“Is it drivers’ responsibility to keep cyclists safe on the roads?” asks Good Morning Britain as motorists urged to ‘think bike’; Fuming journo mistakenly buys Adidas cycling shoes (because of Rishi Sunak); Is cycling pretentious? + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
“Stop telling me to start cycling!” Annoyed journalist mistakenly buys Adidas Samba cycling shoes (because of Rishi Sunak) – but says he won’t “start wearing Lycra”
I’m not afraid to admit it, but for some reason (well, Paris-Roubaix) the whole Rishi Sunak ruining Adidas Sambas thing passed me by at the weekend.
For those of you also unaware of the PM’s latest internet-fuelled furore (okay, that might be a bit strong), last Thursday Sunak appeared in a Downing Street Instagram interview, promoting his tax policies, wearing a pair of white Sambas, “this year’s It-footwear” and the “shoe of the season” (apparently)… completely ruining their hard-fought reputation in one short, almost certainly waffling clip.
It’s like if Boris Johnson showed up head to toe in Rapha in the mid-2010s. I think.
With trainer hipsters now battling to reclaim the Sambas from Britain’s least charismatic prime minister of all time, Evening Standard food and drink writer Josh Barrie decided to buy a personalised pair – only to find out that he’s accidentally bought some Velosambas, the tree-striped brand’s foray into the SPD cycling market (and which received a just okay 7/10 from road.cc reviewer George back in January).
Because Rishi Sunak ruined Adidas Sambas, I decided to buy a pair. Unfortunately I bought cycling ones by mistake. I can’t return them because I put ‘what’s for pudding’ down the side for a laugh. Rare that I’m actually annoyed. Today I am pic.twitter.com/NAsOunNsfO
— Josh Barrie (@joshbythesea) April 8, 2024
And poor Josh wasn’t happy with his purchase (especially his impulse decision to add a jokey personalised touch, rendering them null and void on the resale market).
“Because Rishi Sunak ruined Adidas Sambas, I decided to buy a pair,” he wrote.
“Unfortunately I bought cycling ones by mistake. I can’t return them because I put ‘what’s for pudding’ down the side for a laugh. Rare that I’m actually annoyed. Today I am.”
> Adidas Velosamba COLD.RDY Cycling Shoes
Despite his rather oblivious purchase (at £130 a pair, that’s a lot of money to spend on shoes without checking they have a space for cleats), Josh still resisted the urge to “reclaim the Sambas” or even take up cycling a bit more.
“Can everyone please stop telling me to start cycling,” he added later. “I enjoy it as a recreational activity on a normal bike without clippy bits for bike hooves but I’m not going to start wearing Lycra, turning up to meetings looking like a sweaty piece of road ham.”
Well it wouldn’t be a blog story without some derogatory reference to Lycra and cyclists in general, would it?
May as well buy a bike* a go for a bike ride, that’ll cheer you up.
*and some Velosamba compatible pedals.
— Lee Davies (@leejdavies) April 8, 2024
I have double sided pedals on my commuter bike, they can be used without the lycra. pic.twitter.com/nDqQia28Zw
— Halli🌳 (@HalliStein) April 8, 2024
Although as others pointed out, I think Josh missed the point of what the Velosambas are actually for. Because, as a few of our readers noted at the time, as cool as they are, they might be a bit too cool for racing…
This is where French GCSE comes in handy
— James (@LaursenB) April 9, 2024
Or as James helpfully pointed out, maybe Josh should Google what ‘velo’ means before splashing out on jazzy trainers because a doomed politician wore them… Just a thought.
Is cycling pretentious? Cyclist asks if sport – and its financial barriers – is “aimed towards the middle to upper classes”
This particular poll has only been up for about an hour, but it has already sparked quite the debate on good ol’ X:
The barriers to cycling are pretty insane if you have a low budget.
A entry level bike is at least £1K & that’s before you have to spend a fortune on cycling shoes, clothes etc. I saw handlebar tape for £47!
Is cycling pretentious & aimed towards the middle to upper classes?
— MarkContador (@MontVentoux23) April 9, 2024
“The barriers to cycling are pretty insane if you have a low budget,” Cycling Twitter stalwart Mark wrote.
“An entry level bike is at least £1K and that’s before you have to spend a fortune on cycling shoes, clothes etc. I saw handlebar tape for £47!
“Is cycling pretentious and aimed towards the middle to upper classes?”
Last time I checked, the ‘Yes’ vote is winning, though the comments are somewhat mixed.
“The biggest factor is that expensive bikes and clothing became the norm,” said Maarten. “If you can look past that, it’s actually not too expensive (but you may not blend in).”
“Everything’s expensive,” added Rob Whittle. “Check out the price of replica footy shirts (and they don’t even have any pockets!).”
Meanwhile, commentator Jex Cox broke cycling’s class structure down into two sections:
Racing : Spend money to ensure you’re being slowed down as little as possible.
Riding : Just spend what you want in order to prioritise your own enjoyment on the bike. Don’t worry about everyone else. Being slowed down just means you get fitter from what ever riding you do.
— Jez Cox (@JezCox) April 9, 2024
“It’s nonsense and nothing to do with class,” noted R&T.
“I’ve managed to run decent bikes & kit for years by buying in sales/second hand AND not chasing the latest tech. How much does the latest phone cost?”
What do you reckon?
Paris-Roubaix sabotage update: Woman who threw cap at Mathieu van der Poel’s wheel reportedly a VIP guest and a fan of the world champion
The story about the woman who threw a cap at Mathieu van der Poel, in an apparent act of sabotage as the world champion cruised to one of the most dominant Paris-Roubaix wins of all time, has taken a few more bizarre turns, after it was reported in Belgium that the ‘fan’ in question was a corporate guest at a VIP tent where various companies had invited clients.
She was also revealed to be a fan of the Dutch superstar – perhaps indicating that her actions weren’t malicious – while the company who apparently invited her to stand on the Mérignies à Avelin sector say that she plans to “turn herself in”.
