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Met Office slammed for "consider not cycling" graphic; Council claims salting cycle lanes is impractical; Trentin unimpressed by complaints; Your thoughts on MP asking cyclists to slow down; Cancer diagnosis inspires LEJOG + more on the live blog

It's Thursday and Dan Alexander is in the hot seat for all your live blog needs...
Thu, Feb 11, 2021 09:09
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Met Office slammed for "consider not cycling" graphic; Council claims salting cycle lanes is impractical; Trentin unimpressed by complaints; Your thoughts on MP asking cyclists to slow down; Cancer diagnosis inspires LEJOG + more on the live blogMet Office graphic
11 February 2021, 17:06
Met Office graphic featuring crashing cyclist asks bike riders to consider not riding but just tells drivers to take care

The Met Office have been accused of singling out cycling as a particularly dangerous activity, using a graphic to depict a cyclist crashing due to icy roads. In the graphic, which was shared to their 832,000 Twitter followers, a car driver also momentarily slips but stays in control. The message says cyclists should consider not riding their bikes, but drivers should just take care.

Critics have said the post doesn't address the dangers of driving, while jumping to the worst conclusion about cycling. One reply asked whether it would not be better to encourage people to not drive two ton vehicles during dangerous weather? Another shared a video of a Tesla rolling out of control down a steep hill and crashing into another vehicle, while another said: "Why single out cycling not to do? I would guess that far more injuries are occurring from people slipping while walking and far more damage and injury is caused by out of control cars in these conditions. So blinkered."

11 February 2021, 17:22
Icicles close tunnels on the Monsal Trail
11 February 2021, 16:19
Dress like a World Champion...or don't

Fresh off the back of winning the opening stage of Tour de la Provence with the help of Julian Alaphilippe, Deceuninck-Quick-Step have announced you can pre-order a World Champion replica jersey from their webshop. The debate on whether you should earn it has been done to death, so i'm not saying anything. The collection includes a replica jersey, vintage T-shirt, hoodie and navy blue T-shirts...

Talking of iconic jerseys, here's Quick-Step rider Davide Ballerini on the podium at Tour de la Provence in a colourful number...

11 February 2021, 15:41
Davide Ballerini wins opening stage of Tour de la Provence

Deceuninck-Quick-Step's Davide Ballerini won the opening stage of Tour de la Provence with a last gasp effort to overhaul Arnaud Démare as the finish line loomed. Ballerini came around Démare in the final 50 metres to take victory after his teammate Julian Alaphilippe, who had been in the breakaway for most of the day, was reeled in with 2km to go. The World Champion managed to set up Ballerini's sprint with one last effort. Nacer Bouhanni was third. 

11 February 2021, 15:11
Council claims salting cycle lanes and footways is impractical and roads should be prioritised

Medway Council has been criticised for saying that salting roads is their priority during the cold weather and to also salt bike lanes and footways would be "impractical and financially draining." The council was responding to requests asking them to start salting footways. Medway Council tweeted: "We've received a lot of requests to salt footways. It would be impractical & financially draining to salt them, as roads are our priority. Post salting of footways & cycleways will be carried out on a priority basis during severe weather, as resources permit."

On Monday, Transport for London shared pictures of their new bike lane gritter, named after Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty. Chris Gritty has been out salting the capital's bike lanes this week.

11 February 2021, 11:45
Matteo Trentin tells peloton to "spend less time on TikTok and be more proactive" if they don't like the UCI's new rule changes

UAE Team Emirates' Matteo Trentin has launched an extraordinary rant at his fellow professionals, saying they should "spend less time on TikTok and be proactive when it comes to making cycling safer." Trentin was one of the only pro riders, alongside Philippe Gilbert, who attended the UCI meetings this winter where new rule changes were discussed. The Italian said that over 800 professional riders were notified by email in November of the potential changes but less than 20 have opened the email and downloaded the documents.

"No one this time can say that they weren’t informed," Trentin told Cyclingnews. "I’m sorry to say that they need to check their emails and download the new rules. To tweet that they were not informed is easy but emails were sent to over 800 riders and I can tell you that only 16 riders downloaded the information. If someone wanted to disagree when the proposals were made, they had many chances but there was very little response.

