Welcome to Wednesday’s live blog, with Jack Sexty, Simon MacMichael and the rest of the team…
Survey says commuters who switch to cycling save over a Grand a year; Team car almost takes out Vuelta rider – but he wins stage; Indoor cycling brand Peloton reveals $196m loss ahead of IPO; future Vuelta start in Morocco? + much more on the live blog
All today’s news from the site and beyond…
Wed, Aug 28, 2019 18:05
SUMMARY
28 August 2019, 18:05
Vuelta stage 5: hills
Etapa 5 | Stage 5
L’Eliana
Observatorio Astrofísico de Javalambre
12:45 CET > 17:23 CET
170,7 kmManzanera
1x1x1x Cat.+ info https://t.co/l291g0fMGw#LaVuelta19 x @relivecc pic.twitter.com/P3moc2OI2p
— La Vuelta (@lavuelta) August 28, 2019
Not one for the sprinters today as the peloton take on category 1, 2 and 3 climbs on the 170km route.
28 August 2019, 18:05
Specialized team up with 3D carbon experts (called Carbon) to launch new S-Works Power saddle
Described as a ‘next-gen’ saddle crafted with a 3D-printed carbon lattice, developed by a company handily named Carbon, the design and build is supposed to absorb impact and improve rider stability, therefore reducing the chance of injury. We’ve no news on when this will be available, prices etc just yet, but we’ll be hassling Specialized for more info in due course…
28 August 2019, 18:05
Peloton files for an initial public offering... and reveals they lost $196 million in a year
You may have seen the adverts during every commercial break on ITV4’s Tour de France coverage last month; you may have even heard about their failed lawsuit against Youtuber Shane Miller for daring to call a video ‘The Peloton Podcast’, or the current one against them for using unlicensed music… but the latest from the fitness industry’s most heavily marketed spinbike is that all that attention has resulted in a rather substantial haemorrhaging of cash, with Peloton reporting losses of $196 million in the year to 30th June according to the FT.
Like many buzzy startups Peloton relied heavily on huge swathes of private investment to scale up, and despite the losses accelerating they did report that turnover double to around $915 million last year.
In his initial pitch to file the company for an IPO, Peloton’s CEO and co-founder John Foley insisted that Peloton “sells happiness” and is “so much more” than a piece of fitness equipment: “It is no secret that exercise makes us feel good. It’s simple science: exercising creates endorphins and endorphins make us happy.”
They’re looking to raise another $500 million in the IPO, and warned in its filing that they may not turn a profit or ever maintain profitability in the future. Do you think happiness is a two grand spin bike and £40 a month subscription, or are Peloton’s financial woes a good indication they’re heading for the scrapheap? Let us know what you think in the comments of course…
28 August 2019, 18:05
2 million bikes stolen in the US last year
Maybe bike theft isn’t quite so prevalent in Blighty after all, as a project by bike recovery service 529 garage concluded that over 2 million were stolen in the US last year – equivalent to a bike theft every 30 seconds.
While we can’t find a study of this scope and detail from the UK, Bike Register estimate that around 376,000 are stolen each year, and Cycling Industry News note that bike theft is estimated to make up about 2% of all reported crime.
28 August 2019, 18:05
Easy mistake to make ...
Broadcaster Sian Welby has been left a little red-faced after trying to high-five a cyclist in London yesterday …
It’s a hot sunny day in London. People are happy, smiling, making polite conversation…which is why I totally misjudged the situation. I was jogging and thought a passing cyclist was going for a high-five. Turns out he was just indicating to turn left. Kill me.
— Siân Welby (@Sianwelby) August 27, 2019
28 August 2019, 18:05
Mark Cavendish back on the boards at Six Day London
BREAKING: The one, the only @MarkCavendish is coming to #SixDayLondon!
The Manx Missile, multiple world champ, is back at the Lee Valley Velodrome to thrill a home crowd once more
STORYhttps://t.co/4nRU5JO5MO pic.twitter.com/OFSwpWk6FD
— Six Day (@sixdaycycling) August 28, 2019
28 August 2019, 18:05
PC Steve Hudson, pioneer of West Midlands Police Close Pass Initiative, reportedly battling cancer
This is PC Steve Hudson of @WMPolice in 2016 pioneering policing of close passing of cyclists.