Oh, and there’s also a conspiracy theory floating around claiming she’s the same woman from ‘Allez Opi-Omi’ infamy at the Tour de France. Cycling is a strange sport sometimes…
Read more: > Paris-Roubaix spectator who threw cap at Mathieu van der Poel’s bike will face “action”, riders’ union promises
Lotte Kopecky: The only rider to have won on both Roubaix velodromes
En remportant son 1er Paris-Roubaix samedi dernier, Lotte Kopecky devient l’unique athlète à avoir remporté une course sur les 2 vélodromes de Roubaix ! 😍👀
↘ Championne du Monde de la Course aux Points 2021
↙ Vainqueure de Paris-Roubaix 2024📸 Région Hauts de France pic.twitter.com/Aq7EEFGs7x
— Stab Vélodrome Roubaix Hauts-de-France (@Stabvelodrome) April 9, 2024
Now, that is a fun fact.
More cobbles, more problems for Bianchi
> “I had to change four times”: Florian Sénéchal blames “technical problem” with Bianchi at Paris-Roubaix
“Of course drivers should look out for vulnerable road users”: DCS Andy Cox on Good Morning Britain’s Highway Code-ignoring poll
Of course drivers of cars/vans/hgv’s should look out for vulnerable road users (pedestrians and cyclists). Last year, 376 pedestrians and 85 cyclists died in road crashes. That’s utterly appalling and devastating. This is why safety on our roads is everybody’s responsibility. https://t.co/iYvkWTqGED
— Andy Cox (@AndyCoxDCS) April 9, 2024
Jonas Vingegaard undergoes successful collarbone surgery, as Tour de France participation hangs in the balance
Reigning two-time Tour de France Jonas Vingegaard’s participation in cycling’s biggest race remains up in the air, after Visma-Lease a Bike today confirmed that the Dane’s recovery time is currently unclear following successful collarbone surgery.
In the wake of last week’s horror crash at the Tour of the Basque Country, Vingegaard was first treated for pneumothorax, before the operations on his fractures could take place.
This morning, Visma-Lease a Bike said in a statement that the 27-year-old’s surgery on his broken collarbone was “successful”.
“He will now spend the next few weeks recovering. It is not yet clear how long this will take,” the team said.
“He is doing well and expresses his gratitude to everyone for their kind words over the past few days.”
Netherlands to close e-bike speed modification loophole
Legislators in the Netherlands are to close a loophole that allows people to ride modified e-bikes capable of providing power assistance above 25km/h.
While it is already prohibited to ride e-bikes that can provide motor assistance above the 25km/h limit (or to trigger the motor via the throttle alone above a 6km/h limit), authorities can currently only intervene when performance enhancements are actually in use.
This means that any feature by which the user can switch a booster kit on and off – either via a physical switch or an app – enables them to avoid a €310 fine.
However, a new proposal, deemed “likely” to be passed by the Dutch parliament, would give officers the ability to impose a fine whenever a bike has a booster kit installed, or where the speed restrictor can be disabled.
Read more: > Netherlands to close e-bike speed modification loophole
Some post-Roubaix bike racing – and a photo finish – at the Giro d’Abruzzo
The stretch between Sunday’s Hell of the North and tomorrow’s Brabantse Pijl can feel a bit long, so luckily for us the Giro d’Abruzzo, an Italian stage race last held way back in 2007 but revived for this year, got underway today, with a chaotic sprint in Pescara which saw Bardiani’s Enrico Zanoncello beat JCL’s Matteo Malucelli in a super-tight photo finish:
Attacchi su attacchi, ma a Pescara è sprint! Il finale è da fotofinish! Rivivi l’ultimo chilometro della tappa di oggi ⤵️
Attacks everywhere, but a sprint in Pescara, and the smallest of gaps to decide the winner.
Relive the Ultimo Kilometro ⤵️#IlGirodAbruzzo | @Livigno pic.twitter.com/g9DnE3OhUx
— Il Giro d’Abruzzo (@ilGirodAbruzzo) April 9, 2024
And I’m not joking when I say it was a very close call:
🎵 So close he could almost taste it #IlGirodAbruzzo #TudorWatch pic.twitter.com/f6eUBtPTUM
— Il Giro d’Abruzzo (@ilGirodAbruzzo) April 9, 2024
Buyer’s Guide: Best bike saddles 2024 — find a seat to suit you and pedal in comfort, whatever type of bike you ride
> Buyer’s Guide: Best bike saddles 2024
In more welcome post-Basque Country crash news, Primož Roglič is back on his bike (indoors, anyway)
We are more than happy to see @rogla back on his bike and smiling. He is in the best hands and we wish him a speedy recovery! #BORAhansgrohe #BandofBrothers pic.twitter.com/o9wSQLiLSq
— BORA – hansgrohe (@BORAhansgrohe) April 9, 2024
Motorists urged to use Dutch Reach technique after cyclist killed in collision
A 65-year-old cyclist was last month killed in a collision that saw him ride into an open car door, prompting his family to urge motorists to adopt the Dutch Reach technique when opening vehicle doors.
The driver who opened the car door that Martin Walczak hit as he cycled past will face no action, the police have confirmed, with the cyclist’s family now calling on drivers to “safeguard” others by using the door-opening technique recommended in the Highway Code.
Read more: > Motorists urged to use Dutch Reach technique after cyclist killed in collision
Were the Paris-Roubaix cobbles “easier” this year? Irish rider Patrick Casey says cobbles during tailwind-affected junior race “weren’t too bad” – despite battered hands and three crashes
After Sunday’s men’s edition of Paris-Roubaix, much was made of Mathieu van der Poel’s pristine hands, after the world champion put in one of the race’s great rides, attacking with 60km to go to secure a Flanders-Roubaix double in the rainbow jersey, in what turned out to be the fastest Queen of the Classics ever.
MVDP’s hands after #ParisRoubaix. As if nothing happened… 🦁
📸 Roxanne Bertels pic.twitter.com/336VKI8JhC
— Domestique (@Domestique___) April 8, 2024
And while the pre-race discourse centred on the dangers of the cobblestones, particularly in the Arenberg Forest, one rider who emulated Van der Poel on Sunday (by going gloveless that is, not destroying the field) reckoned those notorious rough roads “weren’t too bad at all”, actually.
