“Funny, because it’s not congested for anyone who wants to cycle”: Twitter responds as Jeremy Clarkson blames cycle lanes for congestion; Bahrain McLaren renamed Bahrain Victorious; A swig of Bikefast; New SRAM derailleur + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
Council's own van driver close passes cyclist back on the road after popular cycle lane is scrapped
@NTCouncilTeam how do I report dangerous driving by a NTC van please? I was passed on my bike approaching traffic lights by a speeding van. It was far too close to me and cut me off on the ex-@SunriseCycleway I have forwarded the footage to the police already. pic.twitter.com/uVz9tI3M9u
— Steve Boyle 😷 🚴🏻♂️ 🏴 (@boylemeister) November 4, 2020
North Tyneside Council are becoming a regular feature here for their ability to shoot themselves in the foot. Last week it was promoting their new batch of electric cargo bikes on the cycleway just days before the infrastructure was to be scrapped. But this week they might just have outdone themselves… Steve Boyle highlighted this incident which happened two days after the council dismantled the Sunrise Cycleway. He was close passed by one of the council’s own van drivers while cycling on the road where the cycleway used to run. North Tyneside Council responded on Twitter saying they were looking into the matter.
One Twitter user responded to the picture saying: “Talk about adding insult to injury by this dangerous behaviour after they removed the protected cycleway!”
On Monday the cycleway was dismantled to make room for the return of the two-way road with the council citing falling usage numbers as the reason behind the decision. The Living Streets North Tyneside group appealed for the cycle lane to stay and highlighted the need to encourage active travel and healthy living during lockdown. Earlier this week we reported that the cycleway had been targeted by vandals who spread nails across the path.
Michael Rogers joins UCI as Innovation Manager
Three-time UCI World ITT Champion Michael Rogers has joined the UCI to help develop cycling esports and new technologies in races, such as use of riders’ in-race data. As a professional Rogers rode the Tour de France 11 times with his best Grand Tour GC result coming at the 2009 Giro d’Italia, when he finished sixth. The UCI announced the appointment at their virtual UCI Congress on Thursday. Rogers has experience of esports cycling and founded the virtual training platform VirtuGo.
Filippo Ganna tests positive for COVID-19
World time trial champion Filippo Ganna has tested positive for coronavirus. The Italian sensation was at a national track team training camp in Lombardy but has since returned home to self-quarantine. Ganna was preparing for the UEC Track European Championships which start next week. The Ineos rider dominated the time trial stages at last month’s Giro d’Italia, winning all three stages against the clock as well as a road stage in the first week.
One way to stay visible...
#RoadSafety advice for cyclists: Always use front light, front reflector, pedal reflectors, wheel reflectors, rear light, rear reflectors, wear bright clothing and bike helmet (with reflectors or lights, if possible). Be seen!
Cyclists: Hold my water bottle.#SpeedKills #Cycling pic.twitter.com/YF5M7u1vKf
— (Τζέισων) (@Tzeison_) November 6, 2020
Jeremy Clarkson unhappy with segregated cycle lanes
It’s no real surprise that Jeremy Clarkson has had another pop at cycle lanes is it? Last year he said that “bikes can f*@% off in a YoutTube rant. The former Top Gear presenter couldn’t understand why he was stuck in traffic despite cars being backed up ahead of him for as far as the image shows. Instead, Clarkson decided the cause of his delay was the segregated cycle lane next to him. He wrote: “It’s a beautiful day so where are the bloody cyclists?”. The good people of Instagram didn’t disappoint with their replies.. One said: “Already at work as they didn’t get stuck in the traffic.”
SRAM introduces upgraded 11-speed Red eTap rear derailleur in quietest product launch ever
In our updated guide to SRAM components, just published this morning, we note probably the quietest product launch in the history of bike components, SRAM’s Red eTap A2 11-speed rear derailleur. Intended as a service and warranty replacement for the original eTap rear mechs it incorporates technology from SRAM’s AXS rear derailleurs, which should improve shifting for owners of eTap v1 systems. It’s almost enough to make us stop sulking about the lack of an upgrade path from 11-speed eTap to AXS 12-speed.
