Blind downhill mountain biker hoping to turn pro; Have you watched the latest Lance Armstrong documentary?; Tel Aviv builds bike lane overnight; Crappy tech solution to dooring; Why hill climbers shouldn’t print their own numbers + more
SUMMARY
Crappy tech solution to doorings
Cyclists getting clattered off their bikes by people opening car doors into them?
Maybe they could wear a helmet with a heads-up display notifying them of potential door openings up ahead. That seems like the simplest way to tackle the problem…
How can we make a complicated high tech solution to stop cyclists getting doored? Make them wear helmets that receive data from sensors in car doors to trigger a warning on the helmet visor. Doh! Better than teaching drivers to take care, eh? https://t.co/QafTBZshWw #techmad pic.twitter.com/3zOAoU805g
— Cycling Science (@CyclingScience1) September 24, 2020
Why hill climbers shouldn't print their own numbers
Been encouraged to print out our own numbers before Sunday’s Hill Climb to avoid too much congregation around sign on. Every gram counts!! pic.twitter.com/9Xwww6aZV4
— Simon Warren (@100Climbs) September 23, 2020
A reminder that the World Championships are happening
Time trials are happening.
The World Championships, no less.
Here we go! Today is the elite women’s time trial at the @UCI_cycling Road World Championships 🌈
Rolling off the start ramp for the #GBCT are 👇
🇬🇧 @ElizzyBanks
🇬🇧 @BarnesAliceWatch live coverage via @BBCSport and @Eurosport_UK 📺#Imola2020 pic.twitter.com/Oydfbt00L6
— British Cycling (@BritishCycling) September 24, 2020
You can watch.
The @BBCSport coverage of the World Time Trial Championships shall be yours from 1335 to 1555 BST this afternoon on red button, iPlayer and online today with @SimonBrotherton @RochelleGilmore and myself. https://t.co/29e8U7IloP
— Chris Boardman (@Chris_Boardman) September 24, 2020
We did a thing about the various courses the other day. The road race one has got a couple of steep bits in it.
Have you watched the latest Lance Armstrong documentary?
We know, we know, *another* Lance Armstrong documentary. How many can the world possibly need? There’s a whole different n+1 thing going on in this particular field, it seems.
ESPN’s somewhat bluntly titled two-part documentary, Lance, made it onto the iPlayer at the weekend.
Chances are you’re either (a) rolling your eyes and consciously avoiding it or (b) not immediately interested because you’re 95% certain that there’s nothing in there you don’t already know.
But then what if there is something interesting in there? It’s quite long. There must be something, right?
So have you seen it? Perhaps you could give the somewhat jaded cycling fan who isn’t in any kind of rush to watch ‘Lance’ a bit of a steer.
Is it worth a look? Pretty much a complete waste of time? What do you reckon?
Got €100,000 burning a hole in your pocket?
A NEW Pinarello Espada.
For sale on Facebook Markets. €100,000. pic.twitter.com/Tf3TpNBFM2
— Gordon Knight (@GordonlKnight) September 24, 2020
Listing here.
Warning: Cyclists may be knocked off by someone with a baseball bat
The Press reports that a sign apparently suggesting that cyclists could be lamped with a baseball bat was recently spotted on a bridge near York.
ICYMI: The sign was situated on a bridge near Yorkhttps://t.co/uvS5bqf6IA
— Daniel Willers (@danwillerspress) September 24, 2020
Hagg Bridge, on the B1228 road between Sutton upon Derwent and Melbourne has been closed to motor vehicles since March while repair work is being carried out.
Cyclists and pedestrians are still permitted to cross – although cyclists must dismount.
The sign was put up by Direct Traffic Management, who have since removed it.
The firm’s managing director, Simon Chadwick, said the image was on the back of the sign.
“We suspect the sign has been vandalised whilst out on site but still apologies for any offence caused.”
A smattering of semi-recommendations for 'Lance' on the iPlayer
We asked you whether the latest Lance Armstrong documentary is worth a watch if you’re a person who isn’t already dead against the mere idea of Lance Armstrong documentaries.
