Welcome to Tuesday’s live blog, with Jack Sexty, Simon MacMichael and the rest of the team.
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Live blog: MP calls for Minister for Cycling in cabinet, “Hygiene” –Sainsbury’s kicks out cyclist who wanted to bring bike in shop, “Get lights, wear bright colours and a helmet” – Skoda’s cycle safety message; New Rapha jacket; Pro tip – zip it! +more
SUMMARY

What the?!
Odd, funny, highly entertaining, perhaps a bit disturbing… the competitors in the video are apparently four years old. Such speed, desire and hunger to win at all costs must be down to god-given talent… that plus some very enthusiastic parenting no doubt.
Sainsbury's refuse entry to man with a bike because it could "contaminate the food"... cue sarcastic responses on Twitter
@sainsburys hi! At Paddington Station with my bike. Nowhere convenient to lock my bike while I wait for my train so took it into your shop whilst I picked something to eat for dinner. Told I couldn’t take my bike in. Congrats on losing a sale and a customer!
— Edouard Guidon (@edouardminh) April 29, 2019
Edouard Guidon questioned the supermarket on Twitter about them refusing him entry into their Paddington Station store in London. When asked to elaborate on why it was a hygiene issue, this was their response…
Unfortunately as we are selling fresh produce and other foods you wouldn’t be able to bring your bike in. This is because the bike runs the risk of contaminating the food on the shelves and causing potential risk to customers buying the produce. Hope this helps. Thanks. Daniel
— Sainsbury’s (@sainsburys) April 29, 2019
This left many folks questioning if such a policy actually existed; plus bikes aren’t the only objects with wheels that could end up in a Sainsbury’s shop, wheelchairs and their own trolleys being two examples…
It’s unclear to me why a bike would be any less hygienic than, say, somebody’s luggage or buggy or, hey, bare hands or shoes, but ok. If that’s the case, could you speak to Network Rail about making it easier to leave my bike in a secure space near your supermarket?
— Edouard Guidon (@edouardminh) April 29, 2019
So your own trolley wheels are sterilised every day then? I had no problem taking my bike into your Darnley store yesterday morning so someone is telling porkies.
— Martin Porter (@TheCyclingScot) April 29, 2019
One reply questioned the complainant’s failure to spot that there are in fact 380 bike racks in Paddington, however, to which he said Sainsbury’s could have been a little more helpful in guiding towards the bike parking.
See, that’s a sensible response – I’m still getting to know the station and the options for bike parking. If I’d been told that – either on here or by the security guard, in a courteous manner – it would have been fine. But I wasn’t.
— Edouard Guidon (@edouardminh) April 30, 2019
To be fair to Sainsbury’s we’re not sure if the bike in question was brand spanking new or just back from a CX race, but even so banning anything with wheels from their stores would seem to be pretty unworkable… what do you reckon?
Nothing to see here...
“Move over amateurs…
…oh, and helmets are for cats!” pic.twitter.com/XfSmrPaXfL— Cycling Professor (@fietsprofessor) April 29, 2019
Labour MP Fabian Hamilton calls for Minister for Cycling in the cabinet at All Party Cycling meeting
This morning we are hosting a meeting in conjunction with @WeAreCyclingUK about ‘Funding for Cycling’ pic.twitter.com/KaYWZGNy2R
— APPCG (@allpartycycling) April 30, 2019
At the meeting in London this morning, Hamilton also said that says that Leeds has a population of 800,000 but has never received any significant funding for cycling. Cycling UK’s Roger Geffen also spoke earlier, talking about Cycling UK’s campaign to encourage people to write to their MP’s to ask for more funding for cycling. Also discussed was a confusing graph made by the government that states a driver is worth more to the economy that cyclists, pedestrians and rail passengers.
Very interesting to hear @allpartycycling discussing the government’s view that drivers’ time is more valuable than cyclists.
Not many people realise that this isn’t just an issue of perception, it’s official government recommendation pic.twitter.com/8YuPHSfUY3
— Peter Stuart (@PeterStuart3) April 30, 2019
So farewell then, Team Sky
So farewell then, Team Sky.