Yorkshire-born Irish rider Patrick Casey made his debut on Sunday in the junior race for Bora-Hansgrohe development team Grenke-Auto Eder, whose young Dane Theodor Clemmensen finished fifth in that controversial sprint in the velodrome.
And despite the 18-year-old’s flyweight climber’s frame, Casey coped admirably well on the jagged cobbles of the 111km U19 race (like the women’s race, the only five-star sector missing from the juniors’ route is the fearsome Arenberg), finishing 30th, despite crashing twice in quick succession on Mons-en-Pévèle and hitting the deck again on Carrefour de l’Arbre.
That relatively smooth ride, the youngster noted, owed much to the tailwind that propelled Van der Poel to his record-breaking ride.
“It was a nice time out on my last ever Paris-Roubaix,” the 18-year-old laughed when I asked him what he thought of his debut on the Hell of the North’s cobbles.
“No, it wasn’t too bad, actually. I kind of found that only the more serious sectors, the four stars and five stars, really felt like you were racing on cobbles. I think the easier sectors, when you hit them at race speed given the tailwind today, really weren’t too bad at all.
“Especially given I wasn’t on the front much – expect on Mons-en-Pévèle, I was driving the split – when you’re on the wheels with a tailwind like that, you hit them with such speed that the gaps kind of disappear and everything smooths out.
“It was just one of those classic days at Roubaix really, a lot of carnage, not a lot of control.”
That analysis of the tailwind’s effect on the race was verified by Casey’s Grenke-Auto Eder DS and Bora’s head of scouting, Christian Schrot, who told me that the favourable gusts even made it easier for the team cars to navigate the cobbles.
Casey secured his spot on the Bora development team through the talent-spotting Red Bull Junior Brothers programme, the 2024 round of which ends on 30 April (in case you’re a budding junior looking to turn pro), but that high-powered backing doesn’t mean he’s immune to the old school discipline of European cycling.
> Bora-Hansgrohe and Red Bull launch global talent scouting programme
The Irish rider, who you can hear from in full on an upcoming episode of the road.cc Podcast, accidentally packed two right hand gloves for Roubaix – and with the team willing to instil some tough lessons in their budding pros, he was forced to ride his first Hell of the North gloveless.
“The options were one inside out, or no gloves. I tried to make some out of tape, but it hasn’t really worked,” he said, sitting on a bench overlooking the Roubaix velodrome after the race, showcasing his blistered hands.
“You’ve gone the whole Van der Poel on your first Roubaix,” I tell him.
“Does he not ride gloves? What a legend,” Casey laughed.
Of course, Casey wasn’t the only Red Bull-backed Yorkshire born rider to have his hands battered by the time he reached Roubaix.
Tom Pidcock, a winner of both the junior and U23 Paris-Roubaix, described the men’s edition as “pretty epic”, before adding that “I mean I couldn’t hold my handlebars at the end, that was my biggest problem.”
What is it with these lads and their lack of gloves? They’ll know it next time there’s a headwind…
“Somebody needs to show these kids how to race on a velodrome!” More Paris-Roubaix controversy as fans point out winning rider in junior race using same part of the velodrome that saw Tim van Dijke relegated in men’s edition, and UCI “consistency” slammed
Paris-Roubaix might soon be fading into the distance for another year, but the controversies surrounding this year’s lightning-fast Hell of the North show no signs of going away anytime soon.
On Sunday, 24-year-old Tim van Dijke secured a face-saving eighth place for his hugely depleted Visma-Lease a Bike team, attacking a nine-rider group in the Roubaix velodrome to cap off a promising day on the cobbles for the young Dutch rider.
However, Van Dijke’s eighth place was soon demoted to 16th by the race commissaires, who spotted the Visma-Lease a Bike rider riding on the apron of the track, beneath the blue section known as the cote d’azur (the start of the velodrome proper), as he launched his attack.
I guess Tim van Dijke didn’t get the memo that the area below the Cote d’Azur is lava. #ParisRoubaix pic.twitter.com/6OLvN2V1QG
— alden (@aldentanaka) April 8, 2024
While normal track racing rules don’t apply in a road race like Roubaix (which is why, as Magnus Backstedt pointed out on the road.cc Podcast, you often see riders sprinting on the blue band), it is arguable that Van Dijke’s move saw him drift off what constitutes the official race course, and onto the track infield.
However, with the UCI road rules not featuring any regulations for racing on velodromes, the officials instead relegated Van Dijke for irregular sprinting.
But, to add another layer of complexity to things, footage has emerged online of the sprint that decided the junior men’s Paris-Roubaix earlier that morning – which, if the same rules were applied across all the Roubaix weekend events – would have seen most of the winning move disqualified for riding off the track.
The finale to what was a cracking U19 race – which your current live blogger was lucky enough to witness from the front seat of the Grenke-Auto Eder team car – saw world junior champion Albert Philipsen attack a lead group of six who had entered the velodrome together after a fluid, frenetic race.
17-year-old Dane Philipsen – who is set to turn pro with Lidl-Trek in 2025 – had crashed hard on the Carrefour de l’Arbre, looking despondent as he sat forlornly on the grass verge, but soon showcased some Van der Poel-esque skills and power to regain his position in the front group.
However, Philipsen’s late attack came to naught, as he was caught by two Slovenia riders, Jakob Ormzel and Erazem Valjavec who, as the clip originally posted on the Les Amis de Paris-Roubaix Faecbook page shows, clearly led the chasing group right across the apron, effectively cutting the corner of the track, and provoking quite a few grumbles of discontent from fans in the velodrome.
