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Alan Sugar shows off custom Union Jack Pinarello Dogma; Canyon speak over Van der Poel's broken bars; Mayoral Press Office own Daily Mail anti-cycling rant with epic reply; The only pro racing we could do; Alex Dowsett's priorities + more on the live blog

It's Wednesday and Dan Alexander is here to take you through the middle of the week on the live blog...
03 March 2021, 21:51
MVDP broken bargate: Canyon says all Canyon-sponsored pro teams will use previous Aeroad "until further notice" and issues 'stop ride' order for customers
Mathieu van der Poel handlebars break (GCN/Eurosport)

Yesterday, a part of the bars on Mathieu van der Poel's Canyon Aeroad appeared to break off... of course the Dutchman carried on and helped his teammate Tim Merlier to victory at Le Samyn anyway, but understandably it raised plenty of concerns about the safety of the bike Van der Poel was riding. 

Canyon has now said all pros will ride the previous Aeroad or the current Canyon Ultimate until the problem is resolved, and all customers who have bought the Aeroad CF SLX and CFR models will be issued a 'stop riding' notice. 

The statement begins: "On Tuesday 2 March, at one of the opening classic races "Le Samyn", a part of the handlebar of our Alpecin-Fenix pro Mathieu van der Poel (NED) quite obviously broke off during the race.

“Experts from the Canyon development and quality management departments immediately began analysis and testing to understand the cause of this incident. The affected cockpits (CP0018 and CP0015) only installed on the current Aeroad models CF SLX and CFR. The Aeroad CF SL model is not in any way affected by this issue.

Canyon's founder Roman Arnold said: "Mathieu fortunately did not fall. We want to ensure with absolute certainty that no one comes to harm before we fully understand the root cause.

Canyon's CEO added: "We are doing everything we can to equip affected Aeroad models as quickly as possible with a cockpit that meets both our and our customers’ demands for total quality and safety.”

The statement ends: "It has already been decided that all professional teams will switch to alternative bikes with immediate effect. Until further notice, the pro sport athletes will be using the previous model of Aeroad or the current Ultimate." 

More on this tomorrow.  

03 March 2021, 14:56
Not much love for Lord Sugar's Union Jack Pinarello Dogma
03 March 2021, 17:08
Glorious weather contributes to record breaking weekend for Santander Cycles

Here are some numbers to back up the pictures and videos from the weekend of thousands of cyclists out enjoying the sunshine...Last weekend was the best February weekend in Santander Bikes' history with Saturday coming in at 11th in the most popular days for the scheme...The usual taxi accounts on Twitter have taken the news well...

Taxileaks, which claims to be Londons number one taxi news website, accused the statistics of being faked and from Sadiq Khan's PR team...

Cabbie London also said: "Non essential travel....Stay at home, save lives? Not exactly getting the right message across whilst this pandemic is on is it?"

03 March 2021, 16:20
Sadiq Khan's Press Office deals with the Daily Mail...

Sadiq Khan has today asked for the Kensington High Street cycle lane to be reinstated after a survey revealed huge local backing. His Press Office have been on the attack too...This was their reply to a Daily Mail Online story titled: 'Sadiq Khan's cycling tsar brags of plastering capital in SIXTY MILES of bike lanes across London in last year'...

03 March 2021, 15:56
Whyte Bikes gets investment from Cairngorm Capital Partners LLP
Whyte Gisburn-1.jpg

British bike brand Whyte Bikes has received investment from Cairngorm Capital Partners LLP. Bicycle Retailer and Industry News reports the terms of the investment will not be released but that the investment will be used to develop Whyte's product portfolio, including broadening its range of e-bikes. Cairngorm Capital's expertise in international sales will also be tapped into by the brand who has been making bikes since being founded by the Farrant brothers in 1990. The move represents Cairngorm Capital's first forray into the bicycle industry.

Whyte Bikes' co-founder Derek Farrant said it is an exciting time for the brand: "This is a new chapter for Whyte and represents a natural progression for me. This is an exciting time for all involved in Whyte's future."

03 March 2021, 09:38
Alan Sugar shows off custom Pinarello Dogma with Union Jack paint job

The Apprentice boss Alan Sugar likes to unwind from the stress of firing business hopefuls by getting out on the bike. And, in his case, it's an eye-catching custom Pinarello Dogma complete with Union Jack paint job that's his ride of choice. In 2019, Lord Sugar used an e-bike to recover from a knee replacement and has since been able to get back on his usual unassisted machine, sharing his support for Tottenham Hotspur with the people of Florida as he goes...

Sugar said the best thing about the custom Dogma was that when he pulls up at traffic lights, other riders don't ask if he's Australian...

