Video – “Rentacop” armed NYC security guard wrestles cyclist to ground; Paris-Brest-Paris rider posts terrific ABC guide to event; Danish men smash team pursuit world record again; Top Candid Camera bike prank + more on live blog
SUMMARY
Video: Cycling high jump effort
Tom Meeusen’s 75cm jump was enough for victory at the Rectavit Cyclocross Masters, but alas he couldn’t break his own world record of 80cm, shared with Jan Denuwelaere.
Meeusen gaat over 75 cm en is al zeker van de eindzege. Evenaart hij nu zijn eigen wereldrecord? pic.twitter.com/72VkVYhILe
— Rectavit Series (@RectavitSeries) February 26, 2020
"The liberal green Lycra wearing privileged elite"
Weird and juvenile language from very influential cheap petrol lobbyists Fair Fuel UK welcoming reports that fuel duty rates will be frozen again in the budget. Apparently if you oppose their aims you’re part of the “liberal green Lycra wearing privileged elite”. pic.twitter.com/3eG7HZ8PCr
— Peter Walker (@peterwalker99) February 26, 2020
Launched in January 2011 to fight for lower fuel duty, FairFuelUK claims to represent “the real concerns of hard working motorists, families, small businesses, commercial drivers and hauliers across the UK.”
It is funded by the Freight Transport Association, the Road Haulage Association and the Association of Pallet Networks.
It’s fair to say the organisation is not a huge supporter of cycling.
Back in 2017, campaign founder Howard Cox revealed a certain (perhaps wilful) ignorance of where funding for roads actually comes from, saying: “What infuriates the highest taxed motorists in the world is what they see as the lack of fairness apportioned to all road users.
“They believe cyclists should be making some financial contribution to roads and increasing cycle lanes they currently benefit from.
“They also want to see the compulsory use of helmets, cyclists to be road insured, wear fluorescent clothing, pass a road proficiency test and more prosecutions for the increasing episodes of dangerous cycling.”
Cox has previously seen fit to deploy the phrase “Lycra army”. It’s unclear how he came to be so fixated on the fabric.
Caja Rural avoids doping suspension
The UCI Professional Continental Team Caja Rural – Seguros RGA has avoided a 15 to 45 day suspension after a second rider was charged with an anti-doping rule violation within the same 12-month period.
In February last year, Spanish rider Jaime Roson was banned from the sport for four years following an adverse analytical finding in his biological passport dating back to January 2017.
Then in December former Portuguese national champion Domingo Goncalves was provisionally suspended for an anti-doping rule violation for use of a prohibited substance based on abnormalities from 2016 and 2018.
Caja Rural argued it had already ended Goncalves’ contract ahead of the 2020 season.
20mph limit in Central London from Monday
Not sure too many people travelling through the city on four wheels are hitting the dizzy heights of 25mph or whatever, but there you go.
Happy to report that the speed limit across @TfL roads in central London will reduce from 30mph to 20mph from Monday 2 March. This new measure will save countless lives and eradicate serious injuries on our roads, whilst making it safer to walk and cycle around the capital.
— Mayor of London (@MayorofLondon) February 27, 2020
Transport for London is also looking to introduce safer speed limits across 150km of its road network. A spokesperson said it would focus on, “high-risk sections of road, town centres where people walk and cycle, and ambitious local speed reduction programmes led by London boroughs.”
Dublin cyclist unconvinced by 'two wrongs don't make a right' argument
Cyclist earlier, politely, asked driver to not park in bike lane after driver cut him off and almost hit him. Driver told him fuck off and then wandered into the shop to deliver something.
Cyclist said grand and grabbed keys from ignition and fucked em into the canal 😂😂😂
— Dylan Varian (@dylanvarian) February 26, 2020
Fair Fuel UK respond to criticism of anti-cyclist rhetoric
Fair Fuel UK have replied to that tweet from earlier.
.@HowardCCox has had death threats, s..t through his letter box. All From cyclists. At 65 He also cycles. Why don’t you work with us. He has repeatedly ask Green and cycle groups. Never a constructive response just personal abuse
— FairFuelUKCampaign (@FairFuelUK) February 27, 2020
Howard must be a real faecal connoisseur to have so confidently identified those responsible for that second act.
Chris Froome eases himself back into racing
Making his comeback after 8 months of absence, @ChrisFroome shows he can still go hard. Here’s his data from the crosswind earlier:
⏱️Duration: 5’23
🚴♂️Avg Speed: 58.0 km/h
💨Max Speed: 67.8 km/h
⚡️Avg Power: 360W
💥Max Power: 860W
🌪️Avg Cadence: 99 rpm
______________
🇦🇪 #UAETour pic.twitter.com/mdZVjp5mEh— Velon CC (@VelonCC) February 27, 2020
The secret behind Denmark's team pursuit success?
