Welcome to Wednesday’s live blog, with Jack Sexty, Simon MacMichael and the rest of the team.
Live blog: Video interview with new cycling minister (and Laura saves him from Mr Whippy); 532-mile race from Aberdeen-Silverstone between e-bike and electric car; neutral service goes bit nuts (literally) in Scotland; Magnus Backstedt to ride RAAM + more
All today’s news from the site and beyond…
Wed, Jun 05, 2019 18:11
SUMMARY
5 June 2019, 18:11
Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates bicycle kick goal with bicycle ride
The Swedish superstar stored a stunning overhead bicycle kick for his team LA Galaxy on Sunday, so naturally here he is posing with bike a couple of days later. Zlatan was quoted as saying this would be one of the wondergoals he’d rather forget, however, as the Galaxy actually lost the game 2-1 to New England Revolution.
5 June 2019, 18:11
Magnus Backstedt announces he will ride the Race Across America next week as part of eight man team
Hmm, so this has crept up on me rather quickly. Off to the RAAM on Saturday. Doing it for a good cause as well. Have a read. https://t.co/IsssbxhGH4
— Magnus Backstedt (@Maggy_PR) June 4, 2019
He kept that one quiet… up until now, as Swedish former pro and the 2004 Paris-Roubaix winner Magnus Backstedt just announced last night that he will compete in the Race Across America (RAAM) next week as part of an eight man team.
Proclaimed as ‘the world’s toughest bicycle race’, RAAM has no stages and sees participants ride 3000 miles across 12 states to complete the course. Both amateurs and pros compete together and you can ride solo or in teams of 2, 4, 6 and 8 (solo riders have to meet qualifying criteria). Backstedt, now a respected coach, bike fitter and cycling commentator, is no stranger to endurance events outside of traditional pro cycling stage races and one day classics, having completed multiple Ironman triathlons since his retirement. He will be riding to raise money for British military charities during his RAAM attempt along with his other seven teammates, and they have already raised nearly £5,000 on their JustGiving page – they’re not just there to make the numbers up either, and are aiming to win the team category in under six days according to the page blurb. Click here to donate to his team’s cause, and click here to find out more about RAAM. It kicks off on Tuesday 11th June.
5 June 2019, 18:11
Josh Dey court case: driver who hit the medical student is facing jail (more to follow)
The car that struck cyclist Josh Dey was driving on the wrong side of the road and hit him with such force it sent the medical student spinning through the air and left him fighting for his life in the middle of the street. He spoke to @ChloeKeedyITV about what happened. pic.twitter.com/UelQ6KjamF
— ITV London (@itvlondon) May 2, 2019
The 22-year-old was struck by 29-year-old Sean Fagan, who was driving on the wrong side of the road as he hit Dey and left the scene. Full story to follow.
5 June 2019, 18:11
The correct way round?
A beg button for drivers?
Not quite, but at this #Delft intersection, cyclists have a continuous green light.
If cars want to cross the cycle track, they must ask for permission by triggering a sensor under the street.
In a perfect world, this would be the standard everywhere. pic.twitter.com/rGk56g3AV5
— Modacity (@modacitylife) June 4, 2019
Drivers have to ‘press’ a button by triggering a sensor in order to get over this intersection in the Netherlands, something we can only dream of in UK cities currently…
5 June 2019, 18:11
Escape to the Pyrenees guest house opens, offering guided tours on road, gravel and the mountains
The new guest house, located in the heart of the heart of the Pyrenees, offers week-long guided tours of some of the most famous/infamous routes that have featured in the Tour de France, plus lesser known gravel and downhill rides if you prefer dirt.
The Escape to the Pyranees Tour de France week runs from 14-21 July, with the chance to watch some of the stages as well as ride the roads yourself, and there is also a mountainous week from 10-17 August and further tours in later August and September. Prices from €1450 for a twin room with everything included for a week, head over to their website for more info.
