Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

news

Blind downhill mountain biker hoping to turn pro; Have you watched the latest Lance Armstrong documentary?; Tel Aviv builds bike lane overnight; Crappy tech solution to dooring; Why hill climbers shouldn't print their own numbers + more

Today's live blog with Alex Bowden (daytime) and Simon MacMichael (evening)...
24 September 2020, 16:11
Aussie close pass
Aussie cyclist who was almost run off the road by motorist charged for not riding closer to the kerb

A New South Wales cyclist who was almost run off the road by an impatient driver in Macmasters Beach said he took the footage to police but ended up getting booked himself for not riding as near to left of the road as possible.

“Descending down an unguttered road with blind driveways at 50km/h, and I was as close to the left of the road that was safe in the circumstances,” they said.

You can see the footage on Facebook.

24 September 2020, 15:37
Blind downhill mountain biker hoping to turn pro

Xavier Hopkins was born with albinism which means his eyes let in too much light. This is compounded by a second eye condition called nystagmus, which causes his eyes to shake uncontrollably, leaving him without depth perception and blurred vision.

iNews reports that he is looking to turn pro as a downhill mountain biker.

You’ve doubtless got a few questions.

This will answer some of them, but it’ll probably also give rise to a few more…

24 September 2020, 14:36
Defending champion crashes out of World Championships time trial

Looked nasty. She went over a roadside barrier. She was way ahead based on the intermediate timings as well.

We'll have more for you on this in a bit. We're still awaiting news on her condition.

24 September 2020, 14:35
Tel Aviv built a 300m protected cycle lane overnight
24 September 2020, 14:31
Geraint Thomas has a new book out next month

Mountains According to G is about various different climbs and Thomas’s experiences on them – “not all necessarily good,” he says in a video that arguably warranted a second take.

Unless that was the second take.

It’s out on October 29.

24 September 2020, 14:06
UK cycling policy in a single image

This is quite magnificent.

24 September 2020, 13:51
Women's road race route
World Championships road race course is "perfect" for Lizzie Deignan says team-mate Lizzy Banks

The women’s road race is on Saturday on a course that Lizzy Banks says is “perfect” for Lizzie Deignan.

You can find info about the circuit and climbs here. The women’s route is 143km with 2,750m of climbing.

"It's exciting, we've got such a strong team," Banks told BBC Sport. "Lizzie Deignan is on great form and this is a perfect course for her, she'll really relish riding it."

Banks is riding the women's time trial today. (It’s on the Beeb right now, in fact.)

Speaking about her training this year, she said: "We had a tough period where we lost a really close friend to coronavirus so that was really difficult.

"Not being able to see your friends during that time was devastating and that really fuelled my anxieties about going back to work.

"I used cycling as a release and sometimes it was difficult to get outside – the hardest thing was always leaving the front door but you always feel better once you get outside."

Long term, she is targeting the 2024 Olympics time trial despite having only taken up cycling in 2015 and not yet done any aero testing on her position.

“It's something I'm going to look into this winter.”

24 September 2020, 11:40
Lance documentary (iPlayer)
A smattering of semi-recommendations for 'Lance' on the iPlayer

We asked you whether the latest Lance Armstrong documentary is worth a watch if you're a person who isn't already dead against the mere idea of Lance Armstrong documentaries.

The consensus down in the comments section seems to be: 'Yes, probably, if you can't immediately think of something else to watch'.

Awavey said: “I thought it was a good documentary, as all the 30 for 30 series have been. Even if you don’t follow cycling as a sport, you learn something about the human characters involved, and Lance's ex teammates especially I think in this one reveal a lot more than they did in that earlier doc – though obviously a lot of the same ground gets covered. But I'd recommend watching it.”

joules1975 said: “I'm glad I watched it, and felt I did learn some new things. There were a few moments where you saw the mask/act crack, which was interesting, particularly the section where Lance discussed Ulrich.”

kt26 said: “I myself enjoyed the documentary, mostly for informing me a bit better about some of the details of the time but also because if offered multiple perspectives on the time with interviews with many different players. Probably best gone into if your relativily opened minded on the subject - otherwise its very long.”

peted76 was a bit more effusive: "I finished the new 'Lance' documentary the other night. It is hands down the best Lord Voldemort documentary I've seen.

