BBC change headline claiming ambulance was “blocked” by cycle lane; Sweary cyclist claims he was nearly knocked off; Driver who ‘overtook’ cyclist + two kids had tooth knocked out; Pro cycling face masks; Contador breaks rib + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
The #TourdeMyGarden: a miniature Tour de France replacement
The peloton are on the #ChampsElysees no breaks yet, the weather has improved and we’re expecting a sprint. Stage 21 #TourdeMyGarden which has been a fun replacement for the #TourdeFrance #TDF #Cycling. @albertocontador in yellow, @mcewenrobbie in green @romainbardet in polkadot. pic.twitter.com/6kvjnXAvrw
— Englishtifosi (@41Tourstages) July 19, 2020
To make up for the distinct lack of Tour de France, cycling fan Peter Martin has been recreating stages using 1,200 miniature figurines he has collected during his 22 years of visiting Le Tour.
He told the BBC that the response to Tour de My Back Garden has been “phenomenal”, and that he was “inconsolable” about the Tour de France being postponed. From his all-star peloton, it was Mark Cavendish who took the victory ahead of Eddy Merckx and Robbie McEwen on stage 21…
CAVENDIIIISH!!!!! @MarkCavendish wins the final stage of #TourdeMyGarden and snatches the green jersey from @mcewenrobbie. #Merckx 2nd #McEwen 3rd. Great victory in a great race!! #TourdeFrance countdown back tomorrow! I hope you’ve enjoyed it as much as I have. pic.twitter.com/PXN73DUUFS
— Englishtifosi (@41Tourstages) July 19, 2020
*WARNING: VERY STRONG LANGUAGE* Cyclist who launched into tirade against driver says he and his wife were nearly knocked off their bikes
In the video posted to Facebook last week, which has since gone viral, a woman can be heard saying to the cyclist “you was driving in the middle of the f**king road”, before she wrongly states: “If you actually look in the Highway Code you can see that it’s not allowed two abreast.”
The cyclist replies: “You can actually go double file on a 30mph road, you stupid c**t.”
The person who posted it to Facebook claimed the driver was “pregnant and very distressed now because of this man” in an appeal for information, claiming the cyclist left “multiple scratches and dents along the boot and side” of the car.
That cyclist has now been identified as 53-year-old Dave Parker, who told The Sun: “I don’t want to talk about it. I am getting too much stick – it is unbelievable.
“All I can say is that they said I was screaming at a pregnant woman.
“Well, I wasn’t. Initially, she nearly knocked me and my wife off our bikes. But it does not show all that. But I am the bad guy aren’t I?”
Responses on Facebook were mixed, with a number disapproving of Mr Parker’s reactions but noting that his riding would have been perfectly legal.
£11k's worth of McLaren S-Works Venge for £5,000, anyone?
Dream Bikes – McLaren SWorks Venge (54)!
– Limited edition
– Campag Super record EPS Groupset
– Zipp 404 clincher wheels
– Rotor Qrings chainsetSuper light, super fast and super rare!
£11k to build | In store £5k
Call: 01283 711398
Shop: Barton Under Needwood, DE13 8AA pic.twitter.com/q9f7kbYHHu— CycleDivision (@CycleDivision) July 22, 2020
Launched back in 2011, the McLaren S-Works Venge was ridden by the likes of Mark Cavendish plus a few very wealthy cycling fans who bought one before it was discontinued. One of those has found its way into the Cycle Division store in Staffordshire, who are selling a full build for £5,000 featuring a Campagnolo Super Record EPS groupset, Zipp wheels and Rotor Q Rings. Faanncy…
You can now buy a facemask featuring your fave pro cyclist
We’ve spotted these for sale on Cycling Souvenirs, so you can “become your favourite cycling legend” while doing your bit during the pandemic.
Cyclist 'abused for wearing mask' (watch until the end)
Man drives past cyclist who is wearing a mask & shouts abuse at him.
Cyclist shouts abuse back.
Man gets out of his car.
Watch what happens next….👇pic.twitter.com/uP3zWx9MbF
— Stefan Simanowitz (@StefSimanowitz) July 20, 2020
Police appeal for information over assault, after driver who 'overtook' cyclist and two children had tooth knocked out
Suffolk Police are appealing for witnesses after a 78-year-old man was assaulted by a cyclist on London Road, Kessingland.
