Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

news

"Isn't 8.5w/kg novice level on Zwift?": Reaction to THAT virtual cheating story; Is this the safest cycling route in the UK?; British Cycling CEO merry-go-round continues; FDJ join the dark side; Vine goes Partridge + more on the live blog

Happy Friday! The weekend is just around the corner, Dan Alexander will be bringing it home with your final live blog of the week
09 December 2022, 09:29
"Isn't 8.5w/kg novice level on Zwift?": Reaction to THAT virtual cheating story

I've got a confession... whisper it quietly, but for the first time in a while I quite enjoyed delving into a Facebook comments section...

Eddy Hoole races to win in eSports world championship qualifying (Zwift, YouTube)

The online reaction comes after our report that Zwift racer Eddy Hoole has been banned for six months after being found to have pulled off a spectacular ride to earn a qualification spot at next year's world champs by... hacking a data stream.

Despite 6,000 people watching the live stream the South African hoped it might go unnoticed if he launched a four-minute 8.5w/kg 526w attack... unsurprisingly, we have to tell you — it didn't.

Eddy Hoole Zwift stats (Zwift)

> Zwift racer banned for six months and sacked by team for hacking data during world championships qualifier

Anyway, the Facebook commenters were on form... (look away if you don't want to hear people saying mean things about virtual racing)...

Jamie Brown: "You mean people cheat on Zwift? I'm both shocked and appalled..."

Paul Medcalf: "8.5 W/kg is nothing on Zwift. See those numbers often (and higher)😂"

Chris Miller: "8.5w/kg? Isn't that just novice level on Zwift?"

Jeff Rey: "I don't even know why I bothered reading that. What a pointless sport." Cheers for your continued support, Jeff.

Steve Boston: "Why?! For the love of God why cheat? Especially on data driven site."

Ken Burk: "I saw a rider on Watopia today going 5.4w/kg consistently with no fluctuations at all, with over 250 miles rode. Must be the next Lance."

Paul Cooper: "Why do people take indoor riding so seriously? Get out and play bikes ffs."

Apparently things on Rouvy aren't much better, someone sign this lad up ASAP...

Rouvy questionable KOM

 

09 December 2022, 16:37
Martin Lewis' bizarre poll

Here's a weird one for your Friday afternoon...

Why?

09 December 2022, 16:08
Slippery scenes
09 December 2022, 15:46
Cav WON'T be joining Chris Froome at Israel-Premier Tech
Mark Cavendish at the 2022 Giro d'Italia team presentation (picture credit LaPresse).JPG

[📷: La Presse]

With the collapse of B&B Hôtels, the team rumoured to be signing Mark Cavendish, all options are back on the table...

All options except Israel-Premier Tech who say their 2023 squad is "complete". The team today confirmed the signing of Welsh pro Stevie Williams from Bahrain Victorious and, in the press release, say he "completes" their 2023 roster.

Ineos Grenadiers... your move 

09 December 2022, 14:50
This is going well...

Cue the replies...

09 December 2022, 14:31
Kids safer on roads after virtual bike training, study suggests
black mountain kids bikes poll pic - may 2020.PNG

Research by Brunel University London, backed by the Road Safety Trust, suggests that children's on-road cycling safety and performance improves after video training. The study showed that kids communicate their next moves, better understand junction priority and make better observations after video training. To be fair using other people's behaviour on the road alone could lead you to some fairly questionable conclusions...

Sport & Exercise Psychologist Dr Dan Bishop said the difference was "so dramatic that I would say that, as a parent, I would feel more confident in my young children’s ability to cycle safely on roads if they had completed this training."

Researchers tracked 33 10-12 year-olds who had done Bikeability Level 2 training. They were split into two groups and one group tried a new virtual training course. The children pedalled a static bike in a lab while watching immersive real-world footage shot from a cyclist's viewpoint. They rode five virtual routes on main and minor roads, all passing a school. 

Researchers tracked the children's head and eye movements, and when they pressed the brake. The researchers also asked questions to check the children's observational skills and understanding, such as when they can turn and who has priority. Both groups then took video-based tests and were assessed when riding on real roads, by qualified instructors.

"The effects we saw are profound," Dr Bishop continued. "And while the training only focussed on two of the four Core Functions in the National Standard for Cycle Training (observation and communication) — we saw pronounced effects on the other two Core Functions: positioning and awareness of road user priorities. This suggests that some implicit learning of related behaviours also occurred."

Thoughts?

