Anti-cycling rant to local newspaper sabotaged by sensible comments; Bob Jackson Cycles reportedly saved; Freeman case delayed AGAIN; Round-the-world cyclist Josh Quigley in hospital after crash; RBKC cut emissions + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
Kensington and Chelsea Council release plans to lower carbon emissions...
Help us boost air quality!🌳🌳
Have your say on the planning guidance by 23 February.
The draft plans set out how to keep the borough green, encouraging developers to design in measures to cut carbon emissions and improve air quality.https://t.co/8Dov7urYRk pic.twitter.com/D0ipXSTrcg
— Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (@RBKC) January 20, 2021
Ever thought about what Kensington and Chelsea Council are up to since ripping out the Kensington High Street cycle lane? It turns out they’ve drawn up green guidance plans to help boost air quality and lower carbon emissions in the borough…The irony hasn’t been lost on those who saw the council’s tweet announcing the news. Jeremy Vine replied: “I honestly feel like this account is trolling me.” Another suggested: “You know what would really boost air quality? Putting the cycle lanes you ripped up back in. Just a thought.”
On the council’s website they say the current focus is on setting targets for developers building new homes or upgrading existing buildings…Councillor Johnny Thalassites said: “We have set our own ambitious targets to improve air quality, lower carbon emissions and keep our environment green – but we cannot meet them alone. The world has woken up to the climate crisis and we need to make sure our borough plays its part.”
They’ve also launched a consultation period until February 23 for residents to give their thoughts…
The High St cycle lane would have helped boost, if you ask…
— Marina Lussich (@mlussich) January 20, 2021
How about giving the cyclists back the cycle lanes? Reduce pollution. Show active travel is a priority. Super simple.
— Dr Josie Perry (@Josephineperry) January 26, 2021
Gone fishing
Gone fishing 🎣
📸 @veloimages pic.twitter.com/ZykNi5rCYl— Chris Froome (@chrisfroome) January 27, 2021
Some cool cycling infra from the Netherlands
New cycle track passing over a railway line in a rural area of South Holland was constructed with a barn on top, so any horses using the crossing were not alarmed by trains passing underneath. I’m guessing it is also a popular place to shelter when it rains during your ride pic.twitter.com/7nPu9Cy1mI
— Hackney Cyclist (@Hackneycyclist) January 26, 2021
Dutch cycling infrastructure looking out for horses as well as cyclists. Even got a little climb up to the top as well. It beats being stuck at a level crossing…For something closer to home, there’s these new Dutch junctions in Manchester…CYCLOPS Junctions are designed to prioritise cyclists and pedestrians.
Flying along with Movistar
🚁🎥🚴♂️ ¡A toda velocidad desde el aire! Gracias a @rawsuperdrink y al piloto profesional de drones @Ivan_Merino5 por acompañarnos hace unas semanas en nuestros entrenamientos contrarreloj en el #CircuitoCostaDeAlmería 😍✌️ #RodamosJuntos #YoBeboSalud pic.twitter.com/kEma00CU8s
— Movistar Team (@Movistar_Team) January 27, 2021
Someone at Movistar got a drone for Christmas…It does make you wonder about the possibilities for using drones to capture TV pictures at bike races. Pros: cheaper, greener, doesn’t knock over race barriers, could get better pictures (probably) and they can fly closer to the bunch…I’m sold.
Team GB’s BMX squad used drones with infra-red lamps and sensors before the Rio Olympics to collect data for staff to find ways to make their riders more efficient. Marginal gains…
Bob Jackson cycles saved again, following two previous closure announcements
After announcing its closure, being saved and then announcing its closure again, the Bob Jackson Cycles saga has took another turn, after fellow frame builder Woodrup Cycles reportedly stepped in to save the legendary brand.
Less than three weeks ago, a Bob Jackson Cycles representative told road.cc that “the new buyers/management team who were due to sign and take over last Monday pulled out at very last minute”… however in an interview with Cycling Weekly, Tony Woodrup of Woodrup Cycles revealed that he is heading a group of local investors that will save Bob Jackson from closure, with its frames set to be made in a new Leeds factory by mid-2021.
