
Excellent use of a telephoto lens by @thetimes, misleading image and reporting.
How about a photo of the 6 superbike riders at the top of the hill in conversation about how they don't care about the rules because they can outrun police?Thx @_D415Y_ for the other perspective pic.twitter.com/ZgznnJrLNT
— Francis Cade (@Francis_Cade) April 6, 2020
It’s worth mentioning that cyclists have been banned from Box Hill this weekend.
Cycling UK have lodged a complaint with the Independent Press Standards Organisation.
Head of Campaigns Duncan Dollimore said: “On the whole, cyclists have been behaving responsibly, avoiding riding in groups and remaining at least two metres from other cyclists and pedestrians.
“These photographs in the national papers give an incredibly misleading impression that somehow cyclists are behaving above the law when nothing could be further from the truth.”
It’s been reported that the pictures of Regent’s Park cyclists have led to aggression from drivers.
Dollimore added: “The effect and implications of using a telescopic lens would have been known to the photographer.
“It has been used to bolster an inaccurate story and dangerous narrative, namely that it is somehow wrong and in breach of guidance and regulations to cycle outside during the COVID-19 crisis, and that groups of cyclists are routinely breaching the social distancing guidelines.
“None of this is supported by the facts reported or the images used.”
IPSO is expected to respond to Cycling UK’s complaints within 15 days.
Stay out of slipstreams
A bit more relating to our article about the minimum distance you should leave to people cycling ahead of you.
The visuals are runners, but the principles are the same.
(2/2) Research was done for conditions without crosswind, headwind, tailwind. But when windy: same rule: stay out of slipstreams. Movie below: for running.
Research @TUeindhoven @LeuvenU @ansys #CFD with @tmmarchal @FabioMalizia88 #aerodynamics #CoronaCrisis #COVID19 #COVID pic.twitter.com/oVM6IPfjvv— Bert Blocken (@BertBlocken) April 7, 2020
9 April 2020, 08:13
9 April 2020, 08:13
9 April 2020, 08:13
Quite by chance, it's Zwift's London 'classic' this weekend, which will involve two trips up its version of Box Hill
Box Hill closed to all traffic, including cyclists, over Easter weekend in bid to halt spread of coronavirus
National Trust says decision made after consultation with police and Surrey County Council
9 April 2020, 08:13
9 April 2020, 08:13
9 April 2020, 08:13
9 April 2020, 08:13
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Latest Comments
@mdavidford Same day, Same badge. They're out there! and no such driver has ever considered 'not driving' anywhere, or climate change, or not having a Panzer or 'cyclist ahead' etc. etc. ttps://upride.cc/incident/pg21fwa_bmw_uwlcross/
@mctrials23 When I was planning my 2025 World Record ride I raised this issue with Jenny Graham. She said Guinness was set up for records like balancing the most number of books on your head, not these multi day efforts. Fortunately, WUCA are putting in place much clearer rules and I expect that the Guiness rules will be less relevant. They are also quite limiting, I am the first disabled person to do the challenge, but Guiness don't recognise brain injury under their disability category. With regard to comparing the different routes, Mark Beaumont did a great GCN interview on this at the time of Laels last attempt. He pointed out that there are two approaches. Go fast which means avoiding Asia with big loops in North America, or keep to the 'spirit' of the challenge. The latter means if you put your route on the living room wall it looks like you circumnavigated the world. Jenny and Mark's rides were the latter, Lael's the former. I originally had a route very similar to hers but decided my record would be 'tainted' by being within the rules but not the spirit. So I went to one like Mark suggested, with over 7,000 km in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and China.
@mdavidford Yeah, definitely Wilcox. And the depth of the research used here is also attested to by the consistent misspelling of Victor Bosoni's name...
@swagman - Lots of cyclists own cars - Lots of those car-owning cyclists like to drive their bikes nice places to cycle (we don't all live in the Lake District) - Lots of those holiday-making-car-owning cyclists like to use campsites when they do that - Lots of those holiday-making-car-owning-camping cyclists would find this setup interesting – Ergo, it's not a new low for road.cc but a perfectly legitimate and appropriate product review.
@swagman - Lots of cyclists own cars - Lots of those car-owning cyclists like to drive their bikes nice places to cycle (we don't all live in the Lake District) - Lots of those holiday-making-car-owning cyclists like to use campsites when they do that - Lots of those holiday-making-car-owning-camping cyclists would find this setup interesting – Ergo, it's not a new low for road.cc but a perfectly legitimate and appropriate product review.
Just to say your Tredz link is to the Continental Grand Prix, not the GP5000, they’re very different tyres.
