“Can’t you all stop driving in such large groups?”: Cyclists blast Royal Parks for advising them to “not ride in large groups”; Power Rangers-esque “ball bike” fails to impress cyclists; Pidcock shows off MTB skills on road bike + more on the live blog

The quote sums it all up pretty perfectly doesn’t it?

James Bruton, an IT worker and toy maker turned “robotics expert from Hampshire who builds “stuff” in a secret location, has come up with a bike that looks like it was inspired by not movies like Tron, Blade Runner or Minority Report, but the Power Rangers show.

His goal? To “make videos that people want to click on”.

This engineer designed an omnidirectional ball motorcycle that balances laterally like a Segway and moves in any direction.pic.twitter.com/2fN60dEvDB

— The Figen (@TheFigen_) February 20, 2025

Judging by the millions his videos have garnered on YouTube and Twitter/X, it’d be safe to say that he has succeeded with his latest creation — the ‘ball bike’.

To begin with, its wheels are balls. Giant, red balls. Oh, and they come off the bike if you increase the speed. (Wait, is this all part of Royal Parks’ masterplan?)

“We’ve got some balls which are about 2ft (60cm) in diameter, and they’re driven by omni wheels,” Bruton told the BBC. “I had to order the balls, which took a few months to arrive from the Netherlands, and the motors came from the USA, but if I had the parts in one go, I could probably make the bike again in two to three weeks.”

“Something like this is not a practical form of transport in any way, but it’s had eight million views on YouTube, so it’s done rather well,” he said.

> “We have to buy this… for science”: Cyclists in awe (and a bit scared) of £80 “handmade” auction bike found online that “the longer you look the weirder it gets”, including bizarre “knee destroyer” cranks

Cyclists on the internet, who in 2025 are rather used to these bizarre innovations popping up after every few months, didn’t seem too impressed by it. One person replied: “Looks cool with fresh ‘wheels’ on a smooth surface indoor floor. Take it on the road and hit a god forsaken pot hole and tell me how well it works.”

The balls do remind me of the red spherical bollards I used to see around Cardiff University campus in my uni days… Perhaps, he could have asked for a few instead of ordering them from the Netherlands?

Come on now Tadej — to claim the title of the ‘best cyclist ever’, you need to show us that you can do this too…

 

 

 

 

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Pidcock, having some fun after securing a podium at La Flèche Wallone, showed off his skills by bunny hopping a Scott road bike over a bench, amidst fearful calls of “Please don’t break the bike!”

“How many other riders in the road peloton could do this? This is why we love Tom. Multi-talented,” wrote one person in the Instagram comments. We couldn’t agree more…

Team Visma-Lease a Bike are keeping their Tour de France tradition alive with a special edition jersey – and this year, it comes with a retro twist.

The team has revealed a first look at what Jonas Vingegaard, Sepp Kuss, Wout van Aert, Simon Yates and Matteo Jorgenson will be wearing this July. The jersey, expected to drop later today, features a new name: Skil.

 

 

 

 

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The US-based tool brand is no stranger to the peloton, having sponsored French and Dutch squads in decades past – including the 1980s Skil-Sem team of Sean Kelly fame, as well as Team Picnic PostNL, back then known as Skil-Shimano

“This partnership feels like coming home,” said Edwin Aartman, Commercial Director of Skil. “Whether you’re renovating a home or racing through the Alps, it’s all about passion, precision, and pushing limits.”

Visma’s Chief Business Officer Jasper Saeijs added: “We share the same ambition to keep innovating, build sustainable performance, and develop talent.”

> Cyclists who kill pedestrians could face life sentences under proposed new ‘dangerous cycling’ law

This young generation of cyclists, hmph, always on their mobile phones!

With Tadej Pogačar setting the precedent of being terminally online and replying to memes on Twitter 15 minutes before the Tour of Flanders in 2023, Thymen Arensman has tried to match up to him, replying on the social media platform after he won the fourth stage of Tour of the Alps.

The 25-year-old Ineos Grenadiers’ rider, who now has an 11 second lead against Michael Storer, thanks to his monstrous performance yesterday, which saw him beat Derek Gee by over a minute.

A Nairo Quintana fan account on Twitter described the events as: “Arensman and Gee were just having a time trial off for 80 kilometres, absolutely brutal,” under which Arensman left the following reply: “Real ciclismo.”

I concur.

More than three years after the Highway Code was updated to improve protections for cyclists, a new survey has revealed that most UK drivers still don’t know the rules – and many continue to hold misconceptions that put vulnerable road users at risk.

The poll of 2,000 motorists by Scrap Car Comparison found that the majority incorrectly believe cyclists must ride single file, stick to the kerb, and use cycle lanes if available. In fact, the Highway Code changes introduced in January 2022 clarified that cyclists are allowed to ride two abreast, can take the centre of the lane on quiet roads or when approaching junctions, and are not required to use a cycle lane.

