Oil on popular cycling + walking route spilled deliberately to target cyclists, claims spotter; Simon Cowell urges e-bikers to “read the manual” after fall; Tory Councillor slammed for red light whataboutery; Sunweb sign Bardet + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
Weekend catch-up
Enjoyed the weekend sun a little too much and forgot to read road.cc? Here’s what you missed…
Four-year doping ban for Swiss cyclist who tested positive for three banned substances
Milan-Sanremo: Wout van Aert takes the somewhat belated first Monument of the season
Noel Gallagher says the only downside of cycling is “the f***ing helmet”
Chris Froome faces crucial Dauphiné test to clinch Tour de France place
Simon Cowell breaks back in electric bike fall
Had your bike nicked? £30k of stolen bikes recovered in Hackney
Painted 'cycle lanes' appear in Lewes, demanding more space for bikes
Graffiti appeared in #Lewes High Street, including a makeshift “cycle lane” painted on the road surface https://t.co/CJf3buorCe
— Brighton Argus (@brightonargus) August 10, 2020
The Argus reports that the unofficial cycle lanes in Lewes, East Sussex have been painted around the town centre, including some bike signs and space for bikes to stop at junctions.
The local council are currently discussing whether they should bid for cash from the government’s Active Travel Fund, but have condemned the ‘graffiti’. A spokesperson commented: “We would never condone the use of graffiti on the roads, it is illegal and potentially dangerous.
“We are currently working on emergency active travel measures to improve social distancing in the centre of Lewes. This has been the subject of local consultation in recent weeks with those directly affected by the proposal.
“This is an extremely challenging time for businesses trying to recover from the impact of the Covid-19 crisis. As a county council, our priority is to support those businesses in their recovery.
“The Government has instructed us that Emergency Active Travel Fund measures must be in place by early September, which has limited the amount of time we have to consult.
“We have written to businesses and residents where are proposing temporary measures and asked them to let us know if the measures will have an effect on them.”
If you go cycling in Greenwich Park today, you're sure of a big surprise
Carol Kirkwood has seen lots of doggers in Greenwich Park this morning. 🤣🤣 #classic#BBCBreakfast pic.twitter.com/4Oh9vKUZhw
— Haggis_UK 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 (@Haggis_UK) August 10, 2020
That’s according to BBC weather presenter Carol Kirkwood anyway. We hope they’re keeping socially distanced in any case…
Romain Bardet added to Team Sunweb's group chat
Our 2021 group chat has just got a new member👀🔥 #KeepChallenging pic.twitter.com/IfSILMSvax
— Team Sunweb (@TeamSunweb) August 10, 2020
During these financially troubling times, simply post the team WhatsApp chat to announce your new flagship signing and hey presto! According to an accompanying press release the 29-year-old Frenchman has signed a two-year deal, and will join up with Sunweb from AG2R La Mondiale for the start of the 2021 season.
"Even for you Joanna, this is particularly odious": Conservative councillor accused of "gloating" after Labour councillor tweeted about hospital visit
Jolly bad luck. Was the traffic light red? Like the time I saw you on Brentford High Street cycling through a red light?
— Joanna Biddolph (@JoannaBiddolph) August 7, 2020
Biddolph – who represents Turnham Green ward – sent the reply to Councillor Guy Lambert, questioning if his accident happened when the traffic light was on red because she allegedly saw him cycling through a red light once, apparently. It’s safe to say people weren’t on her side, with almost a hundred replies accusing her of being “petty”, “nasty” and “spiteful” amongst other things…
Even for you Joanna this is particularly odious. You may disagree with him on various issues but he’s in hospital! Try and display some empathy.
— Philip Schroeder (@phil_schroeder) August 8, 2020
What a petty and mean spritted sentiment from an elected official. There should be no space in politics in all mainstream parties for attitudes like this.
— Gareth Fiford (@FifordGareth) August 8, 2020
A dreadful comment of the kind you might expect from a child, not an elected official
— Bike Party (@bike__party) August 8, 2020
Wow, fellow councillor in A&E and you’re gloating. What a spiteful response.
— Karen Liebreich (@kareninagarden) August 8, 2020
Biddolph has anti-cycling form, including the time in March 2019 when she asked Twitter: “What’s it called when someone on a bicycle whizzes past moving cars in moving traffic on a busy road, squeezing between the car and the pavement or the car and parked cars, almost touching the cars it was whizzing beside?”
