Colombian pro crashes on finish line during victory celebration; Brit hopes to break 200mph in cycling land speed record attempt; Geoghegan Hart criticises scrapping of popular cycle lane; Cycle lane becomes a swimming lane + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
Kensington High Street protest as controversial cycle lane to be scrapped
Let’s go Kensington High Street! #SaveOurLane #KensingtonHighStreet #KHS pic.twitter.com/QLE1wPIekt
— All Brompton, No Lycra (@cyclingheavy) December 1, 2020
These were the scenes on Kensington High Street this morning where hundreds of cyclists gathered to protest the lane’s imminent removal. The emergency cycle lane is to be ripped out this week after the council claimed the scheme is “not working.” Among the crowds were pupils and staff from Fox Primary School who say the lane is essential for providing a safe active travel route for children and that removing the lane is a “backwards step.”
The London Cycling Campaign has also taken an active role in promoting the protest and shared a video of the lane being used by many cyclists commuting into London, before the protest began at 8am. Last week, Conservative MPs Tony Devenish and Felicity Buchan claimed that the cycle lane had failed, while actor Nigel Havers has accused it of causing “gridlock every day.”
We bumped into @willnorman at the #savethelane protest – please tell @RBKC to rethink the decision to withdraw the protections for cyclists https://t.co/wqxBbMTC5F https://t.co/88MPSx7E9n
— London Cycling Campaign (@London_Cycling) December 1, 2020
Johnny Thalassites, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s lead member for transport, said: “The cycle lane was a trial scheme to help those hopping on bikes during lockdowns and encourage shoppers to the High Street. Businesses and residents have told us loud and clear that they believe the experiment has not worked. We are listening.
“By removing the temporary lanes as lockdown lifts, we hope to help get the High Street moving again and give our local economy the best possible chance of a good December.”
Jeremy Vine, Chris Boardman and Ned Boulting back the Kensington High Street protest on Twitter
It’s really something that a school has to fight so their kids are able to travel safely and healthily.
They actually want to do what’s best for their future….and they have to fight for it.
Have a think about that.
If you live in the area show them your support tomorrow. https://t.co/uydUJDqT9F
— Chris Boardman (@Chris_Boardman) November 30, 2020
The £700,000 cycle lane along #KensingtonHighStreet is being ripped out this week after less than two months. I used it tonight and met a mum and daughter who didn’t know it was being removed. I hope @RBKC council might watch this and think again pic.twitter.com/pOG4wCPaZF
— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) November 30, 2020
I am sick of this country’s lack of progressive vision. It was where I was born, and where, after years travelling and living overseas, I always intended to be remain. But, right now….God, it’s hard.
— Ned Boulting (@nedboulting) November 30, 2020
Spectator ban at Tour of Britain would lead to cancellation of north east leg
The Press and Journal reports that Aberdeenshire Council would cancel their involvement in the Tour of Britain if there is a ban on spectators. The city of Aberdeen is due to host the finish of the final stage in 2021 and also the grand depart for the opening stage in 2022. However, Aberdeenshire’s head of economic development, Belinda Miller, explained that one of the key aims of hosting the race is to increase tourism, so a race without spectators would likely lead to the cancellation of their involvement.
She said: “If there are ongoing Covid-19 restrictions, at the levels we are at at the moment, it would become an event that was very disappointing because we wouldn’t have any spectators out to see it.
“The whole point of hosting it, and us being enthusiastic about it, is as a tourism attraction and to inspire our own communities to get involved in cycling. We had a meeting with organisers Sweet Spot and the city council last week and they are off the same understanding as we are, as are all the other hosting stages, that the event should not go ahead with those levels of restrictions. It would not make sense to do so.”
Spalding police issue two penalty notices and spoke to 14 school children in 'day of action' tackling cycling and road safety issues
Spalding Today reports that police officers in the Lincolnshire town spoke to 14 school children and issued two penalty notices during the operation to tackle cycling and road safety. The ‘day of action’ took place on Monday November 30 and a social media post said: “The Neighbourhood Team have been out in Spalding today on a day of action targeting cycling offences and road safety. Our approach is both education and enforcement. As a result, 14 schoolchildren have been spoken to and 2 penalty notices issued.”