Denmark have twice broken the men’s team pursuit world record at the Track Cycling World Championships in Berlin this week.
#Berlin2020 Denmark 🇩🇰 lowered the Men’s Team Pursuit World Record by an amazing 1.5sec
Previous WR 3:48.012 🕑
New WR 3.46.579 🕑Watch everyone in the pits take a pair of sizors to their long sleeve skinsuits ✂️😅 must be fast! pic.twitter.com/wMpOxzRfoo
— Callum Skinner (@CallumSkinner) February 27, 2020
Team GB finished finished seventh in qualifying with a time of 3:50.341 – just a fraction over the then-world record they set to win gold at Rio 2016.
“There’s a part of me that knows we’re going to do better in Tokyo and our best is still to come,” said Ed Clancy.
San Francisco bike shop owner opposes car ban
Paul Olszewski, the owner of Valencia Cyclery, wrote to the San Francisco Chronicle earlier this month complaining of plans to ban cars from the street his shop is on.
He reckons that if cars were banned from Valencia Street, he would probably have to close.
“Most of our new bike customers drive here and return home with their new bike in their car,” he said.
“This is especially true for children’s bikes. Likewise, a lot of bicycles in need of repair are not rideable, and are driven here to be fixed.
“Parking on the street has gotten prohibitively expensive and harder to find. Many parking spaces are taken by the banks of share-rental bikes and parklets. It seems that our bike lane will soon become a “protected bike lane,” which inevitably results in even more spaces lost.
“If the city is truly interested in keeping small businesses, especially legacy businesses, alive and well, then there needs to be a balanced use of our public streets.”
Locals say Olszewski has never been much of a fan of cycle infrastructure on his street.
They were not initial supporters of the Valencia street bike lanes 20 years ago, so this is consistent.
— Dave Snyder (@dave_bikes) February 10, 2020
Valencia Street meets Market Street at its northern end where a car ban is already in place.
Barry Grosfield, who runs Huckleberry Bikes on Market Street, told Streets Blog that while Olszewski could expect to lose a handful of customers, “you just get a new batch of people who uses buses, bikes, BART [San Francisco’s local railway system] – you don’t have to worry about parking.”
Kash, the owner of Warm Planet Bikes on the same street, said that anything that makes it safer and more comfortable for cyclists will get more people – especially families – cycling and said that this could only be good for business.
“If Valencia has such a lack of confidence in their customers, then I will take all of them,” he said.
Alexey Lutsenko plucks defeat from the jaws of victory at the UAE Tour
Stage 5 finished atop Jebel Hafeet (same as Stage 3 did) and Alexey Lutsenko somehow managed to finish second despite rounding the final corner in a very advantageous position, Tadej Podacar nipping round him to win by a nose.
It’s interesting to ponder at exactly which moment Lutsenko realised he hadn’t won.
Seems to us it was about a nanosecond after he started celebrating.
That’s very awkward 😳
Alexey Lutsenko celebrates… but it’s Tadej Pogacar who steals the Stage Five win
🚴♂️ Watch the #UAETour LIVE now
📺 Eurosport 1
📱💻🖥 Eurosport Player: https://t.co/0Fa7uXMVB9 pic.twitter.com/4FxHwgbofZ— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) February 27, 2020
Adam Yates is still in the red jersey thanks to the larger time gaps when they went up this climb a couple of days ago.
We’re very fond of Adam, but speaking at the finish he rather justified our belief that he’s the kind of sportsman who says, ‘it is what it is.’
“It’s pretty much mission accomplished,” he said. “I would have loved to win but in the end it is what it is. I fought the right guys. I still have the leader’s jersey so it’s a good day. It was the same climb as two days ago so it’s not a surprise to have the same four guys at the front. Pogacar is impressive. He’s young so we’ll see him winning races again.”
No Mathieu van der Poel for Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
No MVDP for OHN.
Unfortunately no 🇳🇱 Mathieu van der Poel in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad due to flu and high fever. Get well soon @mathieuvdpoel https://t.co/8twZPFAwof
— Cyclocross24.com (@cyclocross24) February 27, 2020
What odds on a Wout Van Aert victory? He reportedly took a Strava KOM off Chris Froome in Tenerife this week. He probably shouldn’t expect Tenerife conditions for the race though.
Omloop weather report
Definitely not Tenerife-type conditions.
