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Bradley Wiggins slammed for saying Sam Bennett could be "considered British"; Speeding drivers doubled risk for London cyclists during lockdown; Confusion over new govt rules for cyclists; Peloton launch Bike+; 45g 9-in-1 multitool + more on the live blog

Welcome to Wednesday's live blog, with Jack Sexty providing your updates throughout the day...
09 September 2020, 15:40
Speeding drivers doubled the risk for London cyclists during lockdown, finds TfL study
London cyclists (coyright britishcycling.org.uk).jpg

Cited in the Evening Standard, TfL's study found that cyclists and pedestrians were twice as likely to be killed or seriously injured in London during the lockdown because of a huge increase in speeding.  

TfL recorded 38 deaths in London between 20th March and 29th August - including three cyclists - and found that while the total number was down, this was almost entirely due to a much lower number of pedestrian deaths, because there were far fewer people on the streets. They also reported that suburban areas were the most dangerous for cyclists, with injuries increasing in zones three to five.  

The findings mirrors countrywide statistics from the early stages of the lockdown, which found that cyclist deaths were running at almost twice the national average for the time of year in April. While there could have been other factors at play, some road safety campaigners and experts attributed it to a sharp rise in dangerous drivers taking advantage of quieter roads, even though there were less vehicles on them.

09 September 2020, 13:16
"We could almost consider him British": Bradley Wiggins under fire for Sam Bennett comments, and mocking Sean Kelly's accent

Discussing Irishman Sam Bennett's stage win on Eurosport's "The Breakaway" show with Sean Kelly, the 2012 Tour de France champ appears to have offended most of Ireland with his comments, saying: "We can almost consider him [Bennett] British, I know that you lot won't like that will you."

Kelly did not look amused, telling Wiggins: “You’re not going to claim him”... and instead of apologising, Wiggins doubled down with a comeback mocking Kelly's accent, saying: "We spoke to him [Bennett] at the Vuelta last year when he came on our show, and at least we can understand what he’s saying. We can’t really understand what you’re saying Sean, can we?”

Social media was generally not amused, with one even calling the comments "casual racism". Wiggins hasn't addressed the backlash, instead just writing "what a day for Sam" on his Twitter account this afternoon. 

09 September 2020, 15:20
Tour latest: Bennett wins intermediate sprint, two riders abandon

Bennett has tightened his grip on green, while Gregor Mühlberger of Bora-Hansgrohe has been forced out due to illness, and Jon Izagirre of Astana has abandoned after a heavy crash - Izagirre is conscious and receiving checks from medics. 

09 September 2020, 15:18
Prime Minister giving briefing on new coronavirus rules, banning gatherings of more than six in England
boris johnson - screenshot via bbc news.PNG

Accompanied by chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance, Boris Johnson is delivering a press conference on the new rules that come into force on Monday - you can watch live on the BBC

09 September 2020, 15:33
In favour of Low Traffic Neighbourhood schemes? All hell will break loose...

Granted this was filmed in Groningen last Saturday as German and Dutch football hooligans clashed (why else would there be so many bikes?) but from some of the comments seen on some forums about the implementation of LTNs in London, we can see why the comparison has been made...

09 September 2020, 13:51
Will Sam Bennett double up today?

Funnily enough, Sean Kelly was the last Tour de France stage winner in Poitiers in 1978. He'll be hoping for another Irish (definitely not British, Mr Wiggins) win on stage 11 today. 

09 September 2020, 12:34
45g 9-in-1 multi-tool launching soon on Kickstarter
daysaver multi-tool - via daysaver.PNG

The Daysaver's Swiss creators have partnered with PB Swiss Tools to get the super light tool ready for production, and will be launching a Kickstarter campaign in the next few weeks. It features a T25, 2,3,5, 6 and 8mm hex key sizes, a slot tool and an extra round bit that they say is "up to you" how it is used. Magnets ensure all the parts stay in place, and the shape means there will be no struggle to tighten your bolts in awkward places, as is the case with some bulkier multi-tools. 

Prices are TBC, but you can check out daysaver.fun for more info. 

09 September 2020, 12:15
Reader letter on "the lycra-clad" accompanied by photo of cyclists wearing coats and work trousers

Not only is the photo not really the best choice to depict 'lycra-clad' cyclists, the reader letter is a load of old cobblers to boot. 

Andrew Mercer writes in the Yorkshire Post: "Our hubristic Harrogate councillors who are planning to spend huge sums of hard-earned money on ludicrous, segregated cycle paths, to the disadvantage of the majority, motorist and pedestrian, should take note.