#LesRP @LosBrolin @cyclisme_pepite Il doit être content Albert Philipsen d’avoir perdu un Paris Roubaix juniors comme ça, alors que chez les pros ça déclasse Tim van Dijke pic.twitter.com/LIHVJTNea6
— Kings of Cycling (@Kings0fCycling) April 8, 2024
The extended version of the clip also shows all four leading riders, including the world champion this time, again descending well beyond the cote d’azur on the final bend, with a visibly distraught Philipsen forced to settle for fourth behind winner Ormzel, with Valjavec completing a Slovenian one-two.
One spectator who watched the sprint in the velodrome couldn’t believe the flagrant ‘circumvention’, shall we say, of the traditional rules of track racing and told me, “Somebody needs to show these kids how to race on a velodrome!”
Meanwhile, others online have pointed out the disparity between Van Dijke’s relegation and the leniency afforded to the juniors earlier that day.
“If Tim van Dijke was relegated for riding on the red segment of the velodrome then these four riders should be relegated while Albert Philipsen should receive the victory,” Cycling YouTuber Benji Naesen wrote on Twitter, unaware of Philipsen also straying off the track a lap later (though as another Twitter user noted, the Dane was simply following the riders in front on that occasion).
“UCI consistency is once again 0 per cent. The UCI set the precedent with the Van Dijke relegation, and didn’t follow through when the same move decided the race in a different age category.”
The question is “why would any rider who made it through the grueling Paris Roubaix purposely break a rule in the last few meters in front of everyone in the stadium & cameras everywhere?” The answer is clear that the riders did not know it was illegal. As usual, the UCI sucks.
— Nancy D – We are ruled by psychopaths ☮️🕊️ (@gulfgal98) April 9, 2024
“Big fail by the commissaires but too late to disqualify them now,” added Mihai Simon.
“The problem is that Van Dijke has not been downgraded on any specific point of the rules. There’s a legal vacuum (or at least a legal uncertainty),” noted Eurosport commentator Antoine Besson.
“For what it’s worth I don’t think Tim van Dijke or any of these in the video should be penalised,” said Peter. “If it’s rideable then it should be allowed, in the same way that people ride off the cobbles during a cobbled sector for an advantage.”
Ah, Paris-Roubaix. It’s never simple, is it?
“Is it drivers’ responsibility to keep cyclists safe on the roads?” asks Good Morning Britain, after Jeremy Vine urges motorists to put “Think Bike” safety stickers on wing mirrors
It looks like it’s a day for divisive internet polls, then.
Because, in direct contravention of the Highway Code, ITV’s ever insightful Good Morning Britain took to X/Twitter early this morning to ask viewers, “Is it drivers’ responsibility to keep cyclists safe on the roads?”
Yep, two years on from the updated Highway Code being published, we’re still being treated to national television programmes coming up with nonsense like this.
> Changes to the Highway Code mean very little if they are not known or followed by motorists
That head scratching poll, and its accompanying segment on the show, was made in response to live blog stalwart and pedalling presenter Jeremy Vine’s backing of an AA campaign, which has just reached its 10th anniversary, to encourage motorists to place “Think Bike” stickers on their wing mirrors to remind them to keep an eye out for people on bikes – after a survey of 12,700 AA members found that 89 per cent agreed with the statement ‘it’s sometimes hard to see cyclists’.
“I’m so pleased to see that the AA is doing this because, if you’re on two wheels, you do feel quite vulnerable,” Vine said.
“And I always think when you’re in a car – I drive too – you don’t always see that that person on the bicycle is a mum, a sister, somebody’s son, someone’s grandfather, maybe even their great-grandfather.”
So, what did GMB do in response to Vine and the AA’s safety-focused recommendations? Launch a Twitter poll, that’s what:
Jeremy Vine has backed a new campaign urging drivers to place a safety sticker on their wing mirrors to remind them to look out for cyclists.
But is it drivers’ responsibility to keep cyclists safe on the roads?
— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) April 9, 2024
So far, rather unsurprisingly for social media, the Highway Code vulnerability hierarchy-backed option ‘Yes’ is taking a thumping, with over 70 per cent opting for ‘No’.
And some of the responses are as equally unsurprising.
“Everyone has a responsibility!” says Craig. “Cyclists can be just as bad as anyone else in a motor vehicle.”
“If we put a sticker on the mirrors that would impede our vision even more by blocking part of the mirror itself,” Stebe said.
“Can cyclists put a sticker somewhere to remind them what a red light means!!!” exclamation mark-loving Sean the Cabbie wrote.
“It’s everyone responsibility to keep themselves safe,” added Chris. “Cyclists should stick to cycle lanes, and adhere to the rules of the road like cars and follow traffic lights. Likewise cars should not be in cycle lanes or park in them etc. Everyone has a role to play in road safety.”
While John popped up with some anti-cycling bingo classics: “Put the sticker next to the cyclist’s tax, insurance, and registration.”
“Let’s start by getting cyclists to get regular eye checks so they recognise and understand what a red traffic light actually means,” Sally added, securing a full house.
Sigh…
“Is it drivers’ responsibility to keep cyclists safe on the roads” pic.twitter.com/2kOG9dbh4U
— Cycling in London (@Cycling_In_LDN) April 9, 2024
However, not everyone was falling for the GMB social media intern’s trap.
“This isn’t up for debate, it’s in the Highway Code. 72 per cent of the voters are wrong,” noted Marc, while Sam wrote: “Anyone who chose ‘no’ has failed their driving test”.
Those answering “No” need to read The Highway Code, or hand back their licence. pic.twitter.com/yzWEHZV9qH
— Glasgow Fietser (@FietserGlasgow) April 9, 2024
“The fact that drivers need to be reminded to look out for vulnerable road users tells us everything we need to know about the standard of driving in this country,” added Tom.
Well, all that internet polling ultimately led to a short segment at the very tail end of GMB’s schedule, featuring Stop Killing Cyclists co-founder Donnachadh McCarthy and Manchester taxi driver John Consterdine.
“It’s down to all road users to use the roads safely and sanely,” McCarthy said. “However, it is only drivers who have the power to kill other road users, so the responsibility lies with the driver.
