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Is this the best cycling lockdown video on the web?; Police report mega increase in speeding drivers; Zwift testing new 'Boost Mode'; "Make sure that drivers see you" says road safety partnership; France to offer everyone 50 euros for bike repairs + more

Today's live blog with Alex Bowden (daytime) and Simon MacMichael (evening)...
30 April 2020, 15:48
Is this the best cycling lockdown video on the internet?

“Day 42 of self isolation... Stabbed my pillow... cut its heart out as sacrifice... and took over a thousand selfies with my Trek Madone.”

We ran Shio Chuan Quek’s stop motion masterpiece on yesterday’s live blog, but many of you missed it.

There have been a few lockdown-inspired cycling videos in recent weeks, but we reckon this one’s the best.

Feel free to email us more suggestions at info at road.cc or send them via Twitter or Facebook or whatever.

30 April 2020, 15:38
Sadiq Khan (c) Labour.JPG
Sadiq Khan says Londoners will demand more cycle lanes in wake of coronavirus

Writing about the impact of coronavirus and the way in which ‘the daily rhythms of life have been turned upside down’, Sadiq Khan says that many more Londoners will walk or cycle when the city begins to emerge from lockdown.

Looking further ahead, he adds: “Quieter roads and fewer jet planes have made for a more pleasant environment. Londoners will rightly demand neighbourhoods that permanently work for walking and cycling, and a renewed drive to address the climate emergency.”

Via the London Evening Standard.

30 April 2020, 15:07
York police officer and Deliveroo rider (via Twitter).PNG
York councillor calls for fines handed to cycle couriers to be dropped

A couple of days ago we reported on a Deliveroo ​rider who was fined whiile delivering food and medicine to people in York.

A number of York couriers have been fined for riding on pedestrianised streets.

They thought that traffic restrictions had been lifted.

City of York Council says the restrictions were not lifted. It’s just that the bollards to stop traffic entering pedestrian areas were removed at the start of the lockdown.

York Press reports Danny Myers, leader of the Labour group at the council, says the lack of clarity means the fines should be dropped.

30 April 2020, 14:35
Movistar have been reduced to spot the difference

We spotted as many as one and now we've lost interest.

We consider spot the difference to be altogether too demanding.

(Update: We just spotted another, but jeez it makes your eyes hurt. Spot the difference is not a game for the digital age.)

30 April 2020, 14:31
Beware of the sheep
30 April 2020, 14:20
Rugby League player doing Tour de Yorkshire distance on his turbo

Danny Washbrook appears to be taking an old school approach as well with no Zwift or Rouvy or whatever.

This may explain why he's only doing 10 miles a day.

30 April 2020, 14:17
The pros are looking forward to riding outdoors again

We think Sutherland's in Spain.

30 April 2020, 14:08
Pete Naylor on Zwift
Reppin' in the virtual peloton

Props to the Mendips' own Pete Naylor, who is currently repping the road.cc kit in Zwift as part of Mark Beaumont's virtual peloton: 80 riders aiming to ride 240 miles (385km) each in a day, the equivalent of getting all the way around the world. Pete started at 4am and is currently less than 30km away from his goal, so if you're on Zwift in the next hour or so give him a thumbs up!

> Mark Beaumont looking to recruit “virtual peloton” to ride around the world in a day

> Ride in road.cc kit on Zwift

 

30 April 2020, 12:53
The next Cav
30 April 2020, 12:30
Speed camera sign (CC licensed by DPP Law via Flickr)
Met Police report mega increase in speeding drivers

Detective Superintendent Andy Cox, from Scotland Yard’s traffic teams, said 2,020 speeders were recorded between April 20-27 this year, compared to just 268 in the same period last year.

He said that wile the number of motorists on London’s roads has dropped during lockdown, the number of people suffering life-changing injuries in road traffic collisions is about the same.

“We’ve seen incredible speeds, incredible risk,” Cox told the London Evening Standard. “Some of the people we’ve stopped have said things like ‘because of Covid-19 we didn’t expect you to be doing enforcement’, but it’s an absolute priority for us — probably more so than ever because of the increase in speed.

