Filippo Ganna confirms Hour Record attempt; ‘Wish that van driver beeping at me would get lost… oh, it’s my son…’; Does he ride a Dogma? Vatican rider to race World Championships; Reaction to British Cycling apology + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
'Wish that van driver beeping at me would get lost... oh, it's my son...'
Apologies in advance for any moaning and whinging at my holiday being over… it’s a tough life coming back to work for one day before a three-day bank holiday weekend…
Anyway, here’s a fun place to start today’s live blog — hopefully a prompt for some of you lot to share your tales of similar in the comments. Cycling on UK roads can often make you a bit numb to beeps, shouts and annoyance, so when ‘IronGranny’ got tooted at by the driver of a white van she thought little of it, continuing on her way until… she realised the driver was, in fact, her son…
Out on the bike today. Got tooted at loudly by a bloke in a white transit van. Ignored him as usual. Then I heard the shout “oy Mum, are you going to stop or what?” It was my son on his way to an engineering repair job in the next village 🤣🤣🤣🤣
— IronGranny (@nellieh64) September 14, 2022
An amusing story to tell, at least.
I’d report him, only way they’ll learn 😉
— Gary James Ⓥ (@Tradescant) September 15, 2022
Anyone else got a funny tale along similar lines? A two-fingered salute to a motorist enthusiastically beeping at you…only to see your mate or partner following…
Or perhaps, worse, your boss…
My friend @AnnaDavid70 and I were out running years ago and someone kept tooting us. Invariably it ended with a hand signal, before we realised it was our manager 😬
— Ceri Battle 🏴🇺🇦 (@ceribattle) September 15, 2022
Back in the day:
I was chased for a mile or more by a bloke in a white van who was yelling at me. Eventually he caught me up.He told me that he thought my wallet in my back trouser pocket was about to fall out and he wanted to warn me.
— CHAIRRDRF (@CHAIRRDRF) September 15, 2022
Does he ride a Dogma? Vatican rider to race World Championships
Now that is a kit https://t.co/x4UYGu50DB
— Tim Bonville-Ginn (@TimBonvilleGinn) September 16, 2022
40-year-old Rien Schuurhuis is set to represent the Vatican at next Sunday’s men’s elite UCI World Championships road race, the first time in history the 121-acre city-state, home to just 453 people (in 2019), will be on the startline… and boy have they nailed the kit…
Bristol Bridge redesign "suboptimal" and would force cyclists across traffic
A Green Party councillor has called the plan for a redesign of a major junction in Bristol “suboptimal” as it would force cyclists to cross moving traffic. The BBC reports the junction between Bristol Bridge and Baldwin Street in the city is to be redesigned with a new two-way cycle lane and one less lane for other traffic.
> Plan to permanently pedestrianise heart of Bristol city centre to be put to council for approval
However, an objection by David Wilcox has prompted cabinet transport member Don Alexander to say the plans are not yet complete. Cllr Wilcox said: “I welcome the investment into separated cycling infrastructure on Bristol Bridge, given that there’s been a 231 per cent increase in cycling on Baldwin Street since the improved separated cycling infrastructure was built.
“Build it and they shall come. But the proposed solution for the [two-way] cycle lane crossing a motor traffic lane is suboptimal, because it crosses moving traffic. There’s no give way, and it doesn’t have priority.”
You know you've got it wrong when...
A bit of reaction to yesterday’s British Cycling apology signalling the completion of the ‘no cycling during the Queen’s funeral’ U-turn…
For a laugh I broke our own ‘never read the comments’ rule for certain websites, held my nose and jumped into the MailOnline’s story… it’s Friday, why not have a laugh? To my great surprise, rather than the usual cesspit of anti-cycling bingo classics, even the Mail commenters were baffled by British Cycling’s original call…
“Not everyone will want to watch it. Let them exercise. It was so important during lockdown.”
“Why would they issue any such advice at all. Are they a government organisation?”
“Why do they even feel the need to issue guidance? Let people think for themselves.”
“We’re sorry – we got this one wrong”: British Cycling apologises for advising cyclists not to ride their bikes during state funeral
“The decision on whether to cycle during that time is one for individuals and clubs to take for themselves,”https://t.co/5Fvvt4KMFI #cycling
— road.cc (@roadcc) September 15, 2022
Back on road.cc, here were some of your thoughts under yesterday’s story:
ride2smile said: “They, like many other organisations, could have just said nothing. Just let people decide for themselves.”
