“They’re a few days early”: Specialized’s new ‘April Fool’ seat tube divides opinion; Bath’s bicycle mayor shuts down GB News producer’s claim that mums can’t “cart around children” by bike; Tyre pressure adjustment system spotted + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
New tyre pressure adjustment system spotted on Jumbo-Visma bike at Dwars door Vlaanderen
Oh, what’s this?
One of Jumbo-Visma’s bikes, belonging to Italian Edoardo Affini, was spotted this morning at the start of Dwars door Vlaanderen sporting what seems to be a tyre pressure adjustment system:
👀 Looks like Affini is testing the KAPS adjustable air pressure system. #DDV23 #DDV pic.twitter.com/myK3cltMrF
— Janus (@JVerlaeckt) March 29, 2023
The on-the-fly inflation hub appears to be a different system to the Scope Atmoz, developed with help from Team DSM and which was set to be used by the squad for last year’s Paris-Roubaix but was pulled at the last minute.
The Scope Atmoz system (and, by the looks of things, the system set to be used by Affini today) can inflate and deflate a tyre using an air reservoir housed within the hub which is linked via a hose to a tubeless rim. Mechanical valves open and close to control the pressure within the tyre, and the can adjust the tyre pressure (which will show on their bike computer) by pushing a button on their handlebars.
That kind of on-the-fly adjustment would, in theory, work perfectly for a race like Paris-Roubaix, where the difference between the horrible, jutted cobbles and the smooth tarmac is stark, and where weight considerations don’t come into play as much on the pan-flat route.
Presumably, Affini will give the system a test run over Flanders’ cobbled bergs today, before Jumbo-Visma decides whether to unleash the nifty, and potentially very useful, bit of tech on the Hell of the North.
We’ll keep our eyes peeled…
‘Why don’t cyclists use cycle lanes?’, part 4,798
Why #cyclists don’t use #cycle lanes#cycling in #Sheffield pic.twitter.com/zmMrDaeq5e
— CyclingInASkirt (@CyclingInASkirt) March 28, 2023
Ah, bike lanes, great places for putting ‘Diverted traffic’ signs. Not always great for cyclists, mind you…
Mr Pot Noodle Hole
You never guessed it. From floating plastic ducks in water filled potholes to birthday cakes, fishing rods and model submarines – my latest potty venture is with @potnoodle! pic.twitter.com/iQ6rj0JYkt
— Mr Pothole (@mrpotholeuk) March 28, 2023
Potholes, decrepit roads, government neglect, and an instant microwave snack? Sounds like a marketer’s fever dream…
But that’s exactly the promo campaign dreamed up by Pot Noodle, who have teamed up with leading campaigner Mark Morrell – better known to all of us as Mr Pothole – to highlight the increasing damage on the UK’s roads.
> Is there a pothole crisis on Britain’s roads?
According to Morrell, it will cost £14bn to properly fix the cracks and holes found across England and Wales – a good deal more than the £200m allocated by Jeremy Hunt earlier this month.
£14 billion record roads maintenance backlog in England & Wales. Back in year 2000 it was £3.75 billion and has risen by £1.3 billion in last 12 months alone. Governments & authorities have under invested in essential maintenance#ResurfaceOurRoads pic.twitter.com/hjZEyiwkBW
— Mr Pothole (@mrpotholeuk) March 21, 2023
And what better way to do raise awareness of Britain’s roads problem than by filling its potholes with microwaved noodles?
> National Pothole Day: An interview with Mr Pothole (otherwise known as Mark Morrell)
“Potholes drive road users potty, me more than most. The pothole crisis across the UK is an increasingly serious issue and something that I have been campaigning for over 10 years,” Morrell said in a pun-heavy press release for the campaign.
“During this period I have had to use my noodle with stunts to highlight just how bad potholes are – from floating plastic ducks in water filled potholes, birthday cakes, fishing rods and model submarines.
“When I heard about Pot Noodle’s campaign, I was up for it. What better way to fill a pothole than with Pot Noodles to highlight in a light-hearted way this serious issue. Mr Pothole can he fill it? With Pot Noodles yes, he can!”
Since #NothingFillsAHoleLikePotNoodle, who better to team up with to highlight the ridiculous state of the UK’s roads than @potnoodle? Send us pictures of your worst, local potholes using the hashtag and tagging your local council! pic.twitter.com/NHlSWwk0n3
— Mr Pothole (@mrpotholeuk) March 28, 2023
Now I really have seen everything…
Luis Enrique shows off his legs after Cape Epic
We all know that former Real Madrid and Barcelona footballer, and until recently the manager of the Spanish national side, Luis Enrique loves his cycling.
So much so that the Champions League-winning gaffer announced one of his Spain squads with a homage to the Vuelta, and spent his free time during the recent World Cup in Qatar riding his bike and catching up with the cyclocross on GCN (although, judging by Spain’s ignominious exit on penalties to Morocco, a bit more time practising pens and less time watching Tom Pidcock may have proven beneficial for his current employment status).
And now, after resigning from his post following that last 16 exit, the 52-year-old can now kick and back and enjoy the finer things in life.
Like riding the world’s premier mountain bike stage race.
Nos queda solo una bala y la vamos a gastar mañana!!!! Equipazo! pic.twitter.com/DiJe3Cw8sG
— LUISENRIQUE (@LUISENRIQUE21) March 25, 2023
This week was Enrique’s third stab at the Cape Epic – in 2013 he teamed up with former Sevilla ‘keeper Juan Carlos Unzué and five years later he raced alongside Tomás Latorre.
Fast forward another five years and Enrique and Latorre made their return this week to the brutal South African race, this time riding under the Team Unzué in honour of Juan Carlos, who was diagnosed with motor neuron disease in 2020.
The former Spain boss and Latorre finished the mammoth event with a time of 45 hours, 17 minutes, and 32 seconds, enough to secure them 38th in the Grand Masters category and 316th overall.
