Geraint Thomas 2/3s of way through NHS Zwift fundraiser; Philippe Gilbert fined for riding bike outdoors in Monaco lockdown; Press snappers looking to frame cyclists? Shurely shome mishtake; Paramedic has bike stolen during 12-hour shift + more
SUMMARY
Pro cyclist closes in on 1,000km in a single Zwift ride
South African Willie Smit, who rides for UCI ProTeam Burgos BH, doesn’t have a great deal on at the minute.
Shock jock bike engineer Hambini accused of sexism
If you don’t know Sachin Hambini, he’s an aerospace engineer who also runs Hambini Performance Engineering, producing bottom brackets.
We’ve spoken to him about ceramic bearings before now.
Hambini’s best known for running a YouTube channel where he talks about bike engineering; takes issue with a lot of people and a lot of things; and swears a lot.
Cycling Weekly’s tech editor, Michelle Arthurs, has today highlighted part of his recent criticism of a segment run by her publication.
She has quite understandably taken issue with his reference to bolt hole sizes.
“Why does the cycling industry find it SO hard to attract women in key positions?”
Ans: pic.twitter.com/m54W4ndwyy— Michelle Arthurs (@RideWriteRepeat) April 15, 2020
Hambini has countered by questioning why he was banned from commenting on Cycling Weekly’s YouTube channel before he’d left a comment.
He suggests it’s racism.
Or perhaps his reputation preceded him.
Double standards. Why don’t you let brown people comment on your YT videos? I’d say @RideWriteRepeat and @cyclingweekly were racist. But that seems to have been overlooked and glossed over? Nothing has been said about GCN and wizards cuff? https://t.co/rP8lfcnlty https://t.co/yOwV4WBV7s
— Hambini (@HambiniENG) April 16, 2020
Boy battling leukemia gets bike lifted up to his hospital room by crane
10-year-old Reese Loggins was presumably somewhat taken aback to look out of his window at Duke University Hospital to see a crane lifting a bike up to his room.
You only turn 10 once. Reese’s parents, Michelle and Rusty, coordinated with hospital doctors, nurses, staff & the construction crew working outside his window to safely deliver a birthday bike by crane. Happy birthday, Reese!@DukeHospital | #DukeHealth | @Duke_Childrens pic.twitter.com/zMeHgbQ3mH
— Duke Health (@DukeHealth) April 15, 2020
WBTV reports that Loggins has just had a bone marrow transplant and this is the second birthday he has had to spend in hospital.
His dad, Rusty, said Reese enjoys watching the cranes outside his hospital window, so he arranged for the construction crews to lift up the birthday surprise to his window on Wednesday morning.
The construction workers sang happy birthday as the bike was lifted up to his room and inside nurses came to Reese’s room to wish him a happy birthday.
“I just wanted to make it a special birthday for him for all he’s going through,” said Rusty. “Words can’t describe it to see him in the window and be able to see the bicycle and know that he’s going to get out soon and be able to ride it. It’s pretty awesome.”
Hambini takes issue with our coverage
He says he’s French.
I wanted to emphasize that despite me swearing a lot and some people thinking I was Glaswegian I am in fact French. And I’m not a bike Engineer. thankyou.
— Hambini (@HambiniENG) April 16, 2020
Sustrans launches online map to help key workers find bikes and repairs
The Cycles for Key Workers page is the focal point for a number of cycle industry campaigns geared towards helping key workers cycle.
After a lot of hard work, it’s finally here!
👏 @sustrans for bringing the many acts of kindness by the bicycle industry together to create a national movement 👏 https://t.co/FM56CBiNV2
More offers being posted all the time.
Cycle Business? join in! #Cycles4KeyWorkers pic.twitter.com/8YLJwZouIy— Chris Boardman (@Chris_Boardman) April 16, 2020
Paramedic has bike stolen from home during 12-hour shift
This is me this morning. I have very few words to describe how it feels besides – the only place I feel safe is violated (my home). Even if these individual(s) needed my help, I would aid without judgement or question. But please, have some of your own humanity and respect. 😞 https://t.co/2LYCbcfVwu
— Samuel Clyde Jones (@OrangutanClyde) April 15, 2020
Writing on Facebook, Samuel Clyde Jones said: “This morning, after returning from a 12 hour emergency ambulance shift with EMAS I’ve found my house (Ilkeston) has been broken into and one of my mountain bikes among other items (Laptop, Garmin Edge 820 Cycle Computer, Garmin Varia Cycle Front Light, PS4) has been stolen.