5 June 2019, 18:11
dhb launch updated Aeron LAB kit
dhb have launched the Aeron Lab Raceline 2.0 kit, developed with input from the Canyon dhb pro team. Visits to the wind tunnel, fit and fabric enhancements have all contributed towards the redesign, with the collection consisting of jerseys (£110), skinsuits (£180) and bib shorts (£130) in men’s and women’s sizes. You can shop the Aeron LAB Raceline 2.0 collection exclusively at Wiggle and Chain Reaction Cycles now.
5 June 2019, 18:11
Chris Ramsey is currently winning 532 mile showdown with electric car on his VOLT e-bike
Another #Pluginadventure update from the road. The road toward Hinckley is a dream #TheSustainableRace #SupportAlice @rachelburden @bobbyllew @FullyChargedShw @VoltBikesUK @voltbikesPR pic.twitter.com/p1hIpVYtKx
— Plug In Adventures (@pluginadventure) June 5, 2019
Ramsey (not the comedian), who holds the Guinness World Record for being the first to ride an electric vehicle the entire length of the 10,000 mile Mongol Rally, set off on Sunday for the journey between Aberdeen and Silverstone, where he plans to arrive in time for the Fully Charged Live show at the race circuit. He’s currently well in front of his competition in the form of a Renault Twizy, that needs recharging every 50 miles in contrast to the VOLT e-bike, which needs recharging every 60.
Chris was taking a break in Hinckley this morning with plenty of time to spare, and being about 40 miles from Silverstone that means he should be arriving at the finish today. Further updates when we get them.
5 June 2019, 18:11
"Neutral service just isn't what it used to be ... "
Bizarre goings-on involving a near-naked man wielding a bicycle wheel in Renfrew near Glasgow earlier this week …
Neutral service just isn't what it used to be https://t.co/84pYDmbdMA
— Tommy Two-Phones (@140CharTerror) June 5, 2019
I SAID DISC BRAKE AND 12 SPEED YOU USELESS SH…..
— Gibby(@agibby76) June 5, 2019
5 June 2019, 18:11
Laura Laker interviews new minister for cycling, Michael Ellis MP (and saves him from an ice-cream van)
Northampton North MP’s first official engagement was at yesterday’s All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group ride in London.
Michael Ellis MP from ONWARD PRODUCTIONS Ltd on Vimeo.
5 June 2019, 18:11
Absolutely makes sense
Bromptons are almost exclusively useful because of their compactness and how easy they are to fold. So obviously we’re all screaming out for a tallbike version…
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Jack is group editor across road.cc, off.road.cc and ebiketips, overseeing all three sites in the F-At Digital group to make sure everything’s up to scratch. He’s been writing about cycling and multisport for over a decade, arriving at road.cc via 220 Triathlon Magazine in 2017. He worked across all areas of road.cc including tech, news and video, and also contributed to ebiketips before being named editor of road.cc in 2021 (much to his surprise). Jack has been hooked on cycling since his student days, and currently has a Trek 1.2 for winter riding, a beloved Bickerton folding bike for getting around town, and an extra beloved custom Ridley Helium SLX for fantasising about going fast in his stable. Jack has never won a bike race, but does have a master’s degree in print journalism, and two Guinness World Records for pogo sticking (it’s a long story).
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Latest Comments
slc 4 minutes ago
@Rendel Harris Hold out for a Halfords Apollo* at least. * I did once own one. I bought it in skinter days to replace a Rudge 3-speed that I found in a scrapyard. Guess which one lasted me 4 years and which one lasted me 4 months.
chrisonabike 12 minutes ago
@Mr Blackbird isn't it "this pub survived two World Wars, but will be destroyed by this ludicrous, dangerous cycle lane, which nobody wants and which will only be used by illegal immigrants riding unlicensed electric motorbikes..." ?
