Live blog: Look’s new Geo-Trekking pedals; Should cyclists get an extra day off work? Bjorg Lambrecht lost control of bike because of a roadside reflector + more
Personal finance expert Simon Read told The Independent that cycling to work was a common sense option for many people.
“When it comes to saving money, cycling to work is an easy win for commuters. Once you’ve splashed out on a bike, then using it every day will help improve your wealth as well as your health.
“The cost of a bike and gear could pay for itself in just four months, which means the more you pedal after that, the more savings you make.”
29 August 2019, 19:01
Some of the other findings of that cycle commuting survey (see further down the page)
Researchers found one in five professionals now cycle to work, with 46 per cent saying it gets them there in less time.
More than a fifth say they get a sense of superiority when they overtake cars sitting in heavy traffic.
Almost four-fifths are therefore liars.
Of those who don’t cycle to their job, a quarter said they’d consider it but a fifth said that a lack of showering facilities at their office deters them.
27 per cent said they would consider commuting by bike if it saved them money, while a quarter would do so if they could mix cycling with public transport on their journey to work.
29 August 2019, 19:01
Should cyclists get an extra day off work?
A German politician has said that cyclists should get an extra day’s holiday because they are healthier and take fewer days off work.
CNN reports that the comments were made by Stefan Gelbhaar, a Green member of Germany’s federal parliament.
“People who regularly cycle to work should be entitled to one additional day off a year,” he said.
“Statistics have shown that people who regularly cycle to work fall ill less frequently and have fewer days of absence from work.”
Gelbhaar says that financial incentives aimed at encouraging people to cycle to work don’t reward “the positive effect of bike commuting on workers’ health” and lower rate of absence from work.
He said that the extra day’s holiday would act as motivation for commuters to cycle instead of drive.
Riding to work’s cheaper too. (See below.)
29 August 2019, 19:01
There's a new groupset in town
Did you know FSA makes a groupset? It’s called K-Force WE and was first shown way back in 2016 and it’s been going under the radar since, but yesterday in La Vuelta it won a stage. Not only that but second place as well.
Chris Boardman wants to see more cities mark World Car Free Day
These events are an essential step in letting people experience traffic free streets, for business’s to see their takings go up not down and that walking between locations is actually not that far!
Our capital leading the way. I hope other major UK cities will follow… https://t.co/SdbeU3Ux6Z
Look’s new Geo-Trekking pedals look ideal for commuting and gravel riding
Look’s new Geo-Trekking 2-in-1 pedals combine a flat body ideal for commuting in regular shoes, with a recessed single-sided clipless mechanism for going adventure and gravel riding.
q6Udhpog (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)
q6Udhpog (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)
Says Look:
The new Geo-Trekking range of three pedals – Geo-Trekking, Geo-Trekking Grip and Geo-Trekking ROC – has been designed to meet the diverse needs of riders from the urban commuter to the enthusiast e-mountain bike rider.
Featuring a flat and clipless side in the same body, Geo-Trekking’s versatility means that it can tackle almost every riding situation and condition, providing the rider with a flexibility of riding and choice of shoes and style, along with an unparalleled freedom of spirit.
The clipless side is based on a mechanism compliant with the micro cleat standard, compatible with an SPD cleat. This mechanism features across the entire range and provides simple and secure clip-in and clip-out, with an easy adjustment system enabling a tension adjustment range of 5-10Nm. All of the pedals are supplied with the X-TRACK EASY cleat with 30% easier clip-inand more natural multidirectional clip-out than regular SPD cleats.
On the flat side, LOOK have created three separate designs to meet the specific needs of the rider. The Geo-Trekking model features a 84mm-wide composite body with lightweight, molded spikes to offer versatile performance and grip in varying conditions, while Geo-Trekking Grip has a completely filled flat side with a soft elastomer material to increase traction without damaging the soles of the rider’s everyday shoes.
The Geo-Trekking ROC version features an 83mm-wide aluminum body to withstand impacts and scratches, intended primarily for off-road use, offering maximum adhesion to the flat side thanks to its wider body and eight alloy traction pins situated around the edge of the pedal.
Both the Geo-Trekking and Geo-Trekking ROC models are also available in ‘Vision’ formats, featuring additional detachable LED lights for added essential visibility. Unlike a standard light fitted in a fixed position on the bike, pedals are subject to circling motion, which considerably increases their visibility by creating an oscillating beam from in front and behind.
The new pedals are priced from €59.90 and will be available from 15th October.
29 August 2019, 19:01
UK bike imports at lowest level for more than a decade
UK bicycle imports in the first half of 2019 are at the lowest level for more than a decade, reports Cycling Industry News today.
bike-box (1) (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)
bike-box (1) (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)
At the end of Q2 bicycle imports posted a 46% decline like-for-like with the year prior and, while marginally improved on Q1, the figures still paint a picture of a market with receding bicycle sales.