"Their obsession with cycling led to the horrendous damage to the Stray which has taken almost a year to remedy. If the lycra-clad want their own freeways, then let them pay for them by way of tax."

Time for a motorway tax too then, Mr Mercer? 

09 September 2020, 10:58
New rules on social gatherings: we're still none the wiser
Cyclists in park (picture credit Simon MacMichael(

We've asked Cycling UK and British Cycling for comment on what the government's new rules on social gatherings in England will mean for cyclists and cycling events, with the former telling us that they are "trying to work out what it all means" and will be deciding on a policy soon. 

As mentioned further down the page, it's unclear if British Cycling's reintroduction of non-competitive events such as sportives - permitted from 5th September - will be affected. Here's what British Cycling say in their Way Forward document: "The greatest consideration for organisers is ensuring that groups riding together during the event do not exceed the size permitted by Government guidelines - which is currently (as of 20/08/2020) six riders. At no point in your event should groups exceeding this limit be riding together."

It's unclear if an event constitutes a gathering, or whether the event will be held under the guise that people will not mingle or ride together in groups of more than six.

For informal group or club rides, existing government guidelines allow gatherings of more than six from up to two households to exercise "providing members of different households can follow social distancing guidelines"; but the new rules appear to mean that the group mustn't exceed six people at all from 14th September. Health secretary Matt Hancock said on BBC this morning: "In social settings, you can''t gather in groups of more than six. That's it, [a] really super simple rule."

09 September 2020, 11:33
Tour de France stage 11 is away, with a crash happening before the departe

The 167.5 km stage from Châtelaillon-Plage to Poitiers will see the peloton move away from the coast, with the flat-ish profile making this one for the sprinters.

There was also a crash before the race proper even started. The CCC rider looks like he's had a different kind of accident there...

09 September 2020, 10:41
Coming soon: first ride on the new Basso Diamante SV

Someone's gotta do it, so road.cc Liam and cameraman Matt have been sent to the Dolomites to try out Basso's revamped Diamante SV. Video coming soon, or check out our Instagram stories for fooling around and general silliness. 

09 September 2020, 08:55
Peloton launch new Bike+, and drop price of original to 'just' £1,750

Peloton hasn't really taken off amongst the endemic cycling audience, with many of us put off by the £2,000 price tag and 40 quid month subscription, when a top-of-the-range smart trainer is half the price and many training apps cost peanuts. There were also the cringey ad campaigns, including that one where a wife receives a Peloton for Christmas and proceeds to make a creepy video diary about it to please her husband, which was reportedly responsible for knocking $1 billion off their share value back in December. 

Even so Peloton are hoping cheaper pricing on their original bike might be enough to tempt some more over before the new Bike+ arrives, knocking it down to £1,750. The Bike+ upgrades are outlined in the video above, including a new rotating touchscreen, automatic resistance adjustment and enhanced sound so you can "feel the energy through the speakers". 

The Bike+ will ship to the UK in December, priced at £2,295, or £59 a month on finance. This is on top of the £39 a month fee for a Peloton subscription to access virtual classes and workouts. 

09 September 2020, 08:26
Do the new coronavirus rules apply to cyclists?
Blenheim Triathlon drafting (copyright Simon MacMichael).PNG

Once again, people are finding themselves slightly confused by the government's new announcement that in England from 14th September, only six people can meet socially, indoors or outdoors, with fines of £100 dished out to those who don't comply. Some exemptions are made, including 'team sports organised in a way limiting the spread of coronavirus', and we're assuming that doesn't mean social bike rides... so we're also assuming group rides will only be legal if there are six people or less riding together. As we understand it the rules could also mean that sportive-type cycling events are off, even though British Cycling said such events that abide by government rules on outdoor sport and physical activity could resume from 5th September in their Way Forward document. 

A full list of the changes will be published on Monday, so we'll be checking for any exemptions that might apply to cyclists. 

09 September 2020, 09:47
Government give red light jumpers free pass
09 September 2020, 08:50
Sam Bennett on THAT interview after his maiden Tour de France stage win

The Irishman was overwhelmed after winning stage 10 yesterday, and has finally held back the tears to provide some analysis in the form of a gif. If you missed it, here is the totes emosh moment again... 

09 September 2020, 08:44
First there was the Road Tax Bot, now there's "Stupid shit people say on Facebook about cycling"

After we discovered the Road Tax Bot yesterday, another Twitter account has popped up to expose untruths about cycling and cyclists, this time simply copying and pasting the comments with no further analysis needed. If you want road tax, "as a cyclist myself" and wild conspiracy theories, this is the place. 

