Conservative London mayoral candidate pledges to remove LTNs; Do you have to earn rainbow stripes? (+poll); FLi Distribution gives Daily Mail both barrels over advertising offer; Jeremy Vine fixes ‘anti-cycling’ headline + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
"There'll be a film about it": Mark Cavendish tips Fabio Jakobsen for fairy-tale comeback
Mark Cavendish has tipped Deceuninck-Quick-Step teammate Fabio Jakobsen to return to the top of the sport following his recovery from a horrific crash at the Tour of Poland in August. Jakobsen hasn’t raced since the incident which left him in an induced coma and needing 130 stitches, but got back on the bike for the first time before Christmas. Before the crash Jakobsen had established himself as one of the next generation of young sprinters to watch, winning two stages of the Vuelta a España in 2019.
Posting on Instagram, Cav shared a photo of the pair at their training camp in Spain and asserted that he believes the Dutchman has what it takes to regain his form. The 30-time Tour stage winner wrote: “It’s special that at 35 years old, I can still get inspired every day by seeing someone ride. The cycling world knows what Fabio Jakobsen has unfortunately got to come back from.
“It’s not nice, but I feel honoured to witness how deep somebody can go, how much fight and desire they have in them to return, and how unafraid of being seen to suffer they are. Watch this kid smoke the world again. There’ll be a film about it.”
"Dangerous driver in Brighton proves we were wrong to oppose cycle lane": Jeremy Vine fixes MailOnline headline
“Dangerous driver in Brighton proves we were wrong to oppose cycle lane”
— there, @MailOnline, I fixed your headline for you pic.twitter.com/ID10h0JHOt
— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) January 22, 2021
‘Council deputy leader left-hooked by white van man – while riding in emergency cycle lane’ was how yesterday’s story about Green Party politician Hannah Clare getting hit by a van driver was reported on road.cc. ‘Green deputy leader of Brighton council is knocked off her bike by a van while riding along hated lockdown cycle lane she voted for’, was how it appeared on MailOnline…
Jeremy Vine got in on the act and proposed a headline that the MailOnline could use instead…He tweeted: “Dangerous driver in Brighton proves we were wrong to oppose cycle lane’ — there, MailOnline, I fixed your headline for you.”
Just tweeting to confirm that I am still alive after a white van driver decided that a cycle lane was actually a white van man lane – and I am a silly cyclist who didn’t realise that x
— Hannah Ellen Clare 💚 (@hannalytical) January 20, 2021
Labour councillor Jo Rigby also reported an incident with a driver this week. On Tuesday she said she was driven at by a motorist and had a drink thrown at her in a road rage incident. Rigby replied to Vine’s tweet: “She says the van driver didn’t stop to see how she was. He drove into the cycle lane. Mail doesn’t seem to like women. Or bikes.”
FLi distribution gives Daily Mail both barrels as Jeremy Vine fixes 'anti-cycling' headline
Just got asked if we’d like to advertise in the Daily Mail – that was a fun email to respond to.
— FLiDistribution (@FLiDistribution) January 21, 2021
Two Daily Mail related stories in a row this morning… FLi Distribution, who represent bike brands selling to the UK market got an email from the Daily Mail’s advertising agency asking if they wanted ads in the paper… Col Williams said he enjoyed replying to the the offer…
Here’s part of the response: “We find the divisive, hate filled content of the Daily Mail appalling, it stokes fear in its readers and points the blame in totally the wrong direction. We work with charities that support refugees and other vulnerable groups.
“Advertising in the Daily Mail would send the wrong message and suggest we support the paper’s editorial stance. We’d like to make it clear, we do not, and we think the UK would be a better place if the Daily Mail failed to generate any advertising revenue and was forced to close.”
That’s a bit of a mic drop email…He added that it touched a nerve that they asked to advertise with a brand of kids bike for a families section of the paper, especially considering FLi Distribution recently donated bikes to a refugee charity.
