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New bike day turns into £2,000 Brexit nightmare for British cyclist; Another helmet debate; M40 cyclist warned; Shimano poetry; How to avoid saddle sores in 1895; THOSE white shorts; Wiggo predicts Ineos success; Halifax-Roubaix; + more on the live blog

It's the start of a new week and Dan Alexander will be getting you through Monday on the live blog...
22 March 2021, 13:46
Cyclist recalls nightmare of being told to pay £2,000 duty on new £5,000 bike from Poland
Brexit Flickr Creative Commons

Shocker of a letter in today's Guardian from a cyclist who bought a new £5,000 bike over Christmas. The bike was initially returned to the sender due to the border chaos before being re-sent on 12 January. Here's where the fun starts...UPS told the cyclist in early February that there was more than £2,000 duty and taxes to be paid...When the cyclist refused, UPS insisted there was still a £1,500 duty to be paid to return the bike to Poland...

Consumer issues and financial journalist, Miles Brignall, understatedly noted it was "perhaps a little rash spending £5,00 on a bike three days before the Brexit deadline". Some further digging and contact with the courier found that the cyclist would only need to pay an extra £1,000 to get the new purchase to their front door...

Brignall's explanation of what happened follows: "What a nightmare – not helped by the fact that the government changed the rules after you made the purchase. In early January it stated that duty and VAT, which is what you have been asked for, was only payable on items that were bought from 1 January onwards. HMRC told me this week that items despatched after that were subject to the taxes, hence the bill."

Have a read of our story on Brexit and the bike industry: how the situation is evolving...

22 March 2021, 16:47
Cyclist given words of advice after being seen riding on the M40 hard shoulder
M40 cyclist (Highways England)

Another weekend with a motorway cyclist incident. This week it was on the M40 northbound between junction 1a for the M25 and junction 2 for Beaconsfield. The cyclist was seen just before 6pm yesterday evening. Highways England said: "Thames Valley Police Roads Policing have stopped the cyclist in his tracks, speaking with the cyclist and giving him words of advice about using the strategic road network for cycling."

Earlier this month, a cyclist riding on the M62 in West Yorkshire was pictured riding past a sign...warning of a cyclist on the motorway.

22 March 2021, 16:07
Surprise win for 22-year-old Andreas Kron on stage one of Volta a Catalunya

A group of four survived to the finish on a typically lumpy opening stage of the Volta a Catalunya. From that group Lotto Soudal's Andreas Kron managed to beat Luis León Sánchez, Rémy Rochas and Lennard Kämna in the sprint. Kämna and Sánchez should be happy with their 16-second advantage over the main group of riders ahead of tomorrow's individual time trial.

Back in the peloton, Team BikeExchange's Dion Smith took 5th ahead of Matej Mohorič. There was also a return to the pointy end of a bike race for Movistar veteran Alejandro Valverde who was 8th. 

Tuesday's TT should have a big impact on who wins the race overall, with the riders taking on a rolling 18km course around Banyoles.

22 March 2021, 15:24
Your thoughts on the main debate today over helmets...

And in the comments here...Compact Corned Beef asked: "Can't we just all say personal choice in grave tones, then nod our collective heads, certain we've sagely avoided the obvious trap?"  

22 March 2021, 08:59
"Incredible" helmet stats spark debate about making riding without one illegal

The London Cycling Campaign's latest magazine featured some helmet statistics which have got people talking on Twitter. London has the highest helmet usage of the nine European capital cities researched at 60.9 per cent, in comparison in Amsterdam just 1.1 per cent of cyclists use them. What should we take from this? That helmets aren't necessary for riding your bike? 

Plenty of people taking the opportunity to suggest the opposite, that wearing a helmet while cycling should be made mandatory like in Australia where a crackdown on speeding cyclists saw 33 riders fined for riding without a helmet in Melbourne last week...

Research presented at the National Road Safety Conference in Telford in 2019 found that wearing a helmet may put cyclists at more risk of being injured in a road traffic collision. The researchers concluded that helmet use increased accident rate by more than 40 per cent.

Meanwhile, a 2015 study from Canada found no link between cycle helmet legislation and head injuries, and instead recommended governments focus on providing bike infrastructure to protect cyclists.

Thoughts?

22 March 2021, 14:41
Shimano celebrates their 100th anniversary with a bizarre poem
Shimano 100th anniversary poem

Of all the creative ways to mark your 100th anniversary...Shimano went for component-inspired poetry...After all, who hasn't been moved to poetic expression by the click of a perfectly indexed rear derailleur. There's also a timely reminder that Shimano make fishing gear. Presumably "with the click of each gear shift with each cast of a line" isn't an endorsement of a new cycle-fishing event...