More units were imported in Q1 last year than in the first half of 2019. Therefore the year-to-date decline is 55% when compared to H1 in 2018.
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Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn’t especially like cake.
14 Comments
14 thoughts on “Live blog: Look’s new Geo-Trekking pedals; Should cyclists get an extra day off work? Bjorg Lambrecht lost control of bike because of a roadside reflector + more”
Yes, yes we should get an
Yes, yes we should get an extra day (at least) for regularly cycling. Not biased at all.
Yes, yes we should get an extra day (at least) for regularly cycling. Not biased at all.
Also, Chocolate Path – mmmmm!
— hawkinspeter
You know the photo that flips as an optical illusion between old lady and squirrel or something…?
I have always seen that stock photo road.cc use as their “commuters” photo and thought it was on the B&B Railway Path, but you’re right – its the (sadly closed for the forseeable future) Chocolate Path, isn’t it?
Yes, yes we should get an extra day (at least) for regularly cycling. Not biased at all.
Also, Chocolate Path – mmmmm!
— brooksby
You know the photo that flips as an optical illusion between old lady and squirrel or something…?
I have always seen that stock photo road.cc use as their “commuters” photo and thought it was on the B&B Railway Path, but you’re right – its the (sadly closed for the forseeable future) Chocolate Path, isn’t it?
Yes, yes we should get an extra day (at least) for regularly cycling. Not biased at all.
Also, Chocolate Path – mmmmm!
— hawkinspeter
You know the photo that flips as an optical illusion between old lady and squirrel or something…?
I have always seen that stock photo road.cc use as their “commuters” photo and thought it was on the B&B Railway Path, but you’re right – its the (sadly closed for the forseeable future) Chocolate Path, isn’t it?
Yes, yes we should get an extra day (at least) for regularly cycling. Not biased at all.
Also, Chocolate Path – mmmmm!
— brooksby
You know the photo that flips as an optical illusion between old lady and squirrel or something…?
I have always seen that stock photo road.cc use as their “commuters” photo and thought it was on the B&B Railway Path, but you’re right – its the (sadly closed for the forseeable future) Chocolate Path, isn’t it?
— hawkinspeter
So are you suggesting that hawkins peter is really an old lady rather than a red squirrel?
Yes, yes we should get an extra day (at least) for regularly cycling. Not biased at all.
Also, Chocolate Path – mmmmm!
— Bmblbzzz
You know the photo that flips as an optical illusion between old lady and squirrel or something…?
I have always seen that stock photo road.cc use as their “commuters” photo and thought it was on the B&B Railway Path, but you’re right – its the (sadly closed for the forseeable future) Chocolate Path, isn’t it?
— brooksby
So are you suggesting that hawkins peter is really an old lady rather than a red squirrel?
— hawkinspeter
I had meant one of those pictures where it’s so obvious what it is, then it flips and it’s completely obvious that it’s something different. But, now that you put it like that… 😉
Yes, yes we should get an extra day (at least) for regularly cycling. Not biased at all.
Also, Chocolate Path – mmmmm!
— Bmblbzzz
You know the photo that flips as an optical illusion between old lady and squirrel or something…?
I have always seen that stock photo road.cc use as their “commuters” photo and thought it was on the B&B Railway Path, but you’re right – its the (sadly closed for the forseeable future) Chocolate Path, isn’t it?
— brooksby
So are you suggesting that hawkins peter is really an old lady rather than a red squirrel?
Yes, yes we should get an extra day (at least) for regularly cycling. Not biased at all.
Also, Chocolate Path – mmmmm!
— hawkinspeter
I sort of do already, indirectly… I have an informal agreement wth my boss that as long as my work is done and no customers are awaiting my attention that afternoon, I can tootle off a bit earlier on my bike (in company colours on the clothing of course) . . he’d generally OK with it as apart from saving him the costs of diesel, he saves (the equivalent of) £10 per round trip in road tolls during rush hour times. (costs are doubled from 7am-9pm when you pass the sensors) Given it’s not unknown for me to do a 60-70km ride in the morning on my way to work, and be finished in the shower before any of the others actually turn up, he knows I’m not actually skiving real work.
How do you monitor who cycles to work regularly though? The existing incentive schemes don’t require that you actually log your cycling commutes, whereas a reward system presumably would need to in order to prevent abuse. Easy enough to do, but not everyone wants to have to log their commutes and hand that data over to Strava / their employer (though for an extra day’s holiday, maybe…) Would be interested to know how many fewer sick days the average cyclist takes than the average non-cyclist though – wouldn’t one extra day of holiday wipe out the benefit to the employer?
Separately:
“More than a fifth say they get a sense of superiority when they overtake cars sitting in heavy traffic.
