Welcome to the live blog with Simon MacMichael, Jack Sexty and the rest of the team.
Jeremy Vine states bleeding obvious to anti-Cycleway councillor; Snowy Alpe d’Huez; Boris Johnson wants bike for Christmas; Crowdfunder for Josh Quigley as he undergoes surgery; Team Ineos Christmas card; CX World Cup mudfest; and more on the live blog
All today’s news from the site and beyond as we head towards Christmas
Mon, Dec 23, 2019 20:07
SUMMARY
23 December 2019, 20:07
Some stories you may have missed at the weekend
Jumbo-Visma to take three leaders to the Tour de France
Rohan Dennis says ‘mental struggles’ led him to abandon Tour de France
‘Like Zwift, but different’ (and free) – new indoor training app RGT Cycling launches
Man arrested after cyclist killed in West Yorkshire hit-and-run
Round-the-world cyclist Josh Quigley seriously injured while riding across US
Final section of Dartmoor’s Wray Valley Trail completed after 20 years
Alberto Contador and wife Macarena Pescador reported to be divorcing
23 December 2019, 20:07
Missed the races? They're well worth a watch.
Both the men’s and women’s races were ridden in horrendous conditions with mud pools that covered the bikes up to the cassettes. There were crashes galore, punctures aplenty, and even a few hypothermic riders being peeled out of skinsuits. So, standard cyclocross then.
23 December 2019, 20:07
Not another bike category...
Just what is a “grail” bike? Thighs Club founder Chanel explains in her own unique way.
23 December 2019, 20:07
Just imagine if he hopped back on without noticing...ouch.
The saddle sure, the seat post you can keep https://t.co/fR2oifAMZo
— Tom Pidcock (@Tompid) December 22, 2019
The last lap of yesterday’s CX World Cup wasn’t just hard on the riders. The bikes took a battering too.
Pidcock’s seatpost snapped off (we assume in a crash) and the British Champion was left to ride out of the saddle to the pits.
Looks like this fan is gets to keep the seatpost as a momento.
23 December 2019, 20:07
Who's been out in fancy dress then?
Good day out on the pusher with the @Sheffrec_CC fancy dress ride. Amazing how much respect you get on the road from wearing a Scooby Doo outfit. Was blooming boiling in this today. pic.twitter.com/hYYwwonchy
— Marc Etches (@marc_etches) December 22, 2019
We love a fancy dress club run. Mostly because a costume provides an extra layer on a cold day.
Photos please, best costume wins some road.cc socks. Go!
23 December 2019, 20:07
Nope Nope Nope
Yep, that’s 500 MILES ON A TURBO. Bonkers.
Chris ‘Hoppo’ Hopkins is no stranger to monumental days spent on the indoor trainer. In fact, 500 miles is a little cafe ride for him.
Back in 2017, he rode 2,500km (1,553miles) to reclaim the title of longest Zwift ride.
23 December 2019, 20:07
Throwback to one of the most dramatic days
What. A. Day.
Shock, anger and disappointment in the space of 30 seconds
Flashback to the stage that never was at this year’s @LeTour! pic.twitter.com/qxc4yP2W5Q
— Mitchelton-SCOTT (@MitcheltonSCOTT) December 21, 2019
Could the 2020 road race season hurry up? Please.
23 December 2019, 20:07
Boris Johnson wants a bicycle for Christmas
Prime Minister Boris Johnson wants a bicycle for Christmas, but admits he may have to buy it for himself … it’s also debatable whether he’d be able to ride it any time soon, given that when he was Foreign Secretary his minders banned him from taking to the saddle on security grounds.
It’s to replace one given to him when he was Mayor of London by Chris Boardman which got stolen from outside the Houses of Parliament, reports inews.co.uk.
Imagine you were playing Secret Santa to the occupant of Number 10 Downing Street … what would you buy him to unwrap on Christmas morning?
23 December 2019, 20:07
Crowdfunder set up for round-the-world cyclist Josh Quigley
A Go Fund Me page has been set up to raise funds for round-the-world cyclist Josh Quigley who was due to undergo surgery in Texas this morning after sustaining multiple injuries when he was hit from behind by a driver travelling at an estimated 70mph (read the full story here).
Lloyd Brett, who follows Quigley on LinkledIn and set up the page, said “Josh has been on an incredible journey around the world only to be struck by a car on his final furlong towards Florida which is absolutely heart breaking given how close he was to completing his journey and how close we are to Christmas and NY.
