SPD Crocs: 2021’s must-have cycling footwear?; Cycle lane, It’s a Knockout edition; Wheels swapped for blades to ride on a frozen lake; Fernando Alonso leaves hospital; Carapaz climbs to 4,800m in Ecuador; Pancake Day by bike + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
Fernando Alonso discharged from hospital after getting knocked off bike by driver
Thanks everyone for support . It was very heartfelt. 💙
Gracias por todas las muestras de apoyo. Las agradezco de corazón 💙 pic.twitter.com/U1mV51v68D
— Fernando Alonso (@alo_oficial) February 15, 2021
F1 star Fernando Alonso has been discharged from hospital after undergoing surgery on injuries sustained when he was knocked off his bike by a driver last week. Police in Switzerland have said that Alonso was knocked off his bike by a motorist turning into a supermarket car park. The two-time F1 world champion needed surgery on his fractured jaw.
In a statement, Alonso’s Alpine F1 Team confirmed he had left hospital: “After a period of 48 hours observation at hospital in Switzerland, Fernando Alonso has now been discharged to continue his recovery at home. He will now have a short period of complete rest before progressively resuming training to undertake preparation for the start of the season.”
The Spaniard was hit while riding near Lugano, in Switzerland’s Italian-speaking Canton Ticino, and reports suggest that it was an oncoming motorist who was turning into a supermarket car park who collided him.
Richard Carapaz climbs to 4,800m elevation in Ecuador
How high!!?? 😳🏔️
We put @RichardCarapazM‘s incredible training ride up Cotopaxi Volcano this weekend into context. pic.twitter.com/QW76WlURFN
— INEOS Grenadiers (@INEOSGrenadiers) February 15, 2021
It seems Richard Carapaz is taking the news that he’ll be riding the Tour de France for Ineos Grenadiers well…Two weeks ago he was filmed smashing down some watts on a ridiculously steep climb. He’s taken his training to high altitude, climbing to 4,800m above sea level up the Cotopaxi Volcano in Ecuador. That’s more than twice the height of the Col du Tourmalet…If only Richard’s Strava wasn’t private.
"And people think disc brakes are dangerous": Engineer replaces wheels with sawmill blades to cycle on a frozen lake
YouTube engineer, The Q, will have the UCI sweating with his latest piece of cycling silliness. He converted a bike, replacing the wheels with sawmill blades so he could cycle on a frozen lake. The Icycycle cut through the ice on its first outing but worked once he modified it, adding metal strips onto the blades. His video has now been viewed more than 15 million times…
It isn’t the first time the YouTuber with almost 11 million subscribers has done wacky things with a humble bicycle. Last June, he made a fat bike using F1 tyres before in September building a homemade motorised bike using a 25kW motor.
Unsurprisingly, replacing your wheels with steel sawblades didn’t make our winter survival guide for cyclists. Have a read for some more realistic cold weather considerations…
Pancake Day by bike
Happy Pancake Day! 🥞 We think cycling is flippin’ fantastic no matter what day it is. #ShroveTuesday pic.twitter.com/j9RUaOiCn9
— Cycling UK (@WeAreCyclingUK) February 16, 2021
Featuring Rebecca Charlton, who is currently lighting up the road.cc YouTube channel!
Women's Tour postponed: Race organisers hoping to run a re-arranged race in October
This year’s Women’s Tour, originally scheduled for June, has been postponed owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.
We are working with @UCI_cycling and @BritishCycling as we look to reschedule the race for Monday 4 – Saturday 9 October 2021.#WomensTour #UCIWWT
— The Women’s Tour (@thewomenstour) February 16, 2021
The organisers of the Women’s Tour have announced that the race, originally scheduled for the second week in June, has been postponed due to the pandemic. SweetSpot hopes they will be able to run the race in October and have requested alternate dates between Monday 4 and Saturday 9 October instead. The race, which is the only British women’s race that is part of the UCI Women’s WorldTour, is due to start in Bicester, Oxfordshire before finishing in Felixstowe in Suffolk six stages later. SweetSpot says they are working with British Cycling, the UCI and the race’s regional stakeholders to accomodate the re-arranged race.
Eurosport and GCN have taken over the exclusive broadcast rights for both the Women’s Tour and the Tour of Britain, which currently remains unaffected by today’s news due to its September slot in the calendar.