“Every one of those extreme speeders is entirely selfish: they’re not considering other road users, the wider impacts. They are frankly disgraceful. We’ve had since the lockdown, nine fatalities, so many people seriously injured.”

He added that NHS workers were “walking and cycling in a lot of these zones” which is kind of weird when you think about it. Obviously he thinks that speeding motorists are more likely to pay attention to that fact.

He's probably right: some speeding motorists will only moderate their behaviour to save the lives of people who are saving people's lives.

30 April 2020, 11:41
Chris Boardman (via YouTube).jpg
Chris Boardman on the boom in cycling since lockdown

Boardman's on Radio 4 as I type, talking about bike sales, the French bike repair fund mentioned further down the page and more.

Here's a link if you want to listen from the start.

 

30 April 2020, 10:55
Zwift fixes 196mph bug

The latest Zwift update (see further down the page) also includes a bug fix that will sadly prevent this kind of thing.

It seems that sometimes, when riding an event, a user would cease to be affected by wind resistance.

30 April 2020, 10:30
Brussels prepares for deconfinement by adding more cycle lanes

Brussels is to repurpose a bunch of motor traffic lanes as cycle lanes to take the strain off public transport during the deconfinement process.

That's twice I've typed the word 'deconfinement' today. Never used it before. Pretty sure I'm going to be using it again.

30 April 2020, 09:36
Zwift testing new 'Boost Mode'

Announcing it on their forums, Zwift said: "Boost Mode is a new event type that will allow users to charge a boost (with their own watts of course) and then discharge that boost at a time that’s right for them. This mode will be exclusively available in a limited number of FutureWorks Club Jarvis events as we test, tune and tweak the experience."

Weird.

30 April 2020, 09:21
Frustrated thief trashes key worker's bike
30 April 2020, 08:52
Road safety partnership pilloried for victim-blaming tweet

The Road Safety GB North East group is made up of the 12 local highway authorities in the region, three regional police forces and four fire and rescue teams.

Its recent ‘make sure that drivers see you/always wear a helmet’ tweet has not gone down well.

30 April 2020, 08:38
The Tour de Yorkshire was supposed to start today

Technically, it's still postponed rather than cancelled.

30 April 2020, 08:37
There are now almost 500 bike hangars in Waltham Forest
30 April 2020, 08:31
Paris Velib rider and cycle lane
France to offer 50 euros for repairs so the bike can become ‘the queen of deconfinement’

The French government will offer a "repair cheque" of 50 euros to anyone who wants to get their old bike back in working order for when lockdown is lifted, reports Le Parisien.

 “It is a boost to the bike during the deconfinement period to encourage us to choose this mode of travel,” explained the Minister of Ecological Transition, Elisabeth Borne. “We want this period to see a step forward in cycling culture, and for the bicycle to be the little queen of deconfinement in a way.”

Basically, if you take your bike in for repairs, any work up to 50 euros will be free. Anything beyond that, you’ll have to pay for. The government will then reimburse the bike shop.

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

Add new comment

31 comments

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squidgy | 4 years ago
0 likes

I spotted 3 differences

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NZ Vegan Rider | 4 years ago
1 like

Sadiq Khan - should do something about crime in London first instead of just talking about it ;-(

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Rome73 replied to NZ Vegan Rider | 4 years ago
6 likes

You are a shit stirring prat. 

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OldRidgeback replied to NZ Vegan Rider | 4 years ago
4 likes

Check your facts.

The previous mayor, somebody called Boris Johnson, closed police stations in London. The Met has a smaller budget thanks to the Tories who cut 21,500 police jobs across the UK as part of their austerity programme. They also cut support for ex prisoners. So right across the UK, we have had an increase in crime, thanks to the Tories. 

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eburtthebike | 4 years ago
3 likes

Thanks for putting  the link to Shio Chuan Quek’s vid up again, I missed it the first time; brilliant.