“My grandpa [Woodrup founder, Maurice] was in partnership with Bob after World War II,” said Woodrup.
“We’ve always had that connection even after we split. They’re a real iconic brand.
“The old factory needed massive investment to be fair. It wasn’t in a great state of repair. Even if we’d gone in there we would have had to gut the place. So we’ve already found a new building that will incorporate a state-of-the art paint shop and new tooling. We’re looking at opening in around six months.”
The Bob Jackson Cycles website still carries a message that says it has ceased trading with immediate [e]ffect… will their be another twist in the tale? We’ll keep an eye out for updates of course.
Richard Freeman trial delayed again
As the old adage goes, only three things in life are certain: death, taxes and delays to the hearing into former Team Sky and British Cycling doctor Richard Freeman.
While we heard last Thursday that Freeman’s lawyers were seeking a delay so he could help with the COVID-19 vaccination rollout (this request was rejected) the BBC’s Dan Roan says on Twitter that this latest hold-up is due to “unforeseen circumstances”.
On Saturday, we reported that Simon Jackson QC summed up by branding Freeman a liar who was prepared to put others at risk with his prescribing practices. For those of you who are still not familiar, Freeman is accused of ordering the banned substance Testogel while he was at Team Sky; however, he denies that he did so “knowing or believing” that they were intended for use by an athlete.
Bernie the derny
— RiksRedGuard (@RiksRedGuard) January 24, 2021
Yes they’ve been done to death, but Bernie memes are still raising a chuckle.
Round-the-world cyclist Josh Quigley hospitalised again during winter training trip to Dubai
I’ve had a crash on the bike and ended up in hospital. 🚴🏻♂️💨🤕🚑 🏥 No cars involved, But I did come off the bike…
Posted by Josh Quigley on Wednesday, January 27, 2021
Just over a year after a horror collision with a driver in Texas which left Quigley with a puctured lung and multiple fractures, the 27-year-old from Livingston is in hospital again following a crash in Dubai.
Quigley posted to Facebook to give details of the crash, saying that no car was involved: “…I did come off the bike pretty hard whilst descending down a hill at about 35-40mph”, said Quigley.
“Not sure the exact confirmed injuries yet but looking like I have multiple fractures. 3 on my pelvis, 2 on my shoulder / collarbone area, 1 on my elbow and 1 on my spine.
Not able to walk and have any independent mobility and in a lot of pain.”
Quigley thanked friends who helped him get to hospital, and said he’s still “a bit shaken up”.
Quigley – who survived a suicide attempt and now hopes to inspire others through his travels – is no stranger to adversity during his previous cycling challenges, and has made no fewer than seven attempts to circumnavigate the globe by bike. During his doomed 2019 attempt, he had his bike stolen before even crossing the channel; previous to this, Quigley was fined for cycling through a pedestrianised area in Bedford. Quigley also abandonded a round-the-world attempt in 2016 after completing 10,000 miles. He finally tasted success in September 2020, breaking the North Coast 500 record by less than 5 minutes.
Quigley says he is in Dubai for “some winter training and racing”, and competed in his first competitive race on 23rd January.
UCI confirms that Cyclo-cross World Championships will go ahead as planned this weekend
The UCI has confirmed that the cyclo-cross World Championships in Oostende will go ahead despite concerns about an outbreak of the South African coronavirus variant in the Belgian town. Het Nieuwsblad reports that there will be additional restrictions at the event with all riders, media and organisers having to undergo additional PCR testing.
In a statement the UCI said they had agreed to a “reduction of accredited persons and toughening of sanitary regulations”. The decision followed talks with the Flemish Ministry of Sport.
“I would like to thank the spirit of cooperation demonstrated by all the players, organisers and competent authorities, who have made it possible to safeguard the Championships for the benefit of the athletes, viewers, partners, and all fans of our sport despite the current very challenging circumstances,” said UCI president David Lappartient.
The men’s race has been highly anticipated with Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert set to renew their rivalry on the biggest stage in cyclo-cross on Sunday. The women’s and U23 races will be held on Saturday.
