Cyclists react to “clumsily worded” police campaign targeting dangerous riding; Warning over speeding drivers using Cycle Show venue as race track; Very shiny (and likely very pricey) aero derailleur cage; Cookson’s cojones + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
Very shiny (and likely very expensive) Kogel Bearings aero derailleur cage
The latest step in the endless search for aero…
Created by Kogel Bearings for Gustav Gullholm’s “quite special aero road bike” this derailleur cage saves a grand total of… well, we’ve got no idea nor does Gustav how much faster this is…
“Do we know for a fact that it’s a lot faster and more aero? No. Does it look absolutely incredible? Yes,” he told his Insta followers. “Kogel stepped up big time and custom made two of these beauties. No wind tunnel testing done, so no data to be had but I mean… just look at it!?”
Just look at what? It’s shininess or the amount of money you or I would need to rid our bank accounts of to get one? You’ll remember last year CeramicSpeed’s aero version of the oversized pulley wheel system (that can apparently save you 2.5 seconds over a 25km time trial) was officially launched with a €739 price tag…
Perhaps Kogel’s is just the Diet Coke version of Simon Warren’s Coca-Cola can pulley wheel system?
> How many watts could a Coca-Cola can pulley wheel system save you?
Anyway, the Insta comments didn’t disappoint, the most liked reply suggesting Kogel had just grabbed “one of them things they use to close up ravioli”…
Close enough.
Things we didn't expect to read today #1: Former UCI president Brian Cookson talking testicles...
Twitter’s weird, isn’t it?
Police to "protect" cyclists with speed limit checks to tackle "dangerous and careless" riding
> Police to “protect” cyclists with speed limit checks to tackle “dangerous and careless” riding
We asked, repeatedly, for clarification on Derbyshire Police’s campaign and never really got the explanation we set out after, so make your own mind up…
Lizzie Deignan "surprised" by Women's Tour cancellation
Returning to racing at Flèche Wallonne yesterday having given birth in September, Lizzie Deignan told BBC Sport she is “surprised” the Women’s Tour was cancelled. “I have the same objectives, but I’m surprised they can’t sustain more races in the UK,” she said.
> Women’s Tour cancelled for 2023, organisers cite lack of financial backing
“My role is to be the best athlete, but I’m disappointed and can also say I don’t quite understand how it has happened. From my perspective, when I’m out in the UK training on British roads, participation levels are higher than I’ve ever seen before.
“At grassroots level, more and more clubs are busy. It seems like there’s this massive influx of participation that hasn’t translated into domestic racing competition — and whether that’s because of red tape, whether that’s because of sponsorship, post-pandemic people are struggling, or a financial crisis going on… I don’t know.”
Checkmate
Daughter: I might get a running machine.
Me: Why? There’s a whole world outside to run in.
Daughter: you ride your bike on @GoZwift.
Me: 🤔🤐
— CycleNotts² (@CycleNott) April 20, 2023
The renaissance of Reynolds steel — the British framemaking specialists creating a new generation of classic bike afficionados
Your next bike? (If you happen to find 50k down the back of the sofa this week)
> Miguel Induráin’s Tour de France-winning bike to go to auction
Warning over "terrible speeding" drivers using Cycle Show venue as race track
Heading to the Alexandra Palace this weekend? Carla Francombe, active travel campaigner and recent road.cc podcast guest, has raised the alarm about speeding motorists using the private road up to the iconic North London venue as a race track…
I’ve been looking into the terrible speeding and racing that goes on at Alexandra Palace and I’ve been really shocked at what I’ve found out.
Especially given that Ally Pally is hosting the Cycle Show this weekend. Do please read.
