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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
SUMMARY

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.
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.
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…
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.
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!
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…
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.
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.
Bike share firm Nextbike are quitting Bath
The German firm have announced they are shutting down their Bath bike share scheme, their first in the UK that started back in May 2014.
No specific reasons have been given for the removal of the 100 bikes across 15 stations in the city, but we can assume it wasn’t as popular as Nextbike might have hoped.
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!
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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Latest Comments
@sizbut Yeah, I'm not sure why she's dragging that one up and blaming Kasia. Her own team got most of the criticism for poor communication that she went down, and not sending anyone to help, so much so that she left the team at the end of the season.
Nigel "courteous" comments coming in 3...2...1... CM's completely in the right and the pedestrian's a dick. However, as I commented on the Facebook video, it would have been nice to see CM thanking the people earlier who stepped aside without complaint. Every pedestrian and driver who gets a thank you or an after you from a cyclist when appropriate is just that little bit more likely to treat the next cyclist who comes along decently.
l o v e Mikey — keep at it. Hot London day, maybe. A big hello works fine in a cool rainy Edinburgh.
“When I crashed two years ago, she pulled full gas” - Blissfully ignoring the fact that with just 6k to go everyone pulled full gas, including her own team mate who won the stage.
I just bought this light and it is very clever the high and low beam https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_74inmIJR-Y
1. Thinking they would do *something* and knowing exactly *what* that something would be in order to counter it are not the same thing, so I don't think that argument stands up. 2. She wasn't attacking - she was riding on Vollering's wheel as Vollering attacked, so that would apply as much, if not more to Vollering.
Not really taking sides here, but: 1. If she "definitely thought that they would do something. They always have a plan, so [she] wasn’t surprised.", that shows poor planning and/or situational awareness. 2. Attacking on the outside of a corner is simply ineffective (I was actually thinking of a stronger word). Not only it makes you vulnerable to what happened here (irrespectful of whether it happened intentionally or accidentally), but also forces the rider to take a longer line, which is obviously disadvantageous. Which goes back to 1. Sorry for her, bt that sounds like a bad case of bad loser.
@Chris RideFar My experience with pulley wheels with bushings is better than with those with bearings. They spin just fine, and I've never had any problem with the. Bearings on the other hand can get very bad sometimes, and I've seen several that were very hard to move because dirt got in.
@Chris RideFar I admire your restraint in calling out what is, quite clearly, BS.
@Jessiethedog Wise decision. When we got rid of our car during Covid and so decided to electrify our spare mountain bikes for shopping, long-distance elderly parents visiting et cetera we ordered two Swytch kits, cancelled them after six months of being promised over and over they were definitely on a boat and on their way. Then we were told if we ordered again we would absolutely definitely get them in three weeks tops...three months later after exactly the same rigmarole we cancelled again. Shame as it looks a good product (if pretty ambitiously priced compared to the competition) and we wanted to buy British (well, you know, British imported from China...) but it was just absurdly frustrating and the communication was abysmal. They should have made the move to UK production years ago, hopefully they can get their act together because from what I hear from people who have managed to get hold of a kit they've got a fundamentally sound product.
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.