Clip-in carnage: Tricky transition troubles triathletes; New year, same bad driving caught on camera by Jeremy Vine (+ cop defends not using ‘murder strip’); Aero wizard Dan Bigham joins Ineos; Marvellous memes + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
Clip-in carnage: Tricky transition troubles triathletes
Le départ du cyclisme est capital dans une épreuve de triathlon. La preuve en image.
🎥 fb Médéric Pion pic.twitter.com/6kuDhHUa4T
— David Guénel (@davidguenel) January 2, 2022
Was it really worth clipping your shoes to the pedals to save a few seconds if you’re then going spend the next minute faffing about trying to get your feet in?
In fairness, I think we can all sympathise with the clip-in struggle, we’ve all cocked it up at some point or other. Thankfully there’s never normally someone with a camera at a big event ready to capture your crisis and share it to thousands online…
This MUST be a joke…? The camera work is a national treasure.
— Certain (@MatthewCertain) January 3, 2022
Rider 101 got off to a strong start, head of the pack, looking good for a quick exit…unfortunately that pre-clipped in strategy didn’t quite go to plan, and soon saw him heading back the way he came. At least 77 was quickly on hand to distract the camera..
Back with 101 and the slow start continued, will someone please help him…oh, here comes 158 running past, going for the moving mount and…he’s on the deck. Way to make 101 feel better about life.
Just when you think the shennanigans are complete 11 and 59 keep the party rolling (or perhaps not rolling is a better description)…and then the crowning glory…bike upturned with the chain being put back on. How many of these will just put their shoes on before clipping in next time?
New year, same bad driving caught on camera by Jeremy Vine
My attempt to convince my daughter that “it’s safe to cycle three miles to Chelsea on a Sunday afternoon, don’t worry” was always doomed to failure.
Bear in mind — official advice is to move into the centre of the lane as you approach a pinch point, so this driving is bizarre: pic.twitter.com/xyYIXetOjr— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) January 3, 2022
Not even 10am on our first day back and Jeremy Vine has delivered the goods. A “safe” three-mile cycle across town on a Sunday afternoon interrupted by a driver taking issue with the presenter riding in the middle of the lane and not in the painted cycle lane in the door zone.
Needless to say the new year hasn’t brought a change in attitudes on social media…
No, that’s a negligently designed cycle lane – you should never ride at the edge through a road narrowing. Paint is not protection. Someone with cycle instructor training like me would tell you to ignore that lane as it’s showing the most dangerous bit of that road to ride on.
— CyclingMikey tired of road crime. 🇪🇺🇳🇱🇿🇼 (@MikeyCycling) January 3, 2022
Col, this is urgent now. YOU MUST STOP DRIVING UNTIL YOU HAVE RETAKEN YOUR TEST.
— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) January 4, 2022
use the cycle lane-that’s what they are for and proving a point by putting your child at risk is madness. the driver was giving the recomended space you drove into their space
— BAC (@BAC64) January 3, 2022
Welcome to the road.cc family, Ryan!
New Year, New Job! I’m very excited that tomorrow will be my first official day as a news writer @roadcc. I’ve dreamt of being a cycling journalist since I was 14, so it’s all a bit surreal at the moment! I can’t wait to get started on what will be a fantastic new challenge.
— Ryan Mallon (@ryanmallon92) January 3, 2022
We have a new face to introduce…Ryan has joined the road.cc team. Good news: you won’t have to put up with me live blogging every day. Bad news: there isn’t any…Happy 2022!
Marvellous memes: How long until racing starts again?
