Live blog: Alex Dowsett’s top tips for a rapid commute, three riders taking on Britain’s 100 best climbs (and riding between them) in 29 days, driver ‘forgets’ he’s not a bike + more
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Wed, Jun 20, 2018 13:49
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Jack is group editor across road.cc, off.road.cc and ebiketips, overseeing all three sites in the F-At Digital group to make sure everything’s up to scratch. He’s been writing about cycling and multisport for over a decade, arriving at road.cc via 220 Triathlon Magazine in 2017. He worked across all areas of road.cc including tech, news and video, and also contributed to ebiketips before being named editor of road.cc in 2021 (much to his surprise). Jack has been hooked on cycling since his student days, and currently has a Trek 1.2 for winter riding, a beloved Bickerton folding bike for getting around town, and an extra beloved custom Ridley Helium SLX for fantasising about going fast in his stable. Jack has never won a bike race, but does have a master’s degree in print journalism, and two Guinness World Records for pogo sticking (it’s a long story).
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Latest Comments
Liam Mercer 38 minutes ago
😉
Rendel Harris 48 minutes ago
I swear you guys are just baiting Surreyrider for shits and giggles now!
Podc 2 hours ago
It is for this exact reason I never purchased any Canal+ branded jerseys. Only saw it once but it was enough.
Rendel Harris 3 hours ago
@mitsky To be fair (through gritted teeth), hasn't the main damage to Hammersmith Bridge been from IRA bombings and boat strikes, though obviously exacerbated by heavy traffic in the subsequent years?
Rendel Harris 3 hours ago
@Andrewbanshee Yes, and at every age, not just at our distinguished and noble years (I'm 57). I've known several people who have been a bit vain about having to start wearing glasses and so put it off for years even when it was quite obvious that they wouldn't pass the driving test "read a numberplate at twenty metres" requirement (which is itself inadequate, in my opinion). As I understand it, in the USA driver licences to be renewed every four to eight years, depending on the state (apart from Arizona and Massachusetts which are twelve years, for some reason), and an eye test is a compulsory element of renewal. High time that was introduced here.
mdavidford 4 hours ago
In fairness, at the time they came out Rapha was also constantly offering deep discounts - it's only more recently they've done away with that - so they were basically just following the Rapha model.
mdavidford 4 hours ago
Likewise - I've got heaps of their stuff, and been happy with almost all of it. The only thing I've ever had a problem with was a pair of winter gloves that was a shape that no hand ever was.
Bezzard74 4 hours ago
The bibs were always decent for me, obviously everyone has a different fit/needs, so they won't be for everybody! I'm still a massive fan of their Merino tees, great for bikepacking!
BroomBroomBroom 4 hours ago
@Krislord Yeah this is a pre-pack job by the looks of it. One of those things that seems like it shouldn't be legal, but somehow manages to be. Like all ubiquitous brands Le Col gets up people's noses. Cycling fashion has moved on a bit in the last couple of years too and you see more PNS and Universal Colours in Richmond Park these days. I feel a bit old for some of that stuff and I still like Le Col because they offer plenty of understated kit.
5 thoughts on “Live blog: Alex Dowsett’s top tips for a rapid commute, three riders taking on Britain’s 100 best climbs (and riding between them) in 29 days, driver ‘forgets’ he’s not a bike + more”
To be fair the vast majority
To be fair the vast majority of the overtakes I get are of this variety. I can definitely recommend the thumbs up and wave also. If you commute or otherwise travel the same route at the same time a lot, over time you can help build the goodwill in the local area. Also I think if there is a line of cars and the first overtakes well, some highly visible thanks can encourge those following to do the same.
Morgoth985 wrote:
Completely agree!
Morgoth985 wrote:
This is true, and most overtakes are at least reasonable, but the problem is that it only takes one bad overtaker to kill you, and there are still a lot of them out there. If you are a novice cyclist, and you get passed badly at least once every ride, you are likely to give up and go back to the car.
The reverse of what you say about good passing being copied by the following drivers is also true of bad passes. I’ve lost count of the number of times the first driver in a convoy passes me dangerously close, to be followed by the other five.
While I take your point about most drivers being not too bad at passing, we need all of them to be good, so that cyclists don’t feel their lives are threatened on every ride.
Burt, I don’t disagree with
Burt, I don’t disagree with any of that, and I’m conscious that I might just be lucky in having a slightly lower density of nutcases in my area than elsewhere. I’ve still had enough close passes that I don’t minimise the issue by any means. I’m just saying that positive reinforcement of good behaviour is one tool among several that we can adopt to change attitudes.
Alex Dowsett in not having a
Alex Dowsett in not having a clue about safe cycling shocker.
Advising that cycling right behind someone in their slipstream and then shoot out quickly only to then count to three and simply pull back in front of them is a good idea is fucking bullshit. You don’t know the person in front, slipstream if you are in a chaingang or you’ve asked for a tow and they’ve ok’d it, optherwise stay the fuck off someone elses back wheel, it’s not wanted and it’s dangerous.
Sorry but advice like that comes from a cretin with no idea whatsoever about safe cycling, stick to what you know because safe commuter cycling isn’t one of them!