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Tour de France peloton flashed by Paris speed camera; Tour de Full English: Cyclist riding in search of Britain’s best breakfast; Liam steals KOM off Tadej Pogačar; Nicest pro rider award; LTN success; When you keep the record + more on the live blog
SUMMARY

Chris Froome awarded Tour de France's nicest rider
It’s isn’t an official award, but maybe it should be? Not sure if he was joking, but @chrisfroome said the ASO gave it to him. Well deserved. @NBCSNCycling pic.twitter.com/flf4fOFZgY
— Steve Porino (@sporino) July 18, 2021
Chris Froome did not leave the Tour empty-handed after all…ASO awarded the four-time winner a new prize for the ‘nicest and most polite Tour de France rider’. And despite not getting to step on the podium, Froome did get a celebratory face mask…I bet he can’t wait to get that framed and up on the wall in Monaco…
Might not be a yellow jersey, but my Mum would be proud 🥲
Thank you @LeTour 💛 #TDF2021 https://t.co/PSdrDNtEMT— Chris Froome (@chrisfroome) July 18, 2021
On the bike the 36-year-old suffered his worst ever Grand Tour result (ignoring the ones he crashed out of)…ninth last and more than four hours down on Tadej Pogačar. On the plus side, Froome saved his second best stage result for Paris, finishing 90th and in the main bunch.
But maybe that’s the point of ASO’s award? Froome has put up with reporters, fans, …live bloggers’ questions and comments about his waning abilities with dignity and a smile, when he probably could have been forgiven for storming off like, I don’t know, a disgruntled presenter on a morning TV news programme.
When you keep the record for another year
🇫🇷 #TDF2021
Victory approved by Mr. Merckx✔️ pic.twitter.com/9Y1qKoivbi
— Team Jumbo-Visma cycling (@JumboVismaRoad) July 17, 2021
Worth taking a minute to remember Wout van Aert won a time trial, the Ventoux stage and the Champs-Élysées sprint all in 12 days. He will now head off to Tokyo to try and add a couple of Olympic medals to that tally…
Speaking about Merckx, Van Aert said: “I’m just a really little cyclist compared with Eddy. I’m just proud of my own performances.” Three stages of the Tour isn’t a bad return for “a really little cyclist”…
Oxford residents speak out about success of Cowley Low Traffic Neighbourhoods


The Oxford Mail spoke to locals about the success of Low Traffic Neighbourhood schemes in the Cowley area of the city. A number of residents told the paper the LTNs had encouraged them to make more journeys by bike or on foot.
Brian Fahy said it had helped change his family’s attitude to getting to school each day. “It has prompted discussions about how we impact the earth, as well as how cycling is a health benefit,” he explained. “Thanks to all the walking and cycling up and down Church Hill Road, I lost about 10 pounds in the first month or so. I feel healthier and I am enjoying the walk more and more. We all are. And our carbon footprint is changing for the better.”
Another local parent, Martha Crocket added: “My kids now cycle to school as a result of the LTNs and I cycle rather than drive to Black Bird Leys leisure centre. All the roads to Littlemore felt unsafe with the kids in a trailer so I used to take the car – but now there is a safe route.”
Current LTN trials in Cowley will run until November before a decision is announced on whether they should be made permanent, reversed or the trial period extended. Another LTN trial in the east of Oxford is to be decided at the end of the month.
Liam steals KOM off Tadej Pogačar


Pain is temporary, glory lasts forever…or at least until the dreaded ‘Uh oh!’ email drops in your inbox. That, along with a probable sore head, is what newly crowned Tour de France champion Tadej Pogačar is waking up to this morning.
Just three days after the Slovenian blitzed the KOM for the final 100m of Luz Ardiden our very own Liam Cahill has done the impossible…Alright, Tadej…You’ve got your yellow jerseys, stage wins, flight to the Olympics, six-year contract with UAE Team Emirates and the rest of it but we’ve got Espriña Luz Ardiden-en KOM…so who’s the real winner?
At this time we can’t confirm if Dave B has been on the phone asking about Liam’s availability for a little three-week ‘get-together’ in France next July…Has Tadej finally found his match?
