Weird Mamnick gun ad breaches code; gravel riding still on the up; more accidental Partridge; sock review causes mayhem; distracted drivers; tenuous political references + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
Bizarre Mamnick kit release breaches UK advertising code… but clothing firm remains committed to ‘edgy’ persona
This is one of the new jerseys we are introducing to the AW21 CC.Mamnick range of cycling kit. Expect the first few pieces to be available tomorrow. Produced in very small numbers, the most exclusive kit in the world today and proven at UCI World Tour level 🌍 #keepyompin pic.twitter.com/7WyuBQPZlP
— Mamnick™ (@Mamnick) October 25, 2021
Anyone remember this, shall we say, interesting advertisement from Sheffield-based cycling clothing firm Mamnick?
In case you missed it, in October Mamnick released a new range of jerseys which were accompanied by a controversy-courting, gun-featuring Twitter ad.
(Of course, drawing parallels between bike riding and military combat is hardly a novel idea – just listen to any cycling commentator.)
When the complaints inevitably started flooding in, the brand attempted to keep up the edgelord vibe with a series of un-PC, “damn the consequences” replies.
They also kill bad guys like Osama Bin Laden, so it’s not all bad news.
— Mamnick™ (@Mamnick) October 25, 2021
Sorry to disappoint you, Joanna.
We will decide what is appropriate when it comes to marketing and taking marketing risks. We will deal with the consequences (if there are any) of doing so.
Will we also not cower or by summoned by the Twitter-mobs of the eternally offended.
— Mamnick™ (@Mamnick) October 26, 2021
Well, it turns out there are consequences. The Advertising Standards Authority got in touch, informing Mamnick’s owner Thom Barnett that the ad breached UK advertising code.
According to the letter, Barnett has until 17 January to withdraw the ad. Predictably enough, Mamnick posted the confidential letter on their Twitter account, along with the offending promotional photo (I bet American teen sitcom characters from the eighties think this guy’s the coolest).
The latest from ASA regarding the attached image for those interested … pic.twitter.com/jdjaxFZ7T3
— Mamnick™ (@Mamnick) January 10, 2022
While it appears that this is exactly what the clothing company wanted to happen when it published the original ad, I wonder if they will be maintain their ‘edgy’ persona when the sanctions start rolling in.
Or maybe they’ll change tack completely and claim that it was biathlon jersey all along…
Bit harsh on Cofidis, eh Ned?
Waiting for Sue Grey is like Cofidis waiting for the final climb of the day.
Bit niche that one, but gets me back to cycling.
Have a great Tuesday folks, and watch out for a new Never Strays Far to drop later on…@Millarmind will be rounding up all the very latest cycling.
— Ned Boulting (@nedboulting) January 11, 2022
In that case, Boris Johnson must be the Haimar Zubeldia of lockdown parties. Everyone knows he was there, but nobody can remember seeing him…
Accidental Partridge does cycling
Speaking of the ‘Essex Express’ (that’s Cav’s nickname isn’t it?):
#AccidentalPartridge https://t.co/cZMIx1sgzZ
— Accidental Partridge (@AccidentalP) January 11, 2022
This of course has reminded me of the greatest ever actual Partridge moment, when he reviewed the 1994 Tour de France…
“You join me in the helicopter now as we look down on these cyclists who look somehow like cattle in a mad way. But cattle on bikes.”
Great stage win by Klaus Bin, by the way. It’s such a pity injuries ruined his career.
Gravel riding continues to rise in 2021
According to Garmin, and anyone who has been paying attention, we’re gravel riding more than ever before.
The tech company released its 2021 Fitness report which reveals that gravel riding massively grew in Western Europe last year, with 59.86% more gravel cycling rides logged in 2021. This trend was mirrored across the globe, but at a slightly lower rate, with all regions across the world reporting at least a 29% increase in logged gravel rides.
While adventure riding is on the rise, so is not leaving the house apparently. The number of indoor activities logged by Garmin users interestingly increased by twice as much as outdoor activities year over year.
Fitness sessions that took place indoors also rose considerably, by 20.54% in 2021 over 2020, with Pilates and yoga leading the way with a 108.30% and 45.55% year-over-year percentage increase respectively.
Police in Merton train Community Speed Watch volunteers... by getting them to stand in a bike lane
Your Street ➡️ Our Beat
One of the concerns our residents mention is speeding and our specialist teams are on the case. Their duties are wide and varied but catching people doing 51 in a 30 is always worth it.#CommunitySpeedWatch
Speed Awareness – https://t.co/Ibg0GLuB4f pic.twitter.com/9OsCxVTn9s— Merton Police (@MPSMerton) January 10, 2022
While the sentiment behind this scheme must be commended, surely one of them realised where they were standing?
MerinNO! Sock review generates mammoth Merino melee in our comments section
Whoever knew wool could be so divisive? We were just minding our business yesterday when we realised that quite a lengthy debate had started over on a review of the Albion Winter Socks published over the weekend. The thread is now at 71 comments and counting…
One of those comments was from our Community Editor Simon, noting that we’re currently cooking up a feature on the use of Merino wool in the bike industry, whether it’s sustainable and what brands are doing to mitigate their carbon footprint while producing Merino clothing. What do you think? Don’t be sheepish…
Covid strikes again as British Track Championships postponed
British Cycling announced yesterday that the national track championships, due to be held in Newport at the end of January, have been postponed.