"I’m quite angry about what is now being said. I don’t know who they want to blame but it can’t be me, Phil (Gilbert) or the CPA. Not this time. Maybe riders should spend less time on TikTok and be more proactive when it comes to making their workplace a safer place."

The UCI has formally banned the super-tuck position for descending on the top tube as well as the TT position in road races. There will be a period of education up until April 1 during which riders will receive warnings. However, beyond that date systematic punishments will come into effect with riders potentially being suspended from competition for breaches. The sport's governing body also announced new regulations on the disposal of rubbish during races and a standardisation of race barriers.

11 February 2021, 14:14
Zwift story follow up from one of the dads whose child had their Zwift account deleted
zwift-yorkshire1_1

Quick follow up to the Zwift story. We've had another message from a father of a child whose account got deleted as the virtual cycling platform requires guardians to update consent details or children's accounts would be deleted. Tom said: "Zwift has played a significant part in our children's cycling progress - I couldn't have let my 12-year-old ride 250 miles in a day, on the road, last summer! Especially given the paucity of safe places for them to ride in our community, especially on their own, Zwift gives kids an opportunity to ride in safety, in all weathers.

"The ‘gamification’ of riding appeals particularly to their sense of fun, and riding virtually has taught them a heck of a lot about the sport, and about their own abilities. As busy parents, we don’t get to ride as often as we’d like, resources are finite and most of the value we get from Zwift, is from their visionary (and no doubt commercially astute) support for a member’s children being able to access the platform as part of Mum or Dad’s subscription.

"We only wish that the administration of it could be a little easier (children losing their 'drops' is a traumatic event!) and that other platforms, known for deleting accounts set up for youngsters, would make a similar effort to find ways to support and encourage the next generation with provision of their own.

"One day, a cut-down incarnation of Zwift, with a low-cost, easily adjusted kids indoor bike, could transform the contribution of bike racing and other sports to younger kids’ PE curriculum. Imagine, a whole class of little people riding in the school hall, with their ride projected onto a screen!"

11 February 2021, 14:08
11 February 2021, 13:09
Richmond Cycling Campaign and Merton Cycling Campaign react to Sarah Olney's comments
11 February 2021, 12:13
Vuelta a España route announced

The route for the Vuelta a España has been announced with the usual steep climbs, new mountains and...even some stages for the sprinters. The race starts in Burgos with a short ITT and ends away from Madrid for the first time in seven years, with another race against the clock in Santiago de Compostela. There looks to be a few opportunities for the sprinters early on before the peloton reaches the high mountains on stage nine with the summit finish to Alto de Velefique. Stage 17 takes the riders up the famous Lagos de Covadonga via a new climb at Collada Llomena. On the next day comes the stage with the most climbing as the pros slog their way over 5,000m of elevation. Stage 18 finishes up Altu d’El Gamoniteiru, the highest paved road in Asturias, averaging 9% for around 15km...

11 February 2021, 11:15
I shouldn't laugh...
11 February 2021, 10:43
Cancer diagnosis inspires cycling fundraising

Gaz Emmerson was first diagnosed with a rare form of bone and tissue cancer at the age of 21 and has beaten it three times. However, a fourth diagnosis that the cancer had now spread to his lungs, lymph nodes and brain has inspired Gaz to tick off some bucket list challenges including cycling Land's End to John O'Groats. The Shropshire Star reports that incredibly, Gaz is training for the challenge while having chemotherapy and still plans to complete the ride in June. So far, his JustGiving page has raised over £17,000 to help Sarcoma UK research his illness.

Gaz is hoping to complete the route in 13 days and will be joined by his dad Andy, wife-to-be Zoe and three best mates. "This is currently a hugely underfunded area," Gaz explained. "The charity gets no government funding whatsoever and because of that treatments and survival rates are not moving forward quickly enough. The first line drugs used to treat Sarcomas were developed 40 years ago.

"I want to get my story out there and raise awareness, and for people to get checked. If I'd gone to a doctor a bit sooner I might be in a better situation."

11 February 2021, 09:53
Not too cold for cycling

Good to see cyclists still getting out and about even during this cold snap. On Tuesday's live blog,  Lorenzo Barone gave tips on how to keep riding even in -50°C...Or for something closer to home check out our winter cycling survival guide... 

11 February 2021, 08:45
Social media replies to MP who asked cyclists to slow down in Richmond Park...but does she have a point?

