Man charged over robbery at Mark Cavendish’s family home; Do you weigh your bike like this?; G signs Ineos contract extension; Exercise bike seats spotted at McDonald’s; Cycling Santa; Cracked collarbone Christmas; Weekend round-up + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
Have you earned that Big Mac? Exercise bike seating spotted at McDonald's
.@McDonalds “get slim” meal in #Shanghai 😂 pic.twitter.com/xjyF6swehl
— Alvin Foo (@alvinfoo) December 17, 2021
There’s something very Black Mirror about this…in the dystopian Netflix series’ capitalism-criticising ’15 Million Merits’ episode, fictional contestants earned credits by spinning on a stationary bike which could, if you had enough, be spent on entering a talent show for a shot at escaping the hamster-wheel lifestyle…see where I’m going…
No talent show, but keep pedalling and you might have earned another bite of that Big Mac. Black Mirror tangent, addressed. Onto my second thought, where can one buy such an appealing Maccy D’s home trainer. Tacx, Elite and Wahoo must be quaking in their boots at this one…
This is apparently from Shanghai, well, it wouldn’t be here in the UK would it? Imagine the outrage. Good luck getting a bike rack, let alone cycle seating.
McDonald’s made a few headlines over the years on road.cc, largely due to their refusal to let people on bikes use the drive-through. Back in July last year the fast food chain told a Stoke cyclist it was “unsafe” for him to pedal through the drive-through, although motorcyclists are allowed.
> McDonald’s tells cyclist it’s “unsafe” for him to use drive-through
Similarly, in January, a Congleton cyclist accused McDonald’s of discriminating against people who choose to avoid driving for unnecessary journeys. The Golden Arches (or Ronald McDonald, depending on your viewpoint) replied saying the decision is “for the health and safety of our people and our customers.”
Of course, if you build a pedal-powered car then that can come through…
Cracked collarbone Christmas
Fancied a new collarbone plate for christmas 🎄 🎁
Still had a great time on camp, guess its just a few extra easy days over the festive period then back to it in Jan 🤞 @BHRVictorious@bettiniphoto#OIL pic.twitter.com/ZNPMDvqqyj
— Fred Wright (@fred_wright0) December 19, 2021
Young Brit Fred Wright is trying to see the positives of this unwanted Christmas cracker…a few more days off…maybe Bahrain Victorious will send him a new turbo trainer for Christmas…
When all your reindeer are isolating...
Father Christmas is real and he cycles around Victoria Park ⛄🎄 pic.twitter.com/rgu6V0Oh6h
— Lydia Birtwistle-Sawyer (@lydiabsawyer) December 18, 2021
He’s going to need a big cargo bike if the reindeer are on strike…
DT Swiss extends Ratchet LN kit with road-specific option
DT Swiss has extended its Ratchet LN upgrade DIY kit to more riders with new road-specific options. The kit, which starts at £79.99, enables the conversion of DT Swiss pawl hubs to the freehub Ratchet System.
“Pawl freehub systems create relatively small engagement surfaces, which result in higher stress on the contact area,” DT Swiss notes. “The Ratchet System is extremely reliable due to the simultaneous engagement of the ratchets, as the force is distributed evening over a large area.”
As the Ratchet System is modular, DT Swiss says the engagement angle and the freehub body can be easily adjusted.
You can find out more about the Ratchet LN tech here and this video demonstrates how to do the conversion.
Weekend round-up: "Shameful" barriers to disabled cyclists; Wout van Aert's Cervélo goes on sale; How to ace the Rapha Festive 500 + more
It’s time for your (slightly later than usual) weekend round-up…
- Wout van Aert and the rest of Jumbo-Visma’s star riders’ Cervélos went up for auction. It won’t come in time for Christmas, and you’ll have to pay €450 extra to ship it to the UK. But hey, if you’re dropping north of £10k on Wout’s winning machine, I doubt you care…
- In York, cycling campaigners urged the council to remove barriers blocking disabled cyclists from accessing the city’s paths.
- And it’s coming around the corner…only four days to go…until the Festive 500. If you’re slogging off some extra calorie sliding room or just want to enter 2022 feeling fit, we’ve got 15 tips for completing Rapha’s famous festive challenge.
Man charged over robbery at Mark Cavendish's family home
A man is due to appear in court today charged with robbery as part of an investigation into a burglary in the #Ongar area.
It happened at the home of Olympic cyclist Mark Cavendish around 2.35am on Saturday 27 November.
