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Winning or minging? A gallery of THAT EF Pro Cycling kit; Simmons ‘sorry’ for THAT tweet; Stationary objects attack Edinburgh cars; Brajkovic says racism was endemic at Bahrain-Merida in 2017 + more

Today's live blog with Alex Bowden (daytime) and Simon MacMichael (evening)...
01 October 2020, 20:57
Trek-Segafredo and Quinn Simmons issue joint statement after THAT tweet
01 October 2020, 20:42
Full gallery of THAT EF Pro Cycling kit that has Twitter divided

Well, now ... that Rapha + Palace kit that EF Pro Cycling will be wearing at the Giro d'Italia over the next three weeks has certainly polarised opinion on cycling Twitter ... just take a look at the replies to this tweet from team boss Jonathan Vaughters, then go through the gallery of pictures from the team presentation and let us know what YOU think. Winning or minging?

 

01 October 2020, 15:39
Giro d'Italia to get off to a fast start
01 October 2020, 15:32
Vulnerable man's bike snatched out of his hands in Swindon

A 43-year-old Swindon man who has mental health issues and autism had his bike taken out of his hands outside St Barnabas Parish Church in Gorse Hill.

The Swindon Advertiser reports that the man has been staying at the SW Bed and Breakfast in Malvern Road.

Owner Sara Wheeler said: “I’ve cared for him over the last nine months and he’s become part of the family. We bought the bike in July and he loves it. On the day it was stolen he had a bad mental health episode and he took it with him to the church.

“As he was sat down a man went up to him and said ‘I’m taking that’ and walked off with it in broad daylight. He was so upset and so angry, it took him a while to save up for that bike and now it’s gone.”

She added: “I was mortified when I found out someone had taken advantage of someone who is vulnerable. He sees the bike like a child sees a teddy bear. It’s so important to him and I just hope we can get it back.

“I saw it a couple days later and saw this kid with it who was between 15 and 17-years-old. He was with an older gentleman. They were tethering it up to one of the rubbish bins just opposite the Beijing Chef (in Cricklade Road).

“I couldn’t dump my car anywhere and go look at it, I just couldn’t do anything about it.”

A spokesperson for Wiltshire Police said the incident occurred on Tuesday, September 15.

“It is reported that the man was sat on the wall of the church at approximately 2pm when it is alleged he was approached by another man who has taken the bike and left with it.

“The bike is a dark green Vengeance bike with a 32-inch frame and has bright green writing on the wheels. Anyone who may have seen the incident, or may have seen the bike since or on an online marketplace is asked to call 101 and quote crime reference number 54200094715.”

01 October 2020, 14:58
EF Pro Cycling's BIG surprise?
01 October 2020, 14:19
geraint thomas ineos 2020
Geraint Thomas feeling "ready" for the Giro as Ineos Grenadiers names team

Geraint Thomas, who is riding the Giro d'Italia for the first time since 2017, will be supported by Jonathan Castroviejo, Rohan Dennis, Filippo Ganna, Tao Geoghegan Hart, Jonathan Narvaez, Salvatore Puccio and Ben Swift.

Thomas said: “I’m excited to lead the Team again in Italy and I feel ready. It’s been a strange year for everyone but it’s great to have this big objective. The legs are feeling good - Tirreno went well and then the World Time Trial was a confidence booster for me. Now stage one is nearly here and I’m more motivated than ever.

“I’ve a long association with Italy - I’ve lived here, I’ve raced for an Italian team, and I had some rough luck the last time I came to the Giro. I’m determined to right that wrong this time around.

“We’re taking a great Team and I’ve got total faith in the guys around me. Racing a Grand Tour with Swifty again will be a pleasure - we’ve been good mates since I was 12 and he’ll be our guide on the road. Tao and I have raced really well together before, most notably when I won the Dauphine, and Filippo is obviously flying after the Worlds. Puccio has so much experience of the Giro, young Jonny Narvaez is going really well and obviously everybody knows what Castro and Rohan can do.

“The Team couldn’t have supported me any better in the lead up to this race and I know those seven guys will do the job and support me on the road. Now it’s time to fight for the maglia rosa.”

01 October 2020, 14:08
Two Hani x Pinarello F12’s to be auctioned for charity for World Bicycle Relief

Pinarello and New York architect Hani Rashid have developed a super limited collaboration based on Pinarello's flagship road bike, the Dogma F12.

Two of these bikes are being auctioned off for World Bicycle Relief.

Full details at eBay.