"Everyone knows the story of course, but this is a truly fascinating insight into the whole saga. Warts and all. I must admit it 'hit me in the feels' a couple of times too. Chapeau to the filmakers IMHO they've done a great job of it."

24 September 2020, 11:26
Warning: Cyclists may be knocked off by someone with a baseball bat

The Press reports that a sign apparently suggesting that cyclists could be lamped with a baseball bat was recently spotted on a bridge near York.

Hagg Bridge, on the B1228 road between Sutton upon Derwent and Melbourne has been closed to motor vehicles since March while repair work is being carried out.

Cyclists and pedestrians are still permitted to cross - although cyclists must dismount.

The sign was put up by Direct Traffic Management, who have since removed it.

The firm's managing director, Simon Chadwick, said the image was on the back of the sign.

"We suspect the sign has been vandalised whilst out on site but still apologies for any offence caused."

24 September 2020, 11:03
Got €100,000 burning a hole in your pocket?

A NEW Pinarello Espada.

Listing here.

24 September 2020, 10:08
Lance documentary (iPlayer)
Have you watched the latest Lance Armstrong documentary?

We know, we know, *another* Lance Armstrong documentary. How many can the world possibly need? There's a whole different n+1 thing going on in this particular field, it seems.

ESPN’s somewhat bluntly titled two-part documentary, Lance, made it onto the iPlayer at the weekend.

Chances are you're either (a) rolling your eyes and consciously avoiding it or (b) not immediately interested because you're 95% certain that there's nothing in there you don't already know.

But then what if there is something interesting in there? It's quite long. There must be something, right?

So have you seen it? Perhaps you could give the somewhat jaded cycling fan who isn't in any kind of rush to watch 'Lance' a bit of a steer.

Is it worth a look? Pretty much a complete waste of time? What do you reckon?

 

 

24 September 2020, 09:44
A reminder that the World Championships are happening

Time trials are happening.

The World Championships, no less.

You can watch.

We did a thing about the various courses the other day. The road race one has got a couple of steep bits in it.

24 September 2020, 08:06
Why hill climbers shouldn't print their own numbers
24 September 2020, 07:59
Crappy tech solution to doorings

Cyclists getting clattered off their bikes by people opening car doors into them?

Maybe they could wear a helmet with a heads-up display notifying them of potential door openings up ahead. That seems like the simplest way to tackle the problem...

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

45 comments

Avatar
brooksby | 3 years ago
3 likes

I love that "UK cycling policy in a single image" picture 

Avatar
HarrogateSpa | 3 years ago
0 likes

Love the Tel Aviv bike lane.

Had enough of Geraint 'I'm a Celebrity/Need Yet More Money' Thomas.

Avatar
jollygoodvelo replied to HarrogateSpa | 3 years ago
1 like

HarrogateSpa wrote:

Had enough of Geraint 'I'm a Celebrity/Need Yet More Money' Thomas.

Look at it this way, the more money he can earn now, the less likely it is we'll see him sat on a sofa in five years making bad jokes about the Irish.

Avatar
eburtthebike | 3 years ago
2 likes

It's not just Australia where the cops are cretins; New York's finest booked a crash victim for not wearing a helmet when there is no helmet law, and he's going to have to go to court to defend himself.  I hope they find against the police and make them pay extortionate costs.

https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2020/09/24/nypd-tickets-crash-victim-for-not...

Avatar
mdavidford replied to eburtthebike | 3 years ago
3 likes

Excellent injury picture on that story. 

Avatar
brooksby replied to eburtthebike | 3 years ago
0 likes

eburtthebike wrote:

New York's finest booked a crash victim for not wearing a helmet when there is no helmet law, and he's going to have to go to court to defend himself.

