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news
Record-breaking John O'Groats to Land's End...on a 7-seat conference bike; RideLondon is a "middle-class jamboree" comment sparks healthy discussion about event's merits; Is Froome back?; Car ownership falls; Close pass hipster + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
Conference seater record (Image: Cyclists Fighting Cancer)31 May 2022, 12:49
Record-breaking John O'Groats to Land's End...on a 7-seat conference bike
A team of cyclists and university friends who aimed to cycle 865 miles from John O’Groats to Land’s End on a seven-seater conference bike, and raise funds for Cyclists Fighting Cancer, have completed their challenge.
Setting off on Sunday 22 May, two core teams of riders cycled in shifts through the days and nights, on a 200kg seven-seater conference bike. The previous Guinness World Record for the same route travelled on a conference bike was set in 2010, by a team of 194 people taking over 28 days; but this group completed the challenge in five days, 21 hours with 15 core riders, and have raised over £18,000 so far.
"Despite most of the team being experienced riders, it took a lot of mental as well as physical energy to keep going – especially through the nights," one of the riders Colin Bolton said.
"The generous donations and the truly inspiring work that Cyclists Fighting Cancer does to support children and families living with cancer kept us pedalling until the very end!”
"We are so impressed by the team's mammoth achievement and efforts in completing their challenge," Cyclists Fighting Cancer CEO Mike Grisenthwaite said.
"We are also grateful for their wonderful fundraising efforts: the team has raised over £18,000 so far, which will fund over 36 new lightweight bikes, tandems and specially adapted trikes to children and young people living with and beyond cancer."
31 May 2022, 16:02
31 May 2022, 15:10
"I'm trying to get back to my old self again. I'm not there, but I'm definitely one step closer": Chris Froome on the comeback path?
Froome was dropped on the first slopes to Valberg. Still, good to see him at a more than decent level, he can improve until the Tour. #mercantourclassic pic.twitter.com/GPMgg6OMUF
— Mihai Simion (@faustocoppi60) May 31, 2022
Chris Froome finished 11th at the Mercan'Tour Classic Alpes-Maritimes, a one-day race that mimics a Grand Tour high mountain stage, as teammates Jakub Fuglsang and Mike Woods completed a 1-2 for Israel-Premier Tech.
At the finish, Froome said "he's one step closer" but opted out of completing the lyric...'to the edge and I'm about to break'...
Froomey has always been more Katy Perry than Linkin Park to be fair...
"I've seen a big progression these last couple of months, I've just come off a training camp now, the legs are feeling good. The next step will be the Critérium du Dauphiné. I'm just taking it one week at a time, focusing on building the feeling of momentum."
31 May 2022, 14:07
"At the end of the day, RideLondon does no real harm and the sums raised for charity by the participants should not be overlooked": RideLondon reaction — is it all just a "middle-class jamboree"?
Shame it doesn't still come through Dorking as the photo shows. Folk have no idea how much of the charity money came back into our area in the form of playgrounds, sport pavilions, even stuff that was off route benefited way more than locals ever give.
— The original BeerBiker (@BeerBiker) May 31, 2022
For any of you eagle-eyed Dorkingphiles out there, yes that's the old route, no we don't have any pictures from the new route...yet...
Some of your RideLondon thoughts...
SimoninSpalding said: "I don't believe in the outdated notion of a class structure, but obviously an event like RideLondon is going to be predominantly for people with a reasonably comfortable income and lifestyle. Households relying on food banks to feed their kids and not having money for the electricity bill will not be dropping £100 to enter, regardless of their levels of fitness etc.
"Equally, the route I am guessing stuck to the more leafy parts of Essex, I doubt the more industrial/ less affluent areas along the Thames featured too highly.
"I do agree that in my experience (several years ago now) the FreeCycle event was a joy to behold and a vision of how great central London could be if more effort was made for active travel.
"At the end of the day, RideLondon does no real harm and the sums raised for charity by the participants should not be overlooked."
Smoggysteve added: "This country is never ever going to move forward with its healthcare targets if all it cares about is cars and drivers. Congestion in our cities, poor air quality and then when people try to live a better lifestlye and get out and exercise they are lambasted for it. RideLondon might be a middle-class lycrathon but its still a day of minimal car use and people doing something healthy. If you find that offensive then you're a total moron."
racyrich commented: "I thought only poor people who couldn't afford a car rode bikes. Now it's only the middle class. I can't keep up."