Local kids adopt bollards and impressive turnout at the Kensington High Street protest this morning
This bollard on Kensington High St was adopted by Ellie, aged 5 who wants to be able to cycle to school in safety.
She has to adopt a bollard because she hasn’t the same access to power that the likes of Lord Rothermere has. #SaveTheLane pic.twitter.com/rnGkEXjsdJ
— StopKillingCyclists (@StopKillingCycl) December 1, 2020
As part of this morning’s protest at Kensington High Street, some of the bollards segregating the cycle lane from traffic have been adopted by local children. Fox Primary School were one of the most vocal supporters of the bike lane and called its planned removal as “a backwards step.”
Our very own Deputy Head Ms Morgan saying how it is. Thank you to all who came and supported our celebration of cycling and the cycle lane both in person and virtually. #savethelane @Chris_Boardman @MayorofLondon #cycling @RBKC_cycling @London_Cycling @taogeoghegan @willnorman https://t.co/Q46dRvemsb
— Fox Primary School (@FoxPrimary) December 1, 2020
The protest had an impressive turnout considering critics of the cycle lane have suggested it’s barely been used by cyclists. The video below shows 20-30 people on bikes fitting into the space of two or three large cars.
On the right there are perhaps 4 people in large cars (Maserati v Kensington darling), on the left literally 20-30 people riding bikes in a smaller space. how’s your maths @rbkc ?? @London_Cycling #savethelane pic.twitter.com/rp2dSIXDI2
— Sebastian Morrison (@BastieVelo) December 1, 2020
Surf's up: cycle lane or swimming lane?
DANGEROUS WAVES: Don’t let this happen to you. Strong winds are causing high waves to pound the shoreline along Lake Michigan. Stay off the the lakefront trail. https://t.co/6He8PT33Wj pic.twitter.com/v0n3QLNTmv
— ABC 7 Chicago (@ABC7Chicago) November 30, 2020
Cyclists in Chicago have been urged to stay off the lakefront trail which runs along the edge of Lake Michigan. Strong winds have caused dangerous waves to pound the bike path, this cyclist has probably learnt his lesson.
Could be worse, at least this didn’t happen…
When coach writes ‘cool down’ in the training plan 😂 pic.twitter.com/8ldwXhWbkj
— Awesome Cycling 🚵♀️🚵♂️ (@AwesomeCycling) November 27, 2020
Bristol and Bath Railway Path attacks: police deny spike in crime despite concerns and increasing reports from the public
Last week, we reported that several cyclists had complained of attacks on the Bristol and Bath Railway Path, mostly concentrated in an area between 3-6 miles from the start of the Bristol end of the popular cycling and walking route.
Despite mounting evidence to the contrary, Avon and Somerset Police have now replied with a statement claiming that they are not seeing a spike in crime currently. Deepak Kenth, Neighbourhood inspector for Bristol East, said:
“Police patrols have been stepped up over the weekend around the Bristol to Bath cycle path in Bristol East and South Gloucestershire, in response to public concerns following recent incidences of anti-social behaviour and theft that have been reported to us. Investigations into these incidents are ongoing.
“However, I’d like to reassure the public that we do not believe we are seeing a particular spike in crime or a ‘series’ of linked incidents, and that levels of reported crime are not significantly higher than in previous years.
“We’d encourage anyone who spots groups of young people being intimidating, anti-social or blocking the path to call 101 as soon as possible, or 999 if they fear a crime is being committed. All reports will be thoroughly investigated.”
Earlier this week, a local man compiled a spreadsheet of reported incidents and shared the document to the Bristol Cyclists Facebook group. The spreadsheet shows that of 28 alleged incidents in the last year, 16 are reported to have occured in November 2020 – it’s not known whether all of these incidents were reported to Avon and Somerset Police.
Registration for Chase the Sun 2021 is open now
Summer might seem a long way off now the nights are drawing in and the temperature has dropped but it’ll be back soon and what better way to motivate you through the winter than training for a mega ride. Chase the Sun is an annual coast-to-coast endurance challenge on the longest day of the year here in the UK. There are three routes to choose from, including an Italian version, and registration is open now for 2021.