A “very happy” – and I imagine tired – Enrique took to social media to show what eight days and 658km of mountain biking does to your legs:
Así se te quedan las piernas después de 8 días de btt, 658 kms y 15.500+ pic.twitter.com/NeL5wsyDBd
— LUISENRIQUE (@LUISENRIQUE21) March 26, 2023
Well, Luis, I’m sure it was a lot more enjoyable than getting thrashed by Scotland last night, eh? (I couldn’t resist…)
Move over Lance, there’s a new “biggest cycling cheater ever” in town
> Zwift racer banned for hacking data tries MyWhoosh… gets disqualified immediately
You know the old saying: ‘If at first you don’t succeed… Probably best to stop cheating at virtual racing’.
I think it’s time for poor Eddy to pack the turbo away for a few months at least…
Taking it easy up the Muur van Trek
Haven’t heard of this Flemish climb, the Muur van Trek #DDV23 pic.twitter.com/6nUgRTsLQp
— Katy M (@writebikerepeat) March 29, 2023
It’s honestly the best one we’ve ever seen!
— Trek-Segafredo (@TrekSegafredo) March 29, 2023
Trek-Segafredo are channelling their inner mid-2010s QuickStep at today’s Dwars door Vlaanderen, absolutely drilling it on the flats before tapping gently, Sunday run-style, up the cobbled bergs and climbs.
I’m getting whiplash just watching it, but you can’t say all the stop-start action isn’t entertaining. And surely someone will attack on the hills at some point too…
Jumbo-Visma set for potential sponsor hunt as beleaguered Dutch supermarket chain reviews its investment in sport
Everything may be smooth sailing at the moment on the road for Jumbo-Visma, who have been bending the cobbled classics to their will so far this season, but off the bike things aren’t looking so rosy for one of the team’s title sponsors, Dutch supermarket chain Jumbo.
Last September, we reported that the house of Jumbo’s CEO, Frits van Eerd, was raided by Dutch police and the Fiscal Intelligence and Investigation Service (FIOD) as part of an investigation into money laundering and fraud, revolving around, among other things, sponsorship contracts in motorsport.
Van Eerd, whose father Karel van Eerd – Jumbo’s founder – died in December, stepped down from his role as CEO soon after his arrest and remains under investigation.
Wout van Aert secures another win for Jumbo-Visma at the E3 Saxo Bank Classic (Zac Williams-SWpix.com)
And this week, Dutch daily Algemeen Dagblad has suggested that the company’s sports sponsorship – which includes the men’s, women’s, and men’s development cycling teams, as well as speed skating and motorsport – is now under threat.
The newspaper reports that Jumbo – whose famous yellow and black colours have graced the peloton since 2014, when the chain stepped into sponsor the disgraced team formerly known as Rabobank – have launched a review into its investment into sport.
Jumbo’s current contract with the cycling teams is set to run until the end of 2024, with that deal unlikely to change, Algemeen Dagblad says.
However, it remains uncertain whether that deal will be renewed for 2025 or, if it is, if it will be anywhere near the same level of funding.
Drum and Bass On The Bike celebrates second birthday with Bristol bash
Drum & Bass On The Bike is OFFICIALLY 2 YEARS OLD… Extra Celebrations will be happening at THE BRISTOL RIDE this SUNDAY!! 🥳🎂 pic.twitter.com/tNuN8ljm1F
— Domonic (@domwhiting) March 29, 2023
Everyone’s favourite two-wheeled race is now a toddler (they grow up so fast), and dad Dom Whiting is celebrating by returning to one of its spiritual homes, Bristol.
The mass ride/disco will take place this Sunday at 2pm, starting from Lloyds Amphitheatre. That should give everyone just enough time to head home for the final kilometres of the Ronde…
Pothole tekkers
Define clase: Lazkano – Kristoff #DDV23 pic.twitter.com/bbRqe1J5nJ
— Baquio (@GxlDeBaquio) March 29, 2023
Pure Flandrien class here from the breakaway at Dwars Door Vlaanderen, as the mightily impressive Oier Lazkano, Alexander Kristoff, and Leon Heinschke make light work of a particularly big gutter pothole during one cobbled section.
Big props, especially, to the young Spaniard Lazkano, who is still driving it at the front of the race with the veteran pavé destroyer Kristoff.
It’s been a weird season – Movistar looking better and better at the cobbled classics, Quick-Step becoming a stage racing machine, to the detriment of their much vaunted one-day squad.
Up is down, and down is up…
Christophe Laporte secures back-to-back cobbled classics wins at thrilling Dwars door Vlaanderen, as second-placed Oier Lazkano steals the plaudits with phenomenal ride
Our 2023 winner: @LAPORTEChristop 🐝 #DDV23 #DDVmen pic.twitter.com/fVCSJgu0zs
— Dwars door Vlaanderen (@DwarsdrVlaander) March 29, 2023
There were no gifts today, as Jumbo-Visma’s Christophe Laporte timed his attack to perfection to secure his second cobbled classics win in a row in a thrilling edition of Dwars door Vlaanderen.
After all the discourse that followed the Frenchman’s win at Gent-Wevelgem on Sunday, Laporte arguably had a point to prove today at Dwars, the final rendezvous on the Flemish bergs before this weekend’s main event, the Ronde.
With just over 50km to go, the 30-year-old – who’s clearly in the form of his life – slipped into a dangerous move which included his Jumbo-Visma teammate Tiesj Benoot, Alpecin-Deceuninck’s Quinten Hermans, Jhonatan Narváez of Ineos, and two pairs of Groupama-FDJ (Stefan Küng and Valentin Madouas) and EF-Education EasyPost riders (Mikkel Frølich Honoré and Neilson Powless).
As the race slowly contracted in the final kilometres, that group eventually caught the final dogged remnants of the early breakaway, Oier Lazkano and Alexander Kristoff, before a flurry of attacks, counterattacks, and, then, stalling, gifted (sorry, Christophe) Laporte one golden chance to launch a seated acceleration with four kilometres left.
Küng tried and failed to follow, Laporte was gone, his critics well and truly answered in emphatic fashion.
Christophe Laporte 🇫🇷 takes the victory in #DDV23 after a late attack! 🏆 #DDVmen pic.twitter.com/8pJDThKB3t
— Dwars door Vlaanderen (@DwarsdrVlaander) March 29, 2023
The Frenchman’s back-to-back victories this week continued Jumbo-Visma’s staggeringly dominant cobbled classics campaign.