Steve K thinks: "Anything that gets people on bikes is a good thing, because then they remember how much fun it is to ride a bike, and may consider doing it more often. Plus seeing London car-free might encourage people to realise that if we stop car dominance, cities become much nicer places."
I'd say that's a nice place to stop...
31 May 2022, 13:57
Why cyclists don't use cycle lanes...
Look at these road hoggers thinking they're in the Tour de France, riding in the middle of the lane...
Jakub Fuglsang just won the Mercan'Tour Classic Alpes-Maritimes one-day race (if anyone cares). A certain Chris Froome was looking quite good for a while...I wonder if his disc brakes have stopped rubbing?
31 May 2022, 12:42
Tech of the week
Next time you see me riding I'll be on my horse.😏 pic.twitter.com/e7josIo1HL
— Sara 🥷🚲 (@SezRamos) May 30, 2022
31 May 2022, 12:33
31 May 2022, 11:33
Is he returning to win the Tour de France or running for UCI president?
Yesterday, a certain unnamed bookmaker was spotted taking bets on Dan Martin to win the Tour de France at 500-1...
Today he seems to be running for David Lappartient's job...
The UCI points system is broken but it’s a stage race vs 1 day race issue. Win 2 x WT 1 day race and you get the same points as 1st GC TDF. A 1.1 is the same as a stage in TDF. However it s an impossible task to create a fair system for everybody
— Dan Martin (@DanMartin86) May 31, 2022
And someone's a fan...
Dan for the president!
— Tadej Pogačar (@TamauPogi) May 31, 2022
Incidentally, on the subject of bookmaker blunders...
Not quite sure how, but you can currently get 16/1 on @odb1912 being the next Notts County boss via BetVictor.
Omulo is apparently more likely to take over at Meadow Lane than Kenny Jackett, Michael Carrick and Neil Warnock (all 33/1). pic.twitter.com/A3QReYZuRw
— Alex Jones (@AlexJCambs) May 31, 2022
Yes, that is some random person's mate being priced up for the top job... anyway, enough football, we'll be back with more live blog action after lunch...
31 May 2022, 11:02
UK car ownership falls 0.2% – the first consecutive annual decrease in car ownership in more than 100 years
(Licensed CC BY SA 2.0 on Flickr by Pettras Gagilas)
The latest Motorparc data released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) shows that while the number of vehicles in the UK grew 0.4 per cent to 40,506,971 in 2021, car ownership fell by 0.2 per cent to 35,023,652 – the first consecutive annual decrease in more than 100 years.
SMMT says this is, in part, due to more advanced technology and greater reliability of new vehicles, and partly due to the impact of lockdowns on component shortages and closed dealerships.
31 May 2022, 10:45
Hipster highlights close pass effect...using his vape (of course)
The close pass effect. https://t.co/ho5JhiDFDW
— 🚴♂️🚙Carlton💙🇺🇦💛🐩🚶♂️ (@carlton1512) May 30, 2022
31 May 2022, 10:24
Former vicar to cycle from Cumbria to Rome...carrying a cello
Kenneth Wilson is cycling from Hadrian's Wall to Rome kitted up with his cello on the back of his bike. Wilson told the News & Star the journey is "from the edge of empire to its heart", and the 'poetical cellist' will be performing in each of the places he stops (for the night presumably, not just a layby on the A65).
"Playing the cello is the most important part of it, I’ll be playing music wherever I stop. I have gigs booked at each stop in the UK but once I get over the Channel and arrive in France and Italy it’ll very much be a case of turning up and playing," he said.
"I haven’t done a massive cycle since the summer I left school when I cycled round the coastline of England with a friend to celebrate the end of our studies. I decided to do this at the end of last year so have done a bit of training since then."
Wilson is expecting the journey to take five weeks, and is detailing his progress on his blog.
Last week on the blog we talked about the nightmare that is taking a bike on trains, who knows how you get a cello-laden bike into one of those dreaded upright bike storage facilities? Turns out, you can't. "I need to post my bike back to Cumbria and then travel back with my cello."
31 May 2022, 10:23
31 May 2022, 09:13
Half term tumbleweed
Half term once again proving that it's not cycle lanes that cause traffic
— a person in W5 (@W5Person) May 31, 2022
31 May 2022, 09:03
31 May 2022, 08:50
Council and charities to provide free bikes for Ukrainian refugees
South Cambridgeshire council noted that the area has received the seventh highest number of visas issued as part of the Homes for Ukraine scheme, and said they had teamed up with two local charities to help guests feel welcome.
