Welcome to Friday’s live blog, with Jack Sexty, Simon MacMichael and the rest of the team.
Live blog: Bus shelter built in cycle lane still there six months on; Rare Fausto Coppi jersey sold for €20k; Silca launch $30 titanium drinking straws with “better strength-to-weight ratio”; Jeremy Vine accused of joining “bullying” Cycleway thread +more
All today’s news from the site and beyond…
Fri, Dec 06, 2019 22:30
SUMMARY
6 December 2019, 22:30
Breaking the law...
If you’re not familiar with the utterly inspired genius work of Jim’ll Paint It, it’s worth having Facebook just to see his creations which include Ross Kemp on Toast, Brian Blessed riding a Henry Hoover through space and the Teenage Mutant Tina Turners.
6 December 2019, 22:30
Victoria Williamson has switched from track cycling to bobsleigh
Let’s get this show on the road! Super excited https://t.co/80u9B2bZuq
— Vicky Williamson (@VicsWilliamson) December 5, 2019
Vicky Williamson – who won a bronze medal in the team sprint at the 2012 world track championships – has today announced her plans to switch from cycling to bobsleigh, having already got some cool runnings in with the GB bobsleigh team and completed her first training camp.
Williamson made her comeback at the 2019 UCI Track Cycling World Championships following a horrific crash in January 2016 which saw her break her neck and back and dislocating her pelvis amongst other injuries. In a statement on her career change she said: “Cycling has been a big part of my life since I was a teenager back when I came through the Girls 4 Gold Talent ID programme. In a way I’m sad to be moving on from it but equally I’m excited about what could happen in my bobsleigh career. My crash in 2016 changed my life, and although I would say it has inhibited my ability to excel to the top of the sport again, my athletic capability has still allowed me to continue in elite sport. I couldn’t have got through it without the support I received from British Cycling who funded my rehab and supported my return – I will always be thankful.”
In a statement she said:
6 December 2019, 22:30
Conservative campaigner who opposes CS9 plans in Chiswick accuses twitter of "mass bullying", including a certain BBC broadaster
It’s basic mathematics: Narrower pavements + more cyclists = increased risk to pedestrians walking along the High Road. Would you argue that in 2012 only one woman died from rabies, therefore rabid dogs pose no threat?
— Serena Lit (@serena_tara_lit) December 5, 2019
It started when Serena Lit – a PR and events manager for Conservative parliamentary candidate Seena Shah – defended an article by Shah which details her opposition to the construction of the CS9 Cycleway in Chiswick. Numerous replies took issue with her comparison, and claimed that there is evidence to suggest CS9 would reduce road collisions through Chiswick.
The cyclists will be in a segregated lane so simple mathematics would suggest lower risk to pedestrians…
— TheMiddleWay (@TheMiddleWay9) December 5, 2019
How wrong can you be? Narrower pavements in some places, sure, but they’ll be pavements without cyclists, because they’ll have a dedicated, protected cycle lane. Whereas now, in some places unprotected cyclists feel safer riding on the pavement.
— Ken Munn #FBPE (@KenJMunn) December 5, 2019
This is not basic mathematics. It’s nonsense.
— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) December 5, 2019
One of these was Jeremy Vine, who was then accused of joining a “mass bullying effort” against Ms Lit. Mr Vine declined to continued answering back and wished Ms Lit well.
Thank-you, @chiswickish, much appreciated. I will leave the conversation as I certainly don’t want anyone to be upset by it. The cycling issue in W4 feels personal to a lot of us as we both know. Thank-you again; and best wishes Seena and @serena_tara_lit.
— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) December 6, 2019
Work is set to begin on the CS9 route through Chiswick on December 12th after being approved by TfL. Seena Shah says of the plans: “I believe that Brentford and Isleworth has regressed under a Labour MP, a Labour Mayor and Labour council. Under Ruth Cadbury, Chiswick has seen the Cycleway 9 cycle path approved along our busiest road, putting pedestrians at risk and jeopardising our already struggling retail economy by removing pavement space, as well as parking and loading bays.
“What’s more, construction for this is due to start on 12th December, before Hammersmith Bridge has been resolved. Labour are yet to provide a solution to the closure of Hammersmith Bridge and the consequential increase in traffic at residential and main roads throughout Chiswick. The Chiswick High Road, Chiswick Lane, Sutton Court Road, Barrowgate Road and others leading to the Hogarth Roundabout, Chiswick Roundabout, Chiswick Bridge and Kew Bridge are totally gridlocked and this is unacceptable.”
