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Live blog: Evans Cycles owner Mike Ashley calls for 20 per cent tax on online sales to save the High Street, Deloitte RAB entries open, e Yorkshire fly thru + more
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Fri, Dec 07, 2018 15:36
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road.cc’s founder and first editor, nowadays to be found riding a spreadsheet. Tony’s journey in cycling media started in 1997 as production editor and then deputy editor of Total Bike, acting editor of Total Mountain Bike and then seven years as editor of Cycling Plus. He launched his first cycling website – the Cycling Plus Forum at the turn of the century. In 2006 he left C+ to head up the launch team for Bike Radar which he edited until 2008, when he co-launched the multi-award winning road.cc – finally handing on the reins in 2021 to Jack Sexty. His favourite ride is his ‘commute’ – which he does most days inc weekends and he’s been cycle-commuting since 1994. His favourite bikes are titanium and have disc brakes, though he’d like to own a carbon bike one day.
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Latest Comments
Inthedark1 22 minutes ago
Just turn your head Ed. Perhaps you've gone so far to the right turning left is the problem?
Beryl 1 hour ago
If the man can't turn his head to check his blind spot he shouldn't be on the road
GravelIsNothingNew 2 hours ago
Follow the road rules. Why is this even a discussion? Because the road rules are not adequately policed. …Solution: how about £100 fines for everyone flouting the road rules / risking cyclists lives on social media and in council chambers, as well as on the roads? That should stop this ongoing waste of time.
jackcycles 9 hours ago
@Rendel Harris you've painted a rather alluring picture of social harmony there, but unfortunately you've got my name wrong. I'm Jack, not Nigel. However, to return the compliment, I must think of a story for you. I imagine you sat outside a pub, real ale and pipe propped on the adjacent table, in a similar fashion to Nigel Farage at his populist best. You turn to your wife. "You know what dear? I think I've been a bit harsh in my time. I've shunned the politeness and wisdom of others for too long and want to change my ways.* "There there Rendel", says Mrs Harris. "You're not a bad old stick, it's just living in London that's emptied your soul of kindness and compassion. I've found a lovely new place where we can settle down in our later years. It's on a leafy cul de sac, surrounded by friendly neighbours and smiling faces. There's a guy a couple of doors down, a remarkable man. As well as his towering intellect and rapier wit, he's also a keen cyclist, holding severa local KOMs. Don't be perturbed dear - he'll ride with anyone provided they show other road users the kindness and courtesy they deserve." Rendel turned emotionally, voice shaking. "Oh my dear, thank you for this second chance", and with that the rest of the pub goers turned and applauded the couple, throwing garlands of petals in their wake. The end.
mattw 9 hours ago
As a Councillor, Edward needs to be paying some attention to all that parking obstructing visibility and manoeuvres at the junction, and sorting out those radii.
mattw 10 hours ago
Ed Hill was chucked out by Reform in 2025, though TBF to him it was about how to run it rather than ideology I think. He is now reportedly closer to Advance UK, which is distinctly more extreme than Reform. I'd call this Alan Amos style attention seeking.
Simon14 10 hours ago
Emily, thank you for such an insightful piece. I’m a man, but I enjoy watching the women’s races, possibly more than the men’s. The racing is so much closer, we rarely know who’s going to win. You painted a wonderful picture of how a true champion is able to ‘rise above’ setbacks and distractions, and focus their energy on the task in hand. ‘All’s fair in live and war -and sport, but always good to hear riders expressing their admiration for their competitors
Rendel Harris 11 hours ago
@Nigel Garage ...and then everyone applauded my courtesy and I waved courteously to all the people who were courteously throwing flowers and cheering and courteously waving flags that said "Nigel is the best!"
ktache 12 hours ago
The picture from street view clearly shows give way lines from the roads to the green painted cycle/pedestrian lane. The road user should give way (or must...) to the user of the green lane. This would of course apply to any cyclist on the roadway.
chrisonabike 12 hours ago
If I recall there is a cave or two along the route - perhaps they were sheltering from the heat in one of those having taken it for a Golf bunker?
8 thoughts on “Live blog: Evans Cycles owner Mike Ashley calls for 20 per cent tax on online sales to save the High Street, Deloitte RAB entries open, e Yorkshire fly thru + more”
20% tax on online sales, that
20% tax on online sales, that seems REALLY steep.
I’d happily buy all my cycling gear from a local bike shop, but that would require my LBS to actually stock the brands I want to buy (they don’t) and actually have the item I want, in the size I want, in stock (which is a rarity).
It’s particularly difficult when I have to drive for 30 minutes just to get to a bike shop…
I bet Ashley’s got some great
I bet Ashley’s got some great avoidance schemes for what comes into his own pocket.
Also, good luck with this 20% thing seeing as most of the ‘big’ companies seem to be avoiding paying their fair shair in the first place.
Failing business model in
Failing business model in desperate calls for government meddling.
I lived In seattle in 2010
I lived In seattle in 2010 and most of the bike shops had innertube recycling back then. A local company made bags and things out of them. I still have a messenger bag with a seatbelt for a strap. Great idea but it had stained quite a few cycling tops
20% on shopping, plus 2.5%
20% on shopping, plus 2.5% tax on income just for being alive and over 40. Because 40 year olds are ‘old’ and rich of course. When is the next referendum; they all need lining up against a wall….
So Evans want’s government
So Evans wants government help to stay competitive? Why should high street shops have special treatment. How about a 20% tax credit for online shops – they are better after all. As Canyon48 rightly says – you don’t get a sale if you havn’t got the product stocked in the store. The most basic logic of retailing. And if people prefer to shop on-line? Move your business to where the customers are. That is the second logic of retailing!
risoto wrote:
Don’t you need customers to have money too?
Not sure which logic that is, I hadn’t realised that logic was countable either. Full of learning this thread is.
Canyon might not be the best example either as they struggle to get another important factor whch is availablity. No good having a good price if people can’t get hold of the goods. Good job people are stupid, eh?
I haven’t bought a bike or
I haven’t bought a bike or bike accessory except emergency repair stuff for years. They all stock goods with a massive markup that I don’t need. Chain reaction and planet X have supplied what I want at a third of the cost of a brick and mortar operation, why would I want to shell out on a markup?