In the past few days the MailOnline has published a couple of stories that some from the cycling world have questioned, including the headline we highlighted in an earlier blog update…
Pretty much. Ended with “the U.K. would be a better place, if you generated zero advertising revenue and had to close”
— FLiDistribution (@FLiDistribution) January 21, 2021
Specialized Ares
Really enjoying these @iamspecialized shoes. #nextlevel https://t.co/CLaW4qYEof
— Sam Bennett (@Sammmy_Be) January 21, 2021
Sam’s loving them and so did we…You can read our first ride review of Specialized’s latest release here…
Catch Laura Laker talking about cycling schemes on BBC World at One
Regular contributor here at road.cc Laura Laker was on BBC World at One yesterday talking about cycle lanes with Conservative MP for South Thanet, Craig Mackinlay. The section of the programme starts at around 32 minutes in and Laura makes the case for more cycling and walking schemes saying they provide great return on investment as well as being great for health and local businesses. Have a listen if you’ve got five minutes spare this lunchtime…Follow the link here…
Poll: Do you have to earn rainbow stripes?
Do you have to earn rainbow stripes?
With Santini’s UCI World Championships collection now exclusive to Decathlon the age-old debate has returned for another outing…Do you have to earn the rainbow stripes? To many buying the jersey is sacrilege and the only people with the right to wear the famous bands are the current world champions. As per Velominati Rule #16: “Respect the jersey: Championship and race leader jerseys must only be worn if you’ve won the championship or led the race.”
Personally, I don’t have a strong opinion on the matter and people getting out riding bikes seems more important, regardless of if they’ve ‘earned the right’ to wear their kit…
Anyway, enough from me. Have a vote in our poll below. Here’s some of your thoughts…
Councils failing to improve public's access to the countryside, according to Cycling UK
Cycling UK submitted a Freedom of Information (FOI) request that found councils in England have upgraded 442 rights of way — making them available for horse riding or cycling — in the past 10 years. On average, that is five improvements per council or one every two years. Cycling UK hopes “public access and enjoyment of the natural environment” will be included as a priority area for target setting in the Environment Bill which is due to be debated in Parliament on January 26.
More than half of the new rights of way were created by just eight councils: Hertfordshire, Wigan, East Riding, Devon, Shropshire, Hampshire, North Yorkshire and Barnsley. The FOI request found that 41% of councils had made no improvements and that only 17% have created more than one per year.
Cycling UK’s off-road campaigns officer said the poor record of upgrading rights of way must be addressed. “Cycling UK wants to see it made easier for councils and landowners to improve the rights of way on their land,” Sophie Gordon said.
“Public funds should fund public goods, and that means making it easier to upgrade suitable footpaths for a variety of different users. The forthcoming Environmental Bill gives us this opportunity to make a positive change to our land management.”
Astana Feel the Bern at training camp...
😂 Spotted on the road… 😆 #BernieSandersmemes #FridayFun
📷 @GettySport pic.twitter.com/JwZvQZqWO0— Astana – Premier Tech (@AstanaPremTech) January 22, 2021
Wout van Aert coming to a road near you...(Covid depending and all that)
Team Jumbo-Visma 2021: The prologue🚩
All you need to know about our 2021 season⤵️#ForOurBlackAndYellow #samenwinnen
— Team Jumbo-Visma cycling (@JumboVismaRoad) January 22, 2021
Jumbo-Visma are one of the peloton’s most proactive teams when it comes to announcing their teams for the big races of the year. Today they’ve confirmed their Tour de France and Giro d’Italia squad. They’ve also mapped out Wout van Aert’s entire season and, provisionaly at least, he’s down for the Tour of Britain…It seems the Belgian who can do it all is following the Mathieu van der Poel playbook of using the Tour of Britain as a tune up race for the World Championships, which this year is being held in Flanders…Very interesting indeed.
The Dutch squad’s Tour team is exactly as predicted by Wielerlflits earlier this week: Primož Roglič, Steven Kruijswijk, Tom Dumoulin, Sepp Kuss, Robert Gesink, Mike Teunissen, Tony Martin and Wout van Aert. No place for George Bennett who is down for a leadership role at the Giro instead.
BikeRegister, the National Cycle Database, hits one million bike registrations milestone
BikeRegister has clocked its one millionth bike registration in the fight against bike thefts. UK police forces use BikeRegister and there are 1,000 searches made on the database every day. Yesterday, we brought you the story of the 16-year-old arrested after police found 22 stolen bikes. BikeRegister data supports the thought that bike thefts are on the rise. They estimate bike thefts were up 69.4% in October 2020 compared with the same month in 2019. Registering with BikeRegister is free and helps identify stolen cycles that are recovered.