On Tuesday, Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Olney urged cyclists to take more care when riding in Richmond Park, stressing "it's not a sports venue." Olney is a cyclist and is often pictured on social media taking her children to school by bike, and rode to Westminster to take part in a Parliamentary vote last June. However, she pointed out in an interview with Radio Jackie that she believes people are put off riding their bikes in Richmond Park by the behaviour of some cyclists...

"I would just implore cyclists, especially if they're in the park – which is a national nature reserve, it's not a sports venue – to be thoughtful. They need to observe the Highway Code, speed limits and they need to think about the impact of their behaviour on others," she said. Fair enough?

Since publishing our story on Tuesday we've seen plenty of comments saying cars are the real problem in Richmond Park because they cause congestion (seen in the story below) and that Olney hasn't asked drivers to follow speed limits and the Highway Code.

Jeremy Vine even had his say...

On Twitter, Martynhopping said: "I’d rather moan about the dog off leads near the deer, walkers trying to get as close to the deer for selfies or the overpriced tasteless coffee from Colicci’s." And, Ben Aston asked: "Why are motor vehicles permitted in Richmond Park nature reserve?"

However, for balance, there have also been plenty of comments to the contrary...

Dan Alexander

Dan is the road.cc news editor and joined in 2020 having previously written about nearly every other sport under the sun for the Express, and the weird and wonderful world of non-league football for The Non-League Paper. Dan has been at road.cc for four years and mainly writes news and tech articles as well as the occasional feature. He has hopefully kept you entertained on the live blog too.

Never fast enough to take things on the bike too seriously, when he's not working you'll find him exploring the south of England by two wheels at a leisurely weekend pace, or enjoying his favourite Scottish roads when visiting family. Sometimes he'll even load up the bags and ride up the whole way, he's a bit strange like that.

Add new comment

49 comments

Avatar
Slartibartfast | 3 years ago
4 likes

"One day, a cut-down incarnation of Zwift, with a low-cost, easily adjusted kids indoor bike, could transform the contribution of bike racing and other sports to younger kids’ PE curriculum. Imagine, a whole class of little people riding in the school hall, with their ride projected onto a screen!"

If we're dreaming then how about making it safe enough for those children to ride outside in the fresh air. A hall full of stationary bikes and a wall projection all sounds a bit dystopian, not to mention a right faff for teachers.

Avatar
Hirsute | 3 years ago
3 likes

Can't get worked up about don't cycle. Cars that crash tend to be damage to other cars whereas we had a recent thread about breaking your hip after coming off.
I'd love a winter bike complete with metal studded tyres but I think I'll just wait until Monday to go out.

Avatar
wtjs replied to Hirsute | 3 years ago
1 like

we had a recent thread about breaking your hip after coming off

Fortunately, when the wind is from the east it seems to dry the roads, unlike after Christmas/ New Year when the westerlies brought the hideous icy sheen every night. Therefore I have resorted to interval training on the flat roads of the Fylde when the hills are risky because of frozen streams across the roads

Avatar
mdavidford replied to Hirsute | 3 years ago
2 likes

hirsute wrote:

Can't get worked up about don't cycle. Cars that crash tend to be damage to other cars whereas we had a recent thread about breaking your hip after coming off. I'd love a winter bike complete with metal studded tyres but I think I'll just wait until Monday to go out.

I'm not sure whether this is meant to be ironic or not. If so, I apologise for missing the point.

Cars that crash tend to do damage to other cars and the people in them, or anyone else that happens to be around. At least with a bike you're mostly only taking a risk with your own wellbeing.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-38063612

It would have made a lot more sense if they'd simply said "consider not travelling".

Avatar
Hirsute replied to mdavidford | 3 years ago
1 like

I was thinking that in poor conditions drivers go much slower so a collision will be low speed and with a safety cage and air bags. Hence I see this specific issue as property damage v personal injury comparison.
The linked thread has a few unpleasant injuries in it that I really hope to avoid. Too old for that !

(Ok this thread https://road.cc/content/forum/broken-hip-makes-me-question-winter-tyre-c.... )

Avatar
HoarseMann replied to Hirsute | 3 years ago
3 likes

hirsute wrote:

I think I'll just wait until Monday to go out.

I think you've just guaranteed rain for Monday 

Avatar
Hirsute replied to HoarseMann | 3 years ago
1 like

Forecast to rain where I live!