The consensus down in the comments section seems to be: ‘Yes, probably, if you can’t immediately think of something else to watch’.
Awavey said: “I thought it was a good documentary, as all the 30 for 30 series have been. Even if you don’t follow cycling as a sport, you learn something about the human characters involved, and Lance’s ex teammates especially I think in this one reveal a lot more than they did in that earlier doc – though obviously a lot of the same ground gets covered. But I’d recommend watching it.”
joules1975 said: “I’m glad I watched it, and felt I did learn some new things. There were a few moments where you saw the mask/act crack, which was interesting, particularly the section where Lance discussed Ulrich.”
kt26 said: “I myself enjoyed the documentary, mostly for informing me a bit better about some of the details of the time but also because if offered multiple perspectives on the time with interviews with many different players. Probably best gone into if your relativily opened minded on the subject – otherwise its very long.”
peted76 was a bit more effusive: “I finished the new ‘Lance’ documentary the other night. It is hands down the best Lord Voldemort documentary I’ve seen.
“Everyone knows the story of course, but this is a truly fascinating insight into the whole saga. Warts and all. I must admit it ‘hit me in the feels’ a couple of times too. Chapeau to the filmakers IMHO they’ve done a great job of it.”
World Championships road race course is "perfect" for Lizzie Deignan says team-mate Lizzy Banks
The women’s road race is on Saturday on a course that Lizzy Banks says is “perfect” for Lizzie Deignan.
You can find info about the circuit and climbs here. The women’s route is 143km with 2,750m of climbing.
“It’s exciting, we’ve got such a strong team,” Banks told BBC Sport. “Lizzie Deignan is on great form and this is a perfect course for her, she’ll really relish riding it.”
Banks is riding the women’s time trial today. (It’s on the Beeb right now, in fact.)
Speaking about her training this year, she said: “We had a tough period where we lost a really close friend to coronavirus so that was really difficult.
“Not being able to see your friends during that time was devastating and that really fuelled my anxieties about going back to work.
“I used cycling as a release and sometimes it was difficult to get outside – the hardest thing was always leaving the front door but you always feel better once you get outside.”
Long term, she is targeting the 2024 Olympics time trial despite having only taken up cycling in 2015 and not yet done any aero testing on her position.
“It’s something I’m going to look into this winter.”
UK cycling policy in a single image
This is quite magnificent.
Cycling policy in the UK pic.twitter.com/IAn8U6wsQF
— Liz (@liz545) September 24, 2020
Geraint Thomas has a new book out next month
Mountains According to G is about various different climbs and Thomas’s experiences on them – “not all necessarily good,” he says in a video that arguably warranted a second take.
— Geraint Thomas (@GeraintThomas86) September 22, 2020
Unless that was the second take.
It’s out on October 29.
Tel Aviv built a 300m protected cycle lane overnight
Whenever they tell you that bike infrastructure is too expensive or complicated, share with them these images. A 300m-long tactical bike lane was built tonight in the city center. It took 194 minutes in total. Good morning!💪 pic.twitter.com/Hspux0MHaB
— Lior Steinberg (@LiorSteinberg) September 24, 2020
Defending champion crashes out of World Championships time trial
Looked nasty. She went over a roadside barrier. She was way ahead based on the intermediate timings as well.
We’ll have more for you on this in a bit. We’re still awaiting news on her condition.
Crash for defending champion, @chloedygert30 🇺🇸, and she has abandoned the race.
Such a huge shame. We’re hoping Chloe isn’t hurt. #Imola2020 pic.twitter.com/PFK4zDxJGO
— UCI (@UCI_cycling) September 24, 2020
Blind downhill mountain biker hoping to turn pro
Xavier Hopkins was born with albinism which means his eyes let in too much light. This is compounded by a second eye condition called nystagmus, which causes his eyes to shake uncontrollably, leaving him without depth perception and blurred vision.
iNews reports that he is looking to turn pro as a downhill mountain biker.
You’ve doubtless got a few questions.