Ten to beat...
.@gtcc_ members, I’ve got a challenge for you this weekend…
How many water bottles can you carry? Can you beat the 9 of @IStannard? @tomfordyce had a go… but on his turbo, does that count?🤣@gozwifthttps://t.co/H2p8q7qqL1https://t.co/w4YnSQW9Ct pic.twitter.com/0qeeScHiv8
— Geraint Thomas (@GeraintThomas86) January 22, 2021
Qhubeka Assos releases new kit
Inspired by the @Qhubeka Charity and our desire to change lives with bicycles, we are proud to reveal our @assos_com 2021 team kit! #BicyclesChangeLives 🖐️
Details: https://t.co/S5qOrev4Gx pic.twitter.com/WPVbknJ8Jp
— Team Qhubeka ASSOS (@QhubekaAssos) January 22, 2021
It’s back to the black and white of the MTN Qhubeka days for Qhubeka Assos in 2021. The teams says the new kit is meant to spread the message of the good that sport can do. Sporting the Qhubeka hand “is the key symbol in illustrating that bicycle beneficiaries are receiving a hand up in their lives and in so doing are able to move forward.”
On the neck of the jersey is the African proverd “Ubuntu” which means I am because we are. Team Principal Doug Ryder said this represents the fact that as a team you cannot exist in isolation.
Poll results: We asked you if you thought rainbow stripes have to be earned?
That’s a win for rainbow jerseys should be earned…
Conservative London mayoral candidate pledges to remove LTNs
Anti-cycling shockjock Christo: “Can you categorically state that if you’re elected Mayor low traffic neighbourhoods will be reversed? Streetspace reversed? £5.50 charge to drive into Ldn reversed? Congestion charge to N/S circs reversed?”
Tory Shaun Bailey “Yes, yes, yes & yes” pic.twitter.com/0SUsBmoudV
— always last (@lastnotlost) January 22, 2021
Shaun Bailey, the Conservative candidate, has promised to remove LTNs if he is elected as Mayor of London. Speaking on Cristo Foufas’ talkRadio show, Bailey confirmed that he would reverse the schemes. The Tory candidate was asked if he could pledge that if he’s elected LTNs will be reversed, Streetspace will be reversed, any idea of a £5.50 charge to come into London will be reversed and the idea of extending the congestion charge will be reversed. Bailey replied: “Yes, yes, yes, yes.” He added that he thought LTNs had been forced upon people.
Yesterday, Bailey asked Sadiq Khan to compensate taxi drivers for apparent lost business because of Streetspace.
22 January 2021, 08:52
22 January 2021, 08:52
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Yelled at by a driver just last month, "It's farkin' dark you farkin' twat why are you riding around wiv a black coat on? You're farkin' invisible!" To be fair, I was wearing a black jacket - a Proviz commuter jacket which is covered in their unparalleled reflective details which, as I know because Mrs H wears the same model, can be seen from hundreds of metres away. He also overlooked the fact that I was wearing a fluorescent yellow helmet, fluorescent yellow gloves, had a rear red light on the helmet, two rear red lights (one strobing one solid) and three white lights on the front (one strobing two solid). Apparently all he could see, or supposedly couldn't see, was the black jacket. They used to be an old joke about "invisible" stealth planes being rubbish because the Russians would be saying, "There aren't any planes about but there's a little guy in a sitting position at 50,000 feet..." - must have been confusing for my chap to see all those lights, reflectives and bright gear apparently going down the street of their own volition.
Another reason to avoid Terry's, which is a pretty crappy overpriced place anyway and dreadfully hipster (there's a sign on the wall that says something like "when you eat at Terry's you're not just a customer, you're a member of a very exclusive club" - thanks but I just wanted coffee and beans on toast). I'd advise anyone in that locale to try the splendidly named Giggling Sausage cafe directly opposite, better food and coffee, cheaper, better service and fewer hipsters, you can enjoy watching them queueing like sheep to get into Terry's as you dine.