Shimano are doing a giveaway of 2,000 fancy commemerative photobooks, minus the poetry, if that's your thing...

 

22 March 2021, 13:02
Paris-Roubaix in Halifax?

Paris-Roubaix looks increasingly likely to be called off as per our story this morning...What about a British equivalent? This looks more like Flanders than Roubaix with all those steep cobbled climbs but Peterborough to Halifax anyone?

22 March 2021, 12:11
Bradley Wiggins talks up Ineos Grenadiers' chances ahead of Volta a Catalunya
Ineos

Bradley Wiggins spoke about his former team on The Bradley Wiggins Show and talked up their chances of "doing something big" this week at the Volta a Catalunya. Wiggo said the team has settled into the season and now look ready to translate those positive early signs into results. 

"There's a feeling that they're going to do something big at the moment and I think it could be this week," he predicted. "Maybe not with G [Geraint Thomas], I'm not too sure where he's at. I get the feeling they're poised to do something, you get the sense that they mean business this week.

"I think this time next week we'll be looking at a performance. I think Yates will probably be the leader based on his form up to this point. He's ridden well at this race before and I don't think G will be concerned about needing to be the leader, there's plenty of time for that with what he's gunning for this year."

Ineos have taken an incredibly strong team to the week-long race including Adam Yates, Richard Carapaz, Geraint Thomas, Richie Porte, Rohan Dennis, Luke Rowe and Jonathan Castroviejo.

22 March 2021, 11:14
Poll time
 
White shorts?

👍
👎
 
 
 
 
 
 
Created with PollMaker
22 March 2021, 10:57
THOSE white shorts
Mathieu van der Poel white shorts (GCN+/Eurosport)

When there isn't much to talk about for the first six hours of Milan-San Remo, cycling fans spotting a potential fashion faux pas is about as entertaining as it gets. Mathieu van der Poel donned the white shorts again, along with matching leg warmers to the disgust of clothing snobs everywhere...

However, it probably wasn't a fashion statement from the Dutch champion. In 2019, he opted for white shorts at the Tour of Flanders to help his team car distinguish him from Luxembourg champion Bob Jungels in the helicopter pictures. Current Luxembourg champ, Kevin Geniets is having an impressive season and was regularly at the front of the pack alongside Van der Poel on Saturday so my best guess is it was another tactical kit choice...

That's my AC-12esque detective work done for the morning...Or perhaps he just likes white shorts...

22 March 2021, 10:35
How to alleviate saddle sores in 1895
1800s cycling (via Flickr Creative Commons)

Back in March 1895 The Manchester Guardian ran a weekly cycling column that recommended anti-friction paste and avoiding double-seated riding breaches as a nailed on bet for escaping the pain of saddle sores. It sounds like the origins of chamois cream to me...The author also recommended experimenting with the tilt of your saddle too...

And how about some Victorian wisdom on saddles in general. "The saddle that will exactly suit one man may be even as anathema to another"...

22 March 2021, 10:20
Home World Championships logo

The 2023 World Championships will see some huge changes to the event, most notably combining all 13 UCI World Championships together over 10 days for the first time. Glasgow will play host to thousands of athletes competing across the road, track, mountain bike, BMX, trials and indoor disciplines in what the governing body are calling the biggest cycling event in history.

Held in August too, a month earlier than usual, means we may see the newly crowned road race world champ showing off their stripes at the Vuelta...To mark the event, the UCI and design agency Stand have created a fun squiggly bicycle logo to "portray a sense of playfulness, inclusivity and positivity. A symbol of the event's lasting legacy for Scotland".

The UCI's Director General, Amina Lanaya said: "The event logo and visual identity we are unveiling today illustrates the excellence and universality of the UCI World Championships combined with the expertise, hospitality and vision of our hosts. This unique event will leave a lasting legacy in Scotland for generations to come and will make history for the UCI and our sport in all its forms – competition, leisure and transport."

UCI World Championships 2023 Glasgow logo

Dan is the road.cc news editor and has spent the past four years writing stories and features, as well as (hopefully) keeping you entertained on the live blog. Having previously written about nearly every other sport under the sun for the Express, and the weird and wonderful world of non-league football for the Non-League Paper, Dan joined road.cc in 2020. Come the weekend you'll find him labouring up a hill, probably with a mouth full of jelly babies, or making a bonk-induced trip to a south of England petrol station... in search of more jelly babies.

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31 comments

Avatar
Mark B | 3 years ago
0 likes

I wonder whether that cyclist on the M40 joined from the M25, or stayed on the M40 through that junction which would involve crossing several lanes of motorway traffic? Either way, that's not my idea of fun.

