Ye Olde Watte Byke? Antique 19th century stationary bike appears on Facebook Marketplace for £480; “Sometimes I wonder how we achieve these levels of stupidity”: Baffling Facebook photo of Trek bike built ‘upside down’ + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
"Sometimes I wonder how we achieve these levels of stupidity": Baffling Facebook photo of Trek bike built 'upside down' amuses cyclists
I present to you for your entertainment and fascination… the upsidedownhill mountain bike, a new frontier for cycling…
Deary me. Once your brain works it out it’s obvious there was simply just “a fork in the decision-making process”, as one bemused commented suggested on Facebook where this image has been doing the rounds on various cycling pages. No, we’ll stop you there before you say anything about it being a Tour Down Under edition, or the work of a certain retailer, the comments over on Facebook have already done it. Very extensively.
There’s part of us that really hopes this was just some mischievous mechanic at a loose end looking to mess with the sort of people, like us, who sit and see these things on the internet. That must be the optimistic side of my brain, really hoping beyond belief that this wasn’t actually the result of anything other than a joke, or asking an AI image generator to mess with cyclists.
We’re not volunteering, but we’d love (for research purposes) to see how/if it rides, maybe perched precariously near the front of the downtube and pedalling somewhere behind your back. Okay, maybe best we don’t try that one. Of the non-Australia-related or *insert retailer here* gags in the comments, here’s a few people trying to work it all out.
“Well, that’s fork’d.”
“I had a little trouble with the instructions, they only came in a language I couldn’t read…”
“Something is wrong… can’t put my finger on it.”
“Forget ‘don’t drink and drive’… don’t drink and assemble.”
“That ain’t no bike, that’s an ekib.”
“That’s a plum cutter model.”
Now the silliness is out the way, any volunteers to try this at home and see what happens? Maybe we should send Jamie to the track to give all the YouTube subs a laugh?
Questions asked of UCI's yellow card system after more sprint controversy at Tour Down Under
Another day, yet more sprint controversy and the UCI’s yellow card system again facing questions in Australia. On Wednesday, we saw Danny van Poppel handed a yellow card for his dangerous sprinting in setting up teammate Sam Welsford’s victory. As per the rules, made permanent for 2025, if Van Poppel receives another yellow card during the Tour Down Under, he’ll be disqualified from the race and receive a seven-day suspension. Meanwhile, three yellow cards over a 30-day period will lead to a two-week ban, and six over the course of a season will result in a month-long suspension.
It was to that context that today’s sprint unfolded, Bryan Coquard taking the win for Cofidis.
🇫🇷 He got his maiden WT win last year here in Australia, @bryancoquard (COF) goes for the back to back with a very close win today ahead of 🇩🇪 @PhilBauhaus
📺 Stream the race now on 7plus:https://t.co/k2Exq3FDwl
Hahn | @santosltd#TourDownUnder #CouchPeloton pic.twitter.com/lF4K3UEEXQ
— Santos Tour Down Under 🚴🚴♀️ (@tourdownunder) January 24, 2025
Laurence Pithie finished fourth but was relegated to 72nd for his sprint (seen in the clip above when he almost pushes Alpecin-Deceuninck’s Henri Uhlig into the barriers. Pithie did not, however, get a yellow card, only a hefty 500 Swiss franc (£446) fine and some points deductions, along with the relegation. Should the Frenchman have received a yellow card? Is the UCI being consistent? We’ll have more on this as the reaction rolls in.
"It is not the case that we look to fight this decision": UAE Team Emirates accept jury's decision over Tour Down Under sprint
Elsewhere in the drama of the sprint, Jhonatan Narváez was left frustrated in third place after feeling he was blocked off by an incident separate to the one that saw Laurence Pithie relegated. The Ecuadorian picked up four bonus seconds for his efforts but was, in the words of his team, “inadvertently blocked off” as stage winner Bryan Coquard and second-place Phil Bauhaus jostled for position and the shortest line.
The team has graciously admitted “the move was legal”, just frustrating for their rider who believed he had the momentum to win the sprint. Narváez had raised his arm in protest after the finish, but team sports director Fabio Baldato accepted the result soon after.
“With the finish turning to the right, it is normal that the rider in front tried to take the shorter line,” he said. “I have spoken to the jury and the president two or three times, and I trust them in the end. They are expert guys who I know well and it is not the case that we look to fight this decision.”