I wondered if parking in a cycle hire bay was against the law, so I googled it: it isn't unless there are road markings prohibiting parking. But, this little gem came up 'Obstruction: Even where a specific bay type might lack a dedicated motor-traffic prohibition, parking a vehicle in a way that blocks access to cycle hire docks, footways, or causes an obstruction is an offense.' Report it to the authorities and demand action. Don't patronise the place, obviously. And leaving rubbish reviews is definitely out. Absolutely, definitely out. Very absolutely definitely. Out.
".....dark clothing “has been deemed a contributing factor in many fatal or serious injury collisions involving pedestrians and cyclists” No. The dark clothing is not a contributory factor, the only cause of the deaths and injuries is drivers failing to observe. The list of police organisations above shows that motornormativity in the police is institutionalised, and just as rife as it is in the rest of society. The question is, how do we get them to change? Make all police ride bikes? Show them films of collisions where perfectly visible cyclists are mown down by drivers who weren't looking? Show them pictures of cyclists literally dressed up like christmas trees by are still hit by dumb drivers? The clincher might be the picture of the police car, festooned with hi-viz, after it had been hit by a driver.
@mdavidford the standard practise is to ignore the consultation, start a petition, complain that the council doesn't listen to the public, and get your picture in the Bournemouth Echo with a headline 'Drivers fury at new cycle lane', or 'shopkeepers anger at lost parking space'.
"Serious cyclist injuries down 50% and overall road casualties continue to fall..." This is clearly fake news, invented by the bearded, sandle-wearing, bike-riding hippies who don't even live in Wales. Everyone who lives there knows that the frustration and cost to drivers of having to drive at the ludicrously slow speed of 20mph is worth so much more than a few dead cyclists. I live in the Forest of Dean, near Wales, and we've been trying for quite some time to get the national speed limit roads in the statutory forest reduced to 40mph, and 20mph in towns and villages. In fact, I mentioned it in the pub tonight, and the reaction from locals was, to say the least, not enthusiastic. It is a human right to be able to drive as fast as you want, and anyone saying different is an idiot. With Local Government Reorganisation, I was hoping that the Forest of Dean District would merge with Monmouthshire and then we could adopt the Welsh speed limits, but it ain't gonna happen, so sadly, we have to remain in England.
@andystow That's pretty much how new roads are justified. If ten million motorists save ten seconds a day over the next twenty years, and motorists time is worth a lot, then you can justify spending £372m on the new roundabout in Gloucestershire. You know, the place where the locals think that a cycle lane will destroy their life.
@rbrtribble as the driver was out of his vehicle, thereby not making it a driving offence, and the cyclists was stationary with their feet on the ground, there was no more need for a helmet than if the encounter had been between two drivers who had got out of their cars, or two blokes in a pub. Maybe all of those people who fall down the stairs and hit their head should wear a helmet? I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, and accept that you were being sarcastic, but leave my comment for the benefit of those who think you were being serious.
@chrisonabike if flash-mobbing by female cyclists dressed in french maid attire is what it takes to help the roads be safer for everyone, then i think it's something we should consider lending support to.
Personally, if I have to light myself up in Hi Viz, and add bells, trinkets and lights, just to help the poor motorists see me, the question needs to be asked, if their eyesight is so bad, should they be driving?
39 thoughts on “Conservative London mayoral candidate pledges to remove LTNs; Do you have to earn rainbow stripes? (+poll); FLi Distribution gives Daily Mail both barrels over advertising offer; Jeremy Vine fixes ‘anti-cycling’ headline + more on the live blog”
Not sure the story proves the
Not sure the story proves the need for a cycle lane. Given the alleged incident occured at the entrance to a petrol station, any cycle lane would require a gap to allow access and egress. The simple existence of a lane would not prevent a collision in this circumstance.
I’m sure that there are other instances of collisions which would form a more persuasive argument.
If it were segregated using
If it were segregated using physical segregation, and perhaps with different coloured surfacing, it would be clearer that there was a separate lane.
Like this ?
Like this ?
Or this ?
Or this ?
Indeed as far as I can tell,
Indeed as far as I can tell, she was riding in the bike lane (which has not yet been ripped up) and therefore all this demonstrates is that incidents can still happen.
