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Live blog: Will Norman corrects reporter who claimed London cycling in decline, Trek says its Domane+ e-bike does Tour de France speeds, Strava says 50-59s clock up most bike miles +more

Meanwhile, Chris Froome is today's unlikely source of banter on social media as he compares his legendary jog up the Ventoux to Christmas shopping!...

The live blog can sometimes be a bit slow to load... if it's failing to emerge after 20 seconds or so then try refreshing the page. 

 

Arriving at road.cc in 2017 via 220 Triathlon Magazine, Jack dipped his toe in most jobs on the site and over at eBikeTips before being named the new editor of road.cc in 2020, much to his surprise. His cycling life began during his students days, when he cobbled together a few hundred quid off the back of a hard winter selling hats (long story) and bought his first road bike - a Trek 1.1 that was quickly relegated to winter steed, before it was sadly pinched a few years later. Creatively replacing it with a Trek 1.2, Jack mostly rides this bike around local cycle paths nowadays, but when he wants to get the racer out and be competitive his preferred events are time trials, sportives, triathlons and pogo sticking - the latter being another long story.  

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6 comments

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BehindTheBikesheds | 5 years ago
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mtb like gearing on a road double is not particularly good, for many reasons that have been covered over and over again.

I don't want an 11-34 or 36 or 42 tooth sprocket, I like my 11/12-28 with a triple and a 24 inner means I can get up pretty much anything even with a load.

Having the stupidly big jumps on MTB like road gearing using a double or worse a single ring, is cack.

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Christopher TR1 | 5 years ago
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I'm not sure "words of advice" is the best way to deal with stupid/irresponsible/careless/agressive motorists. I can do that myself, and do so on an almost daily basis..... Although I suppose you often couldn't really call it advice as such.

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ChrisB200SX | 5 years ago
2 likes

Increase in use of cycle lanes on Vauxhall Bridge would probably be even higher had they not stuck ruddy great concrete and armco barriers in one of the lanes!
It's a concern how close you are to cyclists passing in the opposite direction with pedestrians encroaching on one side, and downright scary when someone goes for a questionable overtake! 5 far wider lanes for motorised traffic though!

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Dingaling | 5 years ago
3 likes

Interesting to read that the older groups are the busiest cyclists. Do the manufacturers read and believe that to be the case? Manufacturers aim their best kit at the much smaller group of pros and athletically better young riders but the older groups generally have more money to spend on their hobbies and have different technical requirements. I don't, for one minute believe doing away with the triple chainring setup or reducing mtb's to a single chainring is in the interests of the over 50's.

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Pilot Pete replied to Dingaling | 5 years ago
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Dingaling wrote:

Interesting to read that the older groups are the busiest cyclists. Do the manufacturers read and believe that to be the case? Manufacturers aim their best kit at the much smaller group of pros and athletically better young riders but the older groups generally have more money to spend on their hobbies and have different technical requirements. I don't, for one minute believe doing away with the triple chainring setup or reducing mtb's to a single chainring is in the interests of the over 50's.

You will also note that those in that age group have an above average speed too! I suspect that is more to do with the demograph of that group who actually log their rides on Strava.

Manufacturers aim their top end kit at those that want quality without too much concern over price. They also often have ranges of more affordable kit, or other manufacturers target that part of the market, so there is something for everyone.

Often it is the older generation that have more disposable income. Supply to pro riders foc is advertising and a test bed. I freely admit to liking top quality kit and am willing to pay for it. It is all down to disposable income and how one chooses to spend it. Cycling is my passion and I spend a fair chunk on it, better that than fast women, loose cars and drugs! (Yes, that was deliberate!)

As regards triple chainrings, well, you can get MTB like gear ratios with a double on a road bike these days so I don’t quite buy your argument. Again, single chainring MTBs have huge cassettes which gives low enough gears if you choose correctly. It has been done for simplicity and more reliable performance, not to get at the over 50s.

You need to remember that you are one individual and not typical of the norm. I’m over 50, ride with several different groups where I am one of the youngest, and none of the fifty or so cyclists that I know in that age bracket (or significantly above) have any issue with a double chainring (or lack of a triple). Oh, and I live at the foot of the Peak District, so hills are our playground. Pick your front and rear ratios to suit your ability/ fitness/ terrain, there are plenty available.

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CygnusX1 | 5 years ago
2 likes

The Amsterdam moped ban is a good thing (obviously).

Having lived there for a year, I can attest that many exceeded the speed limit, and drove recklessly around cyclists and pedestrians.

Seeing the larger capacity mopeds using the bike lanes was a regular occurrence too, despite them being banned.

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