When cycling is life pic.twitter.com/81Trswk1GN
— Cycling Memes (@Cycling_Memes1) January 3, 2022
Cyclo-cross fans might take issue with me saying racing needs to start again. For what it’s worth, wrestling control of the telly for the Boxing Day WVA v MVDP v Pidcock battle was well worth it. “They’re not even riding their bikes,” was heard muttered as the field lugged their machines up the stairs…
With the Australian races cancelled it looked as though Argentina’s Vuelta a San Juan would be the season curtain-raiser on the road. Alas, that has now been cancelled too…
Motorway cop defends Jeremy Vine not using 'murder strip' cycle lane
Mark Hodson of the Central Motorway Police Group channelled his inner Surrey traffic cop to educate one unhappy replier claiming Vine should have been in the painted cycle lane.
That’s a murder strip not a cycle lane, all it’s fit for is collecting debris… I wouldn’t use or expect any one else to, I’d be in the “prime” position all the way through that pinch point, @theJeremyVine cycling was excellent, the driver is an incompetent buffoon 👍
— Mark Hodson (@markandcharlie) January 3, 2022
Retired police cycling instructor Anthony Hunt added to Hodson’s point, “Jeremy Vine was correct to take that position to protect his daughter from cars or maybe a truck trying to squeeze through and take his daughter out for the sake of five seconds progress. It’s a no-brainer really.”
Aero wizard British Hour Record holder Dan Bigham joins Ineos as 'race engineer'
British Hour Record holder Dan Bigham has joined Ineos Grenadiers…but not as a rider. The 30-year-old broke Sir Bradley Wiggins’ distance in October and worked with the Danish track cycling team at the Olympics, sharing his aerodynamic expertise.
> Dan Bigham breaks Sir Bradley Wiggins’ British Hour Record
The WorldTour giants have appointed Bigham to the intriguing role of ‘race engineer’.
“His work in the pursuit of time trial and aerodynamic excellence makes Dan Bigham one of the most respected engineers in the cycling world,” a team statement explained.
With Bigham’s aero skills and the world champion’s monstrous power, will anyone able to beat Top Ganna in 2022?
Bizarre Express story digs up six-year-old failed Dragons' Den pitch...seemingly just to have a pop at cycling
I’m guessing not many of you took a dip onto the Express’ website this morning, but if you have you might have seen this ‘personal finance’ story…
It centres around Dragons’ Den’s Peter Jones taking issue with John Readman’s cycling pitch for Ride25, a trip allowing riders to cycle from the UK to Australia in 25 individual chunks. The article highlighted Jones’ issues with the £1,250 trip, which includes food, accommodation and any medical expenses. The problem? The pitch was from 2015…
We’re not really sure why it’s been dug up now…someone must have been watching repeats over Christmas. However, the Express shared Jones’ views on the trip…which turned into a rant about cyclists more generally…”I find it difficult enough living out in the country as it is.
“When I see and go through groups of like 50 going down the road, it drives me up the wall. You could have a stream of eight hours long worth of cyclists travelling from here to Amsterdam. I think that’s bloody annoying.”
So what did we learn about personal finance? Not much.
Drops become Le Col Wahoo with triple funding
Le Col has backed up its passion for women’s cycling by investing in the development of female riders via the pro team formerly known as Drops—Le Col. Now, Drops has been…well, dropped, and the team will continue under the Le Col Wahoo banner for at least two more years.
“Our commitment goes beyond the kit,” Le Col founder Yanto Barker said. “With the Le Col Wahoo team we have a collective set of matched goals, values and ideas to work on. This is an incredibly exciting team, with some of the strongest young bike racers. It’s been an honour to work with the team for the past few seasons, and we are looking forward to that relationship continuing as Le Col pledge to triple our investment with title sponsorship.”
Kit controversy: UCI bans Bizkaia-Durango pink kit due to clash with Women's WorldTour leader's jersey
Women’s UCI-level team Bizkaia-Durango have expressed disappointment at the sport’s governing body’s decision to reject their pink kit due to a clash with the UCI Women’s WorldTour leader’s jersey. Bizkaia said the decision was particularly disappointing considering it has been their kit for the last six seasons, and that the UCI have rejected two different designs.