Avatar
Geoffroid replied to Hirsute | 3 years ago
4 likes

I have a mountain bike with Ice Spiker Pro tyres and a hybrid with Top Contact Winter 2 tyres. The message from the Met Office should be: don't travel without appropriate tyres. I am confident in my cycle tyres for wintry conditions, but am most fearful of the high number of drivers with completely inappropriate summer tyres who seem to assume the roads will always be gritted and that ABS, traction control, etc is all they need.

Avatar
Sriracha replied to Geoffroid | 3 years ago
2 likes

Absolutely - winter tyres. Drivers who drive in snowy conditions whilst on summer tyres are every bit as guilty as the chap who drove with his windscreen obscured by snow. Both cases are foregone conclusions. I can't fathom why both are not deemed equally culpable stupidity, and yet the one attracts public sympathy whilst the other is prosecuted on the spot and pilloried on social media by the police.

Avatar
Captain Badger replied to Hirsute | 3 years ago
3 likes

hirsute wrote:

Can't get worked up about don't cycle. Cars that crash tend to be damage to other cars whereas we had a recent thread about breaking your hip after coming off. I'd love a winter bike complete with metal studded tyres but I think I'll just wait until Monday to go out.

I agree on a personal level - I won't go out if there's frost on the ground.

This is about advice fro the authorities though. As we all know car drivers kill 5 people a day on average, and this figure is higher during the winter months. Why are riders being told to stay home, but drivers not? From a safety outcome perspective, this is utterly the wrong way round.

The damaging assumptions perpetuated include:

  • cycling is more inherently dangerous than driving
  • a driver's journey is inherently more important than a rider's
Avatar
brooksby | 3 years ago
4 likes

Anyone see this story?

A man has been charged with dangerous driving after being stopped in Dundee with snow covering almost his entire front and rear windscreens.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-55950942

 

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to brooksby | 3 years ago
11 likes

brooksby wrote:

Anyone see this story?

A man has been charged with dangerous driving after being stopped in Dundee with snow covering almost his entire front and rear windscreens.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-55950942

Well, I have now.

It started snowing the other day in Bristol and Mrs Hawkinspeter was just staring at the window for hours. Maybe I should let her in...

Avatar
brooksby replied to hawkinspeter | 3 years ago
0 likes

hawkinspeter wrote:

brooksby wrote:

Anyone see this story?

A man has been charged with dangerous driving after being stopped in Dundee with snow covering almost his entire front and rear windscreens.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-55950942

Well, I have now.

It started snowing the other day in Bristol and Mrs Hawkinspeter was just staring at the window for hours. Maybe I should let her in...

When did you see snow in Bristol??  I admit, I did see a couple of individual snowflakes earlier in the week, but nothing like - you know - SNOW, and nothing settling...

Avatar
Hirsute replied to brooksby | 3 years ago
3 likes

And actual case outcome ? Oh, maybe a strongly worded letter

Avatar
Captain Badger replied to brooksby | 3 years ago
5 likes
brooksby wrote:

Anyone see this story?

A man has been charged with dangerous driving after being stopped in Dundee with snow covering almost his entire front and rear windscreens.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-55950942

 

Leave the hard pressed motorist alone...

Avatar
Sriracha replied to brooksby | 3 years ago
6 likes

Yes, but I don't understand why the motorist is being prosecuted in this particular case. Hundreds of NMOTD videos proving motorists could not see out of their windscreens and most of them don't even get a telling off. That's assuming there's even the urgency to turn the paperwork around inside 14 days.

Avatar
OldRidgeback replied to brooksby | 3 years ago
1 like

How lazy do you have to be to try and drive like that? Just get an old bit of carboard, and it'll take about 30 seconds to sweep the snow off your car. 

Avatar
Dingaling replied to brooksby | 3 years ago
1 like

What I have found scarier than this is trucks with a tarpaulin covered trailer that accumulates snow and ice on top that comes flying off in huge chunks when the truck gets up to speed. There are far too many thoughtless people about. On the the hand, maybe they do have thoughts like " I don't give a shit ".

Avatar
mdavidford | 3 years ago
0 likes

Quote:

The UCI has formally banned the super-tuck position for descending on the top tube as well as the TT position in road races...

...years ago.