The Chase the Sun North event rolls away from Tynemouth in the east, before crossing the border into Scotland and finishing in Prestwick, after a gruelling 200-mile ride, taking in 3,200m of elevation. If you opt for the southern route, you can expect an even longer day in the saddle, travelling 205 miles from Minster in Kent to Burnham-on-Sea in Somerset.
A third route in Italy from Marco Pantani’s home town of Cesenatico to Tirrenia is even more appealing after a year of lockdown and travel restrictions. The shortest of the routes, it still covers 270km with 3,300m of elevation gain.
Embarrassing moment Colombian pro crashes while celebrating victory
🇨🇴Edisón Muñoz of @OrgullPaisa wins stage 2 of Clásico RCN 2020 and crashes solo while celebrating on the finish line #ClasicoRCN (📺@WinSportsTV) pic.twitter.com/wbX9NiUmxN
— World Cycling Stats (@wcsbike) November 30, 2020
Edisón Muñoz probably wishes the ground would swallow him up after this embarrassing crash on the second stage of Clásico RCN – Cerveza Andina in Colombia. Taking his hands off the bars to celebrate victory he hits a bump in the road and is sent flying off the bike and, fortunately for him, over the finish line. I wonder what went through Muñoz’s mind as he lay on the floor, admittedly with the consolation of a stage win, as all his rivals came flying past laughing their heads off?
It seems this isn’t the first time there’s been a dodgy road surface at the end of a Colombian race. Check out this crash from 2019…
Qué bien el #TourColombia2019, pero se requiere que las autoridades piensen en los ciclistas, como ponen un resalto? pic.twitter.com/7qlbCZRgV6
— Enrique Garcia M. (@egarcam) February 13, 2019
Engineering students drafted in to help British cyclist break cycling land speed world record
Last year, British cyclist Neil Campbell reached a speed of 174.3mph to become the fastest man on a bicycle ever and was officially recognised by Guinness World Records. Now he’s back and trying to break the 200mph barrier. The Shropshire Star reports that a Harper Adams University lecturer and aerodynamics engineer James Croxford, have enlisted the help of four automotive engineering students to design an aerodynamic slipstreaming shelter for the attempt.
The bike Neil will use in the attempt, which he hopes will take place next summer, requires a car to pull him up to speed with a bungee due to the high gearing.
The perfect gift to keep the racing fan in your life quiet this Christmas
The Road Book is back for its third edition with every stat, result and detail you could ever wish to know from the 2020 professional racing season. The 700-page almanack contains writing from some of the year’s protagonists: Wout van Aert, Anna van der Breggen and Tao Geoghegan Hart as well as detailed race reports and essays from writers and journalists.
1 December 2020, 09:12
1 December 2020, 09:12
1 December 2020, 09:12
1 December 2020, 09:12
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Latest Comments
If anyone reading this article is looking for reasonable alternatives Decathlon sell a range of bum bags including one with a bottle holder that comes with the bottle all of which are less than £20. I've got a bum bag I bought a few years ago to replace a North Face bum bag that has lasted really well including commuting and cycle touring that was only £10 and that doesn't seem to have any of the drawbacks of the pack on review.
@Borisface The frameset is similarly priced to e.g. Condor aluminium framesets such as Italia RC Integrato so it doesn't look too far off the mark. Obviously if you dress any old frame up with Campag Record 13 wireless and some decent wheels the final price is going to be somewhere north of £5k.
