Yet another assault on a cyclist; Gumtree ‘entrapment’ bike seller jailed; Strava artist’s 3-headed sketch; Pedal Me discounts to “help fight off flood of motor vehicles”; Video: cows attack cyclist; CCC still searching for new sponsor + more on live blog
SUMMARY
Weekend catch-up
Here’s what you missed on road.cc if you were otherwise engaged this weekend…
British woman breaks Everesting world record – and gets mansplained over saddle height
Fuji suspends sales of bikes to US police forces after seeing them used against protestors
Virtual Tour de France on custom Zwift routes planned for July
Cyclist has nose, cheek and thumb broken in road rage attack
Two-year-old riding 45 miles (in 12 days) for charity – a mile for every minute her sister lived
How much?! Fail to carry enough spare tubes, pay a large price
Hens teeth attract a premium.
(pic from local MTB FB group) pic.twitter.com/tN8ZCsTJyT
— LukeB_MTB (@LukeB_MTB) June 8, 2020
While it’s not at all fair to compare LBS inner tube prices to large online retailers – who have been known to sell them at tiny profits margins or even a loss to entice you in – on the scale of 1 to taking the pee this is probably towards the higher end of the scale. How about going tubeless instead?
Video circulates of two cows attacking a cyclist
Video evidence that even cows hate cyclists🚴♀️ 🚴♂️ 🚴♀️
— Vusi Sambo (@VusiSambo) June 7, 2020
We’re not sure where this (fortunately very rare) incident took place, but the caption on this clip and some of the gleeful comments underneath are also pretty distasteful – luckily, it looks like the cyclist was ok.
We reported on a more positive cow-related incident back in 2017, when a cyclist on a bike ride with friends in northwest Spain stopped to deliver a calf after spotting a pregnant cow in distress. Moo-ving stuff indeed…
Cycle Republic website redirected to Tredz overnight
As we previously reported, Halfords Group PLC have now shut down Cycle Republic’s online store, and are in the process of handing over a number of their high street shops to electric scooter specialists Pure Electric. Cycle Republic’s website has ceased operations today, with the page now directing to Tredz, which is also under the Halfords umbrella.
Cycle Republic customers with outstanding orders have now been informed that everything will be taken care of via this web link, which says:
“We will fulfil all orders placed on cyclerepublic.com.
“Information for orders placed by account holders will remain viewable here. For any orders placed on a guest account please refer to your order confirmation email.
“Any existing warranties or cycle care plans will be honoured by Halfords.”
Bike that Peter Sagan presented to Pope Francis to be auctioned off for charity
The bike was originally gifted to Pope Francis in 2018 when Sagan made a visit to the Vatican with his mother – a practising Catholic – and now the one-off Specialized Venge is set to be auctioned off in aid of the Vatican’s We Run Together charity.
Funds raised from the special weekly auctions between 8th June and 8th August will go towards providing support for medical personnel in hospitals in the northern cities of Brescia and Bergamo, particularly hard-hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Pedal Me offer a third off all delivery jobs to "help fight off the flood of motor vehicles"
ICYMI – Cycle Logistics companies across the country have slashed their prices to help fight off the flood of motor vehicles hitting our towns and cities.
We’re leading the way with 1/3 off all jobs for at least the next month. https://t.co/3X72gCNKZA
— Pedal Me (@pedalmeapp) June 8, 2020
The London-based e-cargo delivery firm have extended their offer – which was initially a third off for their taxi service – to deliveries, with riders able to carry a 150kg load on-bike or up to 200kg towing a trailer.
They claim this is to fend off the increasing numbers of motor vehicles returning to the streets as the lockdown begins to lift, saying: “After implementing the 1/3 off discount for passenger jobs yesterday, we started to think that we could do more to help London to bridge the gap to become a truly cycling friendly city.
“To help to keep the city moving more efficiently we need to think about logistics and how cargo is moved. It’s vital that we maintain the momentum of the shift from vans to more environmentally friendly delivery methods. Pedal Me is perfect for this so we have reduced cargo jobs by 1/3 as well.
“We have to reduce the numbers of motor vehicles on London’s streets. Pedal Me is cheap, efficient, fast and environmentally friendly. We have highly trained riders who can carry 150kg of load on a single bike, as well as the possibility of towing 200kg on a trailer as well. We can take advantage of the manoeuvrability of bikes and the access to faster routes that bikes can take.”