He is now battling cancer. He & many others need stem cell donors to aid them in their fight. If you feel that you can help, please register via this link https://t.co/GoYzcOrlyq +RT pic.twitter.com/d6ccjutynI
— CHAIRRDRF (@CHAIRRDRF) August 27, 2019
PC Hudson, who along with fellow officer PC Dave Hodson has been officially recognised for his efforts to improve road safety by the Road Danger Reduction Forum and Cycling UK, is sadly battling cancer. In the tweet above Dr Robert Davis highlights the importance of stem cell donation to help cancer patients find a match; if you want to register to donate click the link here.
28 August 2019, 18:05
When the medical profession and cycling collide
I was called into a trauma tonight to… remove a cyclist’s shoes. No one on the trauma team had encountered a BOA system before and they knew who to call. I deftly removed those shoes like the boss queen nurse cyclist of the galaxy my peeps know me to be.
— E Bouchard-Hall (@ebouchardhall) August 27, 2019
This emergency nurse was called into action based on her knowledge of the BOA dial system… the cyclist involved is apparently alive and well!
28 August 2019, 18:05
The man and his dog riding around and grabbing headlines in Halifax
Meet Frankie the beagle and his owner Garry Mullins.
This cycling duo can be seen around the streets of Halifax!
Fearless and active, they’re causing quite the social media uproar.
I mean, how could they not? pic.twitter.com/EGrkm1k88A
— Alexa MacLean (@AlexaMacLean902) August 27, 2019
Lining himself up for a mega eyewear deal a la Peter Sagan is Frankie the beagle, who can often be seen on the back of his owner Gary Mullins as he cycles around the West Yorkshire town…
28 August 2019, 18:05
More Peloton number-crunching
Congratulations, Peloton fans. You are now a non-GAAP financial metric.
Please make an acronym from “Average Monthly Workouts Per Connected Fitness Subscriber.” pic.twitter.com/GEti13nC7K
— Shira Ovide (@ShiraOvide) August 27, 2019
Scroll back for the initial news that the spinbike startup lost $196 million last year despite recording a $915 million turnover…
28 August 2019, 18:05
Ouchee
This guy is having a hell of a days ride. https://t.co/MOOyGATXmz
— Cab Davidson #FBPE (@gnomeicide) August 27, 2019
28 August 2019, 18:05
Video: Team car almost takes out own rider at Vuelta - though he went on to win the stage
Burgos-BH had two riders in today’s three-man break at the Vuelta – mountains classification leader Angel Madrazo and Jetse Bol, riding alongside Jose Herrada of Cofidis.
We’re not sure whether it was having two riders to keep tabs on that led to the driver of the team car becoming distracted – but here’s the moment he rear-ended Madrazo, who had to veer sharpky to the right, both he and Herrada pulling off terrific saves to stayy upright.
It would have been all smiles on the team bus afterwards though – Madrazo won the stage, while Bol finished second for a memorable 1-2 for the UCI Professional Continental team.
Must be something with teams from northern Spain, what Eusksdi can do, Burgos try and follow #LaVuelta19 pic.twitter.com/pLlhIT3nw4
— John Maguire (@velo_bristol) August 28, 2019
28 August 2019, 18:05
Commuting by bike saves £1,400 a year on average finds new poll
A survey from Argos has found that travelling to work by bike could save the average commuter almost £1,400 a year.
That’s based on 2,000 respondents to a survey commissioned by the retailer saying that they spend on average £28 a week commuting by car or public transport, reports The Mirror.
Of course, if you don’t own a bike there are some upfront expenses – buying a bicycle plus accessories such as a decent lock, lights and perhaps panniers and rainwear, though all of that can be got at a saving through the Cycle to Work scheme.
A spokesman for Argos said: “With train fares newly announced to increase again in January, many workers are really feeling the financial pinch of their daily commute.
“We’re all familiar with that rage-inducing feeling of being jam-packed on a hot train or stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic, so it’s no wonder that so many are looking at cycling to help them save money, while also staying fit and de-stressed.
“Our data shows that sales of adult bikes have risen almost 70 per cent in the last three years, while folding bikes are proving even more popular and have doubled in the same time.
“If you’re new to cycling then a folding bike is the perfect introduction to the world of cycle lanes and helmets as you can easily mix your ride with a stint on public transport.”