Last month, Andy Schleck-CP NVST-Immo Losch (try saying that after a few lagers) were also told to ditch their kit design over a clash with three WorldTour teams who had also gone for an orange, purple and pink colour scheme. The team’s rejected (but already manufactured) kit soon appeared up for sale online…
How not to do bike parking racks
Any idea who installs these crap not-fit-for-purpose bike stands around Mayfair? @CityWestminster @Westminster_LCC @WestminsterSts pic.twitter.com/JeBU8e8USH
— RossiBike (@RossiTheBossi) January 3, 2022
If Carlsberg did bike parking solutions, they’d be a hell of a lot better than this…
What is the most frustrating bike maintenance job?
The most annoying bicycle maintenance task is installing and removing bottle cages. Boneheadedly simple yet takes way more time than it deserves. Think about it and you’ll agree.
— Bike Snob NYC (@bikesnobnyc) January 4, 2022
Shout-out to my 3T stem with the bolts facing towards the saddle, meaning tightening and loosening with a multi-tool makes you want to lob your bike in a hedge…but yes, I agree, bottle cages are another frustrating one. Honourable mention to forcing a tight tyre over the rim, especially when it’s January, pissing down and you last felt your fingers two hours ago…
Which maintenance jobs really grind your gears?
Out of nowhere...
Is there a VAR in cyclocross? 🙈 pic.twitter.com/qCMxltPrd2
— Cyclocross24.com (@cyclocross24) January 4, 2022
Play on! He got the ball…
Cyclist thanks passers by for helping after collision
North Shields cyclist Martyn Edwards has thanked the passers by who rushed to help after he was hit by a driver at a roundabout on Thursday. An off-duty policeman and off-duty nurse were amongst the crowd who helped, providing medical attention while waiting for paramedics to arrive.
A neighbour provided a blanket to keep him warm, while another went to tell Martyn’s wife. “I feel so lucky,” he told the Newcastle Chronicle. “I couldn’t believe how many people stopped to help. I have no idea who they are but I would just like to thank everyone for being there.”
Martyn’s wife Jo added: “He couldn’t have asked for any better care than he got from the people who were there.
“People say society has changed and people aren’t so kind and thoughtful anymore, but this just brings it home that when something like that happens people will take the time to help.”
4 January 2022, 09:03
4 January 2022, 09:03
I hear you're a cyclist now, Father!
Enforcing cycle lane would prevent drivers from parking (illegally) outside Presbyterian church, claims Dublin elder
Church says new bollards designed to prevent drivers parking on bike lane would bring disruption and impede “constitutional right to worship”
4 January 2022, 09:03
4 January 2022, 09:03
4 January 2022, 09:03
4 January 2022, 09:03
Help us to bring you the best cycling content
If you’ve enjoyed this article, then please consider subscribing to road.cc from as little as £1.99. Our mission is to bring you all the news that’s relevant to you as a cyclist, independent reviews, impartial buying advice and more. Your subscription will help us to do more.
69 Comments
Read more...
Read more...
Read more...
Latest Comments
Hey, but their wool blend cycling adjacent t-shirts are/were fantastic.
@Surreyrider Still the boss. Ride one, you'll see why
@Smoggysteve "Most would happily ride on the roads and be treated with respect by drivers". But people aren't - and as far as I can see they won't be. Not until there is a lot less driving and it's slower around cyclists, and far more people driving have "skin in the game" eg. they sometimes cycle and their friends and family do also. That's what leads to the model - which is perhaps most advanced in NL - where cycling, walking and driving are all seen as separate normal transport modes. Their needs, vulnerabilities and any dangers to others are considered. And *that* leads to "mix / share when possible, separate when necessary". But "possible" is "where your 10-year old would be safe to cycle unsupervised" - so very few motor vehicles, going slow! And AFAICS everybody - even "existing cyclists" - is happy with the result. (I dunno about a few pro cyclists - but don't they tend to have training camps in different counties anyway?)