Rendel Harris replied: “That hits the nail on the head I think, it was totally outside their remit to start issuing guidance either way. If there was some official guidance and they were making people aware of it, great, but to decide for themselves what constitutes ‘appropriate cycling’ on the day of the funeral and broadcast it was wrong.”
kiwiglider commented: “Not British Cycling’s finest moment. Was wondering about my membership and this prompted me to cancel it. We need a much stronger advocate that can counter all the anti-cycling rubbish and promote safety.”
henryb said: “It’s advice like this that reinforces the notion that cycling is just a fun, recreational activity, such as might be enjoyed by small children, rather than something that people do to get to work, because it’s a normal way of getting about, or to improve their mental and physical health.”
It’s at this point we’d usually chuck in some comments pointing out the other side of the argument, for balance. I say usually because in this instance I cannot find a single one…anyone want to help me out?
Tales of friendly tooting
A couple from the comments so far:
Steve K’s involves cycling to every game of Crystal Palace’s 2016/17 season so is the winner already…anyone who cycles hundreds of miles to watch Allardyce football deserves infinite kudos…
“(As I may have mentioned before) back in 2016/17 I cycled to and from every Crystal Palace match for a season. Shortly after I set off for home the day after the Middlesbrough game (the first non-London away game of the season) a car beeped me. Just as I was about to react, the window wound down and it was one of the Middlesbrough stewards who had met me at the game the day before just saying hello and wishing me the best for the journey home and the rest of the season.”
PRSboy’s is another from the comedy genre…
“I was overtaken and hooted at by an Audi on my way home from work and was raising my hand in the traditional coffee-bean shaking gesture when I realised it was a friend saying hi, so I had to quickly change my W4NKR! gesture to a bizarre cheery wave, which ended up looking very strange.”
Filippo Ganna confirms Hour Record attempt
🕗 20:00 CEST/19:00 BST
📆 Saturday 8th October
🇨🇭 Grenchen, Switzerland
🏟️ @TISSOT Velodrome@GannaFilippo vs. The UCI Hour Record timed by TissotTime to go all in 👊https://t.co/R9IuXSQJ6G pic.twitter.com/CC7C4atCG0
— INEOS Grenadiers (@INEOSGrenadiers) September 16, 2022
The big one…
Is this the moment we see the Hour Record put out of sight (at least until the next power monster comes along and tech advances further)?
Saturday 8 October, in the same velodrome in Grenchen, Switzerland, where Dan Bigham last month set the latest furthest distance – 55.548km. We’re assuming Ganna will have all of Bigham’s aero expertise at his disposal, so it seems likely the Brit got in ahead of his teammate with the knowledge it wouldn’t be long before the record is put out of reach, not just for him but for everyone…
> “Mind-blowing” and “pretty epic” – Dan Bigham sets new UCI Hour Record of 55.548km
“I’m looking forward to the challenge, even though it’s going to be an hour of pure suffering. It will be interesting to see how my body holds up, and just how far I can go – it’s a chance to really test your physical and mental limits. To undertake a prestigious event like this is an important step in my career,” Ganna said.
Prediction time… 56km? Further? Maybe he’ll even go sub-one hour…*sarcasm klaxon*…
Filippo Ganna Hour Record attempt reaction
Is the Hour Record about to be put out of reach?
Filippo Ganna confirms attempt at beating Dan Bigham’s 55.548km distance in Switzerland next monthhttps://t.co/BeHDMhlEtn #cycling pic.twitter.com/TpwGuOhezC— road.cc (@roadcc) September 16, 2022
It’s happening…
— John Cooper (@jfmcooper) September 16, 2022
Let’s hope for better coverage than poor Dan Bigham’s attempt. A clock with lap times might be a start, more than one camera angle, ideally closer than the International Space Station might help too…
Guys, amazing,.wonderful and everything else that is good.
But ease, please , please do not give us another Dan Bigham event ( poor guy )
Awful cameras and angles
No people watching
Terrible clock counterPlease give us something special that merits the hour record
— anenglishmaninspain (@AndyElche) September 16, 2022
Awesome. But I hope the TV coverage is better than Bigham’s because that was bloody awful!!! Which was a real shame
— Waiting4Train (@waitingforteain) September 16, 2022
This will be a soft porn
— Sram Benett (@peinlooo) September 16, 2022
This new komoot feature will change your gravel route planning FOREVER!
Comment of the day
Alex Belfield: Former BBC presenter jailed for five and a half years after being found guilty of stalking Jeremy Vine and three other victims
We’ll let you decide if this is stretching the limits of what counts as ‘our patch’, but we have covered Belfield’s YouTube pot-stirring before on the live blog, notably in November 2021 when he made a bizarre video about cancelling cyclists…anything for attention. Whether we should have given Belfield oxygen is another — very valid — question…
Alex Belfield is walking down the stairs to the cells at Nottingham Crown Court to begin his prison sentence. That concludes today’s sentencing. Thanks for following along.