Even more brillianter, even if it's nothing to do with cycling, it is hysterical https://www.facebook.com/JohnScaglione/videos/10157687110976501/?t=32

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eburtthebike | 4 years ago
0 likes

The Boardman thing on R4 "You and Yours" (a consumer programme) starts at 17:15 and is generally pretty good.  CB does a good job, extolling the virtues, but as per usual, no in depth evaluation of anything; also, why's it on a consumer prog, not in the main news?

Just remembered "You and Yours" was one of the programmes heavily pushing helmets 25 years ago, interviewing only people from the Bicycle Helmet Initiative Trust, and refusing calls to provide any balance, which the BBC charter guarantees.  So this is a bit late, but nevertheless welcome.

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ktache | 4 years ago
3 likes

Maybe the The Road Safety GB North East group should look at what Detective Superintendent Andy Cox has to say.

There is a source of danger out there, it "might" not be cyclists, and their behaviour.

There are things relating to safety you might want to consider before the classic victim blaming.

I'm sure their answer to knife crime danger is for everyone to wear stabproof (resistant) vests as well.

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Captain Badger replied to ktache | 4 years ago
4 likes

And make sure that the stabber sees you... or not... maybe the sun was in their eyes... that's it! Make sure the sun is in the stabber's eyes. There.

In any case definitely wear a helmet in case you get stabbed

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jollygoodvelo | 4 years ago
1 like

Whether Zwift started off as a 'game' or not is debatable; I don't think requiring physical effort stops it being a game but then I did once injure a shoulder playing Wii Boxing.

Now the 'interactive cycling' market is becoming more mature and more platforms are available, players will have to choose their positioning.  Unlike options which use real video of climbs, Zwift has consciously gone even more 'cartoony' - the volcano for example, it's unashamedly not real-world even when based on real-world locations.  Personally I hardly ever use the power-ups and don't see myself using this boost feature, but I don't have a problem with them doing it, other than I'd rather they put just a little effort into the really basic enhancements which users have been requesting for years, like being able to change the pre-set route without leaving the whole game.

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EddyBerckx | 4 years ago
0 likes

Re. The zwift 'boost mode' feature and peoples comments about it always being a gaming platform and others should stop complaining about a game being a game...

 

...I may be wrong, but I honestly don't remember zwift being marketed as a 'game' at least initially. It was an indoor training platform that aimed to be a lot more engaging than others with a bit of racing as an add on. Fair play if they wanna gamify it further (they'll go with the money either way) but at some point people will request they don't have to pedal when playing too  10

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Simon E replied to EddyBerckx | 4 years ago
3 likes

It's a gaming platform that uses cycling instead of a console or computer. You may not have thought so but it was pretty obvious when they started adding new features that it's what it was intended to be.

And they will gamify it further because that's what game developers do to maintain interest.

I watched part of the BBC's online coverage of the Swiss 5 'races' on Saturday and Sunday. Without Alex Dowsett's commentary it would have been even worse, just a tedious video of a drive through some very pretty scenery interspersed with images of sweaty cyclists on turbo trainers. I'm sure it is better for the participants than some sh*t dance tunes while riding a turbo but I simply don't get it as entertainment.

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Carton replied to Simon E | 4 years ago
1 like

+1, Simon. 

But yep, on the flip-side, they should make a Zwift "Master's Racer" Edition. The Velominati brigade remained alive and well and well-hidden in matching lycra and they need an outlet, for all our sakes. I think Rouvy appeals to the Fondo set who never cared all that much about what everyone else was doing anyway but wanted to recon routes, test their fitness against others and shoot the breeze on the downhills. And there are plenty of straight-up training apps. But someone should really shoot for a more realistic racing experience, maybe even upping the drafting advantage in order to better team tactics. It might be better to watch as a spectator, it would definitely serve a market for amateur racers, and more importantly, it would save our souls from the Zwift altar-boys and church-ladies.

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Hirsute | 4 years ago
4 likes

I followed the link about bike hangers in waltham forest to find this shocker

https://twitter.com/wreckeddeco/status/1255783420711575554

 

"Met Police: "After Consideration of the evidence ... the other party will not be prosecuted" Apparently this driving is acceptable. "

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Captain Badger replied to Hirsute | 4 years ago
3 likes

It's what the Rozzers call "using discretion". In Other Words: people on 2 wheels aren't real people, anyway I don't like them, they bring it on themselves.