@quiff as an Edinburgh resident I can confidently say he's speaking without moving his lips in one sense: - while as I noted in a separate comment there *is* now some real separated cycle infra, all the examples i can think of have *at least as much space* for pedestrians. The rest of the "cycle infra" is essentially similar to the situation in the rest of the UK: eg. bus lanes*, cycle lanes and shared use paths (eg. "build" infra by sticking up a sign). Edinburgh is one of the places with a moderately extensive network of former railways which have been converted to "shared use" paths (completely motor traffic few). However though shared they are not narrow by UK standards. And this is all effectively a "free extra" for all non- motorised users, not like the "sign a cycle path" where pedestrians do lose space. I think this all comes from the "popular understanding" of cycling in which ultimately cyclists are the "other". They don't fit "motor vehicle" or "pedestrian" (including wheelchairs on the very rare occasions people think about that). Thus "cyclists are cheating" in multiple ways! They shouldn't get their own space as "there aren't enough" of them. And "they can just use the road / path". But being able to *choose* "on the road" or "on the footway" (shared use path) is clearly unfair - nobody else gets to do that! BUT of course even if they did pick just one of road OR pedestrian space it's still not fair anyway because they're "too slow" for the road (don't pay "road tax" etc...) and "far too fast" for pedestrians... * Though some existing cyclists may appreciate them when there are few buses, buses and bikes are a very poor mix for several reasons.
Whilst a shame for any employees, their bib shorts had the worst chamois pad I’d ever encountered, utter waste of my money. Even though they were Strava challenge discount purchases, still a waste of money.
Thanks, just going to have to suck it up. Got next week off and will take the easy, if expensive option...
@ktache Just go for the TNT Sports only package, £30.99 for a month. Alternatively have you considered experimenting with a VPN for a few pounds, allowing you to sign up for a free stream abroad, e.g. SBS Australia which streams the Tour live? If I didn't have a kind mate's login that's what I'd do!
So, it's now the month of July and I'm going to have to pay to watch the TdF, for one month only. On a tablet unfortunately, as I didn't manage to get a laptop to rig up to the TV, grrr. Just wondering, what package will I have to fork out for? Not wanting to pay for the wrong one...
Not that it sounds like a dealbreaker given the other faults you've identified, but that cable isn't really a "proprietary" cable, four pin magnetic cables like that are quite common on bone-conducting headphones and other devices (my inexpensive smartwatch uses one) and they can be had for £4.99 on UK Amazon.
69 thoughts on “Clip-in carnage: Tricky transition troubles triathletes; New year, same bad driving caught on camera by Jeremy Vine (+ cop defends not using ‘murder strip’); Aero wizard Dan Bigham joins Ineos; Marvellous memes + more on the live blog”
I have some sympathy for the
I have some sympathy for the driver in Jeremy Vine’s clip (although he was still wrong to attempt to overtake there), the main fault lies with the awful ‘anti cycle lane’. There is so much of this sort of stuff about that actually makes cycling more dangerous, there needs to be a campaign to get it removed but the tragedy is it’s still being done!
Why sympathy though?
Why sympathy though?
Rule 167
DO NOT overtake where you might come into conflict with other road users. For example
Because the road marking give
Because the road marking give the impression (wrongly) that they can carry on in ‘their’ lane whilst the cyclist stays ‘safely’ in the (inadequate) lane allocated to them. I said it was wrong for the driver to attempt an overtake but given the normal standard of driving we all encounter daily it’s unfortunately inevitable.
ChasP wrote:
I would have thought it was common sense (I know, I know…) that if you would move out to overtake a cyclist then you still have to move out to overtake them even if they rwemain in their painted murderstrip.
What I mean, is that the cyclist’s position on the road is no different, so why would the painted lines change how the motorist ‘should’ behave?
And in the case of a pinch point like that: again, common sense says you cannot safely pass a cyclist (or anyone else!) while going through that narrowed section. Even if there’s a painted cycle lane there.