Quality refurbished bike sellers OWL Bikes and life skills charity Camtrust are supplying Ukrainian guests with some vital transport in the form of a second-hand bike, as well as providing a helmet and lock free of charge.
"Once again, our communities are coming together to provide meaningful support to people arriving from Ukraine; and this time two excellent local charities are also stepping up to make a difference," Cllr Bill Handley told Cambridge Network.
"The bicycles provided to guests from Ukraine will mean they can get out and about in South Cambridgeshire, be better connected to other guests and villages, explore our beautiful countryside, and stay active during the summer months. This is important to help our guests settle in, meet-up and get around when public transport might not be an option."
"I’m truly grateful to OWL Bikes and Camtrust for supplying the bicycles for this scheme. It is yet another example of the incredible community spirit that exists throughout the district and the council is very pleased to be able to help co-ordinate the scheme."
Bikes can be requested here...
31 May 2022, 07:55
RideLondon is a "middle-class jamboree" comment sparks healthy discussion about event's merits
RideLondon is a big enough event that, along with thousands of satisfied participants, you're always going to attract comments suggesting it might not be all that. This self-professed 'unpopular opinion' goes further, however, and labels it the "Park Run of active travel"...the horror...
Unpopular opinion - #RideLondon is a middle class jamboree that, far from advancing everyday cycling, perpetuates the myth that cyclists are guests on our roads, to be occasionally tolerated, and that cycling is primarily a leisure activity.
It's the @parkrun of active travel.
— Jon Burke FRSA 🌍 (@jonburkeUK) May 30, 2022
The comment from Jon Burke prompted a (strangely for Twitter) healthy discussion about the event and the RideLondon FreeCycle (a circuit of closed roads in central London on the same day as the sportive aimed at getting kids and families who otherwise might not cycle in the capital the opportunity to do so).
Outspoken active traveller Jeremy Vine disagreed saying he'd "happened upon it" and thought it was "glorious".
"Happy, not pushy, not even sporty. Good vibes," he tweeted.
As for Ride London - whether or not it encourages more people to ride for transport overall, it’s still a great event. People who ride for leisure still get the health benefits.
— Peter Walker (@peterwalker99) May 30, 2022
Disagree - training for RideLondon 46 got me fit enough & confident enough on roads to consider using bikes as an everyday transport mode. Fast forward 6 years & we are car-free. And for my mum, Freecycle got her into cycling, as outlined here 👇 https://t.co/WvBiKyOOC7
— Charlotte Baker (@charlie_baker23) May 30, 2022
You haven't disagreed with my point. Either of them.
— Jon Burke FRSA 🌍 (@jonburkeUK) May 30, 2022
Which has famously had a huge impact on national fitness and obesity levels...🤔
— Jon Burke FRSA 🌍 (@jonburkeUK) May 30, 2022
When was the last time you saw someone running and dissed them in your head cos it's not utility. Cycling should be the same.
There is a disconnect between sport and utility cycling in UK, but that is largely an infrastructure provision issue.
Anyone on a bike is cool by me.— Real Gaz on a proper bike #fbpe (@gazza_d) May 30, 2022
A few of you got in touch yesterday with your experience of the day...
tigersnapper said: "Seeing John O'Connell's tweet, I went up to London yesterday with the wife to tootle around on the FreeRide. It was great to see so many people of all ages and abilities on their bikes. I also noticed the team members of the parked up team buses stood clapping those of us chugging along past them which I thought was a real encouragement to keep people riding."
zeeridesbikes added: "Really great to see the locals cheering us on during RL yesterday. The atmosphere was good and I though it was really well organised. Route was a bit dull and the amount of littering was really disappointing. Other than that I really enjoyed it although won't be signing up for 2023."
31 May 2022, 08:26
"Humans gonna human"
Humans gonna human https://t.co/xlpSvDUJjy
— HappyToast ★ (@IamHappyToast) May 30, 2022
If you missed it: Parked cars block cycle lane – while their owners ride static bikes in park
31 May 2022, 08:22
The full story on Rapha's comments...
Dan is the road.cc news editor and has spent the past four years writing stories and features, as well as (hopefully) keeping you entertained on the live blog. 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 joined road.cc in 2020. Come the weekend you'll find him labouring up a hill, probably with a mouth full of jelly babies, or making a bonk-induced trip to a south of England petrol station... in search of more jelly babies.