Arriving at road.cc in 2017 via 220 Triathlon Magazine, Jack dipped his toe in most jobs on the site and over at eBikeTips before being named the new editor of road.cc in 2020, much to his surprise. His cycling life began during his students days, when he cobbled together a few hundred quid off the back of a hard winter selling hats (long story) and bought his first road bike - a Trek 1.1 that was quickly relegated to winter steed, before it was sadly pinched a few years later. Creatively replacing it with a Trek 1.2, Jack mostly rides this bike around local cycle paths nowadays, but when he wants to get the racer out and be competitive his preferred events are time trials, sportives, triathlons and pogo sticking - the latter being another long story.  

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50 comments

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AndyH01 | 3 years ago
0 likes

I'm in the market to add indoor cycling training to my home gym. Personally I don't.understand Peloton's USP, then again I'm not really into "virtual studio" indoor training. I'd also be concerned about any proprietary/locked in/bundle if Peloton pulled their platform, be a very expensive door stopper for the bike, wasn't so long ago they were offering discount for those unfortunate enough to have had one of their competitors bike who they successfully sued causing them.to go bust and bikes were skipped l, can't remember the co name. Their "reduced price" bike as newer model is released, isn't automation resistance so not as immersive as other cheaper alternatives. I'd much rather have a Neo or Wahoo smart bike or other spin bike like Nordic/proform with the IFit platform with multiple equipment such as treadmill and bike platform with IRL graphics. I currently have the IFit for the treadmill which will auto syc both pace and incline to the video session for 121 coaching and leaderboard as well as zwift for group/competition events. When I get the turbo trainer I could use my IFit and subscribe to xwift.
With my free trial gym membership I tried the live spin class which was completely different and much better than the virtual trainer l, even when in the same studio as others following the virtual video trailer, basically a commercial version of Peloton which doesn't do it for me, I'd rather see some scenary whilst training indoors.
It's not even though it's "bundled" in one monthly payment or sup plus bike like mobile phone contract with "free" phone and retailers offering finance for the upfront cost of smart trainers/bikes

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ErnieC | 3 years ago
0 likes

What an arrogant and bigoted fool that wiggin is. 

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peted76 | 3 years ago
0 likes

Wiggins does a Wiggins and is vilified on social media in particular twitter where everything is taken to the n'th degree by people who think twitter is a good way to communicate...

Come to think of it, I also think of my Irish friends as 'nearly British' in the same way I think of my Welsh and Scottish friends.. I root for them all in various sporting events and would choose them over any other country to support. However all of that 'nice and local' English speaking kind of countries who I support, generally hate the English and wish we fall/fail at every sporting opportunity.. c'est le vie! 

Welsh, Scots, Irish and N.Irish all have an axe to grind, often justified, twitter just helps them sharpen the blade.

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Nick T replied to peted76 | 3 years ago
12 likes

Your Scottish and Welsh friends aren't "nearly british", they are british you absolute balloon knot

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peted76 replied to Nick T | 3 years ago
2 likes

Nick T wrote:

Your Scottish and Welsh friends aren't "nearly british", they are british you absolute balloon knot

LOL maybe I wasn't clear.. I meant that I think of them all in the same way (which may sound a bit odd, but meh.. ) whether they are British or not. 

100 points for 'ballooon knot', that's a name I've never been called before!

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Nick T replied to peted76 | 3 years ago
4 likes

You would do yourself a great service by reading up on the centuries of conflict and oppression that makes your current assumption offensive to a great many Irish people, to begin with it's worth noting that neither the RoI or NI are part of Great Britain. It's akin to considering Ukrainians as "almost Russian" or conflating Bangladeshis as "one of the Indians"

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Awavey replied to Nick T | 3 years ago
1 like

its worth listening to the Bradley Wiggins show podcast,certainly the last episode, I think its fair to say he certainly didnt mean any harm by it.

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Simon E replied to Awavey | 3 years ago
1 like

Awavey wrote:

its worth listening to the Bradley Wiggins show podcast,certainly the last episode, I think its fair to say he certainly didnt mean any harm by it.

But he didn't want to 'claim' Alaphilippe for his stage win yet France is nearer to Dover than Dublin is to Holyhead.

Typical English, assuming everyone around the world would be happier if they were subjugated by some toffs in London.