@Freddy56 @hotspanners Hi, just for for starters I didn’t boycott the race, if you read to the end of the article you’d have seen that I decided I was going to attend and try and implement a positive change… Just for clarity, if it helps with the credibility of my words and something I didn’t include in the blog for brevity and fear of willy-waving here’s an incomprehensive list of cycle events I’ve helped organise over the years - all Brighton Big Dog MTB events (about 12 i think), three league CX races and one Singlespeed CX Euro Champs (niche, i know), a few SAMS MTB races - maybe three or four it was a while back now, a Morvelo City Cross, I’ve stood on a corner in a high-vis vest at quite a few MTB, CX and road races too, and just helped wind up tape at last weekend’s CX race. I’ve also had the privilege to design logos, draw images, and create one-off pieces of artwork and give away prints as prizes for enough races and events for me to forget how many, all for free as part of ‘doing my bit’… Also if you made it through to the second half of the article you’ll have read that I have every sympathy for event organisers because of the experience of all the above and also from having conversations with various organisers on a regular basis so I am acutely aware of all the challenges faced. I chatted today with the future local CX race organiser mentioned, face to face in a field, and he has a similar hatred of AI and is more than happy for me to create a hand-drawn image to promote that race and also help out on the ground where possible… Might even draw a duck in there somewhere for giggles…
@Borisface Not entirely sure why some alleged good times set in the last century validate the silliness and ignorance of your rejection on the grounds of materials and weight of a bike that the reviewer (who, if you look at his bio above, has rather a lot of experience himself, not only of riding bikes but of engineering too) describes as "absolute perfection in every aspect". Thanks for the unrequested permission but I'm not actually looking to spend 6k on a bike at the moment; if I was, on the basis of this review and the photographs I'd certainly be putting this on my shortlist and looking for a test ride. But then in this area at least I have an open mind, you see.
@Freddy56 as the article says, Jo boycotted our race because he thought we’d used AI to design our flyer. I’m with him 100% but he got the facts wrong. People don’t like AI slop. It’s lazy and generic. But you’re right - these grassroots events run off volunteering. I wave flags, design kit and artwork, ferry things to our lockup etc - perhaps Jo could be the change he wants to see. He could volunteer to the London and SE CX league that he races in to help them out with artwork - he created Mint Sauce!
Currently riding home powered by this for the last 6 months after someone stole my SeeSence beam, LOVE it. super durable and batter life gets me home on full beam for 55 minutes
Comments and an article by people who organise NOTHING! Promoting an event is mostly by volunteers and an AI poster done at midnight after sorting the British cycling insurance, the toilets, the Marshalls, the council and a landowner is so draining. The effort is massive for usually a small team. Grab a flag and help rather than moaning about a generated image...o look the image is eye catching so it must work .
I have Wizzard works bag from 2018 (bought for my 30th) and this is a complete rip off it!!
6 times division champion, 1st cat road man, semi-pro for 3 years. Sub 21 min 10 and sub 55 min 25 on a steel road bike. Forty five years riding. Forgotten more about riding bikes than most on here will ever know. If you want to pay £6k for an aluminium road by all means go ahead.
@Borisface Probably for the best, if you're as ignorant about bikes and materials as your comment suggests you wouldn't appreciate it anyway. Go and buy something on the UCI weight limit made out of the latest space age super carbon and wobble around on it looking daft and feeling uncomfortable and to hell with aesthetics, practicality and real-world use cases, at least you'll have the right numbers ("6.85 kg, awesome!") and words ("Yeah, it's UHM 12k carbon, actually") for the cafe. Enjoy!
24 thoughts on “Colombian pro crashes on finish line during victory celebration; Brit hopes to break 200mph in cycling land speed record attempt; Geoghegan Hart criticises scrapping of popular cycle lane; Cycle lane becomes a swimming lane + more on the live blog”
“Businesses and residents
“Businesses and residents have told us loud and clear that they believe the experiment has not worked” – so not actually supported by evidence then. What was it Bill Hicks said; something like “beliefs are neet but don’t cherish and share them like they’re the truth”.
“we hope to help get the High Street moving again” – let’s hope they have a plan C.
IanMK wrote:
Exactly. Where’s the data? I believe that the businesses and residents objecting are biased and hate cyclists, and since my belief is just as good as theirs, they balance out, so the lane has to remain.
You can’t make real world decisions on belief, you need facts, which they don’t have, except for the single fact that they hate cyclists.
In the same way that Donald
In the same way that Donald Trump believes he won the recent Presidential election.
” actor and convicted drink
” actor and convicted drink driver Nigel Havers has accused it of causing “gridlock every day.”
Fixed that for you
I’m really disappointed to
I’m really disappointed to find out that Nigel Havers is, in real life, a proper tool. He really is a great actor…..
the little onion wrote:
So let’s get this straight.
So let’s get this straight. The borough that voted to remove the Western Extension for the Congestion Charge Zone is now complaining about congestion?
The solution is for all
The solution is for all cyclists who did travel by bike to travel by car instead and see if congestion gets better or worse.
