Welcome to Tuesday on the road.cc live blog with Simon MacMichael, Jack Sexty and the rest of the team.
Timber! Part of Bristol – Bath cycle route to close for 5 days, Banned by the UCI – Graeme Obree talks tech, Brailsford Super Bowl warm down, Welsh hit and run arrests, Bank Junction plans revealed + more
All today’s news from the site and beyond
Tue, Feb 05, 2019 20:18
SUMMARY
5 February 2019, 20:18
Two arrested following hit and run crash in Monmouthshire that left three cyclists injured
Two people have been arrested following a hit and run crash in Monmouthshire that left three cyclists injured.
The incident happened at around 4pm on Sunday on Llanllowell Lane in Llanllowell, reports BBC News.
One of the injured riders is in a critical but stable condition at University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, while another was treated there for a serious injury but later released. A third was treated for minor injuries.
Police have arrested a 40-year-old man and 45-year-old woman on suspicion of causing injury by dangerous driving, driving while over the limit and failing to stop.
Police are appealing for witnesses and can be contacted on 101.
5 February 2019, 20:18
Plans revealed for further improvements of notorious Bank Junction after safety experiment sees accident reductions
The City of London Corporation’s Planning & Transportation Committee has agreed the first phase of its future vision for Bank junction, which is notorious as being an accident hotspot.
In the last two years an experiment which saw vehicles reduced from 1,300 an hour to nothing except buses and bikes between 7am-pm saw a big reduction in accidents, therefore further changes are expected to take place in the future as part of the ‘All Change at Bank’ project. They transport committee say: “Enhancements will make the junction a walkable, enjoyable space with new seating, and shaded and sheltered areas. The vision looks to retain the ability for some vehicle access, while achieving further restriction of two or three arms of the junction to create an area that prioritises pedestrians and cyclists – in line with the ambitious proposals set out in the City’s draft Transport Strategy.”
Proposals for the next phase of work are expected later in 2019.
5 February 2019, 20:18
Tyrannosaurus Rex CX
This clip was taken at the Wharfedale Harriers 4.7 mile run and ride event over the weekend, open to runners, cyclists and dinosaurs apparently…
5 February 2019, 20:18
Near hit of the day?
Things you find when you root around in the other videos posted on Youtube along with people’s helmetcam footage. This one is is by Simon Crisp whose close call with a cement lorry was NMoTD 248 yesterday. This gem was spotted by some of you and shared in the comments by a1white causing lllnorrisslll to declare it the “BEST THING ON ROAD.CC EVER!!!”. Maybe if you like Eighties power ballads… we’ll let you be the judge.
5 February 2019, 20:18
None of the gear, and seemingly plenty of idea
Chris Froome prepara por carreteras colombianas el @TourColombiaUCI
(@cariasann) #TourColombia2019 pic.twitter.com/SAkZg8GsIW
— COPEdaleando (@Copedaleando) February 5, 2019
Watch this young chap on an old steal beater in baggy shorts and what looks to be Crocs on his feet keep up with Chris Froome on the streets of Columbia… sign him up!
5 February 2019, 20:18
Graeme Obree takes a look at stuff that's been banned by the UCI, in a way only he could
The Flying Scotsman and serial UCI rule botherer stars in this entertaining video for Endura, in which he discusses the various pedantic rules brought in since he began breaking records with bikes made out of washing machine parts all those years ago. The video was made following the banning of Endura’s Surface Silicone Topography tech that appears on their fastest Drag2Zero skinsuit… nowadays it will only be legal for non-UCI events and triathlons, because “it’s just too fast” according to Endura…
5 February 2019, 20:18
Sir Dave is racks up some serious miles following a trip to the Superbowl
As we’ve reported before (read our report on Dave Brailsford’s low fat diet advice and training regime from back in October) The Team Sky head honcho has been popping up on Strava quite a bit these last few months… and has been getting in almost as many miles in as his team as he hops around the globe. This latest one is a 43 miler from Atlanta, Georgia in the US, where Dave was visiting to watch the Superbowl and catch up with some mates… when he says mates we’re not sure if he means anyone in this photo, featuring the oddest mix of celebrities and sports coaches in one frame possibly ever captured… a sort of budget Oscars selfie if you will.
All set #SuperBowl53 pic.twitter.com/Z7O9buRgrE
— Darren Fletcher (@DFletcherSport) February 3, 2019
In any case, Brailsford is still taking the time to give followers advice and answer their queries in the comments under his uploads when he’s not hanging out with Vernon Kay and various football managers. You can follow him on Strava here.
5 February 2019, 20:18
The Gert Lush 'Vintage Sportif' is coming to Bristol
The organisers of The Gert Lush (that’s Bristol for ‘really good’ or something to that effect) say they are aiming to offer “a vintage bike fest similar to the Eroica but Bristol Fashion, which means more individuality and less of the tyranny of downtube shifters and a thirty year old bike”.
By that they mean any bike as long as it’s a bit old is ok and hipster fancy dress is preferable. There are 35 mile and 65 mile ride routes, and Gert Lush say they want to build on Bristol’s reputation as a cycling city and one that (at least tries to be) eco-friendly.
There is also a free accompanied kids’ ride, and back at the event village there will be cream teas and pies offered plus musical entertainment. It takes place on the 19th May, head over to thegertlush.com for more info.
5 February 2019, 20:18
On the forum: what's the daftest bike name?
Our own John Stevenson suggests the Giant Farrago (Farrago by definition means ‘a confused mixture’)… link to the forum post is here if you have some suggestions, we’ll see how many you come up with and run a poll/give out a wooden spoon prize for the ‘winning’ brand perhaps!
5 February 2019, 20:18
Par-closure of Bristol and Bath Railway Path later this month
Part of the Bristol and Bath Railway Path will be closed for a week later this month so that essential tree-felling work can be carried out.