Ian Stannard the "toughest cyclist you've ever met"
1/2 When there’s debate about the toughest cyclist you’ve ever met, there’s only ever been one answer from me: @IStannard. But off the bike, a gentle giant, absolutely loved by everybody who knows him.
Mate, your loyalty, commitment & strength to dig deep are values for life, not pic.twitter.com/w8iVeGYpyv— Mark Cavendish (@MarkCavendish) November 6, 2020
Mark Cavendish has joined the list of pro riders and fans congratulating Ian Stannard on his incredible racing career. Stannard announced his retirement yesterday due to rheumatoid arthritis.
Cav said: “When there’s debate about the toughest cyclist you’ve ever met, there’s only ever been one answer from me: Ian Stannard. But off the bike, a gentle giant, absolutely loved by everybody who knows him. Mate, your loyalty, commitment & strength to dig deep are values for life, not just cycling. It’s been a real joy to grow through this sport with you. Thank you for everything. Not just what you’ve done for me, but what you’ve done for cycling. Congratulations on a brilliant career.”
So many great moments spent with Yogi over the years! Such an awesome teammate 🙌
All the best in your retirement & enjoy the time with your girls ❤️
📸 @gettyimages pic.twitter.com/1ncTLjJd0u— Chris Froome (@chrisfroome) November 6, 2020
You've heard of Buckfast, now we've got Bikefast
Introducing Victory Chimp’s patented Bikefast Mind Tonic. 🍾
Brewed in the Sperrin Mountains by the Benedictine Monkeys.One dose a day, for good health and lively blood.
75cl / 0% Vol. Chance of Smiles 99.28% . Contains Joy.
Ride Responsibly.https://t.co/IkKYeXA42f pic.twitter.com/0rf6Ety9rs— Victory Chimp (@VictoryChimp) November 6, 2020
This week we shared our Christmas gifts for cyclists: presents for less than £50…here’s another possible stocking filler. Guaranteed to make you feel great, without the sore head the following day. Made by cycling art and gift experts Victory Chimp this novelty bottle “brewed by Benedictine Monkeys” will keep you fuelled over the winter.
Bahrain McLaren's new name
“Here is Jan Tratnik, winner of stage 16 of the #giroditalia2020”
Last km. pic.twitter.com/aRwULj9Eb0
— Damjan Jagar (@DamjanJagar) October 20, 2020
Bahrain-McLaren won their first and only WorldTour race on Stage 16 of the Giro d’Italia last month. This hasn’t stopped them taking a confident approach to their team name for next season. Introducing…Bahrain Victorious. Yes that really is what the team of Mikel Landa and Wout Poels will be named next year (hopefuly they will win something to live up to their bold title). The other two changes in sponsor and team names in the men’s WorldTour are Citroën, who are joining AG2R Citroën, and Mitchelton Scott, reverting back to their familiar Greenedge Cycling label. For the women, CCC Liv will become Liv Racing, while Mitchelton Scott will also be named Greenedge Cycling.
New team name proving popular with road.cc readers already
thanks I hate it
— David Hawkins (@dnhhawkins) November 6, 2020
Tell us how you really feel David…
Magnus Cort Nielsen wins Stage 16 of the Vuelta
🏁 Etapa 16 | Stage 16
🙋🏻♂️🏆 MAGNUS CORT NIELSEN @MagnusCort 🏆#LaVuelta20 pic.twitter.com/h18VczspER
— La Vuelta (@lavuelta) November 6, 2020
EF Pro Cycling’s Magnus Cort Nielsen won a reduced bunch sprint ahead of Primoz Roglic and Rui Costa on Stage 16 of the Vuelta. Another gruelling day in the saddle saw all of the pure sprinters dropped and allowed the puncheurs and GC men to challenge for stage honours.