It could be argued that this highlights the need for cycling infrastructure to be made better not worse, or perhaps that the anti-cycling rhetoric may have contributed to this incident (it sounds to me like it was deliberate). But “I got knocked off while riding in a cycle lane therefore the cycle lane needs to stay” is definitely a bit of a non sequitur.
Nice to see Evans Cycles
Nice to see Evans Cycles failure to deliver on Rip Off Britain this morning. Finally some exposure for all the poor folks waiting for a bike while paying for it with Bike to Work schemes.
What makes the World Champs
What makes the World Champs jersey unique in sport is that it IS itself the trophy of the achievement!
To see it as a mere garment to wear is totally missing the point. To wear a replica jersey is as lame as buying a replica FA Cup Finallist’s medal from Ebay and putting it on your mantelpiece.
Precious much? Anyway, you’re
Precious much? Anyway, you’re completely wrong I’m afraid, the trophy for winning the World Championship is the winner’s gold medal.
No, it’s not, and that is the
No, it’s not, and that is the point. The trophy is the jersey and everyone in the sport understands that, and it’s always been the case.
Nikolai wrote:
Right, so the medal is completely pointless then? The jersey is awarded so that the Champion can be identified in races throughout the year, in just the same way that the maillot jaune is awarded to identify the race leader in the Tour and so on. The trophy is the gold medal. I would say “everyone in the sport understands that” but I’m afraid it would make me look a bit of a pretentious twat.
World champion Graham Obree:
“It’s grand to see those jerseys being worn by amateurs out for a ride, it shows a real appreciation for what is an iconic symbol of our sport. Instead of being all precious about it, we should be thankful that people still want to wear these jerseys after all the drug-taking that’s gone on in the sport.”
“Everyone in the sport”, huh?
The reason we are having this
The reason we are having this conversation is because it is quite clearly a faux-pas, and always has been. I’m simply poiting out why it is such a faux-pas for those who may not get it. To compare the rainbow bands with a cricket jumper, as you did, is really missing the point I’m afraid.
Obree is consciously and deliberately being an iconoclast, as usual!
Nikolai wrote:
Forgive me if I take the opinion of a double world champion more seriously than that of an anonymous internet commenter.
The phrase “faux pas” is an interesting one – it’s generally used by snobs who create a “secret” code of their own in order to mock and exclude others. Let people wear whatever jersey they damned well please, what harm does it do you?
By the way when Sagan won his first Worlds he immediately asked his kit manufacturers for twenty copies of his rainbow jersey to give to his family and mates, so he obviously doesn’t have this weird reverence for a jumper that you seem to have.
If Sagan didn’t revere the
If Sagan didn’t revere the bands, he wouldn’t have chosen that gift. But I’m very sure that Saga gave the gift with very clear intructions: ‘don’t embarrass me by wearing this while riding a bicycle!
The rainbow bands are perhaps understood well as a symbol of office. Like the seal of the US President, or the cathedra in which only the preciding Bishop may sit. There is no possibiity that wearing the bands could become an exclusive clique. The alumni are so small in number, so elite, and the active are,on a day to day basis, sworn rivals.
The jersey itself is beautiful, stylish and easy to replicate. And yet there has never in the storied history of the sport been any kind of market for selling it. This Decathlon venture will come to nothing. It’s just the way it is. We are often dimly aware of the reverences we hold, even when we abide by them. We cyclists stop short of sacrilege. It’s just the way we are!
Nikolai wrote:
You’re in the wrong shop son, Private Eye and Pseud’s corner is three doors down.
Absolute cobblers, replica WC jerseys have always been available, when I lived in Belgium as a kid (in the same suburb of Brussels Merckx came from, as it happens) in the 70s I remember lots of local kids had replicas of Eddy’s Molteni with the WC bands on the sleeves – that’s why I’ve got one now, always wanted one and never had one!
Sorry, who is “we cyclists”? I’ve been riding and following pro racing since I was eight (now 52) – I didn’t realise there was a club of “we cyclists” with special rules that had to be followed.