Women’s Tour race director Mick Bennett said: “We are obviously disappointed to be postponing the Women’s Tour from June but hope that by aiming to stage the race in October we can give the teams and public something to look forward to at the tail end of the summer.”
Vuelta a España wilcards announced: No surprises as three Spanish teams get the nod for the final Grand Tour of the year
📂 La Vuelta 21
└📁 Equipos – Teams
└📁 Invitados – Wildcards
└💜 @BurgosBH
└💚 @CajaRural_RGA
└🧡 @FundaCiclisEusk#LaVuelta21 pic.twitter.com/nWWQwEVKgQ— La Vuelta (@lavuelta) February 16, 2021
Burgos BH, Caja Rural–Seguros RGA and Euskaltel-Euskadi will join the big boys at the Vuelta a España after being granted three of the four non-World Tour wildcard spots for the race. Alpecin Fenix earned the fourth by being the highest ranked Pro Continetal outfit in 2020. No surprises that it’s three Spanish teams invited, especially considering the success they’ve had at the race in recent years. In 2019, Burgos finished first and second on the satge five with Ángel Madrazo and Jetse Bol. In the same year, Jonathan Lastra finished second on stage 11 for Caja Rural.
Chinese researchers develop riderless autonomous bicycle
If you ever get tired of riding your bike maybe you can take it for a walk like in this video…Chinese researchers have developed a riderless autonomous bicycle that can balance itself, avoid obstacles, detect and follow targets and respond to voice comands. Presumably you can ride it too…
Design Boom reports the researchers from Tsinghua University used an electronic chip to integrate artificial intelligence. “Using just one chip, we demonstrate the simultaneous processing of versatile algorithms and models in an unmanned bicycle system, realising real-time object detection, tracking, voice control, obstacle avoidance and balance control. Our study is expected to stimulate AGI development by paving the way to more generalised hardware platforms,” say the scientists in their research paper.
Social media reaction to the sawmill blade bike
Sod the ice. That front wheel would be perfect for tackling those damned extending dog leads https://t.co/r9jtMREFGP
— Real Gaz on a proper bike #fbpe (@gazza_d) February 16, 2021
We knew you wouldn’t disappoint…
Team car pic.twitter.com/VUYDYijbPD
— Rob Whittle (@PolkaDotRob) February 16, 2021
SPD Crocs: The must-have cycling footwear for 2021?
Ever wanted to know how to install some SPD cleats onto a pair of Crocs? Granted, you probably haven’t…But on the off chance you have, KarlOnSea has just the video for you. Crocs for cycling didn’t go down too well when Chain Reaction Cycles floated the idea on Twitter last summer. One reply from Chad McCullough summed up the mood: “No.”
As for the Reddit user who detailed their Crocs-induced crash when they managed to jam their front brake with their stylish footwear as it slipped off the pedal after hitting a raised bit of pavement…
But maybe that’s just the point…Maybe having a safe and effective way to install SPD cleats is the solution to all Croc-related problems?…I’m sure I can guess which way this one’s going to go…
Walkers and cyclists boost local economies in Scotland by £1.9 billion, according to new report
The Inverness Courier reports that Scotland’s network of walking and cycling trails helped boost local economies by £1.9 billion. The figure was released as part of a new report into the impact of the national network of trails by NatureScot, Sustrans and Scottish Canals. Scotland’s National Walking and Cycling Network (NWCN) includes the Great Glen Way, National Cycle Network and Scottish Canals.
The report found that walkers and cyclists made 145.1 million trips on the network in 2019, spending just under £2 billion and supporting around 27,500 jobs. On top of this, the reduction in car travel that resulted from these trips is estimated to have contributed a further £108 million, mainly through health improvements.
Another part of the report highlighted the mental health benefits of using the network of trails. 84 per cent of cyclists and hikers said it helped increase their physical activity, 75 per cent said it improved their wellbeing and 93 per cent said it boosted their overall life satisfaction.
“The rise in walking, wheeling and cycling over the past number of months has demonstrated huge public appetite to make happier and healthier journey choices across Scotland,” said John Lauder of Sustrans. “Many people, regardless of age or ability, have discovered their local active travel routes for the first time. We now have a huge opportunity to maintain this momentum and deliver a fair, prosperous and green recovery for everyone in Scotland.”