This will answer some of them, but it’ll probably also give rise to a few more…
Aussie cyclist who was almost run off the road by motorist charged for not riding closer to the kerb
A New South Wales cyclist who was almost run off the road by an impatient driver in Macmasters Beach said he took the footage to police but ended up getting booked himself for not riding as near to left of the road as possible.
“Descending down an unguttered road with blind driveways at 50km/h, and I was as close to the left of the road that was safe in the circumstances,” they said.
You can see the footage on Facebook.
24 September 2020, 08:04
24 September 2020, 08:04
24 September 2020, 08:04
Chloe Dygert is conscious and talking. Full story up now, including footage.
Anna van der Breggen wins dramatic worlds time trial as Chloe Dygert crashes out while leading (+ video)
USA's defending champion seemed set to retain her crown in Imola before crashing over barrier
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Latest Comments
@tomlew I think Terry's reply is a bit more sensible than yours. It's easy to make any light look like that with the right camera settings and a long enough exposure time. Suggesting it has to be photoshopped to achieve that effect suggests a poor understanding of how cameras can be used. As for the colours... the grass is green, the tree bark is brown... *shrug*. White balance setting on the camera can affect colours too, do you consider that "tweaking"? You have to choose a white balance, you can't take a photo without the white balance set.
@OnYerBike for sure, there's congestion and ULEZ zones, but I don't remember any "investigative journalism expose's" looking into the inexorable rise of the motor vehicle and it's detrimental effect on society. There have however, been multiple "war on motorist" and "parking wars" style programmes...with a string emphasis on how hard done by, the motorists are. Having said that, I find it baffling that dockless schemes were allowed to go ahead - especially as the "Boris bikes" weren't.
@Boopop The correct question is: What makes you think the world actually looks like in that photo? Can't you really see how distorted the contrast is, how badly unreal the colours are, how unbelievably white anything illuminated is etc.? Either the photo was doctored or it was taken to present a VERY distorted picture. Either way, they knew exactly what was getting published and sorry, but with professional marketers and multi-million budgets I just don't believe in innocent ignorance. And I do feel responsible to spot such obvious BS.
So they're unsuitable for gravel, simple as that. A gravel wheelset that can only take champagne gravel and an official system weight limit of 100 kg is in my book a road wheelset. At best. As seen, if the force is relatively high, even a 72 kg system weight will wreck the rim. Who hasn't ever dinged a rock or made a mistake while selecting a line and hit something with a bone-jarring thud? You want your rims to survive that. What's a 100, 200, 300 gram weight saving worth if it costs you the race or worse, you end up in hospital? Thanks for the fair review and the warning!
@tomlew That was my first thought but we don't know the effective ISO, f-stop, or exposure time. It is a meaningless photo without that information. The real test is how many drivers flash their brights at you :-)
@BroomBroomBroom "These are profit-seeking enterprises taking over pavements..." Aren't they currently seeking profits in the sense of "not making any yet"? I think the issue is that mass public cycle hire schemes don't even cover their costs from the actual users. (High costs because relatively fragile, portable property, and an "attractive nuisance" for youth. Low income because they're competing with "free" - many people have access to bikes and/or feel that bike stuff should be very cheap). So they need things like council funding, advertising etc. That can be an issue because - unless the money is from the local authority - their motivation is not particularly aligned with the cyclists OR the locality. And worse - in these cases doesn't much of the money still come from venture capital? So I don't think they're necessarily great. But as the article notes - two things can be true. I bet a *far* greater acreage of footway is in fact covered by the products of profit-seeking enterprises. That is vehicles which are definitely illegal there*, completely immovable when stopped, more dangerous when moving. * Oh sorry, it's only illegal in practice when you've got a policemen or two there to witness them being driven there and they're bothered - and they'd probably get in trouble with their boss if they did.
Make sure you put the soft side of the velcro straps against the paint. Get it wrong and you'll have a lasting reminder on your top tube...
@riggbeck I'm a skinny 5'10" and go for Small in Sportful and Lusso (if anything the Lusso straps were a bit too long and loose)
I enjoyed the cyclist apparently riding through a red light on camera (5:19) and, for a bit of BBC balance, the police van parked on the pavement (4:35).