Read more: https://t.co/DatgS2dVSW pic.twitter.com/Wtyx9Fo3MP
— Essex Police (@EssexPoliceUK) December 20, 2021
A man will appear in court today charged with robbery in connection with the burglary at Mark Cavendish’s family home last month. Romario Henry, 30, was arrested on Saturday and will appear at Colchester Magistrates’ Court charged with two counts of robbery.
Two 27-year-old men, one from Gillingham and one from Camberwell, were also arrested last week. They have been released on bail until 12 January.
Two weeks ago, Cavendish revealed he was “violently attacked” by an armed gang of four masked men that had broken into his home and threatened his wife and children before ransacking the house.
> Mark Cavendish “violently attacked” in armed robbery at his Essex home
The break-in happened while Cav was recovering from injuries sustained at the Ghent Six Day, including two broken ribs.
“Amongst what was taken, were two watches of great sentiment and value. But far, far worse to be taken was the sense of security, safety, privacy and dignity that my young family and everybody else is entitled to in their own home,” the 36-year-old wrote on social media.
Essex Police stressed the investigation is ongoing and urged anyone with information about the incident, or who was in the Ongar area between 2am and 2.40am on 27 November, to contact Loughton CID quoting reference 42/275184/21.
Do you weigh your bike like this?
Our Christmas gift to you is this ingenious bike-weighing trick. I say ‘our’ gift. All credit must go to Howard Le who posted this pic in the Canyon Aeroad, Ultimate & Endurance owners Facebook group. No more weighing yourself while clumsily holding your bike to work out the difference. If you’ve got the scales (that probably need to go heavier than this feather-light 6.499kg) and the surface, then it should work for you.
Unfortunately my kitchen scales don’t go high enough to work out my not-so-light set-up. Anyway, that gives me an excuse for getting dropped, so who’s the real winner?
Howard’s Canyon caught our eye, not just for his weighing skills, but also the number on the scale. Pretty light for the spec, he tells us it’s a 2xs sized frame with Sram Red eTap 11-Speed, plus Quarq power meter, Zipp NSW 303, ULTIMATE USE Evo seatpost, S-Works power saddle and Zipp Alumina bottle cages. Not too shabby…
Geraint Thomas signs new contract to stay with Ineos Grenadiers until 2023
Geraint Thomas has put an end to the off-season transfer speculation by signing a new two-year deal with Ineos Grenadiers. Thomas will have been with the team for 14 years by the end of 2023, making him the only rider to have been with the team since its inception in 2010.
> Geraint Thomas has bike stolen on coffee stop – but gets it back later the same day
The 35-year-old is keen to stress he doesn’t plan on slowing down just yet, and has some new goals to compliment his Tour de France campaign. “Obviously I had a tough end to 2021,” G said. “But up until the crash at the Tour, I was in the best shape I’d been. I’m still very motivated to perform in the biggest races. I’ll probably look at doing the Ardennes which I’ve never done properly. That’s exciting and new, and hopefully then go on the Tour to play a big role there.
“I’m super excited about the last few years of my career with the team. It’s going to be fun – that’s the main thing. People keep asking me what my role will be and obviously I want to keep winning myself, but being a part of a winning team and having fun with some of my best mates is as important – and to do that I’ll need to be at my best.”
UK has seventh highest luxury car density in the world
New research from Confused.com into the luxury car density of countries around the world has found that the UK has the seventh highest luxury car density, with 40 people for every luxury car. Luxembourg can ‘boast’ it is the world’s luxury car capital, with the equivalent of 13 people to every luxury car.
Neighbouring Belgium was second with 31 per car, while the Germans took third. The study compared the last four years of car sales data in each nation with its overall population to reveal countries with the highest amount of luxury cars per person.
The full research + list of highest density countries can be read here…
Statement from Mayor of London Sadiq Khan on Transport for London funding
The Government is still refusing to properly fund Transport for London which has been severely affected by COVID, yet again only providing a short-term funding deal that will only last a matter of weeks. This means that nothing has changed in terms of TfL having to plan on the basis of a managed decline of the capital’s public transport network.
As a condition of the emergency short-term funding TfL needs to avoid collapse, the Government is forcing us to raise additional revenue in London through measures, like council tax, that will unfairly punish Londoners for the way the pandemic has hit our transport network. Despite these measures, only a long-term funding deal with the Government, including additional capital funding, will be enough to avoid significant and damaging cuts to tube and bus services.
The Government needs to realise that a properly-funded transport network in London is an issue of great national importance. TfL has a critical role to play in driving the economic recovery in both the capital and the rest of the country. London’s net contribution to the Treasury was £36bn in the year before the pandemic, and TfL contracts contribute around £7bn to the UK economy while supporting 43,000 jobs around the country.