Bryan Coquard emerged late into Stage 5 to take his first win of 2025 at the Tour Down Under 👏 pic.twitter.com/3GRShzcLUn
— Eurosport (@eurosport) January 24, 2025
Narváez too was ultimately content with his day’s work, the four bonus seconds taking him to four seconds behind current race leader and stage four hero Javier Romo.
"Mickey Mouse" wiggly cycle lane branded "Balamory from hell" set to be removed next month – to be replaced by loading bays, car parking, and vehicle access
London hire bike provider Forest set to introduce first e-bikes with child seats (+ ones with passenger seat)
The Evening Standard has published some big London cycle scheme news this morning, the newspaper reporting that Human Forest, one of the main players in the bike hire game, is to roll out bikes with child’s seats, and others with a second seat for a passenger.
Earlier this week the shared bike operator reported it had secured £13m in new funding, investment that will boost the brand’s fleet and support technology for “sustainable and responsible growth.
“Backed by this new financing, Forest will contribute significantly to widening access to shared schemes and reducing car dependency by launching ForestCargo, ForestDuo and ForestKid. With these new vehicle types, the company is aiming to achieve gender parity among its riders by 2027,” a press release stated, noting a move into the cargo bike sector too.
No amount of chamois cream is going to save Valtteri Bottas
Rohan Dennis formally pleads guilty to charge in relation to the death of Melissa Hoskins
Nine News was at SA District Court for the guilty plea arraignment of Rohan Dennis, in relation to his charge of one aggravated count of creating likelihood of harm in relation to the death of Melissa Hoskins.
In December, Dennis appeared in court to answer charges of dangerous driving causing death and an aggravated charge of driving without due care, charges which were dropped and replaced with the new one.
The offence carries a maximum sentence of seven years in jail and a five-year loss of driver’s licence, judge Ian Press today adjourning proceedings until April 14, when sentencing submissions and victim impact statements will be heard.
Cycling campaign hopes to tackle bike theft with new partnership
York Cycling Campaign has set up a partnership to tackle bike theft in the city, bringing together North Yorkshire Police, British Transport Police, the city’s council and local bike shops.
Leah Bennett from the campaign told The Press: “We aim to develop a plan that can be implemented quickly within existing budgets, helping to deter thefts through a combination of raising awareness of how to keep your bike safe, improved detection and better prevention.
“We have already had the backing of Jo Coles — York and North Yorkshire deputy mayor for policing, fire and crime, and we plan to work with her and local authorities as well as police, local business and community organisations.”
The campaign has already run ‘pop-up supervised cycle parking’ events in York city centre, notably around the Christmas Market, with members keeping lookout at designated bike parking spots. Further events are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at the Minister Refectory between 10am and 5pm, the campaign hoping it will deter theft and give cyclist confidence to leave their bikes.
The news comes at the end of a week when the British Transport Police admitted that bike thefts are “unlikely to ever be solved”, those comments coming after a spoof sign at one West Sussex station renamed the bike parking facility a “Bicycle Redistribution Point”.
Controversial cycle lane 'opposed' by David Attenborough to go ahead after extremely narrow vote – as council says trees at centre of heated row are only being felled as "last resort"
Lachlan Morton doesn't care for your rounding-up needs
Valtteri Bottas’s budgie smugglers were worn on the warm-up event for RADL GRVL (which is of course legally obliged to be spelt that way due to it being a gravel race). When it came to the real thing we have it on good authority (his Strava pics) that the kit was all back on and the smugglers back in the draw at home. Another famous face on the start line was Lachlan Morton, whose decision to end his ride on 99.83km wound up a few of his Strava followers.
“Mate, 200 more metres”
“Didn’t feel the need to round up?”
Sorry chaps, don’t think he cares about ticking off 100km rides any more… clocking 500km days in a record-breaking trip around Australia will do that for you.
Campagnolo debuts "unprecedented double-height profile" on updated Shamal wheels, now complete with on-trend wavy profile
"Maybe try the same route tomorrow morning when it's raining and 1°C"... okay, maybe we will…
Cycling in London couldn’t wait to get back to this comment about nobody cycling when it’s cold and raining, the scenes the following morning?
Here we go, Marcus!
Decent turnout of morning cycle commuters I’d say? https://t.co/tnkZ9D6pyt pic.twitter.com/RYgYqq5NVL
— Cycling in London (@Cycling_In_LDN) January 22, 2025
On a similar note, over on Bluesky, Utrecht-based cyclist De Filmende Fietser shared a video of business as usual on the cycling front over there. We’d share the video but Bluesky doesn’t seem to want to play ball, so here’s the link and some pics instead.
