Welcome to Thursday on the road.cc live blog with Simon MacMichael, Jack Sexty and the rest of the team.
Live blog: Geraint Thomas insists cycling among “cleanest sports”, Confused Tory MSP says “bicyclists ride at 30 to 40mph” when there’s a 20mph speed limit, Chris Hoy’s new Flying Fergus children’s book is out this month + more
All today’s news from the site and beyond
Thu, Feb 07, 2019 15:52
SUMMARY
7 February 2019, 15:52
Tributes to Paul Sherwen as hundreds attend Manchester Cathedral memorial service
The memorial service took place in Manchester yesterday of Paul Sherwen, with family, friends and former colleagues joined by hundreds of members of the public to pay tribute to the pro cyclist turned commentator who died in December at the age of 62.
Among those who attended yesterday and paid tribute to Sherwen was Ned Boulting, who worked alongside him when he and Liggett provided ITV’s commentary on the Tour de France.
Thanks to @PhilLiggett and others, an army of folk descended on Manchester Cathedral.
What we will all take home is the sense of a life lived squeezed till the pips squeaked, and a man who cared deeply about his fellow travellers.
I am so glad to have known Paul Sherwen. pic.twitter.com/k3H6d8UmRV
— Ned Boulting (@nedboulting) February 7, 2019
ITV Cycling also produced the following video as a tribute to Sherwen, covering his career both in the saddle and behind the microphone.
On the day of his memorial service at Manchester Cathedral, a tribute to Paul Sherwen from his broadcast colleagues and friends in the UK.
Archive courtesy of ASO/INA and stills from Graham Watson pic.twitter.com/857ElDKeQd
— ITV Cycling (@itvcycling) February 6, 2019
7 February 2019, 15:52
This letter to a local newspaper in British Columbia speaks volumes about irrational opposition to cycle lanes
As the writer points out, one felled tree due to a cycle lane being built provokes outrage; 800 chopped down for a road junction, and no-one bats an eyelid.
7 February 2019, 15:52
Dorset community nurses now riding to appointments on e-bikes, inspired by a group trip to Holland
The Nursing Times reports that after shadowing Dutch nurses during a trip to Holland last year, Dorset community nurses have now been given e-bikes to travel to appointments to make them more visible in the community and help to change the public perception of what they do.
Hattie Taylor, from Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust, told the Nursing Times about the trip to Holland, which involved six nurses shadowing six Dutch counterparts: “We followed colleagues that do similar to what we do here, but here we go out and about in our cars and there, because it’s quite flat, they all go out on bikes.
“It felt like you were doing something that was helping you keep fit as well & it helped you to get a bit of fresh air & get a different perspective than you do when you’re just sitting down in car” #NursingNowEngland ambassador @hattierocket on e-bikes https://t.co/sLd57zrUtZ pic.twitter.com/9QLDRZDgPZ
— Bev Matthews RN MSc #NHS (@BevMatthews_) February 6, 2019
“They realised that it was a lot quicker sometimes on a bike than in a car, because you don’t have to wait in traffic and you don’t have to find a parking space, you just arrive. And it felt like you were doing something that was helping you keep fit as well and it helped you to get a bit of fresh air and get a different perspective than you do when you’re just sitting down in a car.”
On their return to the UK the Trust partnered with Fizz bikes who rented them bikes at £35 a month, and the scheme is now fully up an running for nurses in Dorset. Taylor said they’d had a positive response from nurses and patients since the ebikes have been deployed, with the electronic assistance meaning staff don’t turn up sweaty to appointments to boot.
7 February 2019, 15:52
Sustrans raising awareness of car overload on our roads during the school run ahead of The Big Pedal
As many as 1 in 4 cars on the road during the morning peak in England are on the #schoolrun. Closing the streets outside schools to traffic will improve air quality, make the roads safer and more pleasant environments to #walk & #cycle #BigPedal https://t.co/8pk8HSx4eB pic.twitter.com/3SyGMSmUfH
— Sustrans (@sustrans) February 7, 2019
The cycling and walking charity are organising the event that takes place between 25th March – 5th April, with the aim being to get schools competing for who can get as many of their pupils, staff and parents cycling, walking or scooting to school as possible. Find out more here.
7 February 2019, 15:52
Cycling in the Netherlands vs everywhere else
This graphic is a clear example of how the Netherlands caters for cycling, while neighbouring countries aren’t nearly as keen. https://t.co/LatXty892x pic.twitter.com/kXQG37fT51
— Momentum Mag (@MomentumMag) February 6, 2019
This heatmap is pretty telling.
