Bob Jackson Cycles to close after 85 years; Peloton recall pedals due to customer injuries; Tory MP says car is "one of the most liberating inventions"; Driver destroys Bikehangar; Équipe Paule Ka fold as sponsor fails to pay + more on the live blog

The popular frame builders, now based in Leeds, will be shutting up shop on 18th December after 85 years. A statement on the Bob Jackson website says: 

After 85 years of frame building & restorations Bob Jackson Cycles will be closing it’s doors for the very last time on the 18th December 2020, We are very much an ageing work force and over the years have not been able to find younger members of staff to train up and move forwards. After what has been a very crazy year for all of us we have  decided it’s time to hang up our welding torches and spray guns for the last time and enjoy some retirement while we can.

All current orders and work  with us will be finished as promised, Any customers who still need our services ( No Chrome Plating) will need to have their frames with us by the 7th November, Frames after this time will not be accepted . 

On a personal note all at Bob Jackson Cycles now and in the past would like to thank all our customers for their business over the last 85 years, We are sorry it has come to this but nobody can stop the passing of time and everyone is entitled to enjoy a few years of retirement.

The company was started in 1935, becoming one of the most well-loved builders of steel racing bikes in the 50's and 60's. Although Bob died in 1999, his business partner Donald Thomas continued at the helm of the business. 

🇬🇧 Stage 13, Watch now the Last Km!

🇮🇹 Tappa13, Guarda l'ultimo chilometro!

🇫🇷 Étape 13, Regardez le dernier km !

🇪🇸 Etapa 13, Mira ahora el Último Km!#Giro pic.twitter.com/m6y7NUAQIq

— Giro d'Italia (@giroditalia) October 16, 2020

The UAE Emirates rider provided the team with another win after their fairly successful little trip to the Tour de France last month, beating current overall leader Joao Almeida in a sprint. Quick-Step's Almeida is sitting in pink with a 40s lead over Wilco Kelderman of Sunweb. 

So the company took all the positive PR from "rescuing" the team, then paid almost nothing?
Disgusting

— 3.5% Ben & Jerry's lover (@SecretSam999) October 16, 2020

The French fashion house were named as the headline sponsor of Équipe Paule Ka (formerly Bigla-Katusha) in June, effectively saving the team; but it appears those promises were unfounded, as a statement this morning claims that the team hasn't been paid since August. Paule Ka have been accused of "disgraceful behaviour" and taking publicity without fulfilling their financial commitments, but are yet to make a statement. 

Is there more to this story? We've asked Paule Ka for comment.  

Delighted to have been elected as new Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group ‘Fair Fuel for UK Motorists & Hauliers’ @FairFuelUK @HowardCCox. We need rational debate about fuel taxes, congestion charges & roads. The 🚗 is one of the most liberating inventions yet created.

— Craig Mackinlay MP (@cmackinlay) October 15, 2020

From Cllr Jon Burke in London: In London 35% of car journeys are less than 2km - (this) is the problem, not bus lanes, low traffic neighbourhoods, or cycle ways. Cars. Interesting perspective @cmackinlay?

— Lesley Chater (@ChaterLesley) October 16, 2020

This is exactly why I replied. Allow to introduce my brother. Killed by a motorist. How was his life liberated? pic.twitter.com/Z6HMiMAres

— Jason Wood 🇪🇺🔶 (@WellsWood1) October 15, 2020

The Conservative MP for South Thanet has faced a backlash for his comments, and also for tagging the motoring lobby group FairFuelUK into his announcement. FairFuelUK's founder Howard Cox isn't exactly known for rational debate when it comes to sustainable infrastructure, recently saying that the Prime Minister has "Lycra-clad advisors", and regularly claiming cycle lanes cause congestion, rather than the actual congestion itself. 

A number of prominent cycling campaigners and countless others have taken issue with Mackinlay's view that the car is "one of the most liberating inventions yet created", citing high levels of injuries and deaths and environmental issues with motoring. The All Party Parliamentary Group for 'Fair Fuel for UK Motorists and UK Hauliers' is represented by 15 MPs, and lists Howard Cox as its public enquiry contact point. It says its purpose is this: "To represent major issues that impact on UK drivers, from motorists to hauliers. Notably fuel taxation, congestion and toxic charges, parking costs, roads investment, fairer treatment for diesel owners, solutions to lower emissions, cleaner fuel incentives and transparent pricing at the fuel pumps."

Jon Little, who saw the aftermath of the incident last night in Leyton after a car ploughed into the Bikehangar and left the scene, says the council attended this morning and blocked it off.

It turns out Mr Little worked with the council on developing the successful 'Mini Holland' scheme in Waltham Forest, which includes bike parking facilities, cycle lanes and pedestrianised streets. He told road.cc, therefore, that the vandalism to the Bikehangar was "personal". 

Cyclehoop commented that they were "really sorry to see this damage to our unit".

The team have been forced to close with immediate effect after 15 years, claiming that the French fashion house Paule Ka - their headline sponsor - have failed to pay them since August. 

The full statement says: 

It is with great regret that Équipe Paule Ka announces the immediate cessation of its racing season and, unfortunately, the closure of the team - currently ranked fourth in the world with over 3000 UCI points - due to the absence of sponsor payments since August.

After late payment of its first instalment in July, the French fashion company Paule Ka then failed to pay the team in the months of August, September and October, despite multiple assurances that the payments were on their way.

This is an extremely sad moment in the 15-year history of this squad, which prides itself on the development of exciting young talent within the peloton. The team's riders and staff were looking forward to spending several more years together in the pursuit of sportive success, having already recommenced the season with a series of victories and top results, including an emphatic Giro Rosa stage win, silver at the UCI World Championships, bronze at the European Championships, as well as multiple national championship titles.

However, this can regrettably no longer be our shared goal, with the team being forced to dissolve after a decade and a half in the peloton. Now, our main aim is to find both riders and staff new teams to secure their futures.

We would like to extend sincere thanks to cycling fans all over the world, followers of the team, and our competitors within the peloton, who have reached out to us during this challenging time to let us know that our presence in the peloton is one that would be sorely missed.

If you weren't aware, usually we send some road.cc minions to a massive exhibition hall in Bavaria every year to look for new bikes and weird stuff, then tell you all about it... and after the September event was postponed, the rearranged version in November has now been cancelled as well. 

The organisers said in a statement: "The special edition Eurobike 2020 planned for 24 to 26 November will not be taking place. Reappraisal of the coronavirus crisis has forced Messe Friedrichshafen to take this decision. The organisers are now developing a live, on-site format for next year. This will meet the future requirements of the industry. Date and details will be announced in due course."

Hopefully we'll be back wondering the halls and reporting on craziness like the Trefecta 1 again at next year's edition of Eurobike.