“ALL proceeds will go directly to support Josh on any costs he incurs to get him home and for him to finish this challenge … he’s been inspiring people of his journey for the past several months – maybe time to give something back.
I can’t begin to think of the things that maybe going through his mind at the moment. I am positive that the LinkedIn network will come together to support this mammoth challenge. Every little helps!”
So far, £740 has been raised and you can donate here.
23 December 2019, 20:07
A cracker of a Christmas card from Team Ineos
2019 was a great year on paper. Here's our Christmas card to you pic.twitter.com/q4WJ6YHXyt
— Team INEOS (@TeamINEOS) December 20, 2019
23 December 2019, 20:07
Your seasonal reminder that climbs you see on the Tour de France are ski stations in the winter ...
Looks like a white Christmas on Alp d’Huez pic.twitter.com/XFV1bkVa69
— Race Radio (@TheRaceRadio) December 23, 2019
23 December 2019, 20:07
Fly, my pretties ...
Not many Red Bull Soapbox racers like this…
Watch #RedBullSoapboxRace all through the holidays on @DaveChannel pic.twitter.com/Si5yLaHvjo
— Red Bull UK (@RedBullUK) December 21, 2019
23 December 2019, 20:07
Caption this ...
After the news earlier that Boris Johnson wants a bike for Christmas, Brompton Bicycle took to Facebook to suggest that he could do worse than buy one of their ones, having visited their West London factory to see them being made first-hand.
Among the pictures accompanying their post was this rather arresting photo. Polite captions only, please …
23 December 2019, 20:07
Jeremy Vine points out the bleeding obvious to anti-Cycleway councillor
Local councillor complains that the work to build the new #CW9 cycle lane means the traffic in #Chiswick is so bad she took 45 minutes to make a journey of one mile in her car.
No, councillor, the traffic is bad because you are making journeys of one mile in your car. pic.twitter.com/OZbTcruFb3— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) December 21, 2019
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Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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Latest Comments
Mr Blackbird 10 minutes ago
Re the mobility scooter / road race incident. What are the chances of the Daily Telegraph running with this one? : "Disabled Pensioner Mowed Down By 85mph Speeding Cyclists." "How many more pensioners must be killed or injured before number plates and insurance are made mandatory for cyclists, asked Nigel Farage, from his £5m crypto donation enquiry hideout?"
mctrials23 18 minutes ago
I mean, they could probably just only sell them to people with legitimate licenses for the ebike they are selling them. ie. they have passed their motorbike test. Worrying about private land proof etc just sounds like a nightmare and a huge amount of work. People would be saying "oh yeah, this ebike is just to ride at my local dirt bike track". Link the purchase to the buyers license and if they want to sell it, they have to sell it to another licensed rider. I think the core issue is perhaps the delivery riders however. I see a tiny proportion of them with what I would think is a legal ebike. Most of them are going way over 15.5mph and many of them don't even have to pedal to work them.
hawkinspeter 26 minutes ago
@Pub bike - stating "the scrotes will find a way around any rules regardless" is pretty much agreeing with me that introducing new rules around the sale/purchase is the wrong way to tackle the issue. With sufficient traffic policing, the scrotes will get nicked, whereas introducing additional rules is pointless without increasing the enforcement.
Pub bike 1 hour ago
@hawkinspeter The scrotes will find a way around any rules regardless. I frequently see riders speeding along with bicycles with enormous motors in the rear wheels where the chainsets have been removed altogether and foot rests have been installed into the bottom bracket. The bill being introduced under the 10 minute rule is about the marketing, sale and supply of them including conversion kits. I suspect it will be difficult to write a bill that simultaneously allows the sale of motorbikes whether electrically powered or not for private off-road use whilst restricting them for on-road use. Better surely to make it really hard to buy any kind of motorbike without it being registered with the DVLA and the keeper having the correct licence and insurance. But the police need play their part as well in stopping the riders and confiscating what they are riding. It is not like they are difficult to spot.
Skiprider 1 hour ago
What "tougher regulation"? The clue is in the name: these things are illegal (and, I agree, an absolute menace).