Rendel Harris wrote:
WC or WC themed jerseys have been available for ages. Back in the 90’s a friend of mine got into cycling and bought his first road bike and kit at the same time. The jersey was white with the rainbow stripes but also carried the GT logo. The reason he chose it was because his initials are GT. He had no idea what the stripes represented until I told him. He was mildly embarrassed but wore it anyway. I wouldn’t wear it but I’m happy to wear my replica Mercatone Une – Bianchi jersey when I ride my 20 year old Bianchi. It’s just a fun thing to do. No-one seriously thinks that at 70 years of age that I’m pretending to be Marco Pantani.
Would you wear a replica of
Would you wear a replica of Tyson Fury’s world championship belt and then go training at his local gym?
mike the bike wrote:
No, same as I wouldn’t wear a World Championship medal when out for a ride. But I might wear his replica shorts or boots or tracksuit if he clearly didn’t have a problem with it because he was merchandising them.
can’t wait for the poll to
can’t wait for the poll to decide whether Shaun Bailey is mayor or not.
we will never see or hear of him again the day after…
I do hope so, but have a
I do hope so, but have a large concern with selective self satisfying insular, uncritical media stations like talk radio and presenters who are unbalanced and provocative in that we end up in a polarised unhealthy combatative position like the USA and Trump supporters. Here people do not listen and people are totally divided with ‘alternative facts’ deemed acceptable. Admittedly I think one side is far more unreasoned and deaf than the other but it is still a sad reflection on society that reasoned debate and challanges are not progressed.
EddyBerckx wrote:
I’m confused; Boris the tory party leader, says one thing, but the mayoral candidate says exactly the opposite, so what is tory party policy?
EddyBerckx wrote:
“…we have people come in from all over Essex to help us run London..”
Well, we wouldn’t want those helpful Essex people to have to contend with congestion charges or planters blocking their way as they drive in, would we? London might have to close down!
Made me laugh, anyway.
EddyBerckx wrote:
An unprecedented 20 points down on the last poll, the dustbin of history awaits…
Congratulations to Laura
Congratulations to Laura Laker for not bursting out laughing at the absurd inanities of the Ultra-Gammon, tory MP and parliamentary representative of the Fair Fuel group, Craig Mackinlay. I heard this at the time and found it hard to believe that the BBC allowed all his lies to pass unchallenged, then I remembered it’s the anti-cycling BBC.
The only time in the past forty years that R4 has mentioned utility cycling and it’s about a court case that they lost.
Just sent this email to the prog wato@bbc.co.uk:
“I heard the segment yesterday about pop up cycle lanes, and was appalled at the misinformation peddled by Craig Mackinlay MP, and while Laura Laker did her best to refute them, the issue of cycling and where it fits in our transport system is worthy of much more attention. Perhaps you could have a five minute segment explaining why cycling is the answer not the problem; including congestion, pollution, health, obesity, climate change. You’ve had hundreds of articles about these subjects but I’ve never heard cycling mentioned, so perhaps it’s time to rectify your omission.”
Well done, have to keep
Well done, have to keep challenging whenever they put dodgy people on.
How many years did the BBC invite nutjob Lord Lawson to provide ‘balance’ in climate change debates…? I wonder how many years the BBC has to answer for in delaying the UKs climate change action due the letting swivel eyed loons into interview?
Re rainbow stripes, I’ve
Re rainbow stripes, I’ve never played cricket for England but when I go to Lord’s I wear a replica England shirt, I’ve never played rugby for England either but I wear a replica shirt at Twickenham, and I’ve never been Eddy Merckx but I like wearing my replica of his Molteni jersey, complete with the rainbow bands. Obviously none but the world champion should wear them in a race, otherwise who cares, I don’t think onlookers seeing a tubby 52-year-old puffing like a steam engine up Box Hill really think I’m a world champion or that I’m pretending to be one.
I’m glad you’ve said it – I’m
I’m glad you’ve said it – I’m of exactly the same thought. I highly doubt if anyone saw me struggling up a 3% 200m climb they’d mistake me for Alaphillipe, disregarding the fact that my bike costs abot 5% of his will too. But if I want to show that I’m a fan of cycling, why not? I’m the same with team kits – make them more accessible/desirable to wear and people will buy them, giving more advertising money and helping the sport as well! It’s a great way to create a community that cycling seems dead set against.