Normally when they stop someone cycling on the motorway, they're just going between junctions on the hard shoulder, which is probably safer than a lot of roads we do happily cycle on.

Best case is that he joined the M4 eastbound at Langley, kept left onto the M25 and then kept left again onto the M40, in which case it's surprising it took the police so long to get to him.

 

Avatar
GMBasix | 3 years ago
1 like

"Cyclist given words of advice after being seen riding on the M40 hard shoulder"

Just be careful overtaking on the inside.

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Captain Badger replied to GMBasix | 3 years ago
1 like
GMBasix wrote:

"Cyclist given words of advice after being seen riding on the M40 hard shoulder"

Just be careful overtaking on the inside.

And don't eat yellow snow...

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RoubaixCube | 3 years ago
1 like

Consumer issues and financial journalist, Miles Brignall, understatedly noted it was "perhaps a little rash spending £5,00 on a bike three days before the Brexit deadline".

Good Golly Miss Molly, a whole five notes on a bike from Poland???? That has to be an absolute steal!

Its a deal. Its a steal, Its the sale of the m************ century.

Depending what the bike is, It might actually be worth paying import duty.

toodlepip!

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Moist von Lipwig | 3 years ago
1 like
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Awavey replied to Moist von Lipwig | 3 years ago
0 likes

just following the Telegraphs lead at the weekend, again, weirdly Im sure if the Daily Mail had published as many as 30+ anti LTN article in 9 months, often written by the same journalist, there'd be more attention focussed on it, whilst it not only barely gets noticed in the Telegraph, but cycle campaigners actually encourage people to contribute when the Telegraph puts out requests for some help writing more of them.

 

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joe9090 | 3 years ago
2 likes

Why would you order a new expensive bike from Europe 3 minutes before Brexit? Insane!

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OnYerBike replied to joe9090 | 3 years ago
8 likes

On the other hand, if you are under the impression that orders before the deadline would not attract any additional fees, you might well decide to get the order in before then!

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Smiffi | 3 years ago
19 likes

So, the "incredible" new statistic is the entirely credible and previously reported statistic that the Netherlands has high bike usage, low helmet usage, and low accident rate whilst London is the reverse. 
How can anyone turn that around to making helmet usage compulsory (or have a missed something?)

Avatar
Captain Badger replied to Smiffi | 3 years ago
19 likes

Smiffi wrote:

So, the "incredible" new statistic is the entirely credible and previously reported statistic that the Netherlands has high bike usage, low helmet usage, and low accident rate whilst London is the reverse. 
How can anyone turn that around to making helmet usage compulsory (or have a missed something?)

No I don't think you've missed anything, you've pretty much summed it up

It's almost as if the people calling for it are people who know f*ck all about anything related to health or transport policy needs, and merely want to make things awkward for people who ride bikes...

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Awavey replied to Captain Badger | 3 years ago
4 likes

it was posted on twitter, what do you expect  1

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Captain Badger replied to Awavey | 3 years ago
8 likes

Awavey wrote:

it was posted on twitter, what do you expect  1

A high standard of journalistic integrity, observance of the facts,  and posters applying rigorous self-scrutiny as to the motivation behind their tweets, THAT'S what I expect, dammit!

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Jetmans Dad replied to Captain Badger | 3 years ago
10 likes

There was at least one person in the replies claiming that as there were more than twice as many cycling deaths last year in The Netherlands compared to the UK, when the UK has four times the population, the problem is with the Dutch not wearing helmets. 

Conveniently ignoring that the key statistic is the number of people who cycle in The Netherlands compared to the UK and the total populations is complete and utterly irrelevant. 

Avatar
Captain Badger replied to Jetmans Dad | 3 years ago
8 likes

Jetmans Dad wrote:

There was at least one person in the replies claiming that as there were more than twice as many cycling deaths last year in The Netherlands compared to the UK, when the UK has four times the population, the problem is with the Dutch not wearing helmets. 

Conveniently ignoring that the key statistic is the number of people who cycle in The Netherlands compared to the UK and the total populations is complete and utterly irrelevant. 

Yeah nothing to do with modal share - 27% against 2% (UK) - or km travelled, 15bn against 3bn (UK)

Nah, gotta be helmets......

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caw35ride replied to Smiffi | 3 years ago
7 likes

Smiffi wrote:

So, the "incredible" new statistic is the entirely credible and previously reported statistic that the Netherlands has high bike usage, low helmet usage, and low accident rate whilst London is the reverse. 
How can anyone turn that around to making helmet usage compulsory (or have a missed something?)

EDIT: phew, that was close. I nearly contributed to a Road.CC clickbait debate.