Avatar
alansmurphy | 3 years ago
3 likes

I love her comments are justified because she once rode to work and once took her kids to school avec bike

Avatar
Captain Badger replied to alansmurphy | 3 years ago
11 likes

alansmurphy wrote:

I love her comments are justified because she once rode to work and once took her kids to school avec bike

I once played Widow Twanky in my school pantomime. That makes me a go-to authority for women's issues I guess.

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to Captain Badger | 3 years ago
6 likes

Captain Badger wrote:

alansmurphy wrote:

I love her comments are justified because she once rode to work and once took her kids to school avec bike

I once played Widow Twanky in my school pantomime. That makes me a go-to authority for women's issues I guess.

I'd be interested in your opinion on this blatant example of manspreading: https://imgur.com/QmFnhwL

 

Avatar
Captain Badger replied to hawkinspeter | 3 years ago
2 likes

hawkinspeter wrote:

 

.....

I'd be interested in your opinion on this blatant example of manspreading: https://imgur.com/QmFnhwL

I am too scared to open that on a work computer....

Avatar
Hirsute replied to Captain Badger | 3 years ago
4 likes

Quite safe although I am suspicious that the peanut butter is a form of population control.

Avatar
Captain Badger replied to Hirsute | 3 years ago
1 like

hirsute wrote:

Quite safe although I am suspicious that the peanut butter is a form of population control.

That depends how you use it

Very funny vid!

Avatar
Hirsute replied to Captain Badger | 3 years ago
1 like

I should have said hazelnut butter

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-55817385

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to alansmurphy | 3 years ago
7 likes

alansmurphy wrote:

I love her comments are justified because she once rode to work and once took her kids to school avec bike

That makes her a cyclist in my book, though hardly a spokesperson for cycling. And there's plenty of cyclists that I don't agree with.

*cough* Boris *cough*

Avatar
Jenova20 replied to hawkinspeter | 3 years ago
2 likes

hawkinspeter wrote:

alansmurphy wrote:

I love her comments are justified because she once rode to work and once took her kids to school avec bike

That makes her a cyclist in my book, though hardly a spokesperson for cycling. And there's plenty of cyclists that I don't agree with.

*cough* Boris *cough*

Devil's advocate. If riding a bike once (and i have to clarify that it's an assumption some have made that she's only done this once) makes someone forever a cyclist then everyone is a cyclist if they owned a bike as a child...

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to Jenova20 | 3 years ago
0 likes

Jenova20 wrote:

hawkinspeter wrote:

alansmurphy wrote:

I love her comments are justified because she once rode to work and once took her kids to school avec bike

That makes her a cyclist in my book, though hardly a spokesperson for cycling. And there's plenty of cyclists that I don't agree with.

*cough* Boris *cough*

Devil's advocate. If riding a bike once (and i have to clarify that it's an assumption some have made that she's only done this once) makes someone forever a cyclist then everyone is a cyclist if they owned a bike as a child...

I think 'being a cyclist' has some kind of number/level associated with it that tails off over time.

e.g. Riding a bike once makes you a level 1 cyclist for the next week or so

Riding a bike once a week makes you a level 2 cyclist which drops to level 1 if you skip a week, or to level 0 if you skip 2 weeks

I'm not quite sure how the levels scale with increased riding speed/time/distance, but I'm sure that bike fettling puts a permanent increase to your level that lasts for at least a year.

Avatar
Captain Badger replied to hawkinspeter | 3 years ago
5 likes

hawkinspeter wrote:

...

I think 'being a cyclist' has some kind of number/level associated with it that tails off over time.

e.g. Riding a bike once makes you a level 1 cyclist for the next week or so

Riding a bike once a week makes you a level 2 cyclist which drops to level 1 if you skip a week, or to level 0 if you skip 2 weeks

I'm not quite sure how the levels scale with increased riding speed/time/distance, but I'm sure that bike fettling puts a permanent increase to your level that lasts for at least a year.

Is consideration given to whether the individual:

  • breaks the law whilst clad in lycra
  • is anonymous
  • wears dark clothing 
  • jumps red lights
  • shun's hi-viz and lights
  • Whizzes past peds at 35mph
  • holds traffic up at 5mph
  • rides in the middle of the road
  • appears out of nowhere in a gang to leave tyre tracks on domestic pets

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