Driver moans about cyclists on the road...doesn't get the reply she wanted; Biggins or Wiggins?; Rod Ellingworth: We're against one of greatest Grand Tour riders ever; Jeremy Vine has a chuckle; Bicycle mayor; A very Belgian vid + more on the live blog

A member of the Wolfpack since 2018, a top 15 finisher at both Il Giro and La Vuelta, and one of the most hard-working guys out there, @JamesKnoxx has signed a new contract with Deceuninck - Quick-Step: https://t.co/IFdaiu4j7W pic.twitter.com/8pYdiePXRB

— Deceuninck-QuickStep (@deceuninck_qst) October 19, 2021

One Briton has signed a new deal with Deceuninck-Quick-Step today, no not that one...yet. It's James Knox. The 25-year-old has signed for another two years with the Belgian team he has represented since leaving Team Wiggins at the end of 2017. Knox's best results include an 11th place at the Vuelta a España in 2019 and 14th at the 2020 Giro d'Italia.

"I am really happy to come to an agreement with Patrick and the team, and it was an easy decision to make," Knox explained. "I had a nice talk with Patrick, where things went smoothly and we took it from there – agreeing to stay did not take too much thinking. I have now been with the team for four years and it will be six by the time I have finished, which is a long time when I think about it – I will have spent half of my ‘cycling life’ so far, with the team, which is crazy to think about, but I am really happy to stay and feeling more and more comfortable."

If Cav stays there'll be three Brits on the squad next year, after 21-year-old Ethan Vernon also announced he'll be joining the team soon-to-be called Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl.

Here's the scariest thing you'll see all week: pic.twitter.com/BeQscshBSS

— Bike Snob NYC (@bikesnobnyc) October 18, 2021

Yesterday's live blog was something of a component failure special, including one reader's less than ideal saddle situation. We thought that was bad, then we saw this...

One reply speculated that this could be what happens if you use mayo as chamois cream...that's enough to put you off that particular condiment for life. 

Completely normal. Leather saddles are supposed to mold to your bum.

— Aidan (@aidanjh) October 19, 2021

Time for some reaction to our top story this morning...

There was a nice picture of the tweet here, although unfortunately it has now been deleted. Boring. Anyway, the tweet did say, "the amount of cyclists on the road today should be considered a crime."

Graham Snook's got the top comment over on Facebook: "They moan about people on bikes on the road, they moan about spending money on a dedicated cycling infrastructure to get people on bikes off the road. They moan if we go too close to their cars and moan if we keep a safe distance away from them. They moan that they want us to obey the traffic laws, but also moan when we ride two abreast. What they want us to be is Schrödinger's cyclist."

It wasn't all bad though. Without out the tweet, Captain Badger and the rest of us would never have seen this...

eburtthebike reckons the driver's attitude is similar to many: "She's merely demonstrating the attitude of so many drivers; they've paid for the roads so cyclists shouldn't really be using them, and they get in her way.  Drivers are the legitimate users of the roads, and everyone else is there by drivers' permission and tolerance.

"Pity someone didn't try a little gentle questioning before she shut up shop, something like 'Why do you say that?' or 'Too many cyclists or too few?' or 'What's wrong with them?'  It might have brought out the reasons for her statement which could then be disproved; not that proof has every changed a driver's mind."

hirsuite replied: "Someone did ask why? No reply except for an offensive gesture. I don't think Twitter is aimed at rational discussion burt."

I think hirsuite might be onto something there...

The CHPT3 Dirt clothing that Anna told us all about when she went riding gravel with company founder David Millar in Girona a couple of weeks ago has now been officially launched.

> Baggies, gravel and laissez-faire route planning: my unconventional morning with David Millar in Girona 

“The T-shirt (£59) is designed for adventure, cut like a T-shirt and made to perform under physical effort,” says CHPT3. It is said to be made from a highly breathable next-to-skin fabric and is fast drying. 

The Dirt Tech Shorts (£119) feature two standard and low side pockets. Mesh is used inside to keep things breathable. 

The undercover shorts (£69) are designed to be worn under the Dirt Shorts (above) when riding off road. They’re made from a micro-mesh that “compresses while delivering stretch and repelling heat and moisture” and the seat pad is said to be made for comfort and distance.

Are you a Wiggo or Biggo? Surely we'd all rather be a Tour de France winner with an Olympic gold medal and job for life analysing bike races? When the alternative is being a 'public entertainment figure' now making headlines for talking to Nigel Farage on GB News and bashing cyclists on daytime radio, I think there's only one answer? Well, not according to reader Rob whose group ride has a game now known as Biggins or Wiggins...

The rules: you must predict if the approaching rider will give a cheery hello or an icy pro stare. The former being a Biggins, and the latter a Wiggins. The more extreme the reaction, the more of a Biggins or Wiggins said rider is...

What's your go to greeting? Are you a cool nod kind of cyclist? The penguins from Madagascar-inspired smile and wave (niche reference, I know)? You can't go wrong with a smile and nod, in my opinion...

I know I shouldn't laugh at this. But it is just such desperate nonsense pic.twitter.com/Np67CvyLJc

— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) October 18, 2021

Look who's back 👀

Let's give a warm welcome to @VCampenaerts 🙌 pic.twitter.com/DRmG0tOAhf

— Lotto Soudal (@Lotto_Soudal) October 19, 2021

Arguably all that was missing was a mysterious shot of him arriving by city bike...and a nice swig of one of the local favourites at the end.  

A quick afternoon edit: It's not just Victor C who's going to be at Lotto-Soudal for the foreseeable...the team has extended its partnership with Ridley for another four years, with the team riding the brand's Noah Fast Disc, Helium SLX Disc and the new Dean Fast Disc time trial bike in 2022. I wonder if that new TT machine had a say in Campenaerts' return?

🎉 A big welcome to the #BicycleMayorNetwork @SaskiaHeijltjes! Saskia is excited to raise awareness among decision makers about the need for safe cycling infrastructure and, through @KidicalMass, get more families on their bikes in #Bath!@WalkRideBath

👉https://t.co/d0iJMnQCqf pic.twitter.com/IebsunLmbH

— BYCS (@BYCS_org) October 15, 2021

Saskia Heijltjes has been appointed as Bath's first bicycle mayor, a role created by an Amsterdam-based social enterprise promoting cycling as a means of transforming cities around the world. Somerset Live reports Heijltjes put herself forward for the voluntary role which is independent of political groups and is part of a network of 100 bicycle mayors in 30 countries.

In her own words, the role will "accelerate the progress of cycling in Bath by highlighting and supporting the role of civil society in enacting lasting, community driven change.

"Bicycle mayors are the human face and voice of cycling advocacy in a city. My task as bicycle mayor will be to work across all parts of the community to identify the most pressing issues, and then bring people together to work on implementing practical solutions. Cycling in Bath is safe to a certain extent in certain areas, such as the canal towpath, river towpath, Two Tunnels path, Bristol-Bath railway path.

"These paths are lovely for leisure trips, but do not allow you to cycle safely for everyday trips. These paths are also not suitable for cycling in the dark for some, including many women and children. Most importantly, it is not safe for all ages and abilities to cycle in Bath at the moment. An eight-year-old child can’t cycle safely (with their parent/carer) to many places in Bath, including their own school."