Surrey Police replied “filtering”, as did the West Midlands Police Traffic Investigations Unit, who said: “Joanna, what you are describing is called “filtering” actively encouraged by @transportgovuk for both motorcycles & cycles, actually taught in bikeability level 3. If done correctly it is risk free and enables those on two wheels to be the most efficient form of transport.”
Fabio Jakobsen "will be a bike racer again", suggests Deceuninck-Quick Step team doctor
Speaking to Sporza, Yvan Vanmol said that he couldn’t give a time frame at this stage, but expects the 23-year-old will race a bike professionally again.
He continued: “Given the seriousness of the accident, Fabio Jakobsen is doing very well.
“Fabio is fully conscious. You can’t talk yet, but communicating via text messages is fine.
“At the end of next week he will be ready to be transferred to the Netherlands.
“What we are still concerned about is the aesthetic damage and possibly the muscle group around his mouth. Since no vital organs have been affected, we hope for the best.”
Vanmol said he is in communication with a doctor in the Polish hospital Jakobsen is currently recovering in, saying that he “performed his job perfectly.”
Ride your socks off on Zwift tonight at 7pm!
This week’s ride is a ‘C’, so expect to be getting a bit more of a sweat on if you’ve only previously joined us on a ‘D’ week. At least one sock giveaway will take place at some point as always, awarded to the rider who is directly behind the ride leader when we take a screen grab.
Click here to get full details and sign up, and we hope to see your avatar on the start line at 7!
More cycling transfers: AG2R lose a Bardet and gain a Van Avermaet
🇧🇪 BIENVENUE @GregVanAvermaet 🇧🇪 ⁰#allezALM – © Getty Images pic.twitter.com/Urvykuj7fn
— AG2RLM Pro Cycling Team (@AG2RLMCyclisme) August 10, 2020
The 35-year-old Belgian and his current teammate Michael Schär will both move over from CCC Team on three-year deals starting from January 2021. AG2R La Mondiale will also begin using their new name, AG2R Citroën Team, at the beginning of the new year.
Simon Cowell has surgery on broken back following e-bike crash, and urges new owners to "read the manual"
And a massive thank you to all the nurses and doctors. Some of the nicest people I have ever met.
Stay safe everyone
Simon.— Simon Cowell (@SimonCowell) August 10, 2020
So sorry to hear this.
Sounds a very nasty accident.
I wish Simon a successful operation and a full & speedy recovery. https://t.co/RqBwIzVeqR— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) August 9, 2020
The music mogul fell of his electric bike near his Malibu home on Saturday, and thanked the doctors and nurses who treated him after undergoing surgery on a broken back. He also said: “Some good advice… If you buy an electric trail bike, read the manual before you ride it for the first time.”
According to a spokesperson, the 60-year-old had “broken his back in a number of places”, and the surgery involved a number of procedures including the installation of a metal rod in his back. The BBC report that Cowell’s six-year-old son Eric was with him at the time of the accident.
Lance Armstrong's bike shop has stopped selling and servicing Trek police bikes
Mellow Johnny’s of Austin, Texas say they will “no longer purchase, re-sell, and service police-issue Trek bikes and accessories” amid the continuing controversy surrounding police brutality against the black community. They also clarified: “We are not anti-police. We do believe our local police force will protect us from the very threats we are receiving right now.
“We wish this entire community peace and progress and togetherness at the conclusion of these trying times. And we intend to be a part of the discourse, struggle, and growth for Austin, as we have since we opened our doors in 2008.”
Back in June, Fuji Bikes suspended sales to US police forces after seeing evidence of their bikes being used against protestors following the killing of George Floyd. Trek rejected calls to take the same action, saying that “bikes can play positive role by continuing to get officers out of cars”, and instead outlined a company diversity programme that included the creation of “1,000 cycling industry jobs for people of colour”.
E-bike and scooter retailer Pure Electric urge public not to be deterred from riding e-bikes following Simon Cowell crash
Although it’s not clear exactly what type of bike Cowell was riding when he broke his back, Pure Electric are keen to remind the British public that e-bikes in the UK are subject to much stricter regulations. Their public affairs director Tom McPhail commented: “Some American e-bikes are more like motorcycles and it’s not clear what Simon Cowell was riding when he had his accident.
