Bizarre bike bollard leaves bicyclists bewildered; UCI president insists Pogacar’s Tour de France tests are clean; Naked cyclist cheerfully greeting walkers spotted; Film crew blocks Hyde Park cycle lane; Ineos end Castelli deal + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
The Royal Car Parks: Hyde Park cycle lane blocked by film crew
When did the North Carriage Drive cycle lane become a car park, @theroyalparks @MPSRoyal_Parks ? pic.twitter.com/dekJQtZmSl
— George Morgan (@theGeorgeMorgan) July 19, 2021
Commuters and other riders going about their business in Hyde Park yesterday were met with a peculiar scene in the North Carriage Drive cycle lane. Had it quietly been turned into a car park?
The Royal Parks got in touch to say it is for one day only and the bike lane blockers are filming in the park so needed somewhere to leave their vehicles. One Twitter user has questioned why, if it is for one day only, he saw the crew parked there on Sunday too. Another claimed they had been there all last week…
Others simply wanted to know why the cycle lane is the first choice spot when they could have used, I don’t know, Hyde Park’s car park instead? The London Cycling Campaign also pointed out we could all use the picture to answer the minority of angry people who demand to know why cyclists can’t ‘just use the park’…
Thousands rely on this safe route to get to work by bike
Closed without warning or signage and used for lorry and car storage…
— George Morgan (@theGeorgeMorgan) July 19, 2021
so it’s ok that a “safe” cycling route is closed for some filming ?
Why not use the Parks ample car park ?— cycleoptic💙💚 (@cycleoptic) July 19, 2021
What's it like to ride the Tour? Hectic, dangerous and fast...Velon releases the best of its on-bike footage from the Tour de France
Strap yourself in and watch the most dramatic, thrilling and funniest footage our on-bike cameras captured during the 2021 Tour de France 🎥
See the full video: https://t.co/8p8lnmD7hh
___________#TDF2021 #TourdeFrance pic.twitter.com/0P8jo08Y9U— Velon CC (@VelonCC) July 19, 2021
Lots of crashes, shouts, questionable manoeuvers, barging and speed. And that’s just the sprint stages…Velon’s cameras picked up plenty of unseen moments from the Tour de France, including Cav’s determination to stick to leadout man Michael Mørkøv’s wheel. You wouldn’t want to get between the Manx Missile and Mørkøv – that’s for sure.
Jakob Fuglsang blames second Covid vaccine for anonymous Tour de France performance
Jakob Fuglsang suggested his second Covid vaccine could be the reason for his poor form at the Tour de France. The Dane was largely missing from the action in France and didn’t break the top 20 once. However, Fuglsang believes his second jab might be the reason. Having finished third at Tour de Suisse behind Richard Carapaz and Rigoberto Uran, Fuglsang had his second vaccine and saw his training numbers drop to where they were in December.
“The only explanation that we can find is that I had my second COVID vaccination after the Tour de Suisse and that it’s limiting me and my body is still working on it. I got my first shot after the Classics and I did tests at a Tenerife training camp and I had high lactate for my power and in Switzerland I was good,” Fuglsang told Cyclingnews.
“Then I got the second shot and a second test in the race showed the same results that I had in Tenerife, that my numbers are basically where they are in December or even worse. That’s just how it is but at some point, it will go away and that’s what we’re waiting for.
““My general feeling is okay. I don’t feel that bad but I can’t push myself to my limit. I feel limited that I’m not able to push my body like I normally I can. That’s meant that I’ve not destroyed myself and I don’t feel as tired.”
The Astana rider is in the final year of his contract with the Kazakh team and says he hopes his body may show signs of improvement before the Olympic Games road race on Saturday.
Did any of you lot feel worse on the bike after your vaccination? If so, what happened and how long did it last?
The Royal Parks addresses the Royal Car Park
The Royal Parks were quick to give an explanation for the blocked cycle lane in Hyde Park yesterday. Replying to our Tweet, they said it was the film unit’s fault for ignoring instructions…
a couple of drivers from the film unit disregarded instructions and parked in the wrong place yesterday, having left the cycle lane clear every other day of their tenure. Thanks to @theGeorgeMorgan for flagging and @cycleoptic for following up, the help is always appreciated.