“The past few weeks have been cold and dark with limited visibility due to persistent fog, but that doesn’t stop Dutch people from cycling,” they explain. “The key? Good, safe and attractive infrastructure which prioritises cycling over driving.”
More fallout to British Cycling's cyclocross selection controversy
The reaction to British Cycling’s selection for cyclocross worlds next week is rumbling on.
road.cc contributor Matt Page added to the discussion in the comments yesterday: “This isn’t just about the rider’s sex; it is a problem across the board with British Cycling and specifically in off-road disciplines.
“British champions should have an automatic right to represent their country. Perhaps some criteria can be put in place regarding funding, but if a rider can self-fund the trip, they should be able to race. For the road World Champs you can guarantee that a full roster of riders will be sent, when the chances of winning a medal are usually slim.
“It doesn’t send a good message to the younger riders who are training and racing hard to know they probably won’t go to a World Championship even if they are the best in the country.”
road.cc Recommends 2024/2025 awards round-up — all the very best bikes and cycling equipment we reviewed last year
Ye Olde Watte Byke? Antique 19th century stationary bike appears on Facebook Marketplace for $600
You can keep your Zwift, smart trainers and the rest of it. Facebook Marketplace has delivered the goods and for $600 you can bin all that new 21st century tech and train like a Victorian instead.
The listing from near Pasadena in California, amusingly states it’s in “used – good” condition. It apparently dates to the late 19th century (1890s) and is a heavy-duty cast iron bike that “moves well and functions as should be”. “A great addition to any antique exercise equipment collection, gym, or unique oddity for your home,” the listing perhaps somewhat optimistically concludes.
“Made by the Narrangansett company of Providence Rhode Island, the seat and handlebars are adjustable for the size of the rider. The leather strap has come off and would need replacing to cause resistance. One of the original pedals is also missing. Bike measures 26″ wide by 36″ deep by 41″ tall.”
It could be yours for $600 (and whatever it costs to get it to where you live from California). Tempted?
24 January 2025, 09:01
24 January 2025, 09:01
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Latest Comments
@jaymack A thoughtful response to the article. Cycle campaigners seem obsessed with ever-improving infrastructure yet pay no attention to what people really think and feel, not what they claim in a survey. A while ago, my local Green party ran a pro-cycling event where they showed a documentary film made by local teenage schoolgirls to ask why hardly any of them cycled to school. The main reason? Not looking stupid in front of their cool friends or boys.
A reason many people don't own a bike is they have nowhere to keep it securely at home. Who likes having a bike in their kitchen or living room? The homes of lower income people are mostly too small and have no garage or outhouse, so where would they store bikes, particularly if there are several people living there?
@open_roads So... exactly the same as a human but there will presumably be a point where it judges it's unsafe to proceed - unlike your typical Uber driver? I genuinely do not give a shit what technology (LIDAR, radar, sonar, cameras, magic, white cane etc etc) a robocab uses, provided that it satisfies any safety case put forward by a regulator.
It would appear that going forward, the Definition Integrale version will be the only model available, meaning that electronic groupset is the only option. There’s still stock available of the Definition 3.0 as of now and I’ve just ordered one with mechanical 105 to replace my aging winter sh*tter.
This is why genuinely I only expect my front and back time stamped bike cameras to ever be used in the event of my death on the road, that is if I don't get killed as pedestrian on a crossing with these bloody taxi drivers who keep stopping on the crossing... as I'm crossing it. It seems to me someone is going to have to take extreme and over the top measures for this constant harassment to been seen as the public danger it is, I'm not saying I or anyone else should do it but it would be great to see a bad driver leave court with a conviction with the word 'kryptonite' embossed backwards on their face... just a hypothetical...
I usually wear a folding helmet - a Hedkayse ONE. What I've learnt from this report is that the Newlane with MIPS is one of the best helmets around. But that's not what the headlines say. It would be a shame if miselading headlines led to yet another folding/alternative design for commuters disappearing from the market (Hedkayse no longer make the ONE and Hovding - the airbag alternative - went bust).
I bought one of these in 2015 and I still ride it. Bought specifically for Paris-Brest-Paris (which I had just failed) and I rode this bike (successfully) in the 2019 edition. Then I changed the tyres on it to 38mm and rode North London Dirt very happily on it a couple of months later. Super versatile. The only box it fails to tick these days is the aero one, but I can live with that. I keep thinking I need a new bike and I list what I really need - fast enough, mudguards, comfortable, disc brakes and think I should buy a Defy or Synapse, then I realise I already have that bike! 15mm front axle and QR rear is a total PITA - you can sleeve the front to 12mm bit even so. Luckily it is flat-mount so there is an upgrade path on the groupset - I have upgraded groupset once and I think only the seat post is original now, but a great find from Genesis' heyday. I had a flyer about this time too and loved that as well.
