Bonanza Budget for cycling … sorry, just kidding, nothing as usual; Cargo bikes FTW; Paris-Nice TT highlights; Paris-Roubaix Challenge ‘not responding’ to coronavirus concerns; ‘Road zombie’ close pass + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
Thought your crashed carbon frame was a write-off? Think again, say Target Composites
We’re never not impressed by the work of Cheshire-based carbon repair specialists Target Composites, who have saved this once-handsome Colnago Concept from the skip and restored it to its former pre-crash glory. Check out more of their work on the Target Composites website.
Cars don't set you free
Seen in Bristol yesterday pic.twitter.com/Ns60xIt3CW
— JimsWheels (@JimsWheels) March 11, 2020
…says this modified billboard ad in Bristol. Ford might want to check out the latest Inrix Global Traffic Scorecard, which calculated that last mile speed in Bristol is just 13mph in a car; considerably slower than travelling by bike for many of us.
'Road Zombie': driver totally unaware of cyclist who has to use their car to steady himself
Experimenting with a rear facing camera yield some interesting results (reports) today. Video is at half speed. First contact was to steady myself. Second was a ‘good morning’. Driver didn’t bat an eyelid as he waited at the red light 100m ahead. #RoadZombie pic.twitter.com/c152orSKlm
— Brum Bike Cam (@TheBrumBikeCam) March 10, 2020
As the man behind Brum Bike Cam explains, the driver was wholly unaware they were breaking the law when they passed him with precisely no inches to spare, first using the car for leverage to avoid falling over and then attempting to say ‘good morning’ to draw attention to himself. The driver was apparently completely oblivious, and the hashtag says all you need to know…
Nigel Farage, expert on all of the things
Have you tried Nigel Farage?
— Nick Rearden (@nickrearden) March 11, 2020
Coronavirus? Check. Leaving the EU when he’s worked there for a two decades? Check. Legendary Tour de France-winning bikes from yesteryear? Check. (For context, BBC Newsnight were slammed for inviting the Brexit Party leader on Newsnight to talk about Coronavirus on Monday night, despite his apparent lack of credentials on the subject) .
Extinction Rebellion staging Pedal for the Planet 'critical mass' ride in Bath next month
The ride in our road.cc hometown takes place on Saturday 25th April, will all welcome to join in to raise awareness of the climate emergency. Extinction Rebellion claim the ride is to “reclaim public street space from its typical domination by private cars that pollute the air and endanger people.”
The route is four miles long and participants are encouraged to decorate themselves and their bikes in pink, and bright green.
Paris-Nice riders are 'self-isolating' today
Every single one of the riders in the Paris-Nice Rally has been told to self isolate today. They will cycle the par course INDIVIDUALLY at least ONE MINUTE apart to reduce the chance of positive tests! Probably something pro professional cycling should have tried in the 2000s!!!
— UK Cycling Expert (@ukcyclingexpert) March 11, 2020
Everyone’s favourite cycling expert has made his latest wholly accurate observation, noting that riders have placed themselves into isolation today by riding one minute apart! Guess shaving the beard isn’t the only precaution Mr Campenaerts is taking…
Victor Campenaerts shaves his beard for extra Paris-Nice aero gains
🇨🇵 #ParisNice
Stage 4 of @ParisNice is the ITT today where preparation is everything…
It’s a first outing in the discipline for @VCampenaerts since he joined our team & he’s leaving nothing to chance. ⚔️
Surprise, @FannyLecluyse! pic.twitter.com/rvZDEr66E7
— NTT Pro Cycling (@NTTProCycling) March 11, 2020
The Hour Record-holding Belgian is taking no chances when it comes to today’s TT at Paris-Nice: “In my first individual time trial for NTT I need to perform, I want to perform, so I will shave the beard”, says Victor before lopping off the lot save for a striking party ‘tache. He reckons the close shave will save him around 5 watts…
The Budget: good or bad news for the state of Britain's roads?
BREAKING POTHOLE NEWS!!!