“This is the line … ”
Yes, that was your mantra.
Some disliked Murdoch’s backing.
Jim Ratcliffe’s response?
“Hold my beer.”
In a plastic cup.
(With apologies to EJ Thribb)
“Get lights, wear bright colours and a helmet" - Skoda's safety message to cyclists
“Get lights, wear bright colours and a helmet and that will keep you safe” – that’s the message to cyclists in a video from Skoda’s We Love Cycling website that has seen the Czech car manufacturer accused of victim-blaming.
The video, called To Hell and Back on a Bike, attempts to point out to cyclists (and motorists) things they should and shouldn’t do to keep safe, and the first thing you’ll notice is that despite it being voiced in English by a certain ‘Paul’ it certainly wasn’t filmed in the UK – it was shot in Rijeka, Croatia.
That means that the video, in which the male cyclist is a professional stuntman, contains some advice that is contrary to the situation in the UK, given that in Croatia, as elsewhere on the continent, driving is on the right.
It’s accompanied by a three-level safety quiz on the website, and was flagged up by road.cc reader James, who said: “ Nice bit of victim blaming from Skoda under the banner of ‘We Love Cycling’.
Pro tip: When showing off the new sponsor, maybe zip the jersey up?
Introducing Team Ineeoos …
Ahead of the opening time trial at Tour de Romandie @GeraintThomas86 shows off our one-off kit for the race #TDR2019 pic.twitter.com/NDX3CEmyDp
— Team INEOS (@TeamINEOS) April 30, 2019
Oxford promise to keep your chain minty fresh with launch of mint lubes


Why you would want or need to we’re not sure, but you can now buy minty chain lube from Oxford Products. The range contains 75ml and 150ml bottle sizes and there are wet, dry and a general ‘365’ version to choose from. You can search for your nearest stockist at oxfordproducts.com.
Rapha reveals Pro Team Lightweight Shadow Jacket


Eagle-eyed viewers might have spotted a new Rapha jacket being worn by members of EF Education First racing Liège–Bastogne–Liège on Sunday. The updated version of the Pro Team Lightweight Shadow Jacket is similar to the previous design but it uses a much lighter fabric.
“Our proprietary Shadow fabric is back, but not as you’ve seen it before,” says Rapha. “Constructed using the same technique of stretch weaving yarns dipped in a durable water repellent (DWR) treatment, our new fabric incorporates threads that are just as strong but even lighter. Treated for a second time with DWR, the technique creates an out-of-the-pocket jacket whose feathery weight belies its incredible wind and water-resistant properties.”
Unlike most fabrics designed to do a similar job, Rapha’s doesn’t rely on a membrane. Rapha reckons that this makes for exceptional breathability.


“The woven fabric also provides an element of mechanical stretch and wraps around a rider’s body to create a tight race fit. A full-length, two-way zip allows for easy adjustments on the fly while a reflective armband combines with reflective bands to vastly improve your visibility while riding through the gloom.”
Tanel Kangert, Michael Woods and Simon Clarke were all spotted wearing the Pro Team Lightweight Shadow Jacket at the weekend.
We’ll ask the nice people at Rapha if we can get one in for review.
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Latest Comments
@Rendel Harris Hmm.... I stand corrected. I still think Obree had a /lot/ more talent. And Jan-Willem today clearly has dropped in levels, relative to those he's racing against.
I cycled a lot on the continent and have done fir many years. I've never been close passed, and only once had a scary overtake by an oncoming vehicle. Im close passed almost daily in the UK and dangerous overtakes are common. Some serious driver education is needed here, not to mention presumed liability legislation.
@TrainWalkWheel at least one person on here seems to have better understanding of these than I do but AFAICS the model is even less likely to lead to good outcomes than happened with eg. a certain UK bus company. The one notorious for moving into an area, putting the existing providers out of business by running more services for pence and losing money, then - having captured the market - jacking up the price and dropping services. At least in that case the intention was presumably to deliver a self-sustaining service in the end (albeit perhaps a worse, overpriced one). But AFAIK mass bike share itself has never made money directly. So one wonders what the end plan is if any one of these market-share-capture firms actually won? (Presumably that isn't important and it's all about trading / financial shenanigans in some way. I doubt they could hold the local authority to ransom for the extra cash...)
