Welcome to Friday’s live blog, with Jack Sexty, Simon MacMichael and the rest of the team.
Live blog: Movistar to use SRAM in 2020?; RGT Cycling virtual training app officially launches; Driver with no licence who hit cyclist given nine month drive ban; Cyclist carrying a child provokes online fury + more
All today’s news from the site and beyond…
Fri, Dec 20, 2019 21:51
SUMMARY
20 December 2019, 21:51
Sorry we're a bit late...
Last night was the annual road.cc Christmas bash, so we’re feeling a little fragile…
20 December 2019, 21:51
All I want for Christmas...
…is the new cutting edge Hope/Lotus track bike, starting at £15,550 + VAT. It’s just gone on sale today, read all about it here.
20 December 2019, 21:51
"Makes my blood boil": people are up in arms about a cyclist filmed riding a bike while carrying child
It has emerged that certain corners of Britain’s mainstream media with a certain political persuasion that we don’t need to detail are very annoyed about the six second clip above, showing a man carrying a child whilst riding a bike.
Terry Nichols on Facebook said: “What an irresponsible pillock. He should be prosecuted for dangerous riding and endangering the life of a minor” according to The Metro, and the Daily Mail observed how neither are wearing helmets and that it made one man’s blood boil.
Sustrans’ Jon Usher told the seething tabloids that the man was indeed in the breach of the highway code, but advised against mandatory helmet use and suggested better infrastructure as a more sensible safety measure: “The Highway Code is clear that passengers must not be carried on a cycle, unless it has been specifically built or adapted to carry one – so family cycles, cargo cycles, or any cycle fitted with a child seat fit well within the law.
“We believe the best way to increase cycling safety would be to increase the amount of cycling infrastructure that is physically separated from motor traffic, as well as reducing the levels of traffic in residential areas.”
What do you think, crime of the century? Let us know your thoughts in the comments as always…
20 December 2019, 21:51
Movistar's new Alé kit for 2020
Ending a long-standing partnership with Scottish innovators Endura, Movistar shown off their new kit from Alé at an official team presentation in Madrid for the first time.
The kit is an evolution of Alé’s PRR line, with a race-orientated an aerodynamic fit to the jerseys in the team’s familiar blue colours. Alessia Piccolo of Alé’s parent company APG commented: “For the Movistar Team we have developed numerous high-performing technical garments, which represent the highest expression of textile technology available to us today. The partnership with the team will be conducive to experimentation and the exchange of feedback. We want to be able to offer all enthusiasts of our products the benefits of a garment perfected for a team of this calibre”.
Es el momento de agradecer a quienes nos apoyáis siempre y, sobre todo, a l@s que hicisteis posible que esos niños que recibieron su primera bici hoy disfruten sobre ella por el mundo. Felices Fiestas, y que el 2020 os vaya sobre ruedas. #RodamosJuntos pic.twitter.com/QzFFzkazz6
— Movistar Team (@Movistar_Team) December 20, 2019
Meanwhile, Movistar have been getting into the festive spirit with this nice little video where team members give thanks to the people who gave them their first bikes… that’s the gist of it anyway if you’re not a Spanish speaker.
20 December 2019, 21:51
Liverpool to get £4 million unique cycle path on central reservation
The boulevard on Princes Avenue in the Toxteth area of the city is set to be transformed into a 1km long cycle path, a £4 million scheme that is set to be completed in the summer of 2020, reports The Liverpool Echo. It’s part of Liverpool’s wider Clean Air Plan after declaring a climate emergency recently, and the ctcle path with also form part of a ‘green corridor’ extension to Otterspool that is set to be delivered within the next year.
Councillor Sharon Connor said: “The Princes Avenue/Road scheme is a fantastic example of how our Better Roads programme is breathing new life into Liverpool’s communities.
“The feedback from the local community has been fantastic which will help give this scheme will have a real wow-factor. It’s going to revive the most beautiful boulevard in the city and transform how the wider Toxteth community interact and use this reimagined space.