— George Icke (@georgeickeradio) September 16, 2022
Anyway, that video is now unavailable on YouTube, and the news came this morning that the former BBC radio presenter — found guilty of stalking four people, including Jeremy Vine — has been jailed for five and a half years at Nottingham Crown Court.
The 42-year-old was told by the judge the stalking had left one of the victims “seconds away” from committing suicide and “had serious impacts on the private lives of the complaints and had distressing effects on their physical and mental health”.
The exact wording of the charges said Belfied “pursued a course of conduct that amounted to harassment” of the complainants, which “amounted to stalking” and caused them “serious alarm or distress”.
In the case of Vine and another complainant, Belfield was found guilty of the alternative charge “simple” stalking, which does not require distress or serious alarm, although Vine said his stalker’s actions had meant he “asked his family to watch out for you [Belfield].”
"My heart is broken": Elisa Longo Borghini betrayed by pineapple pizza-eating soigneur
Thoughts with Elia Longo Borghini and Trek-Segafredo’s Italian press officer at this difficult time…
POV 👀 You’re our Italian 🇮🇹 press officer and a Belgian 🇧🇪 soigneur orders pizza in #SkodaTour of Luxembourg 🇱🇺
Hey @ElisaLongoB, something to add? pic.twitter.com/sMFAeLs4sL
— Trek-Segafredo (@TrekSegafredo) September 16, 2022
At least her famous quote gets another outing…
My heart is broken. pic.twitter.com/wyQHdekZTe
— Elisa Longo Borghini (@ElisaLongoB) September 16, 2022
"What on earth you thinking?": Station bike locks to be removed if 'unclaimed'
@greateranglia What on earth you thinking? Found this on my bike lock at Bury St Eds station. Trying to use public/active travel to get to work in @WestSuffolkNHS. Decent bike locks are heavy so leave one at station & another at work. Does nobody ANY harm @roadcc @Jochurchill_MP pic.twitter.com/JpcgNwUMq1
— Dermot O’Riordan🇬🇧🇮🇪🇪🇺 (@dermotor) September 16, 2022
16 September 2022, 08:11
16 September 2022, 08:11
16 September 2022, 08:11
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Latest Comments
I'll counter that by saying the Bryton 750se I have drives me nuts at times. Inconsistantly picks up on routes created on Komoot and the app re-syncs every few seconds when trying to set up the device and sends me back to the home screen. The most infuriating one is that I turned live track on. Once. It now won't turn off and repeatedly flags up the live track is starting, and then disconnecting every few seconds whilst riding. I haven't timed it but it wouldn't suprise me if 10-20% of the time the the screen is covered with an error message. That's been about 6 weeks now. Other than that it's great :/
RE: Police launch road safety operation... by clamping down on cyclists using footbridge Meanwhile in Glasgow, Police Scotland are riding their motorbikes over the pedestrian and cyclists only bridge. https://x.com/FietserGlasgow/status/2065106152917012523?s=20
@Paul J Van Schip certainly seems a bit of a dick, but he's a European and multiple World Champion on the track, pretty sure you don't get there without having some talent in your legs.
Poor Vincent cannot get over the simple fact that given the choice people prefer dedicated cycling spaces, rather than pretending to be cars like vehicular cyclists.
What is the point of the fancy air sensor if it can't account for changing weather conditions?? If all you care about is a delayed approximation of aerodynamic watts in steady conditions, you don't need any special sensors for that. Just your speed on a decently flat course is enough to approximate rolling resistance and drivetrain losses. And the rest must be aero. If you assume a less aero body position at the same watts, your speed will drop while rolling resistance also drops, which means approximated aero watts goes up. And that's enough to demonstrate what you've shown in your testing protocol ("I sat upright and the number went up a little while later").
Your correction is accurate - it's almost always been "the (lack of) thought that (doesn't) count". "Massive" - less than a billion a year spent on active travel (trying to catch up / building a network across the entire country) Not massive - 6 billion every year (2026-2030) spent on road *maintenance* of existing "already built, goes everywhere, very convenient" road network for inactive travel Ultimately the reason "cycle infra" is *needed* is those unbelievably colossal amounts spent every year (and for more than a century now) on making mass motoring not just viable but apparently the "best choice" for most journeys. As the Dutch and others have shown, the majority of people *are* prepared to cycle and even mix with very light, slow local motor traffic *if* cycling is also made safe and convenient for the whole of their journey (including secure parking at both ends). (The history of the financial drivers of the current situation are a complex topic but note that while people complain about "crumbling roads" and underfunded motor infra - with some reason - by us continuing the fuel duty escalator freeze (for example) we're actually helping motorists pay *even less* for that activity / subsidising more of the cost of driving than ever.)
yes, but people will still object - which was my point.