Why we need to stop the fake war between car drivers and cyclists
PRiDE OUT calls on the government and Cycling UK to guarantee 15 per cent of funding reaches LGBTQIA+ cyclists


PRiDE OUT, an inclusive cycling group for LGBTQIA+ people across the UK, has called on the government and Cycling UK to ensure that a greater share of funds reaches LGBTQIA+ cyclists. The group has launched a petition calling for “a much fairer slice of the cake” in the hope that a minimum of 15 per cent of all government funding to Cycling UK and similar organisations will be guaranteed to reach LGBTQIA+ people, groups and organisations in cycling.
Your highlight of the Tour de France? (POLL)

We’re all suffering some Tour de France blues today. Cast your minds back and pick your favourite storyline from this year’s edition…
EF Education First launches coaching service for all riders


EF Education First, which owns and operates the WorldTour team EF Education-Nippo, has today announced it will be running a coaching service for aspiring racers, keen amateurs or anyone who wants to take their cycling to the next level. The service applies the team’s knowledge in training, nutrition and tactics to give riders a pro level of expertise.
All profits of the programme will be reinvested back into the team, making EF Education-Nippo partially self-funded. “We want to teach people. How to ride a bike better. How to meet their goals. And maybe we’ll find a few undiscovered talents capable of reaching the professional ranks along the way,” EF Education-Nippo CEO Jonathan Vaughters said.
“More people are riding their bikes than ever, and we thought the time was perfect for us to share what makes this team’s performance philosophy so special with more people. We also want to change the way the professional cycling business works. We want to have a team that supports itself on some level so we can keep doing things our way.”
Tour de Full English: Cyclist riding in search of Britain's best breakfast for the MND Association and the Brain Tumour Charity
Cycling and full English breakfasts. That’s a couple of things we can get behind. Jeremy Daubeny, a 19-year-old from Tunbridge Wells, has combined his love of both for a mega charity challenge for a great cause. Jeremy lost both his parents to illness within seven months in 2018-19 and wanted to raise money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association and The Brain Tumour Charity in a unique way.
Starting in May and finishing last week, he set out on a 2,552-mile journey with a tent and some essential supplies on a mission to find Britain’s best breakfast, first riding along the South Coast before back up through Wales and on to Northumberland and Scotland. Ranking the breakfasts he enjoyed on the way, Jeremy announced Caffi Y Ragna in Pembrokeshire as the winner. So I guess lesson we can take away from this is that if you want a good full English…go to Wales.
“This trip’s been so healing,” he explained. “In terms of helping me process all that’s happened over the last three years. Countless times tiny things I’ve seen and heard on the bike have jogged the happiest of memories. I couldn’t be more thankful to everyone that’s helped me throughout. Whether it’s the 28 who offered their houses for the night, the amazing bike shops who serviced old Barney or the unbelievable instinctive kindness of strangers.”
The Tour de Full English fundraiser smashed its original £2,500 target and is now up to more than £33,000…
Cav speaks to Radio 5 Live about his Tour de France green jersey success
“I went from world champion to not winning a thing”@MarkCavendish tells @rachelburden how he came back from rock bottom to winning the green jersey at the #TourDeFrance2021. 🚴♂️
🎧 Listen @BBCSounds pic.twitter.com/NNA8cA499z
— BBC Radio 5 Live (@bbc5live) July 19, 2021
Poll results: Cav's comeback tops the table


I’m sure Liam will be delighted to see a few of you give him the nod…Unsurprisingly Cav’s comeback came was your favourite storyline of this year’s Tour.
Tour de France peloton sets off Paris speed camera
📸 Respect speed limits. 😉
📸 Attention aux limites de vitesse. 😉#TDF2021 pic.twitter.com/kGg2YC3lWN
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 18, 2021
Friday’s Richmond Park police officer would approve of this one. Cyclists getting flashed by speed cameras — can’t say I’ve ever managed to set one off but it’s a real moment of pride when your speed pops up on one of those roadside vehicle activated speed signs.
I wonder if the teams get special dispensation or if the race organisation pays the fines when team cars are snapped?