Alas it's another part of "because cars / 'change', we can't just copy a well-proven design eg. from NL" On top of this is the UK "not invented here" making it up / no expertise or standard designs AND a "we must fit cyclists in around existing road space" causing strange contorted layouts. So what happens is we get things like bi-directional cycle *lanes* (not separated cycle paths) because cheapest / easiest to patch in. So that means that pedestrians don't have a space to wait *after* crossing the cycle space and *before* they have to deal with the road. (It also puts another block in the way of cycling convenience at traffic lights - say at a T-junction - because unlike NL the lights then apply to cyclists going straight on, whereas in NL that would be an informal cycle path crossing for pedestrians with no lights applying to the cycle path part - so cyclists just keep rolling).
In 2019, Shanghai and other Chinese major cities implemented strict regulations and clean-up operations tp remove millopns of abondoned dockless bicycles that had created public nuisances and blocked pavements. One can't blame local authorities for taking actions in order to stop a messy situation triggered by unruly users.
@Jakrayan Criticising people for not riding primary is like criticising a victim of domestic abuse for cringing when their partner threatens them with their fist. People don't ride in the gutter because they want to, they do it because if they don't they know there's a better than even chance that in any given ride at least one driver will be so affronted by the ENTITLED BIKE NONCE TAKIN' UP THE WHOLE ROAD!!!11 they'll do a deliberate punishment pass that could kill you or leave you maimed for life. Getting over in the gutter isn't a great solution, but multiple uncomfortable but not life-threatening passes is better than one potentially catastrophic one. It shouldn't be a cyclist's responsibility to put their life at risk just to remind drivers to obey the rules of the road they should be doing regardless. And as for "just getting off and walking", putting aside the reality that a ridden bike takes up *less* space than one with the rider walking alongside and so I'd argue the most considerate way to use that inadequate infrastructure(presumably there are no safe alternatives within a reasonable distance or why would anyone on a bike be using it at all) would be to proceed across on the bike at walking pace and then stop and put your foot down if someone needs to get by you; plenty of people use bikes as mobility aids and so "just get off" isn't as simple as it's made out to be. A couple of years back I had the worst sprain of my life, I could barely even hobble for two weeks and had a huge honking brace on my foot, had to sleep on the sofa downstairs because climbing them was a no go. I could still ride my bike though, do my shopping, see my mates - plenty of people have impairments that aren't temporary, to them "just get off" is tantamount to saying "just stay home". Let's keep it a benjamin as the kids say: "shared responsibility" and "keeping everyone safe" are, literally, copouts. They've framed the entire campaign so they can justify only taking actions that don't piss off drivers, and don't require them to actually do any work except harassing a few cyclists as they do a lunch run to the local Greggs, because that's the level of seriousness police in this country - in an institutional sense - believe road crime deserves.
"Scott says that it ‘redefines cable routing in the mountain bike industry’. While we’re yet to see if that claim rings true" I have a Spark RC Pro (2022) with mechanically controlled components. Because we use the front brake lever on the drive (right) side in the UK I have the rear brake hose and two cable housings (dropper and shock) on the NDS entering the headset. On my current bike I use 3.0mm Jagwire housing with no problems. I can install them by just pushing them through the headset without dismantling it. The new 2027 Spark has two openings either side of the headset so it is set up for a rear brake to be on the DS (right). Maybe they are dismissing countries that have the UK's brake lever configuration.
The first link is to one of their cycling computers.
To be fair when I'm out on the roads, car or bike, I see very many instances of people cycling who could be doing better. Ignoring the delivery riders, most of whom we know aren't actually riding bicycles / Ebikes, the most common issue I see is people riding too close to the edge of the road. Yes, drivers absolutely should do better, however this type of riding does little to discourage drivers from overtaking, and they will still pass too closely leaving the rider with FA room to the left either. So educating riders as to how to ride more safely isn't a bad idea IMHO. As for that narrow bridge, if it's popular with pedestrians I don't see how getting off and walking a few yards is a massive issue. And I'm normally in SPD-SL road cleats!