“And something like 70 per cent of drivers close pass, 50 per cent of drivers break the speed limit, and 30 per cent of drivers use mobile phones. I saw two Land Rover drivers on Sunday swanning down a lane on their mobiles. They should be looking for cyclists and the road, not their phones.”
Avid cyclist Jeremy Vine has backed a new campaign after 89% of respondents in a survey admitted that they find it difficult to spot cyclists whilst driving.
But is it drivers’ responsibility to keep cyclists safe? pic.twitter.com/R1aisjcueq
— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) April 9, 2024
“I agree with Donnachadh to a certain extent,” replied John. “But we should have legislation that if drivers have to drive safely, cyclists should also obey the rules of the road.
“If I hit a cyclist, there’s going to be a serious accident. But if a cyclist hits me, then he just cycles away and I’m left with a damaged vehicle.”
Hmmm… Don’t worry, it gets worse.
“Shouldn’t there be training for cyclists? Or a sticker that says ‘Beware, I’m going to do something crazy’.”
> The Highway Code for cyclists — all the rules you need to know for riding on the road explained
Presenter Kate Garraway, seemingly oblivious to the Highway Code, then jumped in by saying she sees a lot of cyclists “wafting across lanes and going through red lights” in London, and questioned why there was no pressure on cyclists to act safely.
“This red light canard needs to be put to bed,” interjected McCarthy. “99 per cent of people who get killed by people breaking red lights are killed by drivers breaking the red light.
“In Holland, 70 per cent of kids cycle to school and they do it safely. It’s two per cent in Britain. We’re way behind Europe.”
And finally, Labour politician-turned-dancing enthusiast Ed Balls got involved, asking whether cycle lanes and cycling infrastructure makes it safer for motorists, before John threw in a few more chestnuts about pavement riding and e-bike speeds, and Kate asked, rather remarkably, “Is that the answer? Some kind of enforced Highway Code, like a driving test, insurance and responsibility, for cyclists?”
Now, imagine that, actually reading the Highway Code…
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Latest Comments
I think that Burnham has more backbone than Starmer, so I don't think there'll be any U-turns. Let's hope that he brings that determination to active travel policy, Boardman as transport minister is quite possible. He could be made a peer and appointed as a minister that way
@Sredlums my reply with a link is awaiting moderation but they are a hybrid caliper, the cable actuates a hydraulic piston.
@wtjs seems it is not just Burnham and Labour's policies that are crackpot.
Mountain bike bars have gotten much wider.
@Sredlums Quite obvious nipple ended cable, one you pointed it out...
Those don't look like vehicle stopping bollards.
Drivers seem to be using the pavement as well, perhaps there will be calls to remove this to if enough of them decide that's the place to park.🙄 https://www.facebook.com/share/1D5GaMsTkF/
@Clem Fandango Like this?
Raleigh Chopper? Harley bars, gear shifter stick...
Ah, my apologies. Well that off-road-style Surron "bike" ought to tick the box? (And going the other way the early "mountain bike" was sometimes a converted Schwinn cruiser).
84 thoughts on ““Is it drivers’ responsibility to keep cyclists safe on the roads?” asks Good Morning Britain as motorists urged to ‘think bike’; Fuming journo mistakenly buys Adidas cycling shoes (because of Rishi Sunak); Is cycling pretentious? + more on the live blog”
As a fifty-five year old who
As a fifty-five year old who’s fond of a pint or two I do stupid things all the time, but at least when I do I accept they’re my mistake rather than broadcast them to the world as if I’m a victim! I’d also be pretty ashamed to admit I’d spent £130 on a pair of plimsolls because Rishi Soonout wore them…
And we all believe Josh’s
And we all believe Josh’s story of course
Road.cc trawling the internet
Road.cc trawling the internet to find someone who said something disparaging about lycra and then relaying it to us to spark outrage.
It is really is low-rent stuff.
HarrogateSpa wrote:
When was the last time you left a comment that was anything but a criticism of road.cc and its content? You only seem to come here to moan about it. Free country and whatever lights your candle and all that, but do you not think as it seems to make you so cross and miserable you might be better off not looking at it and finding a site that you actually like and enjoy?
HarrogateSpa wrote:
HarrogateSpa trawling road.cc to find something disparaging to say.
It’s a mistake to look at top
It’s a mistake to look at top-end cycling products and decide that cycling is pretentious or aimed at the affluent. There’s lots of different types of cyclist and the expensive stuff is aimed at the racers/enthusiasts, just like with other hobbies.
You wouldn’t look at aftermarket racing kit for cars and judge that driving is pretentious, would you?
Knowing the time is
Knowing the time is pretentious and only for the upper classes because Rolexes cost £10,000.
Walking is pretentious and
Walking is pretentious and only for the upper classes because Louboutins cost £700
Patrick9-32 wrote:
Is eating crisps pretentious & aimed towards the middle to upper classes?
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/the-world-s-most-expensive-crisps-a7371291.html
Mrs K was trying to buy a
Mrs K was trying to buy a cheap duvet for our caravan, and stumbled on a nine grand duvet. Sleeping is pretentious and only for the upper classes.
You can spend several hundred
You can spend several hundred quid on a pair of football boots & 4 grand on a Louis Vuitton football if you so choose.
See that’s why fell out of love with the game – the pretentious polyester clad protagonists.
hawkinspeter wrote:
My day to day kit for the bike comprises of a pair of trouser clips and if I misplace those there’s always my sock.
giff77 wrote:
Well, get a load of Mr Trouser Clips over here!
*drinks tea with little finger raised*
Define entry level bike?
Define entry level bike? people who moan about >1k bikes are usually specing things that are well above entry level
You can easily get a Trek Domane or Spec Allez for alot less than 1k, brand new from decent bike shops.
You don’t have to spend a fortune on shoes or clothes or bar tape, you can if you want to and some do, it might make them pretentious if that’s how you view it, but there’s no barriers to cycling, only those that bored folk on twitter invent.
Why do people so often
Why do people so often suggest these two American brands (which are relative newcomers) by default?
I suspect that it is because
I suspect that it is because more recent Trek (est. 1976) and Specialized (est. 1974) bikes are in general better quality than more recent Raleigh (est. 1885) bikes.