The popular route which is heavily used by commuters on bike and on foot will be closed during the week commencing Monday 18 February between Gordon Road and Bruce Road in Greenbank, east Bristol.
Bristol City Council said: “The council’s tree team will be removing three willow trees and one poplar tree which, on recent inspection, need to be removed as they are unstable, in decline or have defects which are significantly weakening the trees.
“Seven other willow and poplar trees are being removed as their roots are starting to damage the path, making it unsafe for cyclists and pedestrians.
“Work will take place later in the year to repair the damage already affecting the path.”
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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
captain_slog 1 hour ago
I’d say that colour was more like fuchsia (and coming soon to a Rapha Pro Team jacket near you).
chrisonabike 2 hours ago
@yodhrin I believe the fairer summary is "we don't know - but making the main point advocating a form of PPE with relatively limited protection - and to a group of likely experienced cyclists - isn't very helpful..." I've only read one of the reports but that suggested the skull removal was to alleviate pressure from major brain swelling. And a given helmet *might* be better than the standard. So I think "don't know" is fairest.
yodhrin 11 hours ago
@robgodd The poor guy himself suffered a traumatic brain injury and his skull was so badly shattered a significant portion of it had to be removed - do me a favour, have a look around cycling helmet manufacturers and see if any of them claim the foam hats they produce will protect against or even mitigate that level of injury. I'll wait if you like, but I can save us both the time and tell you what you'll find: none of them. Not a single one of them will. Because they don't, and they *can't* based on simple physics. Once the point of failure in a material is reached all(or as near as makes no odds) of the additional force beyond that necessary threshhold transfers through to the object beneath. Since bicycle helmets are rated for forces roughly equivalent to being dropped straight down from a stationary start 1.5m above a hard surface. Now, I'm not an expert in vehicle crash investigation, but I'm *fairly* sure that any impact or series of impacts powerful enough to render a quarder of your skull into gravel, put you in a weeks-long coma, give you massive amnesia, and leave you with ongoing symptoms of traumatic brain injury are a little bit, a teeny-weeny amount, a little smidgeon-widgeon more than what bike helmets are rated for. That's why none of the companies that make them claim they will help in such circumstances: because they know it would be a lie, and that unlike uninformed punters, carbrained journalists, or "medical professionals" who think wearing a helmet would save you from a broken arm(an actual scenario encountered by a mate, who's nurse at the A&E tutted and harrumphed her way through his whole treatment due to his lack of helmet despite his bonce having come through *being hit by a car* - another scenario bike helmets are worthless in - completely unscathed), the lawyers for those companies know their business and understand that if you lie in advertising you will get sued into the ground.
Mr Blackbird 13 hours ago
The Battle of Ypres April 1915. The German infantry division advanced using das Brumptstadt Fahrarden. The slow speed kept them behind the cloud of chlorine gas as it drifted towards the Commonwealth trenches. The offensive cleaved a two mile gap in the Western Front. The use of cycles was copied by the Japanese as they invaded Singapore and Burmah. By then war technology had embraced wider low pressure tyres, carbon frames and hydration gels. The German forces decided not to incorporate cycling as part of Operation Session, as bike theft in London and the South East was rife and would have caused huge casualties. Ironically superior advancement of tyre technology led to a British victory at El Alamein. This technology played a key part in the US Marines victory at Iwo Jima.
ROOTminus1 13 hours ago
The appropriate response to Google pissing on your cereal is not a fancy new sugar that removes the taste of urine. Stop using Google products where you can. Firefox browser and DuckDuckGo search engine have had noticeable upticks in market share by explicitly NOT pushing AI.
belugabob 13 hours ago
my thoughts exactly...I wonder how that approach is working, with motor vehicle drivers...🤔
Anonymousattorney 13 hours ago
I do not wish to diminish the personal tragedy, but one never hear calls for pedestrians or even hikers to wear clothing with integrated lightening rods.
chrisonabike 14 hours ago
RE Andy Burnam / Heidi Alexander - this is the best thing in many ways - set an example (even if currently it leads to lots of online name-calling). And imagine some of the political alternatives! The folks in the apparently second-placed party seem incredibly unlikely to be doing so. And even the current "new Greens" seem less interested in ... y'know, environmental things. OTOH I wish Heidi could be bolder. And I fear that like anyone ambitious enough to get to the top (exception B Johnson - well, I guess there was the Corbyn bicycle...) Burnam will be trimming his transport policy sails to fit the wind (should that be "bunker-fuel-burning engines"?)
Rendel Harris 14 hours ago
@mattsccm Bull bars aren't banned, they just have to conform to regulations so they are deformable or have plates that allow crumple give on contact, rather than rigid steel bars that can smash into pedestrians and cyclists with no give at all, catch them and drag them under the wheels. If you think that's a problem, do one. Why should who is responsible for a collision remove the responsibility of people driving a tonne of machinery on the road from having safety features to at least mitigate some of the effects of a collision?
AidanR 14 hours ago
I'd be willing to bet that's lazy use of stock photography rather than deliberate misinformation, but the result is still the same.
3 thoughts on “Timber! Part of Bristol – Bath cycle route to close for 5 days, Banned by the UCI – Graeme Obree talks tech, Brailsford Super Bowl warm down, Welsh hit and run arrests, Bank Junction plans revealed + more”
Two arrested after three
Two arrested after three cyclists injured in Monmouthshire hit and run
They are utterly shitting themselves now at the prospect of that £60 fine.
Legs_Eleven_Worcester wrote:
I cycle through this area regularly, is disconcerting when something happens that you know could easily have been you. Really hope these vermin get taken off the road, but won’t hold my breath.
Graham Obree, national
Graham Obree, national treasure.