The scene from Bristol
Plenty of bikes and onlookers on foot, distinct lack of monuments to 17th century slave traders…
Strava artist Anthony Hoyte is back with his most ambitious piece/ride yet
Mr Hoyte’s previous work has included a giant snowman sketched from an 87 mile ride around London, a group of birds that took him 7 hours and 51 miles to complete and a face that required 78 miles of riding around Cardiff… and now he’s struck again with what he describes as his most ambitious ride yet.
The 52-year-old spent almost five hours riding around his hometown of Cheltenham creating the three-headed Strava masterpiece, and told Gloucestershire Live that for obvious reasons, he had plenty of time to put into this project: “Because of lockdown, I couldn’t go anywhere so I thought this would concentrate the mind.
“I stared at the maps a bit more along Cheltenham and I actually ended up using one of the faces from my previous drawing and I added the two figures from either side.”
Some have theorised that the face on the left is Worzel Gummidge and the one in the middle is Boris Johnson; although Mr Hoyte claims they don’t represent anyone in particular. He plans to strike in Manchester and Milan next, as well as returning to ride out some more sketches in London.
'I Can't Believe It's Not Cancelled' episode one hundred-and-something: Bespoked and the North American Handmade Bike Show (NAHBS)
In the latest edition of events that will obviously be cancelled or postponed but have only just announced that they will be cancelled or postponed, we have Bristol’s Bespoked show and NAHBS in the US.
Bespoked had already postponed until October, but the organisers have now announced that with “a heavy heart” they are postponing once more until spring 2021 due to the “continuing uncertainty regarding COVID-19.” An exact date is yet to be confirmed.
Similarly NAHBS have also now cancelled their 2020 plans after initially postponing the March show until August. They said in the statement above: “With NAHBS scheduled to take place in less than three months – and based on what we currently know and predictions for the summer — we’re making the difficult decision to cancel NAHBS 2020 and focus our efforts on 2021.”
Could CCC be the first World Tour casualty of the coronavirus pandemic? Team still looking for new title sponsor
CCC Team will no longer actually be sponsored by CCC themselves in 2021, and their President Jim Ochowicz has released a statement saying that they are “busy finalising the revised race calendar and preparing for the four-month racing block” in a bid to attract new sponsors.
Ochowicz said: “Looking ahead to the 2021 season, CCC will no longer be the title sponsor so we are now actively looking for a new title sponsor. We are in an unprecedented time but we are confident there are companies that want to invest in cycling, especially given the global rise in popularity of bike riding in recent months.
“Under the Continuum Sports ownership and license, we have grown from a US Continental Team in 2007 to one of the biggest WorldTour teams in the peloton in recent years and we have every intention of continuing under new title sponsorship.
“Every race day is an opportunity for our riders and it is clear that strong performances in the early races are going to be instrumental in securing the team’s long term future.”
Cycle Republic update: Tredz now displaying message welcoming customers from Cycle Republic website
Since this morning, the Tredz website now says: “After more than five successful years, our sister company Cycle Republic has ceased trading and has closed down its website. Tredz is part of the same ‘Performance Cycling’ family as Cycle Republic, offering an even greater choice of the very best in bikes and cycling accessories, so we’re sure to have what you need.”
Halfords have also got in touch to reiterate that Cycle Republic orders will be fulfilled by “the remaining Cycle Republic team.”
Gumtree 'entrapment'gate: thief who stole nurse's bike jailed after Jeremy Vine stepped in over poor initial police response
**New Update**
Suspect has been convicted after pleading guilty. His sentence is as follows:-➖32 weeks custodial (includes previous suspended sentence imposed).
➖Compensastion payment of £200 https://t.co/NhqwX35qxJ— Andy Cox (@SuptAndyCox) June 8, 2020
Well, what a difference a celebrity neighbour makes… and the intervention of Superintendent Andy Cox of course, as the thief who stole a nurse’s bike and advertised it on Gumtree has now been jailed for 32 weeks and fined £200.
Initially, officers bizarrely told the victim – a mental health nurse named Joey – that they were unable to investigate because her prior detective work on tracking down her bike on Gumtree would have amounted to entrapment… this is a load of cobblers of course, and Superintendent Cox intervened to arrest the man responsible when he spotted that Mr Vine had posted the above video to his Twitter account. The thief received a 32 week prison sentence after a previous suspended sentence for another crime was activated, and had to pay £200 compensation.
Who’s learned something from all of this? Probably not the culprit (hopefully he eventually gets the help he needs to stop offending), but with any luck the police officers who made the initial very questionable judgement have. We’ll have more on this in the form of a full story later…
Yet another assault on a cyclist
Thames Valley Police is appealing for witnesses following an assault near Datchet.
