Welcome to a new week on the live blog with Simon MacMichael, Jack Sexty and the rest of the team.
Live blog: 3T launch Exploro Speed gravel bike, Pedal Me cargo bike taxi branded “delusional” in Dragons’ Den trailer, another quirky Planet X anti-sales pitch, Van Avermaet’s stunning new bike + more
All the news from the site and beyond as we start a new week
Mon, Jan 21, 2019 16:30
SUMMARY
21 January 2019, 16:30
Some stories you may have missed at the weekend
Glasgow could host first combined World Cycling Championships in 2023
Near Miss of the Day 239: Van driver tailgates and executes close pass
US amateur cyclist tests positive for five banned substances
Man trying to stop thief stealing his bike in New Mexico shot dead
Canterbury City Council to clamp down on “reckless” food delivery riders
21 January 2019, 16:30
Video: Take a look at Greg Van Avermaet's stunning new bike
Like Samuel Sanchez before him, Greg Van Avermaet isn’t shy about letting the world know he is the reigning Olympic road champion – clock those gold shades and helmet. Now, he’s even got a gold bike – in the shape of this Giant TCR Advanced SL. Here he is talking through it in this video.
21 January 2019, 16:30
How many TdF winners does it take to change a tyre?
An absolute belter from a few years back!
How many @LeTour winners does it take to change a tyre? @chrisfroome @GeraintThomas86 #cycling #cyclinglife #cyclist @TeamSky #teamsky #bike pic.twitter.com/D9lFB7kB7x
— Trans World Sport (@TransWorldSport) January 18, 2019
21 January 2019, 16:30
Elliptical chainrings are so last year...
21 January 2019, 16:30
Planet X are at it again
If you’re on the British bike retailer’s mailing list, you may have noticed some pretty unusual anti-sales pitches in the run up to Christmas – including some ‘For a Bob’ deals, flogging hats and chain cleaners for 5p with a photo of the late Bob Monkhouse alongside, and some further deals promoted by William Shakespeare. This time they didn’t get that far, simply using this text convo for their weekend newsletter instead…
21 January 2019, 16:30
The weekend’s big talking point 1: “They are always in the way” says Farmer who did close pass in tractor before throwing cyclist and bike to grass verge
Imagine if he had to drive his tractor around Central London… you can read the full report from Saturday here
21 January 2019, 16:30
The weekend’s big talking point 2: GPS computers of the pros… It’s not all Garmin any more
Liam has a look at what computers the pros have on their bars (you probably didn’t need a computer to work that bit out) – you can read the full rundown here
21 January 2019, 16:30
Another example of incredible Netherlands cycling infra
I love my country, where this is simply possible! Sint Michielsgestel, NL. pic.twitter.com/2RtyNnQlno
— Mark Wagenbuur (@BicycleDutch) January 20, 2019
We can dream!
21 January 2019, 16:30
Pedal Me cargo bike taxi firm called 'delusional' on upcoming episode of Dragon's Den
We’re on #dragonsden this Sunday…you might want to watch. Here’s a little teaser:https://t.co/grpwk8RLhh
— Pedal Me (@pedalmeapp) January 21, 2019
Why they’re promoting this we’re not so sure but Pedal Me, a London-based cargo bike taxi and delivery start-up, have revealed a teaser of their upcoming appearance on Dragon’s Den that will go out this Sunday on BBC Two. From the clip it appears their pitch didn’t go too well, with the Dragons berating the young entrepreneurs for their business model that they say is open to being hijacked by the likes of Uber. Pedal Me argue that such companies wouldn’t have the combined cargo bike, skills and tech knowledge to do it as well as them, to which they are branded “delusional” by fashion magnate Touker Suleyman.
We’ve noticed a pattern for Dragons getting it a bit wrong in the past when it comes to cycling/mobility/transport pitches in the Den; and from our point of view, why can’t there be more than one cargo bike taxi firm in London even if Uber were to muscle in? Their crowdfunding campaign was very successful, raising £350,000 in just a few days in October last year, so best of luck to them we say. Head over to Pedal Me’s website to find out more and download the app if you want a ride.
21 January 2019, 16:30
Blue Monday? Ride your bike!