If someone’s common sense cannot see any of that then they really ought to consider a refresher driving course.
That’s exactly why the
That’s exactly why the murderstrips, especially the majority that are actually too narrow to cycle in, are worse than nothing at all. A significant minority of drivers as we all know think it gives them the right to carry on in ‘their lane’ whether there’s a cyclist there or not. It’s pointless arguing about the highway code or common sense when unfortunately we all know the reality on the roads.
and do we think most cyclists
and do we think most cyclists ride that pinch point like Vine does or Vines daughter did, and which reinforces the message “theres enough” space that motorists regularly using that road might take to assume is the default?
ChasP wrote:
A quick read of the HWC (preferably before driving) would have disabused them of that notion.
In any case JV wasn’t in the cycle lane, until he was forced to take avoiding action by the driver using their car to barge him and his daughter out of the way (in direct opposition to HWC 163 amongst others)….
When you are in control of a vehicle you are in control, and are fully responsible for your behaviour. You can’t blame putting people at risk on “paint”
Using horn illegally and
Using horn illegally and aggressive pointing makes me think this driver is a cnut. He needs educating not sympathy.
No sympathy from me I’m
No sympathy from me I’m afraid. So much infrastructure is incompatible with the highway code, which is obvious incompetant design, but two wrongs are never going to make a right.
ChasP wrote:
The fault lies with the driver (although the white paint on the road might exacerbate incompetent behaviour) as there was no issue until they turned up.
As the white lines themselves had no agency, and remained constant throughout the encounter, and indeed posed no risk to the riders, it really had little to do with them.
I agree with ChasP regarding
I agree with ChasP regarding cycle lane design (perhaps less so with the sympathy). Round my way many of the cycle lanes flare out at islands to try and make it obvious to drivers not to overtake. This clip is a great example of the deficiencies of painted lanes and how they adversely affect drivers thinking. Perhaps it should be used to educate the designers. Many of whom I suspect have never sat on a bike since primary school.
Councils need to be taken to
Councils need to be taken to court for door zone cycling lanes. They cause so much aggression for cyclists that follow all official advice to NEVER ride in the door zone.
They are worse than useless and give a false sense of security.
EddyBerckx wrote:
There is a ‘cycle lane’ in my local town that is literally 1 foot wide, along a normal sized road. It achieves absolutely nothing other than giving drivers the impression that they have their own lane. I can only imagine that the installation of some active travel infrastructure of any description unlocked extra funding for something else.
My own cycle lane of utter
My own cycle lane of utter uselessness and the kind of incident it creates.
No room for a fat cyclist in
No room for a fat cyclist in that bike lane!
Very restrained.
Very restrained.
I’d be tempted to take the lane rather than ride in that cycle lane.
Serious question. Honest!
Serious question. Honest! What training/qualifications are needed to design cycle infrastructure? Who does the education and training? Are the designers chartered by a professional organisation? Are they required to do Continual Prefessional Development to keep up with best practice, legislation changes etc.? Are there conferences where best practice is discussed and shared?
zedbedboy wrote:
I don’t know about qualifications, but at least they’re keen on car-sharing (apologies to the competent infrastructure designers wherever they may be)
“the competent infrastructure
“the competent infrastructure designers wherever they may be”
Here.
I believe these may be the
I believe these may be the people https://www.ciht.org.uk/ but whether councils/ DfT have to use their members to design infrastructure I am not sure. Even assuming they do ensure competence.
101? .. is that his room
101? .. is that his room number?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/101_(topic)
Edit – you need to add in the[b] _(topic)[/b] to the end of the url
Sriracha wrote:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/101_(topic)
Close but no cigar http://www
Close but no cigar http://www.room101cigars.com/
(courtesy of the incomplete Wiki link from Sriracha I now know a lot more about 101)
Had a positive result with
Had a positive result with Essex Police but as now seems the norm, it has to be a clear offence. In this case, they turned right out of a side road ignoring the give way markings. Also they did not even look before, during or after their manoeuvre.