Of the five major cobbled one-day races in 2023 – Omloop, Kuurne, E3, Gent-Wevelgem, and Dwars door Vlaanderen – the Dutch squad have won all five, with four different riders.
Surely now is the moment they can finally, finally break the curse at the big one, the Tour of Flanders, which they last won way back in 1997 with Rolf Sørensen?
It would be hard to best against Jumbo-Visma in this kind of dominant streak, but the team has been known to fall at the final hurdle in the past…
One of the craziest rides of the season, the streets will never forget Dwars Door Lazkano pic.twitter.com/ngQrHJQSGc
— Patrick Broe (@LanterneRougeYT) March 29, 2023
While Van der Poel and Pogačar may have watched today’s race through their fingers, the whole of Spain will be viewing the grim skies of Flanders with new eyes today, after Oier Lazkano’s phenomenal second place.
While Laporte took the win, the 23-year-old Spaniard stole the show – making it into the early breakaway, driving it along as it valiantly held off the chasing groups, looking at home on the cobbles and rough roads of Flanders, working spectacularly well with Kristoff in the break…
And then, just as you thought his race was over after being swallowed up by the chasers, the Movistar man kept plugging away, latching onto an attack by Neilson Powless, before blowing past the American in the dying metres, as the Jasper Philipsen-led bunch closed in from behind, to secure a staggering and thoroughly-deserved second place on the podium.
If he had any decency, Christopher Laporte would have gifted Dwars Door Vlaanderen to pro cycling’s new cult hero, Oier Lazkano
— Andy McGrath (@Andymcgra) March 29, 2023
And in doing so, Lazkano secured the best ever placing for both a Spanish and a Movistar rider at Dwars door Vlaanderen, beating Alejandro Valverde’s 11th from 2018.
Remember the name…
Transport for London introduces 28km of 20mph roads in Camden, Islington, Hackney, Haringey, and Tower Hamlets
From this Friday, Transport for London will bring in 20mph speed limits across 28km of its roads in Camden, Islington, Hackney, Haringey, and Tower Hamlets, in a bid to meet Vision Zero as well as enabling more cycling and walking in the capital.
The limits will be introduced on sections of the A503, A501, A41, A1, A10, A11 and A1203, and according to TfL will see almost all of the roads in the boroughs have a consistent 20mph speed limit on both the Transport for London Road Network (TLRN) and borough road network.
Data collected by TfL on the 20mph roads introduced within the central London Congestion Charging Zone shows that, between May 2020 and June 2022, the number of collisions has reduced by 25 percent. Collisions involving vulnerable road users have also decreased by 36 percent (from 453 to 290), while collisions involving pedestrians have dropped by 63 percent (from 124 to 46).
The limits will be supported by new signs and road markings, and TfL says it will work closely with the Met to ensure that drivers understand and comply with the new lower speeds.
“TfL data shows that 20mph speed limits are reducing the number of collisions on London’s roads, highlighting how important the continued expansion of the 20mph programme is,” London’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner Will Norman said in a statement.
“Lowering speeds is one of the most important things we can do to reduce road danger and we’ll continue to work with TfL, the Met Police and London’s boroughs to make it easier and safer for people to walk, cycle and use public transport, creating a safer, greener London for everyone.”
Demi Vollering time trials to impressive Dwars door Vlaanderen victory
It’s a solo victory for Demi Vollering in #DDVwomen! 🥇 She rounds off her attack perfectly. 👏 #DDV23 pic.twitter.com/JQgpwKWe8t
— Dwars door Vlaanderen (@DwarsdrVlaander) March 29, 2023
A perfectly timed attack to continue a team’s spring domination at the end of a chaotic, entertaining race?
Nope, I haven’t lost my mind and started writing about Christophe Laporte’s win at Dwars door Vlaanderen again… But there was a slight case of déjà vu in the women’s race this afternoon, as SD Worx’s Demi Vollering stormed away on the final climb to solo to a comprehensive win and to cement her status as one of the big favourites for Sunday’s Tour of Flanders.
Vollering’s 25-day break from racing after her dramatic win at Strade Bianche doesn’t seem to have dulled any of her form, as she navigated the attacks that peppered the race before launching her own definitive move on the Nokere, her favoured terrain – uphill – to time trial to the win.
Chiara Consonni, who’s been slightly under par all year, put in a combative defence of her title by winning the group sprint for second, ahead of Marianne Vos, who looked sharp in only her second race of the year but lacked the punch to follow Vollering on the Nokere.
The world junior cyclocross champion Zoe Bäckstedt also put in an encouraging performance on Flemish roads, battling for the win before fading in the final 10km.
A solo win after a big effort. Congrats, @demivollering! 🍾#DDV23 pic.twitter.com/6sXHg8l9j0
— Dwars door Vlaanderen (@DwarsdrVlaander) March 29, 2023
But just like in the men’s race, as we approach the Ronde on Sunday, all eyes will be on one team, SD Worx, while Vollering – having secured two major wins in just three race days in 2023 – will fancy her chances.
As long as she can beat her own teammates, such as Omloop winner Lotte Kopecky and Gent-Wevelgem victor Marlen Reusser, of course.
Best of luck to everyone else…
When your adjustable tyre pressure gizmo goes wrong
Finally got a clip of the Noemi Ruegg flat tyres save!
That’s some great handling to stay upright all the way through by the @JumboVismaWomen rider#DDVwomen #DDV23 pic.twitter.com/DxCFc14p1e
— Mathew Mitchell (@MatMitchell30) March 29, 2023
Great save though…
Reader reaction: Some praise for Specialized’s ‘Compliance Junction’, thoughts on mums and bikes, and a terrible tyre(d) joke
Judging by today’s comments section, not everyone dislikes Specialized’s ‘April Fool’ frame design.
“I like it,” says Patrick9-32. “Making carbon frames in the shapes dictated by steel tubes makes little sense for anyone who isn’t trying to be UCI compliant. This intuitively looks like it will give better seated comfort which is what you want for a bike that is designed for riding on rough roads in the city.”
Meanwhile, OnYerBike gave a rather measured appraisal: “From an aesthetic point of view, I wouldn’t say I’m a fan, but then I’m a bit old fashioned – give me skinny tubes and a horizontal top tube any day. It’s far from the ugliest bike design I’ve seen.