01 October 2020, 13:40
Boardman and Burnham rode in today
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

After 30km ride to work @AndyBurnhamGM Best way to lead is by doing 👏👏👏

A post shared by Chris boardman (@chris_boardmanbikes) on

01 October 2020, 13:27
Hectoring road sign news

Who produced this less-than-pithy beauty?

01 October 2020, 12:43
Manchester to build 55 miles of protected “Beeways” plus pop-up routes and low traffic neighbourhoods

Greater Manchester is looking to build 55 miles of cycling and walking routes by next Christmas, plus around 25 miles of pop-up routes and two low-traffic neighbourhoods.

Funded by the Mayor’s Challenge Fund, there will be Bee Network schemes in all 10 of Greater Manchester’s districts.

The region’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner, Chris Boardman, said: “We started this mission nearly two years ago and I’m so pleased with the significant work GM’s local authorities have been doing behind the scenes to get this monumental mission underway.

“The Bee Network was a vision; now, having completed the planning, paperwork and many consultations, we are ready to start making it a reality. It will create better places to live and work, give those with a car the option to leave it at home and for those who don’t, it will provide them with a reliable, safe and pleasant network to walk or ride to shops, schools and workplaces. This is the beginning of Greater Manchester’s twenty first century transport revolution.”  

01 October 2020, 11:00
Cross Country (Red Bull)
Watch the women's cross-country final at the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup

It's on now. Click here.

The coverage is good. Plenty of info on the rider and course in the sidebar.

01 October 2020, 10:39
Chris Froome is a good bloke
01 October 2020, 10:17
South London Press posts correction

The general theme of the replies: 'The driver would still be in the wrong even without the 'no left-turn' sign.'

01 October 2020, 09:57
Journalist who inadvertently brought about Quinn Simons suspension 'feels horrible' about situation

“Racism is unacceptable. Period,” said Trek-Segafredo after its rider Quinn Simmons replied “Bye” with a waving brown hand emoji when a journalist asked supporters of Donald Trump to unfollow her on Twitter.

José Been says she feels 'horrible' about the situation.

01 October 2020, 09:05
Janez Brajkovic says racism was endemic at Bahrain-Merida in 2017

After Trek-Segafredo's Quinn Simmons' was stood down from racing yesterday, 2010 Criterium du Dauphine winner Janez Brajkovic has spoken out about the culture at Bahrain-Merida when he raced for them in 2017.

01 October 2020, 08:43
'Stupid' stationary objects attacking motor vehicles in Edinburgh
01 October 2020, 08:35
Baroness Jones unimpressed with South London Press's "whose fault was it?" tweet
01 October 2020, 08:15
Who was in the wrong? The driver making an illegal left turn across a cycle lane without looking or the cyclist?

The South London Press has a question for you.

The fact there is a 'no left turn' sign is surely pertinent.

If you've more vim, vigour and resilience than me, why not check out the replies to the tweet to get a feel for how people see these things.

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

48 comments

Avatar
BIRMINGHAMisaDUMP | 3 years ago
1 like

That South London Press 'story' is so needless, provocative and obviously designed to incite negative comments and attitude. Why do it? If it was a pedestrian being side swiped would they publish the video accompanied by the same headline? Of course they would not. But it's a person on a cycle so . . . . Yea, let's shit stir. 

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mdavidford replied to BIRMINGHAMisaDUMP | 3 years ago
3 likes

"Watch the moment a motorist narrowly avoids a concrete block thrown from a motorway bridge. Who do you think was in the wrong?"

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roadrunner23 | 3 years ago
1 like

Just to try being a devils advocate for a moment. We have to accept that at this junction there is a lot for a driver to take in and do. Firstly they have to spot the no left turn sign (in this case small and easily missed. Secondly they have to ensure that the junction is clear of pedestrians. Thirdly they have to make sure that the cycle lane is clear for them to cross (on a road without a cycle lane you would move to the left hand lane which would stop any cars coming up on your inside). Yes the driver was in the wrong but the cyclist needs to accept that they are both on the same carriageway and and need to stay alert to cars signalling their intentions. In this case the driver was clearly indicating their intention to turn left while the guy on the bike was well behind the car. It would be foolhardy to pass on the inside when the driver was clearly indicating their intention. I suspect the police would be reluctant to proceed in this case other than the no left turn sign made the whole act illegal. Although a barrister may well argue that the sign was badly placed and too small.

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wtjs replied to roadrunner23 | 3 years ago
5 likes

 Although a barrister may well argue that the sign was badly placed and too small.