6 December 2019, 22:30
Pablo Escobar was a big cycling fan, according to new book on the history of Colombian cycling
The Independent have compiled some extracts from the new book (which we’ll be reviewing in full soon) focussing on the story of Bicicletas Ositto, the bicycle manufacturer owned by Pablo Escobar’s older brother Roberto.
Roberto was a serious cyclist in the 60’s – claiming stage wins at the Vuelta and the RCN – and although Pablo was never in shape to compete, he was known to be a big cycling enthusiast. He bought the Bicicletas Ositto factory when Roberto retired, and the Ositto cycling team was born after making its debut in the Vuelta a Colombia in 1980. Pablo and Roberto used to ride the course on a Vespa scooter supporting their team, or by helicopter if the stage was too far away for them to get to; Pablo even had a private velodrome built for him in Medellin, with Roberto recruiting top Colombian cyclists to race around it while him and his entourage made huge bets on the winner.
Check back for our full review of The Big Climb in the new year – if you’re sold already you can pick it up on Amazon here.
6 December 2019, 22:30
Trans track cyclist Rachel McKinnon blames Donald Trump Junior for increase in hate mail
“Why should my right to compete be contingent on not winning?”
6 December 2019, 22:30
UCI says they "share concerns" of MPCC, but defend their anti-doping policy
The Mouvement Pour un Cyclisme Crédible (Movement For Credible Cycling, or MPCC for short) sent a letter to David Lappartient this week calling for an increase in the number of blood tests, more timely collection of blood samples and saying that riders should be checked for plastic in their blood following the Operation Aderlass scandal.
The UCI have defended their anti-doping controls, telling Cycling News: “The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), whose commitment to the fight against doping is regularly acknowledged by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and other organisations in this domain, fully shares the concerns of the MPCC, which also wishes to see a more effective battle for a clean sport.
“In particular, the Aderlass affair – legitimate source of concern for all concerned parties – has convinced the UCI to explore new avenues to reinforce the anti-doping fight in cycling. This reflection englobes, for example, the discussion launched with the International Testing Agency (ITA) to study the potential advantages of a future collaboration.
“The UCI wishes to underline that, as part of the Aderlass operation, it has sanctioned several individuals, most of them active at the highest level, thanks to the sharing of information with the authorities in charge of the investigation.”
6 December 2019, 22:30
Silca launch reusable titanium drinking straw set
US cycling tools and accessories specialists Silca – off of the £275 track pump and the £120 set of allen keys – have launched a titanium drinking straw which they claim is perfect for “the person who is sustainability and fashion conscious and wants a cool straw with better strength-to-weight ratio.”
Available in four different colours, this “straw to outlive them all” is described as unbreakable, dishwasher-safe, and you get one bent one and one straight for your $30 (roughly £23). Interestingly Silca were inspired to make them after realising they could fashion straws from the offcuts of titanium left over from making their Sicuro titanium bottle cages. Silca say as a result of their straw-making, their Ti cage production process now has a 99.9% material utilisation rate.
We’re not sure about UK availability yet, but at 30 dollars a pop you might as well whack some import fees on top and buy them directly from Silca’s US online shop.
6 December 2019, 22:30
On the subject of reusable metal things...
How about a stainless steel coffee capsule? Compatible with Nespresso machines (there are other versions for Dolce Gusto and Virtuo) Evergreen say their reusable capsules could save you up to 65% over buying single use capsules; and theirs is better for the planet because they claim only 24% of Nespresso capsules are recycled to produce energy.
They’re also dishwasher-safe and available at half-price for £23.65 until 10pm this evening – click here to check them out.
6 December 2019, 22:30
Your latest shitfrastructure installment
Cycle past it everyday, only noticed it until recently. Thanks UK, very cool. from r/bicycling
We’ve another one coming up soon, watch this space (literally, or else you might collide with a bus stop).
6 December 2019, 22:30
Actually quite safe
If a local councillor claims that bidirectional cycle tracks are not safe, and that children would be safer cycling in bus lanes, please do remember that they are lying to you pic.twitter.com/wEm0eVeglg
— Hackney Cyclist (@Hackneycyclist) December 6, 2019
We suspect this may be in reference to the opposition to CS9 through Chiswick, which was debated on social media this morning (see further down this page).
6 December 2019, 22:30
Rare Fausto Coppi jersey sold for 20,000 euros
The jersey – a size 3 Le Coq Sportif racing jersey in mustard yellow worn by Coppi at the 39th edition of the Tour de France in 1952 – was sold for €20,000 via Aste Bolaffi with two signed photographs. A set of Coppi’s pyjamas – estimated to sell for up to €5,0000 originally – are now for sale online with a €3,000 buy it now price.
