Shiny Stuff Episode 2 – Velotoze, Shimano, Merida, Thorn and Repente

@Smoggysteve They're at their most dangerous when they're not going anywhere at all.

@the infamous grouse Oh very few people adhere to 20 limits. I would suggest that its considerably less that adhere to 20mph than when the limit is 30 but then the breaking of the limit is still less serious. They are doing 24-25 instead of 34-35 so regardless, the damage is lessened. I lived on a classic UK residential side road ie. not a road to anywhere useful and despite it being a 20 with cars parked on both sides and dense housing, the same utter pricks would do 30-40 down it. Boiled my blood.

My point is that we can discuss various aspects about women's sport and that increases the reach. On the topic of comparison ... many friends I talk to about cycling assume that women are slow and that's way they don't watch. I think I've convinced some people to tune in by giving examples of how strong they are *and* how entertaining the races are. I was at the Women's Fleche Wallone (and LBL) and saw Demi win ... that's why I used that example of the Mur du Huy. To your reply ... I would say that your view of stifling discussion won't help sell women in sport - case in point is the headline quote from Sarah Ruggins. My understanding of your reply is that you would disagree with a woman who's out there literally selling the sport to her sponsors and her awesome achievements as being newsworthy material for this site. Regarding your choice of word 'amalgamation' ... it implies I proposed to mix Men's and Women's sport. I don't believe that and did not write that. I think we are all fans here!

@mitsky The police allegedly have better things to with their time than ignore millions of speeding reports. Why even allow the car to exceed the speed limit in the first place? For context: "under UK law, all new cars manufactured since July 2024 must be fitted with Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) systems. These systems use cameras and GPS to detect the speed limit and will trigger an audio, visual, or haptic alarm when you exceed it. While these alarms can be temporarily turned off via the infotainment screen or steering wheel buttons, the system automatically resets and turns back on every time you start the car. "

Anything that improves safety is a plus. Whether it will make a real difference is another matter: it's not because the system correctly detects a dangerous situation that you'll be able to do anything about it, or that you'll have the time to react, such as with a parked car opening a door without looking (keeping your distance is still the best strategy there). It's a bit like my Garmin Vario rear light: 90% of the time the radar adds nothing, 10% of the time what it displays is really helpful and I guess that once every couple of years or so it might really make the difference between nothing happening or an accident. Still worth it imo.

An incredible feat, hat off to her!

@mdavidford clearly. Children congregate around schools. Once they have left the area around the school they are completely safe from twats in cars.

@Smoggysteve oh god don't mention any speed lower than 20mph to drivers. They will have an aneurism as they formulate their anti 20mph for safety arguments. Usually something along the lines of "well, why don't we all drive at 2mph with someone in front of us waving a flag, then deaths will be 0". Obviously a well thought out and brilliant argument against lowering speed limits in built up areas.

@chrisonabike Don't forget that cars simply aren't designed to go at 20mph.

@Motivated I think that pointing at a single data point doesn't prove a point. Women do seem to be very well suited to these ultra endurance events and I believe that in running they are similarly exceptional. We need to be careful with this sort of discussion however because the amalgamation on mens and womens sports would do women absolutely no favours. I appreciate the sentiment and the encouragement this gives women in sport but competing with men shouldn't be how we try to sell women in sport.