“Wear a helmet!” Halfords advises… because a tree branch might fall on your head; Brian Robinson tributes; What does this week’s Transport Secretary mean for cycling?; Coolest thing you can do on a bike?; Metaverse cycling + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
What's the coolest thing you can do on a bike?
Welcome back to the live blog…
the coolest thing you can do on a bike is dismount and coast for a little bit standing on one pedal
— dr.alexandra-n-furter PhD (@bigmoodenergy) October 25, 2022
We’re starting today by talking cool cycling skills… and fair enough, the rolling dismount is up there… but I’m sure we’ve got a few suggestions of our own…
As a kid, riding with no hands was always the ultimate, right? Then with that ‘trick’ in the bag my attention turned to those balance wizards who didn’t unclip at the lights, trackstanding their way to the top of the coolness rankings. Once I’ve worked out how to trackstand (for more than two seconds) I’ll tell you what comes next…
So, what is the coolest thing you can do on a bike? I’m sure Danny MacAskill has some suggestions…
There was a shout-out for the cargo bike backflip…
Probably the world’s first cargo bike backflip, via Hagenbikes on Instagram. This is crazy cool pic.twitter.com/W1UuKtqYh9
— Ed Festival Cycling (@edfoc) October 24, 2022
And cyclocross…
Cyclocross enters the chat pic.twitter.com/zouPo6Tf0x
— David C B 🌻☮️ (@tzed250) October 25, 2022
But what about casually pulling your bottle for a sip before a no hands transfer of shades onto helmet while everyone else is blowing out their back door up a climb? That’s up there… but maybe I’m just weird…and/or very uncool…
What does this week's Transport Secretary mean for cycling then?
Introducing your seventh Conservative Transport Secretary since 2010…
The Rt Hon Mark Harper MP @Mark_J_Harper has been appointed Secretary of State for Transport @TransportGovUK. #Reshuffle pic.twitter.com/zJxIxtpySL
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) October 25, 2022
We’ve had Hammond, Greening, McLoughlin, Grayling, Shapps, Trevelyan, and now Harper, who said he was “delighted” to have been appointed to the role by Rishi Sunak.
“Transport affects us all, and I can’t wait to tackle the challenges we face so we can deliver for communities across our United Kingdom,” the typically empty appointment statement read.
According to They Work For You, Harper — the MP for the Forest of Dean since 2005 — has generally voted for lower taxes on fuel for motor vehicles, almost always voted against greater public control of bus services, generally voted against a publicly owned railway system, consistently voted against slowing the rise in rail fares and almost always voted for higher taxes on plane tickets.
Make of that what you will…
Anyway, here’s the obligatory snap on a bike. That’s a pretty pristine white shirt for off-roading…
Welcome to this crucial role @Mark_J_Harper @TheAA_UK looks forward to working with you to improve road safety, reduce congestion and boost the economy.
— Edmund King OBE (@AAPresident) October 25, 2022
Family announces death of pioneering British cyclist Brian Robinson
It’s with great sadness the family of Brian Robinson have to announce his passing yesterday.
Funeral detail to follow. pic.twitter.com/3rQL1aAMdK
— Jake womersley (@Jake_womersley) October 26, 2022
Robinson was the first British rider to complete the Tour de France, and the first Brit to win a stage, but also a much-loved figure within the British racing scene, as evident from the glowing tributes rolling in this morning…
Just heard that Brian Robinson has died. The saddest news. He was a great man, a fierce competitor, a trailblazer, a generous soul, funny as hell and kinder than you could imagine. Yorkshire, England, has lost a Great. pic.twitter.com/bzkU3v82Oj
— Ned Boulting (@nedboulting) October 26, 2022
Sad to hear of the passing of Brian Robinson, but what a great life – a true pioneer of our sport. Condolences to his family. Rest in Peace. https://t.co/xzlCixaKIO
— Brian Cookson OBE (@BrianCooksonOBE) October 26, 2022
More to follow…
So... what's the coolest thing you can do on a bike?
Some early suggestions from the comments…
mctrials23: “The correct answer has always be a sick skid.”
Skids aren’t just for kids. 📷: kev fox pic.twitter.com/r5ikRocIGW
— Tom Pidcock (@tompidcock) May 28, 2017
ShutTheFrontDawes: “Coolest thing: track stand. Bonus points for doing it on a freewheel.”