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54 comments
Patrick9-32
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1 year ago
8 likes
On ride london: Does everything in cycling have to be about advancing active travel? Can people not just get together and do something incredibly fun? When I did ride london it was on a tandem with a friend who was recovering from major surgery (who is now, annoyingly, much fitter than me) and we were part of a hugely diverse group of people riding the event for all kinds of reasons. Cycling for leisure and utility cycling are pretty different activities and that isn't necesarily a bad thing.
I am going to do a marathon in a month's time, am I supposed to ensure I do it in such a way that people feel encouraged to walk to the shops?
RE: Former vicar to cycle from Cumbria to Rome...carrying a cello
Hopefully he's paid attention to balancing the bike and doesn't have the experience I had when carrying a christmas tree once.
I regularly carry a guitar and a violin but I use our cargo bike. If I were doing what he's doing I would definitely be using a trailer! That doesn't look safe to me. A cello in a hard case like that is not light.
That doesn't look safe to me. A cello in a hard case like that is not light.
A cello only weighs about 3.5kg and a good case maybe 5kg, so he's only carrying the weight equivalent of a 24-can slab of beer; looks like he's got a customised rack as well so the weight should be well balanced. I imagine the biggest danger would be cars nudging him from behind, so hopefully he's got a flag and/or light on it to keep them back.
My main concern would be securing it - looks like a massive fiddle.
If you think something looks like a massive fiddle, you should always check whether there are strings attached. Still, he can cross that bridge when he comes to it before bowing to the inevitable. No need to fret. May need to wind his neck in a bit though…
chrisonabike
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1 year ago
2 likes
RE: tech of the week - will that disguise the fact that I'm on a bicycle and stop horses freaking out around me? If so I'm in for a kickstarter.
Also puts me in mind of this for some reason:
DoomeFrog
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1 year ago
1 like
I like your use of the term "racer", I know I still use it (occasionally)
Though at that price point you might be better going for something 2nd hand. Before moving to Brum in 97 I managed to pick up a Marin palisades for £250, (£700 when new in 91) only finally mothballed just over a year ago, though ready, in an evening, to be ready to get out the door again.
Yes you will have to start putting cash into it earlier, but it will be more worthwhile.
Helps of course if you have some basic knowledge and already a few tools, or know someone who does.
Hirsute
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1 year ago
3 likes
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-60303323
they "richly deserve to go to prison", but there had been an "increased maturity" in the three men since the incident."
So that's all right then.
Of course they were also banned from driving for life 
SimoninSpalding
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1 year ago
5 likes
I don't believe in the outdated notion of a class structure, but obviously an event like Ride London is going to be predominantly for people with a reasonably comfortable income and lifestyle. Households relying on food banks to feed their kids and not having money for the electricity bill will not be dropping £100 to enter, regardless of their levels of fitness etc.
Equally, the route I am guessing stuck to the more leafy parts of Essex, I doubt the more industrial/ less affluent areas along the Thames featured too highly.
I do agree that in my experience (several years ago now) the the Freecycle event was a joy to behold and a vision of how great central London could be if more effort was made for active travel.
At the end of the day, Ride London does no real harm and the sums raised for charity by the participants should not be overlooked.
If it's proles you want there's always Critical Mass or maybe get joyful with the people on a Drum and Bass on a bike. And there must be at least one cycling club where Bradley Wiggins or Sean Kelly could feel at home?
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Latest Comments
- HoarseMann 2 min 40 sec ago
I do this too: https://youtu.be/Yd5qBwVkxro Some drivers can get a bit upset about it, but it's far better than being close passed at speed.
- brooksby 10 min 24 sec ago
And which looks very like the bag produced by indy bag manufacturer Wizard Works…...
- HoarseMann 21 min 19 sec ago
If it was a 'no vehicles' sign (all white circle centre), it would mean cyclists could ride in the hours that HGVs and disabled drivers are allowed...
- hawkinspeter 28 min 10 sec ago
The tyre wear for (car shaped) EVs has to be more due to the heavier weights and the increased torque.
- stonojnr 1 hour 51 min ago
The bit at the start and end looks like a cycle lane, but the bit they drive on looks just like a patched filter lane for traffic lights.
- JOHN5880 1 hour 51 min ago
Hey, you 4 execs helped run a company into the ground and have no jobs anymore... Come work for us because you have great experience in the...
- Oakhambike 2 hours 36 min ago
£11.5k for a bike weighing over 8kg that's 2 fingers to customers let alone UCI
- Dnnnnnn 2 hours 52 min ago
I'm going to show my bike a picture of this shed and tell it, "If you don't behave..."
- Hirsute 3 hours 39 min ago
Ex black cab https://twitter.com/KingArtAT/status/1783296299787309088