Covid restrictions, especially concerning sporting events, are currently much tighter in Wales than they are in England (Scotland and Northern Ireland also have put similar rules in place since Christmas). According to the Welsh government’s current guidelines, a maximum of 50 people can attend a sporting event outdoors, and only 30 can gather inside.
In a statement British Cycling said, “the current restrictions – which are now expected to remain in place for the foreseeable future – mean that delivering the event would have required strict controls on rider movements and significant changes to the event schedule, severely diminishing the event experience for all.”
The championships have been rescheduled for the first weekend in March. Everything will be better then, surely?
Freedom
Take me to the Rue de Rivoli now, please…
Freedom 🚲
🎥 @EmmanuelSPV
pic.twitter.com/ZucFq6egWh— Jonathan Berk (@berkie1) January 11, 2022
Distracted driver barely misses cyclist (and other tales of inattentive motorists)
Meanwhile, in the good ol’ US of A…
In this next clip, it was the texting motorist who was given quite the scare in Auld Reekie:
Why don’t cyclists use cycle lanes, part 246
Following on from our discussion about ‘murder strips’ yesterday, some of you have been pointing out instances where cycle lanes – while technically segregated from cars – may as well not be there.
Tim Holman sent us this particularly galling example, with the caption “one for the hall of shame”. It’s not like the cycle lane was clearly marked near where the car was parked or anything…
Here’s another one, this time from Twitter, which led one user to sigh (I’m employing poetic license here, obviously they were typing and I have no way to tell what else they were doing): “Ah, the old extra parking space cycle lane. I know them well.”
But why don’t cyclists use the cycle lanes?@graveshambc pic.twitter.com/wwLqKjn113
— Gazza Biker (@gazzabiker) January 11, 2022
Have you got any other examples of might-as-well-be-invisible bike lanes?
New secure indoor bike-parking facility to open in Cardiff
A secure indoor bike-parking facility is set to open in Cardiff city centre early this year.
The Bike Lock will include secure storage for at least fifty bikes, showers, lockers, changing facilities, and also a remote workspace and coffee bar.
The facility, which will be the first of its kind in Cardiff, is a joint venture between Cardiff Council and social enterprise The Bike Lock. It secured funding through the Welsh government’s Burns Commission active travel scheme.
“We can’t wait to get going,” said Bike Lock founder Tom Overton. “Our research shows there is a real desire for this sort of facility. The Bike Lock will offer ‘pay as you go’ options alongside monthly memberships, and we’ll also be working with city centre employers so they can offer the service to their employees to encourage active travel into the city.
It’s a really exciting project which has real potential for growth across the city.”
Bike lanes, again: to park or not to park?
On the subject of cars parking in bike lanes, here’s an interesting one from Gower Street in Bloomsbury, central London:
Cycling Twitter, where does one report parking in a cycle lane? Is it the Met or @TfL? This is on the A400 just down the road from UCL but not sure if it’s a red route… @London_Cycling @citycyclists @humantravl pic.twitter.com/1bqqrRU9gV
— Guy Dorrell (@guydorrell1) January 10, 2022
As some pointed out in the thread, the van driver is actually permitted to park there as it is a clearly marked loading bay.
Both the van driver’s decision, and whether or not a loading bay should be located in the middle of a cycle lane, sparked a bit of a debate. What do you think?
By the logic that its apparently OK to stop in a roadway – In the middle of the main road?
Around the corner? Somewhere that doesn’t present a danger to others?— Stephanie (@StePansar) January 11, 2022
Of course, and that is the issue really – that cars/vans are prioritised at all costs and that all other road users and pedestrians constantly have to yield and/or risk their safety
— Stephanie (@StePansar) January 11, 2022
While not technically the case in this instance, one reader helpfully pointed out that our earlier examples, which highlighted a combination of poor planning and inconsiderate decision making by motorists, are not just a hindrance to cyclists but “show why walking can be difficult in the UK. And as for using a wheelchair…”
“If I ever find myself needing to conduct a ride by shooting…” Reaction to Mamnick gun ad
If I ever find myself needing to conduct a ride by shooting I’ll take a look at their kit. https://t.co/YDNq8YmTkV
— Clarissa (@MisanthropeGirl) January 11, 2022
This morning we reported that the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority has decided to censure the Sheffield clothing firm Mamnick for their deliberately provocative gun-toting cycling jersey ad.
Unsurprisingly, the response was almost entirely critical of Mamnick’s conduct, the company’s laddish persona, and its response to the ASA’s decision.
One reader also went to the trouble of digging up a NSFW photo featured on the company’s website. Let’s just say I’m glad I didn’t undertake that particular bit of research myself.
Here’s a selection of some of your comments:
I have two takeaways from this story. The initial kerfuffle passed me by, so not mega effective. Reading the responses from the firm has put me off ever using them as they sound like pricks and if that’s how they engage with criticism how will they deal with product issues?
I guess what Thom Barnett and Mamnick are really trying to let us know is that their clothing can’t justify itself on its own merits so they need this ludicrous advertising to attract any kind of customer for the kit. Just a thought.
My suspicion is that the intersection between those who think Rapha is cool and those who think guns are cool is a small one. Especially in the UK.
That grey top is awful. Dull and tarmac coloured. And what team in the World Tour has used their kit?