Also had a postive for covid, so no cycling for me for week.
Well done and get well soon.
Well done and get well soon.
Agree with other commenters
Agree with other commenters on the God-awful cycle lane in the Vine clip – this kind of “infrastructure” is worse than having none at all.
The other thing I note about the clip is that Vine is riding ahead of his child. At first this might seem odd, but it does tie in with my sage advice of having the fatter cyclist ride in front of the thin one, so that the thin cyclist is always visible. So full marks to Jeremy on that one.
Now just think how much less
Now just think how much less effective this sage advice would be if all cyclists wore identically coloured official issue high visibility tabards. The thinner rearmost cyclist would disappear against “fatty in front” thus putting them at significant risk from law abiding drivers taking important phone calls and drinking their coffee.
How about if cyclists rode
How about if cyclists rode side by side? Larger one on the outside of course.
But then they would be
But then they would be contravening “road safety expert” Nick Freeman’s version of the highway code where cyclists must ride in single file, with any other approach being “totally illegal”.
Garage at Large wrote:
Oh look….. more wonderful fat shaming “joking” from Nigel, add that to racism and mysoginy.
Here’s a New Year resolution
Here’s a New Year resolution for you : grow up, Bud.
Try seeing what someone has said / written, rather than what you ‘assume’ they have said / written. It’s not TOO hard.
.
.
Flintshire Boy wrote:
If only you could bring yourself to follow your own advice…
Have you read what was
Have you read what was written Flintshire? The only thing tri has done wrong was to take the bait in the first place. How come you seem to be very pro cyclist / anti car unless your “mate” posts something?
Flintshire Boy wrote:
It seems to be hard for you to read what is written. I will simplify what your mate Nige said.
Now please explain to me what part I misunderstood.
I agree with other commenters
I agree with other commenters on the God-awful comment at the top of this string – this kind of “comment” is worse than having none at all.
New Year began nadly for me
New year began badly for me too. 4 assholes inside 10 minutes on the first day commuting, two close passes into oncoming traffic, one woman driving down a one way street the wrong direction, one guy overtaking me the wrong side of a traffic island, thereby nearly colliding with a driver wanting to turn out of a side street (and yet making signs at me afterwards…)
Re the comments on the Jeremy Vine video: It beats me how so many people can react to a video like this, or any other document, of this kind, absolutely without engaging with a single one of its points…
Quote:
Not to rely on the Daily Express for advice?
A story from 6-7 years ago in
A story from 6-7 years ago in the Express? Finally stopped talking about Diana’s death then?
AlsoSomniloquism wrote:
Just a pause: normal service will be resumed soon and it’ll be on the front page on Friday, latest.
welcome Ryan, will be good to
welcome Ryan, will be good to have a 15 year old reporting…..
…enjoy your new job
Following on from Jezza
Following on from Jezza stating Sunday would be safe. I do find that less drivers means percentages of clownage is higher weirdly.
I cycled into work yesterday to drop of some clothes for the week ahead. Mostly Urban dual carriageways but also mostly empty. Still had what I call MSIL (Must Stay In Lane) where even though the other lane is empty, they close pass me in my lane. Three times in 7.5 miles, twice in the same stretch of half mile tarmac. Unfortunately for me and lucky for them, my camera hadn’t come on when I pressed the button. Was on this morning for the one today though on the way in.
Edit: Forgot to mention that one of the MSIL was from a learner driver being instructed. Obviously goes to show that even the instructors aren’t following the HC changes.
