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.
Yelled at by a driver just last month, "It's farkin' dark you farkin' twat why are you riding around wiv a black coat on? You're farkin' invisible!" To be fair, I was wearing a black jacket - a Proviz commuter jacket which is covered in their unparalleled reflective details which, as I know because Mrs H wears the same model, can be seen from hundreds of metres away. He also overlooked the fact that I was wearing a fluorescent yellow helmet, fluorescent yellow gloves, had a rear red light on the helmet, two rear red lights (one strobing one solid) and three white lights on the front (one strobing two solid). Apparently all he could see, or supposedly couldn't see, was the black jacket. They used to be an old joke about "invisible" stealth planes being rubbish because the Russians would be saying, "There aren't any planes about but there's a little guy in a sitting position at 50,000 feet..." - must have been confusing for my chap to see all those lights, reflectives and bright gear apparently going down the street of their own volition.
Another reason to avoid Terry's, which is a pretty crappy overpriced place anyway and dreadfully hipster (there's a sign on the wall that says something like "when you eat at Terry's you're not just a customer, you're a member of a very exclusive club" - thanks but I just wanted coffee and beans on toast). I'd advise anyone in that locale to try the splendidly named Giggling Sausage cafe directly opposite, better food and coffee, cheaper, better service and fewer hipsters, you can enjoy watching them queueing like sheep to get into Terry's as you dine.
I wondered if parking in a cycle hire bay was against the law, so I googled it: it isn't unless there are road markings prohibiting parking.
But, this little gem came up 'Obstruction: Even where a specific bay type might lack a dedicated motor-traffic prohibition, parking a vehicle in a way that blocks access to cycle hire docks, footways, or causes an obstruction is an offense.'
Report it to the authorities and demand action. Don't patronise the place, obviously. And leaving rubbish reviews is definitely out.
Absolutely, definitely out. Very absolutely definitely. Out.
".....dark clothing “has been deemed a contributing factor in many fatal or serious injury collisions involving pedestrians and cyclists”
No. The dark clothing is not a contributory factor, the only cause of the deaths and injuries is drivers failing to observe.
The list of police organisations above shows that motornormativity in the police is institutionalised, and just as rife as it is in the rest of society. The question is, how do we get them to change? Make all police ride bikes? Show them films of collisions where perfectly visible cyclists are mown down by drivers who weren't looking? Show them pictures of cyclists literally dressed up like christmas trees by are still hit by dumb drivers?
The clincher might be the picture of the police car, festooned with hi-viz, after it had been hit by a driver.
@mdavidford the standard practise is to ignore the consultation, start a petition, complain that the council doesn't listen to the public, and get your picture in the Bournemouth Echo with a headline 'Drivers fury at new cycle lane', or 'shopkeepers anger at lost parking space'.
"Serious cyclist injuries down 50% and overall road casualties continue to fall..."
This is clearly fake news, invented by the bearded, sandle-wearing, bike-riding hippies who don't even live in Wales.
Everyone who lives there knows that the frustration and cost to drivers of having to drive at the ludicrously slow speed of 20mph is worth so much more than a few dead cyclists.
I live in the Forest of Dean, near Wales, and we've been trying for quite some time to get the national speed limit roads in the statutory forest reduced to 40mph, and 20mph in towns and villages. In fact, I mentioned it in the pub tonight, and the reaction from locals was, to say the least, not enthusiastic. It is a human right to be able to drive as fast as you want, and anyone saying different is an idiot.
With Local Government Reorganisation, I was hoping that the Forest of Dean District would merge with Monmouthshire and then we could adopt the Welsh speed limits, but it ain't gonna happen, so sadly, we have to remain in England.
@andystow That's pretty much how new roads are justified. If ten million motorists save ten seconds a day over the next twenty years, and motorists time is worth a lot, then you can justify spending £372m on the new roundabout in Gloucestershire. You know, the place where the locals think that a cycle lane will destroy their life.
@rbrtribble as the driver was out of his vehicle, thereby not making it a driving offence, and the cyclists was stationary with their feet on the ground, there was no more need for a helmet than if the encounter had been between two drivers who had got out of their cars, or two blokes in a pub.
Maybe all of those people who fall down the stairs and hit their head should wear a helmet?
I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, and accept that you were being sarcastic, but leave my comment for the benefit of those who think you were being serious.
@chrisonabike if flash-mobbing by female cyclists dressed in french maid attire is what it takes to help the roads be safer for everyone, then i think it's something we should consider lending support to.
Personally, if I have to light myself up in Hi Viz, and add bells, trinkets and lights, just to help the poor motorists see me, the question needs to be asked, if their eyesight is so bad, should they be driving?
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.