We may all be missing their trick here – actually cycle industry supply issues mean they are trying to hugely supress demand in order to meet delivery timelines.
Alas, I think Thom is maybe just an edgelord and has previous for being ‘anti-SJW’ and a bit of a bully. Best ignored and not given the oxygen of publicity.
And finally:
Middle Aged Man Not In Correct Kit
— Jon Cope (@MrJonCope) January 11, 2022
Thibaut rides the Tour
Nous avons le plaisir de déjà vous annoncer cinq de nos coureurs alignés sur le Tour de France 2022. pic.twitter.com/Z6bNWknm6y
— Équipe Cycliste Groupama-FDJ (@GroupamaFDJ) January 11, 2022
Groupama-FDJ today confirmed that Thibaut Pinot will lead the team at this year’s Tour de France.
Since abandoning the 2020 Tour with back pain, the Frenchman has cut a disconsolate figure in the peloton, amassing only 38 race days last year and appearing increasingly downbeat about his place in the sport and his ability to return to the top.
Only five days ago, it was reported that Pinot would instead target the Giro d’Italia in 2022, a race he has traditionally shone in, away from the harsh glare of French media attention at his home tour.
However, that all appears to have changed with the news that he is one of Groupama’s five confirmed riders for this summer’s grande boucle.
He will be joined on the start line in Copenhagen (provisionally at least) by Michael Storer, David Gaudu, Valentin Madouas and Stefan Küng. Groupama also confirmed that sprinter Arnaud Démare and Attila Valter would head to the Giro.
Pinot has been cast as the tragic nearly-man of cycling over the past few years, withdrawing from the 2018 Giro and 2019 Tour through injury as podium places in both races looked almost guaranteed. Perhaps the fan favourite can muster up one more crack at the Tour this summer.
Dennis disses Ineos
Never one to leave a team on good terms, new Jumbo-Visma rider Rohan Dennis has aimed a not-so-subtle dig at his former employers Ineos.
“I noticed when I was with Ineos that they were copying Jumbo with a lot of stuff,” the two-time world TT champion said during Jumbo-Visma’s team presentation earlier today.
“And I thought, well why would I want to be in a team that is copying a team on the other side of the fence? Why not go join that team and be on the front foot, not the back foot. So basically I want to move here because technically it is a better team.”
Ouch. Let’s hope Dave B and Rod Ellingworth weren’t listening too closely. It seems like the super team phony war of 2022 has already kicked off…
Cycling at teatime
Right folks, that’s all for today’s blog – I’m off to watch some teatime telly.
Speaking of which, last night’s programmes were full of cycling references.
First, Tadej Pogačar won on Pointless (he’s just getting greedy now):
Tadej Pogačar wins #pointless ! Is there nothing the boy can’t do? #cycling #doppelganger pic.twitter.com/RWdsom32BW
— Etape 22 (@Etape22) January 10, 2022
Then Harry Hill was spotted rocking a retro road.cc look on Junior Bake Off. Not sure how aero that collar is, mind.
You never know, Bradley Walsh might ask a bike-related question on tonight’s episode of The Chase.
As long as it’s not about merino wool…
11 January 2022, 09:09
I wonder if Mr Merckx has had a word...
No Tour de France record for Mark Cavendish in 2022 — teammate Fabio Jakobsen says Manx Missile will race Giro d'Italia
Dutch sprinter reveals Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl plan to take him to the Tour de France as their sprinter, leaving no room for Cav
11 January 2022, 09:09
11 January 2022, 09:09
Ay up, it's some more Merino!
Velocio Women’s Alpha Merino Air Jacket
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In reality, I dont think many cyclists actually cry out for all this cycling focussed infrastructure. Local governments may install it and cyclists will mostly use it but I see very few actual cyclists demanding it. Most would happily ride on the roads and be treated with respect by drivers. Most cycle paths are built to fulfil a quota of active travel budget. Cyclists and cycling groups are often ignored in the decision making process, so its not us its you pal that are the problem designing crappy infrastructure very few cyclists actually wanted to begin with.
@mitsky I wonder what the police think those little fingers in their lap were holding onto and doing? "Officer, I was just twiddling my thumbs".
@chrisonabike Yep, its just a convenient excuse. Much the same as GDPR and "we can't be sure that the person who was very clearly not even 1.5m from the edge of the road passed you within 1.5m".
Nice one, Malcolm(!) Now do motorists.
Zondacrypto is not a partner of Canyon-SRAM anymore. In fact, Road.cc wrote an article about it some time ago.
Nearly £54k in 23/24: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67e51acfba11d0060f606d68/costs-per-place-costs-per-prisoner-2023-2024-summary.pdf
Sorry - in 2023 (the answer was in 2024)
This parliamentary answer indicated that annual cost of imprisonment is a little over £51k (in 2024 - probably somewhat more than that now): https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-07-17/hl82 So for 10 years that would be ~£510k
@Rendel Harris May I ask where you got the half million pounds from? Just out of curiosity. Of course each case would be judged on it’s own merits and the culpability of the road user at fault so in Your example, I’d say that is vanishingly rare/unlikely and not relevant for a maximum sentence if the cyclist could show they are normally carefull. And if a minimum sentence is enough of a deterrent then that £ amount will be worth it given the figures mentioned here which would have increased with inflation: I'll put links in a separate reply, which may require Road CC to moderate/approve.