Indeed. Some lanes are so narrow, and with overgrown vegetation, that the driver may not be able to see anything behind in his wing (door) mirrors, and vans usually don't have a rear window so no rear-view mirror either. Much easier in this situation to just turn around and head back to the nearest farm gate, it won't be far. After all, 'share the road' works both ways. And before someone comments to say if you drive where you can't clearly see what's behind you, that driver may have no choice - deliveries, tradespeople etc.
36 thoughts on “Live blog: MP calls for Minister for Cycling in cabinet, “Hygiene” –Sainsbury’s kicks out cyclist who wanted to bring bike in shop, “Get lights, wear bright colours and a helmet” – Skoda’s cycle safety message; New Rapha jacket; Pro tip – zip it! +more”
Obviously, they’re just using
Obviously, they’re just using hygiene as an excuse (unless he was trying to bunny hop onto the cabbages and then wheely all over the spuds). I’ve used that Sainsbury’s occasionally and I’ve seen some drunk and unhygienic people in there, so they’re not too concerned about it.
As it’s a small shop, I reckon they just didn’t want the space taken up with a bike as most supermarkets will have a friendly security guard who’ll keep your bike watched over.
What’s bad here is that the
What’s bad here is that the staff were unable to be straightforward or helpful. Do they behave in the same way when people enter with suitcases on wheels or pushchairs?
On the other hand this cyclist shouldn’t be making a fuss – it should be obvious to the meanest intelligence that a bicycle presents an unecessasry hazard in a shop. However, he does climb down when he responds to MrDenis, so he’s not totally obstinate.
Slow news day?
Reading the Twitter thread,
Reading the Twitter thread, it looks like the guy with his bike in Sainsbury’s is just extremely entitled. If you’re told you can’t take your bike into a shop, you have to accept that, regardless of the reason – to expect to be allowed to just bring any large object into a small, busy shop is ridiculous. The point about hygeine is clearly made up, but that doesn’t detract from the reality that expecting to be able to walk your bike around a shop is extremely inconsiderate.
And this is the best part:
‘I’m asking Sainsbury’s as a stakeholder of the commercial space to make it easier for me to access your store, so I’m not sure I agree. I don’t think I have any obligation or investment in the store to push for Network Rail to make it easier to shop there. I’ll just go elswehere.’ – https://twitter.com/edouardminh/status/1122978322206679040
I hope he reads this back once he calms down a little bit and realises how embarassing and entitled he is.
What’s different about a bike
What’s different about a bike is that unless it has a stand you’ve got to lean it against something to keep it upright – and that something could be food. Personally I don’t want Sainsburys clogged up with push bikes – doesn’t seem too much to ask to park it outside to me.
Sainsburys home delivery driver asked me for ID on Sunday morning . I got my wife to take over as I was going to accuse him of being a jobsworth. Apparently it was to prove I was over 18 as we’d ordered a bottle of wine. I’m 52! Must be all that cycling makes me look so young. Maybe not though, as my wife then had to show her ID, she doesn’t cycle much and she’s 53!
danhopgood wrote:
I would agree. Buf if you’ve popped into the shop for a packet of crisps and a bottle of Diet Coke, then it’s a simple matter to put them into a plastic bag that you’ve hooked over the hoods of your brake levers.
What, you mean you don’t carry a couple of spare plastic carrier bags?? 🙂
As HP says, it’s an excuse.
As HP says, it’s an excuse. A Tesco security guard (admittedly, in a small ‘Express’ store, rather than in a superstore) let me take my bike into the shop once. And another – in an equally small store – refused. It’s entirely arbitrary, probably depending on the mood of the bloke at the door, and when questioned, the stores fall back on the ‘health and safety’ gobshite.
Legs_Eleven_Worcester wrote:
Presumably he wouldn’t have been so miffed off if the guard had openly said, “Sorry, there isn’t room – but there’s parking round the corner” or some such.