Snowy cobbles. @LukeRowe1990, @GianniMoscon and @owaindoull hitting the Bosberg ahead of #OHN20. It’s good to be in Belgium 👌🇧🇪 pic.twitter.com/IjX3YOfYbS
— Team INEOS (@TeamINEOS) February 27, 2020
London's CS3 and CS6 hit combined landmark for 2020
Bit contrived, but still impressive.
More than half a million people have cycled past our two counters, on Cycleway 3 and Cycleway 6, in 2020 so far 😍
It’s sunny (for once!) – why not grab a Santander Cycle and join them? ☀️🚲☀️🚲☀️🚲
📷 👇 Pic from Blackfriars Road below pic.twitter.com/Ir37haRFRf
— Transport for London (@TfL) February 27, 2020
Euskaltel-Euskadi are back
Cycling News reports that ProTeam Fundación-Orbea have announced that the Basque telecommunications company has agreed to join the team as a main sponsor for four years.
They’ll be Euskaltel-Euskadi from the Tour of the Basque Country in April – and they’ll wear orange.
The previous incarnation of Euskaltel-Euskadi raced between 1998 and 2013 and drew its entire squad from the Basque Country.
Parece que la cosa va creciendo..a pasos agigantados!!! Vuelve la marea naranja!! Parece mentira con lo que me hicisteis sufrir en mi época y la alegría que me da saber que os volvemos a tener en el peloton!!! Zorionak @FundaCiclisEusk pic.twitter.com/mYEKjo7eiT
— Joaquim Rodríguez (@PuritoRodriguez) February 27, 2020
Video: Candid Camera bike prank
The REM poster seems to indicate this was shot in 1989 and it has to be said, the build-up seems absurdly pedestrian by modern standards.
It’s a real mind-bender for the poor cyclist though.
Video: Armed security wrestles NYC cyclist to ground (with lots of swearing)
An armed security guard in New York City who got into a heated argument with a motorized unicycle rider after stepping out in front of him to cross the cycle lane he was riding on was filmed grabbing another cyclist and pulling him off his bike.
NYC rent-a-cop aimlessly walks into bike lane with his nose in his phone, gets cursed out, tries to act like he did nothing wrong, then tackles a passing cyclist and puts him in a headlock, exposing the concealed handgun under his jacket. @TheWarOnCars @driversofnyc @Julcuba pic.twitter.com/DvHrYGCQIR
— Cycling with Colin (@colinridesabike) February 26, 2020
The incident took place on Manhattan’s Sixth Avenue on Tuesday evening, reports Streetsblog NYC. Motorised unicycle rider Vincenzo Tran, who had to swerve to avoid hitting the security guard, filmed their subsequent exchange after the man started shouting and hurling racial abuse at him.
“This is a bike path,” he said. “You stepped the f*ck out looking at your phone like a f*cking piece of shit.”
The security guard, whose vehicle bore the logo of New Jersey based Harvard Security, said: “Listen to me, I had the right of way to go. You have to watch out for me. You almost hit me,” as the argument continued, becoming increasingly heated.
He then grabbed a cyclist who was riding past, wrestling him to the ground (and exposing the handgun he was carrying in a waist holster), with one bystander telling the security guard, “That’s a young ass kid what’s wrong with you?”
Other cyclists intervened just as it seemed the guard was about to punch the one he had grabbed.
Tran said: “The kid was crying and he took off.” The security guard also made off after Tran threatened to call the police – although its subsequently transpired that in the past three and a half months, the car he was driving has been the subject of nine tickets for infractions including parking offences.
A terrific Paris-Brest-Paris ABC
To armchair sports fans, four-year cycles mean an Olympic Games or World Cup is taking place. To the Audax community, it means something else entirely – Paris-Brest-Paris.
Petrer Marshall rode it for the fourth time last year and has produced a terrific ABC to the event.
Flagged up by Mason Cycles – he was riding one of their bikes on it – it’s a hugely entertaining read, so brew a cuppa, pull up a chair and dig in here.
Danish men smash team pursuit world record AGAIN as they take gold
The Danish quartet have this evening taken the record below 3 minutes 45 seconds having bossed the event from start to finish in Berlin.
Team GB’s men have won the team pursuit at the past three Olympics … is that dominance set to end in Tokyo?
3️⃣ Team Pursuit World Records in a row! 3:44.672 🕑
Denmark 🇩🇰 domination in Berlin 😵#Berlin2020 pic.twitter.com/x9WW1EYXyn
— UCI Track Cycling (@UCI_Track) February 27, 2020
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Latest Comments
You forgot to include giving yourself a dose of heatstroke by riding all day in mid-40s temperatures.