Thread 🧵 1/10 pic.twitter.com/VNHfOD7DQ1
— Carla Francome (@carlafrancome) April 20, 2023
Carla spoke to car park attendants who said the racing happens all the time and people driving fast “love the hill” due to the roundabouts at the bottom and top which create an unofficial track. One of the entrances to the road is completely closed due to road works at the minute leaving one attendant baffled at why a motorist would possibly need to visit, especially at night when the garden centre elsewhere on the private road is closed…
“I just think, why are all these cars driving here? They’re clearly not cutting through are they?”
this is not a new problem. Many locals have DM’d me and said it’s been going on for years. I’ve been sent videos from May 2020 of a lot drivers in the area. It clearly has become a hobby here. Indeed, Ally Pally have tried to stop people endlessly parking on the grass.
5/10 pic.twitter.com/TWuG5fmKRy
— Carla Francome (@carlafrancome) April 20, 2023
“One local wrote to me on Monday night and said that they were outside their house doing DIY on the night I experienced the racing, and said they could hear it going on from outside their house, and that they hear it all the time,” Carla explained. “So what are Ally Pally doing about all this? And that’s the million dollar question. The big headline is NOT ENOUGH.
“In my opinion, and if someone is hurt when these drivers are racing up a road that cyclists are using, Ally Pally is responsible in a big way. It’s a private road, they could set a speed limit of 5mph if they wanted, or a bus gate would be a good option, or at the very least speed cameras.”
The replies to Carla’s in-depth thread suggest others have noticed the problem too, one cyclist saying the issue has been going on for “years and years” and reporting they “nearly got run over when I cycled down there a few years back”.
Starting tomorrow (April 21) and across the weekend, The Cycle Show, the UK’s biggest cycling show celebrates its 20th anniversary and turns the Ally Pally into a bike-mad showcase of all things cycling, from the biggest brands and stars of the sport to custom bikes, retro MTBs and BMX, demo tracks, skills sessions and more.
Gregor Mühlberger wins Tour of the Alps stage four
A day for the attackers in the Alps…
That’s how you boss a three-way finish 🚴🏻♂️💨@Movistar_Team rider @muehlberger_94 wins Stage 4 of the Tour of the Alps 🚵
___
🇮🇹 #TotA pic.twitter.com/dj60byfhYL— Velon CC (@VelonCC) April 20, 2023
Behind in the battle of the Brits, Tao Geoghegan Hart and Hugh Carthy remain first and second on GC, the Ineos Grenadiers rider 22 seconds ahead of his EF counterpart. Tomorrow’s final stage takes in two more big climbs, giving Carthy one last shot at taking the leader’s jersey… then, it’s Giro time…
But what about if I need to transport ten dense concrete blocks, weighing 140kg, because my project is a bit short? Didn't think of that one did you?
10x dense concrete blocks because your project is a bit short? Checkmate cyclists! pic.twitter.com/E1EEKccnQ3
— Dave McCraw (@david_mccraw) April 20, 2023
Cyclists react to "clumsily worded" police campaign targeting dangerous riding
A bit of context… we first came across the campaign announcement from Derbyshire Police last week — covered in our story earlier today — and had to reread it a few times to get it straight in our own minds. “Patrols to protect bikers and cyclists” but the lines between action specifically aimed at motorcyclists and those riding bicycles seemed unclear at best…
> Police to “protect” cyclists with speed limit checks to tackle “dangerous and careless” riding
In particular…
So, over the next few weeks we’ll be focusing on bikes and motorbikes, as we’re sure the brighter weather will bring more riders out and about into Derbyshire.
We’ll be spending more time on our most rural roads, to ensure riders are keeping to speed limits and riding with care.
We all have a responsibility to keep ourselves and others safe when we take to the roads. As a driver you should always be considerate of those who are more at risk, by driving and overtaking responsibly. As a motorbike rider or cyclist, it’s really important you know the dangers and ride safely, reading the conditions and being aware of your surroundings.
And then there was Adam Titterton, sergeant on the roads policing unit’s quote: “Over the next few weeks, we’ll be spending more time on the roads where we have seen the most incidents involving bikes and motorbikes. These areas include Snake Pass and many of our peak district routes, where we more frequently see people speeding and riding both dangerously and carelessly.”
