Live blog: Irish Senator who complained about cyclists goes for ride after being challenged to on Twitter; Frozen Froome turns to Cryotherapy; No Viagra in Testogel package; Boardman encourages active travel to lift burden off NHS +more

Enve’s new $750 Air Pressure Station is intended to be super accurate and precise to .5% PSI, make tubeless inflation easier and be quick and convenient to use – and for that wad of cash you don’t even get an actual air compressor! Read all about it here.

This might be our favourite video of the week! Honestly, who needs an office when you’ve got the Winnebiko and can just type in binary code?

My rehab is in full swing. Proud on what I achieved already & grateful for all the support I had
Credits: @movetocure pic.twitter.com/y2zVUV3puG

— Wout van Aert (@WoutvanAert) November 14, 2019

Van Aert suffered a horrific crash in the stage 13 time trial at this year’s Tour de France, and finally looks to be making some decent progress towards recovery. Initially this was hampered by a flawed operation immediately after the crash in France, before he had further surgery to correct it in his native Belgium. 

A survey of 7,600 adults carried out by sports retail giant Decathlon has found that the North East is the most popular region for cycling, with 16% of residents ‘regularly participating’ in cycling for sport. The researchers say the facilities on offer at Middlesborough Velodrome could be a strong contributing factor. 

Elsewhere, 39% of Londoners run, 27% of Scots enjoy swimming and 34% in the North West regularly hit the gym. 

.@Chris_Boardman says if we can get people into more active lifestyles it will benefit healthcare and the environment #bbcqt pic.twitter.com/iopttQx1J4

— BBC Question Time (@bbcquestiontime) November 14, 2019

Although Manchester’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner wasn’t given a great deal of airtime – with most of the programme focussing on something beginning with ‘B’ – he did chip in during a discussion about the NHS. Boardman talked of the £8 billion the NHS spends every year treating patients who have illnesses related to inactivity and obesity, and said we need to get more people walking and cycling in an attempt to ease the burden. He cited the Netherlands and Denmark as examples of nations who are already far ahead of us, with over 60% of commutes in those countries taken on foot or by bike. 

On the ‘B’ issue, Boardman said: “I think it’s crazy to have three years of learning and then treat the population as children”, and is in favour of a second referendum on Britain leaving the European Union. 

Dear @Edinburgh_CC @edinhelp @adamrmcvey I would like to know why you are laying concrete blocks on the Mound totally blocking the bicycle lane? How does this fit with the green transport plan for #Edinburgh ? Why is it carried out by illegal Xmas market under cover of night? pic.twitter.com/0VbKirXU5o

— Lord Woolamaloo (@LordWoolamaloo) November 14, 2019

This time in Edinburgh, it’s because of a massive truck laying concrete blocks on it, thus rendering the cycle lane unusable. Councillor Lesley Macinnes has promised to ‘follow up’ today…

No, it’s not and I have not been made aware of any plans to essentially render the cycle lane impassable, as the photos appear to show. Will be following up this morning.

— CllrLesleyMacinnes (@lmacinnessnp) November 15, 2019

Here come the cyclists in Zhongshan Suits @vincenzonibali @MATTEOTRENTIN @CalebEwan @s_kruijswijk @Eganbernal
Costumes traditionnels pour les champions #ShanghaiCriterium pic.twitter.com/haPdTLS7Xf

— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) November 15, 2019

A grieving Dutch family has travelled to Melbourne to see a drug addict sentenced to 11 years behind bars for running down a young cyclist. https://t.co/3aOBBcmCIV @cassiezervos #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/kSQAsyMQML

— 7NEWS Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) November 15, 2019

The family of Gitta Scheenhouwer travelled to Melbourne to see 28-year-old Michael Panayides sentenced for causing her death. Panayides was on his way to buy drugs and travelling at twice the speed limit in a stolen Mercedes-Benz when he hit Ms Scheenhouwer, 27.

Panayides ran away, before later pleading guilty to culpable driving causing Ms Scheenhouwer’s death. He will serve a minimum of eight-and-a-half years, with the prosecutor labelling his driving as “incomprehensible”. The judge said: “It’s a serious case of negligent culpable driving emanating from blatant disregard for the life and safety of others on the road.

“Failing to stop in these circumstances is a despicable and cowardly act.

“Mr Panayides, each of your victims has had a profound, senseless, needless loss at your hands.”

It was @GWR Day yesterday – and my buddy @NeilLaughton set the riding a Penny Farthing without using your hands: 10km – 23 mins, 23 secs; Furthest distance in an hour – 26.0 km and Fastest average speed over 100m – 29.6 kph pic.twitter.com/lcbAPSlih0

— Mark Beaumont (@MrMarkBeaumont) November 15, 2019

To celebrate Guinness World Record Day, Neil Laughton rode for what we think was an hour on a Penny Farthing non-handed – he cycled 26 kilometres in an hour, and on the way to that he also rode the fastest non-handed Penny Farthing 10km and the fastest average speed over 10 seconds. He was congratulated by fellow world record holder Mark Beaumont, who cycled the fastest hour on a Penny Farthing with hands allowed earlier this year.