So ' Priority of Road Users' and 1.5 metre clearance at 30mph has been been reduced to 'sharing'? NCN route 2 here in South Hams is an absolute scream with white vans, tractors and total idiots who refuse,or are totally incapable,to reverse on high Devon banked lanes ...means you have to get off and pedal back to a passing place....could be at that all day...so I don't bother...
@MaxiMinimalist Agreed. The big problem I see now is today's parents grew up being driven to their schools, and therefore, see private motor vehicles as the only viable form of transport. The vast majority of UK infant and primary schools have a catchment area that is within easy walking distance from home to school. Yet, the traffic caused by pupils being driven to/from school is astonishing. Banishing the "School Run" should be a priority for all schools.
When I was a kid (that was during the previous millenium when phones were connected to a plug in the wall), I rode my bicycle to school, music academy, sport grounds, parties even during the winter. The government didn't have to spend, correct that, didn't have to think of spending massive amounts of money to build cycling specific infrastructures. Over the past 3 or 4 decades, cars have grown bigger, taller, safer (for their drivers) and faster. Meanwhile, motorists have become abusive, aggressive, hypersensitive to people moving on two wheels, aka cyclists. Spending billions upon billions on new infrastructure won't address the crux of the matter. Sadly.
35 thoughts on “Filippo Ganna confirms Hour Record attempt; ‘Wish that van driver beeping at me would get lost… oh, it’s my son…’; Does he ride a Dogma? Vatican rider to race World Championships; Reaction to British Cycling apology + more on the live blog”
I say we should lock up all
I say we should lock up all those friendly tooters for mis-use of the horn.
Good to see the squirrels
Good to see the squirrels joining the mourning. The ermine didn’t seem to be so keen though for some reason.
As far as they are concerned
As far as they are concerned ‘stoat-ally fine if everyone else gets on with mourning without them.
If you see the lady in charge of the funeral you Mustela they won’t be there.
Why are you badgering me
Why are you badgering me about this? Who rateled your cage?
It is so disappointing, on
It is so disappointing, on occasions like this they could weasely make an exception and show some respect.
I saw some ermine up to no
I saw some ermine up to no good in a river once. “Minx!” I said.
Especially for eburtthebike
Especially for eburtthebike
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001bzzy
The carbon savings we’ve made so far have been the easy ones. To reach Net Zero, we need to start changing the way we live and work. We need to rethink our homes, our heating, our transportation and our food. We can’t reach net zero without these changes impacting on each and every one of us.
At 1100 today on R4
Let’s see if bicycles are mentioned.
Thanks for the link. This
Thanks for the link. This week was all about buildings, but next week is all about cars.
It’s here https://www.bbc.co
It’s here https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001c6wp
Merely very poor, as opposed to the BBC standard of reporting on transport of utterly abysmal.
I was overtaken and hooted at
I was overtaken and hooted at by an Audi on my way home from work and was raising my hand in the traditional coffee-bean shaking gesture when I realised it was a friend saying hi, so I had to quickly change my W4NKR! gesture to a bizarre cheery wave, which ended up looking very strange.
(As I may have mentioned
(As I may have mentioned before) back in 2016/17 I cycled to and from every Crystal Palace match for a season. Shortly after I set off for home the day after the Middlesbrough game (the first non-London away game of the season) a car beeped me. Just as I was about to react, the window wound down and it was one of the Middlesbrough stewards who had met me at the game the day before just saying hello and wishing me the best for the journey home and the rest of the season.
Cycling goalkeeper, Ben
Cycling goalkeeper, Ben Foster retires from football. https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/ben-foster-newcastle-retire-2022-b1025973.html
Funny that the Vatican man
Funny that the Vatican man should be going in for the road race, you would’ve thought he would be more of a crosser…
I’ll get me biretta…
Rendel Harris wrote:
CX on a Specialized Crux obviously.
Santa Cruz – no contest.
Santa Cruz – no contest. Didn’t know they did road bikes…
It’s at this point we’d
It’s at this point we’d usually chuck in some comments pointing out the other side of the argument, for balance. I say usually because in this instance I cannot find a single one…anyone want to help me out?