Back in 2012, a Welsh cyclist gained YouTube fame by hurtling downhill in an attempt to get picked up by a 30mph camera…
While in 2018, a cyclist in Kiel, Germany, returned the favour and flashed a speed camera as it flashed him for pedalling past in his birthday suit at 47km/h…The man wearing just his shoes escaped a fine as police could not identify him…
Have you ever managed to set off a speed camera on your bike? (We don’t need to know if you were starkers at the time)
19 July 2021, 08:04
19 July 2021, 08:04
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Latest Comments
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.
Obree had some actual talent in his legs though, in addition to his bike/aero engineering talent.
Малко като опит за доказване е излязло... Никой няма нужда от толкова голям въртящ момент и мощност на шосеен велосипед с тънки гуми, които дори трудно ще предават тази мощност върху пътя. А ако има и ограничение от 25 км/час е още по-безмислено.
Not sure how informative that is. I imagine for all most of us know it could be Europe's only 'volumetric modular building'. 🤷♂️
Yes, but they're copying the adults of today...
41 thoughts on “Tour de France peloton flashed by Paris speed camera; Tour de Full English: Cyclist riding in search of Britain’s best breakfast; Liam steals KOM off Tadej Pogačar; Nicest pro rider award; LTN success; When you keep the record + more on the live blog”
I wonder who awarded them:
I wonder who awarded them:
“Funniest Aussie”
https://twitter.com/GreenEDGEteam/status/1416850881035882505
Do LGBTQIA+ people ride
Do LGBTQIA+ people ride different bikes on different roads and trails from the rest of us? If not, aren’t they already getting a fair share of the cake?
Colour me puzzled.
If you read the petition, it
If you read the petition, it’s not really talking about infrastructure – it’s talking about ‘activities and services’ funded by this money – i.e. the promotion, events, and other stuff aimed at getting people out onto those roads and trails (and specifically CUK’s Big Bike Revival campaign). There could very well be aspects of how that money is spent that biases it away from reaching LGBTQIA+ people.
mdavidford wrote:
Not having read the petition, I presumed it would be a participation issue, rather than an infra issue. The same issue presents itself to other minority groups such as disability, BAME and… um… women (there could be some overlaps(!)), as well as some considerations for social prescribing.
I genuinely don’t know how to approach this. There is, fundamentally, a shocking shortfall in necessary budget allocation. If percentages are supposed to be allocated to specific user groups, I’d suggest it must be identifiably additional funding without blocking future allocations.
However, I would argue that we are at such a paleolithic stage of active travel development that any well-considered infrastructure should be considered beneficial to most user groups. If funding were to be allocated, I think it would need to be focused on disability/mobility groups who are arguably most disadvantaged by poor infrastructure features.
I don’t know enough about how
I don’t know enough about how targeted advertising works. But I assume you basically end up paying Facebook or Google to target your ads at your chosen demographic indicators. So I’d like to think promoters are not just ticking the boxes white, male, straight.
But what if promoters are not ticking [i]any [/i]indicators of sexuality? Suppose they just target people who have browsed sports and outdoor recreation websites, but remain neutral on aspects of sexuality?
In fact, on the basis of targeted advertising, I’d have thought it would be trivial to demonstrate that you are not discriminating LGBT…, for or against.
It’s not just about buying a
It’s not just about buying a few online ads though. A campaign like this would presumably involve engaging directly with, and channeling funding to, a variety of groups, organisations, and venues through which the activities and events are delivered. So if those you choose to engage with don’t have a representative reach, neither will your campaign.
Genuine question what in
Genuine question what in particular is LGBTQIA+ about cycling that requires carving out 15% of a budget?
I think the point that
I think the point that Cycling UK don’t appear to have spent any money on outreach to LGBT etc. communities is potentially a fair one, but only if put into the context of Cycling UK spending money (or not) on other specific outreach programmes.
Cycling UK’s response to a query on how much funding is reaching all protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010… “they advised they didn’t want to get into that” …seems unnecessarily cagey, mind.
Either they collect the data or they don’t. I don’t think they’re under any obligation to.