28 August 2019, 18:05
Morocco start for La Vuelta
To date, the only Grand Tour to have started outside Europe was last year’s Giro d’Italia … but according to Spanish press reports (covered in English here) Morocco is hoping to bring the Vuelta to North Africa for the first time. Discussions are at a preliminary stage only. but organisers of the Spanish race seem keen.
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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
Rendel Harris 1 hour ago
@mitsky Just checking the figures and apparently the 2026 average cost is £58,000 per year per prisoner; worth noting that is only the direct cost, you then have to factor in ten years of lost tax income from the prisoner, ten years that the prisoner is making no contribution to society as a worker or as a consumer, plus the fact that if they were the primary breadwinner very likely the costs will include benefits for their family as well. None of which should be a reason for keeping violent recidivists out of prison of course, nor drug/drink drivers who kill, but it is a factor worth considering for lower-level offences.
Rendel Harris 1 hour ago
@Surreyrider I ride in Surrey a fair bit and absolutely many do look like that but the point is they all *think* they're driving perfectly reasonably (as one discovers when remonstrating with someone who's skimmed one by 30cm, "I gave you masses of room") so deterrent penalties have little effect. That's why we need to strike at the root cause and actually train drivers properly and test them stringently (and more than once over the course of a potential 70+ years of driving, it's absolutely absurd that competence and knowledge in what for most people is the activity in their life that will run the biggest risk of killing people you never have to have your qualifications renewed).
Rendel Harris 1 hour ago
@mitsky Imprisonment currently costs over £50k p.a. per prisoner and obviously that will rise over the course of a ten-year stretch with inflation. Regarding culpability and mitigating sentences etc, of course I'm not against condign punishment for drivers who kill (and cyclists on the tiny, tiny handful of occasions when this happens), including prison as appropriate; I was objecting to the ridiculous and oft-repeated demand of MM that drivers who kill cyclists must get ten years, "no excuses, no exceptions".
Blackthorne83 5 hours ago
Hey, but their wool blend cycling adjacent t-shirts are/were fantastic.
RoadYeti 6 hours ago
@Surreyrider Still the boss. Ride one, you'll see why
chrisonabike 9 hours ago
@Smoggysteve "Most would happily ride on the roads and be treated with respect by drivers". But people aren't - and as far as I can see they won't be. Not until there is a lot less driving and it's slower around cyclists, and far more people driving have "skin in the game" eg. they sometimes cycle and their friends and family do also. That's what leads to the model - which is perhaps most advanced in NL - where cycling, walking and driving are all seen as separate normal transport modes. Their needs, vulnerabilities and any dangers to others are considered. And *that* leads to "mix / share when possible, separate when necessary". But "possible" is "where your 10-year old would be safe to cycle unsupervised" - so very few motor vehicles, going slow! And AFAICS everybody - even "existing cyclists" - is happy with the result. (I dunno about a few pro cyclists - but don't they tend to have training camps in different counties anyway?)
chrisonabike 10 hours ago
@quiff as an Edinburgh resident I can confidently say he's speaking without moving his lips in one sense: - while as I noted in a separate comment there *is* now some real separated cycle infra, all the examples i can think of have *at least as much space* for pedestrians. The rest of the "cycle infra" is essentially similar to the situation in the rest of the UK: eg. bus lanes*, cycle lanes and shared use paths (eg. "build" infra by sticking up a sign). Edinburgh is one of the places with a moderately extensive network of former railways which have been converted to "shared use" paths (completely motor traffic few). However though shared they are not narrow by UK standards. And this is all effectively a "free extra" for all non- motorised users, not like the "sign a cycle path" where pedestrians do lose space. I think this all comes from the "popular understanding" of cycling in which ultimately cyclists are the "other". They don't fit "motor vehicle" or "pedestrian" (including wheelchairs on the very rare occasions people think about that). Thus "cyclists are cheating" in multiple ways! They shouldn't get their own space as "there aren't enough" of them. And "they can just use the road / path". But being able to *choose* "on the road" or "on the footway" (shared use path) is clearly unfair - nobody else gets to do that! BUT of course even if they did pick just one of road OR pedestrian space it's still not fair anyway because they're "too slow" for the road (don't pay "road tax" etc...) and "far too fast" for pedestrians... * Though some existing cyclists may appreciate them when there are few buses, buses and bikes are a very poor mix for several reasons.
mikecassie 10 hours ago
Whilst a shame for any employees, their bib shorts had the worst chamois pad I’d ever encountered, utter waste of my money. Even though they were Strava challenge discount purchases, still a waste of money.
ktache 11 hours ago
Thanks, just going to have to suck it up. Got next week off and will take the easy, if expensive option...