Auto Express slammed for 'high cost of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods' article
If you are really interested in harm, why don’t you have a counter on your weekly header of the children killed each week by vehicles?
— Ian Callaghan (@willywigan) January 27, 2021
The motoring magazine, that once claimed three in four cyclists “break road rules”, and whose columnist Mike Rutherford recently claimed that Covid-19 “is being used as a cover for an attack on the British motorist”, is back with an attack on Low Traffic Neighbourhoods.
The essay claims that various schemes have failed, and that LTNs are causing delays to emergency service vehicles; however this study on emergency response times in Waltham Forest, which has had an LTN since 2015, found that there was no evidence response times were affected inside low traffic neighbourhoods, using data from the London Fire Brigade. The Auto Express article does state that the Waltham Forest LTN has been hailed “a success” after intially being “met with resistance from the community”.
Auto Express also highlights the money “wasted” on LTN schemes that have been altered or reversed, which it calculates to be around £1 million; however as observed by Coventry’s Bicycle Mayor Adam Tranter, the magazine (and The Times) has expressed no such outrage for the £49 million spent on a roundabout near the M49 that never happened…
Lots of faux concern shown by car magazine at £1m “wasted” on low traffic neighbourhoods across an entire country, caused mainly because of the exact narrative they’re perpetuating.
Not much concern, however, for £49m spent on 1x “abandoned” roundabout.https://t.co/l33FuWEEgg pic.twitter.com/jAA8aSzGw5
— Adam Tranter (@adamtranter) January 27, 2021
Lime to trial electric mopeds in Paris and Washington DC this spring
Green urban mobility company Lime are adding electric mopeds to their fleet, starting with trials in Paris and Washington DC. Lime, who are the world’s leading operator of shared electric vehicles, have already powered over 200 million rides worldwide across 120 cities through their e-bikes (pictured above) and e-scooters. Now, their electric mopeds can also be hired via the Lime app with more cities expected to be added if the trial is successful.
“The addition of electric mopeds to our fleet of e-bikes and e-scooters is another major step in our goal of ensuring access to affordable, carbon-free shared transportation in cities around the world” said Wayne Ting, CEO of Lime. “We are a committed partner to over sixty cities in Europe and we continue to invest heavily in sustainable and safe product solutions municipalities and riders need. This is why we choose Paris as one of two cities in the world to pilot our e-moped service allowing riders to make longer trips than ever before using the Lime app, in a safe and clean way.”
Elia Viviani and Diego Ulissi cleared to leave hospital following heart scares
Italian pair Elia Viviani and Diego Ulissi have both been discharged from hospital following their respective treatment and cardiological tests. Viviani underwent atrial ablation surgery after he noticed an irregularity in his heart beat while training near Verona. Viviani’s former team doctor at Liquigas, Dr. Roberto Corsetti treated him initially, before he was admitted to Lancisi University Hospital in Ancona for surgery on the anomaly.
Ulissi has been sidelined since mid-December after doctors discovered an irregular heart beat during a routine check up. The UAE Team Emirates puncheur was diagnosed with Myocarditis, an inflamation of the heart muscle and told to rest. Despite the recent treatment, team doctor Michele De Grandi told Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport: “there are reasons to be optimistic.”
The Cycle Show set to be held at Alexandra Palace in June
With races and events being cancelled left, right and centre already once again, the organisers of The Cycle Show promise their 2021 event will go ahead in a safe environment between 25th-27th June at Alexandra Palace in London.
Highlights will include guests appearances from cycling heroes, and the usal array of bike porn from the likes of Trek, Cannondale, Specialized, Canyon, Ribble, Raleigh and more. Social distancing won’t be an issue, as Ally Pally happens to have 196 acres of parkland that will serve as a demo area to test out any potential bike purchases.
Tickets start from £16 and VIP packages start from £70 – you can grab your tickets here.