Patrick9-32: “I think the coolest thing is the MTB parents who have the tiny pedals and saddle setup on the top tube in front of them so their kid gets to feel the trails with them. Looks so much fun and I wish it had been a thing when I was tiny.”
eburtthebike: “Ride through a fridge and run over Boris?”
Car Delenda Est: “Rolling dismount with no handlebar, the holy grail.”
alexuk: “The coolest thing you can do on a bike? …Make it home alive.”
Bianchi's new Oltre 'Air Deflector' tech is not UCI legal
Well, well, well. Some big tech news this morning…
> Bianchi’s new Oltre ‘Air Deflector’ tech is not UCI legal
At least it looks good…*sarcasm klaxon*…
"Wear a helmet!" Halfords advises... because a tree branch might fall on your head
First thing’s first, I’ll save you your comment asking: why we’re doing the helmet ‘debate’ again? You’re bored of it, I’m bored of it. Fair enough.
With that said, we thought we probably should share the reaction to Halfords, the UK’s largest cycling retailer, posting this story to its 63,000 followers and advising riders that they “strongly recommend” wearing one… apparently… in case a tree branch falls on your head?
Is that a strong recommendation to purchase one on display at Halfords for £39.99 perhaps?
(2/2) Bike helmets can literally save lives & prevent cyclists from incurring brain damage in extreme circumstances. They’re the equivalent of airbags for a car – you wouldn’t want to be without them. Whilst riding without a helmet isn’t illegal, we strongly recommend wearing one
— Halfords (@Halfords_uk) October 25, 2022
Now, I don’t want to straw man Halfords’ post too badly… they definitely don’t believe falling tree branches are the sole reason cyclists should wear a lid. But hey, it’s fun to point out the clunkiness on display, and the amusing lack of perception that someone could well be taking the piss out of your post…
Exhibit A:
Hi Eachann,
Thanks for reaching out 👍
Can you please pop me a DM so that I can look into this for you?
Thanks, Abdul.
— Halfords (@Halfords_uk) October 25, 2022
No nibble on this unfortunately…
Can you provide details on your range of motoring helmets? I’m very keen to protect my head while driving as the majority of head injuries are sustained inside motor vehicles.
— Deacon Thurston 🚴♂️ (@DeaconThurston) October 25, 2022
*Helmet debate disclaimer*
Now for the replies questioning Halfords’ lack of evidence… you can’t say I didn’t warn you…
The equivalent of airbags? really? can you provide some empirical evidence for that?
— ReCyclingDave (@cycling_dave) October 25, 2022
I hadn’t realised how dangerous cycling is! I’m cancelling my new bike order and will be returning all the accessories I already bought.
Thanks for the heads up!
— Dave McCraw (@david_mccraw) October 25, 2022
Dear @Halfords_uk, can you provide evidence for your claim that bike helmets are the equivalent of airbags for your car please?
I’ll wait…— Melston (@matthewelston) October 25, 2022
Right, that’s enough of that. Wear a helmet if you want to. If you don’t, don’t. Onwards…
Do THIS to avoid getting scammed
We have a winner...
Winner of the coolest thing to do on a bike competition goes to Brooksby…
I never learnt to do any of those cool things, so I’ll suggest that one of the coolest things you can do while riding a bike is — just? — riding a bike
That works for us.
"For me it's a bit of a stress release": F1 star Valtteri Bottas talks life on two wheels
Shout-out to kil0ran for the heads-up about this one…
Valtteri Bottas has spoken to the BBC about his love of cycling, gravel racing and all things outdoors. The Finn’s two-wheeled adventures have caught our eye before, not least warming up for the Melbourne Grand Prix with a 30km/h spin and training with a certain Lance Armstrong.
> Canyon partners with F1 star Valtteri Bottas
Anyway, back to today’s interview…
Bottas told the BBC: “For me it’s a bit of a stress release. I can go to places that are quite remote, I can go to explore and almost leave any stress or F1-related things behind me when I get on my bike.
“For me it’s mentally really important. I love nature and I love clean air, pure water, nice scenery — the less people you can see the better when I disconnect.”
Acknowledging the contradiction between his personal and professional life, Bottas does show some self-awareness, accepting he has made a vast personal fortune out of a sport which creates an estimated 256,000 tonnes of carbon equivalent waste each season… not that pro cycling can act holier than holy on that front…
“I’ve definitely seen climate change in Finland — already the summer and winter is turning more in extremes. Already from my childhood to now I can see a difference. Being in F1, there’s quite a big push to be greener — it took a while, but finally people are taking it seriously. Teams and organisations are really putting effort into it.