“The new cycle path within the central reservation will also provide a unique experience for cyclists travelling to and from south of the city and is another example of how we are actively working to reduce the city’s carbon footprint, improve our air quality and encourage healthier lifestyles.”
20 December 2019, 21:51
Driver with no licence who hit cyclist and fled the scene is banned from driving
A Dunfermline man with no driving licence has been punished for seriously injuring a cyclist and fleeing the scene with… a nine month driving ban and a £300 fine, reports The Courier.
Unemployed Lee Renwick hit the man in Dunfermline on March 1st, admitting at Dunfermline Sheriff Court that he drove a car carelessly, failed to keep a proper lookout, entered the carriageway when it was unsafe to do so and caused his vehicle to collide with a cyclist to his severe injury. He also admitted failing to stop, saying that he “panicked” before driving away.
The cyclist needed surgery to have a plate inserted into a broken wrist, and also required stitches on his chin. Sheriff James MacDonald said to Renwick: “You chose to drive away from the scene of an accident when a member of the public had been injured.
“You shouldn’t have been behind the wheel in the first place because you don’t have a licence.”
Renwick is now seemingly even more banned from the roads for the next nine months, after which time presumably he will be allowed to start learning to drive with a provisional licence if he chooses to do so.
20 December 2019, 21:51
Garish new Fat Lad at the Back jerseys certainly stand out
Not quite sure what Facebook is trying to tell me, but this sponsored post featuring the loud and proud new Bobby Dazzler jersey from everyone’s favourite oversized cycling apparel brand Fat Lad at the Back has just popped up on the newsfeed. If you’re digging the colours, you can pick one up for £64.99 on the FLATB website here.
20 December 2019, 21:51
Drew Christensen is men's Zwift academy winner for 2019, bagging himself a pro contract with NTT Procycling
The 18-year-old from New Zealand will join up with NTT Procycling’s U23 team in 2020, fending off challenges from three other finalists to be crowned this year’s champ. 60,000 male riders entered the Zwift Academy competition in 2019, which begins online before the finalists are taken on a training camp to prove themselves on the road. He said: “I entered Zwift Academy with an eye on a semi-final place, I can’t believe I have a pro contract! It will be great to ride on the team alongside Martin Lavrič and learn from his experience through the Zwift Academy and onto a pro team.”
Lavrič had his contract extended, which means there will be two Zwift Academy winners representing the NTT Continental Cycling Team for the first time in 2020.
20 December 2019, 21:51
RGT Cycling virtual training app launches
“Think Zwift, but different”, RGT Cycling told us when sending over details of their virtual training platform, which has now officially launched after four years in development. We checked it out over a year ago when it was still known as Road Grand Tours, and now as well as the name shortening they’ve tweaked it and launched a subscription model that will cost £12.99 a month for the premium version, or totally free for the… well, free version.
RGT Cycling say they’ve done extensive work into rider’s movements to make the virtual world as realistic as possible, with drafting and braking all taken into consideration. There are eight real roads for users to explore, including the Cap de Formentor and the Stelvio Pass, and there is also a ‘Magic Roads’ feature that converts GPX files into a virtual course, so you can pretty much ride any road in the world.
There are also events, which users on the free subscription can also access, and you can also organise private races with friends. Both the ‘Freemium’ and Premium subscriptions are available now – you need to download the mobile app (available on iPhone and Android) to connect your devices and register, and the Screen App (for Windows, Mac, iPad and Apple TV) to give you the display – you can head over to the RGT Cycling website for more info.
20 December 2019, 21:51
Have Movistar canned Campagnolo? Team's Canyon bikes spotted with SRAM components
Tchau Campagnolo. Oi SRAM, Oi Zipp. Bike da @Movistar_Team para 2020. pic.twitter.com/O2BcuhDRzY
— País do Ciclismo (@DoCiclismo) December 19, 2019
After switching from Endura to Ale for their kit, it looks like Movistar might be about to end another long-standing partnership after some of their team bikes were spotted with SRAM components. The bikes in the leaked pics also have Zipp wheels, whereas Movistar previously used rims from Campagnolo’s Bora lineup.
