Bike lane wands blamed for delaying ambulance...but was it just bad driving?; Cav "changes bikes like underwear"; Cycling ASMR; Pogačar: You shouldn’t be scared of me; Terminator visits a vegan cyclist cafe; 1-0 to the cyclists + more on the live blog

Definitely a case of bad driving & lack of common sense, car next to the rear of bus pulling into the bike lane even though it could go bit further to create some navigational space.

Not to mention there are far more cases of long wait for ambulances where no cycle was involved.

— Earley Panda (@EarleyPanda) November 12, 2021

One-sided because there's literally barely anyone saying anything other than 'yes, it was Mercedes driver causing that problem'...glad we could all agree.

Owd Big 'Ead had a go at summing it all up..."Good grief, the world is full of idiots. Unfortunately, the vast majority of them appear to be driving cars."

Wycombewheeler made a more general point about how drivers react to emergency service vehicles: "It's surprisingly common for drivers to interpret the sirens as 'pull to the side RIGHT NOW' rather than, 'don't delay the ambulance, keep the route clear' which can often be achieved as effectively by continuing on, leaving that space at the side of the road behind clear for others."

On Facebook, Adam Keenan said: "I don't know what's worse, the fact the Merc chose to pull in at that point, or that they couldn't fit the car into the sizeable gap between the posts!"

Antony Leeson commented: "That's pretty shocking driving. The only thing holding the ambulance up is the incompetent driver of the front car. What an absolute plum."

We could have added roughly 50 comments of a similar tone...

Remember Chad Tavernia's unique century? The US-based rider completed 100 miles out the saddle back in July to the shock, amazement and adoration of the cycling community. As with anything online there were sceptics saying it was fake, the seatpost hole isn't there, it must be Photoshopped. Well, Chad explained that particular question away by showing it to be the red electrical tape that's on his bars...and commited to giving it another crack to prove the achievement once and for all.

That's how we're here...tomorrow, live streamed on his Cycle Jockey Facebook page, he'll try to repeat the feat...

Chad told us he feels "ready and capable" although had an unfortunate illness this week. The bike? "SuperSix Evo with 54T 1X setup with 10-52 cassette."

The attempt and live stream is in the diary for tomorrow at 1pm EST (6pm GMT)...all the best, Chad!

More danger outside due to the plastic rods of @Edinburgh_CC - damaged almost daily now and dangerous to passersby and cyclists. Second rubber base now hanging broken - time to go yet @lmacinnessnp ? @theSpurtle @edinburghpaper #Edinburgh #cyclelanes #dangerous #spacesforpeople pic.twitter.com/pKO4VFNZYQ

— Napier Bathrooms & Interiors (@napierinteriors) November 11, 2021

'A bus driver ran one of the wands over' is up there with 'a Mercedes driver blocked an ambulance' for questionable reasons to remove a segregated cycle lane. Napier Bathrooms and Interiors had more CCTV evidence supporting their "time to go" calls. This time it was a video of a bus driver running over one of the wands...

Apparently they are "damaged almost daily" and are "dangerous to passersby and cyclists"...

Again, more than a couple of people were happy to point out the decisions and actions of drivers might not be the best argument against infrastructure...

The danger here is the bus driver choosing not to wait for the tanker to move. Drivers making poor choices around road infrastructure is not a valid argument against that infrastructure.

— aye cycle east renfrewshire (@aye_cycle) November 12, 2021

Fixed it for you.... More *IMPATIENT DRIVING* outside *IGNORING* the plastic rods of @Edinburgh_CC
- damaged almost daily now and dangerous to passersby and cyclists

— Duncan Shea-Simonds (@DSS123) November 12, 2021

 Some were more sympathetic, but still came to different conclusions...

That lane is clearly tight for the bus. Looks like a slightly wider bus and wider cycle lane could be created by removing a left filter lane (if I’ve understood the location well). Real issue is too much space for private motor vehicles? pic.twitter.com/W9PoKmzBjR

— Just Another Cyclist (@justacwab) November 11, 2021

Female pro Ashleigh Moolman Pasio has launched the Rocacorba Collective to create an inspiring and safe space for women to come together and ride on any level in cycling eSports; from beginner to World eSports Champion.

Funded through a membership model, its mission is to revolutionise the indoor e-cycling experience, launching with a women’s premier league team, women’s only rides, mixed social rides, weekly workouts, training plans, yoga and pilates classes, Q&A’s, webinars and exclusive product discounts. 

Anyone can sign up to join here...

Riding for SD Worx and being the current World eSports Champion herself, Ashleigh is currently looking for female riders to join her in the new Rocacorba Collective Premier League Team for the 2022 season via a competition on Zwift. 

