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Mr Loophole doubles down on two abreast rant (+ Jeremy Vine gets involved); More Surrey cops zingers; Valtteri Bottas: I’m getting more podiums in cycling than F1; Van der Poel eyes green jersey; LTN news; But cyclists + more on the live blog

Happy Friday! That's another week in the books...Dan Alexander is here for your final live blog of the week...
Fri, Dec 03, 2021 08:54
128
Mr Loophole doubles down on two abreast rant (+ Jeremy Vine gets involved); More Surrey cops zingers; Valtteri Bottas: I’m getting more podiums in cycling than F1; Van der Poel eyes green jersey; LTN news; But cyclists + more on the live blogMr Loophole two abreast cyclists video (Twitter/Nick Freeman)
03 December 2021, 16:51
One final Surrey Police vs Mr Loophole clash

After the last couple of days it seems fitting we sign off for the weekend with one final Loophole vs Surrey Police exchange. Better late than never, Freeman finally got back to the traffic cops about his claim the riders were in the wrong. 

"Riding was neither without due care & attention or dangerous," he began. If only it ended there...

"But in my opinion was without reasonable consideration for other road users - argument strengthened by cyclists' lack of compliance of HW Code guidelines. PS riding spelt with one D. That's why they call me Mr Loophole."

Perhaps someone can cc Mr Loophole in the earlier replies explaining why the group ride was in compliance with the Highway Code guidelines. But maybe he'd rather point out spelling mistakes...always the sign of having won the argument...

03 December 2021, 16:14
03 December 2021, 15:38
Patrick Lefevere replies...but not how you might expect
Patrick-Lefevere

If this was a rap battle Patrick Lefevere would be feeling very smug right now. Who says he isn't anyway? Less than an hour after we speculatively said we'd wait for the Quick-Step boss's reply to Deceuninck's CEO claiming he wasn't interested in a women's team, here we are...

As per José Been and Cyclingtips, Lefevere will be involved with the NXTG Racing Team through his recruitment agency Experza. The pair will continue as NXTG by Experza in 2022...

"First of all, I want to say that despite common opinion I have nothing against women’s cycling," Lefevere said. "With Experza and NXTG I start a journey in women’s cycling. Women’s cycling is growing very fast. However, at the moment I feel there are not enough riders of a certain level for all the current WorldTour teams. That’s why I want to do it the other way around and start from the juniors and young riders, giving them an environment to develop.

"I  have the experience with guiding young riders to the top. My idea is to start focusing on the young girls and help them work towards a goal. We have to make the pool of quality riders in the women’s peloton bigger. That is how you grow the sport. That’s how you make the sport more sustainable.

"Through Experza, a company I co-founded with Sylvie Anraed and I hold a few stocks in, we found a solution for the sponsorship for 2022. This gives me a season to look around. We are testing the water in women’s cycling, so to say. We are talking with our current partners to see what they can or are willing to invest. Our ambition as Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl is to go in as soon as possible and grow women’s cycling organically from its foundations. We understand the importance of women’s cycling."

03 December 2021, 15:02
'See their side' follow-up idea...
03 December 2021, 14:45
03 December 2021, 13:45
"As a modern company we want to participate in women's cycling. We discussed that, but Patrick is Patrick": Deceuninck CEO says Quick-Step women's team reluctance contributed to split
Mathieu van der Poel Alpecin-Fenix Deceuninck announcement video (Alpecin-Fenix/Instagram)

We were all a bit stunned by Patrick Lefevere's diplomacy earlier in the week. No snide comments about Deceuninck jumping ship to sponsor Mathieu van der Poel's Alpecin-Fenix. "I have absolutely no problem with it," Lefevere said. What the team boss did seemingly have a problem with was committing to supporting a women's cycling team.

Deceuninck's CEO Francis Van Eeckhout told Het Nieuwsblad his company is particularly keen to support the women's game, something Lefevere is not..."It is a combination of factors. We are charmed by the plan of the Roodhooft brothers. And as a modern company we want to participate in women's cycling," he said.

"Women's cycling is increasing in importance and we cannot ignore that. We discussed that, but Patrick is Patrick."

The bait is in the water, now we wait, will Lefevere bite?

03 December 2021, 13:39
03 December 2021, 13:16
Brits born in early April the wildest drivers on UK roads, according to new research
Driver behind cyclist (picture credit Simon MacMichael).PNG

A new study by Jardine Motors and astrology expert Bex Milford of Cosmic Cure looked into how different star signs drive...and apparently those born in early April are the wildest drivers on UK roads. However, Taurus drivers (born late April to early May) are the calmest. What difference a couple of weeks makes...