“The bike is a Fluro-Yellow Norco Fluid with Yellow DMR platform pedals as pictured and was taken some time between 5:30PM 14th April and 6:30AM 15th April whilst I was at work. Judging by my WiFi and device activity I reckon it was some time after 9PM.
“At the moment (pandemic wise) two of the main things keeping me sane on my rest days are getting out on my bike and computer gaming/box-sets – so to come home and see how some absolute degenerate individual(s) can abuse the fact that I’m at work possibly helping their friends/family is beyond my comprehension.”
If you’ve any information, there’s ways to get in touch with him on that Facebook post.
Brighton DIY bike workshop reopens
Cranks, a DIY bicycle workshop in Brighton where volunteer mechanics help people fix their bikes, had been closed but has decided to reopen on an appointment-only basis.
The Argus reports it will prioritise key workers if demand is high.
“Please do not come to the workshop if you have coronavirus symptoms and please do not come to the workshop without booking an appointment first,” said a spokesperson. “We are booking one person at a time.
“Customers can come and look at our recycled bikes for sale or bring their bike in for basic repairs. We cannot do major overhauls at this time.”
The company accepts donations plus the cost of parts for repairs.
Bike shops have been deemed essential services under government restrictions.
Crazy cycling-themed exit poll graphics used for South Korean election
Next election @theJeremyVine should seriously up his game. Look at this CGI. It’s fantastic! https://t.co/QKd76TxZmk
— Emily Thornberry (@EmilyThornberry) April 16, 2020
Cycling social distancing photography, part 12
A number of newspapers have been accused of distorting the truth through their use of misleading photos of cyclists recently.
It’s happened often enough that last week Cycling UK lodged a complaint with the Independent Press Standards Organisation.
This, from Sunday, seems to imply it’s still happening.
This was The Mall earlier today. Lots of cyclists, all keeping far apart. The figure standing in the road, on the left, is a photographer using a telephoto lens to compress perspective so that it appears that the cyclists are riding in a bunch 🙄 pic.twitter.com/K0Sn9J9IyY
— Redlight (@rob_mcivor) April 12, 2020
"Shouty photographer" accused of trying to take foreshortened shots of cyclists in Regent's Park yesterday
A very shouty photographer in regents park today trying to fabricate photos. Claims to be from @standardnews if that’s true then you should be ashamed @George_Osborne @ESI_Media pic.twitter.com/HwiBYiWC50
— Cameron Taylor (@cmtlr) April 15, 2020
A number of colleagues subsequently leapt to the photographer’s defence. The following comment from Daily Telegraph news photographer Eddie Mulholland hasn’t gone down enormously well.
Considering all the shit my photojournalist colleagues have taken today and most of it was from the cycling community I’m asking which community has contributed most to humanity? The people who photograph war or people who sweat in Lycra pretending they’re in the Tour De France.
— Eddie Mulholland (@eddiemulh) April 16, 2020
Belgian pro Dries Devenyns riding a tiny kids' bike on a treadmill
Sometimes it’s hard to come up with a pithy headline for these things.
Dan Martin joins Geraint Thomas "for a bit"
Thomas is riding 12-hour shifts for three consecutive days – mirroring a typical hospital shift – to celebrate the hard work of front line workers and to raise money for the NHS.
He’s on day two.
Haha cheers twiggy mate👍💪💪 Loooong day this one🤣 thanks for your company https://t.co/V4yNaiULZY
— Geraint Thomas (@GeraintThomas86) April 16, 2020
Family 'verbally abused while out cycling'
A Gloucester farmer refused to believe that a family out cycling really was a family and so obviously he verbally abused them for being out cycling.
I find these coronavirus lockdown public policing knobheadery stories very hard to report on.
They’re just too annoying to even think about.
You can read more at Gloucestershire Live if you’re so inclined.
New cycling podcast!
A new cycling/walking podcast has landed, co-hosted by our own Laura Laker, along with cycling commentator, Ned Boulting, and Bicycle Mayor for Coventry, Adam Tranter.
Streets Ahead is about active travel, liveable streets and urban design.
The first episode looks at transport during and after COVID-19 and asks whether the pandemic has shown the general public what cycling and walking advocates have been seeing for decades.
You can find it here.
🚨🚲🚶♀️🏙 We’re live! Listen to the first episode of Streets Ahead, a new podcast on active travel, cities and liveable streets from @adamtranter, @laura_laker and Ned Boulting.