Your thoughts and responses to Jeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Clarkson did what Jeremy Clarkson does and blamed the traffic jam he was sat in on the cycle lane next to it. Unsurprisingly, there was no shortage of people ready and well-informed to let the former Top Gear presenter know the real reason for the traffic jam…
On Facebook, Conor O’Brien said: “The only thing in London that ever held a car up in London is the car in front, it’s called traffic, would anyone seriously take the advice of Jeremy Clarkson on matters relating to traffic flows in a capital city.”
Another user added a link to this 2017 EU data, which shows UK motorists sit in traffic more than any other EU nation and far more than countries such with more cycling infrastructure, such as Germany and The Netherlands.
Gary Cope suggested: “Cycles don’t congest as they keep moving, you may be made to drive a bit slower until you can pass. Imagine if every cyclist swapped their steed for a car! Now that would be congestion…”
Lots of very valid points there, although some were more sympathetic to Clarkson’s argument and asked what could be done to make the transition to people using bike lanes more efficient.
I wonder if it is worse. Wouldn’t surprise me and it does highlight the challenge that we need to convert those sitting stationary in cars to cyclists making better progress and making use of those lanes.
— Al (@autosportmoto) November 6, 2020
And this one was just quite funny so why not have a Friday afternoon laugh…
That’s because he’s thick
— Paul Murden (@PjdotcomPaul) November 6, 2020
6 November 2020, 09:28
6 November 2020, 09:28
6 November 2020, 09:28
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With so many people using and looking at mobie phones whilst driving and other distractions, may I suggest you always wear Hi viz and stay at home.
The design of the "car" has played a role in this. SUVs and what the Americans call "trucks" are exempt from the pedestrian safety regulations which apply to passenger cars. Had the victim been hit by a car designed in the past twenty years he would have been "scooped" onto the bonnet and either over the roof or off to one side. Still a serious injury risk and potentially fatal but they have the benefit of those passive safety systems to improve their chances. With vehicles with such a high bonnet line as this Volvo has what tends to happen is the person bounces off the bonnet and falls on the road in front of the vehicle where they're then run over. This has happened time and time again and is becoming more of an issue as the numbers of vehicles exempt from the safety standards grows.
@Accessibility for all Reducing the speeds wouldn't have helped in this case as the driver was reported doing 65 in a 40 zone on the approach to the junction, his driving described by the witnesses as erratic and evidently had no intention to stop to give way even though he had been warned by the passenger who apparently shouted "bike" three times just before the collision. He would have likely flown through that junction even if it was traffic light controlled with a red light for him at the time. In my own experience the entire area i.e. east of Lymm towards Warburton and along Dunham Road all the way up to Altrincham and past into Hale Barns, all those wealthy, posh settlements around Manchester Airport are best avoided by road cyclists. A disproportionally high number of psycho drivers must for some reason live in that area because every single time I went there on my road bike in the past, I either got harassed myself or witnessed proper dickhead driving - speeding, close passes, overtaking into oncoming traffic or round a blind bend, accelerating towards pedestrians already crossing the road, you name it. I gave up road cycling in that area years ago and only use the local TPT these days.
In respect of the murder charge: based on him hitting Mr Mullins and making no attempt to help him (this killing him), how would the case compare to a hit and run driver who seriously injures or kills a cyclist, knowingly, and flees the scene without helping? Would this make the cut for a murder charge? Or is there something very different going on here that I’m missing? Genuinely curious because I don’t recall there being a murder charge before for this kind of thing unless it was premeditated. In fact, in my experience most cases like this seem to go the opposite way - where the driver can merely say the sun was in their eyes and get away with a slap on the hands.
@Rendel Harris...and there was me dishing out the praise!
