Anti-LTN ranter's accidental active travel advert... bemoans congestion while walking past gridlocked bumper-to-bumper cars; Giro d'Italia mountain stage; Short stay bike racks? Coming to cycle parking near you? + more on the live blog

pic.twitter.com/koooihW2Si

— Équipe Cycliste Groupama-FDJ (@GroupamaFDJ) May 25, 2023

Mickey Forrest completed the Carten 100 ride last weekend, 107 miles from Cardiff to Tenby, commendable in its own right but even more so when you consider his bike...

"The camaraderie that could be felt that day was incredible," he told the Western Telegraph. "Every single cyclist was acknowledged by the members of the public who turned out to support us on the day, but when they saw the penny farthing coming towards them, the reception they gave was something else. I was even getting high fives from the children."

Inspired by another rider achieving the same feat back in 2019, Mickey got involved, trying it out before buying the rider's old penny-farthing when he got a new one...

"It's a great run, but naturally because my bike doesn't have any gears and the pedals are fixed to the wheel, it’s a pretty slow and steady ride. But the speed tends to balance out. On the flat you reach a certain speed, and this tends to become the speed that's maintained throughout the entire journey.

"The pleasure that this bike is giving me is fantastic. As Carten 100 looks forward to its 20th anniversary next year I'm determined to do everything I can to ride it again in 2024."

I'm genuinely in awe at this...

The skills of Niccolò Bonifazio to get bottles out of the way 😮 #Giro pic.twitter.com/iO09YL31Lz

— Intermarché-Circus-Wanty (@IntermarcheCW) May 25, 2023

The road rash I'd get trying that... 

Having gushed about the skill, it's probably worth adding Bonifazio never made it to the start today, we're assuming just because he's a sprinter and there's not much point him slogging through the mountains, but maybe he tried this one too many times?

Tell a lie, he's got bronchitis, that would explain it. You keep on casually flicking bottles out the road, Niccolò...

Earlier this week the rumours began that ProBikeKit was to be bought by Mike Ashley's Frasers Group, the high street empire that already owns Evans Cycles...

> Cycling retailer ProBikeKit to be bought by Mike Ashley's Frasers Group, reports suggest

This morning, Cyclingindustrynews is reporting the deal is complete, sources telling them it has gone ahead and PBK has joined the group. None of this will be particularly surprising as it was expected the deal would be finalised and announced by the end of the week.

Thinking about it more, I'm guessing most of these racks would be in the sort of busy location I'd probably avoid leaving my bike locked for more than just a pop into a shop, but here are some of your comments on the subject...

a4th: "There used to be (I haven't been for a couple of years) some small bike racks near the shops on the concourse at Glasgow Central station — really handy for getting stuff before you got on the train. Not sure if they were actively managed but they seemed to work. Location and exposure meant I wouldn't want to leave a bike there long term."

Hirsute: "I'd hazard that if a bike has been there too long, they will remove it a bit like the notices that say no bikes locked to these railings."

mitsky: "Wait. 1) Are they going to actually employ someone to monitor the bike racks with a timer to ensure none are kept there for more than 20 minutes? 2) As bikes don't have registration plates (!)... how would they identify anyone (aside from CCTV footage of the bike/user) to post a fine to? (OK, I know they could attach a fine to the bike... but with no vehicle registration to tie to the record like with motor vehicles I can't see this working very well.)

marmotte27: "As this cannot be policed, the sign seems more of an informative nature. Success depending on many factors, including the quality of the long stay cycle parking facilities. Based on that a civil-minded person like me might respect these signs."

hawkinspeter: "I'd go find the long-term parking if I saw a sign like that. If it's intended for cyclists to pop into shops, then I wouldn't want to prevent them doing that if there's a good alternative fro me that's more suitable."

Here's one for us to all get our heads around this Thursday morning...

How short a stay do you want? pic.twitter.com/zZ6BXUsFVa

— Gary Outram (@KentRiderGaz) May 24, 2023

I guess I'd just never considered the idea that extra cycle racks could be offered specifically for those who just need to nip in for something. Perhaps that's because most of the time we're pleased to see ANY cycle rack, let alone trip-dependant provision...

Admittedly a train station seems a more bizarre location for these, can't remember too many rail-based 20-minute round trips in my time, although I guess if there are shops or cafes outside it would make sense to let those dropping in have handy bike rack access, while those leaving their steed all day can lock it safely inside the station?

Anyone seen these before? Do they work well or is there still the obligatory one-wheeled, flat-tyred, battered mountain bike with a rusted chain knocking around six months later?