Cyclist needs surgery after crashing into temporary cycle lane bollard
From next week we’ll begin installing segregated cycle lanes on Pennywell Road as part of #SpacesforPeople creating links between various communities and the North Edinburgh Path Network, plus the coast. Find out more: https://t.co/arPlNtZFZq pic.twitter.com/8ZUQOxxwMi
— The City of Edinburgh Council (@Edinburgh_CC) September 11, 2020
An Edinburgh cyclist needed surgery after breaking his elbow when he crashed and fell onto the concrete base of a bollard segregating a Spaces for People cycle lane from traffic. Dean Loughton struck the base of the bollard, which was covered by snow, when he swerved to avoid a pothole. “They are meant to be there for the safety of the cyclist but these things are outrageously dangerous,” he said.
“If they were luminous yellow it would be better but they are black and it’s really hard to see them at night.” A passing motorist told the Edinburgh Evening News that he was close to hitting Loughton following the crash. The 32-year-old cyclist underwent surgery on Monday at the Royal Infirmary in the city.
Outbreak of common sense derails 'Time to crack down on cyclists' rant on local news website
You know the score… a venomous letter to a local newspaper or website surfaces online, and the various fallacies are then backed up with replies from equally angry proponents of licence plates for cyclists and ‘road tax’.
The letter from Phil Reay on The Argus’ website – titled ‘Time to crack down on cyclists’ – states that cyclists “should be taxed, insured and have number plates”. Mr Reay then says: “I know some cyclists have insurance (probably about two per cent) but if they hit something, it is what they hit that has to pay and surprise, surprise, it isn’t always what they hit that is at fault.
“They use the roads and expect cycle lanes to be provided so, like other road users, they should pay tax, just like other vehicles. It doesn’t have to be a lot and I would suggest something in the region of £10 would be sufficient.
“There is no way of identifying them if they break the law.”
A number of replies to the letter don’t quite go the way we’d have expected them to go, with one saying: “This idea [licensing cyclists] has been tried in other countries, like Switzerland, but as you say, it was impossible to administer and was abandoned. The only country that still has a scheme is North Korea. Phil thinks we should be more like North Korea.”
Another shockingly reasoned reply says: “Cars have number plates and they still kill far more people than cyclists do each year, and car driver’s kill more cyclists each year as well. It’s one of the last non taxed modes of transportation you can have and it great fun!
“There will always be idiots on bikes number plate or not same as their will always be idots in cars.”
One Argus reader, seemingly appalled by another sensible comment, replied: “What are you doing on the Argus comments page with your reasonable arguments and non-confrontational language? This platform is for angry small-minded bigots to vent their many frustrations, and this ‘article’ was posted for just that purpose. Go away.”
In a world where there isn’t much good news about at the moment, we’ll consider this a small victory.
27 January 2021, 09:07
Are times tough for Mr Armstrong?
Got a spare £225? Pay Lance Armstrong to sing you Happy Birthday
The cycling stars of Cameo are recording personalised video messages for paying fans
27 January 2021, 09:07
27 January 2021, 09:07
27 January 2021, 09:07
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Latest Comments
@Rendel Harris you've painted a rather alluring picture of social harmony there, but unfortunately you've got my name wrong. I'm Jack, not Nigel. However, to return the compliment, I must think of a story for you. I imagine you sat outside a pub, real ale and pipe propped on the adjacent table, in a similar fashion to Nigel Farage at his populist best. You turn to your wife. "You know what dear? I think I've been a bit harsh in my time. I've shunned the politeness and wisdom of others for too long and want to change my ways.* "There there Rendel", says Mrs Harris. "You're not a bad old stick, it's just living in London that's emptied your soul of kindness and compassion. I've found a lovely new place where we can settle down in our later years. It's on a leafy cul de sac, surrounded by friendly neighbours and smiling faces. There's a guy a couple of doors down, a remarkable man. As well as his towering intellect and rapier wit, he's also a keen cyclist, holding severa local KOMs. Don't be perturbed dear - he'll ride with anyone provided they show other road users the kindness and courtesy they deserve." Rendel turned emotionally, voice shaking. "Oh my dear, thank you for this second chance", and with that the rest of the pub goers turned and applauded the couple, throwing garlands of petals in their wake. The end.
As a Councillor, Edward needs to be paying some attention to all that parking obstructing visibility and manoeuvres at the junction, and sorting out those radii.
