“So of course, who do people take their anger out on?”: Facebook group learns of driver’s crash, blame cyclists…; “Wooden that be fun to ride”: Definitely not the new Trek — but cyclist’s DIY Madone is rideable…(apparently) + more on the live blog

Let’s kick Friday off with the latest from Billionaires’ Row, that’s Britain’s “most expensive street” (thanks to its £35 million average house price) that is home to private homes and embassies belonging to the world’s super rich, but also a crucial quiet and safe active travel route used by thousands of cyclists. Well, it was used by thousands of cyclists… until the Crown Estate banned pedestrians and cyclists after complaints about “dangerous” cyclists causing “near misses” and putting residents and diplomats “at risk”.

Needless to say that didn’t go down too well, the Labour candidate for Kensington & Bayswater calling the ban “a selfish and spiteful act” and starting a petition calling for its reopening. Naturally, then, Conservative candidate Felicity Buchan also started a separate petition immediately afterwards, some cynics suggesting that might have more to do with the upcoming election than a sudden newfound want to champion the interests of cyclists (just type Felicity Buchan road.cc into your browser for the source of people’s cynicism).

The London Cycling Campaign said it was “reeling” from the closure and shared a screenshot of a collision map, to demonstrate the choice now facing riders who can’t use Kensington Palace Gardens for their journeys… “a park shut at night” or “an A-road with a grisly collision record”… pick your poison…

We’re still reeling from @TheCrownEstate‘s decision to close #KensingtonPalaceGardens to walking & cycling (but not to cars!)

The N-S cycling alternatives?

– A park shut at night 🤦‍♀️

– An A-road with a grisly collision record 💀

Image via @betterstreetskc pic.twitter.com/PDzZ9ZMJzJ

— London Cycling Campaign (@London_Cycling) June 12, 2024

Well, there might be some hope, the Crown Estate yesterday telling the Evening Standard the installation of “temporary measures” may allow a “safe controlled reopening”. The organisation claims it would “rather not” restrict access but near misses caused by “dangerous” cyclists meant there is a need for a “review of continuing cycling and pedestrian safety incidents”.

And it seems like nobody is happy (except perhaps some residents), the two major party candidates, locals and the council all saying they want to see it reopened.

A council spokesperson said: “The council was very disappointed to learn that the Crown Estate has taken the decision to close Kensington Palace Gardens to pedestrians and cyclists, without any prior consultation with us. The closure of Kensington Palace Gardens removes a much-valued and largely traffic-free link for people walking and cycling between Notting Hill Gate and Kensington High Street.

“In addition, the closure of part of the pedestrian link from Kensington Church Street to Kensington Palace Gardens has removed an important connection to Kensington Gardens for Kensington residents.”

Something tells me the Crown Estate might be announcing a U-turn in the near future…

> Bianchi launches e-Oltre: an 11kg ebike that feels like “a true road bike” (says Bianchi)

I’ve got to admit, the 1900 Paris Olympics wasn’t really on our radar as something we expected to cover in 2024. We’re probably a bit late (124 years late) to the party if we wanted to produce any news copy around the action, or so we thought. A curious case has been brought to light, the International Olympic Committe rectifying its historical records to award a silver medal from the men’s 25km cycling race at the 1900 Games to France rather than Britain.

The IOC has agreed to rectify its historical records to reflect the fact that a silver medal from the Olympic Games Paris 1900 will now be credited to France rather than Great Britain. This was approved today by the IOC EB.

More: https://t.co/EZTyLRSJXy pic.twitter.com/sxMtrwxG2j

— IOC MEDIA (@iocmedia) June 13, 2024

The medal was, and remains, awarded to Lloyd Hildebrand, a British citizen who was born and brought up in France (even if the beacon of truth Wikipedia says he was born in Tottenham), competing for a French club before and after winning his medal at the 1900 Olympics.  

“As was the norm then, and for several later editions of the Olympic Games, athletes had only to send the number of their licence, established by the national federation where they were regularly competing, and pay the entry fees to compete at the Games,” the IOC explained. “National Olympic Committees (NOCs) were not involved in the process, as they are today.

“Based on this newfound information, the IOC EB decided to apply the same policy as in previous cases brought to the IOC’s attention. The medal won by Hildebrand will now be credited to France instead of Great Britain in the official records of the Olympic Games Paris 1900 and in the IOC’s database.”