🎧 https://t.co/MmGaxKjFsn
Search “Streets Ahead” wherever you listen to podcasts and hit “Subscribe”! pic.twitter.com/NOExmrlJzo— Streets Ahead Podcast (@podstreetsahead) April 14, 2020
Philippe Gilbert fined for cycling during Monaco lockdown
Last month, if all had gone according to plan, Philippe Gilbert could have become just the fourth cyclist – all Belgian – to have won all five Monuments.
Instead, just along the Riviera in Monaco, where he lives, the Lotto-Soudal rider copped a €100 fine for going out for a spin on his bike and breaching lockdown rules.
In an interview on Facebook, the former world champion told Monacoinfo that he’d been riding on an 11-kilometre circuit when he was collared.
The Belgian admitted he was in the wrong, and with bragging rights that pretty much all of us can only dream of, said: “Just because I won Paris-Roubaix last year does not mean I have more rights than anyone else.”
Geraint Thomas is two-thirds of the way through his NHS fundraising marathon
Geraint Thomas has finished his second of three 12-hour stints on Zwift to raise money for the NHS.
Fair play to the 2018 Tour de France champion (and, of course, former road.cc pundit).
We know that G likes a beer now and again, but the recovery ones supplied by Cardiff brewery Brains literally have his name on the bottle.
We approve, and best of luck for the third and final leg tomorrow.
Day two done ✅ Time for a feed and a pint of @brainsbrewery 🍺
See you all tomorrow for the final 12 hours 😬😰 #GsNHSZwiftShifts pic.twitter.com/FjMdKfvq8U
— Geraint Thomas (@GeraintThomas86) April 16, 2020
16 April 2020, 08:18
16 April 2020, 08:18
DealClincher: eBay Bargains - The Wiggle Returns Store
This is where many of Wiggle's returns end up
16 April 2020, 08:18
Rather than slowing down, Pedal Me are busier than ever...
E-cargo delivery specialists Pedal Me reveal how they've adapted during coronavirus pandemic
Rather than slowing down, London e-cargo and passenger service Pedal Me are busier than ever... delivering PPE to hospitals and ferrying goods for businesses that have been forced to switch online due to the closure of non-essential retailers
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Latest Comments
@mdavidford "Hmm – the way you’ve edited your post to tone down the suggestion that they were saying something they weren’t suggests even you don’t believe that." Nope, and tbh, I couldn't care less about what you think. Anything positive to add? Nope! just your usual nonsense, so bore off.
@mdavidford "Hmm – the way you’ve edited your post to tone down the suggestion that they were saying something they weren’t suggests even you don’t believe that." Nope, and tbh, I couldnt care less about what you think. Anythingpositive to add? Nope1 just your usual nonsense, so bore off.
@mdavidford OK. So maybe my question should be amended to: are those rates ring-fenced? ie, I'm not paying a lot more for my insurance due to drivers of larger/more dangerous/more expensive vehicles andor the drivers with points.
Hmm - did the people whose data is in that 'substantial database' agree to that? Nothing in their privacy statement says "we may flog off your data to a random third party".
Insurance cost already does vary with vehicle and associated risk profile though.
Hmm - the way you've edited your post to tone down the suggestion that they were saying something they weren't suggests even you don't believe that.
Thanks. I'd heard that there was a split in the community. Well in that case let's hope that he does do something about their opposition to cyclists. All for safe cycling measures, but not just because one group doesn't like cyclists.
Being fair, there are a few councillors of all shades who seem intent on not disturbing their preexisting opinions on certain topics with new facts or understanding. I do think the populist parties are more susceptible to this though. They seem to attract those with the idea that government is corrupt and it just needs some people with "common sense" to come in and fix it. They *are* right that there's inefficiency, inflexibility, self-serving and even some corruption there. The error is in thinking that a) those are the biggest issues and b) inexperienced people with strong opinions (and sometimes cloth ears) can quickly change it for the better...
They are selling off their tools and "Substantial customer database" too: https://bikebiz.com/job/bike-repair-servicing-business-for-sale/ At least the cafe is staying open...
@jackcycles If he was on the road, you can almost guarantee there would be an equally ignorant driver saying "why don't you ride on the cycle path"? No matter where he rode there will be someone who has a lack of common courtesy.
27 thoughts on “Geraint Thomas 2/3s of way through NHS Zwift fundraiser; Philippe Gilbert fined for riding bike outdoors in Monaco lockdown; Press snappers looking to frame cyclists? Shurely shome mishtake; Paramedic has bike stolen during 12-hour shift + more”
Having watched some of his
Having watched some of his videos, Hambini makes some interesting points and he’s pretty good at debunking a lot of cycling industry nonsense.