7 February 2019, 15:52
Chris Hoy's latest Flying Fergus children's book is out later this month
Look who’s back! The new Flying Fergus book – The Photo Finish – by @chrishoy is out this month #flyingfergus #chrishoy #kidsbook #cycling #kidsbikes #newadventure pic.twitter.com/CWYIddAedo
— HOY Bikes (@HOYbikes) February 6, 2019
Written by Hoy and illustrated by Joanna Nadin, the latest instalment about the adventures of Flying Fergus is called The Photo Finish.
7 February 2019, 15:52
London politicians out in force to condemn decision to block CS11
Bad news on CS11. Westminster Council’s legal action means
Swiss Cottage junction remains a traffic-dominated menace to people walking & cycling. We’re still determined to reduce road danger in the area, but with WCC continuing to obstruct us, it’ll now take longer than we hoped— Will Norman (@willnorman) February 7, 2019
Will Norman expressed his disappointment at the decision to block work to build the cycle route from Swiss Cottage to the West End, as did Sadiq Khan. CS11 was originally blocked by High Court judge Sir Ross Cranston in September, saying work can’t start until “the cost benefit/analysis is premised on the whole scheme being implemented.” Westminster Council said that its residents were “overwhelmingly opposed” to proposals for some parts of CS11 but argued that despite multiple requests it had not received necessary traffic modelling and mitigation measures from TfL such that it could make an informed decision about its installation. Following this appeal, CS11 won’t be happening as it stands.
Disappointing decision – but blame should be pointed at Westminster Council who continue to block plans for a safer cycling route from Swiss Cottage to the West End. We’ll consider next steps, but time & investment must be focused on boroughs who want to help make cycling safer. https://t.co/7oyjZ2i8Wf
— Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) February 7, 2019
7 February 2019, 15:52
"Bicyclists doing 30mph or 40mph" in 20mph speed limits, claims Conservative MSP
“If you drive along at 20mph, as a driver, the thing you notice more than anything else is the bicyclists who are doing 30mph or 40mph” – Edward Mountain MSP (Con), lying. @1edmountain pic.twitter.com/I7NM71NlM5
— Calum Cook (@CalumCook91) February 7, 2019
These excerpts from the Rural Economy and connectivity committee are at best frustrating and at worst downright infuriating, perfectly demonstrating the problems we face when trying to promote and implement active travel measures in the UK. This quote from Edward Mountain MSP is arguably the killer quote that will make you want to tear your hair out.
7 February 2019, 15:52
Valverde plans to defend world title in Yorkshire
Reigning @UCI_cycling Road Race champion @alejanvalverde isn’t giving up the rainbow jersey without a fight #Yorkshire2019 pic.twitter.com/tx9mbmO6d6
— Yorkshire 2019 (@Yorkshire2019) February 7, 2019
The veteran wants to attempt a defence of his crown on the tough course… although we reckon a certain Slovakian might have some say in it.
7 February 2019, 15:52
Cycling "one of the cleanest sports around", claims Geraint Thomas
Geraint Thomas: ‘I’m confident cycling is one of the cleanest sports’ pic.twitter.com/EaE0j1tqCd
— Guardian sport (@guardian_sport) February 6, 2019
While there’s hopefully some truth in what the Tour de France champ says in that it’s much cleaner than it was, you can imagine it didn’t go down so well with sceptics on social media…
— You’ve Been Froomed (@YBFroomed) February 6, 2019
7 February 2019, 15:52
Extra places released for Vélo Birmingham & Midlands 100-mile sportive
Vélo Birmingham sold out in the first instance, but if you missed out first time you can now apply for one of a small batch of extra tickets released ahead of the event on the 12th May. You can also enter the new 42 mile route announced if you fancy a shorter day in the saddle. Link to the 100 mile waiting list is here and 42 mile entries here.
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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
wtjs 5 hours ago
@FionaJJ These officers deployed next-level stupidity, and it must be difficult for the police to find people this dim. It doesn't even need rolling-roads or whatever, just a reputable bike computer on a quickly changed mount for the difficult cases where a proper EAPC has been modded, although you would need to look hard in Lancashire to find a police officer who knows how to make a pedal cycle go. Most illegal electric motorbikes are immediately obvious, not least because the crim is wearing a face mask. I saw an obvious one tonight coming out of Garstang Sainsbury's, not pedalling but without a face mask because everybody knows that the police only come into the town to hide away in the police station 200 yards away.
bikeman01 7 hours ago
Gustav Gullholm.. that's not a good look mate
mdavidford 9 hours ago
@Chris RideFar I think what you meant to say was "REMOVE this and put it on PODCAST CC".
jaymack 10 hours ago
As Mary Whitehouse never said - one doesn't have to read the article if one doesn't want to read about an off-road bicycle.