According to the police appeal, the driver overtook a man and two children on bikes, after which the man made hand gestures and shouted at the driver. The driver pulled over to speak to him, then the suspect is then said to have leaned into the window of the car and punched the driver in the face, causing his tooth to fall out.
The incident happened on Friday 3rd July at around 4.15pm, and the suspect is described as white, in his late 30’s with long ginger hair. Anyone with information has been asked to contact the Neighbourhood Response Team at Lowestoft Police Station, quoting reference: 37273/20.
Pointless 'cyclists dismount' sign isn't very helpful
Innappropriate signage sure enough.. approaching this doing the 20 limit and a white van tries to squeeze past me and beeps whilst pointing at the ‘cyclists dismount’ sign, really? That won’t be happening again. pic.twitter.com/F4d7IryBOq
— Stewart (@Stewart16772495) July 21, 2020
A ‘cyclist dismount’ sign “should only be used in relatively rare situations where it would be unsafe or impracticable for a cyclist to continue riding”, according to Department for Transport guidelines on cycling infrastructure design – and as the above scenario demonstrates, they’re often neither helpful or practical.
Alberto Contador breaks rib after suffering accident at home
Contador doesn’t really give anything away about how he managed to break his rib other than it didn’t happen on the bike, saying it was “a hard hit at home and crack”. Despite retiring from competitive racing in 2017, the Spaniard has clearly kept super fit as he smashed the everesting record earlier this month. Contador completed the feat in 7 hours and 27 minutes, taking over two minutes of Lachlan Morton’s record set just a couple of weeks earlier.
Team Ineos to become Ineos Grenadier for the Tour de France?
Parece que el Team Ineos cambia de nombre y equipación de cara al próximo Tour de Francia.https://t.co/VC1BI9GPd5#ineos #grenadier #tourdefrancia #teamgrenadier #ciclismo #chrisfroome #teamineos
— iberobike (@iberobike) July 22, 2020
As well as trying to win the race, the French press are reporting that Team Ineos riders will also become car salesmen at this year’s Tour de France by promoting the new Ineos Grenadier 4×4 on revamped blue jerseys. Full story to follow…
Team Ineos to become Ineos Grenadiers - it's official
A press release just in from the team has confirmed the news, which says:
Team INEOS has today confirmed they will switch to become the INEOS Grenadiers, effective from the start of the Tour de France on August 29th 2020.
The change will align the team with the Grenadier, a no-nonsense 4×4 vehicle designed, engineered and manufactured by INEOS Automotive.
In 2017, INEOS Chairman, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, a car enthusiast and experienced adventurer, identified a gap in the market for a stripped back, utilitarian, hard-working 4×4 vehicle, built on purpose. The Grenadier’s design was unveiled in July 2020 and will go into production in late 2021.
The Team’s new name and brand will officially launch in the week leading up to the Tour de France in Nice.
Full story to follow.
More pop-up cycle lanes imminent for Leicestershire
We are proud to announce this week that work begins on several new pop up cycle lanes to support the increase in walking and cycling during lockdown. Ensuring safe active travel not only benefits mental & physical health but our environment too. Read more https://t.co/ZFJQYhZpcJ pic.twitter.com/7ZPaKdAslG
— Leicestershire CC (@LeicsCountyHall) July 22, 2020
The county has been one of the big beneficiaries of pop-up cycle lanes during the pandemic, and more are on the way. From Wednesday 22nd July, new lanes on the A6 in Birstall and the A47 at Leicester Forest East will be installed, existing cycle lanes on Kettering Road in Market Harborough will be widened and there will be new ‘Park and Pedal’ sites with secure bike parking at Enderby and Meynell’s Gorse park and ride sites. All will be completed over an eight-week period, funded by the county’s successful bid for a £300,00 slice of the government’s £250m Emergency Active Travel Fund. Leicestershire County Councl are also making a bid for a further £1.2m to roll out more schemes.
That name change has proved popular then...
Great to see Team Ineos Grenadiers practicing their outdoor team timed trial formation cycling technique ahead of the resumption of pro professional racing
The fluffy helmets have been tested in a wind tunnel and are 29% more aerodynamic according to swimming coach Nick Kerrison pic.twitter.com/emtHRzhPwR
— UK Cycling Expert (@ukcyclingexpert) July 22, 2020
you`ve come a long way , down. pic.twitter.com/eXbM7Z6cPq
— tim barlow (@tim0000) July 22, 2020
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
Oh. You’re being serious.