— The Royal Parks (@theroyalparks) July 20, 2021
Mark Cavendish congratulated on Tour de France wins by Gareth Southgate and Jordan Henderson
It’s coming home was only ever about the green jersey, right? England manager Gareth Southgate and Jordan Henderson were two of the famous faces to pop up in this video celebrating Cav’s Tour de France comeback. At the end of the vid, Southgate says: “I just wanted to send congratulations on behalf of myself and all of the England team. Phenomenal achievement. I’m a big fan of everything you’ve done and loved watching you ride over the years. Congratulations.”
Jordan Henderson’s a fan too and from the sounds of his message he’s even done a bit of training with the Manx Missile…
“Huge congratulations, mate. I’m so happy for you, you deserve everything you get. You’re a top person and to see you making history was an unbelievable achievement. Enjoy it with your family and it’s nice to know I’ve played a very small part with them tough sessions on the bike during lockdown…”
Ineos Grenadiers move on from Castelli: All team kit to be supplied by Bioracer
After five successful seasons, 2021 will be the final year of the partnership between INEOS Grenadiers and @CastelliCycling.
From 2022 the team will race in @bioracer kit as part of a new exciting Performance Apparel partnership.https://t.co/bIjg8yAPLt pic.twitter.com/mHcGb7TNM9
— INEOS Grenadiers (@INEOSGrenadiers) July 20, 2021
Ineos Grenadiers and Castelli are to part ways at the end of 2021 after five years working together. The team has won three Tour de France titles and three Giro d’Italia in that time. Castelli thanked the team, saying nearly every product in its pro range has improved thanks to the team’s research and feedback, becoming more aerodynamic, lighter and more protective.
The manufacturer also boasts the highlight of the partnership was making a TT suit so fast it forced the UCI to change its rules…Ineos are moving on to Bioracer, a Belgian company that specialises in custom-fit kit and has worked with Dimension Data and Team DSM.
Naked man cheerfully greeting walkers spotted cycling along Liverpool & Leeds Canal
A naked cyclist, who is apparently a regular sight during spells of hot weather, was spotted riding his bike along the Liverpool & Leeds Canal near Melling in Merseyside. Police confirmed they received a reported sighting on July 18 after a member of the public said they had seen the man at around 7.20pm.
According to the Liverpool Echo the sighting was shared in a local Facebook group where one walker posted: “Please tell me I’m not the only one who saw this….a man in his late 50s-ish riding his bike along the canal this morning completely naked!”
Many other locals then commented to say the man is a regular fixture during hot weather…One said the man, thought to be around the age of 70, is “well known”, while another said he’d been seen a few times.
One woman said the mystery man “wishes you a cheery ‘hello’ like it’s perfectly normal.” The post prompted a discussion, with some seeing no harm in the man’s actions, whereas others were alarmed and pointed out the route is popular with families…
One woman commented: “Hang on, if you walked along the canal and exposed yourself to people it would be an offence, what’s the difference?”
Another added: “I certainly would feel intimidated and uncomfortable if I seen him and if I had young kids even more so. Old man naked! All jokes aside, this is not right it’s indecent exposure.”