AndyPara 1 hour ago
Thanks for the excellent review - I know it's just one Google search away, but I think any bike review in this day and age should include max tyre clearance.
steve1968smith 2 hours ago
Yesterday, I organised "On Your Bike", a christening of this new cycle spine from Pittville to Bishops Cleeve. Between 11.30 and 14.30, we recorded 539 cyclists using this cycle path whilst the car boot was still busy. Everybody was kept safe and moving by the car boot sale's excellent stewards. I don't see any risk to users of the bike path. I also think its an excellent opportunity for cyclists and other road users to rub shoulders in a positive and friendly way. I cannot see why a cycling community would want to try and stir and stoke friction with an article like this.
Paul J 2 hours ago
"I know in NL they have trialled semi-portable “test stations” to check max motor speeds." Worth noting, the dutch police have long had dynos to test mopeds for power/speed limits. Maybe generally kept at the station usually. But the newer portable ones do not look very different from the one my own moped got tested on at a station in the 90s.
Rendel Harris 2 hours ago
@mctrials23 I agree, these illegal electric motorcycles have considerable advantages for the ne'er-do-well over there more traditional weapon of two-stroke dirt bikes, as you say, easier to store, you could get one up to a flat in a high-rise building easily which you couldn't do with a petrol-powered motorcycle, easy and much cheaper to fuel from any home power socket, no going down the petrol station and risking being caught, way less maintenance, if you can look after a pushbike you can look after one of these, and they are even silent so you can smash them around the woods and recreation grounds without people calling the police having heard the noise. Personally I would say a ban on sales of full-on electric motorcycles like Surrons to anyone who can't provide justification for use, e.g. farmers and other people who demonstrably have enough private land to use them, would be perfectly appropriate.
hawkinspeter 2 hours ago
Adding regulations on the sale of e-bikes simply adds to the enforcement requirement. Meanwhile, increasing (or starting) traffic policing also works to catch a lot of criminal/distracted drivers as well as finding cloned plates etc. If police catch and confiscate a lot of illegal e-motorbikes, then people are going to be less confident of riding them on the roads - it's the current situation of next to no enforcement that creates the environment where people can get away with dangerous riding/driving. To be honest, the bigger problem is still drivers and congestion, so illegal e-motorbikes can be seen as harm reduction, despite the collisions.
32 thoughts on “Jeremy Vine states bleeding obvious to anti-Cycleway councillor; Snowy Alpe d’Huez; Boris Johnson wants bike for Christmas; Crowdfunder for Josh Quigley as he undergoes surgery; Team Ineos Christmas card; CX World Cup mudfest; and more on the live blog”
No, a Grail bike is that one
No, a Grail bike is that one that’s about 50% more expensive than the one you end up buying
Living in London, if Boris
Living in London, if Boris didn’t have his bike insured against theft, then it’s his fault. He can go to the local recycling place and see if he can pick up a couple to strip and rebuild into a single working bike, the same as many people with time due to no available work, but no funds, due to welfare cutbacks, have to.
What would I give Boris
What would I give Boris Johnson as a secret Santa?
A pissed off black mamba in a box springs to mind. I’d punch it in the face wearing a Boris Johnson mask then shut the lid rather sharpish.
Or a box of Roses containing only those sickly sweet orange ones no one likes.
Either would do.
Q. Which bike for Boris?
Q. Which bike for Boris?
A. One that throws him under a bus, preferably one with “Take back control” written on the side.
A BSO for a PMSO.
A BSO for a PMSO.
Neither actually function although both are probably dangerous if one attempts to use them, as Tory voters (and unfortunately everyone else) will soon discover.
Cugel
There’s a lot of disgusting
There’s a lot of disgusting comments being made on here. Children, the lot of you; wishing someone death because of their mainstream political persuasion!? You need to grow up. Your parents have failed you and you’ve failed as human beings, but its never too late to try again. Here’s some advise on how to start:
Merry Christmas, and goodwill to all.
alexuk wrote:
“mainstream political persuasion” Mr Johnson? Are we speaking about the same Mr Johnson here?