I think he went off the deep end at being told only that he couldn’t come in because his bike was dirty and unhygienic (which *is* stupid, because the wheels of a bike are no more unhygienic than a pair of shoes, as others have said).
brooksby wrote:
Indeed. At the end of the day, it is their shop, and it’s really up to them whom they allow in, and under what conditions. I would love to nip to the local Asda and wheel my bike around whilst filling my apidura bags with shopping, before paying and cycling back home. But they won’t let me, so… whatever. There’s really not much I can do about it.
brooksby wrote:
The only possible difference, from a hygene point of view, is that a bicycle tyre is higher up than a shoe is likly to be – more comparable with (say) a wheel chair tyre. I would be very surprised if Sainsbury’s is selling ready to eat fresh produce that isn’t covered in several layers of plastic. Fresh fruit and veg isn’t generally considered ‘ready to eat’ – consumers are advised to wash or peel before consumption.
Regarding ‘parking round the corner’ the x00 cycle parking spaces in Paddington Station is woefully inadequate – I’ve never seen an empty space there.
I’ve never tried taking my bike into a supermarket, but I have often considered it. I don’t think it is an unreasonable thing to do (assuming it is not ridden) – it is probably less of an obstruction than the average supermarket trolley.
Legs_Eleven_Worcester wrote:
I am not sure it is necessarily arbitrary. Our local Tesco Express doesn’t like me locking my bike to the trolley rack as, to be fair, it can get in the way and the guard sometimes lets me take it in and other times watches it for me. I think a big part of which comes down to how many people are in the shop. If it is fairly empty they are happy for me to take it in, if there are a fair few people in there, they would rather I leave it outside.
Seems to work pretty well for the most part.
Poor young Edouard Guidon, it
Poor young Edouard Guidon, it sounds like the phrase snowflake was coined just for him.
What’s funny is that I’m
What’s funny is that I’m allowed in with my handcycle, and they literally legally aren’t allowed to tell me otherwise (at least, if I’m not on my recumbent).
I’ve had, uh, discussions with some guards, in particular at the one by UCH – who generally freeze up and go very quiet once I point out that it’s a wheelchair.
Having said that – Paddington has loads of bike storage. The guard should probably have just directed him there, that store is rather small…
Th only thing I’m getting
Th only thing I’m getting from this is the relief that I don’t live in an area that needs security guards in supermarkets!
Kendalred wrote:
I didn’t know there were such areas!
Do you live in Trumpton? Whatever town it is that Postman Pat lives in, or that island with Thomas the Tank Engine?
If Sainsburys were that
If Sainsburys were that bothered about hygiene they’d be better starting with people rather than wheels. Never seen a tyre cough all over the produce.
I have seen people popping
I have seen people popping folded Bromptons in their supermarket trolleys.
ktache wrote:
Was once refused entry to my local Waitrose when doing just that.
I draw the line at taking my Big Dummy into supermarkets.
I’ve been refused entry to
I’ve been refused entry to Tesco, with the security guard giving the same reason. He was fine with the woman who followed me in wearing a pair of pyjamas and some old slippers with holes in though.
Some people just hate other people who ride bikes.
Now that was the most
Now that was the most exciting bike race I’ve watched!
– Bike handling
– Sprinting and action from the word go
-About long enough for my attention span.
UCI please introduce a balance-bike stage in all stage races.
What is it with drivers who
What is it with drivers who feel that they have to tell me what to do to be safe? Some of the info for drivers was useful though, but helmets and hi-viz……….omg, not again.
The fact that they voiced it over in English, presumably for a Brit audience when it’s the wrong way around is farcical, stupid and possibly dangerous. If that is typical of Skoda’s approach to road safety, I won’t be buying one of their cars any time soon; or ever.
burtthebike wrote:
I was approaching a junction about three years or so ago. Left lane was ‘left turn only’ and right lane was straight on or right turn. I was in the right lane as I was going straight on, and there was a car driver pulling up in the left lane and indicating left. On the left kerb, was an elderly lady on a mobility scooter.
As I approached, the driver extended his right arm out of his window, and started to wave his hand in a ‘slow down!’ motion. I found this curious as I was probably going at walking pace by that time.
As I drew alongside, I looked at him with an arched eyebrow, kind of ‘what was that all about?’ look.