— Simon the Puncheur (@thepuncheur) July 22, 2020
Oh dear. This is pathetically tone deaf. And a shit name.
— powergoose (@powergoose73) July 22, 2020
Plus some gold from UK Cycling Expert in amongst the moans. Read our full story on the Team Ineos renaming here.
Man donating race bike for free to "any willing London cyclists"
Not gonna lie, I’m looking to donate my Cervelo S1 to any willing, London cyclists. Downside : frame is 51cm .. I didn’t bring it back to Indonesia as well.. let’s just say road infrastructure isn’t like London. Its great as a commuter, even better as a racer. pic.twitter.com/p7Ycc7yhN2
— Warden Commander (@ratesmacro) July 22, 2020
Buena Patria is making the generous gesture because he is returning to Indonesia where the “road infrastructure isn’t like London”. He adds that the new owner must take very good care of the Cervelo S1 alloy aero racer with Zipp wheels, and also needs to “share all his/her cycling exploits” with him.
Know anyone who could benefit in the London area?
Georg Preilder given 12 month suspended sentence for his part in Operation Aderlass blood doping scandal
Former Groupama-FDJ rider Preidler has avoided jail after admitting to being part of a blood doping ring, uncovered last year as part of Operation Aderlass when athletes across various sports confessed to receiving blood transfusions from German physician Mark Schmidt.
30-year-old Preidler was found guilty of serious commercial sports fraud at Innsbruck district court, receiving a 12-month suspended sentence and a 2,880 euro fine according to Zeit Online.
Other cyclists implicated in the scandal were Stefan Denifl, who confessed, and the retired Alessandro Petacchi, who denied the accusations. Dr Schmidt’s trial will take place in Munich from September.
Fizik adds its 3D printed technology to more saddle models, bringing the price down
Fizik has extended its ‘Adaptive’ range of 3D printed saddles, adding the technology to the Antares Versus Evo R1 and R3. The price has come down too, with the R1 costing a cool £299.99 while the R3 is priced at £249.99.
Fizik has partnered with a US company called Carbon to create the saddles. Its Carbon Digital Light Synthesis process, used to create the Antares saddle, uses a “digital ultraviolet light projection, oxygen-permeable optics, and programmable liquid resins to produce parts with excellent mechanical properties, resolution and surface finish.”
The two new models don’t feature the faded green colour of the Evo 00. These come in a more classic all black design. The new saddles are available now.
Things an electric cargo bike can carry
Scaffolding: yes but not very practical / cost effective
Frozen food: yes, thermal boxes, we cover ground faster than motors and do drops faster
Furniture: yes
Cycles: yes
Elderly and infirm people: yes
More than one person: yes
24 hours: not yet… https://t.co/IMPsojApxK— Pedal Me (@pedalmeapp) July 22, 2020
A slight fail from the person who asked the question there…
BBC amend article that claimed ambulance was "blocked" by new cycle lane after complaint
This footage shows the moment an ambulance’s path was blocked by a new cycle lane in Sheffield.
Paramedics had to leave the vehicle to move the bollards out of their way.
Read more: https://t.co/9rpC3vNAU3 pic.twitter.com/49RhnanDHG
— BBC Yorkshire (@BBCLookNorth) July 8, 2020
The article originally said that “an ambulance’s path was blocked by a new cycle lane in Sheffield”, with the accompanying tweet from July 8th (above) still remaining on BBC Yorkshire’s account. At the time the BBC received an angry backlash from numerous people who argued that the ambulance was actually using the cycle lane to proceed because the other lane was blocked by motor traffic; there was the issue of removing the bollards, with some noting that this arguably took less time than trying to negotiate two congested lanes filled with cars.
A road.cc reader subsequently contacted the BBC’s complaints team, who responded: “After reviewing the article in light of your concerns we have since amended the headline, the text within the video and the summary text, to better reflect what this footage showed.”
The headline is now “New Sheffield cycle lane slows ambulance’s journey”, and a clarification was also added to the bottom of the article, plus a response from the Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust.
After receiving the response this afternoon, the reader told road.cc: “The headline and the article are still unacceptable as far as I’m concerned, so I’ll be appealing to the BBC’s complaints management.”
22 July 2020, 08:11
Worth the wait?