Though we’re unaware off the exact source of these pictures, there was no Campagnolo parts on display during the Movistar team presentation yesterday, and on the Instagram post below it looks like efforts have been made to stay away from showing the bike’s wheels and drivetrain…
Once the dominant component supplier to pro teams, if this is confirmed then Campagnolo will only be featuring on the bikes of two World Tour teams in 2020, Lotto Soudal and UAE Team Emirates.
20 December 2019, 21:51
Flanders to get 22km long cycle path with smart lighting alongside motorway
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The Brussels Times reports that the city of Mechelen and the municipality of Bonheiden have joined forces to install ‘smart lighting’ along a 22-kilometre bicycle path next to the N15 motorway in Flanders. It will be the first of its kind in Belgium and was born out of a survey from young people, who said the lighting would be a good idea for people travelling on the road to reach Mechelen city centre. The lights turn onto full beam automatically when they detect movement, and are dimmed when there is nobody on it.
The total cost of the project is said to be €242,000, most of which will be paid for by the Agency of Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
20 December 2019, 21:51
Suggestions please!
The https://t.co/vVgfyt8IYK Tech Team needs your help! What has been the best and worst bike or tech innovations of the past decade? And go… pic.twitter.com/4pg8es0KzR
— road.cc (@roadcc) December 20, 2019
What’s the worst bike thing of the last decade then? Answers here, on Twitter or on a postcard to help us write a round-up of 2010’s rubbishness for your amusement.
20 December 2019, 21:51
Crap Tech innovations...or lack of.
Liam here. I’m throwing a nice general bike industry moan into the crap tech chat.
The last decade has seen so many annoying new standards, be that around the bottom bracket, at the hubs, or in the rim beds. I have a special hatred for BB30a.
It seems that the bike industry keeps making our lives more difficult. And they probably will for the next ten years so I can moan about this in 2029 too.
20 December 2019, 21:51
Lotto Jumbo annouce 2020 Tour team...in 2019.
Our 2020 @LeTour team will be @rogla @tom_dumoulin @s_kruijswijk @tonymartin85 @seppkuss @LaurensDePlus @RGUpdate and @WoutvanAert
— Team Jumbo-Visma cycling (@JumboVismaRoad) December 20, 2019
Well, there’s nothing like being prepared.
If Lotto Jumbo can get these riders to the start line fit and ready, it’ll be an incredible line-up.
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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
Robert Hardy 24 seconds ago
Not as rare as they should be after taking milage into account. Clearly part of that equation is better education of pedestrians , but I have no issues with making cyclists subject to the speed limits. The majority do not exceed 20mph, except for the rare occasions they have a good breeze or an incline in their favour. Those that have the capability are often already recording their data anyway, the excuse that cycles are not fitted with speedometers seems very lame in this day and age.
Robert Hardy 8 minutes ago
But then there would would have been grounds for prosecuting the driver in that circumstance as he would have been substantially exceeding the speed limit. The cyclist was innocent under the law but I consider him profoundly responsible for that death. We ask for considerable consideration by motorists and we have now been given legal backing for it, it does not become us to defend hairing round public park roads in substantial excess of a speed limit considered to offer reasonable safety to vulnerable road users.
Robert Hardy 19 minutes ago
Not as rare as they should be after taking milage into account. Clearly part of that equation is better education of pedestrians , but I have no issues with making cyclists subject to the speed limits. The majority do not exceed 20mph, except for the rare occasions they have a good breeze or an incline in their favour. Those that have the capability are often already recording their data anyway, the excuse that cycles are not fitted with speedometers seems very lame in this day and age.
chrisonabike 2 hours ago
I believe "hi-vis" isn't actually worth that much - certainly not compared to eg. the value of "reflectives" as soon as it gets darker. But even those are still just PPE though - this is the lowest rung (least effective) on the hierarchy of health and safety hazard controls. And "visual aids for drivers" do nothing if drivers don't do their part, no matter how much is worn...