[Citation needed] For several reasons. If you amend that to "*existing keen cyclists* would mostly ride on the road..." that might be better but I'd still question it. For one - the statistics say it *is* "safe" - we could all ride for several lifetimes before our chances of being killed were "significant". What it isn't is "safe-feeling" (because few of us base our behaviour on analysis of stats). And that isn't changed much by policing. It's the fact that most humans aren't happy mixing it with (lots of) fast- moving motor vehicles (increasing with the relative speed difference / size / noise of those vehicles). What has been found in many places is the key blockers to remove / attractive factors to increase are reducing traffic volumes and speeds sufficiently wherever cyclists will mix with motor vehicles, and to keep cyclists moving (even if relatively slowly) in a "legible" direct route. To a first approximation both the safety AND attractiveness are simply "fewer interactions with motor vehicles". I don't disagree that the current lack of seriousness around road policing is really unhelpful though, and something that could be addressed in addition.
111 thoughts on “Weird Mamnick gun ad breaches code; gravel riding still on the up; more accidental Partridge; sock review causes mayhem; distracted drivers; tenuous political references + more on the live blog”
I guess what Thom Barnett and
I guess what Thom Barnett and Mamnick are really trying to let us know is that their clothing can’t justify itself on its own merits so they need this ludicrous advertising to attract any kind of customer for the kit. Just a thought.
Niche brand trying to grab
Niche brand trying to grab attention, will remain in it’s niche if it keeps this type of arrogance up.
When I am looking for a
When I am looking for a jersey I start with fit, fabric colour etc. Mamnick’s USP seems to be “made in small numbers by tw@ts” Obviously they are confident that there are a small number of tw@ts that cycle who will be tempted to switch from Rapha…
My suspicion is that the
My suspicion is that the intersection between those who think Rapha is cool and those who think guns are cool is a small one. Especially in the UK.
The vendor seems to want to double down on their Asshattery.
we may all be missing their
we may all be missing their trick here – actually cycle industry supply issues mean they are trying to hugely supress demand in order to meet delivery timelines.
Looks like that weapon could
Looks like that weapon could be useful for suppressive fire – to keep down demand or the competition. A Chicago typewriter would be more classical though, see?
A company I suspect no one
A company I suspect no one had ever heard of till it got lots of free publicity in the cycling press, almost like it was planned, theres no such thing as bad publicity as they say.
And I dont believe for a moment anyone offended by this style of ad was remotely going to buy into this brand in the first place regardless, so it’s much ado about nothing imo.
A very strange affair. They
A very strange affair. They describe themselves as the most exclusive cycling kit in the world but in their website it’s in stock for sale so I’m not sure who’s being excluded. Then a quick scroll through the journal seems to show more blogs about fishing than cycling, plus a random photo of a tattooed bloke with his cock out. Maybe he was excluded from buying the kit.
I salute you for your
I salute you for your extensive research. It has saved us the bother!?
Wingguy wrote:
mybe that should be their guerilla marketing – before and after pictures of riders buying their shorts.
wycombewheeler wrote:
Wingguy wrote:
Did he buy the shortless bibless bib shorts?
Alas, I think Thom is maybe
Alas, I think Thom is maybe just an edgelord and has previous for being ‘anti-SJW’ and a bit of a bully. Best ignored and not given the oxygen of publicity.
Thank [insert relevant
Thank [insert relevant preferred deity/ imaginary friend/ chocolate bar] we don’t have folks like that contributing to road.cc comments!
Quote:
I think you can drop the mic and leave the Live Blog there for the day.
In that case, Boris Johnson
In that case, Boris Johnson must be the Haimar Zubeldia of lockdown parties. Everyone knows he was there, but nobody can remember seeing him…
Touch of the Alaphilippe as well – keeps grabbing drinks where he’s not supposed to…
Is that image on the gravel
Is that image on the gravel item supposed to be suggesting that gravel gear is a case of ‘The Emporer’s New Bike’?
Re. Merino clothing
Re. Merino clothing
Meh!
mdavidford wrote:
Meheheeheh!
baaa humbug
baaa humbug
mdavidford wrote:
Ewe stole that.
eburtthebike wrote:
Not at all – if it’s been used elsewhere it’s shear coincidence.
mdavidford wrote:
Come off it, we know ewe’re trying to fleece us
Captain Badger wrote:
I’m just trying to entertain – don’t be so ungulateful.
Facking idiot gun nuts..
Facking idiot gun nuts..
Normal sane person: “Guns aren’t cool”
Mamnick: “Something Osama Bin Laden Something”
Normal sane person: “columbine”
What is it with these people?
And they’re not even an
And they’re not even an American company!
brooksby wrote:
Oh you are schitting me
I wasn’t joking that they justified it by OBL – that’s why I assumed they were, in the words of Greenday, well, y’know….
Based in Sheffield.
Based in Sheffield.
Mind you, in some parts of Sheffied I suspect a gun might be useful… 😉
But … recreational machine
But … recreational machine guns!
Ahh Gun Jesus. I love that
Ahh Gun Jesus. I love that guy. Still don’t want my own gun though.
chrisonatrike wrote:
Is recreational machine guns something to do with that Republican Xmas card which went viral just before – er – Xmas?
You shouldn’t believe
You shouldn’t believe everything in the media. I doubt it’s Christmas for one because then it’s supposed to be chess nuts boasting in an open foyer – not gun nuts.