“From a structural point of view, I don’t see any obvious reason why it should be more prone to failure than a traditional design, although I’m far from an expert. My main concern would simply be that it is “new” and therefore won’t have the same extent of real-world testing. Although we’ve seen plenty of examples of fairly traditional designs still having faults – see e.g. Canyon handlebars.
“My other concern would be as a hybrid bike designed for practical everyday use, the loss of the traditional seatstays and seatstay bridge could be an issue for attaching mudguards and racks (both of which I would consider essential on a practical bike). Specialized claims you can still fit them, but possibly only very specific ones? And even then, would the loss of the seatstays affect rack/mudguard stability?”
Away from oddly shaped bikes and onto odd opinions about bikes, where GB News producer Charlotte Gill’s latest tirage against all things two wheels has left many scratching their heads.
“Whilst not being a parent myself, I think Charlotte should also be pulled up on the implication that only mums ‘cart kids around’… and by extension the idea that all men are happy to cycle (or walk late at night) without decent infrastructure,” says Global Nomad.
However, eburthebike seems to have finally cracked the case – all of Charlotte’s opinions are AI-generated: “Clearly Charlotte Gill is clearly an avid reader of road.cc and used your tips about writing an anti-cycling article using AI. It’s all very well paying people for their opinions, but if they aren’t based on fact, why are you paying them? That said, I’ve watched some GB “news” and it almost, but not quite, reaches the level of drivel.”
And finally, I’ll leave you with a joke about adjustable tyre pressure systems that even I wouldn’t touch with a really long pump:
Matthew Acton-Varian: “If Jumbo-Visma dominate Flanders because of the KAPS experiment it will leave my excitement for racing deflated.”
Steve K: “Fortunately, though, at the push of a button it can be re-inflated.”
Told you…
“Oh dear, can you imagine being a mum carting around children”: Bath’s bicycle mayor shuts down GB News producer’s claim that mums need cars
Remember Charlotte Gill?
The GB ‘News’ producer who penned an article in January for the conservative magazine The Critic, which criticised a new study on Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, despite failing to address any of the study’s findings?
You know, the one who completed anti-cycling bingo with one flamboyant sweep of the keyboard, fitting into one short piece such imaginative, original utterings as: “All across the UK, a war is being waged against car drivers”, “a ‘Lycra Lobby’ of cycling activists and eco wonks”, “I don’t drive, enjoy cycling and probably have a relatively low carbon footprint”, “an assault on democracy”…
Well, I regret to inform you, she’s at it again – this time by claiming that it’s mums who should stand up and oppose the dreaded Lycra lobby:
It’s no coincidence that young men are some of the biggest advocates of killing off the car industry. They’re mostly fit and healthy; they can’t envisage otherwise. They can’t imagine being a mum carting around children nor the woman trying to get home without a taxi at night.
— Charlotte Gill (@CharlotteCGill) March 28, 2023
“It’s no coincidence that young men are some of the biggest advocates of killing off the car industry. They’re mostly fit and healthy; they can’t envisage otherwise. They can’t imagine being a mum carting around children nor the woman trying to get home without a taxi at night,” Gill tweeted.
The GB News producer’s claim was swiftly shot down by Saskia Heijltjes, who was appointed in October 2021 as Bath’s first bicycle mayor, and who – in a shocking turn of events – uses her bike to, wait for it, ‘cart around’ children…
oh dear, can you imagine being a mum carting around children 🤣 https://t.co/TGWkGa4SZT pic.twitter.com/LxxKEBPXnr
— Saskia Heijltjes – @saskia@toot.community (@SaskiaHeijltjes) March 29, 2023
Several other baffled Twitter users – and children-carting cyclists – have joined in too:
Really? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/jd6q9jQEIf
— Asclepius (@NaturalMessiah) March 29, 2023
Can you imagine a mum carting around children on a bike? pic.twitter.com/xJ8SmiNUZY
— Edward Lamb (@edwardlamb) March 29, 2023
Car-brains can only envisage one means of transport. Understandable when they have been conditioned to do so, whilst we dedicate 80% of our built environment to brum brums.
Making an effort to think of other more efficient and less harmful means is too much for most of them. https://t.co/0rSQH0SgH5 pic.twitter.com/90s597zgFu
— OneAdultSwim (@OneAdultSwim1) March 29, 2023
It was having kids that made me not want to use a car for daily life. We chat, we laugh, we sing, we exercise as we journey by bike, in the car the wingeing, wailing and whining are endless.
— saga wilkinson (@portobelly) March 28, 2023
Becoming a parent made me more more anti-car. Cars massively restrict children’s freedom. Children are one of the main groups to benefit from reducing the dominance of cars on our streets.
— Nick Flynn (@nickflynnUK) March 29, 2023
When 2/3rds of women won’t cycle because it’s too dangerous, that’s damning of how ingrained car culture is into everyday life.
— David Caress (@dj_caress) March 29, 2023
My mum gave up cycling to the shops when she was 97 and could no longer get her leg over the crossbar. Many mums don’t have a car. Don’t think so much in stereotypes
— Nick Lester-Davis (@NickLesterDavis) March 28, 2023
Oh well. Better luck next time, Charlotte…
“They’re a few days early”: Specialized’s new ‘April Fool’ seat tube divides opinion
It’s not exactly an L-shaped Crank commemorative plate, but Specialized’s radical new seat tube design did at least have a few of our readers scrambling for their calendars last night…
The American company’s new hybrid Sirrus Carbon machine features a “Compliance Junction” (wasn’t one of those recently installed in the middle of Salford?) which, apparently, aims to provide “just the right amount of flex and forgiveness across the carbon frame without sacrificing performance and efficiency”.
Okay…
So, like any good British junction, Spesh’s frame design doesn’t go where you think it should – the seat tube stops short of the bottom bracket, with the frame held in place by low-slung seatstays and a strut that connects to the down tube. Leaving, at the end of it all, a great big hole in the frame.
The weird and wacky design has certainly baffled and perplexed our readers, with some checking their phones to make sure they hadn’t slept through the end of March.
