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"Welcome to London" where thieves cut through bike racks; Local Conservative group claims LTNs "target the vulnerable"; Multiple abandons from huge Bessèges crash; Is Giulio Ciccone the messiah or a very naughty boy? + more on the live blog

It's Friday, the weekend is just around the corner and Dan Alexander is bringing another week of live blogs home...
03 February 2023, 10:29
"Welcome to London" where thieves cut through bike racks

We're all more than familiar with the bike thieves willing to use angle grinders to cut through bike locks...

> Thieves use angle grinder to steal Trek bike locked outside busy shopping centre

> Thieves attempting to steal bike using angle grinder thwarted by passing locals

> Video: "That's not their bike" – London bicycle thieves filmed using angle grinder

> "Sparks flying in broad daylight": Thief attempts to steal Labour MP's bike using angle grinder

That's just a few of the incidents we've covered...

But apparently the brazen bike thieves of England's capital are now willing to cut through the whole damn bike rack to take your pride and joy. Some replies warned users to make sure the rack they're locking their bike to doesn't have cut-outs like this covered by stickers and that the bottom of the unit is properly secured to the floor.

Another commenter was left hoping the post doesn't give Bristol's criminally-minded opportunists an idea...

How do you stop your bike getting nicked? For me, it's the ol' three lock job (front wheel, frame and rear wheel) then, as bad as it sounds, pray there are easier targets elsewhere... Oh, and insurance just for some financial peace of mind...

03 February 2023, 16:15
Racing round-up: Wins for Astana and Lotto Dstny

Back in Europe there was almost a popular win for Valentin Ferron, the rider yesterday spotted clinging onto a bridge after a crash. Unfortunately for him and his TotalEnergies team, promising Belgian Arnaud De Lie is in imperious form and took his second stage of the race.

Young Brit Samuel Watson was third. In Spain, there was a win for Astana Qazaqstan as Simone Velasco won a three-up sprint ahead of Bob Jungels and Jonas Gregaard. The eternal top-ten Fred Wright was sixth.

03 February 2023, 15:33
Simone Consonni wins final stage of Saudi Tour, Ruben Guerreiro wraps up GC

One race, one win for Ruben Guerreiro at Movistar. Meanwhile it was Cofidis sprinter Simone Consonni who took the final stage of the week. Here's how he did it...

03 February 2023, 14:49
Tim Declercq goes window shopping... to keep the sponsors happy

Time for a fantastic addition to the pro cyclists doing sponsor duties hall of fame...

Up there with that time Alaphilippe's doctor prescribed him specifically Tacx trainer work to regain fitness from crash injuries. 

03 February 2023, 14:36
Six months to go...
03 February 2023, 14:22
On the bike, City! Beryl partners with Norwich City for Green Football Weekend
beryl bikeshare launch Norwich 2020

It's Green Football Weekend don't you know...

Being slightly cynical that means professional clubs, some of whom's players will be jetting across the country to avoid a four-hour bus journey, ask fans to think about how they can have a positive impact on climate change. 

Anyway, my grumpiness aside, Beryl has teamed up with Championship club Norwich City FC as part of a nationwide initiative for their game against Burnley tomorrow and will set up a temporary 'virtual bay' outside Carrow Road between 11am and 12.30pm meaning fans can get to the ground by bike, e-bike or e-scooter and can claim 20 minutes off their journey with a free unlock (it's a 12:30pm kick-off by the way, you don't have to get there four hours early...)

"Our vehicles are a fun, easy to use and sustainable way to make short journeys, which makes them perfect for local fans to get to the football stadium," Beryl CEO Phil Ellis said.

"By swapping the car for more sustainable transport, you can not only help reduce traffic congestion and harmful carbon emissions, you can also improve your own physical and mental health. Our vehicles are already cost effective when compared to the cost of petrol and match-day parking, but the special offer gives users the chance to save even more money."

Full details can be found here. Will you be cycling to a football match this weekend?

03 February 2023, 14:09
Why cyclists DO use cycle lanes
03 February 2023, 11:45
Rapha undergoes refinancing operation to write off debt but says it "far outperformed" rivals in 2022

Comment of the day contender...

And some more of your thoughts (without the tongue firmly wedged in cheek)...

03 February 2023, 11:22
Hero of the day — Axel Laurance

Here's how poor Valentin Ferron got out of his precarious post-crash position...

03 February 2023, 09:53
Patch of the Day
03 February 2023, 08:51
London Conservative group claims LTNs "target the vulnerable" and "hard-working motorists" to make money and "benefit cycling campaigners"

The Tottenham Conservatives are at it again...

This from the same Conservative London borough group that in September faced a backlash after posting images to social media likening low-traffic neighbourhoods to apartheid. No, really...

Old Apartheid New Apartheid

 Then, in November, the local group was accused of scaremongering over a video showing a woman filmed from behind walking down a poorly-lit residential street that, while captions appear on screen, to the sound of the siren of a police car.

Labour-run Haringey Council has rolled out three LTNs in the borough in recent months, in Bounds Green, Bruce Grove and, most recently, West Green. As with similar initiatives elsewhere, they are aimed at preventing rat-running drivers from using residential streets as a short cut, and thereby also making the area safer and more pleasant for people living there.

