Ricky Gervais goes cycling, says stop “acting like t*wats” (no, not you); Zwift peaks at 35,000 users… but are pros spoiling the fun?; Motorbiking Zwifter goes viral; ‘Coolest car in cycling’ stolen; Kitchen CX with Frank Schleck +more on the live blog
SUMMARY
Weekend catch-up
Too busy watching the (virtual) Tour of Flanders to catch up on the rest of your bike-related news over the weekend? Here’s what you missed…
Luke Rowe buys new bike for Cardiff doctor whose bike was stolen
Oldest Tour of Flanders winner Andrei Tchmil reveals he has been operated on for cancer
Virtual Race Across America to take place in custom Zwift environment
Mail accused of distorting truth in “MAMIL madness” Regents Park cyclists story
CCC Team slashes rider wages and suspends support staff contracts in battle to survive
Greg Van Avermaet emerges victorious from virtual 'Tour of Flanders'
The Belgian and 12 other pros including Thomas De Gendt and Jasper Stuyven ‘faced off’ for the last hour of a virtual Tour of Flanders course using Bkool’s training app from the discomfort of their homes, with Van Avermaet clinching the victory. Oliver Naesen beat Irishman Nicholas Roche for second, while De Gendt was fourth.
The race was set to be held yesterday, but instead took place over the final 30km of the course in Bkool’s virtual world because of the coronavirus pandemic. There was also a Zwift version that Mathieu Van der Poel took part in, because he has contractual obligations with Zwift.
CCC rider Avermaet was thrilled with his victory in the ‘Lockdown’ version of the race, but hopes it will be the last nonetheless…
Happy with my 1st victory (and hopefully the last) in today’s lockdown @RondeVlaanderen! Slightly different but I enjoyed it. Stay safe you all! 🤞 #RideForMore pic.twitter.com/8RuPoHKOoP
— Greg Van Avermaet (@GregVanAvermaet) April 5, 2020
Zwift vs Bkool: who did the Virtual Ronde better?
Both training platforms staged virtual versions of the Tour of Flanders yesterday. If you watched the action, which did you prefer? Does it pass for reasonably entertaining entertainment?? There are definitely worse things on TV on a Sunday morning, we reckon…
Almost 35,000 people were using Zwift simultaneously over the weekend
Last Sunday we hit a new high of 28,305, then yesterday we broke the 30k mark for the first time in Zwift’s history.
But this morning we blew away our record again – hitting a peak of ~34,940 at precisely 2am PDT, or 9am GMT. Ride… https://t.co/9Mjkz12kIp pic.twitter.com/NARihcpDdY— Zwift Insider (@zwiftinsider) April 5, 2020
The already popular virtual training app has hit new heights since the coronavirus pandemic has forced many cyclists indoors; and according to Zwift Insider, a peak of almost 35,000 users were riding simultaneously at 8am yesterday morning. Considering that is double what the peak was in January – and Zwift Insider also claims the number has grown by over 6,500 in a week – its popularity is still very much on the rise.
However, it’s not all virtual hugs and kissed in Watopia, as a number of users on the Zwift Riders Facebook page have expressed their frustration at pro riders stealing their thunder and making it impossible for mortals to compete in the game’s ‘A-Grade’ rides.
One says: “With the number of pros jumping on Zwift I think we need a new grade above the current A grade. I used to be competitive now I have no chance to even hold on to the top tier despite being 4w/kg.”
Another has even started a series on Instagram documenting getting dropped by pro avatars on Zwift, and another has counted that 131 known pro cyclists are now signed up to the game. Does it need a level above the current four for the elite, or are Zwifters being too precious? Tis only a game after all…
Frank Schleck's household CX course
What it lacks in mud it makes up for in some very tricky twists and turns, as the Luxumberger does som cyclocrossing in his kitchen.
What to do if you're getting rinsed by pros on Zwift
10 percent of the dudes on @GoZwift are trolling 😂 pic.twitter.com/qGOJac6lWH
— Chris Carlson (@Kiss_my_Panache) April 5, 2020
So as a solution to our earlier question, it looks like this gentleman has nailed it by overtaking the competition at warp speed using a motorbike. In all seriousness, please don’t really do this…
Another pro gets flagged on Zwift for a superhuman effort
Hello @GoZwift can you please help me? I’ve just been flagged for super human numbers while doing my VO2 max intervals in Watopia? I promise it’s the real deal 💪🤣 pic.twitter.com/HSRNaD5dvt
— Ashleigh Moolman (@ashleighcycling) April 3, 2020
We’re going to need a separate Zwift live blog at this rate… as after the same thing happened to Thomas De Gendt last week, another pro has had their ride flagged for producing numbers that the system flagged as unrealistic.