Nothing wrong with defending
Nothing wrong with defending your property – some democrat run US states and cities are among the most dangerous in the world, and actively look to defund and disband the police, so what is the alternative?
Not sure what that has to do with a UK brand and a toy gun though?
Quote:
Seriously, Nige, I don’t believe that any part of the US is so dangerous that you need assault weapons. If it is, you need more gun controls, not less.
Anyway, far more likely those people will say they must have a 50mm railgun for – cough, cough – ‘hunting’.
brooksby wrote:
From Bowling for Columbine:
John Nichols : [On the topic of gun ownership] No one has the right to tell me I can’t have it. That is protected on our constitution.
Michael Moore : Where does it say a handgun is protected?
John Nichols : No, gun. We should…
Michael Moore : [Interrupting] It doesn’t say gun. It says “arms”.
John Nichols : Arms. What is “arms”?
Michael Moore : Could be a nuclear weapon.
John Nichols : [Moves his arm about] It’s not these – That’s right. It could be a nuclear weapon.
Michael Moore : Do you think you should have the right to have weapons-grade plutonium here in the farm field?
John Nichols : We should be able to have anything…
Michael Moore : [Interrupting] Should you have weapons? Should you have weapons-grade plutonium?
John Nichols : I don’t want it. [chuckles]
Michael Moore : But, should you have the right to have it if you did want it?
John Nichols : [Thinking about it] That should be restricted.
Michael Moore : Oh! Oh, so you do believe in some restrictions?
John Nichols : Well, there’s wackos out there.
With an attitude like that, I
With an attitude like that, I’m glad you don’t have a gun. Name calling is never a good way to win over people. Guns don’t kill by themselves.
alexuk wrote:
What a strange thing to say.
…rappers do. (sorry…)
…rappers do. (sorry…)
Unfairly maligned I feel,
Unfairly maligned I feel, although their Christmas album does get “mixed” reviews
They said the same about
They said the same about Dylan’s.
My missus would name “Must be
My missus would name “Must be Santa” as her all time fav Christmas song.
Mine would be this.
And yes I am on a crusade to make today’s blog discussion about Christmas songs to distract from envirosockgate.
SimoninSpalding wrote:
I’d better throw in one of my faves: I saw mommy kissing Yog-Sothoth
I heard Must be Santa on R2
I heard Must be Santa on R2 in Dec, shocked and delighted.
That man is a Nobel laureate in literature…
chrisonatrike wrote:
Sound of da Police:
“NFA, nowhere near yah”
I know this for a fact, you
I know this for a fact, you don’t like how I act
You claim I’m jumpin’ lights, but you be doin’ that
You’d say “they don’t see ya, NFA ‘cause didn’t hit ya”
…
(Woop-woop!) I hear it all day
Just so they can run the light and be upon their way
chrisonatrike wrote:
I’ve seen it in a documentary on BBC2
Neither do cars, but….well,
Neither do cars, but….well, you know
What a sensible thing to say.
What a sensible thing to say.
Thank you.
Big thing about it being a
Big thing about it being a toy gun in his responses as well it seems, I suspect if it was an obvious toy gun, (nerf etc) then there wouldn’t be the hoohaa and wouldn’t have been the publicity.
This has to be said a lot to
This has to be said a lot to push back against some ridiculous propaganda. Sheep aren’t killed when they are sheared. Sheep act extremely happy after shearing. A lot of sheep become stuck in mud / get infections from faeces stuck to themselves unless they are helped which may be because of breeding for more wool – but this is now done so they will need shearing. Perhaps PETA supporting vegans (do research PETA by the way for their kill rates and behaviour) can make socks from waste hairdresser hair as it meets their standards. Perhaps they should also check for lanolin in chamois creams too.
NPlus1BikelightsNJerseys
Which is why I’m now working in admin.
Apparently, before there were sheep, there were lots of sheep-like ovids stuck in mud / with dung-caked overgrown fleeces for some millenia until farming was invented. This is referred to as the messyLanolic period.
‘Sheep act extremely happy
‘Sheep act extremely happy after shearing.’
How right you are.
Signed Bo Peep.
I’ve checked the Mamnick
I’ve checked the Mamnick Twitter account and they raise a while host of valid points, especially on sustainability of clothing, which is something that was touched on in your socks review yesterday. Anyone claiming “sustainability” while mass manufacturing clothes in China or a similar country while deep discounting needs calling out. I note Mamnick manufacture 87% of their clothes in the UK according to their information.
Discounting especially is the major cause of over-consumption of clothing and should/could be better regulated, in the same annoying way that supermarkets pretended they were going to stop their “bogof” offers on perishable goods and then carried on anyway.
When I lived in Taiwan, a food item that weighed – say – 500g would cost a sensible amount Vs a n item weighing 1kg (e.g. the 500g might cost TWD35 vs TWD65 for the 1kg item). How many times in this country do you see a 500g item cost 89p, and the 1kg item cost 99p? It’s naked profiteering, and worse drives the obesity epidemic.
So in my view Mamnick should be applauded rather than pilloried for their brave stance on a whole host of issues. Who cares if there is a bloke in the advert carrying a toy gun, it’s called “publicity”, and it has clearly worked.