Yes it’s bloody cold out, but on this the most depressing day of the year according to someone somewhere, going out for a ride and the endorphins released with it will cheers you up no end…
21 January 2019, 16:30
3T launch the Exploro Speed, complete with race-ready spec
3T’s Exploro gravel bike is sold as an all-rounder that can also be used on tarmac, and now the brand has introduced the Exploro Speed with a racier spec to satisfy those who want to use their Exploro to go fast. The frame is the same, but the Speed models are offered with carbon mid-depth wheels, optional Torno Ltd cranks and Sram Force 1x groupsets. Builds start from €5,200 for the Team build and go up to €7,200 for the Torno Ltd version. Head over to 3T’s website for more info.
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Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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Latest Comments
Rendel Harris 2 hours ago
@ChrisA Absolutely, that is definitely the case. However the person of whom I'm thinking, and many others I see online, more or less blatantly say we should have more sympathy for the driver than the deceased cyclist, the attitude being almost how dare the cyclist by riding on an A road or at night or in fog or whatever have taken such risks that have now saddled the poor driver with a lifetime's trauma.
wtjs 3 hours ago
@mdavidford should be 'seeds being sowed', I think
belugabob 3 hours ago
@mdavidford sequins, surely? 😉
mdavidford 4 hours ago
Yikes - don't think I'd want to go anywhere near anything where 'joy givers' are in operation - all sounds a bit Black Mirror.
mdavidford 4 hours ago
Report from the front: it's already here - just check out any of many 'articles' on the Oxford Mail site, or some of the comments on the Abingdon Blog any time cycling is mentioned.
mdavidford 4 hours ago
Is that a mixed media metaphor?
Mr Blackbird 4 hours ago
Has anyone else ever looked so self righteous and arrogant on a police mugshot?
two20 5 hours ago
It's slightly weird, the more expensive the bikes they dump on us, the more the industry looks in peril. Being someone who rides motorbikes as well as bikes, to say the cycle industry is taking the p155 is an understatement. 10 grand of motorbike buys you so much more than another average 10 grand bike that scores 3.5 in the reviews. Wake up guys and smell something, the golden goose is well and truly migrating.
wtjs 5 hours ago
Gaining credit for 'remorse' for an attack against a cyclist in a UK court is as simple as declaring 'yeah, yeah, remorse, remorse'. If you conjure up a few tears, you'll be established as a 'humanitarian' and be sent home with an award, and that's only if you can even get the case past the established resistance from the police.
wtjs 6 hours ago
This year I went to see the Clitheroe Blackpool stage of the Tour of Britain Women where the girls had to wait around in the rain because of closed roads due to typical Lancashire banzai drivers crashing all over the place. Next year the men's TdF comes close to me on the hills SE of Lancaster, which is lucky. Unfortunately, the TdF women Leeds to Manchester stage would involve a lot of miles on Death Highways through lots of towns, so that's out
7 thoughts on “Live blog: 3T launch Exploro Speed gravel bike, Pedal Me cargo bike taxi branded “delusional” in Dragons’ Den trailer, another quirky Planet X anti-sales pitch, Van Avermaet’s stunning new bike + more”
That gold TCR is stunning!!
That gold TCR is stunning!!
I’m surprised BTBS hasn’t
I’m surprised BTBS hasn’t been by to say that Dutch bike path is actually very dangerous…
jacknorell wrote:
Its funny you mentioned them – I was only thinking that I hadn’t seen any posts from them for a while
brooksby wrote:
Its funny you mentioned them – I was only thinking that I hadn’t seen any posts from them for a while
— jacknorell
Because the Dutch always ride in a safe manner and there is never any risk of a low speed head impact where a helmet might prevent injury.
And helmets encourage dangerous riding of course.
OK – note to self – never
OK – note to self – never ever evere ever EVER let froome dog or thomas near any of my bikes.
leqin wrote:
That clip has the look of a piss-take. Of course they can change a tyre, they just grab the nearest mechanic.
I don’t imagine that the
I don’t imagine that the Dragon’s Den dragons ever ride a bike for transport – shiny high end motors and black cabs, I imagine are more their style…
No wonder their record on anything bike related isn’t so good…