60somethingcyclist 2 hours ago
Not the best timing, but not the major issue he's trying to turn it into either. Fitness amongst young people is a problem when it comes to armed forces recruitment, as many are having trouble with the requirements needed to pass the tests because of their inactive lifestyles. This investment will help deal with the problem.
chrisonabike 2 hours ago
Seemed pretty visible to me - and she was sporting light-coloured hair, bag, footwear and bright trousers. What if she'd been approaching a motorist "out of the sun", or passing a field of oilseed rape or stand of autumnal trees later in the year? If you think that's flippant, note that "sun" and "tree leaves" have been advanced as defense / mitigation in court despite cyclists following guidance ('should'). Frankly she's already done the best preaching possible: been a "normal person" riding a bike.
Rendel Harris 2 hours ago
@60somethingcyclist Looks like you've stepped straight into silly comment mode without looking at all at the actual facts of the case. It has nothing to do with shared paths, the cyclist was on a public road on the vehicle carriageway, the pedestrian was standing on a traffic island waiting to cross. Evidence from independent witnesses shows that the pedestrian stepped out into the path of the cyclist without warning when he was around two metres from her. Much has been made of the fact that he was possibly riding at 5mph more than the motor vehicle speed limit for the road but he could have been riding at 10 mph and he still would have had no chance of avoiding her. The pedestrian was solely responsible for the incident and no amount of "mutual consideration and respect" would have changed that. Suggest reading the articles and evidence in future before commenting with such nonsense.
60somethingcyclist 2 hours ago
@yodhrin I should know, I was one.
chrisonabike 2 hours ago
@60somethingcyclist hmm... that's a good lesson, but perhaps not one to draw from this case where someone stepped out in front of and close to an oncoming cyclist. There may be other lessons from this case - eg. how do we best train people to expect cyclists, understand that cyclists can move unexpectedly quickly, and educate cyclists that speed awareness matters for them also (even if not explicitly in law). And perhaps what places it's appropriate for cyclists to train / exercise in (and provision of such places if there's sufficient demand but they're lacking)? But it's hard to extrapolate that from even a handful of incidents, never mind one.
60somethingcyclist 2 hours ago
Good to see the Secretary of State practicing what she preaches, especially adhering to DfT advice on wearing a helmet. Usual keyboard clowns having a dig. One valid point though, the Highway Code advice on cycle wear clearly states "Daylight & Poor Light: You should wear light-coloured or fluorescent clothing (such as neon yellow, orange, or pink) to help other road users see you" Some form of hi-viz would have been a good example.
36 thoughts on “Live blog: Movistar to use SRAM in 2020?; RGT Cycling virtual training app officially launches; Driver with no licence who hit cyclist given nine month drive ban; Cyclist carrying a child provokes online fury + more”
I guess the invite to your
I guess the invite to your Christmas Bash is in the post; I will attend the opening of an envelope.
Re: boling blood – Take the
Re: boling blood – Take the nay sayers to holland for some observational study.
If only those with boiling
If only those with boiling blood would get quite so upset about the real threats, like obesity, pollution, climate change etc.
burtthebike wrote:
along with all the speeding drivers on the school run, checking faceache whilst having unsecured children in the car.
What makes my blood boil is
What makes my blood boil is people who video in portrait. WTF is wrong with these people? Do they turn their telly on it’s side?
Also, if they were so upset why not intervene? Is getting likes on Facebook more important than their supposed concern for the child?
“I’m soooo concerned for the welfare of a child I’m going to do nothing to help them but will film it for my Facebook friends”
billymansell wrote:
While I would never shoot portrait myself, I believe the argument is that most people would watch it on their phone anyway… Which is a fair point (though I’d still prefer it sideways).
billymansell wrote:
My village facebook group had a post, this one time, with a photo, ranting about people leaving litter on a bench and not putting it in the bin which was about four feet away.
Except that they’d not picked up the litter and put it in a bench themselves.
Iknow this, because I’d seen that exact litter when I’d gone to the shop, and had picked it up and put it in a bin. I hadn’t posted a picture or comment on facebook about it, though, so maybe it never happened…
Probably won’t be long before
Probably won’t be long before the behaviour police will be insisting that track athletes wear helmets. Let’s face it, the 100m sprinters are doing nearly 40km/h and I can’t do that on the flat on my bike.