The COVID pandemic is the only reason TfL is facing a financial crisis, and it’s clear the pandemic is far from over. The Government’s short-term deals are trapping TfL on life support, rather than putting it on a path to long-term sustainability. This damaging, unnecessary and clearly politically driven approach cannot continue. Over the next seven weeks, I urge Ministers to start engaging with TfL and City Hall in good faith so that we can finally agree a long-term funding deal that will protect London’s transport network – for the sake of the capital and the whole country.”
You'll never guess the make of today's 'but cyclists' special
Sainsbury’s, Osmaston Park Road, Derby. In-store cleaner required in the pet food aisle please. Audi drives in to shop window. Investigation ongoing but initial CCTV enquiries shows poor standard of driving in car park. No injuries but lots and lots of damage. #DriveToArrive pic.twitter.com/cDWoBwTJpy
— Derbyshire Roads Policing Unit (@DerbyshireRPU) December 19, 2021
Fancy coaching Jason Kenny?
“Coaches have a huge impact on our performances.” 🗣
Are you a world-class coach looking to help athletes achieve ground-breaking performances? 🥇
We’re looking for two Podium Sprint Coaches to join the #GBCT with the Paris 2024 and LA 2028 Olympics on the horizon… 🔎 pic.twitter.com/bCoZN9mZVe
— British Cycling (@BritishCycling) December 20, 2021
Jason and Laura Kenny were front and centre of SPOTY last night, without actually being nominated…
Jason said he’s not sure if another Games is on the cards due to the process required of being at the top of the game for three years, battling off all the young, ambitious talent coming through the British Cycling ranks.
You could be part of that process too, if you meet British Cycling’s high standards…
They’re advertising a vacancy for “a world-class coach looking to help athletes achieve ground-breaking performances”.
“We’re looking for two Podium Sprint Coaches to join the Great Britain Cycling Team with the Paris 2024 and LA 2028 Olympics on the horizon.”
Warning: once not coming last in the group ride town sign sprint probably won’t cut it…
20 December 2021, 09:00
20 December 2021, 09:00
20 December 2021, 09:00
20 December 2021, 09:00
20 December 2021, 09:00
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Latest Comments
@qwerty360 "Oh; Huge reduction in all injuries;....." Which reminds me of the original Thompson, Rivara and Thompson study about cycle helmets, which found that helmets prevented 85% of deaths, but when peer reviewed, it was shown that helmets prevented injuries to all other parts of the body. That study was absolutely the most awful piece of original research about cycle helmets, completely invalid, but it's still the most quoted. You don't say where the figures you quote come from, but I'm sceptical of their validity.
@Nigel Garage Guess he's finding out that real life doesn't have an edit button, eh?
“The consultation showed a strong preference for Dryden Road to return to two-way traffic,........" But doesn't the council have policies which dictate that Active Travel routes should be adopted, preserved and promoted? From Devon CC's Roads and Traffic webpage: "Following a 2021 public consultation which showed almost 75% of respondents in favour of permanent changes to reduce traffic,........" So 75% of people are in favour of permanent changes to reduce traffic, but another consultation says take it out. Why aren't they going with the result of the 2021 consultation? "It followed concerns about the impact of displaced traffic on surrounding roads......" This is always exaggerated, and usually much smaller than the reduction in traffic on the blocked road, and of course, this is no exception: 'Devon County Council reported that closing Dryden Road to motor vehicles reduced traffic by 574 vehicles in the AM peak on Dryden Road itself, while increasing traffic on Bovemoors Lane by 180 vehicles in the AM peak. 'Impact on Surrounding Roads • Bovemoors Lane: Saw an increase of 180 vehicles during the morning peak hours following the modal filter/closure. (Devon CC) • Parallel Corridors (Heavitree Road and Topsham Road): Experienced no significant change in traffic volumes, with vehicle numbers remaining largely the same before and after the closure. (Devon CC) • Air Quality & Congestion: Critics and local campaign groups argued that the closure pushed congestion and fumes onto nearby residential streets, though official council data indicated minimal impact on major parallel routes.' (BBC) My guess is that some councillor has to drive an extra 500m because of the closure.
@Blackthorne83 Please can you let us know what was said, as you apparently know that it was just "exercising his speech" [sic] and didn't deserve any sanction?