Apparently that happens a great deal - the NYPD are notorious for just making sh!t up and putting it on a ticket, and once it's on a ticket you have to go to court to defend it even though the judge will take one look at it, say "this is sh!t", and dismiss the case.  Mad.

Avatar
Philh68 replied to eburtthebike | 3 years ago
1 like

This Australian policeman must be a special kind of cretin, given the red lines from the Cycliq camera indicate  a metre which means the rider is following the recommendation to ride a metre from the edge of the road.

The irony is that if taken to court the police would need to justify how they determined the rider had not ridden as close as practicable to the left of the road. The excuse given for failing to prosecute motorists for close passes is they claim it's too difficult to prove the distance between car and rider.

Avatar
Awavey | 3 years ago
0 likes

Is Lizzie Banks actually saying they (BC) picked her for the time trial, but that they havent even aero'd her position on the bike at all !!! Whatever happened to marginal gains ?

Avatar
mdavidford | 3 years ago
0 likes

Are you sure they're not offering to pay €100,000 to have someone take that thing away?

Avatar
peted76 | 3 years ago
1 like

I finished the new 'Lance' documentary the other night.

It is hands down the best Lord Voldemort documentary I've seen, everyone knows the story of course, but this is a truly fascinating insight into the whole saga. Warts and all. I must admit it 'hit me in the feels' a couple of times too. Especially the bit where his oldest was told about the deception.

Chapeau to the filmakers IMHO they've done a great job of it.

Avatar
eburtthebike | 3 years ago
9 likes

Can I profoundly thank everyone for not feeding the troll?laugh

Avatar
Captain Badger replied to eburtthebike | 3 years ago
1 like

Whelks

Avatar
Izaak30 | 3 years ago
1 like

Re: Lance. Not watched it, yet. No idea what's in it. However just discovered "Taintd" on Amazon Prime. Story of 1984 USA Olympic cycle team. Again not yet seen it but is a totally new story to me

Avatar
Awavey | 3 years ago
0 likes

I assume that's the ESPN 30 for 30 series Lance documentary ? Been on BT Sport/ESPN regularly over the last 6 months as well.FWIW I thought it was a good documentary, as all the 30 for 30 series have been, even if you dont follow cycling as a sport,you learn something about the human characters involved, and Lance's ex teammates especially I think in this one reveal alot more than they did in that earlier doc, though obviously alot of the same ground gets covered. But I'd recommend watching it.

Avatar
joules1975 | 3 years ago
2 likes

ESPN Lance Documentary

I'm glad I watched it, and felt I did learn some new things. There were a few moments were you saw the mask/act crack, which was interesting, particularly the section where Lance discussed Ulrich.

I think the docu did quite well at playing it down the centre line - a little bit of sympathy with Lance where appropriate, but certainly not painting him in a particularly positive light overall (indeed, far from it at times).

Pretty much all the key players were interviewed as part of the film, with the only exceptions I noticed being Ulrich and Kristen (Lance's first wife), and general concensous was Lance was one hell of an athlete, but a problematic person to say the least.

The misses also found it facinating, from a psychological standpoint (she cycles, but doesn't follow and has no interest in cycle racing) and enjoyed watching it, which I think says quite a lot about how little of the actual cycle racing is in the documentary, and how it was used purely to provide the backdrop/context.

Avatar
visionset | 3 years ago
5 likes

You were supposed to design it to blow the bloody doors off.

Avatar
kt26 | 3 years ago
1 like

RE. The Armstrong documentary, first the disclaimers out the way - I didn't really following cycling in Armstrong's hayday there were a lot of details I was unaware of from that period. I am also of the opinion that Armstrong was part of a systemic issue with cycling (and sport in general) rather than the Anti-Christ he is sometime made out to be - and while that doesn't make his actions around the bullying ok - I can sympathise with his position when everyone was doing the same stuff then people start blabbing.

So with that said I myself enjoyed the documentary, mostly for informing me a bit better about some of the details of the time but also because if offered multiple perspectives on the time with interviews with many different players. Probably best gone into if your relativily opened minded on the subject - otherwise its very long.