One in ten Aries drivers described their driving as "reckless", four times higher than the average (2.5 per cent). They are also right in the 'speed demon zone', with 17 per cent describing their driving as fast. 11 per cent of Scorpio drivers admitted the same. I wonder if this research factored in the respective star signs' tendency to give straight answers?

The Cancer star sign was most likely to be upset by really fast drivers, with 67 per cent saying they were annoyed by speeding drivers. 70 per cent of Pisces said not using indicators really wound them up...

I'm not sure what the takeaway message is from this...make of it what you will...

03 December 2021, 11:19
Surrey cops back for another day of educating dodgy drivers

Jeremy Vine has tagged the Surrey traffic cops back in for another day of schooling...including this reply to someone who (ironically) got wound up by the suggestion of anger management classes...

 One more for the road? Go on...

03 December 2021, 11:31
Take a first look at the new Ineos Grenadiers Bioracer kit...

We'll have more on this in our tech round-up later on today...initial thoughts? 

03 December 2021, 10:38
Valtteri Bottas: I’m getting more podiums in cycling than F1

He's not finished, he's only 32...(top marks for anyone who gets that reference)... 

F1 driver Valtteri Bottas could be considering a career change...not really, but he joked to reporters he seems to be having more success on the bike than in his Mercedes. "It feels like I’m getting more podiums in cycling races than in F1 nowadays," Bottas said.

The Finn is well worth a follow on Strava to see his podium-topping ride at the BEKING ProAm and the rest of his Monaco training...

03 December 2021, 10:32
But cyclists
03 December 2021, 10:28
03 December 2021, 10:08
Mathieu van der Poel vs Wout van Aert vs Cav vs Peter Sagan? Has the Tour de France green jersey ever been so competitive?
Mathieu van der Poel on the Mur-de-Bretagne (Picture by Alex BroadwaySWpix.com)

Alpecin-Fenix team manager Christoph Roodhooft has spoken to Het Laatste Nieuws about his star rider Mathieu van der Poel's key aims for 2022. With an Academy Award looking unlikely after THAT Deceuninck windows ad, Roodhooft said a Tour de France green jersey tilt could be on the cards.

"When I hear Van Aert say that he is going for the green jersey, I think, 'We'll see about that'. If everything goes somewhat normal, that’s a very realistic target for us. I think of Jasper Philipsen or of Mathieu van der Poel," Roodhooft said. 

Christoph's brother and fellow Alpecin-Fenix manager Philip backed up his sibling's words..."Mathieu is the perfect rider to win the green jersey. The green jersey, and stage wins."

Beyond the Tour the goal remains the same for the prodigious Dutchman – win as often and as dominantly as possible. The brothers said a mountain bike world championship is also high on their rider's wish list.

03 December 2021, 09:41
03 December 2021, 09:29
LTN news: Hackney Council to make Homerton LTN permanent
03 December 2021, 09:18
03 December 2021, 08:35
Mr Loophole doubles down on two abreast rant (+ Jeremy Vine gets involved)

It's a shame Mr Loophole doesn't use some of his lawyering skills to actually engage with the hoards of people pointing out fairly reasonable counterpoints to his cycle safety ramblings. Instead, the 'celebrity' lawyer (makes your skin crawl, doesn't it) doubled down on his earlier rant by posting another two. Same video, similar sentiment...

Freeman also tagged talkRadio's finest Mike Graham and a Chilean kinesiologist called Cristo...we think he wanted Cristo Foufas, not Cristobal Diaz. Anyway, even if he had tagged the right Cristo, the talkRadio presenter may not have wanted anything to do with the Surrey traffic cops spitting facts, not after last time...

It's at this point one of our other big-name cycling champions got involved. Taking over from Surrey Police's admin, who was probably putting their feet up with a couple of Hobnobs, Jeremy Vine entered the fray...

There was also, of course, more comments than we could count saying words to the effect of, 'there is nowhere safe to overtake in the video anyway' and 'why would it be acceptable to drive at 60mph on that road?'... 

Dan Alexander

Dan is the road.cc news editor and joined in 2020 having previously written about nearly every other sport under the sun for the Express, and the weird and wonderful world of non-league football for The Non-League Paper. Dan has been at road.cc for four years and mainly writes news and tech articles as well as the occasional feature. He has hopefully kept you entertained on the live blog too.

Never fast enough to take things on the bike too seriously, when he's not working you'll find him exploring the south of England by two wheels at a leisurely weekend pace, or enjoying his favourite Scottish roads when visiting family. Sometimes he'll even load up the bags and ride up the whole way, he's a bit strange like that.

