Councillors call in the cops to “assist” with cyclists ignoring dismount signs; Not Near Miss of the Day: “A most excellent overtake”; Dave Brailsford arrives at Old Trafford for Man United takeover talks; Who’ll win San Remo? + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
Dave Brailsford and Jim Ratcliffe arrive at Old Trafford for Manchester United takeover talks
NEW | 1st pictures of British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe arrives at Old Trafford with Ineos delegation to be met by Manchester United chief exec Richard Arnold for talks over potential takeover #ManUtd #ineos ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/XzxYFobbWJ
— Dan Roan (@danroan) March 17, 2023
Formula 1 drivers banned from cycling the 'track walk'
Seriously? 🙄 #F1 https://t.co/4wfks4nSlx
— Rob Myers (@RobLMyers) March 17, 2023
As reported by Motorsport, Formula 1 drivers will no longer be allowed to cycle around the circuit at the Thursday track walk ahead of a Grand Prix. The prep event allows riders and staff to see the track ahead of practice and qualifying, but rather than walking around the two to three-mile-long circuits many drivers have taken to bikes or scooters. Not any more…
A letter from Formula One Management during the first race of the season, in Bahrain, told teams that “any means of transport (bicycles, e-bikes, scooters, e-scooters, etc) is forbidden during the time window stated as ‘Team Track Walks’ on the Event Timetable. No exceptions will be allowed. This decision has been agreed with the FIA.”
Looks like we’ve got a feature to update…
> The best bikes of the F1 grid: take a look at what the fastest drivers on earth choose to ride
Is the driving on Britain's roads getting safer?
Some reaction to this…
They do happen. I’ve had some superb overtakes recently. I filtered past one guy at the lights and thanked him for his excellent driving the other day. Credit where credit is due.
— Nature’s Eye Music-Royalty Free Music & Downloads (@nature_royalty) March 17, 2023
hutchdaddy: “It has to be said that the vast majority of overtaking I experience is absolutely fine, probably 75 per cent, however I think that 20 per cent is a case of you really could have tried a little harder, leaving 3 per cent of them for a “way too close” moment and the final 2 per cent are just dangerous. Every excellent pass gets a thumbs up and if I catch up with them I’ll even have a pleasant natter.”
Adam Sutton: “It really is hit and miss lately (no pun intended). On my commute I cycle along a dual carriageway that has a narrow cycle lane for about two miles, and I have noticed an increasing number of people actually pulling into the second lane as they overtake despite the cycle lane. Always give them acknowledgement when that happens.
“Then again, on Monday in typical bimmer fashion a 3 series close passed with oncoming traffic as we came past a train station. I guess he really needed to get to that car park 10 seconds quicker! But then on Wednesday’s commute I could hear something sporty behind me and was expected a MGIF manoeuvre approaching traffic islands, but he just followed. As an Alfa romeo owner, it was a pleasant surprise to see it was an Alfa 4C pulled up alongside me at the lights. Definitely got a thumbs up!”
mctrials23: “Bit of a weird one… I would say that on open roads like this, 95 per cent of passes are good. A few per cent could be better and a few per cent are obviously on purpose just to make a point that they don’t like cyclists. In built up areas with lots of traffic though its a completely different game.”
Cyclingjon1959: “If you get a great overtake, or any other considerate driving from a firm. Ring the firm and let them know. I’ve rung firms to complain and praise.”
CyclingGardener: “I’d certainly say I’m getting more really good passes, but that was already starting before the HC changes. So probably fewer close ones on the whole. But I also have the impression that more of the remaining ‘really too close’ are hostile and deliberate rather than just thoughtless. And nothing, but nothing seems to change the mindset of the ‘centre line fetishists’ who think they’re not allowed to cross ANY white line, not just the solid ones.”