“In the end it’s all about making simple choices, like if you go to work or to the supermarket; do you take your V8 car or bike? Simple things.
“My daily commute to school, even if it was snowing or raining or whatever, was by bike. For me it was a normal commute, so I didn’t find it that hard — I got used to it and the wet weather.”
Bottas has set up his own gravel race in Finland, starting next year. “Gravel racing is something that’s been really rapidly growing, getting more and more popular especially in the United States,” he said.
“I did my first gravel race last year in Steamboat Springs — SBT GRVL [near Denver, Colorado]. Most people go mountain biking and road cycling, but it just gives you the opportunity to explore a bit more — get on roads without any traffic or without any people. That’s the pretty cool thing about it.”
UCI Track Champions League joins the metaverse
Right, let’s see if this makes any sense…
Warner Bros. Discovery Sports and Infinite Reality have partnered “to offer a new and revolutionary way for audiences to engage with their favourite sports”, starting with a “unique metaverse experience during the upcoming UCI Track Champions League”.
Other than press release talk we can’t actually decipher what this means in non-metaverse real-word terms…maybe that will become apparent closer to the time.
For now, we’ll just have to take the word of John Acunto, CEO of Infinite Reality Inc, who says it is the “beginning of connecting amazing content with their audiences in unique and immersive ways. We can’t wait to see the fans’ excitement while engaging with UCI Track Champions League and bringing them closer to the sport they love in a totally new and revolutionary way.”
That explains that then…
"Pioneer. Trailblazer. Legend": Tributes to Brian Robinson
Pioneer. Trailblazer. Legend.
Today we join the cycling community in sending our heartfelt condolences to the family of Brian Robinson – the first British rider to complete and win a stage at @LeTour, and member of the British Cycling Hall of Fame. pic.twitter.com/oimk7DzQff
— British Cycling (@BritishCycling) October 26, 2022
> Britain’s first Tour de France stage winner Brian Robinson dies, aged 91
Not one of, but THE nicest person you would ever meet. He pioneered pro cycling for GB. If the World had been represented by Brian, then all would be OK. https://t.co/EJGYti1MfT
— Phil Liggett (@PhilLiggett) October 26, 2022
road.cc reader Kendalred added: “I had the pleasure of being at a small vintage bike talk in our town a few years ago where Brian was the guest speaker — he seemed a genuinely good bloke, full of witty anecdotes and opinions! Sad news, but a life well and truly lived. Au revior Brian.”
Ride envy — add this one to your bucket list
Sea views, coffee, challenging climbs, ice cream and cake. Here’s Jamie’s ‘A few hours around the Gower’, a coffee ride to make you jealous…
> A few hours around the Gower: Jamie’s coffee & ride on the stunning South Wales coastline
Totally unremarkable commuter hack bike
Wonder what this chap would be riding if he turned up for a club run? If you’re not aware just how high-end this ride is, let’s just say I’d be rather worried about dropping bubble tea on my bike if it happened to be a Colnago C68 with Lightweight Obermayer wheels…
If you fancy a bike for hacking round town with a bubble tea that will cost a little less, you can always check out our guide to the best commuter bikes.
Are children learning to ride bikes later?
Merlin Cycles has sent us some research suggesting that the average age at which a child learns to ride a bike has increased by nearly half a year compared with the 1980s.
Sadly there isn’t any info on the sample size, but it has got us thinking — as more than a few of you are probably in the midst of, or have recently taught your kid(s) the joy of cycling — what age did they learn?
According to Merlin, whilst the average age was 5.1 years old in the 80s, it is now up to 5.5 years old. Hardly a big deal, I hear you cry, and I wouldn’t disagree with you…anyway, it seemed like a nice discussion topic…
I think this is this the part where I’m meant to blame TikTok, the metaverse and all things behind a screen?
If you are in the market for your kid’s first bike then check out our handy guide to know exactly what to look for and a few suggestions of the best children’s bikes out there…
That's all for today...
Same time and place tomorrow, folks…
On the eve before the 2023 route is announced in Paris, I’ll leave you with one final tribute to a legend who made British cycling history at the Tour de France…
A pioneer and trailblazer of British cycling passed away today.
First British rider to win a stage on the Tour de France, in 1958, and ambassador of the Grand Départ in Yorkshire back in 2014, Brian Robinson was 91.
We send our condelences to his family.