So we got in touch with Derbyshire Police in search of clarification, specifically asking about the confusion and were told that the operation “aims to reduce the number of collisions involving motorcycles and bicycles”… but nothing about our concerns, so here we are…
As some of you have suggested, we’d hope Derbyshire Constabulary is aware speed limits don’t apply to cyclists… but anyway, here are some more of your thoughts…
HarrogateSpa said: “I would rather see police in urban areas, dealing with bad driving that puts people on bikes and others at risk. Instead towns and cities are wild west zones were drivers do as they please. I suggest the police are concentrating on rural areas because it’s easier for them.
“Stopping people on bikes and saying ‘ooh, you seem to be going a bit fast’ will achieve precisely nothing. Mixing up motorbikes and bikes is unhelpful — the issues are completely different.”
On Twitter, Graeme agreed, calling the statement “badly worded” and said the “lumping together motorbikes and cyclists doesn’t help”. Tobster suggested “the speed limit bit is obviously clumsily worded and only applies to the motorcyclists”.
HoldingOn commented: “I’ve read this a few times now. Must still be reading it wrong. It reads like a police force are saying cyclists cause accidents by cycling too fast. That can’t be right. Reading it again.”
Some with experience of riding in the area did however express gratitude for the efforts on the motorcyclist front, S13SFC saying: “I ride in The Peaks a lot and well done to Derbyshire OB for doing something about the motorbikes. The speed cameras over the Cat and Fiddle have certainly made a difference but on a nice weekend some roads are like the Isle Of Man TTs.”
I ride in The Peaks an awful lot and anything that helps reign in the motorbikes is welcome.
— Staffordshire Rouleur (@Flahute66) April 20, 2023
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Ds2025: where they are going wrong is that they are crushing the motorbike rather than the person sat on top of it. If they did the latter this issue would be solved in less than 24 hours.
I came this way today with the car boot sale in operation. There was a marshal at the entrance, who stopped a car turning right across the cycleway as I was approaching. So that certainly works. I think it necessary for the marshal to be there, I couldn't say if the driver would have turned if he hadn't been there but you always have to suspect the worst. Unfortunately there is no marshal at the exit, and there was certainly a car stopped across the cycleway as I was approaching it. But he pulled onto the road before I reached it, and the following car stayed off the cycleway as I went through. Ideally there should have been a marshal there too. On the whole, though, it's a really high standard piece of infrastructure. Just a pity it doesn't extend a bit further.
“absolute carnage” So right! Just look at the bodies piled up, blood running in the gutters and injured people limping away. It's a bit of a problem with a road, delaying some people for minutes at a time: it isn't carnage, let alone 'absolute carnage'. Anyone who exaggerates so ridiculously really shouldn't be allowed to comment in public, unless they want to demonstrate their idiocy to all and sundry.
I'm criticising them for not riding in secondary position, not primary. At least 60cms (2 feet) from the edge of the road as the HC explicitly recommends. Leaving aside the small minority of riders who find mounting and dismounting a bike difficult - which sounds suspiciously similar to the motorists "but, but what about disabled drivers?" when talking about LTNs - what's wrong with able bodied riders walking the few metres over that narrow, Victorian bridge? Sure, if there's clearly no-one on it I wouldn't condemn anyone for riding it slowly, but if it's not clear forcing pedestrians to stop and squeeze to the side is, frankly, a rather entitled opinion. Plus it's easy to hold a road bike a little ahead of you and hold the saddle - normally no need to hold the bars if it's straight - so you're really not taking up much more room at all. There's a railway underpass near me that links to a shared then segregated path. It's narrow, and the path approaches at an angle so you can't see if it's clear, but many riders still choose to pedal through despite the clear 'no cycling' signage. Why?? Personally I don't go that way, except on foot, preferring the surrounding roads.