Rendel Harris 11 hours ago
@ktache Just go for the TNT Sports only package, £30.99 for a month. Alternatively have you considered experimenting with a VPN for a few pounds, allowing you to sign up for a free stream abroad, e.g. SBS Australia which streams the Tour live? If I didn't have a kind mate's login that's what I'd do!
28 thoughts on “Survey says commuters who switch to cycling save over a Grand a year; Team car almost takes out Vuelta rider – but he wins stage; Indoor cycling brand Peloton reveals $196m loss ahead of IPO; future Vuelta start in Morocco? + much more on the live blog”
Regarding the Peloton thing,
Regarding the Peloton thing, it seems to be the way things are done of late. A business turns over a lot, but makes no profit, or actually makes a loss, but people still throw money at it. Look at Uber, and Amazon / numerous professional football clubs for other examples. Turnover for vanity, profits for sanity, not anymore it would seem. It seems that it’s being used as a ‘loss leader’ . By whom, and for what, is a mystery.
Judge dreadful wrote:
Data. It’s always about the data. They’re going to get loads of user data from their widget and that data will be amazingly dataful and they’ll sell it to people who like data who will data the data into data so they can data data the data and then they’ll have the data they need.
vonhelmet wrote:
Have you got any evidence to show that? or data?
burtthebike wrote:
Definitely needs a graph to illustrate the point 😉
Tried Peloton a couple of
Tried Peloton a couple of times in a hotel gym. It tries to recreate that spin class experience, with a perpetually cheerful gym bunny and his baseball cap as the visuals. A ticker on the side shows how well you are doing compared to Brad from Oregon . Fortunately the big screen can be set to data only, and it tips down so I could rest my phone on it and watch Sufferfest instead.
There doesn’t appear to be any feedback loop from app to trainer. You just twiddle the red knob to change resistance.
So repetitive visuals, basic hardware functionality, no integration of hardware to other platforms (you can export your data, but not use other apps directly), more expensive than anything else? I don’t think marketing is going to keep that alive.
Really fail to see how the
Really fail to see how the Peloton system has any attraction at all, except to a very small market of people with a lot of money to waste. Spending a stack of money to workout while staring at a person who tells you how well you’re doing. Am I missing something? The novelty must last all of about half an hour! Zwift must be laughing themselves silly.
ridiculouscyclist wrote:
I found myself down by Spitalfields market, in London, a week or so ago. On my way back towards Liverpool Street station, I passed a ‘Peloton showroom’. It is very slickly marketed, and the ‘showroom’ is very polished looking. I can see why people could be tempted to part with their hard earned, initially anyway.
I have a friend who jumped on
I have a friend who jumped on the Peloton bike bandwagon at the start of this year, she’s turned ‘fit’ almost exclusively it seems from it and raves about it. She does aerobic classes (off the bike) with it, arm weights while on it and cooldowns and warm ups, I believe she’s spinning six days a week. It’s a proper ‘gym bunny’ thing, weights while you spin, hovering off the saddle malarkey.. Not my cup of tea but I can totally see the benefits she’s had from it. I’d love to have one for MrsD but unfortunately, I’ve not got a penthouse or glass-fronted beach house to put one in #sadface
peted76 wrote:
I was assuming the beautiful residence in the idyllic location with beautiful weather came with the Peleton membership. Made it seem quite tempting. If that’s not the case I’ll pass.
If you ever wanted proof that
If you ever wanted proof that ‘the markets find the most efficient solutions’ is a load of bollocks then you can’t really make a better example than peloton.
Quick pro rata of population
Quick pro rata of population shows the UK cycle theft total per person is within about 10% of the US number…of course if you really want to work the stats then the rate of theft must be higher in the US which would suggest that UK thieves are less productive and are failing to be competitive by international standards maybe change the headline to “UK reduces policing to allow productivity improvements in cycling’s boom sector”?
As has been mentioned seems
As has been mentioned seems the current secret to big business is finding a rich parent backer as such then appearing out of nowhere as if you’re an established, built from the ground up outfit. Then a few years down the line everyone finds out it’s all bollocks and there’s no profit to be had and only a load of execs ever made decent money from it.