Chater-Lea release first chainsets since the early 1960s with new sub-compact Grand Tour model
“We hope you will find them worth waiting for”
22 July 2020, 08:11
Looks like this offer has gone on the back-burner...
Further delays to Fix Your Bike voucher scheme launch as government waits for repair backlog to ease
£50 vouchers had initially been expected to be available to public by end of June
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28 Comments
Latest Comments
@mattsccm The MIB exists to compensate victims of accidents caused by the drivers/riders of uninsured and untraced *motor vehicles*, not pedestrians or cyclists. So the MIB would have rightly refused any claim by the victim here. If the at-fault pedestrian had no third party liability insurance that would've covered this incident, the victim could have pursued a claim against her estate. The 'optics' (terrible word but it's become common parlance, sadly) of a cyclist pursuing a claim against a dead lady's estate, however, might have made it inadvisable.
Think also 4wd bull bars being banned for no legitimate reason Oh dear ! the unsubtle pro-driver, pro-panzer trolls are not very good at disguising themselves, are they? One can only hope that Clarkson and this disciple never have cause to regret their advocacy for these killing armaments to be added to their already pedestrian-and-cyclist hostile guzzlers. No, that's too subtle for them - what I really hope is that they, or their families, do have cause for such regret.
@ziadvanbeek I would say again that the times are closer than many people think. I was looking at my Strava time on the Huy and that's how I noted what I wrote ... Tadej's time on the Huy for his win in 2023: 3:47 (121st / 36936 Demi's time on the Huy for her win in 2026: 3:48 (141st / 36936) Yes, Paul Seixas has the KOM at 3:04 from his win in 2026.
Check out the Evening Standard Facebook post on this - clear implication that the lady was killed on a no cyclist path, not on an open busy road.
I think there's a significant problem being ignored here: "Introducing new rules will change the behaviour of those who ignore the rules" Really?
I'm sure the pink trousers count as high vis but I thought German infantry helmets were banned after Brexit!
@Pub bike People might even be tempted to leave them on if they were halfway competent, a courtesy car I had recently insisted that a 3t weight limit sign was a 30mph sign.
@mattsccm Can you be a bit more specific, is that 955 worldwide since the invention of the motor car?
I think we have to be realistic. It appears that the pedestrian was at fault and thus the cyclist should have no blame what so ever. Indeed they should be compensated, ideally from the pedestrian house insurance and if not through the MIB which exists for similar purposes. Equally motorised vehicle users should not be penalised for the stupidity of people. I recall, but sadly cannot prove it, evidence that something like 955 of all car/pedestrian collisions were the pedestrians fault and yet drivers are penalised by having to have ridiculous "soft" panels on cars which serve little or no purpose when linked to cars hitting road users. Think also 4wd bull bars being banned for no legitimate reason.
I’m sorry for the Mr Griffith’s loss but it was widely reported at the time that his mum stepped into the road without looking and around 2 metres from the approaching cyclists. Had the cyclists been a car she would have likely been run over and killed and the story wouldn’t even be reported as “news”. Likewise had she stepped out, knocked over and killed the cyclist it would likely not have been “news” worth reporting. The root cause of the death was failure to look before stepping out into the road.
28 thoughts on “BBC change headline claiming ambulance was “blocked” by cycle lane; Sweary cyclist claims he was nearly knocked off; Driver who ‘overtook’ cyclist + two kids had tooth knocked out; Pro cycling face masks; Contador breaks rib + more on the live blog”
The moral of the story is, no
The moral of the story is, no matter how stupid and idiotic someone drives, don’t swear back at them. If you’ve footage, send it to the cops.
OldRidgeback wrote:
Easy to say, but when an arrogant, misinformed driver tries to run you and your wife off the road, you’re probably going to get a bit emotional. As someone to whom this has happened, I can confirm that adrenaline takes over, and despite being a relatively peaceful person, you’re ready to take on anyone.
As for playing the “but I’m a pregnant woman” sympathy-demanding card, just irrelevant. If she’s going to continue driving, she needs to learn the law and how to share the road.
+1
+1
bullies are the world’s greatest victims.
yep, the pregnant driver is
yep, the pregnant driver is the first to get sweary with ‘you were in the middle of the effing road’ – hardly calming the situation they created through their poor driving
eburtthebike wrote:
It’s easy to say indeed. I’ve been there and done that in the past I admit. But the fact is that shouting and swearing does you no favours at all. The only effect is to turn the perpatrator into the victim. You will gain absolutely no psychological benefit from swearing.
