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Live blog: 3T launch Exploro Speed gravel bike, Pedal Me cargo bike taxi branded “delusional” in Dragons’ Den trailer, another quirky Planet X anti-sales pitch, Van Avermaet’s stunning new bike + more
SUMMARY

Some stories you may have missed at the weekend
Glasgow could host first combined World Cycling Championships in 2023
Near Miss of the Day 239: Van driver tailgates and executes close pass
US amateur cyclist tests positive for five banned substances
Man trying to stop thief stealing his bike in New Mexico shot dead
Canterbury City Council to clamp down on “reckless” food delivery riders
Video: Take a look at Greg Van Avermaet's stunning new bike
Like Samuel Sanchez before him, Greg Van Avermaet isn’t shy about letting the world know he is the reigning Olympic road champion – clock those gold shades and helmet. Now, he’s even got a gold bike – in the shape of this Giant TCR Advanced SL. Here he is talking through it in this video.
How many TdF winners does it take to change a tyre?
An absolute belter from a few years back!
How many @LeTour winners does it take to change a tyre? @chrisfroome @GeraintThomas86 #cycling #cyclinglife #cyclist @TeamSky #teamsky #bike pic.twitter.com/D9lFB7kB7x
— Trans World Sport (@TransWorldSport) January 18, 2019
Elliptical chainrings are so last year...
Planet X are at it again
If you’re on the British bike retailer’s mailing list, you may have noticed some pretty unusual anti-sales pitches in the run up to Christmas – including some ‘For a Bob’ deals, flogging hats and chain cleaners for 5p with a photo of the late Bob Monkhouse alongside, and some further deals promoted by William Shakespeare. This time they didn’t get that far, simply using this text convo for their weekend newsletter instead…
The weekend’s big talking point 1: “They are always in the way” says Farmer who did close pass in tractor before throwing cyclist and bike to grass verge
Imagine if he had to drive his tractor around Central London… you can read the full report from Saturday here
The weekend’s big talking point 2: GPS computers of the pros… It’s not all Garmin any more
Liam has a look at what computers the pros have on their bars (you probably didn’t need a computer to work that bit out) – you can read the full rundown here
Another example of incredible Netherlands cycling infra
I love my country, where this is simply possible! Sint Michielsgestel, NL. pic.twitter.com/2RtyNnQlno
— Mark Wagenbuur (@BicycleDutch) January 20, 2019
We can dream!
Pedal Me cargo bike taxi firm called 'delusional' on upcoming episode of Dragon's Den
We’re on #dragonsden this Sunday…you might want to watch. Here’s a little teaser:https://t.co/grpwk8RLhh
— Pedal Me (@pedalmeapp) January 21, 2019
Why they’re promoting this we’re not so sure but Pedal Me, a London-based cargo bike taxi and delivery start-up, have revealed a teaser of their upcoming appearance on Dragon’s Den that will go out this Sunday on BBC Two. From the clip it appears their pitch didn’t go too well, with the Dragons berating the young entrepreneurs for their business model that they say is open to being hijacked by the likes of Uber. Pedal Me argue that such companies wouldn’t have the combined cargo bike, skills and tech knowledge to do it as well as them, to which they are branded “delusional” by fashion magnate Touker Suleyman.
We’ve noticed a pattern for Dragons getting it a bit wrong in the past when it comes to cycling/mobility/transport pitches in the Den; and from our point of view, why can’t there be more than one cargo bike taxi firm in London even if Uber were to muscle in? Their crowdfunding campaign was very successful, raising £350,000 in just a few days in October last year, so best of luck to them we say. Head over to Pedal Me’s website to find out more and download the app if you want a ride.
Blue Monday? Ride your bike!
Yes it’s bloody cold out, but on this the most depressing day of the year according to someone somewhere, going out for a ride and the endorphins released with it will cheers you up no end…
3T launch the Exploro Speed, complete with race-ready spec
3T’s Exploro gravel bike is sold as an all-rounder that can also be used on tarmac, and now the brand has introduced the Exploro Speed with a racier spec to satisfy those who want to use their Exploro to go fast. The frame is the same, but the Speed models are offered with carbon mid-depth wheels, optional Torno Ltd cranks and Sram Force 1x groupsets. Builds start from €5,200 for the Team build and go up to €7,200 for the Torno Ltd version. Head over to 3T’s website for more info.