Introduced under the Haringey Streets for People initiative, the council has said that the LTNs were put in place following three rounds of engagement with the local community. It has also made exemptions available for a number of categories of people including Blue Badge holders.

And just like Katie Hopkins and Jordan Peterson in recent times (what company to be in, by the way) the local Conservative group has hit out at the clean air schemes. Anyway, the replies to their latest 'campaigning' were every bit as entertaining and insightful as you'd hope...

03 February 2023, 09:33
He's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy! Or is he?

Giulio Ciccone's shades-scattering celebration hit our screens again yesterday...

And after the first reactions we saw called it epic and the second the behaviour of a spoilt brat...(that's Twitter for you)... we decided to put it to the people to decide Giulio's fate forever... 

Live blog poll result 2/2/2023

 

03 February 2023, 09:23
Multiple abandons due to huge Bessèges crash

The damage from yesterday's Étoile de Bessèges crash which caused the stage to be neutralised is being counted this morning, with a few riders being forced to abandon due to their injuries...

We'll find out the full abandon list in a few hours time when the peloton departs for stage three. 

03 February 2023, 09:09
Council makes U-turn on "discriminatory" ban on cyclists at recycling centres

An update to one of our big live blog stories from earlier in the week... 

Recycling Centre (Love Essex)

> Council makes U-turn on "discriminatory" ban on cyclists at recycling centres

Dan joined road.cc in 2020, and spent most of his first year (hopefully) keeping you entertained on the live blog. At the start of 2022 he took on the role of news editor. Before joining road.cc, Dan wrote about various sports, including football and boxing for the Daily Express, and covered the weird and wonderful world of non-league football for The Non-League Paper. Part of the generation inspired by the 2012 Olympics, Dan has been 'enjoying' life on two wheels ever since and spends his weekends making bonk-induced trips to the petrol stations of the south of England.

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62 comments

Avatar
Hirsute | 1 year ago
0 likes

Bonkers rail travel with 28 tickets

https://twitter.com/adamtranter/status/1621928638986833921

//pbs.twimg.com/media/FoI_frFXkAAT-KM?format=jpg&name=small)

Poster goes on to explain that as he had a cycle reservation, he had to have a printed ticket.

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BIRMINGHAMisaDUMP | 1 year ago
3 likes

The post by the Haringey Conservatives looks a bit counterproductive.  The car picture looks all grey, dismal and smoggy whereas the picture with the bike is sunny, bright and full of people and children. Much more appealing really. 

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eburtthebike | 1 year ago
7 likes

Not sure how many times this has to be repeated, but;

DON'T FEED THE TROLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't quite believe the number of people on here who allow themselves to be wound up enough to respond to someone who clearly doesn't give a flying flamingo and is just doing it for the responses.

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IanMSpencer replied to eburtthebike | 1 year ago
3 likes

Actually, while I agree in principle, the claptrap below has been a useful reveal as to how he really is just trolling rather than taking a principled if uninformed and aggressive stand against cycling. Quite a peculiar performance, almost Nigelesque in its self-destructiveness. 

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Clem Fandango replied to IanMSpencer | 1 year ago
0 likes

VERY Nigelesque

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Hirsute | 1 year ago
1 like

Bloody hell is this From the Message Boards?
Where is stokie Steve ?
Saw a few comments this morning then find this shitshow. Hope you are proud road cc
Anyway, love to the family.

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IanMSpencer | 1 year ago
6 likes

A good day's work. He's spent his day giving style guidance not dubious cycling advice. Result.

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Steve K replied to IanMSpencer | 1 year ago
7 likes
IanMSpencer wrote:

A good day's work. He's spent his day giving style guidance not dubious cycling advice. Result.

I think "don't cycle to go places", which seemed to be his overall message, was pretty dubious cycling advice.

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Rendel Harris replied to Steve K | 1 year ago
6 likes

Steve K wrote:

[ I think "don't cycle to go places", which seemed to be his overall message, was pretty dubious cycling advice.

Well, true. But it's an improvement on "ride in the gutter because if they can't see you they won't hit you."

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chrisonabike replied to Rendel Harris | 1 year ago
3 likes

Hmm...

"Cyclists!  Don't."

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andystow | 1 year ago
1 like

Has this been covered here?

Raymond Treharne, 73, killed David Jones when his Grand Cherokee collided with his bike on the A48 Crack Hill in Bridgend at around 5.50am on May 27, 2020

A "professional driver" even.

 

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IanMSpencer replied to andystow | 1 year ago
1 like

A professional driver who made up a cock and bull story of the cyclist appearing from nowhere and falling into the road in front of him not backed up by witnesses.

It doesn't seem to clarify the nature of professional driving. Given that taxi drivers are some of the most anti-social around, and many lorry drivers don't live up to their own hype, I'm not sure such a category really exists.

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IanMSpencer | 1 year ago
4 likes

In other news, the most read story in Spalding is that a local has been on PopMaster.

https://www.spaldingtoday.co.uk/news/matt-takes-on-radio-2s-popmaster-92...