09 December 2022, 14:26
"An accident waiting to happen": Pedestrian safety fears raised over floating bus stops on new cycle lane in Bath

Floating bus stops are back in the news... this time very close to home for road.cc...

Bath Cycle Lane Bus Stops - 7.jpg

> Pedestrian safety fears raised over floating bus stops on new cycle lane in Bath

09 December 2022, 12:24
If the World Cup was pro cycling...

Quarter final time... the FDJ group chat could be fun come Saturday night...

World Cup pro cycling (procyclingstats)

 

09 December 2022, 11:33
Handcycling across the US for a fantastic cause

Cycling YouTuber Francis Cade is a month into his challenge alongside ride companion Justin, with the pair aiming to cycle and handcycle across the US, from Florida to Los Angeles.

Currently battling across Texas' vastness the pair are raising money for Get Kids Going! a charity which provides funds to help with the costs of the bespoke equipment needed to take part in sport.

The entire journey is being documented on Francis' YouTube channel with daily videos, yesterday's is below...

Incredibly, the fundraising bar keeps getting raised due to the flood of donations to the JustGiving page, with just over £80,000 having been donated at the time of writing. I'm sure that number will be much higher by the time some of you read this!

Find out more about the challenge and donate here...

09 December 2022, 10:19
British Cycling CEO merry-go-round continues

British Cycling's acting CEO Danielle Every, who stepped up from cycling delivery director when former CEO Brian Facer left his post in October, will herself leave the governing body.

British Cycling logo

British Cycling says Every will stay in her role until the spring when she will become chief operating officer of the PGMOL, the body which oversees professional football referees and match officials in England.

She said: "I have loved my four years at British Cycling and will leave feeling incredibly proud of what we have achieved, and the positive impact we continue to have through our work. Over the coming months I am wholly committed to setting us on the right path as we move into another busy and exciting year of activity, and ensuring a seamless and positive transition to a new CEO."

09 December 2022, 10:01
Vine goes Partridge

Tenuous cycling content of the day. I say 'tenuous', it's got nothing to do with cycling other than involving Jeremy Vine who starred on yesterday's live blog...

> Jeremy Vine highlights grim reality of gridlocked London route where cycle lane was ripped out... as council due in court over early removal

Any excuse to get Partridge content on the blog... 

09 December 2022, 09:52
FDJ join the dark side

Someone give the FDJ video editor a raise...

No doubt that'll be blasted in the dressing room ahead of tomorrow's quarter...

09 December 2022, 08:57
Is this the safest cycling route in the UK?

To add a bit of balance to the 'tragic roundabout' debacle from earlier in the week Harry sent us some footage of the entire Manchester route, from the city through Salford and Trafford, and as you can see there's way more to it than just one dodgy roundabout...

Now, considering I don't think I've ever ridden anywhere in the UK where you can enjoy 11km in a major city (or elsewhere, for that matter) through continuous, mostly segregated cycle lanes, I'm going to have to leave it to you lot to offer suggestions of infra that can compete for the title...

Of course, it's not perfect, but it's a hell of a lot better than most lanes we all see on a daily basis up and down the country. It's probably also worth noting the aim here is safe and accessible active travel, not race training and Strava segments, so if you're looking at this and thinking you'd rather use the road, it's probably not designed for you. But, how many more people would be encouraged to pick up cycling for their urban journeys if they had this route on their doorstep?

Dan joined road.cc in 2020, and spent most of his first year (hopefully) keeping you entertained on the live blog. At the start of 2022 he took on the role of news editor. Before joining road.cc, Dan wrote about various sports, including football and boxing for the Daily Express, and covered the weird and wonderful world of non-league football for The Non-League Paper. Part of the generation inspired by the 2012 Olympics, Dan has been 'enjoying' life on two wheels ever since and spends his weekends making bonk-induced trips to the petrol stations of the south of England.

Add new comment

63 comments

Avatar
ktache | 1 year ago
4 likes

I received something completely unexpected in the post this week, my 25 year CTC badge. Not CUK mind, though it was from them, but old school CTC.

Avatar
wtjs replied to ktache | 1 year ago
3 likes

my 25 year CTC badge

A worthy and undoubtedly warranted honour!

Avatar
Legin | 1 year ago
2 likes

So British Cycling lose another career sports administrator from a senior position. One gets the feeling that BC are a convenient resting place on the greasy pole to the top. Let's hope the new CEO is capable, competent with a genuine passion for cycling. They will need all of that and more, as the current leadership are clearly not very good.