I love a 'but cars' argument as much as the next cycling menace, but come on: we can all see that the ebike situation is ridiculous. It discredits the promotion of active travel to pretend otherwise. These are profit-seeking enterprises taking over pavements without a second thought for the externalities. And it's absurd to have one provider in this borough and a different one in the next. This situation should never have been allowed to develop.
45 thoughts on “Blind downhill mountain biker hoping to turn pro; Have you watched the latest Lance Armstrong documentary?; Tel Aviv builds bike lane overnight; Crappy tech solution to dooring; Why hill climbers shouldn’t print their own numbers + more”
Crappy tech solution to
Crappy tech solution to doorings – oh, good grief…
<face-palm>
brooksby wrote:
There have certainly been dafter proposals put forward on this very forum in recent weeks. At least this one addresses an actual problem, misguided as the ‘solution’ is.
Re: Doorings. Wow – this is
Re: Doorings. Wow – this is an academic conference and the authors are paid University researchers. Their paper abstract reaches the staggering conclusion that:
“We expect that awareness of the possible danger will let cyclists feel safer and help to prevent accidents“
For their info, cyclists are already aware of the danger. They are cars, with doors, operated by hominids. Therefore, they could open at any time when stationary. You do not need a PhD to reach this startling conclusion, of course. However, legal responsibility, as ever, rests with the operator…
Disregarding the mindbending
Disregarding the mindbending idiocy of this “solution”, it shows just how ingrained is the idea that the victim is responsible. Why did they not pursue a system that automatically locks the car door whenever a cyclist is approaching, and punches the carist in the face if they attempt to open the door regardless?
Sriracha wrote:
A rather extreme punishment; a simple electric shock would be much more effective and leave no bruises.
Sriracha wrote:
A top end Audi can do this…
Well, except the punching. They now need to work on making safe other aspects of their customers’ driving behaviour.
Great link! I was actually
Great link! I was actually thinking it should be possible, what with blind-spot sensors and central locking already on-board. Never dreamed it had already been done. And using the parking sensors too, so presumably it could work in both directions (although what happens when you are already parked close to the car behind and the sensors are already maxed out for proximity – which is the general situation?)
The face punch bit – OK, tongue in cheek – but as always the trouble with an automated safety system is the user devolves responsibility to the system, so when it fails it’s the car’s fault that they just killed a cyclist, etc.
Maybe eburt’s electric shock is a better idea, or even an unpleasant alarm sound – anything to make the driver want to actually check first for themselves rather than just offloading responsibility for their actions.
Install a large boxing glove
Install a large boxing glove on a spring where the airbag is in the steering wheel, and wire it up.
I personally would have no problem with that being made mandatory on all cars, and anybody who would is clearly a climate denier. Or something…..
The ‘victim is responsible’
The ‘victim is responsible’ is ingrained from an early age too. A friend of mine teaches Pedestrian Skills to young children in London. These young children are taken out onto local streets by two instructors and told all about the dangers of the road / pavement / crossings. I think it is valid work but it’s shameful that children have to be taught to be victims from an early age. Unfortunately I don’t see an alternative – other than to tame the roads. But that is taking forever.
It smacks of the “well she
It smacks of the “well she was asking for it dressed like that” defence. Absolute nonsense. I am going to end up dressed like robocop on a bike just to make sure I am not culpable. Got hit by a car last year in a TT, signs everywhere, marshalls on the roundabout, bright yellow clothes, flashing rear light. No police action as an ambulance did not get called. Move along sir, asking for it dressed like that. pffft!!
It also shows that simple
It also shows that simple solutions are often overlooked in favour of electronics and apps.
Fitting a cheap gas damper strut to all of the doors could slow the opening of doors, so cyclists would see the slowly opening door, even if the driver/passenger didn’t look out for traffic. I’m sure the closing could be undamped, so they could still slam the door closed.
Like most “safety” devices
Like most “safety” devices for cyclists, this is conceived and designed entirely from the point of view of the driver. As to whether it would work or not, I have extreme doubts. Any cyclist riding in town traffic would get so many warnings that the device would be ignored and ditched.