A certain British knight of the realm is known for his large collection of cycling memorabilia… wonder if he had anything to do with the jersey sale by any chance?
We also make this the most expensive cycling jersey ever sold, but if you know otherwise do enlighten us in the comments.
6 December 2019, 22:30
Breaking: Dr Richard Freeman tribunal panel accuses his lawyer of "unfairness and bullying"
been handed the tribunal’s 22-page annex re decision to include Sutton evidence. Panel says there was “an objective and understandable basis to warrant Mr Sutton forming the perception” of “unfairness and bullying” on part of O’Rourke due to comments made b4 he entered room…
— Tom Cary (@tomcary_tel) December 6, 2019
The former Team Sky doctor’s lawyer Mary O’Rourke QC has questioned the panel’s words, with an afternoon session currently taking place.
Dr Freeman is accused of “knowing or believing” that the testogel he ordered in 2011 was specifically for the purposes of doping British Cycling athletes; he’s already admitted to making the order and lying to cover it up.
We’ll have a full story on the site later today with all the latest updates on the tribunal.
6 December 2019, 22:30
Taking the pi*s...
Dirty bastard cyclist pic.twitter.com/yDe98koGDP
— Uber-McAbdul (@UberAbdul) December 4, 2019
6 December 2019, 22:30
Mean YouTube comments
It’s Fri-yay, so what better way to spend it than by spewing sweet vitriol on road.cc’s YouTube channel? Here are a selection of favourites from our most recent video, where Mr David Arthur talks us through his time riding Rotor’s 13 Speed hydraulic groupset…
P.s… many thanks to all our faithful YouTube followers, and feel free to say what you like. We reserve the right to post your comments here and take the pee out of them a bit from time to time though.
6 December 2019, 22:30
Swindon bus shelter mistakenly built in cycle lane still in cycle lane (but some locals don't seem to care)
The bus lane was ‘mistakenly’ built on the cycle lane above six months ago, and is yet to be moved. Neil Allington told the Swindon Advertiser: “It’s just stupid because who on earth would put a bus shelter in a cycle lane.”
Mr Allington says he’s been in touch with Swindon Borough Council, who are waiting for a date to move the shelter back.
Not all of the Swindon Advertiser’s faithful Facebook followers are too sympathetic though, with wise owls such as Paul Kendall saying: “Not like they use the cycle lanes anyway”… and Tony Bridgman observing: “Do they pay road tax for all these cycle lanes ??………….. and still have the Gaul to complain about a slight detour !!!!!!!”
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Jack is group editor across road.cc, off.road.cc and ebiketips, overseeing all three sites in the F-At Digital group to make sure everything’s up to scratch. He’s been writing about cycling and multisport for over a decade, arriving at road.cc via 220 Triathlon Magazine in 2017. He worked across all areas of road.cc including tech, news and video, and also contributed to ebiketips before being named editor of road.cc in 2021 (much to his surprise). Jack has been hooked on cycling since his student days, and currently has a Trek 1.2 for winter riding, a beloved Bickerton folding bike for getting around town, and an extra beloved custom Ridley Helium SLX for fantasising about going fast in his stable. Jack has never won a bike race, but does have a master’s degree in print journalism, and two Guinness World Records for pogo sticking (it’s a long story).
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Latest Comments
mctrials23 12 minutes ago
@mitsky Its another one of those things that makes no sense isn't it. Someone was saying in another thread that we need a harder driving test. I don't think we do. Everyone who has passed in the last 20 years has done a test that is more than happy to fail you for behaviour that 90% of drivers exhibit every time they get behind the wheel. The test is fine. The fact that getting your license seems to be considered some weird proof that you will continue to drive safely is the issue. The fact that when you prove that you cannot drive safely its not immediately revoked is the issue.
mctrials23 16 minutes ago
@Rendel Harris The issue with GPS chips, as everyone who has one of those black boxes will attest to, is that they are crap. They interpret heavy braking as poor driving rather than someone else forcing it. They see rapid acceleration where there is none. All we need is a much higher chance of people being caught and punished for their everyday shit driving. I'm sure as a cyclist that every single time you go out on your bike you will have a dozen or more times when you think "that would have been a nasty accident if someone was coming the other direction". Eventually, when bad behaviour suffers no consequences it becomes completely normalised. Then we struggle to treat it as anything but a normal, unavoidable accident when that bad behaviour does incur consequences.