The same Mr Johnson whose party oversaw the death of 130 000 people due to their benefit policies? The same Mr Johnson whose party cut the police to the bone so now its not safe , at times, to go out on the streets for fear of being killed by drunk or drugged up drivers; the same Mr Johnson whose stupidity saw a women’s prison sentence increased; the same Mr Johnson who ran away from debates as he knew he would lose and be exposed as a fraud; the same Mr Johnson whose party is quite happy for hundreds of thousands of people to be homeless at Christmas; the same Mr Johnson who refused to publish the Russian Report; the same Mr Johnson who has just sold off one of our major defence contracts; the same Mr Johnson whose party has seen our national debt rise by nearly £1tn over 9 years; the same Mr Johnson who made more racist statements than the average racist would ever do and the same Mr Johnson who is dragging the UK out of the EU when the majority of people who voted in the General Election voted for parties who would either remain, or wanted to put the final say back to the British people….that Mr Johnson?
Sorry, to call Mr Johnson “mainstream” is beyond a joke. I do not wish anyone ill but Mr Johnson and the Tories do push my karma to the limit. As I said above, ignore Mr Johnson. His Russian and American owners will see him right. If you have spare cash this Christmas then give it to a food bank. It is beyond me how we need Food Banks in the 21st C but then again, we have been Toried so I suppose it follows as night follows day.
So much stupidity in one post.
It’s quite an achievement.
Rich_cb wrote:
“mainstream political persuasion” Mr Johnson? Are we speaking about the same Mr Johnson here?
The same Mr Johnson whose party oversaw the death of 130 000 people due to their benefit policies? The same Mr Johnson whose party cut the police to the bone so now its not safe , at times, to go out on the streets for fear of being killed by drunk or drugged up drivers; the same Mr Johnson whose stupidity saw a women’s prison sentence increased; the same Mr Johnson who ran away from debates as he knew he would lose and be exposed as a fraud; the same Mr Johnson whose party is quite happy for hundreds of thousands of people to be homeless at Christmas; the same Mr Johnson who refused to publish the Russian Report; the same Mr Johnson who has just sold off one of our major defence contracts; the same Mr Johnson whose party has seen our national debt rise by nearly £1tn over 9 years; the same Mr Johnson who made more racist statements than the average racist would ever do and the same Mr Johnson who is dragging the UK out of the EU when the majority of people who voted in the General Election voted for parties who would either remain, or wanted to put the final say back to the British people….that Mr Johnson?
Sorry, to call Mr Johnson “mainstream” is beyond a joke. I do not wish anyone ill but Mr Johnson and the Tories do push my karma to the limit. As I said above, ignore Mr Johnson. His Russian and American owners will see him right. If you have spare cash this Christmas then give it to a food bank. It is beyond me how we need Food Banks in the 21st C but then again, we have been Toried so I suppose it follows as night follows day. — Rich_cb So much stupidity in one post. It’s quite an achievement.— essexian
So do you want to state the bits that were wrong? The only thing I can see in the above that can’t currently be backed up with basic evidence is the Russian / American owners.
Rich_cb wrote:
“mainstream political persuasion” Mr Johnson? Are we speaking about the same Mr Johnson here?
The same Mr Johnson whose party oversaw the death of 130 000 people due to their benefit policies? The same Mr Johnson whose party cut the police to the bone so now its not safe , at times, to go out on the streets for fear of being killed by drunk or drugged up drivers; the same Mr Johnson whose stupidity saw a women’s prison sentence increased; the same Mr Johnson who ran away from debates as he knew he would lose and be exposed as a fraud; the same Mr Johnson whose party is quite happy for hundreds of thousands of people to be homeless at Christmas; the same Mr Johnson who refused to publish the Russian Report; the same Mr Johnson who has just sold off one of our major defence contracts; the same Mr Johnson whose party has seen our national debt rise by nearly £1tn over 9 years; the same Mr Johnson who made more racist statements than the average racist would ever do and the same Mr Johnson who is dragging the UK out of the EU when the majority of people who voted in the General Election voted for parties who would either remain, or wanted to put the final say back to the British people….that Mr Johnson?
Sorry, to call Mr Johnson “mainstream” is beyond a joke. I do not wish anyone ill but Mr Johnson and the Tories do push my karma to the limit. As I said above, ignore Mr Johnson. His Russian and American owners will see him right. If you have spare cash this Christmas then give it to a food bank. It is beyond me how we need Food Banks in the 21st C but then again, we have been Toried so I suppose it follows as night follows day. — Rich_cb So much stupidity in one post. It’s quite an achievement.— essexian
Troll. No further comment required.
essexian wrote:
All right, but apart from the benefit policies, the policing, increasing a sentence unnecesarily, debate dodging, the homelessness, the Russian Report, selling defence contracts, increasing national debt and the racism, what have the Tories ever done to us?