At 2.35pm on Sunday 31 May, two cyclists were travelling south bound on the B3021 Southlea Road from Datchet to Windsor.
A person in a white pick-up truck, travelling in the opposite direction towards Datchet, threw a drinks bottle which hit the first cyclist in the chest.
The victim received bruising and inflammation to his chest, he did not require hospital treatment.
Investigating officer PC Alexander Massey from the Windsor and Maidenhead Smarter Resolution Team, said: “This was a frightening experience for the two cyclists, and I am appealing to anyone who has any information about this incident to come forward.
“If you were driving or cycling in the area at the time and saw anything, please get in touch.
“You can contact us using the online reporting form, quoting reference number 43200160762. If you cannot report online, call the 24 hour non-emergency number 101.
“Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
8 June 2020, 08:39
Cycling headlines you didn't expect to see...
Chris Froome leaves it late to beat Kevin Pietersen and Melanie C in Wheels For Heroes race (+ video of full race)
Four-time Tour de France winner prevails in handicap-format charity Zwift race broadcast on Sky Sports
8 June 2020, 08:39
8 June 2020, 08:39
We've got another ma-hoosive comp for ya, this time courtesy of Hunt
Hunt Wheels and Hunt Castelli Competition Winner announced
The Hunt Wheels and Castelli kit comp is now closed and we name the Winners!
8 June 2020, 08:39
8 June 2020, 08:39
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21 Comments
Latest Comments
@robgodd The poor guy himself suffered a traumatic brain injury and his skull was so badly shattered a significant portion of it had to be removed - do me a favour, have a look around cycling helmet manufacturers and see if any of them claim the foam hats they produce will protect against or even mitigate that level of injury. I'll wait if you like, but I can save us both the time and tell you what you'll find: none of them. Not a single one of them will. Because they don't, and they *can't* based on simple physics. Once the point of failure in a material is reached all(or as near as makes no odds) of the additional force beyond that necessary threshhold transfers through to the object beneath. Since bicycle helmets are rated for forces roughly equivalent to being dropped straight down from a stationary start 1.5m above a hard surface. Now, I'm not an expert in vehicle crash investigation, but I'm *fairly* sure that any impact or series of impacts powerful enough to render a quarder of your skull into gravel, put you in a weeks-long coma, give you massive amnesia, and leave you with ongoing symptoms of traumatic brain injury are a little bit, a teeny-weeny amount, a little smidgeon-widgeon more than what bike helmets are rated for. That's why none of the companies that make them claim they will help in such circumstances: because they know it would be a lie, and that unlike uninformed punters, carbrained journalists, or "medical professionals" who think wearing a helmet would save you from a broken arm(an actual scenario encountered by a mate, who's nurse at the A&E tutted and harrumphed her way through his whole treatment due to his lack of helmet despite his bonce having come through *being hit by a car* - another scenario bike helmets are worthless in - completely unscathed), the lawyers for those companies know their business and understand that if you lie in advertising you will get sued into the ground.
The Battle of Ypres April 1915. The German infantry division advanced using das Brumptstadt Fahrarden. The slow speed kept them behind the cloud of chlorine gas as it drifted towards the Commonwealth trenches. The offensive cleaved a two mile gap in the Western Front. The use of cycles was copied by the Japanese as they invaded Singapore and Burmah. By then war technology had embraced wider low pressure tyres, carbon frames and hydration gels. The German forces decided not to incorporate cycling as part of Operation Session, as bike theft in London and the South East was rife and would have caused huge casualties. Ironically superior advancement of tyre technology led to a British victory at El Alamein. This technology played a key part in the US Marines victory at Iwo Jima.
The appropriate response to Google pissing on your cereal is not a fancy new sugar that removes the taste of urine. Stop using Google products where you can. Firefox browser and DuckDuckGo search engine have had noticeable upticks in market share by explicitly NOT pushing AI.
my thoughts exactly...I wonder how that approach is working, with motor vehicle drivers...🤔
I do not wish to diminish the personal tragedy, but one never hear calls for pedestrians or even hikers to wear clothing with integrated lightening rods.
RE Andy Burnam / Heidi Alexander - this is the best thing in many ways - set an example (even if currently it leads to lots of online name-calling). And imagine some of the political alternatives! The folks in the apparently second-placed party seem incredibly unlikely to be doing so. And even the current "new Greens" seem less interested in ... y'know, environmental things. OTOH I wish Heidi could be bolder. And I fear that like anyone ambitious enough to get to the top (exception B Johnson - well, I guess there was the Corbyn bicycle...) Burnam will be trimming his transport policy sails to fit the wind (should that be "bunker-fuel-burning engines"?)
