road.cc live blog from Brussels: Team Ineos criticised for unveiling "gas guzzling" Ford Ranger Raptor as their new Recon Car; Tour de France team presentation; Tour de France tat + Vélo North cancelled and more

john1967 wrote:

i was very uneasy about Ineos and this just looks like a f#ck you to the #climateemergency Why didn't they just get hybrids???

It would be nice if some teams would now come with fully electric cars. Just to show ex-sky what's up.

cdamian wrote:

john1967 wrote:

i was very uneasy about Ineos and this just looks like a f#ck you to the #climateemergency Why didn't they just get hybrids???

It would be nice if some teams would now come with fully electric cars. Just to show ex-sky what's up.

Electric vehicles are not significantly less productive of CO2 than ICE vehicles, and depending on how the electricity is generated, can produce more.  Neither will they reduce congestion, road danger or reduce obesity or improve health; they are pretty much irrelevant apart from the single advantage of reducing pollution at point of use.

There is currently massive coverage of electric vehicles as "the answer" to pollution and climate change, which is extremely misleading to say the least.  On BBC R4 this morning at about 0630, they interviewed a professor who pointed out that most of the publicity about electric cars was greenwash and they wouldn't solve the huge problems of profligate car use.  They have had several subsequent long articles today about electric cars, all of them either stating explicitly that electric cars are zero carbon, or heavily implying it, without challenge from the interviewer.  No mention whatsoever of active travel, as the BBC has a de facto ban on mentioning the benefits of a massive switch to cycling.

burtthebike wrote:

cdamian wrote:

john1967 wrote:

i was very uneasy about Ineos and this just looks like a f#ck you to the #climateemergency Why didn't they just get hybrids???

It would be nice if some teams would now come with fully electric cars. Just to show ex-sky what's up.

Electric vehicles are not significantly less productive of CO2 than ICE vehicles, and depending on how the electricity is generated, can produce more.  Neither will they reduce congestion, road danger or reduce obesity or improve health; they are pretty much irrelevant apart from the single advantage of reducing pollution at point of use.

There is currently massive coverage of electric vehicles as "the answer" to pollution and climate change, which is extremely misleading to say the least.  On BBC R4 this morning at about 0630, they interviewed a professor who pointed out that most of the publicity about electric cars was greenwash and they wouldn't solve the huge problems of profligate car use.  They have had several subsequent long articles today about electric cars, all of them either stating explicitly that electric cars are zero carbon, or heavily implying it, without challenge from the interviewer.  No mention whatsoever of active travel, as the BBC has a de facto ban on mentioning the benefits of a massive switch to cycling.

Do BBC producers read road.cc?  They finally mentioned active travel on R4 this afternoon.    After a day spent promoting electric vehicles of course.  It starts at 46:40
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0006dwt
 

Ad Hynkel wrote:

I can't believe anyone can really be surprised at a company sponsored by fossil fuel processors using a vehicle that uses more of said product than any other reasonable vehicle for that purpose. Get used to it, Brailsford and co have broken cover... they are giving up pretending as they head for cushy retirement. Those who want to keep waving flags can hold their noses.

Whilst I don't disagree, exactly how eco-friendly was the Team Sky Death Star bus? 

brooksby wrote:

Ad Hynkel wrote:

I can't believe anyone can really be surprised at a company sponsored by fossil fuel processors using a vehicle that uses more of said product than any other reasonable vehicle for that purpose. Get used to it, Brailsford and co have broken cover... they are giving up pretending as they head for cushy retirement. Those who want to keep waving flags can hold their noses.

Whilst I don't disagree, exactly how eco-friendly was the Team Sky Death Star bus? 

The sport of cycling is horrendously un-environmental, the TdF more than all the others. They use helicopters for filming and often aeroplanes on stage transfers for riders, whilst the vehicle convoy drive lorries and buses, they plan stage starts and finishes not based on logic, but who's paid for the stage to start in their town. Bikes and kit get used for just one season, it's all so horribly wasteful and ironic that it's used to promote a human powered sport. 

I still love it though, and IMO that guzzling Ford support car still looks cool.

peted76 wrote:

brooksby wrote:

Ad Hynkel wrote:

I can't believe anyone can really be surprised at a company sponsored by fossil fuel processors using a vehicle that uses more of said product than any other reasonable vehicle for that purpose. Get used to it, Brailsford and co have broken cover... they are giving up pretending as they head for cushy retirement. Those who want to keep waving flags can hold their noses.

Whilst I don't disagree, exactly how eco-friendly was the Team Sky Death Star bus? 

The sport of cycling is horrendously un-environmental, the TdF more than all the others. They use helicopters for filming and often aeroplanes on stage transfers for riders, whilst the vehicle convoy drive lorries and buses, they plan stage starts and finishes not based on logic, but who's paid for the stage to start in their town. Bikes and kit get used for just one season, it's all so horribly wasteful and ironic that it's used to promote a human powered sport. 

 

I still love it though, and IMO that guzzling Ford support car still looks cool.

The goal of the TDF is not to promote cycling, it’s to make money. Like 99% of all professional sports.

daccordimark wrote:

Seems a bit OTT to have to prototype a 38 tooth chainring - it's not exactly radical compared to a 39 is it?

I guess because it isn't for sale as standard yet, and with the UCI rules etc saying it's a prototype probably gets around them ever having to make them for sale if they don't want to.

daccordimark wrote:

Seems a bit OTT to have to prototype a 38 tooth chainring - it's not exactly radical compared to a 39 is it?

When I moved on to 9 speed I used to use a 37T inner with the 130mm BCD, there were only two companies that did them IIRC, still it meant I could stick with a 12-26 which I thought was a fairly wide/mountain set up, certainly compared to the 42-24 low I used to have.  I can't beleive how I used to get up the slopes on that, but then that's 30 years and a couple of stone away.

Kendalred wrote:

Nice picture - although I prefer my 6am commute around Coniston Water.

Heads up - Velo North cancelled due to lack of interest...discuss!

I'd signed up for the Velo North. Mostly driven by nostalgia, since it was those roads that introduced me to the whole world of road riding after being a  mountain biker all my life. Fantastic roads and scenery and some of the best climbs I've ridden in the UK, all on a second hand £50 halfords special racer. Was looking forwards to riding the same roads when fitter, and on a much better bike with zero traffic to worry about. 

I can see why though, when I lived there, the Etape event was cancelled too due to public complaints about closed roads and lack of riders. Its a shame really as it really is a fantastic place to ride, but often overlooked in favour of Wales, London and Yorkshire, and actually the local tourism would benefit from the exposure. The roads aren't overly busy, except the main Weardale and Teasdale routes so not that much to be gained, other than bombing down the Crawleyside and Bolly on the racing line! 

Kendalred wrote:

Heads up - Velo North cancelled due to lack of interest...discuss!

Absolutely no surprise here. If ever there was a closed road sportive designed to annoy people then this was it. The fantastic roads in the area are usually so quiet that actually closing them would make very little difference, except to residents and we all know how inconvenient 1 day out of 365 with the roads closed are from other public outcrying when events have been scheduled. Paying excessively for the priveledge certainly wouldn't makes sense for anyone who has already ridden in the area. 

In addition this wasn't a great route - many more fantastic climbs are available nearby and the dead miles to and from Durham at the start and finish weren't well throught out. Good riddance.