> Most drivers wrongly believe cyclists must ride single file, stay close to the kerb, and use cycle lanes – and one in three say they shouldn’t have equal rights on the road, new Highway Code survey finds

Despite these updates, 77 per cent of drivers still believe cyclists must use dedicated lanes, 65 per cent think they must ride as far left as possible, and more than half believe single-file riding is mandatory. Only 34 per cent correctly recognised that cyclists are allowed to take up a full lane.

The confusion appears to go hand-in-hand with negative attitudes. Nearly three-quarters of drivers said they feel at least some frustration when driving near cyclists, rising to 81 per cent among 17 to 24-year-olds.

Even among those who identify as both drivers and cyclists, 64 per cent admitted to feeling annoyed when they come across someone riding a bike. Nervousness is also widespread, particularly among younger drivers and women, with three-quarters of respondents saying they sometimes or often feel uneasy when driving near cyclists.

While 96 per cent of drivers claimed they give cyclists the recommended 1.5-metre passing distance, 47 per cent admitted to having experienced a near miss – suggesting many may overestimate their road awareness or misjudge safe passing distances.

The survey also highlighted a deeper issue around entitlement to road space. One in three drivers said they didn’t believe cyclists should have equal rights on the road, despite the Highway Code’s clear hierarchy that prioritises those most at risk.

Scrap Car Comparison used the results to rank the UK’s least bike-friendly cities, based on frustration levels, overtaking behaviour, and knowledge gaps. Sheffield topped the table, followed by Newcastle and Leeds. Belfast was ranked the most cycle-friendly, despite long-running concerns about its cycling infrastructure.

> “Read the Highway Code – that is not a safe pass”: Police say post advising drivers to give cyclists “an arm’s length” of space while overtaking was published “in error”

Interestingly, the survey also found that drivers of certain car brands – including Mazda, Mercedes-Benz and Seat – were more likely to express negative views about cyclists and scored lowest on Highway Code knowledge.

Leeds City Council has extended the deadline for public feedback on plans to overhaul a key city junction featuring cycle lanes, after receiving a huge response from residents.

The consultation on improvements to the A58 Roundhay Road and Barrack Road junctions – an area known locally as the ‘Bayswater Triangle’ – was due to close on April 20. However, with more than 670 responses received, the council has now extended the consultation until the end of April to give more people the chance to have their say.

The proposed plans aim to tackle serious safety concerns at the junctions with Bayswater Road, Spencer Place, Roseville Road and Gledhow Road. Upgrades include new segregated bus and cycle lanes along the route, as well as improved pedestrian crossings, in an effort to make the area safer for everyone.

Councillor Jonathan Pryor previously highlighted the urgency of the project, pointing out that 35 per cent of casualties along the corridor over the last seven years involved people walking or cycling. In total, 71 collisions were recorded, resulting in 90 casualties, including one fatality and 14 serious injuries. Pryor said the proposals are designed to enhance safety for all road users while easing congestion and improving bus services, and stressed the importance of public input in shaping the final designs.

The £4.5 million scheme is set to be funded by the West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund’s Corridor Improvement Programme, subject to final approvals. It is being delivered in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and forms part of Leeds City Council’s broader Vision Zero 2040 initiative, which aims to eliminate road deaths and serious injuries across the city by 2040.

The consultation remains open until April 30, with feedback continuing to shape the future of one of Leeds’ most dangerous junctions.

Kudos to Sam and Willow, makers of this sick build. Just as Immortan Joe (from an alternate bike universe) would say: “Once again, I send off my War Rig to bring back from CO2 canisters from Gas Town.”

 

 

 

 

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Tudor Pro Cycling’s Michael Storer delivered a decisive performance on the final day of the Tour of the Alps, reclaiming the green jersey from Ineos Grenadiers’ Thymen Arensman to secure overall victory in Lienz.

In front of the GC battle, Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale teammates Nicolas Prodhomme and Paul Seixas, both part of the day’s breakaway, capitalised on their advantage. The duo crossed the line together, with Prodhomme taking the stage win and Seixas finishing second.

 

 

 

 

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Starting the day 11 seconds behind Arensman — the Dutchman establishing the slender lead after winning yesterday’s stage —  Storer launched a well-timed attack 34km from the finish on the penultimate climb.

With strong support from teammate Lukas Eriksson, who had been part of the early breakaway, Storer built a significant lead. Arensman attempted to respond but was unable to match the pace, ultimately conceding over a minute by the finish.

“F*cking unbelievable!” 🤝

Veel respect van een verslagen Thymen Arensman voor een ijzersterke Michael Storer.

Het is een tweede plek voor de Nederlander in de Tour of the Alps; samen met Storer geeft hij zijn visitekaartje af voor de Giro!#TOTA @Tourof_TheAlps @WielerFlits pic.twitter.com/G13A1sKLxt

— Nɪᴄᴋ Dᴏᴜᴘ (@Nick_Doup) April 25, 2025

The top two even shared a nice moment after the race, Arensman going over to greet Storer and letting him know what he thought of that performance: “F****** unbelievable.”

“Thanks man,” replied a shimmery-eyed Storer.

