Live blog: Bus shelter built in cycle lane still there six months on; Rare Fausto Coppi jersey sold for €20k; Silca launch $30 titanium drinking straws with “better strength-to-weight ratio”; Jeremy Vine accused of joining “bullying” Cycleway thread +more

If you’re not familiar with the utterly inspired genius work of Jim’ll Paint It, it’s worth having Facebook just to see his creations which include Ross Kemp on Toast, Brian Blessed riding a Henry Hoover through space and the Teenage Mutant Tina Turners. 

Let’s get this show on the road! Super excited https://t.co/80u9B2bZuq

— Vicky Williamson (@VicsWilliamson) December 5, 2019

Vicky Williamson – who won a bronze medal in the team sprint at the 2012 world track championships – has today announced her plans to switch from cycling to bobsleigh, having already got some cool runnings in with the GB bobsleigh team and completed her first training camp.  

Williamson made her comeback at the 2019 UCI Track Cycling World Championships following a horrific crash in January 2016 which saw her break her neck and back and dislocating her pelvis amongst other injuries. In a statement on her career change she said: “Cycling has been a big part of my life since I was a teenager back when I came through the Girls 4 Gold Talent ID programme. In a way I’m sad to be moving on from it but equally I’m excited about what could happen in my bobsleigh career. My crash in 2016 changed my life, and although I would say it has inhibited my ability to excel to the top of the sport again, my athletic capability has still allowed me to continue in elite sport. I couldn’t have got through it without the support I received from British Cycling who funded my rehab and supported my return – I will always be thankful.”

In a statement she said: 

It’s basic mathematics: Narrower pavements + more cyclists = increased risk to pedestrians walking along the High Road. Would you argue that in 2012 only one woman died from rabies, therefore rabid dogs pose no threat?

— Serena Lit (@serena_tara_lit) December 5, 2019

It started when Serena Lit – a PR and events manager for Conservative parliamentary candidate Seena Shah – defended an article by Shah which details her opposition to the construction of the CS9 Cycleway in Chiswick. Numerous replies took issue with her comparison, and claimed that there is evidence to suggest CS9 would reduce road collisions through Chiswick. 

The cyclists will be in a segregated lane so simple mathematics would suggest lower risk to pedestrians…

— TheMiddleWay (@TheMiddleWay9) December 5, 2019

How wrong can you be? Narrower pavements in some places, sure, but they’ll be pavements without cyclists, because they’ll have a dedicated, protected cycle lane. Whereas now, in some places unprotected cyclists feel safer riding on the pavement.

— Ken Munn #FBPE (@KenJMunn) December 5, 2019

This is not basic mathematics. It’s nonsense.

— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) December 5, 2019

One of these was Jeremy Vine, who was then accused of joining a “mass bullying effort” against Ms Lit. Mr Vine declined to continued answering back and wished Ms Lit well. 

Thank-you, @chiswickish, much appreciated. I will leave the conversation as I certainly don’t want anyone to be upset by it. The cycling issue in W4 feels personal to a lot of us as we both know. Thank-you again; and best wishes Seena and @serena_tara_lit.

— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) December 6, 2019

Work is set to begin on the CS9 route through Chiswick on December 12th after being approved by TfL. Seena Shah says of the plans: “I believe that Brentford and Isleworth has regressed under a Labour MP, a Labour Mayor and Labour council. Under Ruth Cadbury, Chiswick has seen the Cycleway 9 cycle path approved along our busiest road, putting pedestrians at risk and jeopardising our already struggling retail economy by removing pavement space, as well as parking and loading bays.

“What’s more, construction for this is due to start on 12th December, before Hammersmith Bridge has been resolved. Labour are yet to provide a solution to the closure of Hammersmith Bridge and the consequential increase in traffic at residential and main roads throughout Chiswick. The Chiswick High Road, Chiswick Lane, Sutton Court Road, Barrowgate Road and others leading to the Hogarth Roundabout, Chiswick Roundabout, Chiswick Bridge and Kew Bridge are totally gridlocked and this is unacceptable.”

The Independent have compiled some extracts from the new book (which we’ll be reviewing in full soon) focussing on the story of Bicicletas Ositto, the bicycle manufacturer owned by Pablo Escobar’s older brother Roberto. 

Roberto was a serious cyclist in the 60’s – claiming stage wins at the Vuelta and the RCN – and although Pablo was never in shape to compete, he was known to be a big cycling enthusiast. He bought the Bicicletas Ositto factory when Roberto retired, and the Ositto cycling team was born after making its debut in the Vuelta a Colombia in 1980. Pablo and Roberto used to ride the course on a Vespa scooter supporting their team, or by helicopter if the stage was too far away for them to get to; Pablo even had a private velodrome built for him in Medellin, with Roberto recruiting top Colombian cyclists to race around it while him and his entourage made huge bets on the winner. ​

Check back for our full review of The Big Climb in the new year – if you’re sold already you can pick it up on Amazon here. 

“Why should my right to compete be contingent on not winning?”

Full story here.