S13SFC: “Regarding close passes. I’ve been saying for quite a while that I am getting, way, way fewer than before. In fact, I’m genuinely shocked when I get one now.What I am seeing is far more overtaking in iffy as f*** places though, such as blind bends, crests of hills etc but at least they are going wide!”
Bobonabike: “Re: close passes, I think you’ve just been lucky. I’ve had some right shockers recently. A guy I know was recently knocked off twice in a couple of weeks — luckily no injuries. I’m considering getting a camera. I’d love some recommendations for a budget cam (i.e. ~£100)”
Cyclist stopped by police three times and "told to put bike in van" after "load of complaints" from motorists on foggy climb
How to fuel for a big ride like a pro — chocolate croissant porridge?!
The actions of the following tweet are do not reflect the views of myself nor my employer…
Perfectly perfect chocolate croissant porridge pic.twitter.com/GbQvfD9RQH
— Krista Doebel-Hickok (@KristabelDH) March 17, 2023
Is it as bad as Mathieu van der Poel’s tomato ketchup pasta? Probably not, but still…
British Continental team AT85 Pro Cycling folds
— AT85ProCycling (@AT85ProCycling) March 17, 2023
A long-standing team on the British domestic scene, formerly under the Canyon DHB SunGod and WiV SunGod banner, has collapsed today. The team’s line-up for this year had included riders such as Chris Lawless, Tour of Britain points classification winner Matthew Teggart and Max Stedman, their futures now uncertain.
Hearing some bad news which will shake the sport big time when public. It is an example of how tough it is for those of us who rely on the sport for a living and support the sport as I do and so many others do. Time for the community to pull together for the sake of cycling!
— British Cycle Sport (@VeloUK) March 17, 2023
The news comes just months after fellow Continental-level outfit Ribble Weldtite called it a day due to a lack of sponsorship, with Saint Piran and Trinity Racing now the only two left at that level.
Hearing some bad news which will shake the sport big time when public. It is an example of how tough it is for those of us who rely on the sport for a living and support the sport as I do and so many others do. Time for the community to pull together for the sake of cycling!
— British Cycle Sport (@VeloUK) March 17, 2023
Decline of the UK conti scene. Very sad to see. pic.twitter.com/V6kBF4rWpb
— Charlie Tanfield (@CharlieTanfield) March 17, 2023
Is Milan–San Remo exciting yet?
Is Milan-San Remo exciting yet?
To save you a click…
Tao Geoghegan Hart: "This is not today's news. It's been a gradual decline during the past years"
Commenting on the state of the sport of bike racing in Britain Tao Geoghegan Hart has penned a long thread of thoughts on social media…
The sport of cycling in the UK is at a low that I’ve not seen during my time. Aside from the obvious one, there are no profesional mens and women’s teams. There are next to no pro races and those that exist, face dwindling fields due to brexit. There is no domestic scene whatsoever.
Further to that, bike shop shelves are empty, the roads are ever more dangerous and the sport is becoming increasingly less accesible due to soaring costs such as entry fees, the equipment arms race and the lack of opportunities to race for well supported teams.
Times are very tough and sport is anything but exempt from these issues. However more must be done to reset what has been a steady decline ever since the inspiration of the summer of 2012 began to dwindle.
A road World Champion, The Tour, Lizzie’s silver , the track successes & Bradley Wiggins’ TT victory. Absolutely iconic moments that have resulted in more profesional British riders than ever. But what of the sport? It’s dying. And I don’t see anyone coming to resuscitate it.
This is not todays news. It’s been a gradual decline during the past years. But todays news of [one of] Britain’s only Continental team, full of talented riders, a team vindicated by how many lads moved to professional last winter, has made me stop & think. Nobody seems to be paying attention.
What can you/we/I do? I don’t know. A start would be seeing the Women’s Tour find a sponsor to continue at full strength. I’d also like to see more done to lobby for better rules on the youth side of the sport. In 2020 I pushed for a rule to ban deep section carbon wheels from kids racing from 16 & below.