‘Didn’t want you to hit the old lady,’ he said.
‘Your lot kill five people every single day,’ I replied. ‘And I’m the one you think needs to be careful? You think I’m fucking blind?’
By this time, the lady was across, and I cycled away, rather pissed off.
Legs_Eleven_Worcester wrote:
I’d sort of assumed that was your default setting…

brooksby wrote:
LOL.
Not quite. 🙂
brooksby wrote:
My wife has instructed me to tell you that she agrees with you.
THat safety video doesn’t
THat safety video doesn’t really work – trying to cover too many issues too quickly. I think the point being made is we’ve all got a responsibility to act sensibly on the roads -it just doesn’t do it effectively. I don’t have an issue with the points about being visible and wearing a helmet – that’s as recommended in the Highway Code and a sensible precaution in my view.
danhopgood wrote:
https://theconversation.com/cars-bicycles-and-the-fatal-myth-of-equal-reciprocity-81034
“So farewell then, Team Sky
“So farewell then, Team Sky
So farewell then, Team Sky.
“This is the line … ”
Yes, that was your mantra.
Some disliked Murdoch’s backing.
Jim Ratcliffe’s response?
“Hold my beer.”
In a plastic cup.
(With apologies to EJ Thribb)”
Having read some of Master Thribb’s compositions, no apology required. I’m pretty sure he would be proud.
Are all Skodas painted in Hi
Are all Skodas painted in Hi Viz then?
Drivers kill each other in far greater numbers than us.
Oh, and as an edit because I forgot- Driving helmets.
Here’s some more choice
Here’s some more choice victim blaming from Skoda’s We Love Cycling website:
“some statistics indicate that 60% of cyclists who lose their lives in the saddle seal their fates themselves.”
“The bottom line is that in the majority of cases, fatal injuries of cyclists are caused by the cyclists themselves.”
It requires a lot of cherry picking to find any data that supports those claims; the overwhelming majority of reports put the blame on drivers somewhere between 50-80% of the time.
I’ve cancelled my new Skoda.
Why not go to their website and let them know how you feel..
inicholson wrote:
They could at least have had it checked by a native English speaker “….or if you stop for refreshment and treat yourself with a little more pints than you should to successfully get into a tunnel.” Apart from the grammar, does anyone know what this might possibly mean?
And of course the usual victim blaming for not wearing a helmet “Cycling without a helmet as a way to commit suicide?”
Just sent them this “I’ve just come across this website, and frankly, I haven’t seen a more misleading, misinformed, inaccurate site for a very long time. At the very least you should change the name to wehatecycling, otherwise you could be infringing the trades descriptions act.”
info@welovecycling.com for anyone who feels like emailing them.
inicholson wrote:
Written by the cheap-skate (and downright ****ing ignorant) purchasers of Skoda vehicles – ****ing private-hire/taxi drivers/firms.
Aye … but Skoda ain’t Skoda any more; they’re the second most profitable of the Volkswagen Group’s brands? Remember Volkswagen’s “Dieselgate”. See U Next Tuesdays.
Didn’t Scoda use Bradley
Didn’t Scoda use Bradley Wiggins in one of their ads, was he responsible when hit by a woman driving her van out of garage forecourt?
And it’s almost as though those who open the car door without looking have no responsibility for their (illegal and dangerous) actions.
Rapha continue to use a photo
Rapha continue to use a photo of Woods in a short sleeve Shadow Jersey with arm warmers while advertising the new Shadow Lightweight Jacket. Nobody bothered to check the ads that came back from the graphics department.
Tried to take my bike into
Tried to take my bike into the Apple store in Covent Garden a few years ago. Forgot my charger and had to pick up a spare. Security said I couldn’t take it in, no reason, just wasn’t allowed. No where to lock bike. Thankfully a lovely lady said she would look after it for the 5 mins I went in to pick up what I needed and pay.
ragtag wrote:
I’m always kind of surprised that Apple stores don’t make all visitors wear those blue shoe-covers like scientists and CSIs wear.
Skoda wrote:
“some statistics”. SOME! Do I even need to comment on this complete drivel published in the name of marketing?