The Mouvement Pour un Cyclisme Crédible (Movement For Credible Cycling, or MPCC for short) sent a letter to David Lappartient this week calling for an increase in the number of blood tests, more timely collection of blood samples and saying that riders should be checked for plastic in their blood following the Operation Aderlass scandal. 

The UCI have defended their anti-doping controls, telling Cycling News: “The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), whose commitment to the fight against doping is regularly acknowledged by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and other organisations in this domain, fully shares the concerns of the MPCC, which also wishes to see a more effective battle for a clean sport.

“In particular, the Aderlass affair – legitimate source of concern for all concerned parties – has convinced the UCI to explore new avenues to reinforce the anti-doping fight in cycling. This reflection englobes, for example, the discussion launched with the International Testing Agency (ITA) to study the potential advantages of a future collaboration. 

“The UCI wishes to underline that, as part of the Aderlass operation, it has sanctioned several individuals, most of them active at the highest level, thanks to the sharing of information with the authorities in charge of the investigation.”

US cycling tools and accessories specialists Silca – off of the £275 track pump and the £120 set of allen keys  – have launched a titanium drinking straw which they claim is perfect for “the person who is sustainability and fashion conscious and wants a cool straw with better strength-to-weight ratio.” 

Available in four different colours, this “straw to outlive them all” is described as unbreakable, dishwasher-safe, and you get one bent one and one straight for your $30 (roughly £23). Interestingly Silca were inspired to make them after realising they could fashion straws from the offcuts of titanium left over from making their Sicuro titanium bottle cages. Silca say as a result of their straw-making, their Ti cage production process now has a 99.9% material utilisation rate.  

We’re not sure about UK availability yet, but at 30 dollars a pop you might as well whack some import fees on top and buy them directly from Silca’s US online shop. 

How about a stainless steel coffee capsule? Compatible with Nespresso machines (there are other versions for Dolce Gusto and Virtuo) Evergreen say their reusable capsules could save you up to 65% over buying single use capsules; and theirs is better for the planet because they claim only 24% of Nespresso capsules are recycled to produce energy. 

They’re also dishwasher-safe and available at half-price for £23.65 until 10pm this evening – click here to check them out. 

Cycle past it everyday, only noticed it until recently. Thanks UK, very cool. from r/bicycling

We’ve another one coming up soon, watch this space (literally, or else you might collide with a bus stop). 

If a local councillor claims that bidirectional cycle tracks are not safe, and that children would be safer cycling in bus lanes, please do remember that they are lying to you pic.twitter.com/wEm0eVeglg

— Hackney Cyclist (@Hackneycyclist) December 6, 2019

We suspect this may be in reference to the opposition to CS9 through Chiswick, which was debated on social media this morning (see further down this page). 

The jersey – a size 3 Le Coq Sportif racing jersey in mustard yellow worn by Coppi at the 39th edition of the Tour de France in 1952 – was sold for €20,000 via Aste Bolaffi with two signed photographs. A set of Coppi’s pyjamas – estimated to sell for up to €5,0000 originally – are now for sale online with a €3,000 buy it now price.  

A certain British knight of the realm is known for his large collection of cycling memorabilia… wonder if he had anything to do with the jersey sale by any chance? 

We also make this the most expensive cycling jersey ever sold, but if you know otherwise do enlighten us in the comments. 

been handed the tribunal’s 22-page annex re decision to include Sutton evidence. Panel says there was “an objective and understandable basis to warrant Mr Sutton forming the perception” of “unfairness and bullying” on part of O’Rourke due to comments made b4 he entered room…

— Tom Cary (@tomcary_tel) December 6, 2019

The former Team Sky doctor’s lawyer Mary O’Rourke QC has questioned the panel’s words, with an afternoon session currently taking place. 

Dr Freeman is accused of “knowing or believing” that the testogel he ordered in 2011 was specifically for the purposes of doping British Cycling athletes; he’s already admitted to making the order and lying to cover it up. 

We’ll have a full story on the site later today with all the latest updates on the tribunal.   

Dirty bastard cyclist pic.twitter.com/yDe98koGDP

— Uber-McAbdul (@UberAbdul) December 4, 2019

It’s Fri-yay, so what better way to spend it than by spewing sweet vitriol on road.cc’s YouTube channel? Here are a selection of favourites from our most recent video, where Mr David Arthur talks us through his time riding Rotor’s 13 Speed hydraulic groupset… 

P.s… many thanks to all our faithful YouTube followers, and feel free to say what you like. We reserve the right to post your comments here and take the pee out of them a bit from time to time though. 

The bus lane was ‘mistakenly’ built on the cycle lane above six months ago, and is yet to be moved. Neil Allington  told the Swindon Advertiser: “It’s just stupid because who on earth would put a bus shelter in a cycle lane.”

Mr Allington says he’s been in touch with Swindon Borough Council, who are waiting for a date to move the shelter back. 

Not all of the Swindon Advertiser’s faithful Facebook followers are too sympathetic though, with wise owls such as Paul Kendall saying: “Not like they use the cycle lanes anyway”… and Tony Bridgman observing: “Do they pay road tax for all these cycle lanes ??………….. and still have the Gaul to complain about a slight detour !!!!!!!”