I don’t think anybody has got any business intervening, though it I’m sure they will, even going as far as knocking on your door to tell you your child should not be playing outside on their pedal car or even running without a helmet.
Seems the person filming was
Seems the person filming was so angry they lost the ability to use actual words.
quiff wrote:
It’s Bristolian.
9 month ban; must be shitting
9 month ban; must be shitting himself
9 month ban for someone
9 month ban for someone without a licence; I’m very nearly speechless. Talk about making the punishment fit the crime. Or perhaps this is the new “people’s government”* new policy on giving serious offenders heavier sentences?
* the one elected by only 43.6% of the people, but still got a massive majority in parliament.
burtthebike wrote:
It is as it always has been, a conviction on a motoring offence results in driving licence penalties/endorsements,whether you hold that licence or not. The court cant do anything differently without a change in the law,which would have to come from parliament.
So start by lobbying your MP.
Awavey wrote:
9 month ban for someone without a licence; I’m very nearly speechless. Talk about making the punishment fit the crime. Or perhaps this is the new “people’s government”* new policy on giving serious offenders heavier sentences?
* the one elected by only 43.6% of the people, but still got a massive majority in parliament.
— Awavey It is as it always has been, a conviction on a motoring offence results in driving licence penalties/endorsements,whether you hold that licence or not. The court cant do anything differently without a change in the law,which would have to come from parliament. So start by lobbying your MP.— burtthebike
I’m waiting until he’s responded to my demand that the report on Russian interference in our elections is published; just imagine if it showed that the referendum wasn’t kosher.
burtthebike wrote:
But, but…
1. careless driving
2. failed to keep a proper lookout
3. entered the carriageway when it was unsafe to do so
4. collided with a cyclist
5. failed to stop at the scene
6. no driver’s license
7. no insurance
£300 and a 9 month ban is seriously taking the piss. He has shown that he’s prepared to drive without a license or insurance. Minimum 2 years ban and threat of custodial sentence if caught driving while banned or, after the ban, if he drives without either a license or insurance.
burtthebike wrote:
You mean the party which secured roughly 30% more votes than the next closest party and slightly less than all the other parties put together?
Please, lets not turn a cycling forum into a political soapbox.
Welsh boy wrote:
What I meant was that a party which got less than 50% of the popular vote, isn’t a “people’s party”. It’s the party of the 43.6%, not the 56.4% who voted against them. Like Trump in America, they didn’t win the popular vote, it’s just that our absurd, illogical, some might even say insane, voting system gave them a massive, undeserved majority in parliament. Now I’m not sure what your definition of democracy is, but last time I checked it was the will of the majority of the citizens, which the tories clearly don’t have, they just have a majority of seats in parliament, so they clearly aren’t democratic or the “people’s party”.
Please feel free to disagree, and to explain why a political subject like how cycling is treated in our society isn’t a suitable subject for discussion on a cycling forum.
burtthebike wrote:
How many governments in the post war period got more than 50% of the vote?
Did you complain in 1997?
Labour got an enormous majority then on a similar vote share to the Conservatives in 2019.
Welsh boy wrote:
And? Get 43 percent of the vote, get 43 percent of the seats. That’s democracy. Not “get 30 percent more votes than the next closest party, get a majority of the seats and dominate the country for 5 years.”
(sorry, had to respond to this. First past the post is undemocratic and indefensible.)
Luca Patrono wrote:
FPTP is not an ideal system by any means. A few years ago the British public were given the option of a far more representative system and they rejected it outright.
So FPTP is what we’re stuck with.
Rich_cb wrote:
FPTP is not an ideal system by any means. A few years ago the British public were given the option of a far more representative system and they rejected it outright.
So FPTP is what we’re stuck with.— Luca Patrono
AV was not an improvement. Analysis showed it would not have changed either any of or the overwhelming majority of election results. The Tories and Labour killed it by mandating that it be put to a referendum and then throwing the kitchen sink at the campaign against it.