Almost four-fifths are therefore liars.”
I know this is meant as a humorous aside, but maybe four-fifths simply don’t like the phrasing of the question. It is possible to ride for objective reasons (like it being faster than driving) without feeling superior to others for doing so.
How do you monitor who cycles to work regularly though? The existing incentive schemes don’t require that you actually log your cycling commutes, whereas a reward system presumably would need to in order to prevent abuse. Easy enough to do, but not everyone wants to have to log their commutes and hand that data over to Strava / their employer (though for an extra day’s holiday, maybe…) Would be interested to know how many fewer sick days the average cyclist takes than the average non-cyclist though – wouldn’t one extra day of holiday wipe out the benefit to the employer?
Separately:
“More than a fifth say they get a sense of superiority when they overtake cars sitting in heavy traffic.
Almost four-fifths are therefore liars.”
I know this is meant as a humorous aside, but maybe four-fifths simply don’t like the phrasing of the question. It is possible to ride for objective reasons (like it being faster than driving) without feeling superior to others for doing so.
— quiff
Just throw in a test statement every once in a while to identify frequent cyclists. Something like, “drivers are so considerate these days” or “I’m glad no-one uses their phone whilst driving anymore” or “that helmet saved their life”.
How do you monitor who cycles to work regularly though?
— quiff
My current workplace monitors it through the building access system. A swipe in the car park barrier is a day of cycle commuting, assuming you don’t have an assigned car parking space. This system is used to track usage, as there is “limited space” in the bike racks; people who aren’t regular cycle commuters get their access revoked.
Currently, you need to swipe in just once a month to be classed as a “regular” cycle commuter.
There is an 18-month wait for access to the mostly empty bike racks.
Currently, you need to swipe in just once a month to be classed as a “regular” cycle commuter.
There is an 18-month wait for access to the mostly empty bike racks.
— srchar
Worra joke. Once a month is certainly regular but it’s very far from frequent. If there is a waiting list then I’d argue that if there are fewer than 2 commutes in a given fortnight then it should revoked (while making allowances for holidays etc).
Does the same applies to a car pass – drive to work and occupy valuable real estate once a month to keep it?
No problem where I work, we have a big warehouse adjoining the office. As I’m the only cycle commuter so I get to park my bike under cover. But even better are the views on my rural commute.
If UK bicycle imports in the first half of 2019 are the lowest for more than a decade how can Argos claim that “Our data shows that sales of adult bikes have risen almost 70 per cent in the last three years”?
The only sick days I’ve taken The only sick days I’ve taken were when I crashed into a massive pothole and ended up in hospital. This was a few days after telling my co-workers they were all mad paying money for the privilege of going to work on the tube.
@FionaJJ In London they're allowed to stop on single and double yellows to deliver packages or empty pillar boxes; in practice they take this as carte blanche to park wherever and whenever they want, such as this chap on the Brixton Road who pulled into the bus/cycle/motorcycle lane without indicating, as I approached at 20mph, to park on a red route, response to a remonstrance, "I suppose you never get post delivered do ya?"
@Rendel Harris We have a pavement parking ban, but around here at least, royal mail vans are already exempt, subject to certain caveats, such as allowing at least 1.5m, and only being stopped to do their work.
It was already embarrassing for the police that they made such a mess of their attempt to determine whether a bike was legal or not, but I had assumed it was a group of well intentioned, but under-trained officers acting on their own initiative, having spotted something they thought looked not quite right.
I'm now discovering this was a planned activity, something sufficiently organised to have been given a name - Operation FRISLEN, designed specifically to identify and remove illegal e-bikes and scooters.
It's apparent that the officers were sent out without adequate training, never mind the kind of equipment that should be used for this sort of work. I'm not saying they always need specialist equipment to spot all illegal bikes, but at least if they'd been given a demonstration with that equipment, they'd have realised why their approach was not going to end well.
Have put drop bars on a 2001 B1 mtb, a 2007 stumpy hardtail and a 2010 stumpy full suss. In all cases fairly basic conversións leaving gearing and wheels broadly the same and concentrating on correct positioning of bars and fit. Oddly, with all 3 I was happy with the result when recently done, but after a few months found that the extra speed on easy trails was more than offset by the lack of ability (probably mine) on tougher routes and finally preferred flat bar with slammed and inverted stem as best overall compromise. Good fun playing around, though.
This is a strange reactionary knee jerk overall.
But what is this "are essentially motorbikes in disguise" waffle?
"One letter claimed that high-powered electric ‘e-bikes’ were “essentially motorbikes” in disguise, with many being used without lights, helmets, or any hi-vis clothing."
Surely, they simply ARE motorbikes?