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Mungecrundle | 3 years ago
8 likes

Personally I'd read this as cyclists either being afraid of traffic, or wearing a helmet because their nearest and dearest are afraid for them. I can relate to this, though I don't personally wear a helmet round town but I do carry cameras because I not only feel threatened, but am actually threatened by inconsiderate and dangerous drivers far more often than the mileage I cycle would warrant. In my car or riding my motorcycle, the instances of other road users creating an imminent threat to my wellbeing are negligable to nothing, on a bicycle? - sometimes I feel like a duck in a shooting gallery.

The answer, though, is not to ask cyclists to put on a helmet (which provides very dubious protection when struck by traffic, but might prevent some superficial injuries from a low speed tumble) but to provide decent infrastructure in urban environments where a bicycle is an eminently practical form of personal transport for many people and to educate the operators of motor vehicles that they carry a huge responsibility for the safety of other road users and that that privilege will be taken away if they abuse it.

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wtjs replied to Mungecrundle | 3 years ago
0 likes

 a helmet (which provides very dubious protection when struck by traffic, but might prevent some superficial injuries from a low speed tumble) 

Where do they get these ideas?  That the brain injuries are 'superficial (in their minds = trivial)

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brooksby | 3 years ago
18 likes

I was under the impression that the lessons to be taken from Australian helmet-mandating laws are (1) that mandating a helmet puts many people off cycling, (2) that Australian police take non helmet wearing waay more seriously than they do terrible driving, and (3) that Australian drivers think that if the cyclist is wearing a helmet then they don't need to take any care around them... 

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Captain Badger replied to brooksby | 3 years ago
12 likes

brooksby wrote:

I was under the impression that the lessons to be taken from Australian helmet-mandating laws are (1) that mandating a helmet puts many people off cycling, (2) that Australian police take non-helmet wearing waay more seriously than they do terrible driving, and (3) that Australian drivers think that if the cyclist is wearing a helmet then they don't need to take any care around them... 

You missed the bit about Aussie cops using helmet laws to further their oppression of indigenous communities.

The use of minor cycling laws to intimidate black and other non-white communities is a common tactic in the States too

I wonder what would happen in this country should helmet laws be brought in.....

 

 

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jollygoodvelo | 3 years ago
11 likes

All helmets should be required to cycle.

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Barraob1 replied to jollygoodvelo | 3 years ago
9 likes

Too many helmets on the road as it is.

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the little onion | 3 years ago
17 likes

Paging Chris Boardman, paging Chris Boardman

 

Immediate dose of calm, rational, informed, data-driven analysis needed in ward 6, to counter a dose of helmet hysteria.

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Compact Corned Beef | 3 years ago
1 like

Can't we just all say personal choice in grave tones, then nod our collective heads, certain we've sagely avoided the obvious trap?

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hawkinspeter | 3 years ago
3 likes

...and so it begins

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brooksby replied to hawkinspeter | 3 years ago
1 like

Do you hear yourself saying that in a portentious Babylon 5 voice...?

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hawkinspeter replied to brooksby | 3 years ago
6 likes

brooksby wrote:

Do you hear yourself saying that in a portentious Babylon 5 voice...?

In my head, it's a Randall Munroe voice which doesn't actually make any sense as I've never heard him speak.

I was paraphrasing this

 

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Jetmans Dad replied to brooksby | 3 years ago
3 likes

brooksby wrote:

Do you hear yourself saying that in a portentious Babylon 5 voice...?

The avalanche has already started ... it is too late for the pebbles to vote. 

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hawkinspeter replied to Jetmans Dad | 3 years ago
2 likes

Jetmans Dad wrote:

brooksby wrote:

Do you hear yourself saying that in a portentious Babylon 5 voice...?

The avalanche has already started ... it is too late for the pebbles to vote. 

Not only is it too late, but how do they even register to vote let alone hold a pen?

A stroke of the brush does not guarantee art from the bristles.

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stomec replied to brooksby | 3 years ago
5 likes

brooksby wrote:

Do you hear yourself saying that in a portentious Babylon 5 voice...?

The Babylon Project was a dream, given form. Its goal: to prevent another war, by creating a place where humans and aliens pro and anti- helmet wearers can work out their differences peacefully...

Avatar
brooksby replied to stomec | 3 years ago
5 likes

stomec wrote:

brooksby wrote:

Do you hear yourself saying that in a portentious Babylon 5 voice...?

The Babylon Project was a dream, given form. Its goal: to prevent another war, by creating a place where humans and aliens pro and anti- helmet wearers can work out their differences peacefully...

That's right.  Some years in the future, Chris Boardman will actually travel back in time and become the legendary figure known as 'Richard Ballantine'...

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