“Feels like they were a few days early on the press release,” Global Nomad said in the comments.
“Bit early for an April Fool!” concurred Keith on Facebook, a theme that was also picked up by Jon on Instagram, who advised his fellow cyclists to “check the date”.
Others weren’t impressed with the bike’s looks, with wedgey describing the Sirrus Carbon as a “monstrosity”, while Huey described the frame as “URT [Unified Rear Triangle] reinvented”. Well, the nineties are all the rage at the minute…
“Innovative means ‘wait five years for them to start breaking’, by which time this frame type will have disappeared,” said wtjs, with Garry adding: “Sod that. looks like it will break, and you will have trouble finding a bottle/cage that will fit.”
Finally, another Insta user, and big Julian Alaphilippe fan, offered up some “thoughts and prayers to the already overworked Specialized warranty department.”
So, looks like the new Compliance Junction can’t yet be described as a hit. But at least they’ve upped the ante for Saturday anyway…
Now, where did I put my L-shaped cranks?
29 March 2023, 08:56
29 March 2023, 08:56
More info on the latest tech that could pavé the way for riders racing on cobbles in the future… (I’ll get my coat)
On-the-fly tyre pressure adjustment appears on Dwars door Vlaanderen cobbles
Jumbo-Visma rider uses Gravaa KAPS technology with a pump integrated into the hub; will we also see it in the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix?
29 March 2023, 08:56
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Latest Comments
@Paul J Van Schip certainly seems a bit of a dick, but he's a European and multiple World Champion on the track, pretty sure you don't get there without having some talent in your legs.
Poor Vincent cannot get over the simple fact that given the choice people prefer dedicated cycling spaces, rather than pretending to be cars like vehicular cyclists.
What is the point of the fancy air sensor if it can't account for changing weather conditions?? If all you care about is a delayed approximation of aerodynamic watts in steady conditions, you don't need any special sensors for that. Just your speed on a decently flat course is enough to approximate rolling resistance and drivetrain losses. And the rest must be aero. If you assume a less aero body position at the same watts, your speed will drop while rolling resistance also drops, which means approximated aero watts goes up. And that's enough to demonstrate what you've shown in your testing protocol ("I sat upright and the number went up a little while later").
Your correction is accurate - it's almost always been "the (lack of) thought that (doesn't) count". "Massive" - less than a billion a year spent on active travel (trying to catch up / building a network across the entire country) Not massive - 6 billion every year (2026-2030) spent on road *maintenance* of existing "already built, goes everywhere, very convenient" road network for inactive travel Ultimately the reason "cycle infra" is *needed* is those unbelievably colossal amounts spent every year (and for more than a century now) on making mass motoring not just viable but apparently the "best choice" for most journeys. As the Dutch and others have shown, the majority of people *are* prepared to cycle and even mix with very light, slow local motor traffic *if* cycling is also made safe and convenient for the whole of their journey (including secure parking at both ends). (The history of the financial drivers of the current situation are a complex topic but note that while people complain about "crumbling roads" and underfunded motor infra - with some reason - by us continuing the fuel duty escalator freeze (for example) we're actually helping motorists pay *even less* for that activity / subsidising more of the cost of driving than ever.)
yes, but people will still object - which was my point.
So ' Priority of Road Users' and 1.5 metre clearance at 30mph has been been reduced to 'sharing'? NCN route 2 here in South Hams is an absolute scream with white vans, tractors and total idiots who refuse,or are totally incapable,to reverse on high Devon banked lanes ...means you have to get off and pedal back to a passing place....could be at that all day...so I don't bother...
@MaxiMinimalist Agreed. The big problem I see now is today's parents grew up being driven to their schools, and therefore, see private motor vehicles as the only viable form of transport. The vast majority of UK infant and primary schools have a catchment area that is within easy walking distance from home to school. Yet, the traffic caused by pupils being driven to/from school is astonishing. Banishing the "School Run" should be a priority for all schools.
When I was a kid (that was during the previous millenium when phones were connected to a plug in the wall), I rode my bicycle to school, music academy, sport grounds, parties even during the winter. The government didn't have to spend, correct that, didn't have to think of spending massive amounts of money to build cycling specific infrastructures. Over the past 3 or 4 decades, cars have grown bigger, taller, safer (for their drivers) and faster. Meanwhile, motorists have become abusive, aggressive, hypersensitive to people moving on two wheels, aka cyclists. Spending billions upon billions on new infrastructure won't address the crux of the matter. Sadly.
Obree had some actual talent in his legs though, in addition to his bike/aero engineering talent.
Малко като опит за доказване е излязло... Никой няма нужда от толкова голям въртящ момент и мощност на шосеен велосипед с тънки гуми, които дори трудно ще предават тази мощност върху пътя. А ако има и ограничение от 25 км/час е още по-безмислено.
73 thoughts on ““They’re a few days early”: Specialized’s new ‘April Fool’ seat tube divides opinion; Bath’s bicycle mayor shuts down GB News producer’s claim that mums can’t “cart around children” by bike; Tyre pressure adjustment system spotted + more on the live blog”
I love how not only does the
I love how not only does the Specialized frame seem stupid from the perspective of gravity being a thing, but it’s also stupid from the perspective of bidons* not being able to morph around solid objects. The cage holes on the seat tube are completely useless. Why did they bother including them?
*Or anything else that one may choose to replace a bidon cage with.
Nonsense.
Nonsense.
The shortened seat tube rests on the bow shaped structure that is formed by the low chainstays and the strut. If you know anything about architectural structures you’d know that it is a very strong structure (if built correctly of course). Look at many bridges, look at the shape of the bones in your feet etc.
You don’t have to like how it looks (I am still undecided) and it may well have certain drawbacks, but loosely and without any argumentation claiming this frame shape is ‘stupid’ is, well, stupid.
Just think leaf spring…
Just think leaf spring…
Sredlums wrote:
I have a mechanical engineering degree and have designed aircraft parts in CFRP. It is a very weak structure with a significant cyclic bending moment. Composites don’t have a fatigue limit. It’s a bad design.
Was there not a post not so
Was there not a post not so long ago about the strengths of the traditional diamond frame?