03 March 2021, 15:03
Bauke Mollema wins Trofeo Laigueglia

Trek-Segafredo's Bauke Mollema bagged his second win of the season this afternoon, winning Trofeo Laigueglia solo ahead of a group stacked with talent. Egan Bernal won the sprint for second ahead of Mauri Vansevenant in third. Clément Champoussin, Mollema's teammate Giulio Ciccone and Mikel Landa completed the chasing group. Mollema maintained his gap on the steep final climb of the day as Bernal and Landa attacked behind, before extending it on the flat run to the finish.

Deceuninck-Quick-Step's British climber James Knox was seventh at the first Italian race on the calendar ahead of Saturday's much-anticipated Strade Bianche. Ineos Grenadiers' former winner of the race famous by the white gravel roads, Michal Kwiatkowski, crashed today and said at the finish that he hopes it is just bruising and not any broken bones.

03 March 2021, 14:20
LTN stats from Brixton
Crystal Palace LTN (YouTube)

The first monitoring report from Lambeth Council on Railton LTN in Brixton has found that car traffic reduced by 31 per cent across the area, while HGV traffic reduced by 23 per cent. Cycling was the big winner from the scheme, with a 32 per cent increase in people cycling across the area and a 51 per cent increase within the LTN.

For the individual roads, Railton Road saw car traffic reduce by 75 per cent, while cycling increased by 65 per cent. Nearby Shakespeare Road also saw a significant switch as cycling increased by 84 per cent in comparison to a 60 per cent reduction in cars...

03 March 2021, 13:26
Mason Cycles' limited edition Resolution model in new colourway and with optional Campagnolo Ekar
Mason Cycles limited edition Resolution Vela colourway

Mason Cycles' Resolution model is now available in a limited edition 'Vela' colourway and with a Campagnolo Ekar build option. Maybe, Lord Sugar's Union Jack frame isn't for you...let's face it, it probably isn't...But Mason's Columbus steel Resolution2's Vela colourway offers a more subtle, classy look.

The ride is made for covering long days in the saddle with comfort prioritised and the robust steel frame is deisgned to be a frame for life. In line with the theme of a smooth ride, the Resolution has clearance for 32mm tyres with mudguards or 35mm without.

03 March 2021, 13:01
POC will release the first bike helmet featuring the new MIPS Integra
2021 Met Manta Mips 5

MIPS renamed its entire product line last month and divided it into five new classes to make it easier to understand the range. MIPS Integra is designed to be the lightest, slimmest and, well as the name suggests, the most integrated. The other three classes relevant to cycling helmets are the MIPS Essential, Evolve and Air. That said, Met released its new Manta MIPS helmet (pictured above), as we reported earlier this week, with the C2 brain protection system, which isn’t any of these names.

POC and MIPS, the two Swedish companies, are now working on a range of helmets which will feature Integra for the first time. 

03 March 2021, 12:35
Alex Dowsett has his priorities right...Who needs to do 500 watts anyway?
03 March 2021, 11:01
'World's first performance cycling clothing company for a personalised fit' exceeds £100,000 crowdfunding target
Staark crowdfunder

Staark is a new premium clothing company that aims to make performance cycling clothing that "fits actual humans, not just elite cyclists." The company has raised almost £114,000 via 165 investors and smashed their £100,000 target on Crowdcube. Staark uses their own 'Staark Dimensioning Techonolgy' to create the perfect fit and use sustainable fabrics too.

They say they are unique by making clothing specifically targeted at the 80% of cyclists who aren't necessarily 'elite' shaped, instead making top end cycling clothing accessible to everyone.

03 March 2021, 10:42
The only part of pro racing most of us could do...

 

03 March 2021, 08:44
Warwickshire Police prosecutes 61 motorists for using phones while driving during two-week campaign

Warwickshire Police prosecuted 61 drivers for using their mobile phone while driving during a two-week campaign aimed at changing drivers' behaviours. Of the 61 offenders, 19 were HGV drivers, 22 were van drivers and 20 were driving cars during the campaign which ran last month. The force says they hope taking the time to educate the drivers, as well as the £200 fine and six points, will make them reconsider. County data shows the risk of using a phone while driving: five serious collisions in 2019 and two in 2020 were contributed to by a driver using their phone behind the wheel.

Inspector Jem Mountford said: "I find it shocking that so many drivers are willing to risk their life and the lives of others by using their mobile phone whilst driving. The results are due to a tremendous effort made by all front line officers from all departments including our Commercial Vehicle Unit, Operations Patrol Unit, Safer Neighbourhood Teams and the Special Constabulary all working together. 

The campaign also coincided with another operation which saw the force using an HGV supercab to observe drivers' speeds and behaviour on the M40 and M42.

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.