CCC’s Ashleigh Moolman says Zwift was unconvinced by her V02 max interval numbers, and once again the virtual training platform has said they will be looking into it and “a fix will be coming very soon”…
Hey Ashleigh! We’re really sorry about this, it’s a bug we’re aware of and a fix is coming very very soon. 🙌
— Zwift (@GoZwift) April 3, 2020
Chris Froome spots Luke Rowe's RAOK
I see the legend @LukeRowe1990 has sorted him out ☺️
— Chris Froome (@chrisfroome) April 6, 2020
The four-time Tour de France champ saw that Rowe had bought a bike for a Cardiff doctor who had theirs stolen; although a nice yellow Pinarello wouldn’t be a bad idea for the commute surely?
"Stop sunbathing in parks or we'll ban exercising outside"
“Stop sunbathing in parks or we’ll ban exercising outside”….. Seems fair 🙄
— Duncan Shea-Simonds (@DSS123) April 5, 2020
Some are accusing the government of picking on the wrong targets by threatening to ban outdoor exercising as a way to stop those who were out catching rays in the park at the weekend… will tougher measures simply penalise those following the rules, while the rulebreakers will carry on the same?
The Times accused of using a telephoto lens to make it appear like cyclists are riding in a bunch on Box Hill
Excellent use of a telephoto lens by @thetimes, misleading image and reporting.
How about a photo of the 6 superbike riders at the top of the hill in conversation about how they don’t care about the rules because they can outrun police?Thx @_D415Y_ for the other perspective pic.twitter.com/ZgznnJrLNT
— Francis Cade (@Francis_Cade) April 6, 2020
The accusations were made by former pro cyclist-turned filmmaker Francis Cade, with The Mirror also accused of using the same technique to make cyclists appear like they are riding in a group in this article. Neither newspaper has confirmed or denied using a telephoto lens on their articles yet, although we’ll be contacting them for comment and publishing a full article later this afternoon.
Quarantined cycling bingo
While we’re here getting all memey, why not have a go at our very own social distancing game? You’ll find me having a post-race piss-up with Jeremy Corbyn…
Check out this 3D-printed cleat alignment tool
I made a thing! DIY Bicycle Cleat Fitting Alignment tool for SPD Pedals – 3D Printed! from r/bicycling
Could this be the thing to prevent the headache of making sure your cleats are spot on each time? An SPD-SL version wouldn’t go amiss either!
Pros on Zwift verdict: it's only a game
You’ll read further down this blog that some Zwifters were feeling a little miffed that they had fallen down leaderboards due to the influx of professionals (reportedly well over 100) getting their training fix on the platform while they’re in lockdown due to coronavirus. The general consensus is… lighten up!
We can strongly relate to this observation by Ant James…
Peter Sagan balancing on an exercise ball wearing a centurion mask says "stay at home"
Stay safe at home everybody pic.twitter.com/DVAuvKX4Cj
— Peter Sagan (@petosagan) April 4, 2020
No idea what we’ve just saw… but who cares it’s Peter Sagan and he wants us to stay at home, so we’ll do just that.
"Wouldn't it be nice if people would stop acting like tw*ts?" Ricky Gervais' observations from his socially distanced bike ride in London
The comic decided to go for a bike ride at the weekend – and during this YouTube vlog, opened to the tune of “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” by The Beach Boys, Gervais exclaimed: “Wouldn’t it be nice if people would stop acting like tw*ts?”
Gervais was referring not to his fellow cyclists, but to families allegedly “blocking the whole pavement”, which he argued isn’t exactly conducive to social distancing:
“I thought the bike would be safer than running because you’re on the road, no one’s nearer except for cars… no”, he explains.
“Because there were so many people, like families going out – which is fair enough – but they block the whole pavement, and they dawdle. So people are walking in the street, in the road, to overtake them. So I have to keep stopping.
“And all I can do is tut. And even that you know. People go “who does he think he is?”. Oh god.”