The bit that bothers me is
The bit that bothers me is the simple T shaped joint into the down tube. There is a lot of bending moment on that joint. It just looks unwise.
I might not know much about
I might not know much about architectural engineering structures, but I do know triangle structures are always inherently stronger.
Something called a “compliance junction” implies bending and compression forces that are likely to involve the whole weight of the rider, which over time doesnt feel like a longterm good solution.
I mean even Specialized dont claim they havent sacrificed strength of the frame with this, merely it hasnt sacrificed efficiency or performance and has the right amount of flex.
And I’m not a fan of their futureshock front suspension either, being another likely to fail component after long term use.
But not least for a commuting bike, where are you supposed to attach the panniers rack to ?
Awavey wrote:
I’ll accept the risk of the futureshock failing because until it does it makes my shoulders, arms, wrists and fingers last longer.
On the other hand, the space
On the other hand, the space below the bow is ideal for Specialized’s new “Triangle With Inner Tubes and Tools” storage system, so all good.
For the record, I think this bike looks cool, and am happy to see people experimenting with new shapes.
I thought the same, but would
I thought the same, but would be a handy place to store one of those folding locks that has a holder using the bottle cage bolts.
I like it. Making carbon
I like it. Making carbon frames in the shapes dictated by steel tubes makes little sense for anyone who isn’t trying to be UCI compliant. This intuitively looks like it will give better seated comfort which is what you want for a bike that is designed for riding on rough roads in the city.
Patrick9-32 wrote:
Tubes are inherently a strong and easy to make element to build bike frames from, so there’s going to be a tendency for carbon frames to still be built from tubes, but carbon does allow a lot of flexibility in the shape of the tubes. I’d like to see frame design go further and use 3d-printed honeycomb structures for the ultimate strength/weight ratios, but it’s going to take a long time for 3d-printing to rival traditional manufacturing techniques in terms of cheapness.
Round carbon tubes are no
Round carbon tubes are no easier or harder to make than any other shape of hollow carbon structure. They make sense for metals and they make sense for some carbon structures. Bike frames are not one of them.
Patrick9-32 wrote:
shocking indictment of the state of UK roads
Every city I have been to in
Every city I have been to in the world has rough roads. Cars and lorries accelerating and braking constantly tears tarmac to shreds.
Patrick9-32 wrote:
No: I’m sure it’s the bicycles.
Patrick9-32 wrote:
come and cycle on the roads of Buckinghamshire, those city streets will seem like a silk carpet.
I want someone to do a study
I want someone to do a study on educational outcomes and behaviour of kids that get to school by active travel and kids that are driven to school. Because my anecdata says that the kids that walk or bike do better. Also gonna echo the comment that you get better conversations with the kids (we walk rather than cycle, and we’re on the outside edge of the catchment, a mile away).
Once the study is completed, I would like it printed on heavyweight paper and used to batter columnists spouting bullshit about cycling.
JustTryingToGetFromAtoB wrote
The problem with any such study is that it has a flawed start. I would reasonably suggest that children using active travel by their parents choice are likley to have parents of decent intelligence to start with and given some intelligence is hereditary cannot see how you could quantify matters.
It’s possible using quasi
It’s possible using quasi-experimental matching methods that can account for these confounding variables.
Grahamd wrote:
Are you suggesting that active travel is the inteligent choice? There seem to be an incredible number of people who appear to be well educated and succesful who do not seem to share this view.
careful now
Just because someone appears
Just because someone appears well educated it does not make them intelligent.
Grahamd wrote:
— GrahamdAs is stupidity, or lack of intelligence.
JustTryingToGetFromAtoB wrote
Something like this: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2748863/
Need to print that out and
Need to print that out and start beating numpties. Thwack, thwack thwack.
Appreciate the jury is out on a lot of it but my skim read registered that the more robust the study, the more likely there is to be an improvement.
Ian Walker has just published
Ian Walker has just published some research on attainment and active travel – not as clear cut as we might have hoped – https://twitter.com/ianwalker/status/1638921178227040262
Steve K wrote:
The kids’ socio-economic background is going to make a big difference, so I wonder if that’s skewing the results. I suspect a much bigger sample size would be needed to tease out the separate effects or maybe conduct experiments on lots of twins/triplets which would be fun. “No Timmy, you know you have to cycle in the rain, whilst Tammy gets to ride in the car”.
It’s hardly a “detailed
It’s hardly a “detailed review by a truly independent group” (ha) but apparently the Dutch kids are right up there in the Global Happiness index. I’d argue “happier kids” is a better goal than just “high-achieving” – although they’re linked of course and that’s a whole other can of wrigglers…
Some articles on that suggesting a whole range of reasons, but independent mobility does indeed appear:
https://hollandinternationaldistributioncouncil.com/en/blog-dutch-children-happiest-world/
https://medium.com/@envirotarian/dutch-kids-whats-the-connection-between-happiness-and-cycling-8df5a61947a0
There’s also a flier here presenting the bicycle aspect specifically.
If you prefer videos, here are some nice relaxing and / or informative ones!
Primary Schools in Scotland
Primary Schools in Scotland have been implementing a Daily Mile on top of the 2 hours per week of PE. There has been reasonably good feedback ranging from obesity being controlled, better concentration, youngsters not spinning out. Some teachers have even observed asthmatic sufferers are using inhalers less. I think this whole approach is more inclusive as not every child is sporty or can be excluded by others in team sports. Everyone can walk and interact together while doing so.
I do like the idea of a report on heavy weight paper being used to make an impression on columnists. I call dibs on being first to implement this practice.
whilst not being a parent
whilst not being a parent myself, I think Charlotte should also be pulled up on the implication that only mums ‘cart kids around’…and by extension the idea that all men are happy to cycle (or walk late at night) without decent infrastructure.
Charlotte is clearly a twat.
Charlotte is clearly a twat.
From an aesthetic point of
From an aesthetic point of view, I wouldn’t say I’m a fan, but then I’m a bit old fashioned – give me skinny tubes and a horizontal top tube any day. It’s far from the ugliest bike design I’ve seen.