Compact Corned Beef wrote:
It doesn’t specifically mention funds directed to achieving it, but CUK’s own page for BBR does play up it’s reach to women, ethnic minorities, and deprived communities.
https://www.cyclinguk.org/bigbikerevival
Indeed – which makes the
Indeed – which makes the wariness around data that bit more surprising. Unless they think that it’ll leave them open to accusations of leaving this group or that group behind, etc.
I think it’s “outreach” like
I think it’s “outreach” like Captain Corned Beef says. Cycling does have a very male, as well as white, and fairly straight, image. That doesn’t mean that cyclists will be unwelcoming to anyone who’s gay or black or female, but it’s a matter of seeing “people like you” doing a thing. Participation breeds participation. Bit of a catch 22!
So presumably things like Quiltbag (it’s easier to say than LGBTQIA+++) rides and maintenance sessions and so on. Certainly not infrastructure or the actual bikes!
I’m intrigued. I can
I’m intrigued. I can understand the “seeing people” thing in the case of the low participation of women and black people, there is a visible difference. So if you always see massed ranks of predominantly white male cyclists, black people and women might feel excluded.
But how does that translate into LGBT… (other than where the label refers exclusively to women)? Can you tell a person is gay just by looking at them? When you see press shots for a cycling event, the lack of black and female subjects might be stark, but who is to say how many LGBT… are represented? If you campaign for better cycling infrastructure, how are you [i]not[/i] including – by default – LGBT… in their natural demographic proportions?
Sriracha wrote:
That was puzzling me too. It also raises the question of how do they know what percentage of campaigns reach the various groups?
Just from a pragmatic point of view, it’s easier to target women and ethnic groups that are under-represented, but I’m happy for anyone to be encouraged to cycle. Each person on a bike is a person not in a car.
Likewise – I can’t see what
Likewise – I can’t see what special needs that LGBTQIA+ cyclists have that would need a specific budget. It’d make more sense to allocate a percentage towards disabled cyclists and maybe get Sustrans to stop putting physical barriers to stop them from using cycle paths.
“PRiDE OUT calls on the
“PRiDE OUT calls on the government and Cycling UK to guarantee 15 per cent of funding reaches LGBTQIA+ cyclists”
I see from other posts I am not alone in wondering how the needs of LGBTQIA cyclists vary from everyday cyclists, and if this had been April 1st I’d have written this off as quite a funny joke. I completely support LGBTQIA people, but this is making a mockery of their own case, and opening them up to ridicule.
Disagree with the premise of
Disagree with the premise of the alphabet mafia getting more funds for cycling as there is no evidence that they are under-represented or discriminated against in cycling.
However, it would be nice to see women’s groups get a larger slice of the pie in terms of funding: women are both underrepresented and discriminated against in cycling, from the actual statistics on the ground, clothing and equipment available, all the way through to misogynistic and gendered insults.
Haven’t you left the forum,
Haven’t you left the forum, yet?
(Didn’t you have a cunning plan where you weren’t going to be on the forum any more..?)
They obviously need another
They obviously need another reminder
His ego doesn’t let him. Plus
His ego doesn’t let him. Plus as he boycotted GB News for the past few days he didn’t have that to fall back on.
It would certainly be
It would certainly be terrific to see more female riders taking part in amateur TT events at local club level.
Mungecrundle wrote:
Per social psychologists’ research women are both more risk averse and display more common sense than men, ergo their reticence at doing tt events.
TT danger wrote:
That’s not quite true, though, is it. Over a year ago, CyclingUK was saying just that (and getting credit for its support from PrideOut, ironically):
https://www.cyclinguk.org/article/lgbt-group-cycling-and-volunteering, from which:
“LGBT+ community are massively underrepresented in sport and we want to lead the way in encouraging inclusivity.”
and
“Cycling UK has been incredible in terms of advice and support and we are so grateful. It’s so amazing to know there is a cycling charity, such as Cycling UK, that has your back and is rooting for you to do well.”
So there is evidence.
A press release isn’t the
A press release isn’t the same thing as evidence. Also note the reference to “sport”, not cycling. Where are the cold hard statistics?