(Gets green ink pen out….)
I think it’s frankly irresponsible for cyclists to go out for a ride during the funeral on Monday given that no cafe’s will be open so no mid ride cake.
Trying to ride without cake is just asking for trouble!!!!
Or….
The noise my bottom bracket makes is sufficient to wake the dead. Frankly, as a Republican, I don’t think its worth the risk to ride on Monday.
If the Vatican rider is not
If the Vatican rider is not on a Dogma as suggested, it’s possibly a Canon-dale.
mark1a wrote:
Well he’s making a pilgrimage to the other side of the world, must be quite a Trek – a Madone, obviously.
Why did the Vatican need to
Why did the Vatican need to invent new kit – they’ve already got club colours and lycra, he just seems to be missing the bike in his TT pose.
For those who, like us, are
For those who, like us, are planning to ride on Monday and are wondering where the coffee and cake are coming from, I’ve just discovered that Starbucks are only closing 11am-2 pm; not everyone’s vision of the perfect coffee stop, I know, but might be useful in these special circumstances.
Costa are closing (though
Costa are closing (though franchises may not) but they, shock, horror, will not be switching off their coffee machines in other stores. A disgrace I tell you, where is the respect, eating and drinking on the day of the funeral!
British citizens are being
British citizens are being asked not to breathe during the two minute silence out of respect for her Late Majesty. However – at least coffee and a (very) chocolate brownie are somber-shaded snacks.
Any Bristolians want to
Any Bristolians want to comment on the bike bridge piece? It looks to me like it crosses a bus lane, which whilst not being great is a bit different to a normal traffic lane.
However if it must be done it can be done – CS3 does (or did) for instance (bit of a PITA though)
Sorry, but I know nothing
Sorry, but I know nothing about this (and don’t ever ride across Bristol Bridge)
Secret_squirrel wrote:
The current layout has the cycle lane keep to one side, so I’m not quite getting why the new one is going across a bus lane.
That particular junction has a lot of traffic (vehicular and pedestrian) and is a bit of a choke point, so I don’t think it will make a lot of difference to be honest. The cycle lane further down Baldwin Street where it meets Queen Charlotte Street is a bigger problem as cars try to turn onto Baldwin Street with hardly any visibility of the cycle traffic.
I’ve never found Tooting that
I’ve never found Tooting that friendly. CS7 down the High Street during rush hour is carnage.
I’ll get me gilet….
Clem Fandango wrote:
I recommend the Goldfinch Bar in Tooting. Great cocktails and owned by another cycling Crystal Palace fan – what more could you want?
Point of order – for much of
Point of order – for much of that season (including that Middlesbrough game) it was cycling to watch Pardew football, including the absolute horror show at Swansea of coming from 3-1 down to lead 4-3, only to let in two injury time goals to lose 5-4 (beautiful ride though – including crossing the old Severn Bridge). Allardyce took over at Christmas, and under his management there were such joys as winning at (Champions elect) Chelsea and at Liverpool, as well as a home win against Arsenal (all after my visit to the training ground, I should add).
Apologies to the football haters on here.
Steve K wrote:
I don’t exactly hate football – my grandfather was a stalwart of the Fulham side before he was killed in the war – but it’s not my game, the oval ball and cricket having captured my fancy from an early age until I got too old to play, but no apologies necessary, your oddessy sounds absolutely superb.
My Facebook memories have
My Facebook memories have reminded me that it is five years to the day that I was presented on the pitch at a match the following season to mark completing the challenge. I was the warm up to the main act: Geoff Thomas and his team who had completed all three Grand Tours a day ahead of the pros to raise money for Leukaemia research.
It will be 55 years tomorrow
It will be 55 years tomorrow since a legend of British and world cycling offered another rider a sweet by saying “Liquorice Allsort, Mac?”
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‘For a laugh I broke our own ‘never read the comments’ rule for certain websites, held my nose and jumped into the MailOnline’s story… it’s Friday, why not have a laugh? To my great surprise, rather than the usual cesspit of anti-cycling bingo classics, even the Mail commenters were baffled by British Cycling’s original call…’
.
A great career awaits you somewhere – though probably not in journalism (except perhaps in comics).
.
‘Our own’ ?
‘Our own’ ?
I thought you prided yourself in standing outside the echo chamber and not aligning yourself with the consensus.
A bit of trolling there by
A bit of trolling there by road.cc: wouldn’t that fit in at the Mail? Maybe not enough feeling though?
https://twitter.com
Say what you want, Macron says it as it is on cycle lanes.
(note subtitles may have been mangled by google translate).