Avatar
Hirsute | 1 year ago
5 likes

Run Away !

https://twitter.com/JMcserk/status/1600548587737608193

"This close pass @OpCrackdown decided wasn't close enough to be prosecuted or even a warning letter? This driver is clearly a danger to everyone using the roads, using their vehicle like a weapon."

Avatar
AlsoSomniloquism replied to Hirsute | 1 year ago
7 likes

I know some on here will be defending the drivers actions because the cyclist had the temerity to:-

  • Not move out the way.
  • Tap the side of the vehicle.

However the second act just shows how close the massive 4x4 was to the cyclist. Surely that shows to Sussex the pass was too close.

Avatar
wtjs replied to AlsoSomniloquism | 1 year ago
1 like

the second act just shows how close the massive 4x4 was to the cyclist
I won't display them yet again, but the closeness of the massive Sainsbury's 44 tonner and the multiple Stagecoach double-deckers was such it was impossible to get closer without hitting me. I am always desperately concentrating on not allowing the bars to twist me under the bus- police response nil. As far as the police expletive - deleteds are concerned, if the whingeing cyclist hasn't even been seriously injured then he should think himself lucky and stop complaining. They think a close pass does not exist.

Avatar
Simon E replied to Hirsute | 1 year ago
3 likes

hirsute wrote:

This driver is clearly a danger to everyone using the roads, using their vehicle like a weapon."

Would the driver of R22GKR have reconsidered his aggression if he emerged from his vehicle to discover that the the cyclist owned a lethal weapon?

Though one can imagine that Sussex police would use it as an opportunity to ransack the cyclist's house within the hour.

Avatar
HLaB replied to Hirsute | 1 year ago
1 like

I just wish he had a rear camerma; I'm just imagining someone like that other famous youtube video chasing after him, throwing a kick then going head over heals  3 

On a more serious note whilst I wouldn't have tapped on the truck my self (I probably wouln't have had the skill to and remain upright), it shouldn't have mattered it was still an aggressive/dangerous overtake by a driver who shouln't be on the road  2

Avatar
Rendel Harris replied to Hirsute | 1 year ago
3 likes

Perfect storm there: Ford Ranger with nothing on the flatbed and suspiciously clean - most likely bought as a tax dodge (scandalous that it's allowed); personalised prat plate; Sussex driver. Each one a red flag, in combo a veritable Communist Party rally of 'em.

Avatar
NOtotheEU replied to Rendel Harris | 1 year ago
3 likes

Pick-up truck close passes are about to become more regular . . . . . . . .

Avatar
wtjs replied to Hirsute | 1 year ago
3 likes

"This close pass @OpCrackdown decided wasn't close enough to be prosecuted or even a warning letter? This driver is clearly a danger to everyone using the roads, using their vehicle like a weapon."

I couldn't view this yesterday, but I've seen it now! Sussex Police must have been in training at a secret base somewhere in Lancashire. Extreme psycho driver in classic nutter vehicle, but no action. Even Lancashire Constabulary claimed to 'have had a word' with nutter BMW driver who threatened to 'fucking flatten' me and 'you will be knocked off!'

Avatar
Clem Fandango | 1 year ago
3 likes

Been following Justin & Francis's journey since they started (I admit it, I quite like Francis' Youtube channel) - it's for a great cause & the daily video updates are well worth it - Mrs Fandango (non-cyclist) has been hooked too.

You have to love Justin cam.

Great job both of you!

 

Avatar
kinderje replied to Clem Fandango | 1 year ago
3 likes

Totally agree. Justin cam is still funny no matter how many times you see it and the pair of them seem to be having a great time.

My non-cycling other half also enjoys it.

Avatar
andystow replied to Clem Fandango | 1 year ago
2 likes

I've been enjoying Francis's channel for a couple of years now, and this is a great series. I'd have loved to join them for a day, but the closest their route passes to me is about 700 miles away.

Avatar
mattw | 1 year ago
4 likes

I make that 11km with something like 35-40 sets of traffic light stops or potential stops that I counted, which is one every 300m, though it was too quick to work out in detail. And a fair bit of it is not segregated - so cycle lanes, including painted lanes, rather than cycletracks.

By the typology in my other comment it is not yet 2nd gen, so more like gen 1.5 - 1.75. Much improvement; much more to do.

However, 18-19kph is a decent average speed = 11.5 mph approx.

