Trans Pennine Trail post pics to promote cycle network... and it didn't go so well; Silca's bonkers $175 Bourbon Titanium kit; Shropshire hires £1k a day pothole consultant; Motorcyclist shows flaws with broken line bike lane + more on the live blog

Just one year ago, Utrecht's Croeselaan was a four-lane traffic sewer.

Now, the only traffic there is of the human variety: parents, children, office workers; cycling to work, school, and everywhere in between.@BicycleDutch films the rush hour at dawn: https://t.co/A6OVIvwHwX pic.twitter.com/MJ6QmqIPCv

— Dutch Cycling Embassy (@Cycling_Embassy) February 3, 2020

The story of our 'cycle network' in two acts:

1. Horrible muddy surface, no lighting
2. Poorly maintained signage, more rocky muddy surface

Only navigable on certain bikes in the best weather conditions. We cannot 'encourage' more people to cycle with routes like this. https://t.co/bFLNrm4wtQ

— Hannah 😈 🚲 (@theeyecollector) February 4, 2020

Unfortunately quite a few of the replies have noted the muddy signage and rather unkempt-looking surface, the latter of which doesn't exactly scream “ride me”.

In response to some of the criticisms, Trans Pennine Trail replied: “Thank you for your comments, this is something we're continually working on, lobbying for a better quality Trail. Many sections are being improved with funding and if you have any sections in particular you have issues with, please do get in contact with us we can report it!”

Respect to the charities and community groups who work hard on these routes with what little they have. But this shows the chronic under-funding and lack of action on the part of national and local government

— Hannah 😈 🚲 (@theeyecollector) February 4, 2020

Do you think Trans Pennine have been given a hard time, or does a lot more need to be done to make sure these routes are useable for all, not just those who are happy to get real muddy? 

It’s the end of the trail 🇯🇵 I have taken the decision to resign from my position at Tokyo 2020. After much soul searching my health and well-being takes priority this time around. I leave behind an excellent team and the legacy of a beautiful course 🥇Thanks to all ❤️ pic.twitter.com/WhYWeHOFnB

— Paul Davis 🇬🇧🇯🇵 (@paul_davis67) February 3, 2020

Paul Davis has stepped down from his role in delivering and managing mountain biking at Tokyo 2020. Davis also worked at London 2012 and Rio 2016, and has stepped down from his latest role “after much soul-searching.”

The ex-pro turned star of his own 'Worst Retirement Ever' YouTube series has made a Strava account for his faithful friend Nala. Her first upload was a 0.5km jaunt taken at a pace of just over 20 minutes per kilometre, with some discarded pizza crusts consumed to top up fuel along the way. 

Nine months after its launch last year, the Dogma F12 as ridden by Team Ineos is now available in Blue Steel (above), Sideral Grey and Venice Blue as part of their Spring 2020 collection. Each colourway is available in rim or disc brake versions and can be ordered as framesets or complete bikes.

It's always best not to be drinking tea or coffee when perusing a Pinarello price list, as there's a good chance you'll spit some out... this one is no different, with an F12 disc with Campagnolo Super Record EPS groupset and Bora wheels or SRAM Red e-Tap AXS with Zipp 303 wheels priced at £12,000. Deliveries can be expected at the end of March if you have the funds to splash out, see Pinarello's website for more info. 

If you needed reminding of the state of Britain's pothole-laden roads, the BBC report that Shropshire Council have appointed a dedicated 'pothole consultant', charging £1,000 a day. 

The council say this is “comparable with usual consultancy costs”, and say they hope the appointment will improve their current “unproductive” strategy and speed up repair of the 3,500 reported road defects in the county. Steve Davenport of Shropshire Council claims even though the consultant will earn £130,000 working five days a week over the six month contract, they will actually save millions in the long run by “getting the right people on the ground doing a better job." Pothole repair in Shropshire is currently outsourced to construction and infrastructure company Keir, who the council say have been “allowed to mark their own homework” for too long. 

We're not sure if the consultant's role is more hands-on or strategic, but a grand a day to ride around looking for potholes doesn't sound like a bad living to us so long as we don't end up in one... 

would you want your kids to cycle in this bike lane? pic.twitter.com/vZTBuADCN3

— Alan D (@AlanDub13) February 3, 2020

The answer to our protagonist's question would probably be a resounding “no” for most parents, as he attempts to ride on a Dublin bike lane segregated only by some broken white lines. There is barely a moment in the 15 second clip where a car isn't either fully inside the 'lane' or seriously encroaching, the reason many cycle campaigners believe these advisory cycle lanes should be consigned to history (there's a decent article from the Cambridge Cycling Campaign explaining the difference between mandatory and advisory lanes here). 

Do you think there's ever a use case for a cycle lane with broken white lines? Let us know in the comments as always... 

Photos from @snappersk show the scene in Darlaston where a cyclist was hit by a car and then beaten up on the street last night.

Police are investigating and the cyclist remains seriously injured in hospital

Full story here: https://t.co/2OrzSkjfxY pic.twitter.com/1QuEoASqLN

— Express & Star (@ExpressandStar) February 3, 2020

The Express and Star reports that a 24-year-old man is still in hospital after he was hit by a car in Darlaston at around 7pm on Sunday night. The occupants of the car are then believed to have got out and beat him up, leaving the man with serious injuries. He was treated by paramedics and taken to hospital, where he remains in a serious condition. 

The attackers fled the scene, and it's not known if the victim was targeted deliberately. A cordon was put up where the attack happened, with debris scattered across the road next to the victim's mangled bike. 

Police have confirmed and are investigating after "a 24 year old man is believed to have been hit by a car before being attacked". #CookStreet #Wednesbury #WestMidlands #BlackCountry All Image Rights Reserved #SnapperSK pic.twitter.com/5WaG1EHHdf

— SnapperSK OFFICIAL (@snappersk) February 3, 2020

Cav has gone old school and put on a proper set of classic bars. That's an extra 5 watts. pic.twitter.com/HediH641rz

— Adam Blythe (@AdamBlythe89) February 4, 2020

Being aero might save you some watts. But having classic bend bars saves more. Because science.

If Dr. Ferrari is back on the scene I don't see why the Oasis shouldn't be

— Ginevra (@ginevragarga) February 4, 2020

But absolutely Ginevra, if cycling's most prominent (alleged) doping doctor is back in the news then why not music's most argumentative brothers? We're feeling all nostalgic...