📸 Pressesports pic.twitter.com/Q0LRzeokUj
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) October 26, 2022
> Britain’s first Tour de France stage winner Brian Robinson dies, aged 91
26 October 2022, 08:00
26 October 2022, 08:00
26 October 2022, 08:00
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Latest Comments
@mitsky Just checking the figures and apparently the 2026 average cost is £58,000 per year per prisoner; worth noting that is only the direct cost, you then have to factor in ten years of lost tax income from the prisoner, ten years that the prisoner is making no contribution to society as a worker or as a consumer, plus the fact that if they were the primary breadwinner very likely the costs will include benefits for their family as well. None of which should be a reason for keeping violent recidivists out of prison of course, nor drug/drink drivers who kill, but it is a factor worth considering for lower-level offences.
@Surreyrider I ride in Surrey a fair bit and absolutely many do look like that but the point is they all *think* they're driving perfectly reasonably (as one discovers when remonstrating with someone who's skimmed one by 30cm, "I gave you masses of room") so deterrent penalties have little effect. That's why we need to strike at the root cause and actually train drivers properly and test them stringently (and more than once over the course of a potential 70+ years of driving, it's absolutely absurd that competence and knowledge in what for most people is the activity in their life that will run the biggest risk of killing people you never have to have your qualifications renewed).
@mitsky Imprisonment currently costs over £50k p.a. per prisoner and obviously that will rise over the course of a ten-year stretch with inflation. Regarding culpability and mitigating sentences etc, of course I'm not against condign punishment for drivers who kill (and cyclists on the tiny, tiny handful of occasions when this happens), including prison as appropriate; I was objecting to the ridiculous and oft-repeated demand of MM that drivers who kill cyclists must get ten years, "no excuses, no exceptions".
Hey, but their wool blend cycling adjacent t-shirts are/were fantastic.
@Surreyrider Still the boss. Ride one, you'll see why
@Smoggysteve "Most would happily ride on the roads and be treated with respect by drivers". But people aren't - and as far as I can see they won't be. Not until there is a lot less driving and it's slower around cyclists, and far more people driving have "skin in the game" eg. they sometimes cycle and their friends and family do also. That's what leads to the model - which is perhaps most advanced in NL - where cycling, walking and driving are all seen as separate normal transport modes. Their needs, vulnerabilities and any dangers to others are considered. And *that* leads to "mix / share when possible, separate when necessary". But "possible" is "where your 10-year old would be safe to cycle unsupervised" - so very few motor vehicles, going slow! And AFAICS everybody - even "existing cyclists" - is happy with the result. (I dunno about a few pro cyclists - but don't they tend to have training camps in different counties anyway?)
@quiff as an Edinburgh resident I can confidently say he's speaking without moving his lips in one sense: - while as I noted in a separate comment there *is* now some real separated cycle infra, all the examples i can think of have *at least as much space* for pedestrians. The rest of the "cycle infra" is essentially similar to the situation in the rest of the UK: eg. bus lanes*, cycle lanes and shared use paths (eg. "build" infra by sticking up a sign). Edinburgh is one of the places with a moderately extensive network of former railways which have been converted to "shared use" paths (completely motor traffic few). However though shared they are not narrow by UK standards. And this is all effectively a "free extra" for all non- motorised users, not like the "sign a cycle path" where pedestrians do lose space. I think this all comes from the "popular understanding" of cycling in which ultimately cyclists are the "other". They don't fit "motor vehicle" or "pedestrian" (including wheelchairs on the very rare occasions people think about that). Thus "cyclists are cheating" in multiple ways! They shouldn't get their own space as "there aren't enough" of them. And "they can just use the road / path". But being able to *choose* "on the road" or "on the footway" (shared use path) is clearly unfair - nobody else gets to do that! BUT of course even if they did pick just one of road OR pedestrian space it's still not fair anyway because they're "too slow" for the road (don't pay "road tax" etc...) and "far too fast" for pedestrians... * Though some existing cyclists may appreciate them when there are few buses, buses and bikes are a very poor mix for several reasons.
Whilst a shame for any employees, their bib shorts had the worst chamois pad I’d ever encountered, utter waste of my money. Even though they were Strava challenge discount purchases, still a waste of money.
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!
25 thoughts on ““Wear a helmet!” Halfords advises… because a tree branch might fall on your head; Brian Robinson tributes; What does this week’s Transport Secretary mean for cycling?; Coolest thing you can do on a bike?; Metaverse cycling + more on the live blog”
The coolest thing you can do
The coolest thing you can do on a bike? …make it home alive.
Amen !
Amen !