Garage at Large wrote:
That one isn’t entirely down to pushing more volume at consumers, but possibly because they’re passing on the saving for people buying more. They get a discount for the exact same thing from the manufacturer – so it makes sense for them to encourage their customer to buy more in exchange for some of that discount. It also saves packaging to buy a bigger product, than lots of the little ones.
Plus, if a family buys 7 small jugs of milk a week instead of 1 large 2L jug it’ll cost them about double the price, and it’s impractical to make that many trips to the shops, possibly by car, and the time and packaging wasted. It’s actually a good argument for people to buy larger quantities (as long as they’re not wasting it) as it’s better for the environment.
Pretty sure the same poster
Pretty sure the same poster has bragged about the massive discounts he has gotten for his cycling kit previously.
I suspect like most of the wittering he was putting out some arguments to get a bite as he has had opposing views before.
Sure, I’m not arguing that
Sure, I’m not arguing that larger quantities makes sense sometimes, especially on non-perishable items, but I’m talking about the usual thrown away items such as fruit and veg, bread and (yes!) milk. Eg a litre of milk might be 90p and two litres £1.10. Result, half a litre thrown down the sink. Another more insidious example might be that a can of pop costs £1, 8 cans cost £4 and 24 cans cost £6. So consumer buys 24 cans and chugs the lot in a week.
You certainly have a point in terms of packaging (yet another area that could easily be tightened up if needed – big fancy boxes containing a pair of bib shorts isn’t unheard of, I’m looking at you Le Col… Although packaging is part of the experience I guess for some people).
Regarding cheap cycling clothing, yes I’m obviously going to buy the cheapest on offer for a particular brand I want to buy, only a fool would do otherwise. And I’m fantastic at finding a bargain, even if I say so myself!
My point was that continuous or false discounting leads to over-consumption as people buy more than they need, leading to waste and economic inefficiency. The government should look at this, although regulation has shown it’s easy to get around laws around discounting, as furniture shops have shown
There’s no need for the
There’s no need for the binning of fresh produce and dairy. People misunderstand the date coding of these products. Fruit, veg and salads keep well beyond the display by dates. And even then if you use your imagination you can create all kinds of meals. Even milk once turned has many uses. Bread once going stale also has its uses. We need to return to the touch, taste and smell approach of yesteryear.
Top tip – mouldy oranges look
Top tip – mouldy oranges look just like expensive tennis balls and will give them a real surprise when they try to smash back your slow serve!
chrisonatrike wrote:
Ah, I miss Viz Top Tips
Left your plowmans too long?
Left your plowmans too long? Stale bread and hard cheese can be used to catch pesky mice. Simply prop up a 3-4 kilo block of hard cheese at one end with some stale breadsticks. Hey presto – when the mice try to steal the breadsticks they’re crushed by the falling cheese!
More sensibly – a longer read
More sensibly – a longer read on rediscovering fermentation to preserve and enhance food flavour: https://www.lowtechmagazine.com/2017/02/vietnams-low-tech-fermentation-food-system-takes-advantage-of-decay.html
chrisonatrike wrote:
Thanks for the link – I love a bit (more like a lot) of Kimchi, so it’s interesting to see other fermented products from that are of the world.
I quite like the Japanese Nattō which is fermented soya beans (they’re wrapped in straw to seed them with the appropriate bacteria) and they’re very high in vitamin K2. Once you get past the strange stringiness of it, it does taste vaguely cheesy.
I’m intrigued in trying some Mexican huitlacoche but haven’t found it available over here. It’s interesting that Mexicans prize it as a delicacy (and nutritional content) but others would simply destroy it as ruined corn.
Also, where’s Sriracha – that’s fermented too.
The kimchi’s best in Korea –
The kimchi’s best in Korea – when I was there it seemed that “kimchi” was more of a category because pretty much anything short of rocks could be turned into it. I was a little cautious with some but I do generally favour the spicer versions. Plenty of kinds are easier to make than e.g. your own adult beverages. If you’re making the simple spicy kind with cabbage I think it’s best with the fermented shrimp or other fish bits – UK-made ones I’ve tried for obvious reasons seem to omit this!
Although generally associated with Korea essentially the same pickled vegetable product is claimed by several different South-East Asian countries. I don’t know if this causes resentment in the Japanese or Chinese but I hear the Krauts are sour.
Th as no’s for the link there
Thanks for the link there. Will have a longer look as some stuff looks interesting.
giff77 wrote:
Anything creating fungus and spores (bread and cheese) should be thrown out if mould appears. There’s a trend with some people to cut the mould off and eat it anyway, though this can be deadly because the spores penetrate and contaminate the entire product.
The public largely don’t understand the difference between “Use by”, “sell by” and “best before”.
Jenova20 wrote:
I know what you mean. I bought some nice Stilton before Xmas and when I went to eat it, there was mould all the way through it!
I bought some Welsh cheese and that had a tiny bit of mould growing on it, so I cut that off and ate the rest Caerphilly
hawkinspeter wrote:
I bought a punnet of mushrooms last weekend. Full of fungus… #Disgrace
Captain Badger wrote:
You’d think the shopkeepers would have better morels
hawkinspeter wrote:
Oh, do put a button (mushroom) on it.
Jenova20 wrote:
Well that’s a shii-take on the situation….
Captain Badger wrote:
I had no idea you were so harsh. I had always taken you for a fungi.
Jenova20 wrote:
Sorry, it was in spore taste I guess
Captain Badger wrote:
It did seem a truffle over the top.