I wish he’d tone the language down but in this age controversy creates clicks and he’s getting far more viewers with this stance then he was previously. Even this news story will probably just lead to more people checking him out.
Another video channel which highlights the shoddy practicies of some bike manufacturers is Raoul Luescher’s but I find that he’s the polar opposite of Hambini and just too dry to watch.
Did road.cc really need to
Did road.cc really need to reproduce the entire crass sexist rubbish up there? ^^
Anyone can sit there and swear lots and say that this that and the other is bollocks and shit but that’s not debunking, that’s slagging off.
I think the debunking that’s
I think the debunking that’s being refered to is not the swearing and insults but when he uses tools that most people don’t have such as a CMM to show the very poor standards that some manufacturers are supplying. Quality that wouldn’t be tolerated in other industries.
These manufacturers are using slick marketing, including product placement and superficial reviews, to mislead the public into buying poor and sometimes dangerous products.
Look at his discussions on bearings. Assuming that’s something you’re interested in, against a background of saturation marketing, he’s been one of the only people to point out that cheap ceramic hybrid bearings are not worth buying. He’s backed that up with numbers and detailed explainations of why.
The problem is that if you make personal, childish insults about people or hold grudges against people based on their appearance, then that message gets lost in the noise. Even if yes they are selling snake oil, it’s enough to point that out without getting personal.
lio wrote:
Thanks for better articulating my point Lio.
I personally believe that Hambini shouldn’t be attacking people personally and sexism along with other forms of discrimination is never called for. However, there does appear to be an appetite for this if you check out the number of view he has and the comments below his videos, it’s probably part of the reason why he’s adopted this persona.
Quote:
Very much this – he might have a point but sitting there calling someone a complete utter **** doesn’t make that point. Slags off a journo for not having an engineering background – that’s the whole point, a journo is someone who can listen to the facts (or snake oil, depending on your view) and translate that often very technical info into an easily readable article for the layperson.
This is where the entire media and news industry has failed miserably. It shouldn’t be about “persona”, it should be about putting the facts across. Not mixing the facts up with a whole load of offensive personal insults, opinions and waffle.
crazy-legs wrote:
This is where the entire media and news industry has failed miserably. It shouldn’t be about “persona”, it should be about putting the facts across. Not mixing the facts up with a whole load of offensive personal insults, opinions and waffle.
I agree 100%, it’s sad that we’re in a society where whoever shouts loudest gets the most attention. Hambini’s is a smart guy beneath all of his ranting and I think he’s cottoned onto this.
There could be a discussion to be had about the relationship between the media and the bike industry but I fear that this could never take place in this current environment.
One only has to look at the world of video games and the utter tragedy that was Gamergate to see that any attempt at decent discussion and reason is drowned out by horrific discrimination, death threats and harassment.
Having worked with Michelle
Having worked with Michelle in the past all I can say is I am sorry she has been subjected to such abuse for pretty much no reason. I find the use of language like this funny and entertaining in the Thick of It but it was quite shocking to see if directed towards someone I know, and even worse that I know it not to be the case.
I like Hambini stuff
I like Hambini stuff generally but that fitting size ‘joke’ was bang out of order. Having a go at someone because they clearly have no idea about a field they profess to be an expert in, is fine, good even. Having a go because someone is posh, or heaven forbid, a woman is not cool at all.
He’s quite knowledgeable
He’s quite knowledgeable about engineering but seems to know nothing about anything else – I got about half way through one of his videos where he repeatedly laid in to “chavs” who he described as being “…one step ahead of people on benefits”.
He seems to have a very dim view of everyone who isn’t him. As I commented on said video he has a lot of engineering knowledge contained within an unfortunately small mind.
Quote:
He looks like a paparazzo straight out of stock casting…
Bit ironic that a
Bit ironic that a photographer doesn’t like his photo being taken.
It does make me wonder if his award winning war photos might have been somewhat “manipulated” too.
If a certain “narrative” gets your pictures in the newspaper and adds to sales (or indeed “clicks”) then everything is justified, right?
Aside from anything else,
Aside from anything else, taking photographs of people cycling through a park hardly qualifies him as an ‘essential worker’. Maybe he should stay at home and save a life
OTOH its not a job he can do
OTOH its not a job he can do from home, is it? 😉
With a very long lens he can
With a very long lens he can
Good to see Eddie “I’m a war
Good to see Eddie “I’m a war photographer” Mulholland getting right royally shafted on twitter. It might be a bit early to be definitive, but I think we have an early favourite for Total Knobhead 2020.