Gary Lynch reversed into Arthur Bourlet while trying to evade officers.

Full story here.

Confirmed in Richard Freeman hearing that there was no Viagra in the Testogel package.

— Matt Lawton (@Lawton_Times) November 15, 2019

According to The Times’ Matt Lawton, the tribunal has just confirmed that there was no Viagra in the disputed package containing Testogel. You can catch up on yesterday’s events at the tribunal here. 

 

 

 

 

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Sliding into tabor World Cup like…. Thanks for the tyres @challengetires

A post shared by (@tompidcock) on Nov 15, 2019 at 2:21am PST

OK, definitely no Viagra in the 2011 order. Phil Burt, who opened the package, giving evidence. Order note says there were five items: Testogel, Logynon (contraceptive pill), Montelukast (asthma drug) , Noxil (“for acne” says Burt. PanOxyl maybe?) and Valoid (antihistamine)

— Tom Cary (@tomcary_tel) November 15, 2019

Giving evidence at the tribunal today, Dr Phil Burt has confirmed all five contents of the Testogel order made by Richard Freeman. It was said yesterday that British Cycling ordered Viagra to help with some riders’ ‘nerve issues’, but Steve Peters denied it was used for the benefits of performance enhancing. 

The hearing continues…

Today’s evidence was shorter than the previous days, where the lead physiotherapist at British Cycling Phil Bury was the witness. As detailed below, he said what else was in Richard Freeman’s 2011 order from Fit4Sport that contained the Testogel, and also referred to a falling out Sutton had with Freeman over an expensive flight ticket fromthe track world cup in Australian in 2015. 

In today’s episode of my recovery #RoadToTDF2020 #RoadToTokyo2020 #cryotherapy pic.twitter.com/lOL2pwaJBh

— Chris Froome (@chrisfroome) November 15, 2019

It appears every trick in the book is being used to help Chris Froome recover from his latest surgery – this time it’s cryotherapy, which involves freezing or near-freezing temperatures, so whatever he’s standing in it won’t be warm. 

Steven Burke MBE (second left in this photo from the 2012 Olympics) has announced his retirement after a 14 year career with British Cycling. Burke was an integral member of the team pursuit squad who claimed the gold medal in both the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games, and in Beijing 2008 he won bronze in the individual pursuit aged just 20. He also won three elite European titles and one elite world title during his career.

Via a statement from British Cycling, Burke said: “Firstly, I would like to thank all of my team mates throughout the Great Britain Cycling Team. I have enjoyed working with them all. It has been an epic journey achieving Olympic gold with Geraint Thomas, Brad Wiggins, Pete Kennaugh, Owain Doull and Ed Clancy and I will look back on some great moments with them.

“Although I have retired from international duty and looking forward to new challenges, I still plan to race in the Six Day events, help out the local riders in Team SB Hub and Cycle Sport Pendle, and to ride my bike for years to come.”

Our forum has come alive after cycle.london asked what the longest feasible commute is, with his new round trip journey after moving house being 44 miles a day. Do you put in some serious mileage to get to work and back, and what distance can you realistically do day-in-day-out and still have energy for other stuff? Take part in our poll and let us know your thoughts, as we’re keen to crowdsource some info and tips from other super commuters for a future article on dealing with long bike commutes. 

Hey @PatKennyNT Speaking of cyclists I have just driven through Terenure and guess what 4 cyclists & one motor cyclists broke a red light and weaved in and out of traffic in order to continue their journey. Rules must apply to all road users.

— Senator G Craughwell (@GCraughwell) November 11, 2019

You may recall from Wednesday’s live blog the story of Senator Gerard Craughwell, who was challenged to go for a ride around Dublin after posting the above tweet complaining about cyclists. Senator Craughwell said “I might just do that” –  and even though he admitted to not having ridden a bike for 50 years, today he kept his promise!

So I said I would undertake the challenge of a cycle around Dublin. Today I collected the bicycle. Took a tour around the city from Capel St to Leinster House. It was scary. So let’s see how this exercise goes. pic.twitter.com/AUYErEVX3Q

— Senator G Craughwell (@GCraughwell) November 15, 2019

Senator Craughwell said it was “scary” and mentioned that he found delivery vans parking in cycle lanes a nuisance, which forced him into traffic. In another reply, he said: “I guess it would have been wrong to speak on cyclists & cycling without giving it a go.”

He was accompanied by I BIKE Dublin members, and says he will be back out on Monday as part of his own personal project to see Dublin by bike for himself. 

It’s refreshing to see Senator Craughwell was willing to change his perceptions, and hopefully he can use his political influence to improve cycling infrastructure in Dublin after his experiences.