mctrials23 20 minutes ago
Drivers regularly pull out in front of me and cause me to slam on the brakes or avoid them. Very often they have seen me and just assume I'm not going very fast or they assume I will slow down/stop (which I do). Too many drivers don't look for cyclists, hate giving way to them or expect the cyclist to be moving slowly and just pull out.
mctrials23 42 minutes ago
@Rendel Harris By the time someone is looking at prison time its too late. As has been proven time and time again, the severity of punishment is a poor deterrent to bad behaviour if people don't think its going to happen to them or they don't think they will be caught. Now I do think that there should be far more severe and immediate punishments for bad driving when drivers are caught but this would need to be coupled with a massive push to actually act on information/proof of bad driving. As anyone that submits footage to the police knows, its a crapshoot and certain police forces are anti-cyclist. This would try to essentially put people off misbehaving whilst driving before they cause an accident rather than getting the tired old excuse of "it was a single dangerous incident, they definitely don't do this all the time and their luck finally ran out". Perhaps it should go even further and if you have a history of speeding and you hurt someone speeding, that is looked upon in a very dim light.
KiwiMike 54 minutes ago
Can we talk about “Washing up liquid contains a lot of salt – not a great idea to use a corrosive substance on a bicycle”? This is an urban myth. I have washed all of our many bikes using Fairy liquid or Ecover for decades. I’ve never found any evidence of corrosion, paint, laquer or decal wear, or any sign of anything. I regularly service forks and bearings, swapping a lot of gear, and everything has always been fine. Here’s far too much info below - long story short, Fairy liquid in 5L of hot water has a borderline-homeopathic amount of salt, it’s fine to use on a bike. ============ The honest answer is that neither Fairy nor Ecover publicly disclose the actual sodium chloride concentration in the consumer products I could find. The safety data sheets list hazardous ingredients above reporting thresholds, but sodium chloride is not reported for either product. However, we can put some realistic bounds on it. Fairy Original The SDS lists: Sodium laureth sulfate: 20-30% Lauramine oxide: 5-10% Alcohol: 1-5% No sodium chloride is declared. 15 In detergent formulations, sodium chloride is commonly used as a viscosity modifier (thickener) and is typically present at around 0.5-3%, sometimes lower. The absence of declaration suggests it is either not present or present at a low concentration that does not require reporting. This range is an informed formulation estimate, not a value stated by Fairy. Ecover The Ecover ingredient information lists: Sodium lauryl sulfate Lauryl glucoside Cocamidopropyl betaine Alcohol Lactic acid Sodium octyl sulphate Again, no sodium chloride is listed. Ecover's formulations tend to rely more heavily on plant-derived surfactants and may use little or no salt for thickening, but I could not find a published concentration. 63 What does this mean for bike washing? Let's assume a worst-case 3% salt content in Fairy. If you add: 10 mL Fairy to a 5-litre bucket Then salt introduced would be approximately: 10 mL × 3% ≈ 0.3 g salt Distributed through 5 L water ≈ 60 mg/L salt For comparison: Typical seawater: ~35,000 mg/L Lightly salted winter road spray: often hundreds to thousands of mg/L The wash bucket above: ~60 mg/L So even under a pessimistic assumption, the salt concentration is hundreds to thousands of times lower than the salt exposure your bike gets from winter roads. From a corrosion perspective, the quantity of salt introduced by washing-up liquid is essentially negligible compared with: Riding on salted roads Coastal spray Leaving winter grime on the bike Therefore my practical conclusion remains: ✅ Fairy or Ecover in a wash bucket is extremely unlikely to contribute any measurable corrosion risk. ✅ The important thing is rinsing and drying afterwards. ✅ Winter road salt is the real enemy, not washing-up liquid.
mitsky 54 minutes ago
Another example of a driver's actions that would have been a straight fail in a driving test but is barely likely to lead to a disqualification... I'm wondering if having a driving licence is like a "Get out of jail free" card...
Sheen wheels 60 minutes ago
Yes indeed. I have a version of the R8100 and you definitively need ceramic for the socket.
mctrials23 1 hour ago
@perce I'm not sure I agree with that. I think thats just confirming that he is take fully responsibility and recognises that the cyclist could have done nothing to mitigate it.
Paul J 2 hours ago
If we don't fight it now, we'll all end up forced to wear baggy shorts!
kinderje 3 hours ago
@Rendel Harris Agree, I am baffled that the 84 year old who is now banned from driving for year can then start driving again without a retest. We should be re-tested regularly.