Rolling dismount with no
Rolling dismount with no handlebar, the holy grail.
“What’s the coolest thing you
“What’s the coolest thing you can do on a bike?”
Ride through a fridge and run over Boris?
I think the coolest thing is
I think the coolest thing is the MTB parents who have the tiny pedals and saddle setup on the top tube in front of them so their kid gets to feel the trails with them. Looks so much fun and I wish it had been a thing when I was tiny.
Coolest thing: track stand.
Coolest thing: track stand. Bonus points for doing it on a freewheel.
The correct answer has always
The correct answer has always be a sick skid.
Not sure Cross is the coolest
Not sure Cross is the coolest thing you can do on a bike. Isnt it Road and MTB’s nerdy cousin? Though admittedly it does lead to some pretty cool riders emerging.
(Ducks and Covers)
Anything on a BMX is the
Anything on a BMX is the coolest thing on a bike.
I never learned to do any of
I never learned to do any of those cool things, so I’ll suggest that one of the coolest things you can do while riding a bike is – just? – riding a bike 😀
Tiffany Cromwell’s bloke at
Tiffany Cromwell’s bloke at it again – gravel racing reaches the BBC no less…
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/63381665
Hes actually part of the
Hes actually part of the Canyon family now and they posted his favourite gravel ride on Komoot https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/blog-content/pr/valtteri-bottas-q-and-a/b14102022.html
Try parsing this sign seen
Try parsing this sign seen today in Kingsbury Water Park:
“NO CYCLING DOGS ON LEADS”
IanMSpencer wrote:
Well, they won’t be arresting too many of them will they?
Reminds me of the sign in our local dump, sorry, recycling centre:
“Children must be kept in vehicles”
I didn’t have a child with me, so I had to ask if I was allowed in.
I always keep my dog on a
I always keep my dog on a lead when he’s cycling. Otherwise he just buggers off into the distance!
Was this story covered here
Was this story covered here at all? The perpetrator seems like a particularly nasty piece of work who will only be stopped with a long custodial sentence.
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/cyclist-paralysed-waist-down-after-25351332
andystow wrote:
“He has 21 previous convictions for 47 offences beginning when he was a youth and including multiple aggravated taking of vehicles, thefts from vehicles, fraud, driving while disqualified, dangerous driving, handling stolen goods, offences of violence, criminal damage, being concerned in the production of cannabis, and possession of drugs.”
And
“With a one third discount for his guilty pleas Thomas was sentenced to nine years in prison. He will serve two-thirds of that sentence in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community. The defendant was further disqualified from driving.”
good job that judge. Gave
good job that judge. Gave that young ruffian exactly what he needed. A driving disqualification. That will teach him to obey the law!
The Halfords branch helmet
The Halfords branch helmet thing reminds me of the incident about ten years ago when a young Oxford University rower was struck on the head by an oar, immediately and cynically seized on by Headway to promote cycle helmets.
Just wondering how many weeks
Just wondering how many weeks a year Valterri Bottas spends at his Finnish lake house when he’s either not in Monaco or somewhere else for a Grand Prix weekend…”both weekends I was home this year the weather was awful!”
Coincidentally – four weeks
Coincidentally – four weeks ago a large branch fell from a tree and hit me as I was cycling to work. I fractured three ribs and it bloody hurt. I was wearing a helmet and if the branch had hit me on the head I would have been very glad that I was. The chances of being hit by a falling branch are millions to one. But it happened to me in the city.
Hah. What an interesting mix
Hah. What an interesting mix of posts.
Branches are the main reason I wear a helmet when I do. Not for falling branches, but for protecting my bonce from branches still on trees and bushes, overhanging trails.
The literally coolest thing is surely bike bog snorkelling, as practised by the lady who headed up the Covid vaccine development effort.
I’d say Harper looks half and half. Maintaining rail privatisation is excellent, given how successful it has been overall. Some adjustments needed, but relatively minor. How he does for cycling remains to be seen; he can’t be more twattish than Grant Shapps – it’s not possible.
mattw wrote:
Sarcasm, right? Please say it’s sarcasm. After having to take Network Rail back into public ownership and the utter farce of the virtual collapse of the franchise system, you can’t really say that seriously?
In defence of privatisation,
In defence of privatisation, the trains are now painted in lots of different pretty colours and . . . . . . well there must be lots of other benefits that I just can’t think of right now.
And they get to change the
And they get to change the colours of those trains every few years, even though they are all owned by completely different leasing companies.
And different uniforms for the staff too…