Avatar
mattw replied to mattw | 1 year ago
2 likes

Ha ! Watching the full vid and it's an E-bike smiley.

Nice to see that the average is still similar to a pushbike.

Avatar
BIRMINGHAMisaDUMP replied to mattw | 1 year ago
0 likes

eBikes (legal ones) are limited so they are not that fast. 26kph max with assist and then the motor cuts out. Their advantage is they carry more and can accelerate faster (depending on the motor) and they are 'easier' or less strenuous to cycle. 

Avatar
mattw replied to BIRMINGHAMisaDUMP | 1 year ago
0 likes

Average was 18-19kph.

Chap runs an e-Cargo-Bike delivery company.

Avatar
Hirsute | 1 year ago
1 like

Slippy out there folks

https://twitter.com/NottingTom/status/1600985611326095361

"This is late in the day but maybe 1 or 2 will see it A3 West Hill into A205 Upper Richmond Road was icy as heck this morning eastbound Road glistening wet on way home at 6"

 

Avatar
Gimpl | 1 year ago
5 likes

Also like to shout out Milton Keynes with miles of segregated infrastructure enabling us to travel safely throughout the city. 

It still makes f-all difference to people who think it's ok to jump in the car and drive a mile into work. I was viewed as some kind of freak (quite possibly true) when I cycled the 2.5 miles into the station every day. 

With this experience, personally I don't think the 'build it and they will use it' statement is true. 

Avatar
wtjs replied to Gimpl | 1 year ago
2 likes

With this experience, personally I don't think the 'build it and they will use it' statement is true

Neither do I- you have to force people out of cars

Avatar
Dnnnnnn replied to wtjs | 1 year ago
2 likes

wtjs wrote:

you have to force people out of cars

This is correct - but largely unsayable for officials and politicians.

Avatar
mattw replied to Dnnnnnn | 1 year ago
3 likes

Dnnnnnn wrote:

wtjs wrote:

you have to force people out of cars

This is correct - but largely unsayable for officials and politicians.

Does that not need to be framed as "making sure that travelling by cycle is *more* convenient"?

Avatar
chrisonabike replied to mattw | 1 year ago
1 like

Some believe that the "C word" is off-limits as it turns people off and shuts down many conversations.  In general anything framing a change as a loss or restriction is out as well.

So we have the paradox where you're needing to advertise something which improves cycling and reduces space, speed or convenience for motor traffic without mentioning either bikes or cars!

So it's "find an angle involving kids".  Or "isn't it nice to go somewhere you can hear the birds and don't feel rushed".  Or "safer for old folks".  Something that most people will have some emotional connection to which is a positive.

This is the "difficult UK reality".  Although cycling is just beginning to come out from under cover - albeit often to disapproval.

Avatar
chrisonabike replied to Gimpl | 1 year ago
2 likes

It's a good "test case".

You've presented the "surface view" correctly.  The details are worth digging into though e.g. [1] and also Stevenage [2] [3].

A brief summary would be "they built it - but they built it easier and more pleasant for driving and advertised it as a place for drivers at a time when driving was a very aspirational thing...  And the drivers came.

Or as Carlton Reid has it - where driving is easy, Brits drive.

Luckily, cycles are not cars.  They have disadvantages but also advantages when compared to cars (quiet, space-efficient, as human-friendly as walking given good infra, quicker to get going...) If you pay attention to making it easy for people to benefit from these positive qualities of cycling and don't put everything second to driving, people cycle.  There are even examples of places successfully starting to reverse a very car-centric policy (like the UK's).

Avatar
Gimpl replied to chrisonabike | 1 year ago
1 like

chrisonatrike wrote:

You've presented the "surface view" correctly.  The details are worth digging into though e.g. [1] and also Stevenage [2] [3].

A brief summary would be "they built it - but they built it easier and more pleasant for driving and advertised it as a place for drivers at a time when driving was a very aspirational thing...  And the drivers came.

Or as Carlton Reid has it - where driving is easy, Brits drive.

I haven't read all of your paper 1 because it's rubbish as well as being over 10 years old and out of date. 

Most Redways are in fact well away from the road network and give a completely different view of the city - his point seems to revolve around the fact that they are side by side with busy dual carriageways when they're really not. Some are certainly but not in the main. In addition, traffic has increased massively since 2010, it is significantly more pleasant to cycle around MK than to sit in a traffic jam, better scenery, no cars etc etc. At rush hour it is also much faster too. 