Ed Hill was chucked out by Reform in 2025, though TBF to him it was about how to run it rather than ideology I think. He is now reportedly closer to Advance UK, which is distinctly more extreme than Reform. I'd call this Alan Amos style attention seeking.
Emily, thank you for such an insightful piece. I’m a man, but I enjoy watching the women’s races, possibly more than the men’s. The racing is so much closer, we rarely know who’s going to win. You painted a wonderful picture of how a true champion is able to ‘rise above’ setbacks and distractions, and focus their energy on the task in hand. ‘All’s fair in live and war -and sport, but always good to hear riders expressing their admiration for their competitors
@Nigel Garage ...and then everyone applauded my courtesy and I waved courteously to all the people who were courteously throwing flowers and cheering and courteously waving flags that said "Nigel is the best!"
The picture from street view clearly shows give way lines from the roads to the green painted cycle/pedestrian lane. The road user should give way (or must...) to the user of the green lane. This would of course apply to any cyclist on the roadway.
If I recall there is a cave or two along the route - perhaps they were sheltering from the heat in one of those having taken it for a Golf bunker?
“So if there’s a cyclist travelling down the cycle path at the moment, from this position I can’t see them because my blind spots are too big on the left hand side of the vehicle”, claims Hill. Well, there's your problem, right there...🙄
First impression from the headline that he's likely a twit. Then the detail he was expelled from Reform makes you suspect that failing even their low bar requirements he really is. Then he clearly explains his vehicle is unsafe for the highway because he can't see to give way when turning. Any collision he now has should have that video run out explaining he drove a vehicle he knew to be unsafe. Advice for motorists; instead of thinking that pedestrians and cyclists are low risk 100kg objects, imagine them as a 300 Tonne trains that will crush you and your vehicle if you cross into their paths. You'd give way to the train, so you equally can to the others.
I've had a brief look on Facebook, and Ed Hill (who now appears to be affiliated with Advance UK) seems to have taken some useful road safety improvements under his remit, including an initiative to help local pedestrians on unpaved roads, where the wider council won't help due to planning failures. Regarding the cycle path, I think this is linked to a wider misunderstanding about giving way at junctions and I'm afraid I cannot agree with Mr Hill's conclusion. Regardless of the suitability of the cycle path, vehicles should give way at the junction to both pedestrians crossing and cyclists. It seems to be a poorly understood rule among motorists where some believe they have priority at junctions like this, where they certainly do not. I once had a similar issue myself, while leisurely walking to Waitrose to buy some lunchtime fripperies. A driver beeped their horn as I crossed the junction, despite me having priority, and was shocked and apologetic when I explained I had priority. A polite conversation later, the driver departed, educated and updated on the rules of the road.
51 thoughts on “Anti-cycling rant to local newspaper sabotaged by sensible comments; Bob Jackson Cycles reportedly saved; Freeman case delayed AGAIN; Round-the-world cyclist Josh Quigley in hospital after crash; RBKC cut emissions + more on the live blog”
I’ve got a suggestion for
I’ve got a suggestion for Kensington and Chelsea to lower emissions – get their coucillors and local MP’s to shut their mouths.
jasecd wrote:
Would certainly contribute to reducing global warming.
Not to mention getting them
Not to mention getting them to take some responsibility for the appalling tragedy that happened on their watch at Grenfell. It’s off the topic of cycling I know, but that council has blood on its hands. I know one family who lost family members in the disaster and in very traumatic circumstances too.
That arrogance exhibited by the council might also explain the poor attitude used towards cycling facilities and cyclists to be honest. Little people (who aren’t rich) don’t count basically.
It looks like the Most
It looks like the Most Staggeringly Hypocritical Tweet of the Year has been won already, and it’s only January! Well done RBKC.
As with all political types,
As with all political types, don’t listen to what they’re saying, but watch what they do.
RKBC now realise that they want a part of the greener, healthier vote and so bleat some crap onto social media (which costs literally nothing), but they’re not willing to take away a bit of private vehicle parking as that might inconvenience a few people.