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120 comments

Avatar
Sniffer replied to Lance ꜱtrongarm | 2 years ago
1 like
Garage at Large wrote:

Blue riband

That takes the biscuit.

I'll pass thanks

Avatar
ktache replied to Sniffer | 2 years ago
1 like

Taxi...

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Sniffer replied to ktache | 2 years ago
1 like

Yes, time to Breakaway. I have been Yoyo'ing off the back of the Club ride for a while.

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Steve K | 2 years ago
2 likes

My final (probably) comment on Loopy. I don't think the timing of his posting is a coincidence - his petition closes on 7 December and he'll be desperate to get it to the 10,000 threshold to get a response (as I type this he's still just over 500 short). I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't go out for a drive looking for a chance to film something.

Sometimes it can feel that half the country is against cyclists, so I'm quite encouraged by the fact his petition has been a damp squib.

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Sniffer replied to Steve K | 2 years ago
1 like

Freeman gets publicity, but not many of the public will like / support him. Even with all the self publicity, few care what he says.

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chrisonabike replied to Sniffer | 2 years ago
0 likes

Sniffer wrote:

Freeman gets publicity, but not many of the public will like / support him. Even with all the self publicity, few care what he says.

I think you've misunderstood the point of advertising...

Avatar
Sniffer replied to chrisonabike | 2 years ago
0 likes
chrisonatrike wrote:

Sniffer wrote:

Freeman gets publicity, but not many of the public will like / support him. Even with all the self publicity, few care what he says.

I think you've misunderstood the point of advertising...

In terms of finding clients for his services, yes I am sure his tactics work well.

My point was that nobody in their right mind would believe he is going to be influential in the direction of roads policy.

Avatar
Rome73 | 2 years ago
5 likes

Is that lawyer stupid or something? Riding two abreast isn't illegal. Plus - who, but a reckless idiot, would do 60mph on a road such as the one in his post? Why does he sound so indignant anyway? He has that stupid tone about him, like, er . . 'We want our country back' sort of stupid indignation. 

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Sriracha replied to Lance ꜱtrongarm | 2 years ago
2 likes

"Over the course of his vigilante career, van Erp claims to have shopped more than 350 drivers breaking the law last year alone, ..."
Shoddy writing too.

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Sniffer replied to Sriracha | 2 years ago
4 likes
Sriracha wrote:


Shoddy writing too.

And that is just Nigel.

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AlsoSomniloquism replied to Sriracha | 2 years ago
1 like

Shoddy writing from the mail? Well I never, especially on facts.  Vigilante for one. If he is classed as one then every neighbourhood watch or "helpful eyewitness" is one. 

Lyrca clad cyclist. Not sure if the "Top" Economist wrote that or the Heil, however does he? Most pictures I see of him doesn't show him clad in Lyrca when cycling. Still haters got to hate. I mean I'm sure Lampard can't afford a car which has bluetooth connections now he is out of work.  Lets hope the trial is over fast so we can discuss it properly. 
 

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ktache replied to AlsoSomniloquism | 2 years ago
1 like

Speaking in completely general terms, Mikey is normally very good, uses the most clear Hi Def equipment going and makes sure to see actual communication on the device, so that the current loophole cannot be used. With the yellow rolls driver he got recently, I believe the actual website accessed was visible. I'm looking forward to the video.

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wtjs | 2 years ago
4 likes

Do you want angry drivers behind the wheel of over a tonne worth of metal flying down the road?

Please, Please! Surrey Road Cops, come to Lancashire where you could nick most of TacOps for encouraging offences like 32 tonnes of tipper lorry crashing through red lights at 50+ mph. This is FX62 AYH crossing the Stop line over 1.6 seconds after the lights turned red, generously forgiven by Lancashire Constabulary who didn't want to upset the driver by even writing to him about the offence- unless it isn't even an offence in Lancashire any more.

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wtjs | 2 years ago
8 likes

I'm sure he's not as thick as he appears- he's just what you'd expect: an unprincipled money-grubbing shyster playing to his chosen audience of dangerous drivers with no thought or sympathy for the road users he views as scum.

Avatar
Awavey | 2 years ago
3 likes

maybe Mr Loophole gets his name because it feels like for the past 2 days we have been stuck in an eternal loop with him on this going nowhere terribly fast and not something I suspect will ever conclude in agreement among the separate groups however long its kept going.

though Ive no doubt the Sunday papers will pick the ball up, and continue the thread over the weekend, so expect the Express, Mail or Telegraph or whatever paper Mr lawyer type appears in most, to chime in with even more articles on it.