Outside of rush hour it is indeed easier to drive and the road network is very good. What we also need, as has been pointed out before, is a city wide educational programme to encourage use. We are getting there, Lime bikes and scooters make it a doddle to nip around, need more though. To my shame, both my daughter and step daughter refuse to even consider another mode of transport. My step-daughter used to get in her car to drive less than a mile to work - she has grown up watching me go out on the bike and commute in, I encourage her to think about alternatives but it's like talking to a wall. How can that behaviour be influenced?

Avatar
HoarseMann replied to Gimpl | 1 year ago
1 like

That appraisal of MK Redways [1] is spot on in my opinion and still holds true today.

The key tenet, that it's so easy to drive in MK that nobody bothers cycling, despite segregated infrastructure (of debatable quality), is something I agree with.

Yes, you can cycle around MK largely on completely segregated infrastructure, but even at rush hour, you would still be quicker in a car. Add that to the redway network sometimes feeling a bit of a 'muggers alley', with many broken glass strewn underpasses and paths that are secluded. It's not a great proposition for many people.

The multiple level changes, give-ways at road crossings, sharp 90 degree unsighted bends and cycle paths that disappear as soon as you reach the shopping centre, don't make it a brilliant cycling experience - even when you know where you are going, which can be difficult as it's not well signposted.

Avatar
Gimpl replied to HoarseMann | 1 year ago
1 like

HoarseMann wrote:

Yes, you can cycle around MK largely on completely segregated infrastructure, but even at rush hour, you would still be quicker in a car. Add that to the redway network sometimes feeling a bit of a 'muggers alley', with many broken glass strewn underpasses and paths that are secluded. It's not a great proposition for many people.

The multiple level changes, give-ways at road crossings, sharp 90 degree unsighted bends and cycle paths that disappear as soon as you reach the shopping centre, don't make it a brilliant cycling experience - even when you know where you are going, which can be difficult as it's not well signposted.

At rush hour that statement isn't true - In my case it was quicker to cycle from the station 2.5 miles home. In my step daughter's example it would have taken her longer to get out of the car park. 

I agree that some of the intersections with roads are extremly annoying and that overall they are poorly maintained. I'm certainly not saying it's perfect but it's a whole lot better than most and it's already built and available. 

Maybe - if more people were encouraged to use it the local council would improve things. 

Avatar
chrisonabike replied to Gimpl | 1 year ago
1 like

Hmm... "encourage" how though?  All we've heard from government / local authorities for decades (when they mention it) is that they're all for "encouraging" cycling.  Edinburgh regularly puts up notice boards and adverts "encouraging" people all over the place.  I think we can surmise that kind of "encouragement" is minimally effective.  Or at least "not sufficient" without something else.

Putting in a fairly small amount of fairly minimal / tame "protection" for both cycling and walking during the Covid period though?  That didn't create "bike boom" but it very definitely got people's attention.  Unfortunately often negative - but it meant that a conversation started.  Notice was served if you like - "we cannot go on as before - we will be changing the roads and this time some of them will get smaller".

Stick is needed as well as carrot (but the carrot should be bigger!)

A thought experiment: if the redways were a bit wider (so you could fit tiny cars on them) and the roads were much narrower (but still wide enough to easily cycle two-abreast in either direction) AND there were cycle parking all over the place (if there isn't already) AND the cars had to give way to cyclists in most places ... would the same number of people drive into the centre of MK?  If they had to use the redways in their cars?  This ignores the "needing to go up and down" factor the cyclists experience of course so it's still better for the cars in that respect!  I'm sure some clearly would because they're going further by car.  But my bet is "lots more people would cycle".  What's yours?

Avatar
HoarseMann replied to Gimpl | 1 year ago
1 like

Yes, that was more of a general statement, that overall, the traffic volumes in MK mean that driving at rush hour is still quicker than cycling. In your specific cases, obviously not!

The grid network generally allows for excellent dispersal of motorised traffic jams, but there are a few 'pinch points' where a barrier has to be traversed and traffic is funnelled into a few crossing points - particularly trying to cross the M1 to the north or the A5 to the south.

The disused railway line to the north of the town city, that links Newport Pagnall to Wolverton is particularly good for cycling, as can be the route following the canal.

As for new infrastructure - the snazzy new bridge at Campbell Wharf is quite nice (still shared use though!)... https://www.knightarchitects.co.uk/bridges/campbell-wharf-bridge

Pages

Latest Comments