Now they gaslight by saying that referendum was the electorate voting to stick with FPTP forever. Constitutional reform should not be linked to what the electorate think or can be persuaded to think, it should be linked to what is objectively most democratic and representative of the people.
(sorry guys, I imagine most of you hate the political discussion. hope you can forgive the strength of feeling given the situation atm)
Luca Patrono wrote:
Of course it is an improvement.
It would guarantee that the winning party in any seat has more support than the second place party.
If it wouldn’t change the results of elections dramatically that just shows that FPTP, for all its flaws, isn’t as unrepresentative as some make out.
I do enjoy the idea of making a country more democratic by ignoring the opinion of the electorate.
Rich_cb wrote:
The proposal on offer wasn’t an improvement, and it was, as you point out, very little different to the existing situation, so why would anyone vote for it? If we had been offered proportional representation, then the result might have been different, but the result is used to discredit PR, which we weren’t offered.
FPTP is not democratic, and very few people claim that it is, they just keep repeating the mindless mantra that “it’s our system” and therefore, in the good old British tradition, right.
burtthebike wrote:
It was an improvement and ironically the last few elections have shown exactly why.
Tactical voting? Remain Alliance? Brexit party standing down to manipulate the results?
None of those things would happen under AV.
How is that ‘not an improvement’?
Brilliant – Liverpool are
Brilliant – Liverpool are building a cycle path in the central reservation of a dual carriageway for cyclists to feel safer and improve air quality.
How does that work when you have vehicles on both sides. How do the young/elderly get onto the poluted cycle path across 2 lanes of traffic ???
They are doing this in Birmingham on the A38 Bristol Road through Northfield as well. Yet another brainless idea of councils to put cycle paths where you cant actuallyget to them to use them.
Vlad the Impailer wrote:
Sounds nice and relaxing to be cycling along a thin path whilst tonnes of speeding metal vehicles go past you only a couple of feet away. Aaaah – just breathe in that clean air and enjoy the relaxing woosh as the cars go past.
hawkinspeter wrote:
It’s not as bad as it seems – the dividing bit is raised up and about 15 metres wide. I’d have no worries being there – much nicer than on the road.
Whenever I was riding down
Whenever I was riding down the Bristol Road in Brum, I always thought that they should put a cycle route down the middle bit, where trams used to run.
ktache wrote:
That’s even worse – you’d have to cycle with the chattering of squirrels on either side jsut waiting to pounce.
ktache wrote:
Which, I thought, they now have done.
ktache wrote:
Princess avenue in Liverpool is pretty similar – a wide expanse of grass and trees with a footpath, and park benches (mostly unused) hemmed in by two lanes of traffic either side.
As long as access to it is properly thought out, it seems a good idea. The squirrels are still a problem though.
Bloody Russians interfering
Bloody Russians interfering again…
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/dec/19/leaked-nhs-dossier-inquiry-focuses-on-personal-gmail-account
Now that Movistar will stop
Now that Movistar will stop using Campy, will the Canyon Ultimate SLX Team Movistar model switch to SRAM?
Tried RGT last year when I
Tried RGT last year when I started needing to do some structured indoor training to get ready for an Ironman I did this summer. I’m cheap so when I saw it was still free (in beta) I jumped on it. Somewhat raw but I could see a lot of potential in the desktop app. Stopped using it when they updated it to be used with both a phone and laptop (yes, you need both). Lots of bugs and delays in development, and it had trouble keeping my power meter and HR monitor connected when I never had that issue with the older desktop app. They were always good at responding quickly to users’ posts in their FB group, though. Hope they got most of the problems solved because it did look nice, and it’s always good to have some competitors to the top dog.
Yeah, they’ve taken efforts
Yeah, they’ve taken efforts to hide the drivetrain, if you ignore the pic (last) of the definitely-not-Campy chainset…
The no licence thing is a
The no licence thing is a clasic case where the offenders needs a good thrashing, on a monthly basis and then humiliating community service.