19 thoughts on “Live blog: Bus shelter built in cycle lane still there six months on; Rare Fausto Coppi jersey sold for €20k; Silca launch $30 titanium drinking straws with “better strength-to-weight ratio”; Jeremy Vine accused of joining “bullying” Cycleway thread +more”
Serena Lit puts a statement
Serena Lit puts a statement on social media, then cries bullying when she’s questioned, ridiculed over the post.
Get a grip and grow up!
If she wasn’t wanting questioned, ridiculed then do not go on social media. Otherwise it is open season to others opinions.
SculturaD wrote:
Yet another tory politician showing their contempt for cycling, cyclists and the facts.
My favourite thing about that
My favourite thing about that artist impression in the header is the van stopped on double yellows. At first I thought it was a good dose of realism until I realised there’s a perfectly good loading bay next to it with a load of bikes in the way.
rpcutts wrote:
You are permitted to stop on double yellow when unloading
Captain Zhap wrote:
Although looking closer there seem to be single yellow kerb markings, which would prohibit loading at certain times. I can’t see any sign though indicating periods of enforcement
Planet-X have been selling Ti
Planet-X have been selling Ti drinking straws for ages – a lot cheaper too! £5 BARGAIN! https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CPJOBTBS6/jobsworth-titanium-6mm-bevel-straw
I’ve found a particular
I’ve found a particular technique of shaping my lips around the edge of a glass or cup that makes using a straw completely unnecessary.
hawkinspeter wrote:
There are a range of disabilities,that make that difficult or impossible to work for everyone,sometimes a straw is absolutely necessary
Awavey wrote:
I’ve found a particular technique of shaping my lips around the edge of a glass or cup that makes using a straw completely unnecessary.
— Awavey There are a range of disabilities,that make that difficult or impossible to work for everyone,sometimes a straw is absolutely necessary— hawkinspeter
Granted, but I doubt that Silca are aiming for that market.
hawkinspeter wrote:
Not an option for everyone though.
On that weird cycle infra
On that weird cycle infra left hook arrangement, guarantee the side of the road the photo is taken from will be a shared cycle path,its a setup they build to let cyclists cross ‘fast’ roads more safely in their view,as you present yourself to then cross squared to the road, just like a pedestrian would
Awavey wrote:
Just one problem with that though, you have to “swan neck” into the path of other road users to make sure you cross the kerb at a angle large enough that you don’t fall off. There is a similar setup like that on the way down to Bracknell to go straight over a roundabout you first have to turn left onto the PAVEMENT then try to rejoin the traffic flow by turning right at the narrowist part of the road (roundabout exit with traffic island) there are no signs whatsoever to warn drivers and the “dropped” kerbs are two inches high!
It is far safer to stay on the road
When my moustache was at it
When my moustache was at it waxed finest, a straws were essential when drinking home made smoothies or pints of Guiness.
ktache wrote:
I’d’ve thought that Guiness would condition a moustache and make it even more luxurious.
The tache soaks up quite a
The tache soaks up quite a bit of froth and the will dibble down the shirt.
It will also remove the wax, especially the water based ones.
During the colder months I would have to use a more wax based wax as the condensation and then the need to wipe would remove wax.
When very cold small icicles can easily form in the beard.
During the beast from the east I went out on two snowdays for big rides and my rather large beard became a massive chunk of ice.
Can you imagine the outcry if
Can you imagine the outcry if they built a bus shelter in the middle of a road.
The commentors of the local newspaper site wouldn’t be saying “just get out and push your motor vehicle around it” now, would they.
What gets me is when contractors decide to block the cycleway with completely irrelevant “Roadwork” signs, intended as information for motorists.
ktache wrote:
I quite liked the road tax quote. However, since it’s a borough council, then it’s really about council tax, which unless you are a student or nun, is hard to avoid.
ktache wrote:
Happens all the time on cycle “super” highway 3 which runs alongside a dual carriageway. What’s worse is they are totally invisible at night when you’re riding against the flow of traffic with 3 lanes of headlights in your eyes until.youre almost on them. Doesn’t occur to the contractors that as well as being a bad idea in the first place, it might be worth putting some cones or reflectives on the rear side so people can see the damn things
It strikes me as strange that
It strikes me as strange that ms Little complains that people attack her without asking her to explain her reasons for opposing the route but makes no attempt to provide an explanation! Is she programmed to only supply information when it’s requested?
As for people attacking a 21 year old, please, grow up! God only knows how she copes co the real world.