I’d give BoJo something
I’d give BoJo a bike sturdy enough for his fat ass.
I would give boris a landmine
I would give boris a landmine but I’d write on the side of it that it’s a bike, beacuse that’s what counts, what’s written on the side.
Thing is, alexuk, Johnson
Thing is, alexuk, Johnson said a fitting way to honour murdered Remain/Labour MP Jo Cox would be to “Get Brexit Done”. That’s one example of his sickening behaviour. There are lots more examples.
So don’t pretend this is a normal, civilised politician. We’re talking about a very nasty, moral vacuum of a man. Don’t be surprised if people react to his appalling statements and behaviour.
HarrogateSpa wrote:
In response to Johnson’s comments Brendan Cox said this:
“The best way to honour Jo is for all of us (no matter our views) to stand up for what we believe in, passionately and with determination. But never to demonise the other side and always hold onto what we have in common.”
Think about that.
Aerts apparently fractured a
Aerts apparently fractured a rib in that crash. No wonder he looked sore
A bike for Boris? I like this
A bike for Boris? I like this one. Be nice to see him put something together, so far all he’s interested in is dismantling things.
I’d buy him a bike, one for
I’d buy him a bike, one for each and every person in his cabinet and one for each and every MP of every party. But they would come with a proviso that the new owner had to spend a month cycling around the country and living a few days with people from different backgrounds before going back to Westerminster to govern the country.
What would I give Mr Johnson
What would I give Mr Johnson for Christmas….frankly nothing. Anything he wants he will get from his rich supporters.
Instead, I gave a donation to CALM and to my local Food Bank. I would urge you to do the same.
I think that lady holding the
I think that lady holding the detached saddle has answered the question as to what bike to buy Boris.
Wow, Alpe D’Huez looks lovely
Wow, Alpe D’Huez looks lovely…
A happy and restful Christmas everyone!
I’ve a Playmobil bike that my
I’ve a Playmobil bike that my kids had when they were little. Boris can have that. Otherwise, he can buy his own as he’s vertainly rich enough.
A fatbike of some sort would be appropriate.
Went on a ski trip to Alpe d
Went on a ski trip to Alpe d’Huez a few years ago and there were still several riders cycling up the mountain in the middle of winter. The roads were a lot clearer than that, though – well gritted and, at the time, comparitively warm for the time of year.
I think Ineos need to sack
I think Ineos need to sack their mechanic, given how those handlebars are flapping around.
“So much stupidity in one
“So much stupidity in one post.” Rich CB
A minute ago you were quoting Brendan Cox, on how we should respect those who disagree with us.
You can dish it out, but you want to weaponise the genuinely decent Brendan Cox, to try to stop other people being brutally honest about you or Johnson.
HarrogateSpa wrote:
Read the quote.
It said we shouldn’t demonise the other side but we should put our points across passionately.
If someone says something stupid you can tell them that without demonising them.
If you’re against austerity and against rising government debt and pro EU then your position is stupid as the three cannot all be achieved.
Likewise if you try to pretend that the GE result was a mandate for remain yet ignore the actual referendum result.
That’s a stupid position.
Claiming that the leader of the most popular political party is not part of the political mainstream?
That’s stupid.
It also infers he is an extremist which does go against what Brendan Cox said.
I’m not sure he’s entirely decent mind. Might want to Google the accusations against him.
Rich_cb wrote:
Visit Scandinavia.
handlebarcam wrote:
Visit Scandinavia.— Rich_cb
Travel advice aside, how is that relevant to a discussion about the management of the deficit post 2008 financial crisis?
What a lot of childish and
What a lot of childish and vindictive comments!
if Boris is going to get a new bike then make it a flagship British band to grab some attention > he should get a Wiggle CGR ebike to go whizzing around Chequers (as we all know he won’t be on a road anytime soon!).
May I just add to the
May I just add to the childishness by offering my Brompton caption?
Once we get Brexit done, I can take back control of this rigid pink thingy that I can hold in my right hand…
For the most part Road.cc has
For the most part Road.cc has been an oasis free of Brexit-bile over the past three years. Can we keep it that way keyboard warriors? Take your aggression out on your pedals with the Festive 500…
Chris Hayes wrote:
Well said that man!
A little patience and goodwill goes a long way, just as it does on the road.