Rendel Harris 11 hours ago
@FionaJJ In London they're allowed to stop on single and double yellows to deliver packages or empty pillar boxes; in practice they take this as carte blanche to park wherever and whenever they want, such as this chap on the Brixton Road who pulled into the bus/cycle/motorcycle lane without indicating, as I approached at 20mph, to park on a red route, response to a remonstrance, "I suppose you never get post delivered do ya?"
FionaJJ 11 hours ago
@Rendel Harris We have a pavement parking ban, but around here at least, royal mail vans are already exempt, subject to certain caveats, such as allowing at least 1.5m, and only being stopped to do their work.
FionaJJ 12 hours ago
It was already embarrassing for the police that they made such a mess of their attempt to determine whether a bike was legal or not, but I had assumed it was a group of well intentioned, but under-trained officers acting on their own initiative, having spotted something they thought looked not quite right. I'm now discovering this was a planned activity, something sufficiently organised to have been given a name - Operation FRISLEN, designed specifically to identify and remove illegal e-bikes and scooters. It's apparent that the officers were sent out without adequate training, never mind the kind of equipment that should be used for this sort of work. I'm not saying they always need specialist equipment to spot all illegal bikes, but at least if they'd been given a demonstration with that equipment, they'd have realised why their approach was not going to end well.
Geoff Ingram 14 hours ago
Have put drop bars on a 2001 B1 mtb, a 2007 stumpy hardtail and a 2010 stumpy full suss. In all cases fairly basic conversións leaving gearing and wheels broadly the same and concentrating on correct positioning of bars and fit. Oddly, with all 3 I was happy with the result when recently done, but after a few months found that the extra speed on easy trails was more than offset by the lack of ability (probably mine) on tougher routes and finally preferred flat bar with slammed and inverted stem as best overall compromise. Good fun playing around, though.
mark1a 14 hours ago
The photos in this review look they are for a different bag?
mattw 15 hours ago
This is a strange reactionary knee jerk overall. But what is this "are essentially motorbikes in disguise" waffle? "One letter claimed that high-powered electric ‘e-bikes’ were “essentially motorbikes” in disguise, with many being used without lights, helmets, or any hi-vis clothing." Surely, they simply ARE motorbikes?
8 thoughts on “Live blog: Geraint Thomas insists cycling among “cleanest sports”, Confused Tory MSP says “bicyclists ride at 30 to 40mph” when there’s a 20mph speed limit, Chris Hoy’s new Flying Fergus children’s book is out this month + more”
So Sir Hoy of Chris was not
So Sir Hoy of Chris was not unique, come on BC pull your fingers out!
When a commentator of the
When a commentator of the quality of Sherwen is silenced it’s genuinely like losing a best mate. His impact in keeping this sport alive in this country can’t be understated. Certainly responsible for educating me about the idiosyncracies of the TdF and road racing in general, I wouldn’t be the fan I am today without him.
So MSP’s are just as thick
So MSP’s are just as thick and dishonest as MPs?
What a lying ratbag. Anyone who voted for him should be ashamed of themselves.
“If you drive along at 20mph,
“If you drive along at 20mph, as a driver, the thing you notice more than anything else is the bicyclists who are doing 30mph or 40mph”
If you see someone doing 30mph. say hello to Sir Bradley Wiggins for me. If you see someone doing 40mph. you had better hope you are not breathalysed.
Oh, and almost as implausible
Oh, and almost as implausible as the idea of commuter cyclists reaching 40mph is the notion that the MSP and his presumed audience ‘drives along’ at 20mph.
Also the fact that he notices these cyclists “more than anything else” suggests that attaining warp-factor turbo-nutter-bastard makes cyclists safer – as it apparently makes them ultra-visible!
FluffyKittenofTindalos wrote:
Agreed, I might start trying to ride everywhere in the style of a Caleb Ewan sprint, apparently it’ll make me more visible (conspicuous possibly)
Funny thing, perception of
Funny thing, perception of speed. There’s a stretch of dual carriageway with a 30mph limit on it on my commute home. It’s a bit downhill and so I can get my bike up to 30mph. The cars are come steaming past me, and then I get ground rush because they all pull in front of me and hit the brakes becuase there’s a speed trap. One of these days, I’ll get a clear run, a tail wind and I’ll bury myself and get the speed traps to go off and catch one of them 🙂
Schroedinger’s cyclist.
Schroedinger’s cyclist. Simultaneously holding you up and breaking the speed limit!