Welcome to today’s edition of the road.cc Live News Blog with Simon MacMichael leading the news team chaingang…
And that’s it for today, the Live blog will be back tomorrow with all the news from the site and beyond, but as ever, mainly beyond.
Live blog: Britain’s favourite bike colour revealed (no, not that one either), Super veiny pro legs alert, New Wilier Cento, New Ubyk, Hackney transformation + snow and more
All the news from the site and beyond this black Tuesday
Tue, Jan 22, 2019 15:52
SUMMARY
22 January 2019, 15:52
Latest graphene news
Well, not really. But since all the tyre and frame talk is about graphene these days we thought we’d share this gem from Viz…
22 January 2019, 15:52
Yesterday we were mainly talking about… Decathlon's new Van Rysel road bike range
Looking cool, and looking an awful lot like the BTwin Ultra 900 recently crowned as road.cc’s 2018/19 Bike of the Year and Road bike of the Year – basically because the first Van Rysel is a renamed Ultra. One big talking point was the lack of disc brakes – they’ll have ’em in 2020 but that was a bit late for some of you. Read the full story here
22 January 2019, 15:52
…and 5 Cool things
Our weekly quintet of interesting items that have landed in the road.cc office for review is always worth a gander – you can get the full lowdown on this week’s list here
22 January 2019, 15:52
Britain's* favourite bike colour? Yes, it's black
On Friday we asked you what your favourite bike colour is and your answer came back loud and clear. It’s still black.
And it all looked so different on Friday, blue was in the lead for most of the day – we’d even dug out a really nice pic of a Mason just in case and had hopes that the result would confound expectations and the old bike industry cliche that Brits like black bikes best, but over the weekend your affinity for black bikes asserted itself and black romped home a clear winner**. Nobody’s ever totally explained why it is that British cyclists in particular seem to like black bikes but it is a KNOWN THING, for many years it was something of a running joke at Eurobike with bike brands including a black version of their high volume carbon bikes ‘especially for you Brits’ the marketing guy would say with a sigh .
It has to be said the preference for black has always been more of a road bike phenomenon than an off-road one, which perhaps relates to one of the two big reasons cited as to why British road cyclists like black bikes – you never have to worry about a bike/kit colour clash with a black bike – not such an issue if you and your mountain bike are going to be the same shade of mud five minutes in to the ride.
The other reason Brits are thought to favour black bikes? They look more expensive… yeah, maybe. Obviously the real reason is cos black bikes look cool.
Those results in full:
Black – 23 %
Red – 16%
White – 7%
Blue/Celeste (if you think Celeste is blue) – 12%
Green/Celeste (if you think Celeste is green) – 10%
Silver/grey – 5%
Another colour. Or all the colours – 27%
*Those British (and other) people who vote in road.cc Friday afternoon polls
**(okay Another colour got one per cent more but that doesn’t really count).
22 January 2019, 15:52
…and here's a nice blue bike cos we'd already dug the picture out
22 January 2019, 15:52
Back on his bike
An Edinburgh veteran whose passion for cycling was halted by his sight loss has jumped back on the saddle for the first time in 20 yearshttps://t.co/XYerHrbthm
— Edinburgh News (@edinburghpaper) January 21, 2019
An 84-year-old former elite cyclist who was forced to quit riding due to his poor eyesight is now back in the saddle thanks to a collaboration between the Linburn Centre and Cycling UK’s tandem cycling club VIE Velo. VIE Velo was set up for those with visual impairments to get on their bikes again, and Edinburgh News report that it’s given Bryce Campbell a new lease of life. Full story here.
22 January 2019, 15:52
Credit unknown...
22 January 2019, 15:52
We come from the land of the ice and snow...
…well this morning we do anyway – in fact a road.cc staffer who will remain anonymous took a tumble on some black ice this morning, before admitting defeat and deciding to work from home! You’ll find our top tips for avoiding similar peril in our bumper Cycling Survival guide to riding through ice and snow.
22 January 2019, 15:52
At this time of year, riding it is out of the question...