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Nick T replied to Awavey | 3 years ago
0 likes

No he probably didn't mean any harm in it, but the tendency among some English people to "allow" an outsider to be considered "one of us" only when they do well at something is a fine example of how prevelant casual racism is

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Richard D replied to Nick T | 3 years ago
0 likes

Nick T wrote:

To begin with it's worth noting that neither the RoI or NI are part of Great Britain. It's akin to considering Ukrainians as "almost Russian" or conflating Bangladeshis as "one of the Indians"

That's because Great Britain is the name of the island that England, Wales and Scotland are on - and the RoI and NI aren't (last time I checked) part of the same island.

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hawkinspeter replied to Richard D | 3 years ago
1 like

Richard D wrote:

Nick T wrote:

To begin with it's worth noting that neither the RoI or NI are part of Great Britain. It's akin to considering Ukrainians as "almost Russian" or conflating Bangladeshis as "one of the Indians"

That's because Great Britain is the name of the island that England, Wales and Scotland are on - and the RoI and NI aren't (last time I checked) part of the same island.

I reckon we're gonna need a diagram for this

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Nick T replied to Richard D | 3 years ago
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Thank you for confirming my point that no part of the island of Ireland or its subjects are british 

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Richard D replied to peted76 | 3 years ago
1 like

English sports fans have a long and noble tradition of cheering for the Welsh, Scots, and even the Irish sometimes, if there isn't an English competitor or team to cheer.  I remember how excited everyone was about Scotland in the "78 football World Cup, or Roche in the '87 Tour.

It's a bit of a shame that the Scots would rather cheer for anyone EXCEPT the English, but nobody ever accused them of being particularly generous.

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hawkinspeter replied to Richard D | 3 years ago
2 likes

Richard D wrote:

English sports fans have a long and noble tradition of cheering for the Welsh, Scots, and even the Irish sometimes, if there isn't an English competitor or team to cheer.  I remember how excited everyone was about Scotland in the "78 football World Cup, or Roche in the '87 Tour.

It's a bit of a shame that the Scots would rather cheer for anyone EXCEPT the English, but nobody ever accused them of being particularly generous.

There might be a little bit of history involved there. There's a reason that lots of films have English baddies.

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ErnieC replied to Richard D | 3 years ago
0 likes

Richard D wrote:

English sports fans have a long and noble tradition of cheering for the Welsh, Scots, and even the Irish sometimes, if there isn't an English competitor or team to cheer.  I remember how excited everyone was about Scotland in the "78 football World Cup, or Roche in the '87 Tour.

It's a bit of a shame that the Scots would rather cheer for anyone EXCEPT the English, but nobody ever accused them of being particularly generous.

have you ever stopped to consider why they absolutely refuse to support the butchers apron?

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FrankH | 3 years ago
5 likes

This rang a bell:

Quote:

Stupid shit people say on Facebook about cycling
@AntiCyclingFB
·
16 Aug
"i failed my first driving test because ome cyclist decided it would be a good idea to cycle on a major dual carraige way. and apparently i was in the wrong. (i like to think i'd have been in the right if i'd ran him over though)"

I passed my first motorcycle test, partly because I didn't run into the cyclist who decided to turn right without signalling. I like to think I would have been in the wrong if I'd ran [sic] him over though.  1

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Rick_Rude | 3 years ago
0 likes

Cycling clubs will be one of the groups that ignore distancing rules. They were doing it all the time in lockdown and simply not riding with club jerseys. Then again who is going to enforce it. Police were only interested in easy wins during lockdown and once the drunken hordes came back they were doing stuff like taking pictures of a problem and posting it on social meda......didn't actually do anything about it though.

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Simon E replied to Rick_Rude | 3 years ago
8 likes

Rick_Rude wrote:

Cycling clubs will be one of the groups that ignore distancing rules. They were doing it all the time in lockdown and simply not riding with club jerseys.

If they were riding incognito then how did you know they were clubs?

And just how many clubs or groups were caught doing this during lockdown?

All the clubs and individuals I know of - locally and through Strava and numerous online discussions - have been very conscious of their responsibilities and chosen to ride solo. But that won't let that stop people spreading misinformation and hearsay based on Daily Mail-style 'reporting' of isolated incidents.

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AlsoSomniloquism replied to Simon E | 3 years ago
2 likes

Same here. I have not seen large groups whilst out and aboyt and also strava stalk lots of people who are involved in clubs and they have either been done in packs of 6 or less or been cancelled for now (most Ive seen is 4). Of course there is always people who flaunt rules and travel across the country for an eye test or attend raves etc, but I suspect most officially sanctioned clubs would abide as they have the most to lose if caught. 

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Rick_Rude replied to Simon E | 3 years ago
0 likes

Because 8 strangers people don't randomly ride together all at the same speed.