Still, nice to know that those designers are thinking of us.
But they are not thinking of
But they are not thinking of us, for the reason you give. The system is designed from the perspective of “how can we make cyclists keep motorists safe when they open their doors without looking?”
Indeed. This is about
Indeed. This is about shifting the burden of responsibility to the victim.” well if you’d invested in one of those helmet thingies”
Expecting our resident fol-de-rols to turn up any minute. “Anything that I unsupportedly assert makes you cyclists, er I mean us cyclists, safer. If it saves just one life ™!”
Wasn’t there a proposed
Wasn’t there a proposed gadget a couple of years ago, where cyclists would carry some sort of RFID style gizmo which would alert high-end or self-driving cars that there was a cyclists there. And then someone asked what would happen to all the cyclists who weren’t carrying this gadget…
I saw Adam Hansen post
I saw Adam Hansen post recently that he got fined for dye-sub printing race numbers on his TT skin suit a few years back.
I reckon Simon Warren could
I reckon Simon Warren could have saved a bit more weight by whittling the safety pins out of bamboo.
I would happily pay for RFID
I would happily pay for RFID or similar, provided it activated the door locks of the cars as you approached, far better solution.
Many taxi & mini-cab drivers
Many taxi & mini-cab drivers might find that they were trapped inside due to RFID chips being stuck to the bonnet of their vehicles. I wonder how many would get stuck trying to climb out through a window 😉
Maybe somebody would design an automated dispenser one could fit to your bike, so that any close-passing vehicle got the same treatment?
Grahamd wrote:
How about an electronically adjustable damper on the car door hinge? It would slow the opening rate to 1 cm/s if a nearby obstuction or approaching cyclist or car was detected? Might reduce parking lot door dings, too.
Those certainly don’t look
Those certainly don’t look like Titanium or Aluminium race number pins!
I assume he’s opted for the lowest g/sm white paper he could find.
Didnt someone show sublimated
Didnt someone show sublimated printed numbers on the jersey were legal now last week ?
I suspect he doesn’t have the
I suspect he doesn’t have the ability to do that being an amatuer HC person.
Well you say that,but if he
Well you say that,but if he wants to shave those grammes off… 😉
I bet even amateurs spend ridiculous amounts on tiny bits of carbon fibre for their bike to make them go faster,so why not custom numbers on kit printing.
10 sheets of iron-on inkjet
10 sheets of iron-on inkjet transfer paper is £6.49 on Amazon.
Bit pricier for a new jersey every race though.
RE. The Armstrong documentary
RE. The Armstrong documentary, first the disclaimers out the way – I didn’t really following cycling in Armstrong’s hayday there were a lot of details I was unaware of from that period. I am also of the opinion that Armstrong was part of a systemic issue with cycling (and sport in general) rather than the Anti-Christ he is sometime made out to be – and while that doesn’t make his actions around the bullying ok – I can sympathise with his position when everyone was doing the same stuff then people start blabbing.
So with that said I myself enjoyed the documentary, mostly for informing me a bit better about some of the details of the time but also because if offered multiple perspectives on the time with interviews with many different players. Probably best gone into if your relativily opened minded on the subject – otherwise its very long.
kt26 wrote:
If you read 7 Deadly Sins it might give you a different perspective on just how nasty he was. He wasn’t just doing the same thing as everyone else.
Yes lots of riders doped in the 90s and early 2000s but no-one else behaved quite like him. I’d rather not watch it, I know more than enough about him already and would prefer to watch something engaging and inspiring instead of negative (old) news about shitty people. There’s more than enough of that in the media already!
Simon E wrote:
And the ESPN doc pretty much gives the same impression, albiet of someone who acts in an agressive/nasty way without thought when challenged, but who can understand why that behaviour was unacceptable on reflection at a later date.
Some of his appologies given during the course of the documentary seem a little hollow (and in keeping with his talent for saying what needs to be said to survive/win/get one over), but others seem quite sincere.