I think you're giving drivers too much credit. Many would not think twice about blocking the road if it makes their life easier, such as when turning right onto a busy road.
They might have to, but they won't. What they will do is pull out over the cycle path while they wait for a gap in motor traffic.
"We have enough regulation." I agree with the exception being legally allowed to sell something which is virtually illegal to use. How many purchasers own a suitably large piece of private land?
@jackcycles I'm not sure my grandchildren got that memo. Cycling should not be just for hardened road warriors.
Chrisonabike There are a number of police forces in England and Wales that are using portable testing equipment already... How effective it is another matter, I haven't looked into the results of failing (I would hope they just seize and crush the motorbike without any faff but I am sure there are appeal processes, promises not to use them on public roads etc).
Woah there - a precision-engineered European-made product, with unparalleled adaptability, is somehow a ‘rip off’? Compared to what - Temu? As per the article, most quality through-axles go for £50-60+, but aren’t adaptable and don’t provide any stand or trailer capability. If you want to balance your £3-4-5k suspension or carbon bike, or bikepacking setup on a budget product subject to highly focused stresses, fair play. Cycling’s a broad church.
25 thoughts on “Cyclists react to “clumsily worded” police campaign targeting dangerous riding; Warning over speeding drivers using Cycle Show venue as race track; Very shiny (and likely very pricey) aero derailleur cage; Cookson’s cojones + more on the live blog”
“[…]Ally Pally is
“[…]Ally Pally is responsible in a big way. It’s a private road, they could set a speed limit of 5mph if they wanted, or a bus gate would be a good option, or at the very least speed cameras.“
I’m no lawyer, but my understanding is that precisely because it’s a private road, Ally Pally have no power to enforce any such restrictions. They could put up speed limit signs and even cameras, but those would have no weight in law and Ally Pally could not issue fines, or even pass information on to the police. They could potentially report drivers for careless/dangerous driving (as those offences can be committed in any public place, not just a public highway) but not speeding per se.
Other infractions of privately imposed rules would be civil torts, and I suspect Ally Pally would struggle to enforce them. Possibly if there are a small number of problem drivers, they could get a court injunction against those individuals?
Wouldn’t as a private road
Wouldn’t as a private road the owners be able to take them to court for trespass and report the drivers for criminal damage if they are parking on the grass etc.
Also as a private road, it could be gated / locked off when not in use. If there are buses using it then yes a bus gate would be a good idea. How about speed bumps to stop speeding / cruising? Those cars are usually lowered and I am sure they wouldn’t want to damage their pride and joy across multiple speed bumps.
It would be trespass, but
It would be trespass, but trespass is a civil tort. Where there is quantifiable damage, such as to the grass, then yes potentially they could seek to claim damages through the courts for that. But even then, the damage from any one car is likely to be pretty trivial. For simply driving on the road, the damages are likely to be even smaller/harder to quantify.
Criminal damage may be another option – but I find it hard to imagine the police taking a bit of damage to grass very seriously.
Indeed – it being a private
Indeed – it being a private road means they can set and enforce any rules they want for people accessing their property. Effectively anyone accessing the property does so on license from the owner and that license can be subject to any conditions they wish including bans and fines for people that don’t follow the terms of that licence. Now enforcement would ultimately be a contractual matter and they would need to go to court and may be difficult (although nothing stopping them calling the cops on the drivers as trespassers), but, as others have said, there are plenty of ways to solve this problem.
Carior wrote:
I was under the impression that trespass was another crime which has been effectively decriminalised…
The police might turn up, to take a statement, three or four days later.
Trespass is not a crime and
Trespass is not a crime and the police generally won’t get involved – it is a civil tort. Occassionally the police will attend if they feel the situation requires their attendance in order to keep the peace – but the trespass itself is not their problem. There are separate laws for aggrevated trespass, or trespass on protected sites.