Introducing the Trek Board-one — heavier, less aero, but oh so much stiffer (some would say ‘too stiff’) and available for a fraction of the full carbon offering…

[Rock Rider/Facebook]

Now, I might be wrong, but there appear to be some slight differences between this model and the new bike we spotted Lidl-Trek’s riders using at the Critérium du Dauphiné. Enjoy some ‘spot the difference’ if you’re able to, it’s a tricky one…

> New Trek Madone breaks cover at Dauphiné

Facetiousness aside, us and everyone else who saw this pop up on Facebook were well impressed by the crafting and work that’s gone into this, and it’s rideable! Well, we’re taking the creator’s word for it. Shared by Rock Rider, who is apparently based in Kenya, he replied to the inevitable question about whether you could actually clock any kilometres on it with a bullish one-word declaration… “Yes.”

“My Trek Madone, actually stronger than your carbon fibre,” he joked.

Top marks all round but those internally routed cables in particular got plenty of love in the comments. 

Patrick Shea: “Are you sure that’s a Trek? Looks more like a Specialized Rootbaix to me”

Tim Clements: “The ride probably feels a little wooden”

Cesar Tan: “Trek Mad-One”

Robert Alan Pearce: “Wooden that be fun to ride”

> Cyclists riding “at excessive speeds” and causing crashes prompt Royal Parks to review cycling policy, as charity cancels time trial events because “they directly encourage cyclists to go faster than speed limit”

> “A sad day for women’s cycling”: RideLondon Classique cancelled for 2025 as UCI “unilaterally” moves dates “without consultation or prior warning”

Snow on top of the Nufenenpass means today’s sixth stage of the Tour de Suisse is just 42km, which basically makes it an 8km bunch hill climb, the peloton currently tackling an easy pre-ascent warm-up before the fireworks can be set off shortly. Another Adam Yates stage win is the most likely outcome of course, his UAE Team Emirates teammates almost certainly hoping to repeat the destruction of yesterday. Can anyone else get close? Will João Almeida be granted some freedom? All will be revealed very soon.

> Zwift unveils £1,199 Zwift Ride smart bike with singlespeed frame, Kickr Core trainer and Zwift Cog system: how does it ride?

🇵🇹 João Almeida VENCE a etapa 6 da Volta à Suiça 🔥🔥🔥

Que exibição fantástica do Português 👏 🙌 🥇 pic.twitter.com/Kf7tEU8PP0

— Eurosport Portugal (@EurosportTV_Por) June 14, 2024

 UAE Team Emirates pulled off another 1-2 this afternoon on today’s shortened stage six, the order of the winner and runner-up reversed from yesterday’s result, João Almeida gapping Adam Yates in the closing metres atop the climb to Blatten. With another summit finish tomorrow before a mountain time trial on Sunday, the British rider takes a lead of 27 seconds into the weekend.

Egan Bernal and Mattias Skjelmose were the best of the rest, Enric Mas suffering a worse day than yesterday, while there were signs of improvement from Lenny Martinez after a tricky week for the Frenchman.

Tom Pidcock and Oscar Onley are in seventh and eighth on GC respectively. 

> road.cc Dealclincher takeover: 46% off Shimano Ultegra Di2, huge 86% off Sportful kit, Exposure Lights reduced, big S-Works helmet discounts, 34% off Stan’s + more

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road.cc reader Simon got in touch with a tale from his local Facebook group where people have learnt of a road traffic collision, a second in recent times after a previous driver’s crash took out the BT box that provided internet for most of the area. While Simon reports there have been some complaints previously about speeding on the roads, there was only one thing to blame for this one…

“For context, there’s also been a bridleway upgrade recently, which caused various people to be very angry for various contradictory reasons (I’ve written a blog on it here, and in general, cyclists are generally seen as the lowest of the low,” Simon reported.

“So of course, when a car (driver) crashes, who do people decide to take their anger out on? Couldn’t make it up really, the usual anti-cycling insurance and tax bingo in there as well, plus the suggestion that people are both cycling so slowly they need to be overtaken, but so fast it’s also a race track: Schrodinger’s cyclists evidently. One of those where it’s been brought up so many times that road tax hasn’t been a thing since the 1930/40s etc, that people must be deliberately ignoring the rebuttals to push the agenda they want to believe in, rather than the reality.”