To help them perform at their highest level, Garmin will be providing those selected for the team with Tacx NEO 2T Smart trainers, Edge 830 cycling computers, Forerunner GPS smartwatches, HRM-Pro heart rate monitors, Rally power meter pedals, while Specialized will be supplying bikes, Roval wheelsets, apparel and equipment (helmets, shoes, saddles and tyres).
More on the selection process, eligibility requirements and how to enter can be found here...

Gaerne has updated its G.Ice Storm 1.0 Gore-Tex winter shoes that are designed for riding in extreme cold weather or in the rain. A thermo reflective aluminium has been placed between the sole and the upper to create a thermal barrier to allow the foot to remain warm and dry.

Closure wise, you’ve got BOA’s IP-1 dial platform for a fast and uniform fit over the entire frontal area of the shoe, as well as an elasticised and water repellent collar with an adjustable closure for maximum insulation. A rear loop has also been included to make these easier to put on. 

The road spec features Gaerne’s EPS Carbon Power sole made of nylon reinforced with carbon fibre, while the MTB version has Gaerne’s 2Density Sole 7.0, which combines nylon and fibreglass for durability. The tread has also been designed for maximum grip and stability for off-road use.

Both are available for: 249,90 euros/ £213.50 

Mark Cavendish will be back racing in a velodrome next week as he makes his return to the Ghent Six Day, five years after he won it with Sir Bradley Wiggins. He'll be teaming up with Deceuninck-Quick-Step teammate Iljo Keisse for the event, and the Belgian had some amusing things to say about the Manx Missile after their first week of training together.

"We trained together on Monday and he had some speed, he seemed OK," Keisse told Het Nieuwsblad. "Cav changes bikes like underwear. He has decided to ride on a different frame and they're being set up and finished at the service course in Wevelgem. When he stopped after 15 laps on Monday, I thought 'here we go again'. In the end he was only off the bike for five minutes and finished the rest of the training...

"I've decided not to bark at Cav again in the six-day race. I’ve done it before but Cav's track record that doesn't fit into Ghent town hall. His palmarès is a hundred times bigger than mine, who am I to tell him what to do?"

"I need your Rapha shorts, your cleats and your 11 grand S-Works Tarmac SL7 Red eTap AXS 12-Speed."

Chaos outside again due to the plastic rods @Edinburgh_CC. We hope the emergency services managed to save this life even though they were delayed so. Almost a daily pantomime now-a-days sadly and worryingly. @theSpurtle @edinburghpaper @lmacinnessnp Time to go yet? #Edinburgh pic.twitter.com/k6Q9II4NZK

— Napier Bathrooms & Interiors (@napierinteriors) November 11, 2021

Napier Bathrooms & Interiors, an Edinburgh-based "award-winning bathroom design studio", knows who it wants to blame for this ambulance being delayed...the bike lane wands, of course.

The bathroom sellers showered criticism on the "plastic rods" causing "chaos" for the emergency services — an "almost daily pantomime nowadays".

It's an interesting take on the footage, but not one that many seemed to agree with...

Most people seemed more concerned with the Mercedes driver wedging themselves into the bike lane, while blocking the rest of the road with the back end of their vehicle. A strange decision made stranger by the fact there appeared to be clear road beyond the wand, where the driver eventually did pull in to easily let the ambulance past.

The Audi driver had the right idea (God help us...), moving up the road, away from the wands to create space. The footage left many wondering how Napier Bathrooms came to the conclusion the bike lane was to blame?

Sorry, but you are blaming a wand for someone driving badly… 🤦‍♂️

— Thomas O. Cornwallis (@UrbanistTOC) November 11, 2021

Absolute shocker from the driver at the front. Why didn't they engage their brain and move forward? Would they have done that if it was parked cars on their left?

— Dave McCraw (@david_mccraw) November 11, 2021

Its literally the car driver moving 30cms forward then turning off their brain thats causing the issue.

— Herzberg (@herzberg19) November 11, 2021

Others couldn't help but wonder how the scene would have been different if the ambulance was trying to pass the same number of people on bikes or on foot...

Nothing to do with the carriageway being cluttered with the personal possessions of a few people?
If they were on bicycles/foot there would have been no delay at all.

— Richard Cooley🚴🇮🇪🇬🇧🇫🇷🇪🇺😷 (@crackling_rose) November 11, 2021

We'll finish with a laugh (it's Friday after all)...

You know you really shouldn't refer to drivers, even eejit drivers like those in the video, as 'plastic rods'.

— Greg Collins 💙 (@ibikeheathfield) November 11, 2021