Yesterday on the live blog, after the Tour de France peloton got flashed by a speed camera in Paris…we took a trip down memory lane to the time a cyclist in Germany was flashed flashing a speed camera, as he rode past stark naked at 46km/h…It’s a weird world…
Tokyo mugshots...someone get Geraint Thomas to his hotel room ASAP
Having a blast with the pictures taken to cyclists for the Olympics. Here you can see Mike Woods being the living representation of jet-lag. pic.twitter.com/McVwSfgimc
— Cycling out of context (@OutOfCycling) July 20, 2021
How many of these were taken after a 12-hour flight? Most of them by the looks of things…
Eddie Dunbar was not in the mood for any picture that day and he couldn’t care less. pic.twitter.com/F2wnCnmpGH
— Cycling out of context (@OutOfCycling) July 20, 2021
Geraint Thomas literally just woke up from a three hours nap. pic.twitter.com/jcwcmm8fRM
— Cycling out of context (@OutOfCycling) July 20, 2021
Ah well, at least we can rely on Tadej to look fresh-faced at all times…
Pogacar is the first cyclist to ever win Tour de France while still being a teenager. pic.twitter.com/57xD2wdsfq
— Cycling out of context (@OutOfCycling) July 20, 2021
Good vibes commuter thread
So how did I get here? While I was a student, I was looking to get some exercise and hated running 🏃♀️ so got a second hand road bike 🚴🏻 and gave some short rides a try (5 miles ish). I found that it was great for my mental and physical health, to get out occasionally on my 🚲
— Charlotte Baker (@charlie_baker23) July 19, 2021
A lot of people talk about needing to keep ‘leisure’ or Lycra-clad ‘sport’ cyclists away from ‘commuter’ or ‘transport’ cyclists in peoples minds. But getting fit for leisure cycling gave me the ability and confidence to now use my bike as my primary transport. pic.twitter.com/oj1CWhPOJS
— Charlotte Baker (@charlie_baker23) July 19, 2021
Cav undecided on 2022 Tour de France participation
Now, we’re pretty sure these are the thoughts of a man just finished with a gruelling three week trip around France and that in a couple of months he’ll have the Tour bug again…however, Mark Cavendish has told Sky Sports he is still undecided on whether he’ll compete at the race in 2022.
“We’ll have to see,” Cavendish told Sky Sports News on Monday. “I just finished the race yesterday, and normally after the Tour de France every year that I’ve done it I’ve been like ‘I don’t know if I can do that again’ but a few days later you miss the buzz of it.
“It’s different to any other bike race and you look forward to the next year but we’ll have to see at the minute. I just want to spend some time with my family, I’m racing in a few weeks so I’d like to take a few days off and we’ll see what the future holds.”
With Sam Bennett set to leave the team and Fabio Jakobsen still taking small steps on his comeback, you might expect Cav to be a sure thing for 2022. However, the Manxman is also out of contract at the end of the year and is yet to sign an extension with the team, something Patrick Lefevere has admitted will be much more costly than his current deal.
Will it be 34 and done for Cav? Will he break the record? Will he still be at Quick-Step in 2022? A lot of questions we’d like to ask…just not to Cav’s face…
Dylan Groenewegen wins first race since returning to professional cycling
Victoire de @GroenewegenD @JumboVismaRoad !!! Le Néerlandais endossera le maillot de leader 👍💪 pic.twitter.com/seLbHrXZvh
— Tour de Wallonie & GP Wallonie (@tourdewallonie) July 20, 2021
Dylan Groenewegen has won his first race since returning to the sport following a nine-month suspension for his role in Fabio Jakobsen’s crash at the Tour of Poland just over a year ago. The Dutchman beat Hugo Hofstetter on stage one of Tour de Wallonie to take his first win since February 2020. Groenewegen returned to the sport at the Giro d’Italia but despite four top tens left the race before the second rest day without a win. Jakobsen is also competing at the race in Belgium this week but did not challenge for the stage.
First look at the Tour of Britain route
Introducing the 2021 Tour of Britain 🇬🇧 route!
▪ Carmarthenshire team time trial on stage three
▪ Great Orme, Llandudno to host hill-top finish
▪ Carlisle announced as stage six start venue
▪ World-famous finishing locations in Gateshead and Edinburgh#TourOfBritain 🔴🔵⚪— Tour of Britain 🇬🇧 (@TourofBritain) July 20, 2021
Tadej Pogacar's drug tests and bike x-rays are clean, says UCI president David Lappartient
UCI president David Lappartient today insisted that Tadej Pogacar’s drug tests and bike x-rays during his Tour de France defence were clean. Lappartient said he has “no reason to have doubts” about the 22-year-old’s performance. Speaking to the Guardian, Lappartient said: “I have the pictures of Pogacar’s bike and everything is clean, regarding the results of the X-ray machine. As UCI president I trust the international [anti-doping] testing agency in Lausanne.
“The only limit is the capacity of the lab themselves to detect – in all sports – some substances. We have a very solid and robust testing programme in cycling for both anti-doping and technological fraud and there is no reason to have doubts. However, zero risk doesn’t exist.”