@eburtthebike Sorry to hear that. I had a very worried wife who saw me being a goldfish. I kept going round the same loop of 4 statements. My shoulder really hurts, what happened? My watch is broken, I suppose the bike is fu***d? Apparently I did that for about 2 hours. I eventually came back to near normality about 5-6 hours later. I was on the phone to my wife and I suddenly realised I had cold feet. I looked at them and they were bare as were my legs, I said Bear this is a bit embarrassing I haven't got any trousers on, er nor a shirt what the hell is going on? She said you have been in an accident and you are at hospital. The bike had fingernail marks in the bar tape, a scuff to the back of the front mudguard, and a broken quill pedal. now all repaired. Somehow I managed to stop the bike but not me. The Helmet was cracked right through. I had a broken tooth a bust rib and a lot of bruising. Someone came out of a house and put me in the recovery position in the road until I came round. For me not remembering what happened is really quite frustrating. I have bought a go-pro clone to go on the bike but I haven't actually fitted it yet. It would be sensible to just to have a bit of evidence if the same should ever happen again. After all there aren't always Londis shops with CCTV in just the right position are there?
@timscottellis given the "anarchic by design" organising principle what Critical mass is "for" will vary (even between participants). I believe part of the original idea was to be "critical" - direct activism against motorists by reclaiming space. Whether it's a good idea to annoy people who mostly will have no clue why you're doing that is a question of course. It certainly serves a community building and awareness raising function. And for some (perhaps like yourself?) showing them that they *can* ride on the streets. Albeit some would never do so outside of such an event.
Money's *always* tight - or rather it's always tight for active travel because in the UK that is very low on the priority list *. The vast majority of money goes on apparently unrelated stuff - health and adult social care. But I think active travel could make a minor but positive contribution here. And a large amount of that money compared to active travel spend goes on things that overall have a negative impact there (indeed are a net cost) - providing for the level of motoring we have. Including repeatedly pouring money into (pot-) holes in the ground. Could we reallocate some of that? * For some parties - maybe even governments - it's actually something they're against. If only because they're more keen on motoring which will effectively work against it.
I don't understand why the police can't crack down on those bloody idiots forcing the riders to inhale the smoke from powder flares, not as if it's a sort of guerrilla action, interfering with the riders then disappearing back into the crowd, they couldn't be any easier to spot as they stand there holding them but I don't think I've ever seen police, authorities or other fans intervening to stop them in a road race. Seen the police doing a good job stopping them at cyclocross, obviously on a long road stage it's not as easy to have an officer on the spot at the right time but yesterday's flareup (sorry) was on the finishing circuit, there must have been a few coppers in the vicinity who could have dealt with it.
Bit confused now Tom, you said that "AFAIK nobody said he’s going to ride to win the GC", I gave you an example of Seixas himself talking about going for GC, now you're saying there you are, there is evidence that he's talking about the GC? I know that, it was me who shared the quote.
Couldn't have a much more perfect example for a certain poster of how cycling continues to feel the full force of climate change...
@Rendel Harris Oh, and by the way. "But I will not take risks for something other than the GC." - this could just as well be read as "I won't take any risks unless it's really, really worth it." They're not even talking about snatching the maillot jaune for a day, but about the GC. Who wouldn't, if they had a opportune shot at that?
Here's a photo I took on Alpe d'Huez at TdF 1991. L to R: Gianni Bugno, Miguel Indurain, Luc Leblanc. They would finish the stage in that order, Bugno winning. Yes, colour film was available in 1991 but that day I chose to use black and white knowing that many years hence it would look epic.
Riding a bike is green. Pro cycling is not. Don't greenwash us by confusing one with the other.
20 thoughts on “Video – “Rentacop” armed NYC security guard wrestles cyclist to ground; Paris-Brest-Paris rider posts terrific ABC guide to event; Danish men smash team pursuit world record again; Top Candid Camera bike prank + more on live blog”
Fuel duty has been kept
Fuel duty has been kept artificially low for ten years now. Fair Fuel UK are basically lobbying for every single taxpayer in the country to continue to subsidise their driving everywhere they want, when they want, as much as they want, cheaply.
Exactly. Truly fair fuel
Exactly. Truly fair fuel pricing, accounting for externalities, would see the cost of the stuff more than double.
Disclosure: Like 98% of people who ride bikes, I also own a car, so I already (don’t) pay “road tax”. Why do the frothers always assume that bike and car ownership are mutually exclusive?
And apparently Mr Cox also
And apparently Mr Cox also cycles, yet seems to be really anti cycling.
