On video: Team GB at Manchester

Do give this nonsense a rest.

Ironic that this was exactly where Sadiq Khan was cosplaying the other day at being a cyclist, with his silly photo-op on a brand new road bike. Still, I guess when you have an entourage of security men and a cavalcade of bullet proof range rovers behind you, the chances of being bike-jacked decrease somewhat... What a shame that he doesn't bother doing anything about crime in London, other than kludging fake figures together to provide a fantasy that it's somehow declining, despite everyone's eyes and ears proving the opposite.

I am yet to see a good argument for not riding footpaths if it doesn't impact others. "It's the law" isn't a good argument if the law doesn't make sense. I ride footpaths all the time near me other users don't care as long as you're respectful. Many are as wide as bridleways (and vice versa); it's often entirely arbitrary. My favourite local one is the one which has half a mile of double track bridleway then 100m of footpath at the end in order to get to the village. There is a sign on every gate saying "NO BIKES OR HORSES" with no good reason other than it's what the map says. No one in the village seems to care other than the one person who keeps putting the homemade signs up.

But, my goodness, they have a lot of stuff.

Where reasonable to do so and you have a reasonable belief that the classification is wrong you can fairly state that "I believe higher rights exist for this route and that I am entitled to exercise them until the matter is settled at a Public Inquiry". If the land owner (or authorised representative) requests you leave you do so in the intended direction of travel politely. Events are a different argument as someone is using the access rights on someone's land to make a commercial profit and enters a grey area whether agreement of the landowner should be sought. Large events on the highway would normally be expected to get permission of the local authority.

I miss wiggle. They were like Amazon without the ethical concerns...well, unless you really liked and wanted to support your local bike shop. St. Johns Cycles is great with knowledgable staff, but I think they aim at a slightly different type of rider.

@Daveyraveygravey cycling UK have got a good guide with a list: https://www.cyclinguk.org/article/cycling-guide/where-can-i-cycle-off-road …and whilst it's a 'no' for cycling on public footpaths, it's not illegal like riding on a pavement alongside the road - so I do sometimes do it where it's not going to upset anyone.

I was hoping to find a succinct list at the end of this article! Bridleways - yes. Restricted byways - yes again, I think (?) Footpaths - no. I'm usually on my own, in the South Downs, not racing or shredding or jumping off drops. Trying not to frighten walkers horse riders or wild life.

I think the fact checking and verifying boats long sailed from this port.

@HoarseMann if you look further up the road you can see where the cycle path crosses a junction with what looks like two bollards and give way lines. So if you're riding on it you have to slow down and possibly stop at every side road. Doesn't seem any safer than the road to me.