It’s a symbolic gesture. But I remember being 14 & just starting out. I remember how much weight I gave to the materialistic side of my competitions bikes. It could have ended my career. This rule already exists on the track. Why not the road?
I was met with blank expressions and bureaucracy by the custodians of cycling in this country & frankly, I gave up. But it’s something I still believe in. And so from today I’ll try again.
I don’t have any answers. But I do know you should support your local shops — they are absolutely on their knees. Support your local clubs. Volunteer in kids sport. All the things and more I plan to fully embrace when my career eventually comes to a halt. Thanks for reading
And. Always. Keep riding like a kid. And smiling like one too 🧡 pic.twitter.com/LFp13WQiAT
— Tao Geoghegan Hart (@taogeoghegan) March 17, 2023
Not Near Miss of the Day: Cyclist praises "a most excellent overtake"
You probably know our Near Miss of the Day series by now, highlighting the dangers experienced by vulnerable road users here in the UK. Most recently featuring a London cab driver who pushed through an overtake at a pinch point, smashing his wing mirror into the back of our reader… before promptly having a pop at the cyclist for “swerving”…
Well, today there is no NMotD, just a Not Near Miss of the Day…
Finally for today we’ve got this Most Excellent Overtake from a Brook Hire van. I don’t think they’re on Twitter, but if anyone knows them, please pass on my gratitude for this Most Excellent Overtake.#MEO
🙂💕👍🚲🚛 pic.twitter.com/WUPYbnxsfi— SHIFT (@goSHIFTscheme) March 16, 2023
Shared by the chair of Bike Worcester, Dan Brothwell, it was not the only one he enjoyed yesterday…
Super work by the driver of this @myworcester bin lorry, a Most Excellent Overtake indeed. @myworcester if you could find out who was driving and pass on my thanks that would be very groovy. pic.twitter.com/WLDPfe2g39
— SHIFT (@goSHIFTscheme) March 16, 2023
Here’s a discussion topic for you…
I couldn’t help but think recently I feel like I’m having less close passes while out on the roads. Something you’ve noticed too or have I just been lucky of late? The bad ones aren’t gone completely, just slightly fewer… maybe I’m just imagining it?
Cycling company cools customers' concerns concerning cosmetic cracks
It’s that point in the week where my brain’s melting away, as seen by that headline…anyway, Mat’s done the serious work on this one…
> Giant says Revolt cracking issue is simply down to paint… but it’ll replace frames free of charge
It's TT time! A closer look at Aaron's Cannondale Superslice time trial bike
Wout goes Van Aert's front mech for Milan-San Remo
Councillors call in the cops to "assist" with cyclists ignoring dismount signs
North Richmond Police down in south west London seemed very pleased with their post showing off their work in the community… *checks notes*… assisting councillors after receiving several reports from residents in regards to cyclists ignoring the dismount sign…
The team assisted Richmond Councillors in a cycle operation on Lower Mortlake Road on the A316 after receiving several reports from residents in regards to cyclist ignoring the dismount sign. @LBRUT pic.twitter.com/NNsJnx71dC
— North Richmond Police Team (@MPSNthRichmond) March 16, 2023
They seemed less pleased with the inevitable follow-up from the public who had a few questions…
Who said we were doing anything more than ‘advising’? 🤔
— North Richmond Police Team (@MPSNthRichmond) March 16, 2023
Other questions for the force, as provided by the superb ratio of 103 replies to 28 likes…
Is that a van parked on the pavement in the background? Let’s head to VAR on that one…
Any work being done to prevent illegal pavement driving which is very clear in this satellite image?
No reply to those particular queries at the time of writing (or any other time, we suspect). One reply to the police’s assertion they’d only been advising… “There are two signs here, one mandatory, one advisory. By mentioning only the advisory one, can you see and will you concede that you’ve increased the chances of law-abiding people riding cycles past or near an advisory sign being abused or assaulted?