They make sense as examples
They make sense as examples for enthusiast cycling as they make bikes for all levels of enthusiast cyclists, from £600 all the way up way above £10,000. They don’t make entry level bikes in the true sense though. Its possible to buy a new bike that will do a great job for city riding and commuting for a quarter to half of the cheapest offerings from the enthusiast brands or a second hand bike for way less than that!
They don’t make sense for
They don’t make sense for anyone when you consider that the only thing they’ve got on the competition is more aggresssive marketing. People have been brainwashed into treating them as the default.
Because they’re well known
Because they’re well known cycling brands & decent bikes.
I could have said Tribans, BTWins or Van Rysal, but met with blank stares by those outside of cycling world.
Yesterday I rode my winter
Yesterday I rode my winter bike on muddy Yorkshire roads. It’s a Raleigh Airlite that I bought 17 years ago for about £350. I’ve added a few bits over the years as stuff wore out. My first set of SKS mudguards wore out after 13 years and I replaced them with a Kinesis set. I could ride that bike all year round. It was my first road bike.
It’s a very weird post from
It’s a very weird post from Mark Contador, unless he meant to say “The barriers to cycling (in a cycling club, if you have low self esteem, and be taken very seriously and not worry that someone might take the piss out of you) are pretty insane if you have a low budget.”
It would then make more sense, He appears to be one of those mafia lycra wearing, red light jumping, Strava obsessed, car hating cyclists…with low self esteem.
I sold my lovely 30 year old Muddy Fox to someone who wanted a nippy cycle for town use earlier this year. Flat pedals, plastic soft feel grips, no lycra required to use it. It cost me £40 20 years ago, and I sold it for £20. I’d already sold the chunky, shin shredding, Warner pedals for £20.
“The barriers to cycling are
“The barriers to cycling are pretty insane if you have a low budget,”
The main barrier to cycling is the preponderance of large 2+ tonne metal boxes encroaching on our personal space whether on a tesco £40 or top of the range specialized bike.
It’s Josh’s eye for detail
It’s Josh’s eye for detail that makes his articles so readable and trustworthy…
Makes you see how the 2016
Makes you see how the 2016 referendum went the way it did though.
I read a story over the
I read a story over the weekend about running shoes that cost upwards of £400 and could be used only once. But they knocked 4% off your marathon time.
I’m glad they weren’t available in my day because the shoes could (theoretically) have reduced my best marathon time to tantalisingly close to sub 3 hours, but doubt my wife would approve the expense.
Were they these ones?
Perhaps they were available back in your day – were they these ones?
Would you have felt satisfied
Would you have felt satisfied though, knowing your performance improvement was only due to the fancy shoes?
john_smith wrote:
Isn’t that the whole point of most cycling tech though? It seems to be the same position as aero bikes, long socks, etc. I am guessing that it’s all arms race stuff and unless everyone wears school plimsolls then it’s inevitable (for the record, I’d like to see Pogacar v the rest on steel bikes from 1979)
There is a difference between
There is a difference between the two sports though, in that running doesn’t require any “tech” at all, whereas cycling does by definition. I can’t actually see what would be lost if everyone did wear something like plimsolls (except for the manufacturers’ profits, maybe). Agree about the 1979 bikes.
…or – if allowing “pro
…or – if allowing “pro bikes” from 1979, definitely faster!
Good luck crashing that thing
Good luck crashing that thing at 65 mph.
People will do an all kinds
People will do an all kinds of things for greater speed.
I’d prefer something a bit
I’d prefer something a bit more relaxed and practical myself.
Bet it gets hot in there
Bet it gets hot in there though. And bunnyhopping over potholes and the like is probably tricky.
Hmm… OK, well bigger wheels
Hmm… OK, well bigger wheels should be smoother-rolling, perhaps a single-person one of these? OTOH the aero penalty from the wheel becomes significant.
Steel bikes from 1979? I
Steel bikes from 1979 (pictured – 1980)? I reckon they’d maybe be the same speed or even faster on the flat…
Until that front valve gets
Until that front valve gets ripped off under hard braking.
Not that long ago it was
Not that long ago it was considered a fairly working-class sport. Riders turned pro because they felt it offered better prospects than working as a farm labourer or miner.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_Kelly_(cyclist)
I came here for the wing
I came here for the wing mirror story.
Anyone?
Anyone?
no?
OK then. Door mirror. 🙂
C’mon, it’s DOOR MIRROR.
C’mon, it’s DOOR MIRROR.
Name of thing must be same as
Name of thing must be same as description of thing. Me not cope with name that is representative of thing but not directly descriptive. Name confusing and make sad.
DOOR MIRROR!!
DOOR MIRROR!!
Misnomers are so common there
Misnomers are so common there is even a word for them. Now where is my pet koala bear?
Yes I know. The reference
Yes I know. The reference was to a common refrain from a former member of this parish. I couldn’t give a fig what you call them.
Do those stickers show where
Do those stickers show where you might expect to see cyclists who are airborne after having been hit by cars?
Sunak does look very
Sunak does look very statesmanlike in that getup though. Which just goes to show, no matter how useless you are, people will still take you seriously if you dress the part.
Quote:
I think you’re forgetting someone.
It’s a tight field.
It’s a tight field.
And what about this one?
And what about this one?
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/apr/09/david-cameron-donald-trump-meeting-washington-ukraine-support-russia
chrisonabike wrote:
At least Gordon Brown had that Stranglers’ song about him
(I prefer the Dave Brubeck Quartet original https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Qs1J612nZs)
GMB have airtime to fill,
GMB have airtime to fill, just as live blogs need to be sometimes, with stuff the promotes alot of needless debate.
In anycase the real story is the AA sticker, not the twitter poll, and Im not sure how useful a sticker, that obscures part of what a driver can see in a mirror, really is.
especially as by the time it prompts a driver, when theyve checked their mirrors (yeah right) as a cyclist youll already be well within their danger zone
When did “Think Bike” become
When did “Think Bike” become about pushbikes?
