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Live blog: Amazing (and strangely mesmerising) video of huge crash in downhill race on snow, bloke who mistakenly sold wife’s heirloom classic bike in yard sale wants it back, this year’s Zwift Academy entries open + more
SUMMARY

14th cyclist of the year killed in New York, with Mayor promising to take action
We’re seeing a dangerous surge in cyclist deaths on our streets — and we’re taking action.
I’ve directed the NYPD to immediately launch a major enforcement action that will encompass every precinct. They will crack down on dangerous driving behavior like parking in bike lanes.
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) 2 July 2019
Mayor Bill De Blasio released a statement calling for a crackdown on dangerous drivers, following the death of 28-year-old Devra Freelander who was involved in a collision with a cement truck in the Brooklyn area of the city:
“We are seeing a dangerous surge in cyclist deaths on our streets, and we are taking action. I have directed the NYPD to immediately launch a major enforcement action that will encompass every precinct and crack down on dangerous driving behaviour like parking in bike lanes. At the same time, I have charged the Department of Transportation with developing a new cyclist safety plan to make biking in our city safer. No loss of life on our streets is acceptable. Last year was the safest year on record—and we have to keep pushing the envelope and increasing our efforts until we achieve Vision Zero.”
Freelander was the 14th cyclist to be killed in NYC this year, which is already double the 2018 death toll. Mayor de Blasio is often criticised for the city’s attitude towards cycle safety, with locals reporting that the standard response from police is simply to ticket cyclists breaking minor traffic laws; and although this appears to be the most forceful statement yet that action will be taken to crack down on dangerous driving, it appears many New Yorkers aren’t convinced.
Weren’t you warned that your Vision Zero wasn’t working? Now you’re not on track to even meet your own goals of increasing cycling modal share.
You’ve also promised enforcement on bus lanes and placard abuse; that isn’t going well. You’ve lost our trust.https://t.co/eMScz472zw
— Samuel Santaella (@TransitNinja205) 2 July 2019
How many cyclists had to die before you noticed?
Fifteen, apparently. #zerovision
— j (@Icarurs) 2 July 2019
Cav out of Tour de France


The biggest squad announcement shock so far is that 30-time stage winner Cavendish has not been included in Dimension Data’s team. Full story here.
Zwift Academy enrolment opens for 2019
Zwift’s talent program sees riders compete for prizes, with the top accolade being professional cycling contracts with Dimension Data’s Continental team and Canyon/SRAM. For 2019 riders must complete a series of eight workouts and four races or social rides, with incentives offered for progression.
Over 35,000 took part in 2018, with that figure expected to swell to over 100,000 this year. Enrolment is open now, with the virtual events running from August 5th until September 29th. You can sign up here.
Controversy over Holland Park cycle route rolls on
Great to have been out with @KCFConservative tonight. They’ve listened to residents and are supporting a safer route for cyclists whilst protecting local trees and businesses #ToryCanvass pic.twitter.com/UcOGBtD8dp
— Fabio Conti (@fabio_conti88) 1 July 2019
This time a Kensington Conservative canvasser shows a leaflet declaring ‘You spoke, we listened’, despite doubts over how many residents actually wrote to the council asking for the cycle land plans to be abolished.
We might need a steward's enquiry for this one...
Nothing to see here… pic.twitter.com/PrLMRCrI40
— Rex Chapman (@RexChapman) July 2, 2019
Man appeals for return of wife's classic bike he sold by mistake at yard sale
A Massachusetts man has appealed for the return of his wife’s classic bike, which he sold by mistake at a yard sale, and which he belatedly learnt had huge sentimental value.
Allan Steinmetz told Boston25news.com that the bike, a yellow 1970s tourer from the French brand Motobecane, had been given to his wife on her 16th birthday more than 45 years ago by her father, a Holocaust survivor.
She planned to give it to their first grandchild.
“This bike is absolutely priceless to not only my wife but to her family, my children and she wanted to give this bike to our granddaughter one day, which I didn’t know,” he said.