OK- let them employ Shyster Lawyers Inc. then. We don't need the police to do their job for them. I can't see me having been caught out like this cyclist, but I could be wrong. The person wielding the killing machine has to accept increased responsibilities and liabilities, as opposed to the cyclist Injured Party being blamed by the usual suspects

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AlsoSomniloquism replied to roadrunner23 | 3 years ago
4 likes

There is an argument that they might have been clearly signalling their intentions from the front of the car but the speed of the pulse shown on film could indicate a failed rear one. (althought that could also be the way newer LED lights show on frame rates). The brake lights would have come on(unless they are also faulty)  but then the cars in front were stopped so if the rear indicators were not working, then that could have just been down to the queue of traffic building up again. 

Yes, if the left turn was legal the Police might have been reluctant to proceed on Careless driving. Even then though I would expect the Police to still do the driver for driving without Insurance, Tax and MOT if nothing else. 

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TheBillder replied to roadrunner23 | 3 years ago
8 likes
roadrunner23 wrote:

We have to accept that at this junction there is a lot for a driver to take in and do.

Well in that case stop until you've checked it's ok to do the manoeuvre. It's quite simple. Drivers have some odd performance anxiety: "what if I held every up for a minute?" This needs to be removed while they learn. Just WAIT AND OBSERVE. Eventually it'll be safe to do or you'll see why you can't do it.

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Rendel Harris replied to roadrunner23 | 3 years ago
8 likes

I have pointed out elsewhere that as DVLA searches show that this particular vehicle has neither VED nor a current MOT, it wouldn't be farfetched to assume at least the possibility that his tailights could have been malfunctioning.

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Captain Badger replied to roadrunner23 | 3 years ago
9 likes

roadrunner23 wrote:

We have to accept that at this junction there is a lot for a driver to take in and do. 

First, the driver needs to accept this. It is really simple; slow down to a speed suitable to safely execute the manoeuvre. This includes all required checks and thought processes. Stop if necessary. Shoulder check. Proceed with caution. If there is too much going on to process, slow down further.

It is not for the vulnerable to mitigate the crap driving of some road users. The thought seems to be that the vulnerable need to account for the errors (at best...) of the dangerous whilst being absolutely 100% perfect in this respect. The blame then shifts to the failure of mitigation of the victim, rather than where it actually lies - the negligence of the vehicle driver.

 

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Fursty Ferret | 3 years ago
2 likes

You can't close a road to pedestrians in this way. Suggest sign is ignored. Push bike past roadworks. 

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mdavidford replied to Fursty Ferret | 3 years ago
2 likes

Well, it's possible that the road is literally impassable - like they're digging a massive hole from hedge to hedge or something.

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AlsoSomniloquism replied to mdavidford | 3 years ago
3 likes

They mentioned a failed culvert in one of the papers stories so that would be all across the road. And as it is the moors, I wouldn't fancy trying to get around it. 

I checked it up and they have been trying to improve all of that route due to large amounts of accidents all along it for the past couple of years. Each time they do a section they close it in this way due to the work, and everytime there is people moaning it doesn't need to be made safe and leave it open. 

Avatar
brooksby replied to AlsoSomniloquism | 3 years ago
4 likes

AlsoSomniloquism wrote:

They mentioned a failed culvert in one of the papers stories so that would be all across the road. And as it is the moors, I wouldn't fancy trying to get around it. 

"Don't step off the path!"

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David9694 replied to brooksby | 3 years ago
1 like

Is there a pub near here? 
 

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Awavey replied to AlsoSomniloquism | 3 years ago
0 likes

says road widening,resurfacing and installation of new kerbs on the roadworks website https://one.network/?118039954

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AlsoSomniloquism replied to Awavey | 3 years ago
0 likes

One of the newspaper reports stated it was taking longer then expected because of the culvert was found to be collapsed. However if you see that road and the work you have listed, I can see why the sign pretty much states the whole road is closed for any type of travel and not just for cars. I expect there is very little room to clamber by on the public sides. 

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Cupov | 3 years ago
2 likes

That road closed sign LOL...which semi-literate fool put that together.

And road closed to pedestrians...how's that work?

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OnTheRopes replied to Cupov | 3 years ago
0 likes

Cupov wrote:

And road closed to pedestrians...how's that work?

I would have thought that was pretty clear, people do walk down roads and verge's.

Many times on roadworks you can cycle past or walk on a pavement or verge so cyclists and sometimes hikers are always tempted to give it a try, I have worked on such sections myself and the client was getting totally frustrated at turning them back, which meant a long ride back, so everyone was getting pissed off. I suggested adding  Cyclists and pedestrians and unsurprisingly the problem stopped.

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Jenova20 | 3 years ago
4 likes

"which puts the driver completely in the wrong"

 

The driver was already completely in the wrong, but at least they've clarified and admitted fault. That goes some way towards a remedy for the situation.