Chancellor @RishiSunak giving just 0.01% of total tax take from motorists to fill Potholes! £500m is size of @Kent_cc backlog of maintenance @HowardCCox @FairFuelUK @LilianGreenwood @BorisJohnson @grantshapps https://t.co/3zOueukElO— Mr Pothole (@mrpotholeuk) March 11, 2020
The new Chancellor has announced that an extra £2.5 billion will be spent on repairing potholes in the next five years; although Mr Pothole (who recently gave us an exclusive interview) is not enthused, claiming that won’t even be enough to fill the backlog of holes that need filling in Kent. More to follow in our cycle-friendly budget round-up later…
Paris-Roubaix Challenge organisers reportedly ignoring entrants over coronavirus concerns
With France issuing a ban on all sporting events and gatherings of more than 1,000 people until 15th April, you’d expect that the Paris-Roubaix Challenge sportive on the 11th in the build-up to the pro race on the 14th is bound to be affected; however a road.cc reader has been in touch to say that organisers are ignoring questions from the public regarding the possibility of the event’s cancellation, and reportedly deleted a Facebook post with comments asking for an update. Some of the comments underneath previous posts still remain on the main event page on Facebook:
The reader told road.cc: “Obviously nobody knows what is going on with respect to coronavirus, but the organisers of this event seem to be acting quite dishonestly.
“They continue to post ‘course recon’ and calls to sign up on their Facebook (presumably scheduled posts), but refuse to answer any of the many, many comments about whether the event is going ahead. Even a quickie to say “we don’t know yet” would be nice. Then last night, they actually deleted their most recent post, which last I saw had about 50 posts from participants all worried about cancellation.
“I attended in 2016 and it was a fantastic event. I am signed up again this year and although my gut tells me it’s probably not going to go ahead, the organiser being evasive and dishonest is not helpful.”
road.cc have contacted the organisers for comment.
Canyon's second 'Speedmax clinic' demo event taking place at York Sport this Sunday
If you’ve got your eye on one of Canyon’s flagship TT/triathlon bikes and couldn’t make it to Cyclopark last month, Canyon are hosting again on Sunday 15th March at York Sport.
Experts will be on hand to advise on sizes and cockpit configurations, so you’ll be well informed on exactly what you need to order if you decide to buy one. Registration costs £10, which entitles you to the set-up and advice, an hour of riding and a goodie bag to go home with. If you fancy it, you’ll find all the registration info with remaining time slots available here.
Cycling UK say today's Budget announcement has earmarked NOTHING for cycling and walking
It appears Boris Johnson’s ‘getting it done’ mantra does not apply to cycling in the latest Budget announced today, according to Cycling UK, who say Chancellor Rishi Sunak didn’t commit a penny to cycling and walking projects for English councils outside of London. The full statement from Cycling UK’s CEO Paul Tuohy reads:
“It’s beyond belief that the Chancellor has announced £1bn will be spent on ‘green transport solutions’ without a single penny committed to cycling or walking in today’s Budget, leaving English councils outside London with no earmarked money whatsoever to spend on their local cycling and walking network plans from the start of next month.
“Instead, he has announced a staggering £27bn road building programme which will only serve to increase the climate, air pollution, congestion, and inactivity related public health crises threatening this country.
“By its own research, the Government needs to spend at least £6bn to meet its target of doubling cycling and increasing walking by 2025, but sadly it’s become clear its commitment to active travel has been parked in this budget and that’s a huge disappointment.”
We’ll have more on this and our full reaction to the budget in a full article later today.
Marcel Kittel partners with Endura
The German sprinter – who retired in summer – has teamed up with Endura to assist with product development… we think, as the info we’ve received is rather vague: “We are really looking forward to harnessing that enthusiasm for exploring novel areas and concept together as a fascinating rider with a wealth of insight and incredibly interesting projects ahead”, say Endura.
Kittel commented: “I didn’t want to leave pro cycling behind and just do something completely different, to not have any relationship with the sport at all. You need to know that I´m proud of my career and still love riding my bike.
“I was looking to stay involved to reignite my passion for the sport and to also refocus on what I love about riding my bike. That´s being outside in nature, having fun with friends and forgetting about what else is going on in the world for a few hours. No pressure, just fun. I wasn´t pushing to be involved with any cycling company because it was important that the choice of brand should be a ‘natural fit’ and based on shared values and ideas. So, when I met Pam and Jim and got a good look at the company, I realised that this possible partnership felt very good and authentic. It´s great to be part of Endura now and I´m looking forward to being with them to focus on good, innovative products while having fun on the bike.”
Work it out for yourself, but good for you anyway Mr Kittel!
New 2020 route for Bike Oxford (assuming it goes ahead)
Like any other sporting event or mass gathering, it’s subject to what happens with that bug that’s going around of course… but all being well, Bike Oxford entrants can look forward to a new route on Sunday 31st May.