22 January 2019, 15:52
Cyclists and their weird legs continued... Enric Mas nicolau of Deceuninck–Quick-Step
Trabajando duro para intentar tener las mismas piernas que el año pasado / Working hard to try having the same legs as last year (Foto Sigfrid Eggers) pic.twitter.com/BF8T078iU6
— Enric Mas Nicolau (@EnricMasNicolau) January 21, 2019
With pro riders getting the hard yards in before grand tour season starts, training intensity will be nearing its highest and kg’s will be starting to drop off after the festive break… and for athletes whose sole aim in life other than cycling is to weigh as little as possible, that also seems to mean horribly veiny legs. In the past couple of years we’ve seen eye-popping pin pics from the likes of Chris Froome (below) and Polish rider Pawel Poljanski, who was the inspiration behind our must-read ‘Why are pro cyclists’ legs so veiny?’ feature from 2017. Who do you think has the weirdest?
Our man @chrisfroome is looking absolutely ripped ahead of #LBL on Sunday! (Photo: @michellecound) #VaVaFroome pic.twitter.com/UGePCkvwKU
— Team Sky (@TeamSky) April 23, 2014
22 January 2019, 15:52
Peak Bikes buys former Ubyk stores
Peak Bikes has confirmed that it has taken over the website and shops of Oxford-based Ubyk, which went into liquidation last month.
In a statement reported on businessinsider.com, the Chesterfield-based retailer confirmed rumours on the Singletrack forum, reported on in our live blog before Christmas, that it was looking to snap up the business.
The statement said: “Peak Bikes has purchased the Ubyk website and we are working to put our own stamp on that as we rebrand it; we hope to have that live very soon.
“The addition of two new sites, one in Oxford and one in Brighton, will allow us to continue our drive forward in the cycle industry. The same can be said for the Ubyk websites.
“Our team are great and are working hard to make this new venture work for both us and you as the customer and we all share the same passion for two wheels.”
22 January 2019, 15:52
What a transformation!
Huge improvements for people cycling on CS2 in Stratford over the past year pic.twitter.com/5m9jd6qaj4
— Hackney Cyclist (@Hackneycyclist) January 21, 2019
This part of the CS2 route in Stratford is now safer than ever for cyclists, with the bus stop removed to keep the lane segregated.
22 January 2019, 15:52
More mailing list madness courtesy of Planet X
This time, they’ve forgotten to put the price up on their EC-130E aero bike with full Ultegra groupset…
22 January 2019, 15:52
Wilier show off Cento10NDR in swish new colourway
Wilier’s polished copper Ramato finish is now available on their Cento10NDR road endurance bike. For those that don’t know Ramato is to Wilier what Celeste is to Bianchi – it’s their signature colour developed in the 1940s which graced all Wilier’s racing bikes including the one ridden to victory in the 1948 Giro by Fiorenzo Magni. Unlike Bianchi though the nature of the colour – or to be more exact the process used to apply it meant that Wilier only ever used Ramato on their top end bikes – and indeed for a number of years when aluminium and then carbon replaced steel they didn’t use it at all. They had to come up with a whole new painting process to replicate the finish on carbon.
As Ramato coloured bikes go, the Cento10NDR is unique (though possibly not for long) in also having accents of the colour on the stem and bars too. You can find out more here on the Wilier website.
22 January 2019, 15:52
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow ...
… it still won’t deter people from riding their bikes in the Netherlands.
First flurries. Respect to all the natives who continue #cycling in this #snow #sneeuw#Netherlands pic.twitter.com/ZDyq1f0q2a
— anna holligan (@annaholligan) January 22, 2019
22 January 2019, 15:52
Let's end the day with a nice grey bike…
Here’s one of our fave’s from Mason. Well it looks grey to us… in a certain light
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Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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Latest Comments
mitsky 8 minutes ago
@Rome73 I assume You don't have video evidence. As it would be worth submitting to the DVSA to let them know that driver's eyesight is poor enough to have their licence revoked.
tomlew 22 minutes ago
@Rendel Harris If only you'd read my previous comment more carefully... I clearly justified my position by appealing to the concept of a public good. The TdF isn't one, so why are you demanding to decide how the investor should spend their money? That is exactly the middle ground you're talking about — leaving control in the hands of the owners when the goods in question are not indispensable, while retaining control over essential ones. BTW, monopoly? I imagine there are hundreds of other public events in most UK towns. Are you going to hire an army of public officers and introduce price regulation for rock concerts as well?