Was there always this hyped bollocks when it was about motorbikes?
“An entry level bike is at
“An entry level bike is at least £1K and that’s before you have to spend a fortune on cycling shoes, clothes etc. I saw handlebar tape for £47!”
Whoever this is obviously hasnt heard of decathlon then! you can get a half decent bike for £300-500. As for £47 bartape. Most bikes come with bar tape so there shouldnt be any reason to provide your own unless you really want to. Ive used Cinelli Cork bartape since 2015 and you can still get them for around £10-13. Its cheap and lasts forever so long as its in black.
DHB shoes can be picked up for £30-40, Cycling clothes can be picked up on discount during certain periods (is when i tend to pick stuff up) other wise I wear tech-vests/shirts etc from the likes of underarmor. Optional cheap baselayer underneath for wicking, clubman bib shorts from planetX for £30-35 and im very much good to go.
Im never going to be a racing snake so there is very little reason for me to dress like one.
If people want to be gear snobs and spend all their money at rapha then who am I to critisize them? Why should I care what they think of me looking all princely while decked out in my planetx glory?
Lot of cheap 2nd hand
Lot of cheap 2nd hand bargains out there.
Is it driver’s responsibility
Is it driver’s responsibility to keep cyclist safe by… *checks notes* … looking where they are driving?
You’re expecting * checks
You’re expecting * checks notes * drivers to assume any responsibility for their actions after 50 years of finding new ways to evade this???
Way more than fifty years
Way more than fifty years
(Cough – cough – “jaywalking” – cough cough)
RE: Netherlands to close e
RE: Netherlands to close e-bike speed modification loophole
UK: we aren’t even really bothered about cars speeding.
Still can’t see why we can’t simply say “you don’t get to buy unclassified, extremely unlikely to be licenced electric motorbikes and scooters in high street shops”. Now we have control over our borders (and even before then somehow managed to regulate many products)?
chrisonabike wrote:
Unclassified and unlicensed two wheel EVs are far less of a problem than all the congestion and air pollution (including from tyres) that heavier four wheel vehicles create. I suspect that they’re a lot safer for other road users too as they’re a LOT lighter.
I think they should just be legalised as they’re part of the traffic solution.
hawkinspeter wrote:
I apply my usual question – what are they doing where cycling is a mainstream form of transport? … which is where we came in*. So that’s mostly a no from me. Why add new untested things of questionable safety to a bad system, which might even suppress the very mode we’re struggling to make viable?
I’d qualify that with perhaps making the following legal (subject to appropriate rules):
– e-scooters (no greater max speed / sustained power than e-bikes) on cycle paths. Turns out people just didn’t embrace unpowered scooters in much greater numbers than pogo sticks, rollerskates or skateboards. Plus they’re really storable / portable.
– maybe some kind of smaller e-delivery vehicles because “better than vans”. However I think this quickly runs up against “but will they be better than vans though?” I imagine we’ll still have both for some time, but for new ones to be a useful replacement I imagine they’d a) be small but there would be lots of them or b) they’ll be … more like vans. So that’s heavy / bulky / have rapid accelleration and possibly higher speeds. Do we want additional (commercial) pressure on cycle infra – before we’ve even build any worth the name in most places?
* I think in NL the true answer is “it’s complicated” (though they’re thinking about this at least…). Just like roads are how they are in the UK because of the predominance of cars I think some of the stability of the system comes from the massive volume of “ordinary people cycling” there. In fact there are actually several extra legal categories beyond the UK there: 2 kinds of petrol scooters (bromfiets / snorfiets) and speed-pedalecs, which I think are now in the higher-speed motor scooter category. BUT there are more restrictions for these classes – at least “legally”…
Oh … and there are also microcars!
hawkinspeter wrote:
The problem they do create is one of perception. Round here there are teenagers on electric motorbikes flying through junctions, on and off pavements, through pedestrian areas. Kids have always done this on scrotorbikes but these e-bikes are cheaper and easier to get hold of.
And they get lumped in with cyclists in the media and the drivers minds. And that affects my life every day and puts me at risk.
bobbypuk wrote:
To be fair, it’s more likely the drivers putting you at risk.
£47?? What was that, the Aldi
£47?? What was that, the Aldi middle aisle? Any advance on…
And how long does it last before I get Jeeves to replace it with fresh? A week?
Refresh the bar tape?
Refresh the bar tape?
Pah! Just throw the bike out and buy another one.
I got some crap bar tape off
I got some crap bar tape off eBay for £4, to practice wrapping my Jones H-bars loop, did alright, lasted over a year, had to take it off to change my stem, but it was too much of a state to practice rewrapping, and so wrapped with Cinelli tennis tape. Very pleased with the result.
If any motorist is
If any motorist is challenging the idea that they should be wary around vulnerable road users then they are freely admitting that they should lose the PRIVILEDGE of having a driving licence.
(And that they haven’t heard about the Highway Code updates about road user heirarchy.)
Everyone should do an online query:
what is the most dangerous thing that millions of people do almost every day?
https://www.fleetnews.co.uk/fleet-management/risk-management/driving-is-most-dangerous-thing-staff-do-every-day
Road.cc
Road.cc
Still no proper report of the Paris-Roubaix womens race on Saturday where Pfeiffer Georgi, probably gave the performance of her career so far, finished 3rd pipping the GOAT.
Elisa Balsamo also owes a huge debt to Georgi for her 2nd place.
Yet tumbleweeds but lets have an article on a cheat why don’t we.
Tw@tter wrote:
Yes, Craig, but if a cyclist rides badly/stupidly, they are far more likely to get KSI themselves, not the people driving around in a two tonne wheeled box. If the latter drives badly/stupidly, it is everyone else who is in danger.
Considering how many idiots
Considering how many idiots on our roads find it impossible to see 2m wide lumps of metal with headlights I’m shocked that they don’t see cyclists.