Yep, you guessed it, no reply on that one either…
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In France, the closer the cyclist gets to the Mediterranean Sea, the weirder car drivers behave. Some of them being repeat road deliquents. Encounters with 13, 31, 34 and 84 may prove hairy. Drivers with plates showing 84 (Vaucluse) think light signalling is no longer necessary before making a turn or exiting a roundabout. Pity UAE Team came to the decision not to press charges.
@MaxiMinimalist We can fear such a ban to varying degrees. But I'd be surprised if it happens. Even if it does the police don't have the resource and time to deal with dangerous drivers. So I guess they will ignore it anway.
Sooner or later, there will be public calls for cycling ban on specific roads and / or at specific times of the day. The great divide that separates cyclists from drivers of motorized vehicles with 4-plus wheels isn't going to narrow anytime soon. In spite of the net-zero madness, there is zip political ambition to allocate massive funds to cycling, build proper infrastructure, elaborate a nationwide integrated cycling network, educate all road users. Why? Because motorists of all kinds are voters and taxpayers.
@Smoggysteve Right - as I say, though - that's a separate debate, that I'll leave to others.
AS I read this, I was wondering hao many other legal e-bikes may have been seized and crushed as a result of this bogus test? As I pointed out recently in a reply to a Facebook post that stated that e-bikes are limited to 25kph/15.5mph any bike, whether a pure pedal cycle or an e-bike, can exceed this speed if the rider can pedal hard enough, or when going downhill. The regulation just states that the motor must switch off at higher speeds. If the rider can achieve higher speeds unaided, that is legal. The test that the police used just demonstrated the maximum "speed" achieved by pedal power alone with no or little resistance can be much higher than the motor cut-off speed.
@ROOTminus1 Unfortunately, people will still do all they can to get past. the MGIFs can't help themselves and are a danger to everyone not only the cyclist.
It was going to weigh them up, but they were below the limit.
Clearly driver training and the driving test need to change to meet modern time poor driving conditions. I suggest the following need to be added to the practical test : 1) Undertaking on pavements. 2) Close passing cyclists or horses at 50mph.(It is clear from the comments on this website that cyclists do not appreciate how difficult a skill this is to master). 3) Threading between bollards to park on pavements near fast food outlets. 4) Steering with the knees while using a mobile phone and eating a burger or sushi, depending on the area. 5) Fighting with cyclists at roundabouts. For the advanced driving test the fighting will be with gangs of Hell's Angels or Mods. 6) Handbrake turns. 7) Driving at speed after all night parties. 8) Selecting the wrong gear and smashing into somebody's living room. The theory test could be shortened to make room for these practical additions. Maybe it could just be distilled down to learning crucial phrases like : "The cyclist came out of nowhere!" "I had the children in the car." "I had hunger knock and urgently needed an egg Mcmuffin." "I didn't see them." "I had been to a party and was wearing different shoes."
The headline states the article will "weigh up the pros and cons" but doesn't really provide any argument for keeping the limit. Or maybe it's to "weigh up the pros (of lowering the limit) and cons (of keeping the limit)"? Beyond having a different limit for either/or women's races/smaller riders, which I can see a strong argument for, I don't really see the point of just lowering the absolute limit. What will it achieve? We'll end up with aero bikes at the new limit but instead of costing £10-15k, it'll be £15-20k and we'll still hear more complaining about everything in the bike industry being so expensive. Sure, no one's forced to buy the TdF bike, but it does anchor the price ceiling, which will have an effect on every other model. There's a focus in the article on companies being able to make lightweight bikes again, or for pros to race on them. Well, they already exist for those that want them. And the pros? We might have a few years of bike choice, but we'll still end up with everyone using the aero bike at the new weight limit but with lots of expensive R&D and new materials that need to be paid for. Especially lightweight bikes don't have a right to exist. A 7kg bike from 20 years ago is the same weight as a 7kg bike today. I think what's more interesting is the suggestion of scaling the weight limit with rider weight. That feels fairer. But could it remove an advantage that a bigger sprinter might have over their colleagues, for example? We could end up with just the same style of rider across a whole race. It also feels like it doesnt make much sense to just map the men's limit onto the women's field. But then if it's an arbitrary limit, does that matter either?