> they want a part of the
> they want a part of the greener, healthier vote…
They want money. That’s all.
hawkinspeter wrote:
Mmmm, maybe, but recent events suggest RKBC doesn’t give a monkey’s about inconveniencing people. Children on their way to school for example or ordinary people cycling to work. However, insert the word “rich” after “few” & yes, agree with every word.
Quote:
Drones to film sport: yes,
Drones to film sport: yes, but there is a risk of the drone crashing on the athletes. This was Marcel Hirscher’s Near Miss of the Day during a 2015 World Cup slalom.
(Worth watching for Hircher’s amazing skiing if nothing else).
Or worse this drone crashing
Or worse this drone crashing at a crit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRyQ1FnxK74
What was with the delayed
What was with the delayed reaction? was it wedged somewhere on the front fork and then dropped or had damaged to tyre / wheel which then gave out the ghost?
HarrogateSpa wrote:
Still an improvement versus a crash with a camera moto. Plus won’t be putting out exhaust fumes or providing a draft.
I don’t know, 25KGs dropping
I don’t know, 25KGs dropping down at 50-60 metres will probably be as lethal if not more. And as you will need a about hundred to cover 6-8 hours of racing over 200 kms, the chances of accidents increase alot.
There are problems with
There are problems with drones to do with line of sight communication in the mountains as well, plus a load of other stuff. Cyclingtips.com did a podcast about it, well worth finding.
Or a crash with a real
Or a crash with a real helicopter which puts out even more pollution and has the potential problem of downdraft.
Richard Freeman trial – it
Richard Freeman trial – it doesn’t take this long to convict someone who’s guilty. I’m starting to wonder if this hasn’t become a witch-hunt, it’s farcical. Lawyers gotta make money I guess.
Not sure I can agree with
Not sure I can agree with that …
It is always the case that if there is a lot of evidence to get through, then the trial/hearing will take a long time because it is important for the sake of justice that all the evidence be given a proper hearing.
This one has also been delayed time and again for various reasons.
I haven’t seen enough of the evidence to make any kind of decision on whether or not Freeman might be guilty, but I don’t think an assumption that he is not guilty simply because it has taken a long time is a good way to proceed.
Eh? AFAIK nearly every delay
Eh? AFAIK nearly every delay in the trial has been at Freeman’s request, apart from the usual Covid ones of course.
It takes this long to convict someone who is wiggling like a fish on a hook, inspite of admitting most of the charges against him. He wont be able to complain he didnt have his day in court.
I like the look of that
I like the look of that abandoned roundabout on the M49 by the way. It’s got great potential as a velodrome. And it’s got excellent access by road from Bristol.
Quote:
Or did he go there to test his eyesight…?
Can we stop calling him round
Can we stop calling him round the world cyclist? He’s never gotten around the world. WTF is he doing in Dubai anyway, it’s not essential for him to be there. There are a number of professional riders who aren’t travelling for training camps because it’s not essential, but that tube always has to be centre of attention.
Someone needs to take the bike off him, slap him about the head and wise him up a bit. Too many people blowing smoke up his arse making him feel like some sort of champion.
Also, the ride he took part in isn’t a competitive race, but a social ride which helps organisers determine your start positon for a sportive taking part in March.
Gkam84 wrote:
Seems a bit harsh. Do you complain when there are reports about ’round-the-world sailors’ having to be pulled out of the ocean because they’ve sunk halfway? Or ‘polar explorers / adventurers’ who’ve had to give up without reaching the pole?
mdavidford wrote:
If I used sites which reported on them, yes. He can identify as an around the world cyclist if he wishes, it doesn’t mean it should be reported that way. I’ve cycled on 5/7 continents. Does that mean I can claim to be an around the world cyclist as well? NO, only those who have actually cycled around the world should claim that, making it back to their start location. Otherwise, it just makes a joke of those who have completed such a feat.
I would suggest, if they really wanted, they could call him a record-breaking cyclist after his NC500 record. I understand that in under investigation though, because of the drafting he received on certain sections of the route from a member of his team in a motor vehicle. The videos of which were posted on his social media channels and were quickly deleted.
Gkam84 wrote:
Fair enough. I think you may be swimming against the tide (cycling against the headwind?) a bit on that one, though. Pretty much the entire rest of the world seems to think that it’s the attempt that’s the important factor. But hey, if that’s the hill you want to die on….