If your soft cheese is
If your soft cheese is getting mouldy too quickly a traditional remedy is to keep it fresh in the bries.
I wouldn’t recommend eating
I wouldn’t recommend eating food that’s developed mould while sitting in ones fridge/larder. Hard and semi hard cheeses you can confidently trim the offending strip. My mum would use turned milk if the sun got to it before she did for baking and there was no buttermilk to hand. Dad actually preferred to drink turned milk!
giff77 wrote:
Sounds like drinking yogurt or Kefir.
Anything creating fungus and
Anything creating fungus and spores (bread and cheese) should be thrown out if mould appears
Alternatively, it shouldn’t
I wouldn’t recommend eating food that’s developed mould while sitting in ones fridge/larder
However, people are free to ignore recommendations which conflict with their experience
Garage at Large wrote:
It has a short shelf life, the cows are constantly producing it so it can’t be stored on site for long (we’re talking massive volume), and most of that cost is probably transport and packaging – meaning people buy it or it goes down the drain.
With regard to “part 246” of
With regard to “part 246” of cycling lanes, those photos also show why walking can be difficult in the UK. And as for using a wheelchair…
Quote:
1 – whilst it does remain illegal (last time I checked), hasn’t “checking your phone while waiting at the traffic lights” become almost completely normalised nowadays?
2 – bl00dy good job she wasn’t holding that great tank on the clutch and foot brake, otherwise making her jump like that may have led to the car getting out of her control and stampeding…
1. If it has been normalised
1. If it has been normalised – aren’t comments like yours reinforcing it ? I know not to use my phone at all in a journey. Even at lights.
2. Isn’t that why you shouldn’t be dicking around with your phone at traffic lights.
fenix wrote:
Hey, I wasn’t defending it! More sort of throwing an opinion out to the room…
Yes, yes, but that can be
Yes, yes, but that can be very dangerous here on R.cc! Non-dissenting opinions only allowed.
Any good arguments against
Any good arguments against what @fenix has said?
marmotte27 wrote:
FB often piles in when he sees disagreement… With the battle cry that no one’s allowed to dissent. I sometimes think he’s projecting…
Captain Badger wrote:
Indeed, similar to certain folks who preen themselves on their self-identified “courtesy” whilst being disgustingly rude to any person or group that dares to disagree with them.
Rendel Harris wrote:
Whcih they are bound to, cos the batshit crazy rubbish that they come up with can only have been designed to garner the most disagreement possible.
In fairness to FB, it seems his posts are genuine (even if he dislikes dissent…). I certainly wouldn’t bracket him with certain others as a rule.
Captain Badger wrote:
I agree there come a point where it moves from a difference of opinion to trolling but I really don’t think that happens very often.
Gimpl wrote:
Exactly, I can only think of one example, even if they do post under a number of accounts
Rendel Harris wrote:
Agree 100%
If that’s so then in many
If that’s so then in many cases I agree with him.
See it happen quite often. There’s a core of very regular posters on here who most definitely don’t like an alternate view when it doesn’t chime with ‘the majority’. Often they’re not the majority but just a very vocal group (The Vocarati
).
Haver seen it happen on lots of boards over the years – I used to frequent Bike Radar years ago but stopped when The Vocarati took over and no-one else was allowed an opinion.
I very often don’t agree with the opinion being offered but I still support their right to make it e.g. Nigel Garage (or whatever he goes by these days).
Don’t that always happen
Don’t that always happen though? Groups are generally people with similar-ish views, with a few who are vociferous about defending that. Which is not “welcoming” – if that should be an expectation of any group. There are the odd one or two who appear and put contrary viewpoints – which is certainly not trolling (a subjective judgement anyway). Much better for that and the discussion – if the resident “fighters for truth” can hold themselves back a bit.
However when said points appear to consistently be chosen to elicit emotional reaction, to provoke and outrage and the only “engagement” appears to be to attack the elicited reaction? You can call it “contrarian” but “troll” probably fits well (whether the person genuinely believes in the opinion or not – if the point for them appears to be the reaction).
There’s a sliding scale of course from “you smell” to “but you follow the clearly discredited theories of Friedrich Hayek” and people may also have some genuine things to say *, I’m just commenting on what they are mostly doing.
* I guess some of us are largely here for the bad puns and squirrel hunting.
chrisonatrike wrote:
Depends what the squirrels are hunting.
mdavidford wrote:
I’m sure HP can rustle up a meme fusing Matt Damon and a squirrel for our delectation
Captain Badger wrote:
Here you go:
Hang on – I might have mis-read you.
Let’s try this one:
hawkinspeter wrote:
That is too good!
mdavidford wrote:
More like who
Gimpl wrote:
of course. We wouldn’t want dissent…. (TBC I ‘m joking)
This maybe a matter of perception. There is a corps of regular posters – most of whom disagree with each other, hence the lively discussion. I’m not sure there is an apparent majority view on any particular thing.
Clearly there are a few common themes around which “sides” coalesce, and perhaps there is a loose correlation around typical political themes – progressive v conservative comes up quite frequently. But it’s hardly Westside Story.
The “Vocerati”… Where do I sigup?
It would be interesting to parse out what we mean by not being allowed an opinion. Everyone’s free to disagree, and shouldn’t opinions be challenged?