“It was important to my wife, I didn’t realize how… and that was the biggest mistake I’ve made this year so far,” he added.
“He went out and bought the best bike money could buy and he wanted my wife to feel as special as he was.”
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Latest Comments
@No Reply I had the same problem, but it seems to be sorted now.
@No Reply I had the same problem, but it seems to be sorted now.
@JMcWatt This may well be true. Nothing drives me crazy more than cosmetic updates and facelifts that don't really bring any new value about. Maybe they do attract new customers, but also discourage existing ones. I was never a regular customer of CRC, but if I had been, I would surely have been mad seeing confusing changes. If I don't understand the website and have to re-learn the process anyway, why not switch to another shop?
It was such a small things that brought about the ruination of CRC, one decision made by the owners and management. In 2013 the decision was made to redesign the website, this change was the beginning of the end for CRC. They replaced a proven platform that had helped turn a Northern Irish bike shop into the world’s biggest online cycling retailer with a more complex system that never delivered the same growth. Sales momentum stalled, Wiggle overtook them, and within three years CRC was being bought by the rival it had once outperformed. This was very much the strategic mistake that broke the growth engine.
@Smoggysteve "I normally wouldn’t condone buying a cheap Chinese copy..." Actually, I think I'd go with the Seconda strap line here: "Beware of expensive imitations."
The survey is shite. I have got to a point where it will not let me continue because I have done everything correctly so far.
Yes, it uses the same technology that is used to prevent that behaviour by motorists...🙄
@SecretSam yeah, the same one you find in cars
@SecretSam yeah, the same one you find in cars
I have an idea who it might have been.
14 thoughts on “Live blog: Amazing (and strangely mesmerising) video of huge crash in downhill race on snow, bloke who mistakenly sold wife’s heirloom classic bike in yard sale wants it back, this year’s Zwift Academy entries open + more”
Does Mayor de Blasio even
Does Mayor de Blasio even know that when he calls for “enforcement action”, the NYPD thinks he means enforcement action against cyclists?
Any idea where the DH video
Any idea where the DH video was from ? I’d love to see the on bike footage. Nutters.
fenix wrote:
Not sure, but looks a lot like Megavalanche
https://www.ucc-sportevent.com/en/megavalanche-alpe-dhuez-en/
fenix wrote:
I saw this video posted with a comment saying it was from Les Deux Alpes (which is just across the valley from Alpe d’Huez).
A quick google suggests it was almost certainly from this weekend’s “Mountain of Hell” event:
https://www.2alpesnet.com/events/calendar/mountain-of-hell-les-2-alpes
Some of those on board
Some of those on board Megavalanch rider videos are an exciting half an hour of riding madness. Worth a watch.
Some of those on board
Some of those on board Megavalanch rider videos are an exciting half an hour of riding madness. Worth a watch.
Here’s the full video of that
Here’s the full video of that small clip.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDUxktR57u0
jigr69 wrote:
Thanks – that’s amazing to watch. Glad that guy who went over the barriers didn’t slide too far down. I do wonder what was down there.
jigr69 wrote:
Thanks – that’s amazing to watch. Glad that guy who went over the barriers didn’t slide too far down. I do wonder what was down there.
jigr69 wrote:
Thanks – that’s amazing to watch. Glad that guy who went over the barriers didn’t slide too far down. I do wonder what was down there.
I think I’d be really pissed
I think I’d be really pissed off if my partner sold off an old bike without asking me first. And I’d also say that I didn’t want the new bike.
OldRidgeback wrote:
How did he not know that this bike had massive sentimental value and was intended for the grandkids, etc etc???
Here’s the culprit, they went
Here’s the culprit, they went too close to the person in front, last minute larry on the brakes/swerving and essentially the domino effect took over.
Just a bike, isn’t it, like a
Just a bike, isn’t it, like a toy really…
Grown out of that fad, it’s just childish.