@eburtthebike Well there's (at least) a third thing - we're letting too many people drive who should never have been on the roads in the first place.
@chrisonabike Something to do with existing in a liminal world between cooperation and competition where every action has multiple meanings, even to the same person, perhaps?
I have given my thoughts on this in the forum thread "Derbyshire: action on close pass reports only in “exceptional circumstances”". My first attempt with links was submitted on 30/10/26 and is STILL AWAITING MODERATION so I resubmitted replacing the links with descriptions. It is copied below : Gloucestershire Constabulary is way ahead. They never took any action on close passes but in September 2024 they started sending out advisory letters to close passers. Note that in Gloucestershire an advisory letter merely asks the driver to refresh their knowledge of the highway code and is not a warning letter. search : close-pass-isnt-offence-says-police-officer on roadcc for the article I have had action taken for a close pass since. In one I am convinced that action was taken because an oncoming driver was inconvenienced. near-miss-day-of the day 946 In the other I suspect someone on the team slipped up and the driver was sent a NIP. I was told afterwards that the driver was going to go to court to challenge the decision but changed their mind when shown the footage. near-miss-day-931 The link also shows that a very similar close pass a year later was back to advisory letters and I have had many similar outcomes since. Some on here think advisory letters are a waste of time and I agree that for some drivers it will be as water off a ducks back, but I have noticed a distinct improvement in driving around me since the policy started. I think most drivers genuinely think they have done nothing wrong but a letter from the police is a real wake up call. In answer to your question then in Gloucestershire someone has to be inconvenienced for action to be taken. Inconveniencing an oncoming driver is one possibility but having to swerve or brake to avoid being hit is another. Obviously this rarely happens with a close pass, especially those at speed which are the most dangerous, you simply don’t have time to do anything. As far as I can make out being frightened out of your skin doesn’t count as inconvenience either. They now seem to have stopped sending even advisory letters for close passes as they are short staffed.
34 thoughts on “Ye Olde Watte Byke? Antique 19th century stationary bike appears on Facebook Marketplace for £480; “Sometimes I wonder how we achieve these levels of stupidity”: Baffling Facebook photo of Trek bike built ‘upside down’ + more on the live blog”
TDU: Pithie balked Bauhaus,
TDU: Pithie balked two riders barrier-side, then veered left across the road. Yellow card. Coquard had the excuse of a finish bending right, so his sprint is legit.
The clip above is pretty
The clip above is pretty useless, though – starts too late to see what’s going on – the one in the later (Narváez) post is much better.
Surely that Trek MTB was put
Surely that Trek MTB was put together that way as a joke. Nobody’s that stupid. Are they?
“A common mistake that people
“A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools.”
― Douglas Adams, Mostly Harmless
“The Conservatives want to
“The Conservatives want to bring pedestrian crossings into the culture wars now? Apparently supporting pedestrian crossings is now “woke”. “
Hirsute wrote:
Yet again they don’t seem to have grasped the very simple concept of “woke”: awareness of systemic social inequalities especially those involving race, gender and sexual preferences.
I like this post on the topic: https://bsky.app/profile/deezed.bsky.social/post/3lggdvteaac27
Supporting zebra crossings is surely a black and white issue ?
¿¿¿How is it possible to get
¿¿¿How is it possible to get the rear triangle in upside down??? Some people are just plane stupid.
“Something is wrong… can’t
“Something is wrong… can’t put my finger on it. Or my arse.”
I don’t see a problem
I don’t see a problem personally. It’s just set up for someone who wants to wheelie everywhere.
Looks to me like it’s just
Looks to me like it’s just set up for Graeme Obree.
don simon fbpe wrote:
The rear triangle is fine, the forks, however, are upside down.
eburtthebike wrote:
Nonsense. The forks and bars are OK, but everything else has been put on upside down.
I think the frame is fine but
I think the frame is fine but they just need to rotate the wheels slightly.
This is obviously why tapered
This is obviously why tapered headsets were invented – to prevent bikes being assembled like this. The obvious(!) problem with this bike is that the rebound rate will be wrong with the shocker operating the opposite way around, assuming the ride can actually set off without castrating themselves.