Agree, for urban cycling I
Agree, for urban cycling I would go for the ironically named rush-hour as stationary and slow moving cars are much less dangerous. Once the roads are “clear” the few drivers out feel they are entitled to do 30 because the signs say so.
yep my work colleagues always
yep my work colleagues always used to tell me it was safer to commute at rush hour as the traffic was barely moving around them, than the post rush hour which is when I rode in and it became the quick the roads are clear drive faster lot.
that said Sundays, around here at least, can be just as bad, with a mix of church and sunday lunch pub runners, the worst part being you cant help think alot of the drivers you then meet in the tiny back country roads as a result are avoiding the main routes for a reason.
In a semirural setting, rush
In a semirural setting, rush hour is worst, as it’s comparatively dense yet pretty fast traffic, that MGIF.
We are a mercifully godless
We are a mercifully godless bunch in South Lincs so the church thing doesn’t seem to be a problem. That said Sunday morning for me does generally involve worshipping at the temple of stationary cycling (the gym) because “SHE who must be obeyed” is instructing. If the weather is *really* nice, and I am invited on a ride by other people I am sometimes allowed to do real cycling.
Edit: 2 hours from my subtle plea for help and still no invites
Absolutely agree, the quieter
Absolutely agree, the quieter the roads the greater the percentage of fuckwits. I can think of at least 4 instances, over the holiday period, where drivers tried to overtake me at pinch points/triffic islands exatly like the video. In 2 of those the car bailed out and went the wrong side of the trffic island, which really just goes to show how quiet it was.
Vine is just experiencing
Vine is just experiencing typical Councilistis. Draw a line and if there are hazards choose:
a) draw the line anyway.
b) stop the cycle lane and leave the cyclist in the lurch.
This cycle lane was amended 2 months ago. I am starting to believe that they consider it complete although the pavement has no shared use indicators and they haven’t yet fully reinstated traffic islands removed after resurfacing.
To accomodate a permanent cycle lane on the other side, they shifted the centre line and removed the uphill cycle lane. As there is now no room for a cycle lane and a car lane, they chose (b) and simply stop the lane marking before there is any opportunity for the cyclist to exit the road, nor is there any forward visibility of the road markings – the drivers, especially HGVs, are more fixated on oncoming traffic with the narrowed lane.
Intereresting one as the
Intereresting one as the arrow is telling cyclists to take to the pavement, but there isn’t a sign to say it is a shared use path?
I think the sign on the road
I think the sign on the road should be translated as wanting cyclists to please just F off out of the roadway… They don’t actually want them to carry on riding anywhere else.
Even better coming the other
Even better coming the other way is the wand added at the start of the full bike lane, on a bend, where drivers have been encouraged to drive in the cycle lane as they have gone for minimal road markings so there is no centre line. The bent and battered plastic posts (with the 10cm cycle lane sign on the wand being the only hint of a changing roadscape) testifies to the number of people who have had a suprise.
And how many people do you
And how many people do you know have broken their hip riding up a dropped kerb at the wrong angle?
you’re mistaken, the sign is
you’re mistaken, the sign is directing cyclists to pop into the first house on the left.
Presumably some nice coffee and cake will be waiting.
If space is at a premium I
If space is at a premium I guess it’s sensible to think of a less-than-perfect solution. I agree it seems to be a shared use footway uphill, and a cycle lane downhill.
I doubt the cycle lane is 2m, or even 1.5m, and the physical protection is minimal. Orcas and wands would be better than just orcas.
In general I’d prefer to have a protected cycle track when I’m going uphill.
The principle is great, the
The principle is great, the execution is appalling.
There is a 40mph post which is due to be removed as the road is residential, has a number of large properties like Sunset Senior Living and a golf club and is the scene of regular accidents at a junction further up. I suspect that the design criteria for the revised layout with reduced lane widths is 30mph. It’s an ex-trunk road, obsolete after the M40 was built but the 40mph remained.
Unfortunately, they run the cycle lane on the pavement across the heavily used flat and care home entrances. In two months they have not put any markings on the pavement, so it is unclear how they expect the cyclists to interact traffic at those junctions; I suspect they think cyclists will give way – I have news for them on that score. It then passes in front of a bus stop before dropping onto the road again. Then there is bin day…
So they could have put in a dropped kerb on the roundabout at a more acute angle, making a desirable escape from the pinch point, widening the pavement where the 40mph sign is currently.