Hmm… So how many people
Hmm… So how many people have climbed on Everest? Plenty more than ever made it to the top. But if you say you’ve “climbed Everest”, I think it’s generally understood that you got past Base Camp!
But, I suppose you could call them all “mountaineers”, even if they never made it.
Saying someone had ‘climbed
Saying someone had ‘climbed Everest’ would be more equivalent to saying someone had ‘cycled round the world’. Calling someone a ’round the world cyclist’ would be more equivalent to calling someone an ‘Everest climber’, but there isn’t really a common term for that.
There are quite a lot of ‘Premier League footballers’ out there, but only a fraction of them have ‘won the Premier League’.
mdavidford wrote:
If you’ve played in the premier league, you are a premier league footballer. If you have won the premier league, you are a premier league winner…
By the way, I wish him a full recovery, because I do think he might have a bit of talent to race domestically in the UK. He does need a dose of reality though, he’s not going to be riding up the Champs in 2026 having just completed the professional Tour de France. Let alone his goal of winning it.
Gkam84 wrote:
On that bit, I suspect you’re probably right.
My two cents: when he was hit
My two cents: when he was hit the first time in Texas, it was legitimate to describe him as a round-the-world cyclist (as per this news story https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-50886714) given that, at the time, he was engaged in a round-the-world ride.
This time round, I’m not convinced that title is justified since he neither has cycled round the world nor was he currently engaged in that activity… Indeed the Beeb just call him a “record breaking cyclist” which seems sufficient and accurate to me (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-55825290)
OnYerBike wrote:
Fair point but they probably just used what he’s best known for – just as if Chris Bonnington was knocked down in the street in London they’d still say “mountaineer Chris Bonnington knocked down” despite the fact that he wasn’t actually mountaineering at the time!
mdavidford wrote:
Then he’s a suicide, not a suicide survivor.
FrankH wrote:
Then he’s a suicide, not a suicide survivor.— mdavidford
Wow. Proud of yourself for that one?
mdavidford and I are riding
mdavidford and I are riding into the headwind together then 😉
Gkam84 wrote:
Keith, have you been skipping your medication? Between the female ex-pro story and this one you’ve really been maligning people without good reason.
If you don’t want to call him a RTW cyclist that’s perfectly fine but everyone else can use the term if they deem it appropriate. To me, if he was cycling round the world at the time and/or had made his name doing so then he is a RTW cyclist. It’s not something you can do in a day or a week, it takes so long, even for the best, that it can justifiably be described as an occupation. Accusations about drafting during his NC500 record-breaking ride aren’t even relevant. Please relax, none of it is your problem.
Gkam84 wrote:
Gosh you’re an angry sort of cove, aren’t you? Extra negativity is of course what we all need for these times. The feller got 16,000 miles into his 18,000 target before he got knocked off in Texas, that’s good enough to be called an RTW cyclist in my book. He’s also a suicide survivor who has done his best to raise awareness of mental health issues. But hey, let’s pick on him, denigrate his achievements, including a world-record-breaking ride, and say he needs to be slapped about the head.
I’m not sure you’re a terribly nice person.
They may not be a “terribly
They may not be a “terribly nice person” but a truthful one not surcumbing to your guilt trip.
NZ Vegan Rider wrote:
What bit of his “truth” do you like? The bit where he claims (untruthfully) that the guy’s world record is in question? The bit where he nitpicks about nomenclature because the guy only managed 16,000 miles out of 18,000 before someone knocked him off his bike at 70mph and left him in hospital for six weeks? Or the bit where he says that someone with mental health issues should be slapped round the head to teach him a lesson?
Take your pick and stay classy, eh?
Quote:
Is that like a sorry excuse for an exclusive?
Surely their tweet should
Surely RBKC’s tweet should have laughing emojis rather than a couple of trees? Better still, a two-faced emoji.
Clearly they’ve already started on this de-carbonising process by removing obstructions to motor traffic which caused congestion and excess fumes.