Good point – the industry
Good point – the industry should be pushing those hard as “safety headsets” e.g. “our AI-designed advanced safety headsets will prevent Halfords * assembling death traps like this – which have the potential to injure or even kill thousands every year!”
* Sorry, couldn’t resist.
Do a back flip, and suddenly
Do a back flip, and suddenly everything will become clear
don simon fbpe wrote:
I think you’ve illustrated your point there – the plane was maintained but the symmetry was enhanced. ??
don simon fbpe wrote:
They haven’t, see picture of Jolanda Neff with her similar XC bike. Everything’s the right way up except the forks.
I think you sit your bum
I think you sit your bum cheeks on the “handle bars”, steer with your arse, pedal with your hands, and rest your feet on the undercarriage. Develops core strength. It’s rear-wheel steering, obviously.
Helps keep an eye out for
Helps keep an eye out for close passes I guess?
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My work here is done…
My work here is done…
Quote:
Imagine if cars could only be parked where there was someone who was willing to stand there and keep an eye on them…
brooksby wrote:
I heard that’s exactly how it was in parts of Glasgow a while back… if a kid said “hey big man, watch your car for you?” you might consider it. Apparently cars not being watched suffered a high spontaneous “accident” rate.
Halfords proudly delivers
[certain retailer] proudly delivers another bike
Hammersmith Bridge ‘could
Hammersmith Bridge ‘could stay closed until 2035’
“Hammersmith Bridge could stay closed to vehicles for another decade…”
Presumably they mean motor vehicles, as I assume pedestrians and cyclists are still able to cross?
Tell us that motorists (yes, I have a licence too) don’t pay enough “road tax” to cover the damage done by our use of large heavy vehicles.
Without telling us.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ceve0je90e0o
mitsky wrote:
Currently open to pedestrians only. Cyclists have to dismount, revert to being pedestrians and wheel their bikes across the bridge. About half of the roadway looks finished and the workers seem to me making reasonable progress relaying so it may open to mounted cyclists soon.
Someone amusingly, though
Someone amusingly, though despairingly, pointed out that Hammersmith bridge was closed to vehicle traffic (including, ridiculously, cyclists who are supposed to push across) in April 2019, five days before the catastrophic Notre Dame fire, so Hammersmith and Fulham Council are telling us that it’s going to take about three times as long to repair a Victorian bridge as it took our cross-channel neighbours fundamentally to rebuild a ruined 12th century cathedral.
The problem is a political
The problem is a political one rather than technical. The London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham, Transport for London, and the Department for Transport fund it 3 ways. One or more of the parties involved have been dragging their feet (to put it mildly) on stumping up their share.
Q “To ask the Secretary of
Q “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to help reduce fatality rates of cyclists on rural roads.”
A <waffle>
The Highway Code was updated in 2022 to improve road safety for cyclists and pedestrians, by strengthening pedestrian priority on pavements and at crossings and introducing the Hierarchy of Road Users, which places those road users most at risk in the event of a collision, at the top of the hierarchy. The Highway Code makes it clear that those in charge of vehicles that can cause the greatest harm in the event of a collision bear the greatest responsibility to reduce the danger they pose to others, and highlights the need to take care and be particularly aware of young cyclists and pedestrians.
The Department has awarded local authorities £185.8 million of funding between 2017 and 2024 through the Safer Roads Fund to improve the safety of England’s most high risk ‘A’ roads. To date, it has funded 445.3 miles of rural roads which make up 62.4% of all funded routes.
Additionally, Active Travel England works with rural authorities to provide funding and to support the delivery of high-quality walking and cycling schemes, including segregated cycle lanes and junction improvements. This includes training for local authority staff, as well as design workshops and design assurance reviews of schemes under development.
https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-01-17/24783
However we are going to take away the licences of benefit grabbing scum so you will be more likely to be banned from driving for benefit cheating than for actual road traffic crimes.
You may tell me to see Rule 5
You may tell me to see Rule 5, but I’ve just had what I think is a pretty irresponsible marketing email from Reilly: “The all-road Spectre is the ultimate bike for conquering red weather warnings”. Really, Reilly?
How else are we ageing Strava
How else are we ageing Strava wankers meant to bag our KOMs?
Just read,
Just read,
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/jan/24/italian-cyclist-sara-piffer-19-dies-after-being-hit-car-during-training-ride
Just came back here to post
Just came back here to post the same. Gut wrenching and heartbreaking and utterly wrong.