He goes on to suggest that for the police to deter people who were reportedly out catching rays during the warm weekend, they should approach overweight sunbathers, record them on mobile phones and threaten to put the footage online. We’re not completely sure if that will become official government policy any time soon…
STOLEN TEAM CAR ALERT: Crit specialist Alec Briggs appeals for return of Team Tekkerz Mini Cooper
STOLEN.
Mini Cooper S works MPI with the official John cooper works conversion.
Reg: R168DNP.
Would appreciate people Retweeting so I can make it too hot to handle and I get it back. pic.twitter.com/26zWXQpdbm
— AlecBriggs/ Pedaler (@Alec_Pedaler) April 6, 2020
Callum Skinner calls it ‘the coolest car in cycling’, and unfortunately it’s now in the hands of thieves who saw fit to steal crit champ Alec Briggs’ custom team car. Hopefully the thieves lack the brain cells to get the car resprayed and it becomes too hot to handle…
6 April 2020, 08:23
Cav has revealed he was diagnosed with depression as he struggled to overcome the Epstein-Barr virus - full story below
Mark Cavendish reveals "dark" struggle with depression
Bahrain-McLaren sprinter says he is "on the other side" now after August 2018 diagnosis
6 April 2020, 08:23
The roads may be much quieter than usual at the moment, but there's still every chance of experiencing a close pass while out on the bike, as road.cc reader John found out recently...
Near Miss of the Day 394: Bendy bus driver gets close on quiet road
Our regular feature showing close passes from around the country - today it's Hertfordshire
6 April 2020, 08:23
Molteni or La Vie Claire? Peugeot-Shell or Z-Tomasso? There are some excruciating decisions to be made in the Full Kit Ranker quarter finals... make sure your vote counts
Full Kit Ranker quarter finals: your chance to vote for the greatest cycling jersey of all time
Some absolute classics were knocked out of our initial 16-jersey shortlist... which four will make it through to the semi-finals? Be sure to cast your votes so your fave has the best possible chance of winning!
6 April 2020, 08:23
What have e-bikes ever done for us? Quite a bit actually...
What are electric bikes good for? Should you get one?
Need a boost away from the lights, or help on the hills? An e-bike could be for you
6 April 2020, 08:23
The challenge, which involves donating a fiver or more to the Strava JustGiving page(link is external) and uploading one 10 minute activity per day for 12 days, has already raised over £80K
Strava launches NHS Active challenge and it raises £80k before it even starts
The challenge asks Strava users to give a fiver (or more) and get active for 12 days in a row
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Latest Comments
@lesterama Bernal has had two whammys. His crash, which he has probably never fully recovered from and Ineos taking a nosedive. They have no focus and no identity.
@Zermattjohn Read the comment I posted about my experience
I bought some Challenge Strada tyres. After a while the sidewalls began to detach from the tyre and the tread became rippled making them unsafe to use. The shop I bought them from asked me to drop them in and he would show the Challenge rep as he was due in the following week. The rep bizarrely firstly claimed that the tyres had failed because they may have been punctured (they hadn’t), then immediately claimed that they had failed because the rear tyre was more worn than the front! I emailed pictures to Challenge and was told they had failed because they had been fitted incorrectly. The black strip they had introduced to stop the issue I had was supposed to be above the rim. Which it clearly was shown to be correct on the pictures I sent to them which proved that the tyres were correctly fitted. This seems to be the norm now in the cycle industry, if there is an issue with a product, the company automatically blames the end user rather than look to address the issue, thereby pissing the customer off. A pissed off customer rarely returns.
@kingleo And there are hundreds, if not thousands of people holding up a shattered helmet saying it saved their life, the doctor/policeman told me.
I spend a month most years in China because of family, and a cargo bike there with an electric motorbike style front end and either LFP or advanced lead acid batteries, costs under £100 and is the backbone of every trade. There are a hundred different kinds but what they share in common is functionality and cheapness. Even the ancient pedal pulled wooden wagons with literally welded spokes from the sixties have been electrified with e-motors attached to the underside - and they cost sod all. In China cheap transport for business is a public good like drinking water. Because to get people to work you have to make work affordable. That's a secret of capitalism we in the UK could do better to learn.
@Zermattjohn handmade genuinely means handmade with Challenge. You cannot compare ride quality of a mass produced, vulcanized Panaracer tyre with these. The ride quality is incredibly supple, and can transform a riding experience. More expensive yes, but worth every penny!