Cyclists have the choice to start and finish at either Oxford University Rugby Club or Chipping Norton Rugby Club, with thousands of riders set to take part. Places are still available, and you can sign up here.
DB Schenker claim e-cargo bikes are 40% more efficient than vans
The transport giants show us how e-cargo bikes are transforming last mile deliveries in Hamburg, saying they’re making delivery times up to 40% faster. Check it out in the video above…
Sustrans respond to lack of cycle funding in the Budget
The Chancellor has not committed to any new funding for active travel. Research shows that at least £6bn is needed to meet the Government’s targets of doubling #cycling and increasing #walking by 2025 – our response to #Budget2020 https://t.co/pHGHuoLjAN pic.twitter.com/qZ0fzVVqYn
— Sustrans (@sustrans) March 11, 2020
Sustrans’ CEO Xavier Brice said: “Today’s Budget clarified further allocated funding for the Transforming Cities Fund which will help some local authorities invest in walking and cycling.
“However, the Chancellor has not committed to any new funding for active travel. Making it easy for people to choose healthier ways to travel will fight climate change, rising levels of congestion, toxic air, inactivity and social isolation and needs to be a priority for the long term health of our society and economy.
“The Government has signalled in the past that it understands the role walking and cycling has to play in tackling these crises. Research shows that at least £6bn is needed to meet the Government’s targets of doubling cycling and increasing walking by 2025.
“Many local authorities have comprehensive plans for walking and cycling that are ready to be delivered. But clarification and certainty on dedicated long-term funding is needed as soon as possible for them to deliver these plans, fulfil their potential and meet the Government’s own targets.
“The National Infrastructure Strategy and Spending Review will be the opportunity to make this happen. We will continue to make the case for the significant and long-term funding needed in walking and cycling to transform our communities and create happier lives and healthier places for everyone.”
First pics of Stockport's new rooftop park and cycling bridge emerge
A consultation asking for residents’ views on two proposed features at Stockport’s new transport interchange has been launched today, Monday.
Read more at: https://t.co/k273K7ONZe
Have your say at: https://t.co/OvwdQr3CCo@OfficialTfGM pic.twitter.com/knWicBIYBq— Stockport Council (@StockportMBC) March 9, 2020
The bridge has been described as a ‘once in a generation’ development, and will provide a vital cycling and walking route between the Podium Park and Stockport train station on top of the new transport interchange in the city.
The proposal for the new park and bridge has been put to a consultation with residents, which closes on 29th March. Councillor David Meller said: “I am committed to improving the town’s walking and cycling links – indeed, I want us to lead on this within Greater Manchester – and this proposal, linking the two transport hubs is a vital part of our overall plans for Stockport.
“In addition, we would like to hear residents’ views of what they would like to see in the park: the first new park in our town centre for generations.
“This is your (the residents’) chance to shape an incredibly exciting project for the town centre as it realises its immense potential and becomes fit not just for the present, but for the future.”
British Cycling join in with bashing the Budget
.@RishiSunak says this Government will “invest in ideas”, but you can’t solve our congestion, climate and inactivity problems with electric vehicles and more roads 🚦🚗
We’ll work with @10DowningStreet to make the case for £6-8bn for 🚲 and🚶🏻♀️in the Spending Review#Budget2020 https://t.co/ppgJdsjrGr
— British Cycling (@BritishCycling) March 11, 2020
With no cash directly earmarked for cycling and walking projects in England outside of London, most of the biggest authorities on cycling in the country have expressed their concerns at the Budget announced today.
Paris-Nice video highlights
Tak a look back at today’s time trial stage of the Race to the Sun …
Logistics firms are seeing the light .... terrific video
Video from one of world’s largest logistics companies, @DBSchenker on their use of cargo bikes which they say are 40% more productive than a van in a cityhttps://t.co/Jgf9u9H1wc
— APPGCW (@allpartycycling) March 11, 2020
And talking of cargo bikes ... take a look at what Pedal Me are shifting
We used @pedalmeapp to distribute @SouthwarkGP's leaflets for last year's EU elections. I can't cycle, so was worried the six boxes might have been too much. I was pleased to be wrong, but hadn't realised by quite how much… https://t.co/AvYSE62mm0
— Phil Vabulas (@PhilVabulas) March 10, 2020
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I’d say that colour was more like fuchsia (and coming soon to a Rapha Pro Team jacket near you).
@yodhrin I believe the fairer summary is "we don't know - but making the main point advocating a form of PPE with relatively limited protection - and to a group of likely experienced cyclists - isn't very helpful..." I've only read one of the reports but that suggested the skull removal was to alleviate pressure from major brain swelling. And a given helmet *might* be better than the standard. So I think "don't know" is fairest.