FFS France always seemed like a safe place to ride a bike, outside Paris that is. Can't see the Department number in the photo - hire cars traditionally have been registered in Oise (60) and many still are, though not all. Does make you wonder if it was a Brit on holiday. Only road rage driver I've experienced in Spain was in a hire car, and that was relatively benign - brake check and windscreen wiper / fluid squirt.
55 thoughts on “Councillors call in the cops to “assist” with cyclists ignoring dismount signs; Not Near Miss of the Day: “A most excellent overtake”; Dave Brailsford arrives at Old Trafford for Man United takeover talks; Who’ll win San Remo? + more on the live blog”
Re: close passes, I think you
Re: close passes, I think you’ve just been lucky. I’ve had some right shockers recently. A guy I know was recently knocked off twice in a couple of weeks – luckily no injuries. I’m considering getting a camera. I’d love some recommendations for a budget cam (i.e. ~£100)
I have a chilli tech bullet
I have a chilli tech bullet camera which I think are about 40quid now. Comes with a handlebar mount which is where I use it and a velcro hemet mount. Pretty good in daylight, not so good in fading light and the dark.
I also have a chili tech
I also have a chili tech bullet cam – about £50 I think.
It does the job as perce says in good light. The audio quality is abysmal, but at the price there have to be compromises.
Yep. Forgot to mention the
Yep. Forgot to mention the audio quality is next to useless.
Battery life is excellent
Battery life is excellent though
True that. And a spare
True that. And a spare battery was included. Although I’ve lost mine.
Unbelievable. I too use the
Unbelievable. I too use the chili tech bullet camera & have had positive results when having to make representations to
the filthplod (daylight only though as you say).That’s really weird when you consider that if you were to say, conduct a detailed meta-analysis of our writing styles, subject matter, and tone-of-voice, the liklihood that we are the same physical entity would come out significantly below 0.0076%.
I agree.
I agree.
I’ve been using a chilli tech
I’ve been using a chilli tech bullet on my commuter bike, and would agree its good enough in daylight, rubbish at night but most cameras seem to be that way.
I’m not fussed with sound, because it won’t pick up anything useful anyway.
I just need a decent rear
I just need a decent rear camera now – there doesn’t seem to be much choice though.
perce wrote:
I’ve been running a Garmin Varia RCT715 since they came out last year. Kinda pricey but if you factor in you’re getting a decent rear light, a camera and a radar in one unit, it’s not so bad.
Battery life is decent, I’ve had 5+ hours and still running, can be configured to record in clips either continuously or triggered by vehicle approach, nice integration with Edge head units, you can swipe down, select camera widget and either take a photo or record & lock a clip. Grabs time & GPS from the head unit. Can easily show reg no on freeze-frame (not tried it in the dark, but I’ve seen in dusk conditions that the flashing light illuminates the reflective plate). Also one of the first Garmin products to have USB C.
Downsides are price, and the Varia app is a bit clunky – to retrieve clips, it creates a wifi network on the phone. a bit slow. Of course you can plug it in or remove the microSD card. On that the supplied card is only 16Gb, but a SanDisk high speed 128Gb is cheap enough. Certain reviews slated it for being “only” 1080p, and no 4K (why, it’s a safety cam), and no stabilisation. For me that just keeps the battery longer and the file sizes smaller.
Some examples below, I’ve blocked some of the reg nos here, as not interested in identifying people on a public site and two of them were sent to Dorset Police for them to ignore.