Concur with KDee's comment. Also, how would a Vittoria T60 be the equivalent comparison, when this tyre has a centre section optimised for tarmac (or very hard packed gravel)? Surely Vittoria's T30 would be the equivalent?
Erm, Ruggins did manage to ride her bike very fast, perhaps in part because she'd headed up towards the Arctic Circle before the worst of the heat took hold. Are you perhaps thinking of Lael Wilcox?
@Rome73 The solar panels top up the battery. A battery is still needed especially when there isn't enough direct sunlight onto the panels to provide assistance. Brings a new meaning to fair-weather cyclist.
roadcc sinks to new low, next week wee reviewing electric cars !
23 thoughts on “Newspapers reported to press standards body over misleading photos; Dowsett’s first Zwift race; Trackstand G&T from Elinor Barker; Spider-man + hex key + rollers; Pub painted yellow for the Tour de Yorkshire facing £20,000 fine + more on the live blog”
Quote:
Well, I’m just glad that someone’s putting their skillz to good use
(OT – but I couldn’t get yesterday’s live blog to display in Brave or Edge, toward the end of the day. One of those embedded video things kept locking up both of those browsers)
too heavy on the tonic
too heavy on the tonic
You mean, too light on the
You mean, too light on the gin.
Yup – should be a 1:2 ratio,
Yup – should be a 1:2 ratio, in favour of the gin, in a pint glass
Where was the ice? Good gin
Where was the ice? Good gin though. But mostly, really impressive skill. These trackies are quite good at bike riding.
Looks like Elinor could do
Looks like Elinor could do with a new pair of jeans!
Well today’s blog has started
Well today’s blog has started off with some pleasant frippery. If I wasn’t impressed enough with the Dantefixed crew.. Ms Barker comes along!
G&T trackstand.
G&T trackstand.
I’m gonna put in some practice over the weekend. Trouble is, after 4 or 5 I can hardly stand; let alone ride my bike.
She’d clearly been practising
She’d clearly been practising A LOT. That gin bottle was almost empty.
Chip Fooze was the designer
Chip Fooze was the designer featured on Overhaulin’
Thankfully he likes to
Thankfully he likes to preserve originality with his classic bicycles, unlike what his car designs do (though admittedly the E-type he did recently was subtle and tasteful).
https://twitter.com
https://twitter.com/RickCuthbert/status/1247896020450590723?s=09
On the subject of perspective
On the subject of perspective, some people will believe anything (even this, shot in Richmond Park a few years ago for a school project).
Sadly, the mythical white
Sadly, the mythical white deer of olde Richmond Park is just that.
Small…far away…
Small…far away…
Surely trackstand doesn’t
Surely trackstand doesn’t count if you’re not clipped in?!?!?!
Essentially a trackstand is .
Essentially a trackstand is …. a trackstand, like a wheelie is a wheelie. It can be said to be easier with clips too. I am cool with doing em for quite a while but my no hands abilities have gone south since my 20’s. I will only be trying new tricks with risk when we are out of lockdown which maybe why EB was not combining clips and alcohol based tricks.
Well done to CUK for taking
Well done to CUK for taking the right wing gutter press to IPSO, the only problem is that they run IPSO. I fully a response along the lines of “we apologise if our pictures gave a false impression, it was a mistake anyone could have made, especially a press photographer with thirty years experience.” IPSO will consider this sufficient and will tell them to be more careful next time. There will be no fine or other sanction, and they’ll do it again next time.
I’m a massive fan of Cycling
I’m a massive fan of Cycling UK. Great campaigning organisation.
134mph in a 40 limit! Put the
134mph in a 40 limit! Put the car in a shredder. I wouldn’t even bother getting the driver out.
I used to live in a 20mph
I used to live in a 20mph zone in N London. After years and years of pressure we managed to get the council to install checks to monitor the speed as it was obvious limits were not being respected. Naturally the stats proved the majority were going over 25mph (which is breaking the law as it’s limit + 10%) Even more frustrating was that speeds of 50 & 60 mph were regularly recorded. The council’s reply was that it’s a police matter and, I quote, ‘unless someone is killed we won’t instal any anti speeding measures’ That was Haringey Council if any one is interested.
[quote=Lukas Naturally the
[quote=Lukas Naturally the stats proved the majority were going over 25mph (which is breaking the law as it’s limit + 10%)
[/quote]
21mph is breaking the law, the formula you give is used for prosecution.
Typical Road.cc reporting!
Typical Road.cc reporting! There must be something wrong in that article about speeding drivers in London. I get the distinct impression that Road.cc are trying to insinuate that the police are telling drivers to slow down, yet we all know that they will be telling cyclists to wear a helmet and hi-vis and then that will ultimately solve the problem.