Exactly.
Exactly.
Every weekend, you see thousands of fat, middle-aged men downing pints of beer while wearing a Premiership football shirt, despite never having played football at a higher level than for their school 30 years previously.
I’m not really bothered what
I’m not really bothered what anyone wears to cylce (or do anything else, for that matter*) but I’m not sure that the football shirts analogy really works. You wear a football (or rugby) shirt to show what team you support, so it’s not the same as wearing the rainbow jersey.
* except for anyone wearing Brighton and Hove Albion shirts – they should be locked up.
Interesting – while I was
Interesting – while I was playing rugby (and harbouring unfulfilled dreams of getting a cap) I vowed never to wear the national shirt while training but would I wear it while supporting.
Now I ride a bike I have no problem supporting my favorite team by buying and wearing some of the kit (Team Novo Nordisk) but would never dream of wearing a rainbow, yellow or polka dot jersey while out on a bike.
Hopefully no white shorts will be in the collection!
Zazz53 wrote:
I never wore mine in training because it was too white and expensive!
Cycling, especially road
Cycling, especially road cycling is far too stuck too tradition – and it’s holding it back. I do despair at some of the arguments…..it’s 2021; maybe one day some people in cycling will leave the last century.
And anyway, there is more than one World Champion in cycling…..
Velophaart_95 wrote:
Yes to this, with all the challenges facing cycling as a sport, and as a mode of transport, and all the fabulous opportunities facing us as well, the fact that some people want to get on their high horse and somehow find it sacrilegious that some people might choose to buy a replica shirt is infuriating – as if it matters!
All this stuff about replica
All this stuff about replica kit amazes me- I never have, and never would, wear any but who cares about what other people wear except when it’s a clear safety matter? I’m all for Aldi, people will be bored to hear me say, because I did 60k in comfort this afternoon in cold changeable conditions- and it’s all black and without advertising logos. Just the thing for the non-ostentatious.
WC or WC themed jerseys have
WC or WC themed jerseys have been available for ages. Back in the 90’s a friend of mine got into cycling and bought his first road bike and kit at the same time. The jersey was white with the rainbow stripes but also carried the GT logo. The reason he chose it was because his initials are GT. He had no idea what the stripes represented until I told him. He was mildly embarrassed but wore it anyway. I wouldn’t wear it but I’m happy to wear my replica Mercatone Uno – Bianchi jersey when I ride my 20 year old Bianchi. It’s just a fun thing to do. No-one seriously thinks that at 70 years of age that I’m pretending to be (the late) Marco Pantani.
I do sometimes wonder if
I do sometimes wonder if Cycle UK know what they’re doing. From the story above it appears that they thinka council can just look at a map and decide that today thy’ll chnge that footpath into a bridlepath. It doesn’t work like that.
If cycling uk want more bridlewy they need to hit the archoieves and find good evidence that paths have been wrongly recorded insted of putting out franky fatuous press reeases giving the impression that changing the status of a path is purely in the gift of a highway authority.
And I was thinking of rejoining, this is just embarrassing
spen wrote:
I think their point is that it shouldn’t be their job to do that – it should be the councils’. They’re not saying that every footpath should be upgraded to a bridleway – they’re saying that surely most councils could identify at least one or two that could be, and 2/5 of them haven’t even managed to do that.
spen wrote:
If cycling uk want more bridlewy they need to hit the archoieves and find good evidence that paths have been wrongly recorded insted of putting out franky fatuous press reeases giving the impression that changing the status of a path is purely in the gift of a highway authority.
And I was thinking of rejoining, this is just embarrassing
— spenWhat’s embarrassing is you assuming that they don’t know all that, and a lot more besides. Have you considered instructing your grandmother in egg sucking?
Before I saw the video of
Before I saw the video of ‘shock jock Christos’, I just knew he was going to be a fat bastard. Fat bastards hate anyone that makes them more aware of their obesity, and cyclists do that more than most. Not saying fat bastards don’t ride bikes, but if they do it regularly and with effort they generally don’t stay fat. Call me a fattist, or obesist..
Muddy Ford wrote:
Can I call you a realist?