@polainm He must also be an already hardened criminal. It wasn't mentioned during the court proceedings to avoid influencing the jurors and ensuring he had a fair trial, but he had been released from prison shortly before this incident and was couch surfing at his cousin's house days before. Just look at his face, he's only 35, but looks older than his victim who was 56. Must have spent half his adult life in prison.
@jaymack They did offer him manslaughter though but he declined to plead guilty. Without wanting to seem curmudgeonly, yes great that they preferred the most serious charges but hard to see how they could have done differently considering that Richardson got out of the car, saw Mr Mullins was stuck underneath and then got back in and carried on. That clearly moved it above anything that falls under death by dangerous driving.
@thrawed Agree - the UK winters are utterly grim; grey, wet & windy. Not the type of weather you really want to go out and ride. Everything get covered in filth, and takes time to clean it after a ride. Oh for colder, drier & crisper days which can be enjoyable to be out in.
@ymm In my view, lax sentencing of dangerous drivers, especially where cyclists are involved, makes the judge, jury and CPS complicit in UK driver culture. This driver is a sociopath.
@Mr Blackbird i reckon the libido is a bit overrated. I'd let that go rather than a limb or a nice bike.
15 thoughts on ““Funny, because it’s not congested for anyone who wants to cycle”: Twitter responds as Jeremy Clarkson blames cycle lanes for congestion; Bahrain McLaren renamed Bahrain Victorious; A swig of Bikefast; New SRAM derailleur + more on the live blog”
Its a van driver, doesn’t
Its a van driver, doesn’t matter who they work for; van-man is always high on the list of the ‘selfish, ignorant and dangerous’ driver category. Sad truth.
But one thing I’ve never
But one thing I’ve never understood with logo’d vans like that is surely the driver understands how they drive directly reflects back onto the organisation plastered in stickers on their van and impacts their reputation significantly and if they dont get that point hammered into them daily,why as an organisation/company would you let them have the keys to drive one of your vans?
But your comments about van
But your comments about van drivers are as one eyed as motorist comments about cyclists.
Explain your logic ? If a van
Explain your logic ? If a van with a company logo on it is driven badly, I form a very strong low opinion of that company, mostly for allowing its employees to drive badly at all, but for also not recognising the harm it does to their reputation by so blatantly advertising it. How is that ‘one eyed’ ?
You reread what awavey said,
You should reread what awavey said, as your reply does not follow.
Not sure that Awavey made any
Not sure that Awavey made any comment about van drivers as a group. I take his comment as a statement that surely the driver must realise that they represent their company.
When I drove company vehicles this seemed very obvious to me, so Awavey is correct in that, if only in my case least
Did you mean to reply to
Did you mean to reply to AlexUK?
The ‘cycle lane cause
The ‘cycle lane cause congestion’ is such a dumb, ignorant fallacy one wonders how it gains any traction. (But then again . . . . . Trump, brexthick . . . . `)
Unrelated to anything but 3
Unrelated to anything but 3 close passes, 2 at 40-50 mph today plus one driver parked in the recent bike/pedestrian wanded off lane as they had to take a call. Couldn’t park in a loading bay or taxi rank though.
So much for lockdown – the amount of traffic was quite high.
“The other two changes in
“The other two changes in sponsor and team name in the men’s WorldTour, are Citreon joining AG2R Citreon…”
“I don’t care what you say about me, just spell my name right.” The marketing people at Citroën must be pulling their hair out.
“SRAM introduces upgraded 11
“SRAM introduces upgraded 11-speed Red eTap rear derailleur in quietest product launch ever”
Perhaps because it lauched around 2 months ago?
Why do you give the regular
Why do you give the regular cyclist haters free publicity road.cc ?
There’s nothing saintly about
There’s nothing saintly about council van drivers- here’s one about to pass a traffic light 0.7 seconds after it turned red, and 3.7 seconds after it turned amber.
The sentence ‘Filippo Ganna
The sentence ‘Filippo Ganna tests positive for COVID-19.’ was an absolute collercoast.
(No subject)
🙂