Add new comment

44 comments

Avatar
don simon fbpe | 3 years ago
0 likes

It's shite like that that puts me off Pinarello.

Gopping doesn't cover it.

Avatar
Hirsute | 3 years ago
14 likes

Fuel duty frozen for the 11th consecutive year

 

It's full on War on Motorists I tell you !

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Jenova20 | 3 years ago
4 likes

I must be in the minority because i like that bike design, and it's nice to see Alan advertising for us while he's off cycling in Australia.

Avatar
Eton Rifle replied to Jenova20 | 3 years ago
1 like
Jenova20 wrote:

I must be in the minority because i like that bike design, and it's nice to see Alan advertising for us while he's off cycling in Australia.

Yes, we really need yet another flagshagger to help make us look like a bunch of demented nationalists. Our international reputation is in tatters, as it is.

Avatar
alexuk | 3 years ago
7 likes

I like Alan's bike - better colour than most bland-bikes out there. I'm not a fan of the muted colour schemes in cycling atm. Bring back some colour - used to love the bright Lampre Merida jerseys. Life is boring enough without everyone riding around on black bikes in black gear with big black sunglasses, with a black helmet and dull expression. I'll even take an awful pink Rapha jersey, just get some colour out there! 

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FrankH | 3 years ago
2 likes

Quote:

County data shows the risk of using a phone while driving: five serious collisions in 2019 and two in 2020 were contributed to by a driver using their phone behind the wheel.

That doesn't tell us very much about how serious the problem is. How many serious collisions were there in total? E.g. if there were 10 then 70% involved using a phone, that's a big problem. if there were 1000 then 0.7% involved using a phone, not such a big problem.

Avatar
CXR94Di2 | 3 years ago
9 likes

Police-61 drivers in two weeks, were they asleep

Pah, Cyclingmikey(YouTube) does that daily in London- he's a hero

Avatar
Kapelmuur replied to CXR94Di2 | 3 years ago
6 likes

CXR94Di2 wrote:

Police-61 drivers in two weeks, were they asleep

Pah, Cyclingmikey(YouTube) does that daily in London- he's a hero

A few years ago I did a stint as a lollypop man, this was pre smart phones but even then. 1 in 10 drivers who passed me were on the phone.

That was about 100 hand held phone users per hour.

Avatar
brooksby | 3 years ago
1 like

Quote:

Staark is a new premium clothing company that aims to make performance cycling clothing that "fits actual humans, not just elite cyclists." 

So are they offering performance cycling clothing made of nanotech that comes when you call?  I'd kickstart that.

Avatar
Nikolai | 3 years ago
14 likes

Calling all Floridians!

It's a distinctive bike and he's often parked up taking calls.  The multi-tool you need is in the saddle bag.  

it's a really quick job: just loosen the bolts on the front of the stem, lower bars to level,  re-tighten bolts, and run.

TIA

Avatar
lesterama replied to Nikolai | 3 years ago
3 likes

Those drops don't get used much

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philhubbard replied to lesterama | 3 years ago
1 like

lesterama wrote:

Those drops don't get used much

All that money and he still couldn't buy a bike that fitted him no

 

Avatar
Milkfloat replied to philhubbard | 3 years ago
0 likes

There is no way he paid for that,  Pinarelli woukd have given it to him in exchange for a tweet or two.

Avatar
Nikolai replied to lesterama | 3 years ago
10 likes

Fair dues, he's often telling the Apprentices to 'raise the bloody bar' 

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rct | 3 years ago
0 likes

S'Alans shirt 

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Captain Badger replied to rct | 3 years ago
0 likes

rct wrote:

S'Alans shirt 

TFTFY

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Sriracha | 3 years ago
5 likes

And the stupid thing is any number of other drivers equally distracted by using their phone at the wheel escape prosecution because theirs is a handsfree setup.

Avatar
Secret_squirrel replied to Sriracha | 3 years ago
6 likes

I'll give you distracted.  Equally distracted is a huge stretch. 

Handsfree is a concentration distraction.  Juggling your phone at the wheel is concentration, visual and physical distraction.

Avatar
OldRidgeback replied to Secret_squirrel | 3 years ago
13 likes

You might want to check the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) and its research into driver distraction then. According to TRL, there is minimal difference between being on  a hands free phone or actually holding it in your hand. The key issue according to TRL is the limitation of the human brain in conducting two tasks at once. You cannot hold a phone conversation while driving safely. You simply cannot. Please read the research into this topic.

Being on the phone while driving is also different from having a conversation with another vehicle occupant. The TRL research makes this quite clear. When a driver is speaking ith someone in the vehicle and requires more brain activity to deal with a situation in the road, the driving activity will be prioritised. When on the phone, the reverse is true

But don't believe me. Check the TRL website and look up extensive, peer reviewed research into the topic by experts in the field. 