If you must speak to the person, don’t swear, don’t shout. Take photos of their vehicle. Move to the side and keep out of their way.
OldRidgeback wrote:
…who will do what?
My last 3 submissions have
My last 4 submissions have returned Status: Course or conditional offer
The latest one was a driver under instruction ! Hmm, wonder what course they will be on …
Sounds positive. Which force?
Sounds positive. Which force?
Essex
Essex
David9694 wrote:
The one time I sent footage in, the driver got taken to court and issued with 5 points and a ~£200 fine.
OldRidgeback wrote:
Who will firstly lose it and then when given it again, do nothing… or is that just Hampshire Police?
Shit behaviour from driver
Shit behaviour from driver doesn’t make it right to yell and scream at someone like that.
Yes, I have lost the plot in similar way in the past. Now I’m trying to keep my wits and explain to the driver what they did wrong. Most of the time it’s like explaining to my newborn that he can’t just shit every 10 minutes but well, I’m trying.
Clearly, she (regardless if pregnant or not) has no clue about the “Highway code”.
Durin90 wrote:
She is like the majority of road users then; hasn’t looked at the HC since learning to drive.
“Then when bibbed at because
“Then when bibbed at because was holding cars up he was throwing up hand signals”
Sounds very much like he lost his temper at an agressive driver.
Pity the video doesn’t show
Pity the video doesn’t show the full story then we can make our own minds up. But then again a big nasty man shouting sweary words at a pregnant woman means he’s in the wrong even though she’s clearly wrong about how cyclists can ride 2 abreast and had no right to use her horn. After being on the end of loads of drivers that think they are in the right and comitting pinishment passes or horn blaring as they go past or simply throwing rubbish I can relate to him losing his temper, especially that his wife was also with him but that doesn’t count, because she’s on her bike and she’s not pregnant.
Don’t worry, the DM will run
Don’t worry, the DM will run an article doxing the driver soon. I’m sure they will want to explore how someone without good knowledge of the highway code can possibly be driving.
An exclusive expose interview with her driving instructor, photos of her home decor scraped from fb and of course her job, salary and property value, maybe.
The mask video is brilliant.
The mask video is brilliant. Cheered me up after the holy driver vs evil cyclist one!
I didn’t think it was
I didn’t think it was possible to dislike Ineos as a sponsor more than I already did but, hey, they’ve managed to make themselves even more unlikeable.
“In 2017, INEOS Chairman, Sir
“In 2017, INEOS Chairman, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, a car enthusiast and experienced adventurer, identified a gap in the market for a stripped back, utilitarian, hard-working 4×4 vehicle, built on purpose.”
How does one build a 4×4 by accident?
And does anyone else think that it looks a lot like a face-lifted Land Rover Defender 110? I wonder where the tooling ended up when production ceased at JLR ….
They refused to sell him the
They refused to sell him the tooling so just copied the design instead
Quote:
Well they’re certainly making that go a long way – I would have thought just putting the bid together would have cost them more than three hundred quid…
Ranty man & Roadside dentist:
Ranty man & Roadside dentist: Moral…ask for afters…get afters…with extra custard.
(Not condoning violence, obvs.)
Yeah. My heart bleeds. Though
Yeah. My heart bleeds. Though not as much as his mouth…
Driver having a rant at
Driver having a rant at masked cyclist must have been having a baa-aaa-aad day.
“BBC amend article that
“BBC amend article that claimed ambulance was “blocked” by new cycle lane after complaint”
For goodness sake. Why can’t they just say “ambulance was blocked by stationary traffic, but quick-thinking crew switched to the cycle lane instead”
I was one of the original complainants. It’s only words on a website, but I’m going to complain again – as they are simply rewording their distortion at present.
LetsBePartOfTheSolution wrote
Me too. Let’s keep the pressure up so that at least they’ll think twice before being quite so stupid again.
“You was in the middle of the
“You was in the middle of the road’ (sic) The idiot, bully’s mantra.
Good to know the R1 saddle is
Good to know the R1 saddle is now only £299, I’ll get half a dozen, they’ll make nice stocking fillers at Christmas. I’m mug enough to fall for most shiny expensive bike things, but what for many people is a week’s wages for two bent bits of metal, a plastic shell and a bit of foam padding? Not for me, thanks.