For about a month, they didn’t have the Orcas and it was great. Then they put them in right down to the island – I live off to the right at the roundabout going downhill so I want to exit the cycle lane at about 20-25mph to merge with the traffic, can’t do it with orcas.
I guess BikeSnob NYC is not
I guess BikeSnob NYC is not local, otherwise he would have made at least a passing reference to the joy that is fitting mudguards to a road bike.
IanMSpencer wrote:
Planning to fit a pair of mudguards at the weekend, will probably involve a drill and a hacksaw. I’m expecting 3+ hours for what should be a half hour job.
Fitting new mudguards to a
Fitting new mudguards to a bike must be the worst job going. 18months ago I bought a set of SKS Longboards for my Genesis Gravel bike. For some inexplicable reason the mounting points at the front are halfway up the inside of the fork legs. That positioning of the mounting points meant the stays had to be cut to different lengths. The next issue was the front rubber flap was too low so I had to drill out the bridge rivets and re-rivet it further back. The result of that little exercise was the stays had to be cut again and the angle of them meant the ends had to be bent to fit through the top bracket of the mudguard.
I hope the mudguards never need replacing. I’d sooner strip the whole drive train down and clean it any day of the week.
Regarding the mounting points
Regarding the mounting points halfway up the fork, I wonder whether (by design or accident) it makes it safer. If something jams under the mudguard and it all starts to rotate towards the fork crown, the mudguard should lift away from the tyre and hopefully release the object. But it is a pain to fit, in my case the lower stay was only just long enough.
As to the flap being too low, I thought that was the whole point? Stops the crop spraying onto the chainrings and thence into the entire drive train. Might save having to strip it down and clean so often 🙂
I’m not sure about the
I’m not sure about the possible safety aspect. I’ll let you test that one. I rely on on the stays pulling out of the clips before I go over the handlebar.
Yes, the flap should be lower than normal mudguards but on the first fit it was nearly on the floor hence the refit. It is very effective at keeping the shoes and shins cleaner but could be longer at the top. I find that at anything over, around, 15mph I get covered in the spray off the top of the front wheel.
Upvote for the stupid 3T stem
Upvote for the stupid 3T stem though. There will be a barely used 100mm one listing on Ebay as soon as I can be @rsed if Dan needs one for another of his stable!
Will probably come up with a better sales pitch when I do list – “as used by road.cc editor” has a nice ring to it!
I think it rains in NYC too..
I think it rains in NYC too…
brooksby wrote:
Tender, tough, too tragic to be true…
WTAF are those bike stands in
WTAF are those bike stands in Mayfair???
Bike stand at Bodmin Jail (on
Bike stand at Bodmin Jail (on the Camel Trail). I think it’s over the old grave pit.
IanMK wrote:
Aww wow, look at all the sharp edges to scrape your paint on
We’re spoiled as cyclists
Clearly not enough room to
Clearly not enough room to pass JV at the pinch point, and exactly why the experienced cyclist should be behind the novice/child.
With the front cyclist taking a wide line to deter a squeeze pass, and the rear cyclist obediently staying in the cycle lane, the car is almost certain to pass through the pinch point adjacent to the novice cyclist.
unless the UCI are changing
unless the UCI are changing the WWT leaders jersey, which is possible I guess, but it was basically purple last year and we had two teams wearing predominantly purple kits, with not a murmur of protest from the UCI.
And it was that purple clash which kicked off the whole rush to change to fruit salad kits instead, which appears to have also claimed AWOL O’Shea as another victim even though again their kit like Andy Schlecks team was pre-existing colour set
But I dont see how Bizkaia-Durango clashed with the purple UCI WWT jersey, if anything its more of clash with
DropsLe Col Wahoo.