I thought one of our regulars had been quiet. He's probably having a lie down to recover.

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OnYerBike | 1 year ago
16 likes

Schrodinger's LTN: simultaneously affluent areas where you can sit out to drink your flat white, and also dead zones full of crime.

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AlsoSomniloquism | 1 year ago
1 like
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AidanR replied to AlsoSomniloquism | 1 year ago
0 likes

I read that yesterday. What really struck me is that Marianne Vos comes into the story towards the end, and she's still at the pinnacle of the sport. Astonishing.

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AlsoSomniloquism replied to AidanR | 1 year ago
1 like

Although she is pretty much the GOAT in the all cycling so no surprise she was so good at the start and now. 

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Steve K | 1 year ago
5 likes

Since when did everyone get so hung up on the state of someone's bar tape?

Anyway, Martin is clearly an appalling host - more bothered by appearances than his guests comfort, convenience or even their character and personalities.

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chrisonabike replied to Steve K | 1 year ago
2 likes

I didn't say you wouldn't be welcome round at mine!  Actually it's neater than mine is currently too.

Just a friendly suggestion though - your "easement" bottle looks like it could with a rinse.  Although from the colour you're doing OK on hydration.

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Steve K replied to chrisonabike | 1 year ago
1 like

chrisonatrike wrote:

I didn't say you wouldn't be welcome round at mine!  Actually it's neater than mine is currently too.

Just a friendly suggestion though - your "easement" bottle looks like it could with a rinse.  Although from the colour you're doing OK on hydration.

That picture is about six years old (and that bike is now retired - though still in my garage).

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squired | 1 year ago
4 likes

These days I minimise journeys where I might need to use a bike rack.  The last two sum up my experience.  One was a trip to St Georges Hospital in south London.  Lots of bikes locked up on racks, but the only racks available weren't actually attached to the ground.  I had no other option, and thankfully my bike was still there when I returned.  The second was a trip to a shop, where the racks were close to the shopping trolley storage.  I don't know exactly what had happened, but when I returned my rear mudguard was destroyed and the rear wheel was jammed against the frame and wouldn't move.  Whoever hit must've really hit it hard and I still can't work out how it would've happed course, just like those awful cyclists that presumably unlicenced and unregistered pedestrian left the scene.  I couldn't even ask if anyone had recorded their licence plate because pedestrians still don't wear them.

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Steve K | 1 year ago
11 likes

Anyway, I'm just off round Martin's.

 

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chrisonabike replied to Steve K | 1 year ago
3 likes

Good luck with that.  Not only is your bar tape grubby that's clearly not an Aston Martin or a Bentley.  Also you will clearly disturb the sediment on your port with that angle.  Get a butler!

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eburtthebike | 1 year ago
5 likes

It's getting so that you wonder if there are any decent, honest tories.  One of their latest scams is publishing leaflets that look exactly like Green Party leaflets; surely they must realise that if they are ashamed of their own image and have to copy a party with some credibility, they've lost, and they've lost everything? 

This is just one of the many such leaflets:

https://bylinetimes.com/2023/01/13/conservatives-accused-of-camouflage-c...

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BalladOfStruth replied to eburtthebike | 1 year ago
6 likes

It's funny you mention this. We had our first Tory leaflet through the door since moving in, we had to Google the guy before we realised he was a Tory. The leaflet made no mention of the Conservative party, had no logos, nothing in the "small text" etc. It was like six pages long, and from reading it, you'd have no idea what party he was with. This isn't isolated either, I've seen mention of other Tory MPs doing the same thing with local leaflets on Reddit, and I think our old MP had removed all Conservative party logos from his before we moved.

There does seem to be a fair few now that are trying to distance themselves from the "image" of the party.

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brooksby replied to BalladOfStruth | 1 year ago
3 likes

We had a bloke standing as a parish councillor, got very het up when people on the village FB page were criticising him for being a Tory, and said what did it matter on a parish council what part he supported or was a member of?  It was pointed out that all his literature had the Conservative logo all over it, so clearly it mattered to him...

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eburtthebike replied to BalladOfStruth | 1 year ago
2 likes

I did think that they had to include the name of the party, but apparently not, just the candidate is enough:

"Throughout the UK, printed election campaign material must include the name and address of:

the printer
the promoter 
who it’s being promoted for (for example, the candidate or party)"

But if they haven't even got the guts to say which party they belong too, then why should anyone vote for them?  Their behaviour is likely to turn people off them rather than gather floating voters.

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Steve K | 1 year ago
11 likes

Last year, I gave evidence to a committee in the House of Lords.  I travelled there by bicycle.  Not a single member of the committee thought this was disrespectful, though, to be fair, none of them would have known I had cycled there.  I suspect Martin does all Prince Andrew's sweating for him.

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chrisonabike replied to Steve K | 1 year ago
5 likes

No Lord has ever got in to one of my dinner parties!  I turn that riff-raff away at the door (only pausing to sock them one if they made too much noise knocking)!

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IanMSpencer replied to Steve K | 1 year ago
10 likes

They let Johnson onto the Parliamentary estate. The bar for sartorial elegance is extremely low.

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