The old Voltaire. Yes, of course. And, at the risk of going meta, it is possible to have an opinion on their comments, and motives for making those comments, even if we no longer directly engage with them.
Captain Badger wrote:
Oh no they shouldn’t ! *disappears in a puff of logic *
Flintshire Boy wrote:
Boring, boring, boring.
Would be better if you didn’t try to paint yourself as the victim. On forums people disagree, sometimes about really small things, and yes it can get a bit heated.
But the problem is – as we’ve all seen over the last however long – there is a minority of posters who are trolling / sealioning / shit-stirring for the sake of it.
And when that happens in a niche environment on a topic or set of experiences that we all share then don’t be surprised if the reactions are all very similar.
Most cyclists have a driving license and we all have lives outside the ‘world’ we think of as cycling so it’s not like we’re kids who have been taught nothing else. So to paint other posters as ganging up, hive mind or some other inappropriate and simplistic tag is just a bit pathetic.
If you can’t make an argument stick then it probably isn’t a very good argument.
And when you’re in a hole sometimes it pays to stop digging (and perhaps ask why you can’t see the same thing as other people).
brooksby wrote:
I think MamNick is missing
I think MamNick is missing their target audience.
Colombian cyclists certainly used to take handguns out in their back pocket when training in the 80s. They could do tops with gun pockets for South America maybe ?
That grey top is awful. Dull and tarmac coloured. And what team in the World Tour has used their kit ?
Ah – so it’s the retro market
Ah – so it’s the retro market they should aim (!) for?
https://roadswerenotbuiltforcars.com/guns/
I suppose anyone who rejects
I suppose anyone who rejects the sad-sicko world of Mamnick, gun-worshipping mass-shooting-justifying ‘guns don’t kill people, people kill people’ and National Rifle Association supporting nutters will be equally determined to reject sad-sicko Mamnick kit.
Quote:
Looks to be catching.
At least Stefan Küng looks to be happy about his place on the squad…
Re the bike lock facility in
Re the bike lock facility in Cardiff
The trouble with these is that the appeal of the bike is that it is quicker door to door. If you have to park up half a mile away in order to be able to return to your bike, then it becomes much less efficient.
Although some people might
Although some people might not cycle into the city because they would have to leave their bike chained up outside, no options to change out of wet or sweaty clothes or to have a shower. I have all those at my work but if I was working elsewhere with no facilities, I’m not sure I would cycle in.
Utrecht? Pretty good case
Utrecht? Pretty good case study of the success of bike lock facilities.
/warning: bit of a bragpost
/warning: bit of a bragpost this one:
I will be working in Amsterdam centre today. So I will cycle on my vouwfiets (folding bike) from my Sloterdijk office to the center of Amsterdam. The route goes through the Westerpark and is segregated for about 90% of the way. Reminds me I should make a video of the Dam Rak/Beursplein underground cycle parking facility experience, it is just amazing. It is free to park for the first 24 hours (unlike the one featured above in Cardiff), heated and super secure. It has no showering or changing facilities, as most Dutchies are not in shouty -sweaty-race-mode on their commutes, and therefore don’t need to change clothes.
They are also currently completing a new truly gigantic facility just in front of the Centraal station ; https://www.mijksenaar.com/park-your-bike-7-meters-under-sea-level-its-a-dutch-thing/ . It looks like it will be beyond superlative. It is costly to build, and probably why we pay 52% top tax rate here, but I am happy to pay it.
If you are not familiar with https://bicycledutch.wordpress.com/ , give it a look as Mark Wagenbuur is really good at showing the best bits of Dutch infra, infra that would make most British cyclists groen with envy. GarageMirage would probably call all this a communist dystopia. He can flikker op.
*Gnashes teeth in futile
*Gnashes teeth in futile jealously* (Also @AlsoSomniloquism / wycomewheeler) As you’re doubtless aware cycling culture and facilities are coupled. In short – what people say they want in the UK to help them cycling makes sense from where the UK is now. Equally in a true mass-cycling environment those choices look odd, if not pathological.
In the UK the low percentage of journeys made by cycle tend to be made by “cyclists” rather than “people on bikes”. These are more likely to be those who would travel farther / actually seek to get sweaty on a bike. The need to share the roads, the general higher urban speed limits (compared with e.g. The Netherlands) and driving culture which emerges (lots of unhappy people so MGIF, perceived need to not be below Minimum Speed Limits etc) also encourages a “race to survive” mode of cycling. Hence concerns about showers.
Some people think it never rains in The Netherlands and the headwinds there in no way compare to the hills here but we’ll skip those quibbles!
There may also be (proportionally) less “multi-modal” usage of bikes in the UK e.g. switching between bike and other transport modes. I’m not certain on this point. However the extremely widespread and well integrated OV Fiets system in The Netherlands makes this much more convenient and attractive than any UK option. Cycle parking provision is increasing in the UK but it is both patchy and poor quality. Compare the main Edinburgh station (not all parking but a good fraction) – with that in a similar sized Dutch city.
Our public transport is much less extensive and frequent than in The Netherlands and stations may not be in a convenient central location either.
So it’s common for concerns in the UK to focus on linear journeys more than you might expect in mass cycling countries. So about getting directly from home to work for example. Possibly related to the demographic cycling regularly too.
I suppose it depends how
I suppose it depends how close together they are.
Personally I’m sure I wouldn’t use one if I had to walk half a mile from cycle park to office.