As to “drivers responsiblity to keep cyclists safe on the roads” thats just an intentionally shitty phrasing isn’t it. Pretends like cyclists are all nutters that try and get ourselves killed the whole time while the poor sensible driver is scared witless than another cyclist will come out of nowhere. Shockingly, most cyclists do their unmost to keep themselves safe and a massive part of that is mitigating the shit drivers they are surrounded with.
When I am minding my own business just riding along a road a few ft or less from the curb I don’t think that its particularly hard to keep me safe.
I would genuinely love for all the twats who struggle with cyclists to spend a few weeks cycling on our roads to find out just how much of the danger posed to cyclists is self inflicted and how much is a direct result of shit driving.
Which points to the old
Which points to the old suggestion that everyone who wants a driving licence must first learn to cycle on the road.
Two benefits:
They see it from the perspective of a vulnerable road user and they can also see how easy it is to go a reasonable distance without needing to drive (often quicker on a bike during rush hour too).
Anyone who claims they can’t is either freely admitting that it is too dangerous or that they have a severe enough disability that prevents them from doing so which is highly unlikely in almost all cases.
(I’ve seen one cyclist with what I assume is Parkinsons cycling on a main road on an adult sized tricycle.)
I would expand to say that drivers are required to spend time on a bike on a yearly basis to remind them of how dangerous driving can be.
mctrials23 wrote:
The Institute of Advanced Motoring agree and have proven that experience of other modes makes safer walkers, cyclists, riders, drivers and HGV operators.
The logical conclusion is that progressive licencing should navigate the Hierarchy of Responsibility.
I rode a good chunk of the PR
I rode a good chunk of the PR course on Saturday in the Challenge sportive. Me and about 5000 others – it was an absolute blast. We joined the course at sector 19, Arenberg. A bit of a shame, we didn’t get to ride the chicane. The Arenberg cobbles are shockingly bad and a lot of riders really struggled with them. Nothing else was quite as bad. I saw a couple of people fall, I avoided that and the bike was fine. The finish in the velodrome is sensational and no way would I have ridden off the track inside, lol. The challenge sportive is a fantastic event and I highly recommend it.
One has to wonder if Josh
One has to wonder if Josh gave any serious consideration to “looking like a sweaty piece of road ham.” It might be an improvement for him.
Thank goodness we’ve got all
Thank goodness we’ve got all those motorists on the roads, looking out for our safety. If it were just us maniacal cyclists out there, falling off for no reason, crashing into who knows what, spontaneously exploding, it would be utter carnage. Praise be to our motorized guardian angels, keeping us from harm.
Last time I looked it was the
Last time I looked it was the bloody job of the media to INFORM people, as in tell them stuff based on facts. So ITV, it’s not “Is it drivers’ responsibility to keep cyclists safe on the roads?”, it’s “Hey motorists, it’s your bloody job to keep cyclists safe!” because of your speed, your weight, the ginormous space you take up on the roads, the fact that you actually only ever got your driving licence on condition of bloody keeping other road users safe.
Journalists, do your job!
marmotte27 wrote:
The whole premise of “keep cyclists safe” is back to front and a symptom of motonormativity. The more accurate statement is that it’s motorists’ responsibility to not endanger cyclists (and other road users). If it weren’t for all the drivers, we would be much safer.
Next up, is it the responsibility of people who wildly swing hammers in public to keep pedestrians safe?
marmotte27 wrote:
Joined up government, do your job:
Active Travel is an all government responsibility for everyone’s benefit.
“Is it drivers’
“Is it drivers’ responsibility to keep cyclists safe on the roads?”
Whose responsibility is it to keep everyone safe from viewing utter bolox like that? Oh, yes, OFCOM, the toothless dog that rolls on it’s back for a tummy rub every time the tv companies slander cyclists or anyone else opposing car domination.
Is it a motorist’s
Is it a motorist’s responsibility to keep cyclist me safe?
No, not totally, but it is the motorist’s responsibility to ensure they don’t act negligently, dangerously or carelessly in a way that endangers vulnerable road users of all kinds in exactly the same way as it is cyclist me’s responsibility to ensure I don’t act negligently, dangerously or carelessly in a way that endangers more vulnerable road users. It shouldn’t be a hard concept to understand. Sometimes I despair that this whole debate seems to be so polarised that what really is astoundingly obvious is questioned by so many people on all sides.
I hear you – but the terrible
I hear you – but the terrible problem is:
1) Motor vehicles are a massive force multiplier – so it takes active work (and discipline) by their users to operate them safety around vulnerable road users. “Minor” errors of omission can be fatal to others.
2) BUT Motor vehicles have had a century of being engineered to be very comfortable, convenient and safe for their occupants. Despite being in close proximity to enough contained energy to thoroughly cremate all the occupants and travelling at speeds almost unheard of in the animal kingdom, around lots of other fast armoured exoskeletons, the evolution of vehicle designs have successfully lead to “a relaxing experience”. Which of course can lower mental arousal.
3) Motor vehicles are normal. Everyone is completely used to their presence, to travelling in them at speed. It is other modes which are unusual and need to justify their presence.
Plus driving is not seen as a dangerous activity – it’s in fact rather considered perfectly normal and indeed banal.
While John popped up with
While John popped up with some anti-cycling bingo classics: “Put the sticker next to the cyclist’s tax, insurance, and registration.”
I suppose it’s not worth responding to morons like this, but I thought I’d provide a change from WU59 UMH (approaching 6 1/2 years VED-free) with LV55 VLR – no VED for 18 months, first reported 17 months ago when he also had no MOT, another offence which doesn’t exist in Lancashire
It’s the job of everyone to
It’s the job of everyone to use the roads in a safe manner .but you can’t be held responsible for others stupidity , riding through red lights, hitting people cause you on the pavement causing children to have to jump ? in to the road outof the way of your bike cause you doing 30+ going downhill on the pavement , riding straight at me in my wheelchair whilst I’m already crossing the road at a junction giving me priority by law , tailgating a lorry down hill at 2mtrs doing 55mph , riding at night in dark clothes with no lights this one’s a regular. These we can’t control but the undertakers do appreciate the business stupidity of cyclists