From a structural point of view, I don’t see any obvious reason why it should be more prone to failure than a traditional design, although I’m far from an expert. My main concern would simply be that it is “new” and therefore won’t have the same extent of real-world testing. Although we’ve seen plenty of examples of fairly traditional designs still having faults – see e.g. Canyon handlebars.
My other concern would be as a hybrid bike designed for practical everyday use, the loss of the traditional seatstays and seatstay bridge could be an issue for attaching mudguards and racks (both of which I would consider essential on a practical bike). Specialized claim you can still fit them, but possibly only very specific ones? And even then, would the loss of the seatstays affect rack/mudguard stability?
OnYerBike wrote:
I thought this. They claim the Sirrus is “MIK compatible”. I didn’t know what this means and, after looking it up, I still don’t. As far as I can tell, MIK is a system for attaching luggage to a rack, not a system for attaching a rack to a bike. MIK compatible racks still seem to be in traditional arrangements which would typically mount to the seatstays. I suppose you could use the seatpost as the other attachment point, but isn’t the flex built into the frame going to be an issue for this?
EDIT: I wrote too soon. I think they intend you to use a rack which mounts to (1) the rear dropout and (2) the rear fender. See e.g. this more traditional Sirrus which does that: https://www.specialized.com/gb/en/sirrus-3-0-step-through-eq/p/198896?color=317429-198896
quiff wrote:
Interesting. Are Trek and Specialized co-operating on this? My new Trek District 4 Equipped came with an MIK compatible rack, which indeed mounts near the dropout and to the mudguard. My understanding is that MIK is the accessory mounting system, like the Bontrager bag shown which clicks in place or removes in seconds. The system is better than Topeak’s, which I’ve used before. Topeak’s constantly rattled.
Nice bike! Was contemplating
Nice bike! Was contemplating one to replace my nicked Cube Travel Ex… or maybe same again.
Do they come with a mount for the daffodils or is that just lack of (eccentric) bottom bracket maintenace?
chrisonatrike wrote:
Haha! Just providing evidence of spring (plus I’m Welsh.)
It doesn’t have an EBB, just some sliding rear dropout arrangement I’ve not examined closely. I have 170 miles on it so far, including a 70 mile group ride that I nearly kept up with. Everyone noticed how eerily quiet it was compared to derailleur bikes.
No changes so far except adding a Mirrycle mirror and a bottle cage, plus swapping out the poor quality stock pedals. The aluminium frame is stiffer than my steel bikes (I own no carbon) but not terribly harsh with 40 mm tyres. The front dynamo light is okay, the rear is really a big reflector with two tiny LEDs, and the standlight on both ends isn’t as bright or long-lasting as on my other bikes with dynamo lighting.
Yes, there’re options. I have
Yes, there’re options. I have a rack fitted to my old 26″ MTB (20-yr-old XC racing frame, no mounting lugs for *anything*). It sits on the QR skewer with a couple of bars to the seat post to keep it stable, can take a few lbs, wouldn’t want to try it with a case of expensive wine…
There’s also Tailfin too, if money’s no object.
I have a Specialized that
I have a Specialized that came with something similar. It’s a nightmare because of course both the mudguard and the rack wore through and getting replacments that fit, and will also go over winter tyres is a nightmare. I have always needed to modify and build parts myself. I would recommend avoiding such designs if you can.
Probably find Specialised
Probably find Specialized will release their own guards like they have a tool bag for this new frame.
I’m concerned about where to
I’m concerned about where to mount the front mech for a triple chainset?
Front mech will fit fine. You
Front mech will fit fine. You just need to use large chainrings
I know I shouldn’t be sucked
I know I shouldn’t be sucked in by click bait articles but this one has some brilliant quotes.
https://www.mylondon.news/news/south-london-news/south-london-residents-call-plans-26578983
“It might save one or two stupid pedestrians” – better still cut out the middle man and euthanase stupid people. Now where to start?”
“when you have to drive on lower gears, your car pollutes the air more” – becomes self fullfilling if you drive like an idiot.
“what they’re not actually doing is providing the right training and encouragement to get people to walk and cycle”. I now need more training to walk?
IanMK wrote:
I once forgot the left-right-left-right sequence after a few beverages. I was hopping mad, I can tell you.
I once got a bit confused
I once got a bit confused about spelling the word “walk”. That was an embarrassing thing to do on the way to the shops.
Yeah – people could walk or
Yeah – people could walk or even cycle – but they’re just not doing so! Even when we build all this expensive “dedicated” cycle-and-pedestrian infra for them. Surely that shows that a) people just don’t want to b) probably because they’re lazy and/or unfit?
…Or it could be that they’re making sensible choices* given what their environment is telling them. Which is that it doesn’t feel safe and/or convenient to cycle, few friends or influential people do so and transport cycling is considered “weird” or reduces your status. Walking is slow and effortful and carrying things is a pain. Society expects you to get around between lots of places and after decades of centralisation these are not close. Adults are expected to own cars and that once you own a car the additional costs of driving places is minimal. Oh – and once driving paying lots of attention and sticking to all the rules is “uncool”. Indeed people may actually think you’re less competent than someone who’s driving while confidently multi-tasking!
* Probably not deeply considered – I’d bet most decisions are more instinct / “feeling” than intellect.
Quote:
Quote:
We can’t put it on the footway because there’ll be complaints from the RNIB people, and we can’t put it in the roadway because it’ll hold up motorists, so f- it, we’ll just put it in the cycle lane.
It’s the same mindset as people parking their cars in a cycle lane when they’d never dream of leaving it in the main carriageway because it might hold up other motorists.
They love putting various
They love putting various road works signs on the cycle lane over Caversham Bridge. Mostly for things that don’t really relate to the cyclists.
ktache wrote:
Be fair, sometimes they do relate to bikes. There is the occasional “cyclist dismount” sign placed there for no discernable reason whatsoever.
I’m not sure what advantage a
I’m not sure what advantage a ‘compliance junction’ gives over a good suspension seatpost. The four junction tubes are different sizes so working out where most of the bending (and fatigue) is focused is not obvious, but the downtube/CS structure looks far stiffer than the SS/link tube structure. Maybe the fifth side fork end has some role? I wonder if Ringo will do a new ‘compliance junction’ episode.