They are quick to notice the space lost, but don’t consider the reduction in number of motor vehicles. An extra ane here doesn’t reduce congestion because a) it will likely be taken by parked vehicles b) there will be a bottleneck further up the road where there are not two lanes.
If drivers can recognise that the cycle lanes are free of traffic and less congested than the motor vehicle lane, why don’t they make the switch and save themselves some time?
30 years ago I could cycle anyway in London quicker than public transport, and many places quicker than driving (or cenrtainly quicker than driving and parking) I doubt cycle journey times have increased whereas I bet motor vehcile journey times have.
wycombewheeler wrote:
It’s easier to sit in traffic fuming at others moving around freely, than actually join them. These people won’t change unless they’re forced to.
One hopes Spalding police are
One hopes Spalding police are as diliigent with passing motorists, and one also hopes that their enforcement action involved a judgement call before encouraging young kids to cycle in the traffic rather than the relative safety of the pavement. One also hopes that the 2 tickets weren’t for parents doing their best to look after their kids under crappy cycle provision.
OK Im making assumptions here but I dont like the tone of that tweet.
The Daily Mail coverage of
The Daily Mail coverage of the cycle lane protest is quite different in tone…
“Finally Kensington High Street’s ‘white elephant’ Covid bike lane gets some use! Cyclists with Extinction Rebellion flags spill into the road and bring traffic to a halt with protest against removal of the hated £300k council scheme“
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9005063/Cyclists-Extinction-Rebellion-flags-protest-removal-hated-cycle-lane.html
I believe you but don’t post
I believe you but don’t post their links. All clicks increase their ad revenue.
markieteeee wrote:
Adblock them. For security reasons alone adblock everything and whitelist only the sites you want to support, and know are secure.
I solve it by not clicking
I solve it by not clicking through to them, but yes this would work too.
200mph isn’t a “barrier”, it
200mph isn’t a “barrier”, it’s an arbitrary number. And a thoughtless cliché.
The sound barrier was a genuine barrier because with conventional aircraft designs the shockwave in front of the plane just piles up as you approach the speed of sound and physically prevents the plane from going any faster.
Nothing physically stops someone on a bike who is being sucked along by the vortex behind a car from going faster than any given subsonic speed. If the car can do 200mph, then so can the bike rider, provided he or she has the necessary huge shiny gonads to hang the hell on at that speed. In which case I takes off me hat to ’em.
Fair point. Just one thing;
Fair point. Just one thing; it’s an aeroplane, not a plane. A Plane is a tool used in woodworking, or is a 2-dimensional geometrical construct. From one miserable b@stard to another!!!
In the picture there does
In the picture there does seem to be a plane attached to the back of the Porsche Stupidity being used as the tow car. I can’t imagine what the engineering students did for that one – take hinges, handles and a knocker off? Perhaps if doing this now they’d have to remove a Christmas wreath too.
njblackadder wrote:
Are you a language prescriptivist or descriptivist? Either way, your attempted pedantry is incorrect. People use the word “plane” that way, and it’s in the dictionary.
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/plane
andystow wrote:
Are you a language prescriptivist or descriptivist? Either way, your attempted pedantry is incorrect. People use the word “plane” that way, and it’s in the dictionary.
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/plane— njblackadder
Shouldn’t it be a ‘plane? Since it’s a contraction of aeroplane (UK) or airplane (US)…
brooksby wrote:
Is that like the short version of helicopter should be ‘pter’?
200mph isn’t a barrier, but
200mph isn’t a barrier, but it takes a s**t load of power to move a car at that speed and keep it stable. To do that and leave a hole in the air big enough to fit a bike in is a real achievement. Like you say though, the cyclist just needs balls of steel. Or titanium.
Guys – you have all wasted so
Guys – you have all wasted so much energy and space replying to Twatcyclist. If it posts just ignore it.
Quite.
Quite.
It’s like an incessant itch that no amount of scratching is enough……
If you really want an epic
If you really want an epic day out on the bike, Chase the Sun is a good shout. I rode i it 2019, and was supposed to ride again in 2020. SIgned up for 2021, and can’t wait. It is by far the best day I’ve had on the bike. While I was mentally and physically prepared for the challenge, I wasn’t emotionally prepared for the finish. There is nothing quite like it, and the atmosphere of the day can’t be beat