“By contrast, e-bikes in the UK are well-regulated. E-bikes are an incredible transport solution that can help millions of people get fit, move around cities easily and have fun while they’re doing it; it would be a tragedy if this one isolated accident in Los Angeles deters people from riding them here in the UK, particularly given the way the streets are filling up with cars again since lockdown ended.”
In the US there are three classes of e-bikes, with most capable of a 20mph assisted speed from a motor that could be up to 750 watts. In the UK, motor power is limited to 250 watts and the assisted speed cuts out at 15.5mph (25km/h). Check out eBikeTips’ comprehensive guide to e-bikes and the law in the UK here.
"Some humans really suck": oil spilled on Somerset cycling and walking route is targeted at cyclists, claims spotter
Posting on a local Facebook group before sending this image to road.cc, the cyclist spotted the oil along the popular Two Tunnels Greenway path in Bath, speculating that it is likely the deliberate work of a saboteur who is attempting to make a warped point about cyclists’ speed on the route. He also claimed to have spotted a similar oil patch last week, adding:
“What they need to remember is that this path is used by everyone, including kids and the elderly. It’s now very slippery, potentially very dangerous, and will also be polluting the area once the rain comes.
“Some humans really suck.”
Numerous people replied to say they have reported the issue to the council and to Sustrans, who maintain the route. Another commented: “It’s not just a danger to the cyclists, it’s an environmental problem as well. As soon as it rains it’s going to flow into the surrounding area. This is so pointless and dangerous to a lot of people including children, I’m not a cyclist but I would never dream of doing such a malicious, deliberate act. I hope the police do something.”
Man cycling 2,000 miles with his dog to raise cash for Teenage Cancer Trust
Thanks to “time off through furlough”, Chris Canham set off with Vinnie the Jack Russell on the 28th July, and has completed around 500 miles so far. They will also stop off at all of the three peaks and climb them on route, and are pressing ahead despite numerous mishaps along the way. His friend Craig Hudson said: Chris’ bike, now named Lazarus, has broken on a number of occasions, always being rescued by Chris and a group of good Samaritans along the way. Halfords in particular have been vital in keeping Chris, Vinnie & especially Lazarus on the road, managing to provide work on the more extensive breakages. Some concerns were raised at first about Vinnie, referred to as “The Wonderdog” by the Facebook community, but Chris has won over the Great British public by showing just how much he spoils the pup and how much Vinnie is loving the adventure too.”
You can follow Chris and Vinnie’s journey on Facebook here, and donate to the JustGiving page here.
Man admits stealing bike and pigeon
The Evening Express reports that 28-year-old Dean Wells pleaded guilty to the unusual crime, after stealing a pigeon from a pigeon loft in Elgin, Scotland and also stealing a bicycle from a different address on the same street. He also admitted to a domestically aggravated charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.
After Wells attempted to take off on the bike he had stolen from a rear garden, the residents decided to go out in an attempt to get the bike back. Wells was reportedly “lying on the ground in an attempt to hide himself”, and the bike was retrieved by the owners, who took photos and called the police.
On the same day, officers were called to another address after a witness found that one of his 17 pigeons was missing from his pigeon loft, which was eventually traced back to Wells. Giving his own plea in mitigation, Wells told the court via video link: “I’d just like to take this opportunity to apologise.
“The theft of the pigeon, that was just a big mistake.
“I’ve got an addiction, and my addiction is to valium and opium. For the bike I was out my face.
“My life has never been so good since I left Elgin. I left to get away from all that trouble. This is just a blip in my recovery.”
Wells asked to be released on bail because “there’s some serious guys in prison looking for me just now”; however he was remanded in custody until later this month, with Sheriff William Summer citing Wells’ “raft of previous convictions.”
Geraint Thomas caption comp: some of our faves so far
“Have you been in an accident that wasn’t your fault?” pic.twitter.com/yhwznkWuYg
— Matt Becker (@MattBecker82) August 10, 2020
“Hi Dave. Can you come back and give me a lift?”
— Colin Lynch (@FormerTTchamp) August 10, 2020
OK lads, send in the air strike. Target is about 1min ahead, head bobbing, elbows out.
— Matt Becker (@MattBecker82) August 10, 2020
The Welshman appears to be on the phone with a helicopter in the background, and social media hasn’t disappointed with the replies.