Rendel Harris 36 minutes ago
@tomlew Yes, there's absolutely no middle ground between disgracefully exploitative overcharging and giving things away for free, is there? Just sit back and accept whatever private companies want to charge once they have achieved a monopoly of something and be happy, marvellous. Don't complain or ask for fair pricing because that would be "spending someone else's money". It's worked so well with water and power and fuel and rent, hasn't it?
tomlew 56 minutes ago
@Rendel Harris So where's my new bike? I feel I deserve it, so I guess you owe me one now. It's always so easy to spend somebody else's money, isn't it?
Rendel Harris 2 hours ago
@tomlew Ah, good old "market forces", the excuse for price gouging everywhere. Just because you can get away with charging stupid prices doesn't mean you should or that it's right to do so.
tfg62 2 hours ago
I bought mine more than 4 years ago and have used it many times, flying all over Europe - exclusively with BA. The baggage handlers have given them a good thumping. We've had the frame itself dented significantly and pierced (one assumes - and Ed from Buxumbox confirms - this is hard to do on the shell cage!) The sides are dented, as expected, and were pierced on one occasion. We witnessed a baggage handler at Tenerife airport lift and throw our boxes onto the conveyor belt single handed. It bounced off the edge of the belt at least once. One of the boxes also started to behave like a shopping trolley so I have replaced the front wheels (now a new design) and I was told that this is due to the box being dropped onto them. The bikes have - up to now - always survived this handling. Does anyone have any tips on how to dissuade a single baggage handler do this? Do you overestimate the weight so that they might be inclined to get two baggage handler to move them? They are certainly great for quick disassembly and re-assembly, albeit a pain to get a taxi for. A Mercedes Vito with the rear seats down or removed, a Renault Scenic likewise. Two (with two small cases) also fit inside a Dacia Jogger with the rear seats down - perhaps we should have a database...?
Rome73 4 hours ago
I know many a mechanic who feels fear every time one of her branded cycles is presented for a service. They are astoundingly bad quality; cheap components, shoddily put together, difficult to adjust and usually not worth it. The Pendleton e-bikes are exceptionally cr@p. Why do people put their names to such rubbish?
tomlew 5 hours ago
@Rendel Harris Market forces, probably. But I'm no expert. I realize some of us here love cycling, but what would make forfeiting extra income excusable? And even if the tickets were cheaper, how would you prevent extra demand so that people prevented from participating would not complain about being treated unfairly? Why don't we simply acknowledge TdF is not a public good, it is just another commercial event. With a bit of luck you can probably survive without it.
ChrisA 12 hours ago
@slownomad From the DVSA/DoT Guidance Notes that your link refers to: "To be classified as an EAPC under the EAPC regulations[footnote 1], the cycle must:" etc. . It then goes on to say: "If an EAPC does not comply with the regulations, it is treated as a motor vehicle under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and the Road Traffic Act 1988" So no, it does not say that the only EAPC is a legal EAPC. As you say bike may refer to pedal cycles or motorbikes. E-bike logically follows the same usage and includes EAPCs. "Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle" is a technical description. The EAPC Regulations 1983 allow for some EAPCs to be treated in law as pedal cycles. The Guidance Notes finish with a disclaimer: "This guidance is a summary of DfT’s understanding of what the law requires." etc.. & finishes with "You are therefore advised to consult the relevant legislation and, if necessary, seek independent advice." So even the DVSA & DoT don't actually know what it all means.
Gravel1-2 13 hours ago
Not noted in the review but the old Crux was a CX - gravel racer whereas this new one seems to be pure gravel, taking inspiration from road race bikes more than anything. What’s happening with specialized and CX? Is it just being left behind or is this the bike still for CX?