They say the first victim of
They say the first victim of war is truth which clearly prepared him with the experience for taking fake photos of cyclists (allegedly).
Another saying that comes to mind is ‘honour among thieves’ what with all the other photographers leaping to his defence.
I know his work and it’s
I know his work and it’s perfectly decent but he’s hardly Robert Capa or Don McCullin is he? Both of whom were avowedly anti war unlike Eddie who seems to see it as badge of honour.
Perhaps he should keep his mouth shut rather than trotting out lazy stereotypes.
I think the “shouty
I think the “shouty photographer” in the park is Jeremy Selwyn (@jeremyselwyn1 on Twitter)
If Hambini was a little more
If Hambini was a little more professional in his presentation I might take what he does a little more seriously. I suspect he just thinks that the problem solving/ engineering bit is dull but the swearing/insults/sexism is not, where in reality it’s the other way round. I think the industry would actually take him more seriously too if he changed his approach. In the meantime they can just laugh back at him with a ‘what a silly khunt’ giggle whilst they block him on their social media accounts and forums.
Hambini is hambini and I
Hambini is hambini and I think he’s on the spectrum of autism / Aspergers / savant, he shouldn’t have said that about the lady in the picture. He should apologise to her.
The swearing, I don’t think is put on maybe brought about by the shoddy mess of the bike industry in general.
Customer “my £x,000 frame is out of spec the bottom bracket won’t fit”
shop “do one”
that’s not good
Hambini deliberately acts
Hambini deliberately acts like an immature arsehole so I always ignore him. I don’t care if he was the cleverest engineer in the world (he’s not but he loves to tell you how he’s smarter than all the rest, which shows he’s insecure). There are plenty of equally or more intelligent people who don’t play the race card when challenged or hide behind the excuse of being on the autistic spectrum.
@wingmanrob – you might think being a redhead is a rough deal (I know what that’s like, it’s pretty tame) but it sounds like you’re unwilling to acknowledge what offence really is and the deep-seated prejudice is out there. Just look at recent articles on here to see what a few misleading newspaper images has done, giving some an excuse to abuse people simply for riding a bike. But it’s a lot worse for people – especially women – in the public eye.
Simon, whereas I agree with
Simon, whereas I agree with the main thrust of your comment, I’d say that ginger prejudice is not “tame”, regardless of your personal experience. Hatred of gingers is accepted and even encouraged in Britain, in a way that the demonisation of (most) other out-groups isn’t.
We who visit this site all know what it’s like to be “otherised”, if only for our chosen mode of transport. It’s not a competition about who has it worst, it’s about acceptable behaviour to other human beings.
Captain Badger wrote:
“Hatred of gingers”? Really?!?
Let’s get some perspective. My sister, a number of friends along with many others have been teased and bullied but so have many other people, for all sorts of things – wearing glasses, having a speech impediment, a genetic condition, being a Roman Catholic, having a parent who is a little odd… We’ve all seen it and many of us have experienced it to one degree or another. But describing that as hatred substantially diminishes the awful experiences of countless people who’ve had far, far worse experiences than being called a few (unoriginal) names or excluded from a group of adolescents.
Like I said, your experience
Like I said, your experience isn’t everyone’s, and it’s not a competition. You seem now to be arguing the point that you disagreed with Wingman on, and it’s like listening to Four Yorkshiremen; “Now, we ‘ad it tuff!”
For me, bullying of any sort is unacceptable, no matter who is on the receiving end.
Try being ginger your whole
Try being ginger your whole life, you soon get used to being abused. I don’t understand why so many people get offended so easily, they’re just words. If it’s not your thing, look the other way.
Being ginger (with a hard
@wingmanrob
Being ginger (with a hard “guh” if you please), I’m well aware what abuse is like, which is why I don’t tolerate it happening to others. Being sexually derogatory to anyone is absolutely unacceptable – there is never a reason. Do we merely “look the other way” if racism “isn’t our thing”?
More bloody cyclists
More bloody cyclists commiting vandalism by putting fences back up. The concerned local doesn’t sound all that local. https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/cyclist-fixing-fence-stoke-lodge-4046681?fbclid=IwAR3Kfg5-cDzey6_lZbj3YGV0tweWYyvUbLj3Xc8DkT4yJK7nvJfU6a1ZjP4