Pogacar faced repeated questions about his performance levels as he stormed to a second Tour de France title in under a year, winning three stages on the way. He revealed he had been tested as many as three times a day during the Tour.
“I’m not angry,” Pogacar said when asked about those who doubt him. “They are uncomfortable questions because the history of cycling was really bad. I totally understand why there are all of these questions. I didn’t prepare anything for those kind of questions. I just like to ride my bike and what comes with it comes with it, I’ll deal with it. I’m a good kid with a good education, I’m not one to take shortcuts.”
Bollards and bikes, together at last... but we have questions
And people think we don’t love cyclists!!?#WorldBollardAssociation pic.twitter.com/J54sXAWDHA
— World Bollard Association™ (@WorldBollard) July 20, 2021
The very important World Bollard Association has attempted to shore up its relationship with cyclists by sharing this image of a bollard that doubles up as a bike stand/lock of some sort. Even so, the design looks to be a bit questionable…
That’s such an expensive way of making something really bad. How do you fit a lock? How do you secure the frame? How does the wheel not bend if someone knocks into the back of the bike? How does it work for non-standard cycles?
— Finlay Knops-Mckim 🚲 (@FinKnopsMckim) July 20, 2021
“How do you fit a lock? How do you secure the frame?” asks Finlay Knops-Mckim, while Gabriel Bienzobas said: “It does look nice, but it is useless.” Matthew in North London simply added: “Bollard off”
For more examples of alliteration using the letter B on road.cc, see this article.
20 July 2021, 07:58
20 July 2021, 07:58
20 July 2021, 07:58
20 July 2021, 07:58
20 July 2021, 07:58
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Latest Comments
Thanks, just going to have to suck it up. Got next week off and will take the easy, if expensive option...
@ktache Just go for the TNT Sports only package, £30.99 for a month. Alternatively have you considered experimenting with a VPN for a few pounds, allowing you to sign up for a free stream abroad, e.g. SBS Australia which streams the Tour live? If I didn't have a kind mate's login that's what I'd do!
So, it's now the month of July and I'm going to have to pay to watch the TdF, for one month only. On a tablet unfortunately, as I didn't manage to get a laptop to rig up to the TV, grrr. Just wondering, what package will I have to fork out for? Not wanting to pay for the wrong one...
Not that it sounds like a dealbreaker given the other faults you've identified, but that cable isn't really a "proprietary" cable, four pin magnetic cables like that are quite common on bone-conducting headphones and other devices (my inexpensive smartwatch uses one) and they can be had for £4.99 on UK Amazon.
There was never really anything to say about le col kit. Most of it was alright. Some of it was poorly designed/made. Trying to position yourself as a Rapha competitor whilst always offering 40% or more off doesn't scream premium though.
Up next in the MucOff product line; for when the cassette won't budge, (chain)whip-it!
(Plus I'm pretty certain TDF team leaders don't drive themselves to the start nor bring their own bicycles)
@MaxiMinimalist Absolutely, and there is not one inch of middle ground between cycling there and using an incredibly selfish and wasteful supercar, is there? Fortunately I suspect the whole thing is AI, as the footage on his Instagram shows the numberplate GT3...
That Dogma colour scheme...Don't hate it - but reminds my of the Orange Clorkwork I had in '95!
41 thoughts on “Bizarre bike bollard leaves bicyclists bewildered; UCI president insists Pogacar’s Tour de France tests are clean; Naked cyclist cheerfully greeting walkers spotted; Film crew blocks Hyde Park cycle lane; Ineos end Castelli deal + more on the live blog”
Snappily removing any doubt
Snappily removing any doubt about the approach of the Royal Parks management to cyclists; you’re not welcome and anyone, literally anyone has priority over you. As for your safety, well, if you chose to ride a bike it’s your problem, and don’t blame us if we chose to close the cycle lanes rather than get the film crew to use the car park.
Just be grateful it’s only for a day* we could make it permanent by making it a car park.
Surely the management, I use the term in the English sense i.e. incompetent verging on dangerous, should explain why the car park couldn’t be used, why the cycle route had to be used and why no notice was given or diversions arranged.
*A flexible term, meaning some time between a day or a week or maybe a month, depending on how many cyclists get wound up about it.