@jackcycles your biggest obstacle is a narrow mind - also caused by poor maintenance. Just Google "Cycling KSIs netherlands vs uk" to see how wrong you are.(not that you're open to facts)
@mark1212123 pausing before posting on social media would help a lot of folk. (not you, though)
@chrisonabike only in the brains of the hard of thing
@jackcycles this whole thing is culturally deeply disheartening. Richardson was snitched on by a woke ‘whistleblower’ teammate for exercising his speech. Now British cycling is obligated to take performative measures to safeguard their image given their sins of the past. And a young rider sent to ‘re-education training’, reputation slandered without trial and career derailed. Everybody loses. Great job British cycling, propping up riders and then publicly throwing them under the bus.
@jackcycles Unfortunately now, people are guilty until proved innocent. Mud sticks. I am not saying he is guilty or innocent, but it is the way of the world now.
@chrisonabike "more rational, efficient and dependable" The cost will explode across taxpayers. The administration could've used HS2 money as a beginning step, but they chose not to. Windshield bias will still be whacking the cyclist in 100 years. I don't see many cyclists bothered by it. I see many possible cyclists put off cycling by it but we know this already.
21 thoughts on “Man charged over robbery at Mark Cavendish’s family home; Do you weigh your bike like this?; G signs Ineos contract extension; Exercise bike seats spotted at McDonald’s; Cycling Santa; Cracked collarbone Christmas; Weekend round-up + more on the live blog”
Seems like an excellent way
Seems like an excellent way to give yourself indigestion.
Not to mention the cycling while you eat…
Absolutely! Those poor
Absolutely! Those poor professional cyclists, being made to cycle along as they fish around in a bag for an energy bar. Tour de France must bring in nice lunch stops immediately.
You drown if you cycle within
You drown if you cycle within an hour after eating.
Do you get some kind of
Do you get some kind of loyalty card that means you pay less next time if you generate loads of Watts?
Can you not change the seat
Can you not change the seat height on those bikes?!
Daveyraveygravey wrote:
I bet they are not even compatible with zwift either.
McDonalds customers in the UK
McDonalds customers in the UK are more likely to get some minimum wage, gig economy, slave to use a bike to deliver their meal.
I am a bit concerned that the
I am a bit concerned that the add for Wout’s bike doesnt say “500 dry miles only, cleaned after every ride” and “it’s my pride and joy only selling because it deserves to ridden”.
82 mph in a 20
82 mph in a 20
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-cambridgeshire-59731083
Charged with dangerous driving, drug driving and driving without insurance.
Only 1 year in jail
I see they missed the whole
I see they missed the whole quote off from the Judge.
Just watched the vid, at
Just watched the vid, at least 3 cyclists were very lucky indeed.
No young hothead either, 52 years old and out his head on drugs.
I have typed numerous further comment on this but I have decided that I am above this because I believe I am actually better than most of what I was thinking.
EK Spinner wrote:
I think that the use of drugs is becoming increasingly normalised, and there are people happy to drive under the influence “cos it ain’t alcohol, innit”.
My wife was walking the dog at 9 in the morning, midweek, and she tells me she saw a bloke snorting columbian marching powder from a tray in the front seat of his campervan…
Six from my count including
Six from my count including the one at the lights at the road works who could have started moving off if lights were green for him.
Much as I am pleased to see
Much as I am pleased to see this particular piece of human crap jailed, even if not for long enough, I cannot help but wonder if it was wise to continue that pursuit. The risks to members of the public seemed incredibly high.
One of those where if they
One of those where if they had called off the pursuit, he would have still been driving craply AND it might not have been his as not insured (and probably not registered) so free to do it again when he wanted. Tight call though.
Maybe the cyclist tattoos that Boo / Nick Freeman wants can be applied to drivers as well.
Totally agree – it’s worth
Totally agree – it’s worth noting that the police driver came closer to taking out the cyclists than the guy being chased.
Mungecrundle wrote:
It’s ok, there was a remote police controller buried in the basement of an office in Milton Keynes monitoring the pursuit and conducting risk assessments…..
hirsute wrote:
I’m looking at how he crossed the r’about, 46s in. Anyone heard from Nic recently?
Also noticed that some of the passes of people on bikes were better than that of the pursuing officer….
On the luxury cars clickbait
On the luxury cars clickbait it’s interesting that even the original source is unclear what that definition is. 3 are named but appear to be only used for the affordability calc. Without knowing that definition the whole article is worthless.
Quote:
Is it still luxury once you’ve crammed 13 people in to it?
‘Luxury car density’? Is that
‘Luxury car density’? Is that a measure of intelligence?