I’m sure the things he did
I’m sure the things he did were very nasty and I don’t condone the lengths he went to to protect his image – my comment around doing the same stuff was on the doping. My only caveat is I can understand why he went to those lengths given when he came into the racing scene everyone was doping, then during his tenure people start deciding to come clean.
You were supposed to design
You were supposed to design it to blow the bloody doors off.
ESPN Lance Documentary
ESPN Lance Documentary
I’m glad I watched it, and felt I did learn some new things. There were a few moments were you saw the mask/act crack, which was interesting, particularly the section where Lance discussed Ulrich.
I think the docu did quite well at playing it down the centre line – a little bit of sympathy with Lance where appropriate, but certainly not painting him in a particularly positive light overall (indeed, far from it at times).
Pretty much all the key players were interviewed as part of the film, with the only exceptions I noticed being Ulrich and Kristen (Lance’s first wife), and general concensous was Lance was one hell of an athlete, but a problematic person to say the least.
The misses also found it facinating, from a psychological standpoint (she cycles, but doesn’t follow and has no interest in cycle racing) and enjoyed watching it, which I think says quite a lot about how little of the actual cycle racing is in the documentary, and how it was used purely to provide the backdrop/context.
I assume that’s the ESPN 30
I assume that’s the ESPN 30 for 30 series Lance documentary ? Been on BT Sport/ESPN regularly over the last 6 months as well.FWIW I thought it was a good documentary, as all the 30 for 30 series have been, even if you dont follow cycling as a sport,you learn something about the human characters involved, and Lance’s ex teammates especially I think in this one reveal alot more than they did in that earlier doc, though obviously alot of the same ground gets covered. But I’d recommend watching it.
Re: Lance. Not watched it,
Re: Lance. Not watched it, yet. No idea what’s in it. However just discovered “Taintd” on Amazon Prime. Story of 1984 USA Olympic cycle team. Again not yet seen it but is a totally new story to me
Can I profoundly thank
Can I profoundly thank everyone for not feeding the troll?
Whelks
Whelks
I finished the new ‘Lance’
I finished the new ‘Lance’ documentary the other night.
It is hands down the best Lord Voldemort documentary I’ve seen, everyone knows the story of course, but this is a truly fascinating insight into the whole saga. Warts and all. I must admit it ‘hit me in the feels’ a couple of times too. Especially the bit where his oldest was told about the deception.
Chapeau to the filmakers IMHO they’ve done a great job of it.
Are you sure they’re not
Are you sure they’re not offering to pay €100,000 to have someone take that thing away?
Is Lizzie Banks actually
Is Lizzie Banks actually saying they (BC) picked her for the time trial, but that they havent even aero’d her position on the bike at all !!! Whatever happened to marginal gains ?
It’s not just Australia where
It’s not just Australia where the cops are cretins; New York’s finest booked a crash victim for not wearing a helmet when there is no helmet law, and he’s going to have to go to court to defend himself. I hope they find against the police and make them pay extortionate costs.
https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2020/09/24/nypd-tickets-crash-victim-for-not-wearing-helmet/
Excellent injury picture on
Excellent injury picture on that story.
eburtthebike wrote:
Apparently that happens a great deal – the NYPD are notorious for just making sh!t up and putting it on a ticket, and once it’s on a ticket you have to go to court to defend it even though the judge will take one look at it, say “this is sh!t”, and dismiss the case. Mad.
This Australian policeman
This Australian policeman must be a special kind of cretin, given the red lines from the Cycliq camera indicate a metre which means the rider is following the recommendation to ride a metre from the edge of the road.
The irony is that if taken to court the police would need to justify how they determined the rider had not ridden as close as practicable to the left of the road. The excuse given for failing to prosecute motorists for close passes is they claim it’s too difficult to prove the distance between car and rider.
Love the Tel Aviv bike lane.
Love the Tel Aviv bike lane.
Had enough of Geraint ‘I’m a Celebrity/Need Yet More Money’ Thomas.
HarrogateSpa wrote:
Look at it this way, the more money he can earn now, the less likely it is we’ll see him sat on a sofa in five years making bad jokes about the Irish.
I love that “UK cycling
I love that “UK cycling policy in a single image” picture