Nick Freeman to 'discuss' cyclists jumping red lights with Talkradio's Mike Graham tomorrow
The lawyer best known for getting famous motorists off speeding fines using obscure loopholes is going, erm, ‘highbrow’ following his appearance on Good Morning Britain alongside Cycling UK’s Duncan Dollimore last week. Freeman will be talking to Mike Graham on Talkradio about “cyclists who jump red lights and why we need robust legislation to make the roads safer for all of us.” The ‘discussion’ will air at 11:30am tomorrow.
We’re confident that Mr Graham, who recently said on his show that cyclists are “an absolute eyesore on the entire country” and described cycle commuting in London as the preserve of “Lycra-clad, new tech start-up types”, will table a fair and balanced debate on the topic…
10 August 2020, 08:32
10 August 2020, 08:32
The Italians have launched a new mid-range aero road bike
Wilier goes all internal with new Cento10SL - that's for rim brakes too
Wilier's "mid-range" aero road bike has options for disc brakes and rim-brakes
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Latest Comments
@Rendel Harris After nearly 40 years in thé Ariège département it seems from my expérience cycling that it's always wise to bé thé most careful when you see a 31 or 13 plate. Though now cars keep thé same plate when they or their owner changes département
I had actually cycled my first century the week before the accident. I got back on the bike straight away then a hip wore out and was replaced so I missed a lot of cycling in 2024 but I was back to my normal level in 2025 not so sure what has happened this year I am not as enthusiastic as usual I have been on the bike just not cycled far. I will have to do more as I will do a 50 mile ride in September the annual charity ride. Not sure fear is the problem exactly more a feeling that there is less enjoyment.in a bike ride than there once was.
What’s all this MTB palaver? The Tour de France was originally a gravel race. 🙃
@wtjs I've sent in 2 close pass videos to kent police, never heard anything back.
@Rendel Harris I had wondered how they might be preparing to deal with the expected heat. Got to keep them as safe as possible. My excitement is building, always a nervy first week, too many crashes in the peleton and no amount of down gearing is going to prevent that. From my cloudy memory, the pogecar lad is very rarely caught out on the wrong side of a crosswind split.
Rumor has it that riding the MMR gives you autism.
Well this looks ominous: real possibility of Tour stages being cancelled due to extreme heat. I'll put the link in a reply otherwise this whole comment will be quarantined - it's on the Guardian if anyone wants to search for themselves.
Having used the street multiple times since it was opened just over a month ago, I can report two issues which are preventing the improvements from working to their full potential. Firstly, there is no signage other than the painted bikes on the road itself, so there is nothing to indicate that cyclists have priority. The second is that the double yellow lines stop about two-thirds of the way down the road, meaning that from that point onwards, there are multiple cars parked half on the pavement and not in the designated parking places, reducing the width of both the footpath and the road to what it was before the improvements were made.
@MaxiMinimalist Really? So this applies only to drivers from Bouches-du-Rhône, Haute-Garonne and Vaucluse, drivers from the other sixteen départements that make up the south are fine?
36 thoughts on “Oil on popular cycling + walking route spilled deliberately to target cyclists, claims spotter; Simon Cowell urges e-bikers to “read the manual” after fall; Tory Councillor slammed for red light whataboutery; Sunweb sign Bardet + more on the live blog”
“This word – ‘doggers’ –
“This word – ‘doggers’ – Carol; I do not think it means what you think it means…”
She knows what it means and
She knows what it means and there’s no need to kink-shame her for whatever floats her boat.
By the way, I’ll just leave this here: https://phys.org/news/2020-08-humans-private.html
(Just humans and Arabian babblers)
Reminds me of the Car Share
Reminds me of the Car Share Episode where she states she goes dogging every evening with the elderly neighbour in the back field.
AlsoSomniloquism wrote:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5u4hAxi5b6o
Ohh, I can almost feel the
Ohh, I can almost feel the shoe horn straining at Road.cc to find a way to get that one in.
I don’t mind a link to the
I don’t mind a link to the lovely Carol not matter how tenouous.
Let’s face it; tories are an
Let’s face it; tories are an obnoxious bunch of callous, selfish, nasty people. Still, when your leader is a liar, cheat, hypocrite and coward, maybe that shouldn’t be a surprise.
Fantastic generalisation.
Fantastic generalisation.
Are you here all week?
Whilst it is a generalisation
Whilst it is a generalisation, there is also alot more proof in favour then not? And if you think BloJo is not a liar, cheat, hypocrite or coward, please show me proof,
hirsute wrote:
I could be; how much are you paying?