Indeed there are plenty of
Indeed there are plenty of other paths through the park which could have allowed cyclng while this route was closed.
“The Royal Parks got in touch
“The Royal Parks got in touch to say it is for one day only” – that’s just your basic lying right there, there have been lineups of trucks like that on that stretch at least half-a-dozen times in the last twelve months and that’s just to my knowledge, and it’s not a route I use that regularly.
Rendel Harris wrote:
Having used that route daily for over a year a couple of years ago… lorries parked there seemed to be a semi-permanent feature.
ChrisB200SX wrote:
— ChrisB200SXHave you reported them to the Park management and the police?
Rendel Harris wrote:
Have you reported them to the Park management and the police?
eburtthebike wrote:
Have you reported them to the Park management and the police?
[/quote]
It’s always film companies and they have Parks Police and RP staff there directing matters, so I don’t think that would have much effect!
Rendel Harris wrote:
It’s always film companies and they have Parks Police and RP staff there directing matters, so I don’t think that would have much effect!
[/quote]You don’t know until you try! And until someone complains, they can say that it isn’t a problem because no-one has complained.
eburtthebike wrote:
You don’t know until you try! And until someone complains, they can say that it isn’t a problem because no-one has complained.
[/quote]
Call me old Mr Pessimistic, and I’m as fond of making a complaint as the next man, but I get the feeling that making a complaint to a notoriously anti-cycling organisation about something said organisation has approved and facilitates using its own staff and police force isn’t actually going to get me very far.
Should we really be surprised
Should we really be surprised? It’s almost the default setting – cycling, and cyclists aren’t important – even in a park, which should be a place of leisure away from the madness of the city streets.
That somebody had to tell them there was an issue says it all. Will we ever get to the point when a cycle sign on the road will be repsected?
Velophaart_95 wrote:
People will quite happily park their vans/cars/ambulances/delivery-trucks on a shared-use path (completely blocking it and forcing cyclists onto a busy main road) instead of parking on the main road and holding up motor traffic.
Or is that just the one on my commute?
Perhaps that policeman so
Perhaps that policeman so concerned about a cyclist exceeding the speed limit by 4mph could have better spent their time booking that lot for obstructing the highway? After all, that would actually be doing their job of protecting the public.
eburtthebike wrote:
Exactly. Didn’t the policeman say that their being all jobsworthy was for the cyclist’s safety? So, presumably moving on vehicles illegally parked in the cycle lane would be for cyclists’ safety? Or is it not illegal to park in a Royal Park cycle lane because of bylaw 12345/689/9A?
Interesting story which I
Interesting story which I missed in the Telegraph a couple of days ago, on ending the “exceptional hardship” defence for drivers.
In the article, top lawyer Nick Freeman argues that the system is being exploited, with drivers committing multiple offences all over the shop, bundling them together, and getting off with it in a single magistrate hearing.
“It is a loophole that is borne out of poorly drafted legislation. It was never the intention of parliament and it is being exploited by lawyers. I have been arguing for years that this is something that ought to be addressed.”, said Mr Freeman.
According to the Telegraph, in 2020, 4,364 motorists were allowed to stay on the roads despite having enough points to get banned. The “exceptional hardship” argument is entirely open to interpretation, borne out of discretion, with no examples of what “exceptional hardship” means, or can be defined as.
I’m behind Nick in getting this bad legislation overturned.
Nige using reference to
Nige using reference to notorious lawyer to generate a response.
New name, same tactic.
I’m using his name because it
I’m using his name because it was him mentioned in the article — happy if no one replies as it was for information only. I think it’s a positive story for change in driving laws, as “exceptional hardship” is clearly being abused by thousands.
Nick Freeman has often been cited here as wanting loophole laws to generate business, but this clearly shows he’s interested in good laws more than he is about revenue. So it was completely appropriate to mention his name.
TT danger wrote:
Has he changed his name by deed poll to “top lawyer nick freeman” because I’m sure that description has only ever been used by Nigel Garage of this place and maybe Nick Freeman himself.
nigel garrage -> you are all
nigel garrage -> you are all cyber bullies -> TT danger
all the same person. They did say that they had left the forum but changed their name and came back. “server issues” were claimed for name changes so maybe they should change it back to nigel garrage so everyone is clear who they are responding to.