Wout van Aert says he understands the super tuck ban but doesn't think it will make pro races safer
Wout Van Aert Backs Supertuck Ban
Full vid here @flobikes … https://t.co/GWu14SWARX pic.twitter.com/z1pT4r9FPJ— Gregor Brown (@gregorbrown) February 16, 2021
Wout van Aert told FloBikes that he understands why the UCI has banned the super tuck descending position. He said: “We’re not really arguing it because I understand why they made this rule, especially if kids are watching. Maybe it’s good to show them how you ride a bike properly and not lying on it. For us as professionals it isn’t going to make the races safer. I just follow what they say and let’s see.”
Yesterday, Van Aert said winning the rainbow jersey at a home World Champs in Leuven would mean more to him than winning the Classics, Tour de France points jersey or Olympic gold.
Why did the chicken cross the road?
Yes, I know. I’ve been waiting my whole life for this… pic.twitter.com/ExxKzeZYO4
— (((MarkoDescartes))) (@MarkGraham_Akl) February 14, 2021
An obstacle course, or a cycle lane? Bizarre bike lane bollards cause confusion in Dublin
South Dublin CoCo are now *intentionally* oncoming cycle traffic into each other.
*Intentionally* obstructing a footpath, making wheelchair access more difficult.
Pedestrians and cyclists FORCED to slow down for the crossing. Cars not.This isnt safety. This is an absurdity. pic.twitter.com/ueFkf6gsQX
— Dublin Commuter Coalition (@DublinCommuters) February 16, 2021
After yesterday’s debacle from Dublin involving a crowdfunder that has raised tens of thousands of euros just to remove a one-way cycle lane, we bring you more bad cycling news from the Irish capital in the form if this utterly bizarre formation of bollards. Likened to a challenge from classic game show It’s a Knockout, the Dublin Commuter Coalition have described it as “over-engineering” and “demeaning architecture.”
It actually hurts my eyes. I’ve a rep in on it asking for all the unnecessary eye hurting parts to be removed. So most of it. I know others have too. Really have no idea how this happened. I have also asked to ensure it doesn’t again.
— Cllr Carly Bailey (@CllrCarlyBailey) February 16, 2021
Local councillor Carly Bailey admitted that she had no idea how the eyesore came to be, adding: “I would like to think this was not the actual design intended, that it’s a one off and that something just went very wrong.”
There is one person/organisation who likes what they see, however…
You want more bollards don’t you. We can tell. Give us a few days….#WorldBollardAssociation
— World Bollard Association™ (@WorldBollard) February 16, 2021
SPD Crocs: the results are in
In the most important vote since a man with an orange tan was dragged kicking and screaming from a big white mansion, we can now reveal whether you think Crocs with cycling cleats built in are hot or not… and it’s a fairly resounding ‘no’, with 59% of you objecting. Time to Croc off, good night!
16 February 2021, 08:57
16 February 2021, 08:57
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Never mind the police - many cyclists (at least in the UK) would be totally unfamiliar with a velomobile, so perhaps police can be forgiven for ignorance there. (I've "normal" recumbents and even those cause lots of head-turning). And for "e-things" the tail of the market is very much wagging the dog of regulation. Or rather there's almost zero political interest in that. In an ideal world someone would find the money and time to get the police trained - but I wonder if most of them even keep abreast of things like the highway code wording tweaks? (Do those not specialised in road policing / pursuit driving get any more training than the average driver eg "enough to pass the test, once per lifetime"?)
I thought that the lengthy technical downhill section on narrow roads was a poor piece of organisation. It was inevitable that faster riders with their team car would catch up with team cars of slower riders. Riders passing each other was a bit of a lottery at times. The camera motorbikes struggled to get out of the way at times.
It's not a 'statement' though - it's road.cc's words, based on l'Equipe's interpretation. The actual statement issued on it said that the judge authorised it "guaranteeing strict proportionality between the infringements on the rights of the athlete and the stakes of the fight against doping in terms of fair competition and protection of his health."