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7 Comments
Latest Comments
@mdavidford Barreling suggests he was travelling at speed whereas he had just started riding and was making a turn so his balance might not have been good enough to have slowed and adjusted his line.
Not sure what relevance what he'd just done previously has to the question.
Shurely an internal investigation *might* have taken place, which if it did, and if it came to the conclusion there had been any wrongdoing (two big ifs) "unfortunately the officer being investigated has retired and so there's no further action we can take"?
I suppose in the good old USA you're grateful if the officer doesn't shoot you, especially if you have an attitude they don't like. I assume the victim wasn't a person of colour?
Only one line in the article has information on the womens races, saying the 2027 Tour de France Femmes will have highlights broadcast. In the absence of other information I assume other women's grand tours and other years won't have highlights shown? There was no link to the announcement in the article but I'm off to find out. It would have been nice for road.cc to be clear about this though.
The cyclist also told Streetsblog NYC that he frequently files complaints about illegal parking by police officers in the area, including on cycle lanes, but says “they just close them out” Yep, that sounds like Lancashire Constabulary. They refuse to act on any close-passing report and have never, as far as FoI requests are able to establish, prosecuted any driver for close passing. They certainly didn't act on or respond in any way to this report, because LancsFilth is as bent as a Nine Pound note: ttps://upride.cc/incident/kn21axh_lancspolice_closepass/ Neither did they act on or respond in any way to this more recent report https://upride.cc/incident/px12dmy_stagecoach40_closepass/ They refuse to act against Marcus Wright and his eponymous joinery company Transit HN21 VXB now without VED for over two years and without MOT for almost 1 year, despite being seen regularly around Garstang and regularly reported by me, being listed at Companies House and even showing a photo of the offending vehicle on the business Facebook page. The police in general, OpSnap Lancs and Wyre NPT refuse to act against driver RLJs, mobile phone offences, white line offences and so on, and are a bunch of inept, useless lying tossers. Therefore, I do not agree with 60somethingetc's rose-tinted spectacles view of UK police - Lancashire would have immediately binned any report like that in the NYC case above, and the totally useless PCC would simply write: this is a matter for the police and I cannot interfere. Thank goodness the PCCs have also been binned, although I doubt anything better will appear in their place. What with Charing Cross police station and the tragic Nowak handcuffing case, the Met's Carrick and Couzens cases etc. etc. - the IOPC is going to need more officers than the combined strength of all the police forces they claim to regulate.
@60somethingcyclist Hahah, oh wow, I miss being this naive about the cops here.
@Mr Blackbird "our streets have become a freak show" - like his party.
This is disgraceful. If this had been a UK Police officer he'd be prosecuted and disciplined; quite possibly losing his job.
Have them and love them. run the 650 by 50mm on rough rides, bit of a slog on tarmac sections thou
7 thoughts on “Live blog: 3T launch Exploro Speed gravel bike, Pedal Me cargo bike taxi branded “delusional” in Dragons’ Den trailer, another quirky Planet X anti-sales pitch, Van Avermaet’s stunning new bike + more”
That gold TCR is stunning!!
That gold TCR is stunning!!
I’m surprised BTBS hasn’t
I’m surprised BTBS hasn’t been by to say that Dutch bike path is actually very dangerous…
jacknorell wrote:
Its funny you mentioned them – I was only thinking that I hadn’t seen any posts from them for a while
brooksby wrote:
Its funny you mentioned them – I was only thinking that I hadn’t seen any posts from them for a while
— jacknorell
Because the Dutch always ride in a safe manner and there is never any risk of a low speed head impact where a helmet might prevent injury.
And helmets encourage dangerous riding of course.
OK – note to self – never
OK – note to self – never ever evere ever EVER let froome dog or thomas near any of my bikes.
leqin wrote:
That clip has the look of a piss-take. Of course they can change a tyre, they just grab the nearest mechanic.
I don’t imagine that the
I don’t imagine that the Dragon’s Den dragons ever ride a bike for transport – shiny high end motors and black cabs, I imagine are more their style…
No wonder their record on anything bike related isn’t so good…