@SecretSam 2019 Tour (don't see anyone else putting their hand up to say they won it), 2021 Giro, 2019 Paris-Nice, 2019 Tour de Suisse, 2018 Tour of California. So I'd say Lesterama is about right with his burned bright comment.
"Over 1,000 dockless bikes seized in Westminster The authority said the bikes would continue to be removed where they caused an obstruction, with operators charged for their return." Would love to know how many motor vehicles were removed (and their "operators" charged for their return) for the same reason. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c84g1x0g0d42o
@OnYerBike Thanks for the interesting article link (table below for any interested), as you say it does show that the top 10% of pros manage 4.63 w/kg over four hours, but that only extrapolates to 325W if the rider is 70kg, and of course a lot of them are well below that, e.g. Vinegaard 60kg so his power over four hours would be more like 279W at that w/kg. Note also that the average for the bottom 90% is "only" 3.83 w/kg, so the average 68kg (World Tour average weight) rider in that cohort would be putting out 260W over four hours. So I'd still argue that across the average of the peleton, with 10% capable of about 325W over four hours and the other 90% about 260W, a figure for the whole peleton of around 280-290W would be more realistic.
I'm on there 4-6 times a week (mainly commuting, so generally no later than 1900); mostly you see illegal/chipped ebikes and scooters going 'like a bullet' being ridden by people just like me. Haven't come across the balaclava, wheely pulling electric bike types this year though. Mostly, you need to be vigilant for kamikaze squirrels, loafing cats and dogs off the lead.
17 thoughts on “Ricky Gervais goes cycling, says stop “acting like t*wats” (no, not you); Zwift peaks at 35,000 users… but are pros spoiling the fun?; Motorbiking Zwifter goes viral; ‘Coolest car in cycling’ stolen; Kitchen CX with Frank Schleck +more on the live blog”
There might be 35k using
There might be 35k using Zwift at one tiime, but a big majority are orange jersey noobs smashing it around the flat looking for drops. So just like real world riding, if you want solitude head for the mountains. The Alpe is lovely at this time of year.
If you want solitude just
If you want solitude just turn your WiFi off after loading the course.
Bingo, a nice lonely ride.
“We’re going to need a
“We’re going to need a separate Zwift live blog at this rate”
Is it part of a commercial deal with Zwift? It’s mentioned so much here that I start to wonder why.
We have done commercial deals
We have done commercial deals with Zwift (a series of sponsored articles) but not here. To be fair I’ve got no outdoor cycling to report on, if you don’t like Zwift and memes you might be better off elsewhere…
Way to go Jack…’if you don
Way to go Jack…’if you don’t like what I write, f off’. Thanks. Mate.
Not actually what he said,
Not actually what he said, but don’t let that stand in your way.
I was paraphrasing accurately
I was paraphrasing accurately.
You weren’t.
You weren’t.
An accurate paraphrasing would have been more along the lines of “There’s not much to put on a cycling blog at the moment that doesn’t involve virtual cycling and/or silliness. If that’s of no interest to you, it’s not likely to have much to offer you at the moment, unfortunately.”
He certainly didn’t in any way tell you to ‘f off’.
Harrogate
Which is perfectly true; apart from the paraphrasing and accuracy.
Almost 35,000 people were
“Almost 35,000 people were using Zwift simultaneously over the weekend”
You should send the picture from the Zwift story to the Daily Mail, see if they publish it as evidence of cyclists breaking social distancing rules.
Far too many of them don’t
Far too many of them don’t wear a helmet either. I hope Zwift has made them sign a waiver to avoid any legal consequences.
I bet they weren’t wearing
I bet they weren’t wearing high viz either, terrible.
Franck Schleck may have great
Frank Schleck may have great CX skills but he has no skill whatsoever in putting on mudguards properly.
“no chance to even hold on to
“no chance to even hold on to the top tier despite being 4w/kg”
Fml…….with numbers like that you’d get dropped on a club run.
If you are OCD over your
If you are OCD over your cleat alignment: you can get SPD and SPD-SL alignment tools from Ergon
https://www.ergonbike.com/en/product.html?a=bikefitting
I use the SPD version, and I
I use the SPD version, and I have a different view. If you’ve spent good money on a professional bike fit, then it’s a simple way of achieving repeatability and getting the most out of what you paid for, without being OCD about it.
Quote:
It seems more like phishing to me