@mattsccm Bull bars aren't banned, they just have to conform to regulations so they are deformable or have plates that allow crumple give on contact, rather than rigid steel bars that can smash into pedestrians and cyclists with no give at all, catch them and drag them under the wheels. If you think that's a problem, do one. Why should who is responsible for a collision remove the responsibility of people driving a tonne of machinery on the road from having safety features to at least mitigate some of the effects of a collision?
I'd be willing to bet that's lazy use of stock photography rather than deliberate misinformation, but the result is still the same.
@smallbeer You obviously don't realise how many bulls there are wandering around Chelsea, in and out of the china shops, that he needs to protect his Range Rover from.
I agree, it's bloody 'elf and safety overreach, can't help some people, I put some meat, sorry, neat decoration on the front of mine and the polis were round poking their noses in like that (mind you, that was a mistake...) (etc)
21 thoughts on “Yet another assault on a cyclist; Gumtree ‘entrapment’ bike seller jailed; Strava artist’s 3-headed sketch; Pedal Me discounts to “help fight off flood of motor vehicles”; Video: cows attack cyclist; CCC still searching for new sponsor + more on live blog”
FTFY: luckily, it looks like
FTFY: luckily, it looks like the calf was ok.
Not sure the cow was actively
Not sure the cow was actively attacking the cyclists, just trying to get back to it’s mum. Mind you, it should have rung it’s bell.
We all know why cows have bells around their necks don’t we?
Their horns don’t work.
eburtthebike wrote:
Does black&white count as high-viz? No helmet either.
cdamian wrote:
No. That’s cowmoflage.
I’ve been in lockdown too long. Send help, in liquid form.
Here you go….
Here you go….
mdavidford wrote:
NO!!! Bristol Milk would however be acceptable.
JHC; I’m definitely carrying
JHC; I’m definitely carrying two tubes on every ride from now. Nobody minds a reasonable price and LBSs have overheads, but that is extortion.
I’d best add the obligatory
I’d best add the obligatory ‘calf should have been wearing a helmet and hi viz’ comment, seeing as no-one else has yet.
Many years ago I once ran
Many years ago I once ran through a cow field, and quickly discovered why the sign on the gate said Walkers only, no running! A fully grown charging down the hill behind you is an exhilarating experience but not one I’d ever like to repeat. Cows really don’t like you moving faster than them, so I have to slightly blame the cyclists for trying to fly through the middle of them at speed.
That was not an attack, that
That was not an attack, that was a calf trying to get away from something it was probbaly scaired of. School day for the cyclist and calf.
I’m genuinely sorry that
I’m genuinely sorry that Priti Patel feels that the toppling of the statue of a slave trader was “utterly disgraceful”.
Mob rule is great.
Mob rule is great.
Until the day comes when you disagree with the mob.
ktache wrote:
My wife and I had to look up where the statue actually was as neither of us was particularly aware of it. It’s an embarrassment that it stood there for so long.
I thought that the police did an excellent job in not stepping in to protect the statue and instead keeping their policing low key and focussing on public safety and not escalating the situation.
Seems like there’ll be some momentum in removing Colston’s name from more of Bristol now. Colston Hall were already in the process of renaming but that got stalled due to Coronavirus. I wonder if they’ll also deal with Blackboy Hill and Whiteladies Road?
hawkinspeter wrote:
And there are several Blackmoor and Blackamoor Lanes.
Bristol’s Berlin Wall moment.
Bristol’s Berlin Wall moment.
I’m sorry that Edward Colston ended up in the Marina but the authorities had plenty of opportunity to retire him off to a museum where he belonged. Hopefully to be replaced with a monument to something or someone more appropriate.
Mungecrundle wrote:
The authorities wanted to change the plaque below the statue, but got blocked by certain councillors (you know, the ones wearing ties of a blue-ish colour…) and by the Society of Merchant Venturers (Bristol’s very own Illuminati, who this year appointed their first ever black member – only four hundred years after their establishment…).
Could the one on the right be
Could the one on the right be Bill Gates?
It’s like the beginning of a surreal joke, isn’t it? Worzel Gummidge, Boris Johnson and Bill Gates were all on a bike ride round Cheltenham…
Not up to Mr Hoyte’s
Not up to Mr Hoyte’s standards, and from a few months ago, but – happy World Oceans Day
Quote:
This.
What’s “The Scene from
What’s “The Scene from Bristol” pic got to do with cycling? Am I missing something?
There’s a bicycle in the
There’s a bicycle in the picture 😉