Sounds more like he has this
Sounds more like he has this one of his many appearance / newspaper column fee topics. He was paid to write the EXACT SAME thing by the Heil a few years ago. For someone who is into law, I’m just wondering how the courts and Police work to put multiple driving offences over several months all under one charge. How many times has he been paid to do just that if it is a common thing?
AlsoSomniloquism wrote:
As I’m sure you are aware, tackling legislation thru 2020 was stymied by arguments about Brexit and then recently Covid. Today seems like a good time to re-raise the issue
I’ve read a few of your
I’ve read a few of your latest posts.
I think someone needs to tell the real TT Danger (or whatever they’re calling themselves right now) that their account has been hacked…
It is part of the pattern.
It is part of the pattern. Once he gets right to the bottom he makes a couple of more reasonable posts to try to regain some credibility then he quickly returns to normal service.
The pattern is obvious and tiresome.
Yep, it must be pretty sad to
Yep, it must be pretty sad to crave attention so much you have to be deliberately provocative to bait strangers on the internet into responding to you. Clearly nobody met face to face has any tolerance for whoever this person masquerading as several people is.
On this, I agree. Except for
On this, I agree. Except for the ‘top lawyer’ part. Are you hoping that by referring to yourself with the prefix ‘top lawyer’ that it will become normalised?
The way the climate is going
The way the climate is going we might see more people cycling without clothing.
Maybe with a hiviz vest and a lid to keep drivers happy.
cdamian wrote:
As long as he keeps control of his bicycle, I don’t mind: nobody wants to see his skid marks.
Gotta love the british. The
Gotta love the british. The politicians can lie, cheat, deport people & murder grannies with impunity but the risk of seeing a 70 year olds todger whilst he’s out for a bike ride has them up in arms. No wonder the country’s f*cked.
cdamian wrote:
time to market the bike lid ice mould
Well done Northumbria Police
Well done Northumbria Police
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/terrifying-head-cam-footage-exposed-21095956
Quote:
My understanding was that being naked in a public place is not of itself an offence (and being naked while riding a bike is certainly not the same as “exposing yourself” IMO).
You have to be intending to cause offence, for it to become an offence. Or not cover up if someone complains.
(no – I haven’t done a naked bike ride, or been naked in public).
CPS have a useful page: https
CPS have a useful page: https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/nudity-public-guidance-handling-cases-naturism
OnYerBike wrote:
This would seem to apply to this case:
So it depends on whether any members were distressed
I don’t think the evidence
I don’t think the evidence would stand up in court!
Bentrider wrote:
I should have seen that joke coming
Oh, don’t be too hard on
Oh, don’t be too hard on yourself!
From College of Policing on
From College of Policing on report of public nudity:
Passive behaviours in public: sunbathing, walking, cycling, swimming, gardening, home maintenance, etc.
Did any of you lot feel worse
Did any of you lot feel worse on the bike after your vaccination? If so, what happened and how long did it last?
I had two pfizer jabs and exactly the same sequence of symptoms both times.
On the day I got extremely fatigued on returning from the vaccine site a journey of 10 miles that I usually do easily.
Great difficulty staying awake for the afternoon afterwards but better by late evening.
Then I got better in the days afterwards and thought it was all over.
The fatigue came back about 2 to 3 weeks after each jab, was bad for two to three days, then got quickly better again.
I think there may be some strange results in the Olympics depending on how athletes react to vaccines and when they had them.
I saw no ill effects from my
I saw no ill effects from my first Astra Zeneca jab, but the second one knocked me back for a good week – higher resting heart rate, lower FTP, sleeping longer. Took it easy and all good now, 6 weeks later.
I had the AZ vaccine, and
I had the AZ vaccine, and approx 8 hours after the first one I started bad shivers and my heart rate went up. Felt lethargic for a few days, so didn’t bother riding.
Had my 2nd jab on Sunday, and today and Monday have felt similarly listless/lethargic.
World Bollard Association?
World Bollard Association? The design is exactly as good as I would expect from the world’s biggest group of bollards.
They must’ve seen the naked
They must’ve seen the naked man riding a bike, because that’s the image I see now ?