And whilst they can set whatever rules they want, they can’t “enforce” them. Any conditions set by the landowner would fall under the Consumer Rights Act that requires terms to be “fair”. This has most extensively been tested in courts through private parking charges, and whilst the latest ruling (Parking Eye vs Beavis) establishes that charges above and beyond quantifiable damages may be considered “fair” when they are proportional and serve a legitimate aim, it is still not legal to demand whatever charge you happen stick on a sign.
But being a private road,
But being a private road, they could put in some sharp speed humps which would stop the speeding (just in the middle so cars can’t avoid but bikes can go round them).
The local Authority could
The local Authority could easily put restrictions at either end of the road that goes through Alexandra Palace. It would stop the racing and the rat running. The area around Palace Gates has been campaigning for an LTN for about 20 years (seriously). I used to own an apartment in the area and also was part of the campaign. The campaign is still on going. A form of LTN was / is supported by the local Cllrs, the local MP, the Residents Association and even the Police gave support. But Harringay Council prioritise through traffic.
Is The Cycle Show worth going
Is The Cycle Show worth going to?
Not imo
Not imo 🙂
I went to a couple when they
I went to a couple when they were at NEC Birmingham. The first one was really good, got to speak to some really interesting people on stands (a lot of businesses use their production/ QA/ development teams on the stands), but the second year I went there was less to see.
Probably 10 years since I’ve
Probably 10 years since I’ve been, when all the Di2 stuff was developing so it was interesting for that.
At the moment there are developments on off road and e-bikes so there may be some interesting products around. But the big brands stopped going. With the downturn they might be more enthused.
Last time went it was in a couple of small sheds and only took an hour or so to get round the good bits. No displays or talks that inspired me to see them.
Highway Code.
Highway Code.
“Annex 4 – The road user and the law”
[snip]
“Most of the provisions apply on all roads throughout Great Britain, although there are some exceptions. The definition of a road in England and Wales is ‘any highway and any other road to which the public has access and includes bridges over which a road passes’ (RTA 1988 sect 192(1)).”
I had a Claud Butler “Elite”
deleted
Bit of fake news here
Bit of fake news here
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-65334987
As we all know, it’s impossible to move a fridge unless you have a car !
Hirsute wrote:
Mrs HawkinsPeter hates it when I drop an ice cube and rather than picking it up, I just kick it underneath the fridge-freezer. Still, it’s all just water under the fridge now.
Hirsute wrote:
Tony Hawks went all round Ireland with his.
…on a skateboard.
…on a skateboard.
NotNigel wrote:
Even though I knew you were joking, I did have to just google to make sure I’d got my Hawk/Hawks the right way round…
In all honesty I had to check
In all honesty I had to check that skateboarder Tony Hawk hadn’t done a tour round Ireland with a fridge.
Hirsute wrote:
Definitely fake – a Royal Marine doesn’t need a fridge, as they can live off roadkill, so no refrigeration required…
I don’t the UK cycling scene
I don’t the UK cycling scene is as rosy as Lizzie remembers it.
We had far better things to
We had far better things to do out of hours at the Ally Pally in the 70’s. The only race we had was getting my girlfriend home before the milkman woke her mother up! Youth today…. clueless!
In the interests of balance
In the interests of balance and proportionality – I ride up and down AP frequently and have never seen cars racing on it. Is it a late night thing maybe? Really wouldn’t let this put you off if you’re just planning on toodling up there on your bike during the day for the show. Just enjoy the two great climbs/descents and the ace view from the top!
If anyone thinks carrying
If anyone thinks carrying 140kg of dense concrete blocks on a bike is sensible, particularly THAT trailer, please keep off the roads.
His next tweet that was ommited;
“About 140kg, a bit over the recommended payload (although there isn’t actually a recommended payload limit for non-axle mounting AFAIK). The motor was entirely inadequate, you’d not easily be able to happily employ someone to do this IMO”
FFS