Their reliance on Stonewall is also noted, which might explain the lack of focus towards women’s participation in cycling. (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-57281448)
Just have to ask, are you
Just have to ask, are you aware that changing your username twice in the last few days (Nigel Garrage > You are all cyberbullies > TT danger) doesn’t stop us knowing who you are? All your previous comments get rebadged with your new name. You promised under one of your previous identities that you were leaving this site, I don’t want to speak for others but the general consensus on here seems to be that the vast majority would be delighted if you did. Keep your word, there’s a good chap.
I thought the people
I thought the people responsible for the misogyny and gendered foul language on this web site would be upset by me highlighting the disparity in funding and discrimination women suffer in the cycling world.
I was proven right.
It’s more important to me that this issue is highlighted than the abuse I encounter in writing about it from the ignorant.
That’s all I have to say on the matter, and won’t be responding again to you.
TT danger wrote:
Aww, I’ll try to get over it, though given your failure to adhere to your previous flounce I doubt you’ll manage that. Would you like to tell the good folks on here why, as the unashamed fighter for feminism and women’s rights that you clearly are (in your own very sad little imagination), you’ve changed your username twice in the last few days?
I reckon they have so many
I reckon they have so many people on ignore, the only comments they see are their own.
Must be a lonely existence.
As if anyone believes
As if anyone believes anything you say.
Your whole MO is to say anything to provoke a reaction.
Why haven’t you kept your word and left?
Why do you keep changing your name (other than to get new folk to engage in a pointless exchange) ?
Changed name due to getting
Changed name due to getting server errors, was only way I could see the site. Already answered the rest, as always you don’t have to reply to what I write if you don’t want, just as I ignore much of your more outlandish stuff – don’t believe I’ve written anything contentious here.
“server errors”
Sure Jan
“server errors”
Sure Jan
Of course you have to be logged in to change your name…
TT danger wrote:
Server errors caused him to change his username to “You are all cyberbullies” and post, “Anyway I’m off this website. You lot deserve each other.” Naughty server errors!
Truly Trumpian (revealed as one of his heroes under his last-but-one username) in his belief that if you just keep lying enough the lies become truth. Sad, though at the same time extremely amusing.
Don’t forget that the
Don’t forget that the President Spanky is so anti -misogynistic as well. No wonder he worships him.
Apparently Ren, if you happen to call a man the C word for almost killing you, you are misogynistic.
And also, he said he would never reply to me, would block anyone rude to him and not reply to them AND would no longer be on the site. He backtracks more then Boris it seems.
I remember, he said anyone
I remember, he said anyone else who insulted him (i.e. mocked his risible opinions) would find themselves blocked, and “you have been warned.” He obviously then realised that would mean blocking pretty much the whole membership of this site…
The comment about the German
The comment about the German cyclist who set off the speed camera but couldn’t be identified.
I’m pretty sure Miss Ballbricker has an idea on finding people similarly non-attired.
That Full English came so
That Full English came so close to perfection, but stumbled at the last hurdle. While there was an attempt to use the sausage as a breakwater between the beans and the eggs, some of the beans have slipped underneath. Such a shame.
Nice video but not sure the
Nice video but not sure the line “I spent too much time and money getting my driving licence to give up driving completely” makes much sense.
I agree, but I supose that it
I agree, but I supose that it does show empathy with many people who probably think likewise and will maybe encourage them to try cycling as well as driving, and you never know they might just discover the great benefits.
A ‘friend of mine’ rode naked
A ‘friend of mine’ rode naked once. Got arrested but the case was dropped due to lack of evidence. 😉 😉
I heard the victims family
I heard the victims family just wanted Clothesure.
What do we want?
What do we want?
Funding for middle aged, ginger haired, slightly deaf, follicly challenged males, below 5′ 4″.
When do we want it?
NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was going to agree with you
I was going to agree with you until the last point. Why should I be discriminated against because of a quirk for height. I’m not a shortist, some of my best friends are knee high to a grass hopper, however I don’t agree they should be given a legup over people who naturally know what the weather is like up there. All Heights Matter.