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Secret_squirrel | 3 years ago
9 likes

Good on Chris Froome for that memorial pic.  I wonder if he went back up the hill to take it?  Nice touch however it was done.

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AlsoSomniloquism replied to Secret_squirrel | 3 years ago
2 likes

His 29th ride is not on Strava (he did a ride up there on the 23rd though so the original pic might have been from that). As the memorial tweet is dated the next day he was probably driven up there I suspect. However he didn't need to do anything so chapeau doing it for the mother however he got there.  

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Zebulebu replied to AlsoSomniloquism | 3 years ago
1 like

I knew and raced with Rick - he was an absolute fixture of the NW racing scene and a legend of a lad. Chapeau to Froome for doing this, it's a lovely gesture. I'm sure Jackie, Rick's mum, is dead chuffed

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AlsoSomniloquism replied to Zebulebu | 3 years ago
0 likes
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Awavey | 3 years ago
5 likes

The fault lies with the range rover both for an illegal left turn and for not checking the cycle lane was clear,no question on that...however whether I faced with the exact same situation would have ridden up the inside there is another matter entirely

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eburtthebike replied to Awavey | 3 years ago
10 likes

Awavey wrote:

The fault lies with the range rover both for an illegal left turn and for not checking the cycle lane was clear...

No.  The fault lies with the driver.  Didn't you get the memo about media reporting of crashes?

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Awavey replied to eburtthebike | 3 years ago
1 like

I dont consider myself to be the media  3

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the little onion replied to Awavey | 3 years ago
10 likes

They didn't ride up the inside - they travelled on a separate lane (solid white line), and the vehicle on the outside lane stuck their brakes on and slowed down, and swung across without looking. 

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Awavey replied to the little onion | 3 years ago
0 likes

well actually the whole infra there is a bit of a mix of everything, its a bollard protected lane, then it completely disappears, then its a solid white line painted lane again but only for a car length, as its a dotted line at the junction again as thats how vehicles are allowed to cross the cycle lane, its classic case of multiple schemes over time been setup but no overall plan to guide cyclists or even drivers properly or safely from one bit to the next, even the no left turn seems a bit tacked on.

Im looking at that situation and thinking I dont care its a separate lane, I dont care drivers are supposed to look before turning across it, I dont even care there is this sign that says drivers cant turn left there, none of that matters as you cannot rely on any of that protecting you,the only thing I care about is not becoming another injury statistic.

so there is no way Id be riding into that position that left me vulnerable to a vehicle, especially one the size of a Range Rover,potentially left hooking me,  and in city traffic you have to be hyper aware of all the small things that can go wrong,no indication from the car,driver doesnt look, turns left on a no left turn, to pick your way through safely enough.

as I said theres no fault on the cyclist at all the blame is all on the driver, but I wouldnt have passed the Range Rover till I was sure what route they were taking, if they are locked in straight ahead, fine, pass by the junction, but if you dont know, dont ride with them next to you as you approach a junction, even one they technically cant turn into.

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AlsoSomniloquism replied to Awavey | 3 years ago
2 likes

Quote:

well actually the whole infra there is a bit of a mix of everything, its a bollard protected lane, then it completely disappears, then its a solid white line painted lane again but only for a car length, as its a dotted line at the junction again as thats how vehicles are allowed to cross the cycle lane, its classic case of multiple schemes over time been setup but no overall plan to guide cyclists or even drivers properly or safely from one bit to the next, even the no left turn seems a bit tacked on.

At the risk of opening another can of worms which does not absolve the driver at all, I suspect all the wands, lines and extra markings, plus the no left turn are part of an LTN or active travel improvements along that route. As of May last year, the lane was literally the smear of blue in places without mandated or advisory border markings and no sign of the no left turn erm, sign.  

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AlsoSomniloquism | 3 years ago
3 likes

Regarding the Bollards, looking at the one picture with damage, it is the drivers side wheel. Looks to me like they hit the central reservation. The roads looks nice and straight and plenty of room and stuff on the drivers side is alot easier to judge and avoid then the other side so just really really bad driving there myself. I'm glad they have taken themselves off the road and hopefully checked for driving under the influence of something. 

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Awavey replied to AlsoSomniloquism | 3 years ago
2 likes

It looks to me they probably clouted the bollards first,and then reacted by over correcting to steer right, and caught the kerb of the central refuge the wheel was then at an angle it took a sideways hit which broke the bottom suspension mount. I've had cars touch central refuges like that square on, whilst overtaking me on my bike and it hasnt ripped a wheel off like that yet.

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