Mr Blackbird 18 minutes ago
@Mr Blackbird The report on this case is on page 19 of today's Times. Maybe the more right wing rags didn't bother at all? It was on the BBC News website yesterday, but was not featured on this morning's Breakfast News.
chrisonabike 20 minutes ago
@Rendel Harris no no NO! Won't you think of blind pedestrians, who will be in danger of falling in, then being run over by the peloton, then drowning?! Not to mention people with limited mobility who might stumble in and then not be able to get out? Or just those walking around in a relaxed manner, not paying too much attention? No, what is needed is a dedicated area to support accessibility for all. We could call it a ... road! Those with sight impairment would doubtless be ok with that as they would be able to hear the motor vehicles (unlike those deadly silent cyclists). And they could get taxis also. In fact all those who *have to drive* could use it! Cyclists would have nothing to complain about, they could ride there if they don't get in the way of motor vehicles and come to a compete stop whenever they see a pedestrian looking like they might cross...
Rendel Harris 41 minutes ago
@HoarseMann I've probably given this too much thought, but alongside each of the bridges I was going to have little in and out ramps to allow cyclists to exit for the shops rather than be confined to a straight-through run.
Mr Blackbird 1 hour ago
@kingleo Just picture a lovely character pub with all the original internal features. Baskets of flowers hanging outside. It serves an excellent selection of real ales, craft ales, quality lagers and quality ciders. Todays menu includes a ploughman's lunch, seafood platter and a vast range of sandwich fillings ; all made using locally sourced foods. But wait! A new cycle lane has just been constructed in front of the pub. It is far too dangerous to cross and enter the pub. You turn around and trudge home. Stopping at Tesco to buy a 4 pack of Carling.
chrisonabike 1 hour ago
@Hollis Jones as Rendel said, the key difference here is there were two strong pieces of evidence distinguishing this from "we all *know* they were aware of the cyclist", one of them a human witness. Outside that it's simply "but the prosecution cannot prove they didn't notice..." and legally that must fail. Like a "he said, she said" but where one of the sides is absent, because they're dead.
leedorney 1 hour ago
Having experienced this in Anglesey and most of it is unnecessary, it does give the driver a big lesson in 'looking extra', as travelling slower does that !
leedorney 1 hour ago
It's true, you aren't feeling yourself any favours wearing black/dark colours, BUT you've got to look, soo many dont and the campaign should be for motorist - look, simple as, it's not hard and drop the speed to, maybe if the police where actually outside rather than on Facebook looking for the naughty words/viewpoints, drivers would be caught speeding, not looking, pulling out, not braking in time, going through red lights, overtaking at a bad time, cutting up cyclists and a lot more..
wtjs 1 hour ago
@Rome73 There are still too many motor vehicles in the central Oxford Street area. There should be zero, except for delivery vehicles at proscribed... prescribed times
4 thoughts on “Live blog: Video interview with new cycling minister (and Laura saves him from Mr Whippy); 532-mile race from Aberdeen-Silverstone between e-bike and electric car; neutral service goes bit nuts (literally) in Scotland; Magnus Backstedt to ride RAAM + more”
At least two vehicles
At least two vehicles appeared to go through that cycle priority junction on red including an HGV.
AlsoSomniloquism wrote:
The HGV started to turn on green, it’s just obviously slow to get through (and it’s hard to tell sped up).
Why does when the HGV started
Why does when the HGV started its turn have any relevance? It crossed the line on red (you can see frame by frame). It is not ok to run lights on a motor vehicle, regardless of where you start the turn. Amber and red are both stop signals.
Kudos to Michael Ellis MP for
Kudos to Michael Ellis MP for being so positive, and riding without a helmet, but we’ve had all the nice words a thousand times, and they don’t build no cycle routes. Either find the money or shut up. It shouldn’t be too difficult, if the government can spend billions on roads and HS2 with no economic case, surely it’s going to be amazingly easy to find the money to support projects with twenty times those?