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Sniffer replied to Awavey | 2 years ago
5 likes

No, there is almost universal agreement.

We just have Nick and Nige on the otherside.

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Awavey replied to Sniffer | 2 years ago
1 like

but youll never get the likes of Nick lawyer type to agree on this, they made their mind up, and no matter how many bits of legislation, highway code, legal precedents people quote at him, and it doesnt matter if they are just JoeTwitter user, Jeremy Vine, some other lawyer type or even the Surrey Road cops,or how many there are that outweigh his lone opinion, none of them will change his mind on this

he isnt going to suddenly go, oh yes wait a minute now I see your point, and concede cyclists are allowed to ride like that, so why bother even attempting to engage, it just boosts his profile so he gets on more radio talk shows, in more newspapers presented as this so called "expert" on road law.

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Sniffer replied to Awavey | 2 years ago
4 likes

True, but none of Nick's ideas are going to come to pass. He is a malign influence, but I doubt he has few fans. Even those that don't ride bikes don't respect him, people generally don't like the rich and famous getting away with things they can't. Current 2020 Christmas Party furore is part of that.

The point I was making is there is only one individual on this forum who is supportive of Freeman, everyone else sees him for what he is. A man with little talent and few scruples who has found a way to earn significantly.

Avatar
Steve K | 2 years ago
7 likes

I'm glad to see that a QC - so an actual senior lawyer - has put loopy in his place.

https://twitter.com/MartinPorter6/status/1466804184670474244

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belugabob | 2 years ago
3 likes

I'm beginning to suspect that there is a growing number of people have realised that being racist/homophobia etc is no longer generally acceptable, so have directed their small minded irrational bile towards the next most convenient 'other' group that they could identify.

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kt26 | 2 years ago
4 likes

Gotta feel a bit sorry for Mr Loophole here. Based on his standards of being inconsiderate - which unfortunately some people don't appear to grasp is an opinion not a fact - it would appear to me its impossible to use a vehicle that expels a lot of harmful gases and particulates in a considerate way.

But trooper that he is he ensures it doesn't go unnoticed.

Shame as with all things according to one of his fans not all of his ideas are necessarily bad - I'm looking at you lane hoggers. However he's in danger of becoming to road safety what Hitler was to vegetarianism - not very helpful.

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chrisonabike replied to kt26 | 2 years ago
2 likes

We were all doing so well until you mentioned vegetarianism and lost the argument. I can hear the vegans revving up...

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GMBasix replied to Lance ꜱtrongarm | 2 years ago
6 likes

It's OK, I've responded to Nick's tweet to that effect, pointing out that consideration doesn't mean "giving way", and that they probably have considered everybody and descided that it is in everybody's best interests for them to continue as they are.

I'm fairly sure he'll go away now.

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Steve K replied to Lance ꜱtrongarm | 2 years ago
4 likes

Garage at Large wrote:

Completely disagree. Having a leisure ride without undertaking a real journey (as the net distance travelled is zero) on a major road, knowing full well that you're going to hold up others, is objectively "inconsiderate". It would be great to get judgement on this from a senior judge to act as a precident for future cases with similar intent.

Even your favourite lawyer isn't trying your completely spurious 'real journey' argument.

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efail replied to Steve K | 2 years ago
7 likes

 i think Garbage is Nick. 

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Steve K replied to efail | 2 years ago
8 likes

efail wrote:

 i think Garbage is Nick. 

I certainly think Nick is garbage.

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brooksby replied to Steve K | 2 years ago
10 likes

Is Nige now saying that a leisure ride, home and round the lanes then back home (for example), isn't a real journey? Wait until they hear about ocean cruises...

Avatar
Steve K replied to brooksby | 2 years ago
2 likes
brooksby wrote:

Is Nige now saying that a leisure ride, home and round the lanes then back home (for example), isn't a real journey? Wait until they hear about ocean cruises...

It's not a new one from him. Dictionary definition suggests a journey is from one place to another, therefore a round trip isn't a journey in Nigel's book.

Avatar
Captain Badger replied to brooksby | 2 years ago
3 likes
brooksby wrote:

....Wait until they hear about ocean cruises...

Never done one of those by bike....

Avatar
brooksby replied to Captain Badger | 2 years ago
3 likes

Captain Badger wrote:
brooksby wrote:

....Wait until they hear about ocean cruises...

Never done one of those by bike....

I suppose the deck boards around the promenade deck are a bit like velodrome boards? Maybe just ride around and around.

But then Nige would still say it's not a journey...

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