“Why don’t you work with us. He has repeatedly ask Green and cycle groups. Never a constructive response just personal abuse”
So he can abuse cyclists but can’t take it back?
srchar wrote:
Many of these Gammons grew up in mid 1900 Britain where acquiring a car signified a jump in social standing. You hadn’t made it if still cycling to work and you didn’t have the means to purchase a car. The good old British class structure and snobbery in play.
Unfortunatley Gammons are so indoctrinated with this perspective that they cannot grasp how the country and taxation has changed.
And – is lycra particularly
And – is lycra particularly ‘green’ anyway?
‘… unrelenting anti
‘… unrelenting anti-motorist agenda’?
Fuck me, is he on crack?
Certainly is delusional.
Certainly is delusional. Perpetuating the myths about paying entitles you to more right to the road for starters. It’s the law that gives that right, not money. And the scapegoating of some imaginary group of supposedly green leaning cycling elites, WTF is that about? Can’t bring himself to accept that the conservatives he clearly supports would see fuel tax as one of many ways to increase government revenue?
Per mile, given that I am now
Per mile, given that I am now in the fortunate position of being a complete tart and only drive / ride them in the most perfect of weather, the VED I pay for my MX-5 and Triumph motorcycle should entitle me to sole use of the roads I choose to use, and any vehicle getting in my way should immediately be seized and crushed.
FairFuelUK claims to
FairFuelUK claims to represent “the real concerns of hard working motorists, families, small businesses, commercial drivers and hauliers across the UK.”
Nah, they’re just another whingesome tax-dodging motoring malatia group demanding their activities be subsidised. Just throw in the old trope of ‘hard working motorists/families’ to sound like they actually care about people.
“Mum…dad…all that
“Mum…dad…all that education and years of hard work paid off. From council estate to ‘The Elite’ – I’ve finally made it!!!!”
After all these years, I
After all these years, I finally see what Norman Tebbit was really trying to say in his speech after the Brixton riots. Membership of The Elite was there for the taking – all that was required was a garment woven from a synthetic polymer and a knackered old BMX.
As a liberal green Lycra
As a liberal green Lycra wearing privileged elite(?) I’d like to submit our demands on the motorists:
Regading the 20mph speed
Regading the 20mph speed limit on central london roads (TFL controlled only, which leaves many at 30mph). The city of london (the ‘square mile’) did this a few years ago and for 2 weeks traffic (black cabs and white vans) actually travelled at this speed…then the city of london police stopped policing it and now it’s a free for all as before.
So a step in the right direction…but without enforcement nothing will actually change
The Madrid sharrow- That’s no
The Madrid sharrow- That’s no mere murderstrip, that’s a full murderlane.
Fine shiny helmet on the rider though.
Regarding the letter-box
Regarding the letter-box pooping; What has a hazelnut in every bite?
Candid camera ’89 = great.
Candid camera ’89 = great. Look how slim everyone was!!
“They also want to see the
“They also want to see the compulsory use of helmets, cyclists to be road insured, wear fluorescent clothing, pass a road proficiency test and more prosecutions for the increasing episodes of dangerous cycling.”
Is the call for compulsory use of helmets to give the cyclists a chance when they get hit by moron drivers?
Do they have any figures how many of the ‘lycra army’ actually have insurance?
Pass a proficiency test? Jesus, all the motorists have sat a test to prove they are qualified enough to have the priviledge of holding a license, yet look anywhere on the road, any day, and you will see the results of the driving test. If as many cyclists are shit cyclists as motorists are shit drivers after a test, we are fucked.
Flourescent clothing? Surely the onus is on motorists to make sure that their eyes are good enough to be able to see enough to drive a metal killing box on wheels safely without killing someone. They make matt black cars, and I don’t see those written off everywhere.
Where is the evidence of ‘increasing episodes of dangerous driving’? Look any where and you will see plenty of episodes of dangerous driving. Some of the most dangerous episodes I have witnessed come courtesy of members of the road haulage brigade.
Dickheads, fuckwits, the lot of them. Fair fuel? I have yet to see a poor haulage contractor, and I work for a commercial vehicle dealer.
NYC security guard needs a
NYC security guard needs a good kick where it hurts; total twat who thinks he’s god because he’s got a tiny bit of power. I hope the cyclist he tackled to the ground presses charges and puts him in jail where he belongs.
“Cox has previously seen fit
“Cox has previously seen fit to deploy the phrase “Lycra army”. It’s unclear how he came to be so fixated on the fabric.”
I reckon he has a Lycra clad gimp at home he gets outs out for special occasions.
The 20 mph limit inside the
The 20 mph limit inside the Square Mile has been comprehensively ignored since it was put into place. I don’t anticipate that this ‘Central London’ ban will be any different.