I don't love the motorway comment. What if they're miles from a motorway? The get in the cycle lane comment is born out of ignorance from people who never cycle. I would just tell them the reason:
It's full of broken glass, wet leaves, etc.
I'm turning right.
I'd have to keep stopping and then rejoining the road.
I'd have to keep giving way.
It's full of pedestrians.
Etc.
Or simply ask if they have tried it and leave it at that.
14 thoughts on “Live blog: Look’s new Geo-Trekking pedals; Should cyclists get an extra day off work? Bjorg Lambrecht lost control of bike because of a roadside reflector + more”
Yes, yes we should get an
Yes, yes we should get an extra day (at least) for regularly cycling. Not biased at all.
Also, Chocolate Path – mmmmm!
hawkinspeter wrote:
You know the photo that flips as an optical illusion between old lady and squirrel or something…?
I have always seen that stock photo road.cc use as their “commuters” photo and thought it was on the B&B Railway Path, but you’re right – its the (sadly closed for the forseeable future) Chocolate Path, isn’t it?
brooksby wrote:
I think they’re looking to spend £5million to fix it, or they’ve squandered the money to decide where to begin looking for a plan on producing a timeline on which option to pursue for the stadium. https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/council-set-aside-5-million-1097440
Optical illusion you say?
hawkinspeter wrote:
I suspect that money will now just go into the pot for nuking the Plimsoll Bridge to create “Western Harbour”.
brooksby wrote:
So are you suggesting that hawkins peter is really an old lady rather than a red squirrel?
Bmblbzzz wrote:
I had meant one of those pictures where it’s so obvious what it is, then it flips and it’s completely obvious that it’s something different. But, now that you put it like that… 😉
Bmblbzzz wrote:
Are you assuming my gender and/or species?
hawkinspeter wrote:
I sort of do already, indirectly… I have an informal agreement wth my boss that as long as my work is done and no customers are awaiting my attention that afternoon, I can tootle off a bit earlier on my bike (in company colours on the clothing of course) . . he’d generally OK with it as apart from saving him the costs of diesel, he saves (the equivalent of) £10 per round trip in road tolls during rush hour times. (costs are doubled from 7am-9pm when you pass the sensors) Given it’s not unknown for me to do a 60-70km ride in the morning on my way to work, and be finished in the shower before any of the others actually turn up, he knows I’m not actually skiving real work.
Yep, tht photo’s right up to
Yep, tht photo’s right up to date…
How do you monitor who cycles
How do you monitor who cycles to work regularly though? The existing incentive schemes don’t require that you actually log your cycling commutes, whereas a reward system presumably would need to in order to prevent abuse. Easy enough to do, but not everyone wants to have to log their commutes and hand that data over to Strava / their employer (though for an extra day’s holiday, maybe…) Would be interested to know how many fewer sick days the average cyclist takes than the average non-cyclist though – wouldn’t one extra day of holiday wipe out the benefit to the employer?
Separately:
“More than a fifth say they get a sense of superiority when they overtake cars sitting in heavy traffic.
Almost four-fifths are therefore liars.”
I know this is meant as a humorous aside, but maybe four-fifths simply don’t like the phrasing of the question. It is possible to ride for objective reasons (like it being faster than driving) without feeling superior to others for doing so.
quiff wrote:
Just throw in a test statement every once in a while to identify frequent cyclists. Something like, “drivers are so considerate these days” or “I’m glad no-one uses their phone whilst driving anymore” or “that helmet saved their life”.
quiff wrote:
My current workplace monitors it through the building access system. A swipe in the car park barrier is a day of cycle commuting, assuming you don’t have an assigned car parking space. This system is used to track usage, as there is “limited space” in the bike racks; people who aren’t regular cycle commuters get their access revoked.
Currently, you need to swipe in just once a month to be classed as a “regular” cycle commuter.
There is an 18-month wait for access to the mostly empty bike racks.
srchar wrote:
Worra joke. Once a month is certainly regular but it’s very far from frequent. If there is a waiting list then I’d argue that if there are fewer than 2 commutes in a given fortnight then it should revoked (while making allowances for holidays etc).
Does the same applies to a car pass – drive to work and occupy valuable real estate once a month to keep it?
No problem where I work, we have a big warehouse adjoining the office. As I’m the only cycle commuter so I get to park my bike under cover. But even better are the views on my rural commute.
If UK bicycle imports in the first half of 2019 are the lowest for more than a decade how can Argos claim that “Our data shows that sales of adult bikes have risen almost 70 per cent in the last three years”?
https://road.cc/content/news/265913-survey-says-commuters-who-switch-cycling-save-over-grand-year-team-car-almost
The only sick days I’ve taken
The only sick days I’ve taken were when I crashed into a massive pothole and ended up in hospital. This was a few days after telling my co-workers they were all mad paying money for the privilege of going to work on the tube.