@robgodd The poor guy himself suffered a traumatic brain injury and his skull was so badly shattered a significant portion of it had to be removed - do me a favour, have a look around cycling helmet manufacturers and see if any of them claim the foam hats they produce will protect against or even mitigate that level of injury. I'll wait if you like, but I can save us both the time and tell you what you'll find: none of them. Not a single one of them will. Because they don't, and they *can't* based on simple physics. Once the point of failure in a material is reached all(or as near as makes no odds) of the additional force beyond that necessary threshhold transfers through to the object beneath. Since bicycle helmets are rated for forces roughly equivalent to being dropped straight down from a stationary start 1.5m above a hard surface. Now, I'm not an expert in vehicle crash investigation, but I'm *fairly* sure that any impact or series of impacts powerful enough to render a quarder of your skull into gravel, put you in a weeks-long coma, give you massive amnesia, and leave you with ongoing symptoms of traumatic brain injury are a little bit, a teeny-weeny amount, a little smidgeon-widgeon more than what bike helmets are rated for. That's why none of the companies that make them claim they will help in such circumstances: because they know it would be a lie, and that unlike uninformed punters, carbrained journalists, or "medical professionals" who think wearing a helmet would save you from a broken arm(an actual scenario encountered by a mate, who's nurse at the A&E tutted and harrumphed her way through his whole treatment due to his lack of helmet despite his bonce having come through *being hit by a car* - another scenario bike helmets are worthless in - completely unscathed), the lawyers for those companies know their business and understand that if you lie in advertising you will get sued into the ground.
The Battle of Ypres April 1915. The German infantry division advanced using das Brumptstadt Fahrarden. The slow speed kept them behind the cloud of chlorine gas as it drifted towards the Commonwealth trenches. The offensive cleaved a two mile gap in the Western Front. The use of cycles was copied by the Japanese as they invaded Singapore and Burmah. By then war technology had embraced wider low pressure tyres, carbon frames and hydration gels. The German forces decided not to incorporate cycling as part of Operation Session, as bike theft in London and the South East was rife and would have caused huge casualties. Ironically superior advancement of tyre technology led to a British victory at El Alamein. This technology played a key part in the US Marines victory at Iwo Jima.
The appropriate response to Google pissing on your cereal is not a fancy new sugar that removes the taste of urine. Stop using Google products where you can. Firefox browser and DuckDuckGo search engine have had noticeable upticks in market share by explicitly NOT pushing AI.
my thoughts exactly...I wonder how that approach is working, with motor vehicle drivers...🤔
I do not wish to diminish the personal tragedy, but one never hear calls for pedestrians or even hikers to wear clothing with integrated lightening rods.
RE Andy Burnam / Heidi Alexander - this is the best thing in many ways - set an example (even if currently it leads to lots of online name-calling). And imagine some of the political alternatives! The folks in the apparently second-placed party seem incredibly unlikely to be doing so. And even the current "new Greens" seem less interested in ... y'know, environmental things. OTOH I wish Heidi could be bolder. And I fear that like anyone ambitious enough to get to the top (exception B Johnson - well, I guess there was the Corbyn bicycle...) Burnam will be trimming his transport policy sails to fit the wind (should that be "bunker-fuel-burning engines"?)
@mattsccm Bull bars aren't banned, they just have to conform to regulations so they are deformable or have plates that allow crumple give on contact, rather than rigid steel bars that can smash into pedestrians and cyclists with no give at all, catch them and drag them under the wheels. If you think that's a problem, do one. Why should who is responsible for a collision remove the responsibility of people driving a tonne of machinery on the road from having safety features to at least mitigate some of the effects of a collision?
I'd be willing to bet that's lazy use of stock photography rather than deliberate misinformation, but the result is still the same.
15 thoughts on “Bonanza Budget for cycling … sorry, just kidding, nothing as usual; Cargo bikes FTW; Paris-Nice TT highlights; Paris-Roubaix Challenge ‘not responding’ to coronavirus concerns; ‘Road zombie’ close pass + more on the live blog”
(It’s sort of relevant to
(It’s sort of relevant to that twitter video clip, so bear with me).
I was in the (painted) cycle lane going up Colston Street in Bristol this morning when a woman tried to pass me in her car.