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Mungecrundle | 4 years ago
6 likes

Reminds me of the campaign by the Road Haulage Association asking drivers to equip their cars with 12ft reflective flags to make them more visible from a truck cab and to fit extra strong roll cages to prevent them becoming crushed between lorries.

Maybe that didn't happen? Frankly I'm not even sure what day it is anymore.

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brooksby | 4 years ago
0 likes

"deconfinement" - is that a real word?

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gbzpto replied to brooksby | 4 years ago
1 like

It's a French word

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eburtthebike replied to brooksby | 4 years ago
1 like

brooksby wrote:

"deconfinement" - is that a real word?

En Francais, oui.

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CygnusX1 replied to eburtthebike | 4 years ago
0 likes

eburtthebike wrote:

brooksby wrote:

"deconfinement" - is that a real word?

En Francais, oui.

English too, at least if you're a physisist

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deconfinement

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CygnusX1 replied to CygnusX1 | 4 years ago
4 likes

or a physicist

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brooksby replied to eburtthebike | 4 years ago
1 like

Ah, that explains it.

Je ne parle pas français

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eburtthebike replied to brooksby | 4 years ago
0 likes

brooksby wrote:

Ah, that explains it.

Je ne parle pas français

Français.  Plouc Anglais.

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brooksby replied to eburtthebike | 4 years ago
1 like

eburtthebike wrote:

brooksby wrote:

Ah, that explains it.

Je ne parle pas français

Français.  Plouc Anglais.

I've just realised there isn't a "two fingers up" emoticon thingy on here.  Really needs to be one. yes 

(I'm stepping out of this conversation now, m'kay?).

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ktache replied to brooksby | 4 years ago
1 like

I think it is a wonderful use of words.

So much more elegant than reduction of "lockdown"

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eburtthebike | 4 years ago
8 likes

"The Road Safety GB North East group is made up of the 12 local highway authorities in the region, three regional police forces and four fire and rescue teams."

And apparently, every single person in that group is  a driver who is completely ignorant of road safety.  This is literally incredible; a road safety organisation which has absolutely no idea about its supposedly primary function, and which blames the victims.  Total idiots.

They should immediately issue a grovelling apology and resign en masse.

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Gus T replied to eburtthebike | 4 years ago
3 likes

eburtthebike wrote:

"The Road Safety GB North East group is made up of the 12 local highway authorities in the region, three regional police forces and four fire and rescue teams."

And apparently, every single person in that group is  a driver who is completely ignorant of road safety.  This is literally incredible; a road safety organisation which has absolutely no idea about its supposedly primary function, and which blames the victims.  Total idiots.

They should immediately issue a grovelling apology and resign en masse.

They don't want drivers to pay attention otherwise their expensive Road Safety Camera vehicles (sic) would have to be scrapped. If they were really interested in Road Safety they would be out protecting vulnerable road users rather than making stupid comments to justify their jobs. This is the area where a Police DC sid not consider a cyclists broken pelvis to be a serious injury, 'nuff said.

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brooksby replied to Gus T | 4 years ago
0 likes

Someone needs to tell RDRF about this 

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Jetmans Dad replied to eburtthebike | 4 years ago
8 likes

Looking at the other posts linked to in that reply thread, it does appear that the Road Safety GB North East group's overarching philosophy is that cars will do what they do and it is everyone else's responsibility to make sure they don't get hit by them. 

Talk about getting something precisely backwards. 

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David9694 replied to Jetmans Dad | 4 years ago
0 likes

I think you've hit the nail on the head there. That was pretty much the attitude I encountered last night on my exercise - I just accept that these Essential journeys are also urgent journies and that it is inDeed my job to get out of the way. I can feel a mission statement forming even now.

Good to see some push back on Twitter. see also the comments on this little story:

https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/18412743.fordingbridge-fire-crew-...

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peted76 | 4 years ago
4 likes

Chapeau Francais!

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