Look at Tesla. Can’t even make enough cars to even make a profit even if people wanted them.
Peleton has always stunk the place up though, the pricings were stupid and seemed only to appeal to people in studio apartments with massive glass windows. Seriously, what does it do that a direct drive turbo does miles better? Maybe you can throw yourself about on it more vigorously and not break your carbon frame?
Peloton doesn’t currently do
Peloton doesn’t currently do anything you couldn’t do in the 80s with an exercise bike and a VHS video. The only thing that has improved is the branding.
Remember that the current product might not be what the valuation is based on. Netflix was once a seemingly stupidly-valued mail order DVD rental company. Uber’s current valuation is based on their intent to replace drivers with computers. Friends of mine thought I was mad for buying shares in Revolut a few years ago (“who wants to trust an app with their money?”), but the valuation has quintupled since then</humblebrag>. Peloton might well have something in their business plan that will revolutionise some sector of the home fitness or gym markets. Disclosure: I won’t be investing.
srchar wrote:
I got a Revolut card a few weeks ago. Haven’t used it. But the packaging was terrific.
nick h. wrote:
Glad to hear it! It’s not really for those of us in developed economies with established financial institutions and entrenched thinking that “traditional bank == safe, challenger/online bank == risky”, nice though it is to change money at interbank rates and spend in multiple countries with one card. The “killer app” for Revolut is providing banking services in countries with poor financial infrastructure – that’s where the growth will be and that’s what the valuation is based on. There’s some stiff competition though…
Incidentally, I walk past the Spitalfields branch of Peloton almost every day. It is rare to see a customer in there.
Amusing twitter peleton mene
Amusing twitter peleton meme thing.
I know I’d use a static
I know I’d use a static trainer and Zwift but at present we have an old exercise bike from a charity shop, probably cost us £15. I can get on that and have the missus come in from time to time and tell me to shift my ass. The Peleton advert makes me feel slightly sick, can’t put my finger on why.
theloststarfighter wrote:
Could be because the trainer bloke looks a bit “date rapey” according to Mrs Srchar.
Can’t understand why anyone
Can’t understand why anyone would prefer to cycle looking at a screen over cycling outside looking at the real world. Far more interesting outside.
alchemilla wrote:
That’s because you’re assuming the choice is between riding inside or riding outside, when it might be riding inside or not riding at all e.g. you can’t commute and it’s 8pm by the time the kids have gone to bed.
For me it’s also about effective use of time. I like racing and in a week I can make a lot more gains in 7 hours mostly riding indoors than trying to do the same outdoors.
alchemilla wrote:
Sustrans advertising agency came up with the perfect illustration of that:
“Why ride a bike that’s chained to the floor?”
I want to know whether the
I want to know whether the trauma nurse thinks the BOA dials “definitely saved the cyclist’s life”.
quiff wrote:
Not sure about the BOAs themselves, but the nurse certainly did! Dr’s would have cut them off and the cyclists’ significant other would have certainly murdered them for the needless waste of expensive shoes had she not stepped in to release the dials.
I read an interview with a
I read an interview with a Peloton boss in the press recently. She said “Excellence is the most important habit you can curate in life.” So the company is clearly out of ideas.
nick h. wrote:
Classic vaccuous corporate wank. So much self-aggrandizing empty verbiage and borderline-illiteracy crammed into once sentence!
We have ‘excellence’ as a generic ‘quality’ that apparently exists independent of any given activity or set of values, ‘excellence’ as a ‘habit’ that you can somehow generically cultivate across all domains, and finally ‘habits’ as things one can deliberately add to a collection and then formally exhibit.
And none of it has anything to do with an overpriced exercise-bike with an inflated marketting budget.
(I wonder if she got confused with ‘cultivate’ there? You can cultivate habits, people don’t generally ‘curate’ them).
FluffyKittenofTindalos wrote:
Yeah, I suppose it depends on how many habits you have and whether you want to display them.
FluffyKittenofTindalos wrote:
I once knew a monk who had quite a collection, which he was fond of cataloguing, or curating if you like.
What a fatuous survey by
What a fatuous survey by Argos, designed to produce the headlines they wanted. Sure, they could equally well save all that money if they walked to work instead. There is a reason why they don’t walk the 30+ miles per day to make that saving, and I suspect for most a bike would not change that either.
(and the poor saps are toiling 50 weeks per year, according to the arithmetic).