That’s absurd, unfair and
That’s absurd, unfair and hectoring.
Compact Corned Beef wrote:
Perhaps you could make your irony a little clearer next time.
Does anyone know what e-bike
Does anyone know what e-bike this was ? I’ve seen Simon Cowell refer to it as a ‘e-trail bike’ – so is this an actual electric motor bike, or a power assisted bike ?. Simon Cowell does not look like he could pull a wheelie on anything that needs his own power, and its also pretty difficult to do on something that provides assistance, particularly on a first ride – whereas as with a twist grip motorbike, it could easily happen. Enquiring minds want the truth please. Be interesting to analyze how this story has been framed once we know.
American so I assume 20mph
American so I assume 20mph minimum with the ability to ride on electric power and some trail bikes have the ability to go upto 60mph. So I assume he bought one and probably did the throttle and was thrown back and off as it was set at highest straight away. Hence the manual mention.
Thats what I suspect too –
Thats what I suspect too – but do we call electric motor bikes e-bikes now ? Because of course this is just another press dig at the dangers of cyclists, when in fact it’s (most likely) a story for electric motorbikes. If this is true, be interested to see how many news papers attempt to clarify that.
It’s easily done, even with a
It’s easily done, even with a UK spec eBike. Grab handlebar, chuck leg over, this then tends to move your right hand on the throttle and the bike zips out from underneath you. Bloke I sold an ebike to did just that and ended up flat on his back with bike on top of him.
kil0ran wrote:
eBicycles in the UK don’t have throttles, they can only be pedal assist, so was the bike you were selling legal?
Walk assist – on a Wisper 705
Walk assist – on a Wisper 705 – https://wisperbikes.com/shop/e-bikes/step-through-ebikes/705-26-2019/
Throttles are legal on UK ebikes, providing they don’t exceed 4mph
kil0ran wrote:
Thanks, I didn’t know that.
AG2R Citroen? Maybe an AG2R
AG2R Citroen? Maybe an AG2R-coloured version of the La Vie Claire kit might finally make brown shorts acceptable?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-53721909
Another wild untamed motor vehicle? Or, a driver who literally couldn’t see the side of a house?
The picture really has to be seen to be believed
And this brooksby is
And this brooksby is precisely why cyclists need insurance to use the roads
see also
top trump !
Friends, can I recommend the
Friends, can I recommend the excellent blog ‘Audis in Houses’, in which the highly skilled drivers of our favourite German automotive maker, demonstrate how difficult it can be to avoid collisions with buildings:
brooksby wrote:
When are houses going to take responsibility for their own safety? They sit there all nonchalant without any hi-viz or protective accessories and expect drivers to do all the work in avoiding them.
brooksby wrote:
Have Amazon started
Have Amazon started delivering vans?
I expect there is a note through the front door “Your package is behind the bins”.
well this lorry tried to
well this lorry tried to reverse into a house in Thorpe le Soken https://www.essexlive.news/news/essex-news/photos-shows-damage-house-after-4412699 at least the police charged the driver with careless driving
brooksby wrote:
But was the 2 year old wearing a helmet?
Quote:
I know why you publicise
I know why you publicise Freeman & Graham – for the clicks & engagement – but it would be far better to ignore them.
(Gets ready to be told ‘you might be better off elsewhere’ by road.cc writing person).
I don’t really see the point
I don’t really see the point of boosting those 2’s radio show or twitter feed by increased activity. Is anyone seriously going to tune in ?
hirsute wrote:
I hear the masochists cycling club are all going to listen.
And the cycling bingo card club; they’ll be listening too, but only for the first five minutes, because all the cards will be full by then.
I couldn’t last 5 minutes
I couldn’t last 5 minutes
There’s a pill for that. Back
There’s a pill for that. Back to this radio show, my doctor says I should avoid this show, bad for my blood pressure.
I don’t know about Simon
I don’t know about Simon Cowel’s bike but whenever I train people on EU regulated ebikes I always start them in eco mode. Even without a throttle a pedelec can have a ‘kick’ for the uninitiated.
I will attest to the kick
I will attest to the kick when I tested some at the Brum Bike Show. On 5 as most of them were, it pretty much gives you the 200W power or so as you push down to start off so you leap forward at a speed not anticpated when cycling normally.