20 thoughts on “Live blog: Britain’s favourite bike colour revealed (no, not that one either), Super veiny pro legs alert, New Wilier Cento, New Ubyk, Hackney transformation + snow and more”
Of course Celeste is blue.
Of course Celeste is blue. Who thinks it’s green? They’re wrong, of course. Probably about most things in life. Celeste, as in celestial, as in the sky, as in blue. You don’t say a colour is sky-green, do you?
Celeste is green and that
Celeste is green and that mason bike looks grey! 🙂
StoopidUserName wrote:
Not sure I agree with you about celeste, but the Mason definitely looks grey.
RobD wrote:
Not sure I agree with you about celeste, but the Mason definitely looks grey.— StoopidUserName
It is belly-button-fluff blue.
Organon wrote:
Just been reading about Bianchi’s and their famous green frame colour is, you guessed it:
Celeste.
But I suppose it depends on the lighting and our eyes, and colour is pretty subjective anyway.
Looks blue to me. My
Looks blue to me. My favourite colout bike frame ever was my old Cotic Soul which was described as ‘Custard’.
It is grey. Mason call it
It is grey. Mason call it Element Grey.
You have to remember that this is road.cc where quality cycling journalism goes to die. Their motto is ‘Click Bait And Ads’.
See 59 wrote:
How the hell do you think we’d be able to give you a free product without any advertising ya melt??
See 59 wrote:
My personal motto is: if you don’t like it, don’t waste your time and mine reading it. i’m happy to delete your account.
dave atkinson wrote:
It is grey. Mason call it Element Grey.
You have to remember that this is road.cc where quality cycling journalism goes to die. Their motto is ‘Click Bait And Ads’.
— dave atkinson My personal motto is: if you don’t like it, don’t waste your time and mine reading it. i’m happy to delete your account.— See 59
.
That’s not a blue bike. This
That’s not a blue bike. This is a blue bike.
Miller wrote:
seen that on WW – in fact I think you and I are in the middle of a chat about H0 ergolevers there
Nick T wrote:
OMG, forum worlds leaking into each other, noooooo….
Miller wrote:
I thought everyone knew that
I thought everyone knew that red bikes are faster?!
Having said that, I’ve just bought a black frame – but the bar tape will be red!
Black is slimming.
Black is slimming.
(also, black isn’t a colour – it’s a result of the absence of colour).
#nerd
The colour thing feels all a
The colour thing feels all a bit Henry Ford Model T, both my bikes are black because there was no other colour options available,so of course black sells more,that’s often all we can get…I prefer navy with orange highlights fwiw
Mason Definition looks rather
Mason Definition looks rather tasty in all their colour range – Blue Grey Black. Im lucky to have visited their HQ and viewed them up close. Decided that their ‘Shutter Black’ is the new Black and rode one away with a big smile and empty wallet! Great bike Stunning Colour Brilliant Co.
For an Instagram post those
For a Twitter post those “weird cyclist legs” may elicit but a shrug if indeed that is why the rider decided to show them off in the first place. Firstly, those are scrawny emaciated legs. Second, some of those veins are beset with abnormalities that form when veins get knotted together (can’t recall the medical term). Third, they’ve cranked up the clarity effect in their photo editor of choice to artificially enhance the leg texture. 1 and 2 are worthy of respect, but the third giveaway leaves no doubt about the humblebraggery on display, which will no doubt excite only the handful of ultra lean masochists living in a bubble of power to weight ratio obsession.
There’s no mystery about
There’s no mystery about Bianchi’s Celeste (although its origin is a mystery – could be the colour of the sky over Milan, or maybe whatever military surplus paints were available at the time or some other nice narrative). Since the stuff has to be made, it has a specification and is a type of turquoise (a blue-green colour).
Easy way to tell is just to look at Bianchi’s website, which is riddled with the stuff. The hex RGB value is #8bddd1, which indicates a blue-green colour with a touch more green than blue.