The painted lane is handlebar width (being generous) and she couldn’t move over in her lane at all because of cars queuing for the traffic lights by Colston Hall.
So she appeared behind me, then eveeer soooo slooowly edged forward, forward, forward (all while about a foot at most off my right bar-end), level with me, sloooowly forward (clearly thinking she was being really careful and safe).
And then she had to fall back as she realised the cyclists ahead of me, and then me, were having to move out of the cycle lane because the builders had put the signs warning about the traffic lights for people driving down the hill in the uphill cycle lane (and the triangle warning signs are basically the same width as the cycle lane).
It’s the only time I think I’ve ever been passed so closely that I could have just held onto her wing mirror and got a lift up the hill.
And I think she had no idea that she was doing anything wrong at all…
brooksby wrote:
I had thought that most drivers in Bristol were now used to cyclists and drove accordingly, but perhaps she’s not a local. Have the warning signs been reported for obstructing traffic? I once reported an abandoned car in a cycle lane in North Bristol, which was still there a few days later, so I rang the police non-emergency number and pointed out that it was a seriously hazard and very dangerous for cyclists, followed up by reporting it on their website too. I don’t know if that’s why, but it was moved pronto.
I thought that cycle routes
I thought that cycle routes were the ideal place to put motorist only signs.
This is on NCN 4, slightly more paint on the shared use path than the standard triangle.
And isn’t it standard
And isn’t it standard practice for road workers to put road work signs in cycle routes, I mean, the’ve all been told that nobody cycles in them.
I did once complain to my
I did once complain to my local council for doing that and tbf they did move them…that one time 🙁
When it snows, which
When it snows, which admittedly isn’t very often, my council (Enfield) helpfully piles up all the snow cleared from the roads in the cycle lanes, where it freezes solid and makes the lanes unrideable for days after everywhere else has thawed.
Well, I suppose that the Govt
Well, I suppose at least the Govt claim they’ll make a start on fixing the potholes…
(Although I wonder whether that’ll only be on the strategic road network and they’ll leave councils to pick up the tab for fixing local roads still…).
Re the Budget,tbf the
Re the Budget,tbf the politicians would argue the 500m extra pothole fund does benefit cyclists,and the budget document (always way more important to read than the Chancellors soundbites for news clips speech)also restates the fund for buses/cycling they announced last month and a 1billion fund for transforming cities which includes some cycling infra. So its not alot and whether it’s new money or existing announced stuff hard to tell,but it’s more than nothing for sure.
ASO has just cancelled Paris
ASO has just cancelled Paris Nice Challenge they also organise Paris Roubaix
https://www.timeto.com/en-GB/sports/cycling/paris-nice-challenge-2020
I had the misfortune to
I had the misfortune to accidentally listen to some of the budget speech, and it was an utterly appalling display of schoolboy laughing and jeering, self-congratulatory back slapping, mostly political, with lots of repetition of Boris the Liar’s catchphrase “getting it done”. It was frankly obnoxious.
As CUK say, there is almost nothing in it for cyclists, despite lots of rhetoric in the speech about being so green they’d disappear on a lawn. Even the amount earmarked for potholes will barely scratch the surface. It was basically is list of everything they’d done for the past ten years inverted, all the cuts reversed, all their own policies annulled and in the glorious Maggie’s words, u-turned.
My MP will be hearing from me, but being true blue, he will be pointing out that they’ve spent some money on paint in Lydney, and ignoring the rest.
EDIT: They are actually planning to spend what labour were called marxists for planning to spend.
It’s shocking but not
It’s shocking but not unexpected.
With Covid-19 being especially dire for people with compromised breathing, I’d’ve thought it would be more logical to get more people involved in active travel and out of motorised vehicles. I was reading just the other day about how tyres are a major source of vehicle pollution (especially large, heavy vehicles) along with the brakes and neither of those are legislated or controlled.
eburtthebike wrote:
Modulo the catchphrase – this describes much of the dealings in the House, for decades, transport-related or otherwise.
Is 40% faster exactly equal
Is 40% faster exactly equal to 40% more efficient?
Re: budget
Re: budget
Like immigrants, cyclist are just another minority that the current government at best doesn’t give a #### about and at worst would love to get rid off.
I noticed the Paris-Roubaix
I noticed the Paris-Roubaix challenge organisers were still trying to drum up entrants a few weeks ago.
I wondered if their event insurers would pay out more based on number of entrants, e.g. if it was worth their while holding out until the last minute?
I had already cancelled due to having low back surgery, can’t say they made it especially easy…