> “No plans” to save free-to-air Tour de France coverage, as fan behind dismissed petition asks: “Does the government truly care about growing cycling?”

 

 

 

 

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The Tour de France kits season has been kicked off by Visma-Lease a Bike — and it’s an interesting one.

 

 

 

 

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Dubbed The Swarm, the new look sticks to the team’s familiar yellow and black but freshens things up with two big changes. First is the presence of sponsor Skil on the sleeves, the US-based tool brand making a return to the peloton.

Second, the team has gone for a barrage of text in extremely tiny front, that is supposed to be made up of names of fans — yes, you have the chance to get your name on the Visma-Lease a Bike jersey, eventually worn by the likes of Marianne Vos, Wout van Aert, and Jonas Vingegaard during the Tour.

 

 

 

 

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Journalist specialising in cycling and urban transport, with bylines in The Guardian and your very own road.cc, Laura Laker has recently published an article on her Substack, titled: “Why did the BBC publish 22 negative articles on 300m of bike lane in Somerset?”

The piece focuses on how the BBC published a number of negative articles about a small, 300-metre bike lane on Clevedon’s seafront over a three-year period. She points out that the media coverage — which heavily leaned into opposition voices and often framed the cycle lane as “controversial” — helped fuel public anger and ultimately contributed to the lane being ripped out.

> “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

Laker highlights how the BBC coverage often parroted local complaints without providing wider context, such as the lane’s role in the broader 13-mile Pier to Pier Way between Clevedon and Weston-super-Mare, or the proven public support for cycling infrastructure generally.

She draws on Ian Walker’s research on pluralistic ignorance, the idea that people often wrongly believe they are in the minority when they support progressive causes like cycling and climate action, and argues that media narratives can reinforce this misunderstanding.

A BBC Spokesperson, in response, told Laker: “This was a complex story with multiple elements to report on, including the controversial design of the bike lane itself, council overspending on the project, and its independent review. We consistently consulted with several different voices and opinions in our reporting and included the council’s position supporting the scheme in each article.”

Yesterday, the charity responsible for running London’s Royal Parks launched a campaign urging cyclists using the capital’s green spaces to be “more considerate” and to adhere to the parks’ speed limits, with 86 per cent of respondents of a survey saying that the 20mph speed limit in the centre of the capital should also apply to bikes.

It also included a new code of conduct and “best-practice guidance” for all cyclists entering the parks, advising them to “control their speed”, “respect all park visitors”, and ride in “small groups” — the charity stating that “navigating around large, quick groups can create dangerous situations”.

Cyclists are not holding back on their criticism, not just rebuking the calls for 20mph speed limits, but also the bizarre call to not ride with a large group of riders — one perhaps made as a consequence of Richmond Park and Regent’s Park being popular with the capital’s cyclists and attracting a large number of two-wheeled visitors, including several club riders.

> Charity that runs London parks wants new laws to prosecute cyclists for breaking 20mph speed limit in Regent’s Park and Richmond Park

James Lyon wrote on Facebook: “I like that they’re asking cyclists to ‘refrain from riding in large groups’. Apparently this doesn’t apply to drivers when they’re nose-to-tail queuing out of Richmond Park on a Sunday morning. Can’t you all stop driving in such large groups?!”

Muddy Ford also commented on road.cc’s news post: “In that second picture of the long queues of drivers, does that constitute ‘going around in large groups’, or does this rule only apply if you are a cyclist?

They added: “If I’m riding around the park at 20mph and approach other cyclists doing 19mph, will I have to reduce my speed to 19mph to avoid forming a group trying to overtake at just 1mph faster? Do the cyclists following me then have to tuck in behind similarly but also keeping a big distance so as not to form a large group? Can I expect drivers not to overtake me if I am riding at 20mph?”

> “Disgraceful that vulnerable road users have to put up with this”: Renewed call from cyclists for drivers to be banned from using popular park as rat-run

Besides the call to refrain from riding in large groups, cyclists also took to social media to condemn the other guidelines proposed by the charity, which also state that cycling outside of the “clearly marked cycle paths” is not permitted.

“Can’t win! Damned if you speed, damned if you’re slow,” wrote Matthew. Meanwhile, the view that all drivers accessing London’s Royal Parks was challenged by some.

“If I go into Richmond Park, I’m never almost killed by a cyclist; cars many many times… I’ve even been driven at on purpose by a car (twice), but yes, ‘cyclists are the problem’!” commented Dave Hignett. “Oh, and the assumption that cars stick to the speed limit is a joke! And “enforcement” on vans is even worse!”

> Royal Parks cancels Richmond Park time trials over fears cyclists will break 20mph speed limit, after inquest into pedestrian fatality in “speeding” cyclist collision “brought this activity to people’s attention”

Seb Mansfield said: “I was literally following a police car doing over 30 there a few weeks back.”

Paul Cowley seemed to sum up the situation the best: “We seem a long way from the feel-good factor of 2012 when the Olympic road race went through the park and the duathlons and time trials were supported.”