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EddyBerckx replied to Rick_Rude | 3 years ago
4 likes

Rick_Rude wrote:

Cycling clubs will be one of the groups that ignore distancing rules. They were doing it all the time in lockdown and simply not riding with club jerseys. Then again who is going to enforce it. Police were only interested in easy wins during lockdown and once the drunken hordes came back they were doing stuff like taking pictures of a problem and posting it on social meda......didn't actually do anything about it though.

 

This is the opposite of my experience for my local area, to the point of there being big arguments within my local clubs of whether it was acceptable to go out on your bike at all even on your own. That was too much of course, they were dickheads.

 

 

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OldRidgeback replied to Rick_Rude | 3 years ago
0 likes

I've just sent out our club newsletter over the race we're planning. It is a team sports event, so it should be ok, I think. We will practice social distancing. Numbers are restricted also.

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M20MAMIL replied to Rick_Rude | 3 years ago
3 likes

All the clubs locally to me seem to be complying. The BC guidance document was very clearly written and my club developed a protocol that we're using successfully. Whether you're in club kit or not, if you're BC affiliated, then if you don't follow BC guidance, you won't be insured.

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Rich_cb replied to Rick_Rude | 3 years ago
0 likes

I noticed the same.

The same lads I normally see on club runs all out together but not in club kit.

To be fair it didn't happen much right at the start of lockdown but within a few weeks it was pretty obvious.

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Mungecrundle replied to Rick_Rude | 3 years ago
2 likes

Can only speak for my own club (but not on behalf of). During the first stage of lockdown all club rides and activities were suspended completely. Solo riding for daily exercise only.

Laterly we have a maximum 6 per group and separated the meeting points per speed group. Still finish up at the same pub garden at the end of the ride but stick to different tables. No mixing.

I saw very few obviously unrelated cyclists in groups round my way during lockdown. If anything clubs are probably more disciplined than most about observing the restrictions.

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Nick T replied to Mungecrundle | 3 years ago
1 like

Same for my club, 6 limit per group, if you flout the rules don't expect any of the assistance or insurances that normally come from club membership and please don't wear club kit if you choose to ignore guidelines, just like you don't just red lights in club colours. Pretty straightforward advice

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lbmxj560vr46 | 3 years ago
2 likes

I don't understand the derogatory tone towards Peleton and its costs.  It's mentioned that a smart trainer costs half the amount of a Peleton bike... but that cost doesn't include a bike!  If you add the cost of a bike, plus a subscription to Zwift/TrainerRoad/Sufferfest and you're looking at a very similar cost.  Yes, you can ride your actual bike outside, but that seems like a lost art anyway.

And as BOOBOOJMMOJ stated, they're not targeting cyclists.  They're targeting gym-goers who will happily pay £60+ a month to be a member of a gym to do spin classes.  

All in all, it seems to me that there is a good argument to say that £1750 plus £40 per month is fair value for what appears to be a pretty decent product and service.  

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alexuk replied to lbmxj560vr46 | 3 years ago
3 likes

Agreed!. I think the snobbery towards peleton is nothing but naivety; there's a market for it, just because you don't belong to that market, there's no reason to beat-down on it. The similarities are almost poetic with aggressive motorists complaining about how road cycling is sh1t! and only a tw@t would want to do it. Symptomatic of the "I'm right, and anyone who doesn't agree is an idiot or the devil!" attitude of recent generations.

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Jack Sexty replied to lbmxj560vr46 | 3 years ago
2 likes

lbmxj560vr46 wrote:

I don't understand the derogatory tone towards Peleton and its costs.  It's mentioned that a smart trainer costs half the amount of a Peleton bike... but that cost doesn't include a bike!  If you add the cost of a bike, plus a subscription to Zwift/TrainerRoad/Sufferfest and you're looking at a very similar cost.  Yes, you can ride your actual bike outside, but that seems like a lost art anyway.

And as BOOBOOJMMOJ stated, they're not targeting cyclists.  They're targeting gym-goers who will happily pay £60+ a month to be a member of a gym to do spin classes.  

All in all, it seems to me that there is a good argument to say that £1750 plus £40 per month is fair value for what appears to be a pretty decent product and service.  

That's fair enough... have you tried a Peloton bike though? My personal opinion having done so is that it definitely doesn't represent the same value for money as a leading smart trainer, £1000 bike and Zwift subscription combined, but understand their audience differs and plenty of people will disagree. 

Re Peloton are doing very well: $195.6 million net losses in 2019. 

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lbmxj560vr46 replied to Jack Sexty | 3 years ago
0 likes

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