Avatar
mdavidford replied to OldRidgeback | 3 years ago
0 likes

OldRidgeback wrote:

Being on the phone while driving is also different from having a conversation with another vehicle occupant. The TRL research makes this quite clear. When a driver is speaking ith someone in the vehicle and requires more brain activity to deal with a situation in the road, the driving activity will be prioritised.

Although that probably depends a lot on who the person is. Some people are lot better at moderating their conversation in response to road circumstances / understanding about being ignored than others...

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GMBasix replied to mdavidford | 3 years ago
6 likes

mdavidford wrote:

Some people are lot better at moderating their conversation in response to road circumstances / understanding about being ignored than others...

And some people just think they are.

None of them is giving driving their undivided attention.  #onejob

Avatar
mdavidford replied to GMBasix | 3 years ago
1 like

GMBasix wrote:

mdavidford wrote:

Some people are lot better at moderating their conversation in response to road circumstances / understanding about being ignored than others...

And some people just think they are.

None of them is giving driving their undivided attention.  #onejob

I was referring more to the passengers, not the drivers.

Avatar
Secret_squirrel replied to OldRidgeback | 3 years ago
2 likes

That TRL research is disputed/ contradicted by other studies.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/02/190207173255.htm

 

Avatar
OldRidgeback replied to Secret_squirrel | 3 years ago
2 likes

I tried watching that but had to give up. But I'm not convinced it does contradict the TRL research. The issue is that the human brain can only do so many things at once. Driving and holding a phone conversation is just too much for the brain to do. 

The US Army spends millions of dollars selecting and training attack helicopter pilots who can indeed multi-task. These are a very rare breed indeed. And yet even these people, la crame de la creme, can only multi-task effectively for short periods, typically 30 minutes maximum.

The TRL's research is extensive and peer reviewed and is supported by that used by the US Army. 

Avatar
Captain Badger replied to Secret_squirrel | 3 years ago
5 likes

Secret_squirrel wrote:

I'll give you distracted.  Equally distracted is a huge stretch. 

Handsfree is a concentration distraction.  Juggling your phone at the wheel is concentration, visual and physical distraction.

I don't believe that's the case. My understanding is it's not the lack of hands on the wheel that is dangerous. but what happens to the brain. During conversations reaction slow to that of being at the legal level of alcohol in the blood. New information is poorly processed as the mind is on the conversation. Even vision is changed, with people tending towards a thousand yard stare, and tunnel vision creeping in.

These effects persist for some time after the conversation.

Hands-free is not an acceptable alternative and has no place behind the wheel of the car. The HWC is also clear about this.

 

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hawkinspeter replied to Sriracha | 3 years ago
1 like

There's a big difference though - with handsfree you can keep your eyes on the road even if you're not paying a lot of attention. When someone is taking their eyes off the road and instead focussing on a phone, they'll probably not notice any new information (e.g. cyclists) when they re-focus on the road. It's like those spot-the-difference pictures - when you move your eyes off a scene, your brain will assume that it's the same when you look at it again and induce change blindness.

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Steve K replied to hawkinspeter | 3 years ago
7 likes

As I understand it, research suggests that using a hands free phone is just as dangerous as using a handheld one.

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to Steve K | 3 years ago
2 likes

Yeah, drivers not paying attention is probably the biggest problem and that covers both groups of drivers.

It's surprising to most people though, just how big an effect change blindness can have. Someone glancing down at their phone is going to completely disrupt their ability to detect motion and new objects.

Have a watch of this video (only a few minutes long) to see the effect on your own vision: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaAIW8WFBq8

Avatar
Captain Badger replied to hawkinspeter | 3 years ago
3 likes

hawkinspeter wrote:

There's a big difference though - with handsfree you can keep your eyes on the road even if you're not paying a lot of attention. When someone is taking their eyes off the road and instead focussing on a phone, they'll probably not notice any new information (e.g. cyclists) when they re-focus on the road. It's like those spot-the-difference pictures - when you move your eyes off a scene, your brain will assume that it's the same when you look at it again and induce change blindness.

clearly taking your eyes off the road is an added issue, but the real issue is the effect on the brain's ability to focus on a complex operation being performed in a dynamic environment. It's not that hands free is better than not, it's more that any phone use is unacceptable, but using a handheld is an aggravating factor. I suppose my analogy is that if someone's has had 2 pints we don't say "that's okay, cos three pints is worse". I can't imagine a conversation that was so vital that it had to be had NOW.

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to Captain Badger | 3 years ago
0 likes

I do agree but I was just making the point that there's real perception problems with glancing away from the road for more than a fraction of a second.

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