Avatar
Simon E replied to kt26 | 3 years ago
4 likes

kt26 wrote:

I am also of the opinion that Armstrong was part of a systemic issue with cycling (and sport in general) rather than the Anti-Christ he is sometime made out to be - and while that doesn't make his actions around the bullying ok - I can sympathise with his position when everyone was doing the same stuff then people start blabbing.

If you read 7 Deadly Sins it might give you a different perspective on just how nasty he was. He wasn't just doing the same thing as everyone else.

Yes lots of riders doped in the 90s and early 2000s but no-one else behaved quite like him. I'd rather not watch it, I know more than enough about him already and would prefer to watch something engaging and inspiring instead of negative (old) news about shitty people. There's more than enough of that in the media already!

Avatar
joules1975 replied to Simon E | 3 years ago
0 likes

Simon E wrote:

If you read 7 Deadly Sins it might give you a different perspective on just how nasty he was. He wasn't just doing the same thing as everyone else.

And the ESPN doc pretty much gives the same impression, albiet of someone who acts in an agressive/nasty way without thought when challenged, but who can understand why that behaviour was unacceptable on reflection at a later date.

Some of his appologies given during the course of the documentary seem a little hollow (and in keeping with his talent for saying what needs to be said to survive/win/get one over), but others seem quite sincere.

Avatar
kt26 replied to Simon E | 3 years ago
0 likes

I'm sure the things he did were very nasty and I don't condone the lengths he went to to protect his image - my comment around doing the same stuff was on the doping. My only caveat is I can understand why he went to those lengths given when he came into the racing scene everyone was doping, then during his tenure people start deciding to come clean.

 

Avatar
ChrisB200SX | 3 years ago
2 likes

Those certainly don't look like Titanium or Aluminium race number pins!
I assume he's opted for the lowest g/sm white paper he could find.

Avatar
Awavey replied to ChrisB200SX | 3 years ago
0 likes

Didnt someone show sublimated printed numbers on the jersey were legal now last week ?

Avatar
AlsoSomniloquism replied to Awavey | 3 years ago
0 likes

I suspect he doesn't have the ability to do that being an amatuer HC person. 

Avatar
Awavey replied to AlsoSomniloquism | 3 years ago
0 likes

Well you say that,but if he wants to shave those grammes off...  3

I bet even amateurs spend ridiculous amounts on tiny bits of carbon fibre for their bike to make them go faster,so why not custom numbers on kit printing.

Avatar
aegisdesign replied to Awavey | 3 years ago
0 likes

10 sheets of iron-on inkjet transfer paper is £6.49 on Amazon.

Bit pricier for a new jersey every race though.

Avatar
Grahamd | 3 years ago
6 likes

I would happily pay for RFID or similar, provided it activated the door locks of the cars as you approached, far better solution.

Avatar
I love my bike replied to Grahamd | 3 years ago
2 likes

Many taxi & mini-cab drivers might find that they were trapped inside due to RFID chips being stuck to the bonnet of their vehicles. I wonder how many would get stuck trying to climb out through a window  3

Maybe somebody would design an automated dispenser one could fit to your bike, so that any close-passing vehicle got the same treatment?

 

Avatar
andystow replied to Grahamd | 3 years ago
2 likes

Grahamd wrote:

I would happily pay for RFID or similar, provided it activated the door locks of the cars as you approached, far better solution.

How about an electronically adjustable damper on the car door hinge? It would slow the opening rate to 1 cm/s if a nearby obstuction or approaching cyclist or car was detected? Might reduce parking lot door dings, too.

Avatar
mdavidford | 3 years ago
2 likes

I reckon Simon Warren could have saved a bit more weight by whittling the safety pins out of bamboo.

Avatar
kil0ran | 3 years ago
0 likes

I saw Adam Hansen post recently that he got fined for dye-sub printing race numbers on his TT skin suit a few years back.

Pages

Latest Comments