Black bollards on a black
Black obstructions on a black surface on a cycle route; what could possibly go wrong? There have been many cases of cyclists crashing into similarly disguised things, and the problem is well known by anyone in the transport planning business, so how did these get put in? Did they get the freshest graduate to do it, because it’s “only cyclists” so not important. I trust Edinburgh Spokes will be on the case.
I would suggest the injured cyclist has a very good case for sueing the council for negligence, and if I was in Edinburgh’s transport department, I’d be getting that graduate out there with a tin of reflective white paint and a brush, pronto.
The thing he hit was not on
The thing he hit was not on or obstructing the cycle path, it was on the line demarking it from the motor traffic lane, rather like the kerb on the other flank demarking it from the pavement. If he has a case for suing, surely it is on account of the pothole which forced him to choose between cycling through the pothole, over the kerb or over the bollard support. The only thing “obstructing” the cycle path is the pot hole.
Sriracha wrote:
Oh, I don’t know; that bollard support is the same colour as the road, practically invisible in low light conditions, and it very definitely is a serious hazard to cyclists, literally an accident waiting to happen. Surely anything like that should be flush with the road surface?
The colour does not help, but
The colour does not help, but of course the bollards do mark the line and position of the blocks.
Here is a pic of a cycle lane in France, created by running a kerb along the tarmac to section off a width of road for cycle use. It is white, but then it doesn’t have reflective bollards marking its line.
The whole point of the kerb is that it’s not flush, it keeps the cars out and the bikes in. I guess it’s just as much a hazard to cyclists as is the pavement kerb if your front wheel strays onto it. If the guy had veered the other way and come a cropper against the kerb, would we be saying they should be “luminous yellow”?
Sriracha wrote:
Interesting, but those mounting blocks aren’t a kerb, and the kerb you show is very clearly a different colour to the road, so easily distinguishable; so apart from being completely different, they’re exactly the same.
I’m with Sriracha on this one
I’m with Sriracha on this one. Surely if he was close enough to clip the base he was also close enough to hit the bollard? There may be mitigating factors but it seems like he has put himself at risk and is looking for someone to blame?
Secret_squirrel wrote:
But he hit the block not the bollard, so it clearly is possible to hit that without hitting the bollard. Can you think of any other situation where a practically invisible block would be placed in the carriageway?
No. Because it is not in the
No. Because it is not in the carriageway. No more than the kerb on the other side is in the carriageway. Both mark the boundary.
I think the problem here is not that the boundary was not visible – it was marked by a line of black and white reflective bollards after all.
The problem was he thought he was free to ignore it and cycle across it, albeit in an emergency. He would not have made the same mistake with the kerb, not because it is anymore visible, but because he already knows that would not work.
So yes, making the blocks white might have helped. But it was snowy, so maybe white would not help. You could remove the blocks, but that reduces the protection against cars veering in, a bit like removing the kerb would reduce the protection for pedestrians.
I still think the answer is to make the cycle carriageway itself cyclable – so that evasive action is not required. Rather than pushing for other compromises to accommodate the existence of the pot hole.
In time cyclists will learn that there is a kerb both sides of their lane.
So Auto Express think that 25
So Auto Express think that 25% of cyclists don’t break any road rules. What percentage of drivers do they think never break any road rules. NB going 71mph on the motorway IS breaking road rules.
Don’t these motorists who
Don’t these motorists who seem to care so much about emergency services (and seemingly, the less than abled) realise that it’s traffic that gets in the way. Perhaps they could think about driving their motor vehicles a little less. And of course not parking badly, or anywhere really.
Josh Quigley – terrible
Josh Quigley – terrible situation. Heal up well and fast.
Maybe time to take life easier and give your body a rest (and your family and friends who care about you too).
“Dean Loughton struck the base of the bollard, which was covered by snow, when he swerved to avoid a pothole. “They are meant to be there for the safety of the cyclist but these things are outrageously dangerous,” he said.”
Suely it’s the pothole which is dangerous. Fix the pot hole, fix the problem. The good thing about fixing a pothole in a cycle lane is that it will stay fixed as heavy cars won’t braking and accelerating in it. The next stage is to keep it free of debris and we’re laughing.