Quote:
Is it just me or do the chainstays appear to be exactly where they would be expected? in a direct line between the bottom bracket and the rear hub.
Are we talking about the low slung seat stays?
If Jumbo-Visma dominate
If Jumbo-Visma dominate Flanders because of the KAPS experiment it will leave my excitement for racing deflated.
Fortunately, though, at the
Fortunately, though, at the push of a button it can be re-inflated.
Is it the UCI’s ban button,
Is it the UCI’s ban button, by chance?
Clearly Charlotte Gill is an
Clearly Charlotte Gill is clearly an avid reader of road.cc and used your tips about writing an anti-cycling article using AI. It’s all very well paying people for their opinions, but if they aren’t based on fact, why are you paying them? That said, I’ve watched some GB “news” and it almost, but not quite, reaches the level of drivel.
Marjorie Taylor – Greene
Marjorie Taylor – Greene clone ?
Anyone else noticed a rise in
Anyone else noticed a rise in grumpy pedestrians? Seems no matter how careful and polite I am on the cycle paths, there seems to be a recent rise in a certain demographic that are purposefully obstructive and annoyed when they encounter a cyclist on a cycle track.
One from this morning, a throw of the arm as I passed, not an attempt to push me off, more of a gesticulation; but why?
I would say looking at the
I would say looking at the picture above and if I was a gambling man – Daily Fail / Express / Sun reader who has been brain washed that anyone on two wheels is the spawn of the devil ? You have only got to read the comments on anything to do with cycling in these so called newspapers to see the narrative these shite publications are generating and they love it. Lets face it when you got a national newspaper main headline was ” Cyclists to have number plates ” it shows what their intent is and the rest of them follow suit to out do each other.
I suspect you are correct.
I suspect you are correct. This group was particularly weird this morning. One of them turned and looked straight at me as I was approaching, all hi-vis and flashing lights, then seemed to purposefully ignore me. I came to a halt behind them, rang my bell, then called out and waited patiently for them to make space for me to crawl past carefully.
Apart from dismounting, throwing my bike off the bridge into the river exclaiming “That’s it, I’m done with being a cyclist!”, I’m not sure I could have done much more to please them.
.
.
Golly gosh. Another Bike Fascist.
.
Eh Flintshire? Shurely you
Eh Flintshire? Shurely you have the wrong fascist?
I’d say that the fascists were known for getting negative propaganda in the press attacking certain groups and making blanket accusations about their members – and thus inciting people to have a go at them. So are you saying Cycling Mikey and Jeremy Vine (or – a lot better but less sensational – Chris Boardman) have taken over the Mail, Express and Sun? Not being a reader I could have missed it!
Possibly some stereotyping there by cyclo1964 but they’re just pointing out that some newspapers are rather known for content having a go at cyclists. Unless you’ve got lots of examples of the opposite – their cycling-positive stories – to share?
They should be careful.
They should be careful. Apparently a pedestrian can be convicted of manslaughter for merely gesticulating at a cyclist nowadays (if certain journalists* are to be believed).
*Using the loosest possible definition of the term.
Wasn’t it “bizarrely put away
Wasn’t it “outrageously banged up away for quite understandably shouting in alarm and frustration at someone threatening them by riding on the pavement”? At least that’s what two (?) posters of “independent thought” from “outside the echo chamber” told me here on road.cc…
To be fair someone else sounding a bit more knowledgeable posted that they were concerned the woman convicted had been poorly advised (or maybe was just refusing to be put in a “special needs” box) and much more leeway should have been given to their behaviour. Dunno but wouldn’t be surprised if our legal system had not got things right in such a situation.
This isn’t limited to
This isn’t limited to cyclists. The generation pictured is incredibly hostile towards me when running as well. Walking in groups blocking the entire path and acting like they have been personally affronted when asked (politely and friendlily) to move aside so someone can pass.
nope not just you had a
nope not just you 🙁 had a couple at the weekend, who youd think thought I was about to mug them the way they were reacting to my mere presence I wasnt even within 100metres at this point,but they even got the mobile phone out in preparation to film me I think expecting something to happen. So I just stopped for a 5 min break let them get on being weird and carried on after theyd got off the shared bit.
You’re not alone. I regularly
You’re not alone. I regularly have to deal with a group of walkers down my local greenway (also part of NCR 52, so totally accustomed to seeing people on bicycles). They will walk shoulder to shoulder across the whole path and only ever seem to make the effort to move when I am metres away from them. It’s bizarre, like they ‘haven’t noticed’ me somehow.
Then they’re also super polite and always wish me good morning afterwards like it never happened. Confusing in the extreme.
To be fair, this was the view
To be fair, this was the view from her perspective.
Don’t be daft, I’m not
Don’t be daft, I’m not getting the mankini out until the mercury hits 17℃
Thinking again about this
Thinking again about this cycle track, it occurred to me that it’s actually wider at this point than the traffic lane on the road! Would they wander all over the road like that?!
When you look at the instructions given to pedestrians in the highway code for walking on a road, there’s advice to keep to the side and walk in single file etc.
It’s not actually clear whether this advice should apply to cycle tracks too. Rule 2 states you should walk to the side ‘where there is no pavement’, but then references a ‘road’. Then rule 13 clearly says a pavement is different to a cycle track and some ‘routes’ are shared. So it would seem you could interpret Rule 2 as applying to cycle tracks – even if that isn’t the intention, then maybe it ought to be.
Re: the ‘who on earth would
Re: the ‘who on earth would transport their children by bicycle’ GB newsperson….I think we need to make the word ‘quaxing’ trend again:
https://momentummag.com/quaxing/
A great term, though tbqh I’ve come to understand it as transporting pretty much anything apart from myself by bicycle. Most people forget that bicycles are utilitarian transport first.
vthejk wrote:
15kg of dog kibble to collect?
No problem with a bike trailer.
Had no idea I’d been #quaxing stuff
Away from oddly shaped bikes
Away from oddly shaped bikes and onto odd opinions about bikes, where GB News producer Charlotte Gill’s latest tirage against all things two wheels has left many scratching their heads.
Have Road.cc invented a new word – an amalgam of tirade and Farage?
Maybe they thought her piece
Maybe they thought her piece was rather heady and raw – it needed more maturation?