Trust me Callum, if you'd grown up watching the Tour in the 1980s, as I did, you would not be hankering after those long flat stages that weren't even as exciting as watching paint dry, it was more like listening to paint dry. As for the supposed benefits of those long TTs, what did they give us? Indurain winning five Tours in a row without winning a single road stage in any of them. As McT says below, you simply can't Pogacar-proof a course and we just have to accept, and enjoy, the fact that we are watching the greatest GT cyclist of all time. Anyway I think it has been a great Tour so far, yes no enormous drama about the inevitable winner (though of course Vinegaard and now Lipowitz have shown us that anything can happen) but just about every day has had a fascinating plot and multiple subplots. Some time in the future there will be another Indurain-style winner, playing it cautious, following moves, making incremental gains and winning without ever lighting up the race and we'll be saying I wish the old days of Pogacar making those spectacular solo breaks were back.
The main issue is the layout of the stages with the bigger climb first then a shallow finish climb. It means pogacar can get a gap at the top of the big climb and then stretch 10-15 seconds to a minute plus at the finish over smaller riders like Vingegaard. A summit finish on the hardest climb might not lead to the most exciting racing but equally would keep the gaps closer. I totally agree with the TT kms though, they should have 60+km tts in the grand tours.
@MaxiMinimalist I mean, that statement makes it sound like they had reason to think those two are doping. Either they didn't follow procedure and are making shit up to cover themselves up or something is going on.
Quite possibly. But the changeover time loss would be a bit more significant if it was done on the flat just after the downhill when the riders are travelling faster, the deceleration, changeover and acceleration loss could easily be around 30 seconds, which is quite a lot of a 34 minute effort.
So Skoda have taken a leaf out of Dung-Old Karen Taco Trump's book and are re-naming something when they have no authority to do so?
@Mr Blackbird Fair points, though I was wondering if doing the climb and descent on a standard bike and swapping to TT for the flat section would have been worth it? Certainly quite a few riders seemed to be having handling difficulties maintaining the best line on the descent with their TT machines.
No. The climb wasn't severely steep and allowed a reasonable speed to be maintained on a TT bike, his bike handling skills on road or TT bike are outstanding for the descent and on a road bike he would have lost a lot of time on the flat last 9k section. Terrific performance by him though!
15 thoughts on “SPD Crocs: 2021’s must-have cycling footwear?; Cycle lane, It’s a Knockout edition; Wheels swapped for blades to ride on a frozen lake; Fernando Alonso leaves hospital; Carapaz climbs to 4,800m in Ecuador; Pancake Day by bike + more on the live blog”
Quote:
In fairness, suddenly finding yourself to be a large expanse of tarmac would be more than a little distracting.
I’d like to see Carapaz as
I’d like to see Carapaz as leader (or joint leader) at a grand tour this year. This TdF parcours doesn’t really suit him.
Can’t help but think that ice
Can’t help but think that ice bike really, really needs some protective (for the rider) mudguards. Big, thick, metal ones. Really thick.
Oh, and he needs a lifejacket
Oh, and he needs a lifejacket in case the ice is a little bit thin in places 😛
Yeah, otherwise you could end
Yeah, otherwise you could end up feeling saw.
I’m sure Tom & Jerry did the
I’m sure Tom & Jerry did the ‘sawblade as bikewheels on a frozen lake’ thing. It didn’t end well!
“tail end of the summer” ?
“tail end of the summer” ? last October in the UK we had the wettest day on record since 1891, I appreciate there are a lack of gaps in the calendar & with the world championships, in which to place a rearranged 6 stage world tour event, and cancelling completely for another year could be ruinous for the event as a whole, but warm,dry and summery it certainly wont be.
I just read Dancing on Ice
I just read Dancing on Ice has lost a contestant so there could be an interesting substitute !
Flippin’ excellent pancake
Flippin’ excellent pancake vid!!
“Chinese researchers develop
“Chinese researchers develop riderless autonomous bicycle”
Presumably to eliminate rider errors, just like autonomous cars. Does it do the pedalling too?
Does it do the pedalling too
Does it do the pedalling too?
No, those are called ‘e-bikes’
Quote:
I guess it didn’t make the cut?
SPD Crocs are back again? I
SPD Crocs are back again? I think it was about 2006 when I first saw them… I have still to use them and I’m sure I’ll be able to say the same in 2031.
That Dublin cycle path
That Dublin cycle path bollards story is so ridiculous. Given the layout – pedestrian path and two lanes for cyclists – it looks to me to have made perfect sense to have given them priority over the road. But, y’know: “cars”…
South Dublin CC are clearly
South Dublin CC are clearly amateurs. If they are going to go to all the effort of installing so many anti cyclist bollards, would it really kill them to actually sharpen the things?