Thanks very much for that,
Thanks very much for that, greatly appreciated. I’d been looking at the Cycliq 6 but the reviews are a bit hit and miss. I like Garmin products anyway.
perce wrote:
I would be a bit wary of using reviews as a reliable indicator. It’s a self-selecting sample. People who have had a poor experience are FAR more likely to take to social media etc to talk about it than people who are perfectly happy.
Also, Cycliq shift a lot of units, so there will, inevitably, be more faulty units in circulation. The same thing happens with Garmin.
Obviously my experience is anecdotal but I’ve been running a Cycliq Fly CE12 for over four years with no problems and numerous reports to police that have resulted in action against dangerous drivers. I’ve been running a Cycliq GEN3 for just over a year, again with no problems.
Thanks for that – again, much
Thanks for that – again, much appreciated. Also you do tend to remember the bad reviews more than the good ones.
In my (admittedly limited)
In my (admittedly limited) experience you’ll get more for your money going secondhand than going for a budget option, if you look on eBay you can pick up a GoPro Hero Sessions 4 camera for less than £100, often with quite a few accessories thrown in – this was my first camera and I wish I hadn’t sold it, thought I would upgrade to a newer GoPro but no discernible difference in (the brilliant) picture or sound quality.
If anyone has an action
If anyone has an action camera with loooong battery life (>4hours) I would like to share his experience
I have a helmet mounted Drift
I have a helmet mounted Drift XL pro. This has a battery life of around 4 hours on the higher resolutions but the quality doesn’t seem that much better than the XL I now use as a rear camera, which can easily do 8 hours.
Quality is good enough in daylight but deteriorates in low light. Having said that it has always allowed me to get the reg so far. The built in mic is pretty useless but it has a waterproof connector to connect an external mike. I’ve been toying with trying this out and attatching a mic to the helemt so I can read out number plates.
I have read about many cases of failure on the internet but I’ve had the XL for a couple of years now and the only problem I’ve had is having to do a hard reset on one occasion.
The XL is around £150 new if you shop around but you can often pick up lightly used ones for under £100.
I’ve taken one to bits and it looks like it should be possible to replace the batteries when they fail but I haven’t actually done it yet.
Having a helmet mounted camera allows me to jump on any bike at the drop of a hat and still have a camera. I do believe that I ride more assertively with a camera, and as a result have less incidents, although the ones I do get often seem like punishment passes for having the audacity to think I have just as much right as them to be on the road.
Thanks for the fast response.
Thanks for the fast response. I had read that this camera could reach up to 8h and it is nice to confirm it. But since I cannot find it in my place neither new or used it has to be ruled out, so any suggestions are welcome, especially if budget ones
Regarding close passes.
Regarding close passes.
I’ve been saying for quite a while that I am getting, way, way fewer than before. In fact, I’m genuinely shocked when I get one now.
What I am seeing is far more overtaking in iffy as fuck places though, such as blind bends, crests of hills etc but at least they are going wide!
I’d certainly say I’m getting
I’d certainly say I’m getting more really good passes, but that was already starting before the HC changes. So probably fewer close ones on the whole. But I also have the impression that more of the remaining ‘really too close’ are hostile and deliberate rather than just thoughtless.
And nothing, but nothing seems to change the mindset of the ‘centre line fetishists’ who think they’re not allowed to cross ANY white line, not just the solid ones.
If you get a great overtake,
If you get a great overtake, or any other considerate driving from a firm. Ring the firm and let them know. I’ve rung firms to complain and praise.
Bit of a weird one… I would
Bit of a weird one… I would say that on open roads like this, 95% of passes are good. A few % could be better and a few % are obviously on purpose just to make a point that they don’t like cyclists.
In built up areas with lots of traffic though its a completely different game.
It really is hit and miss
It really is hit and miss lately (no pun intended). On my commute I cycle along a dual carriageway that has a narrow cycle lane for about 2 miles, and I have noticed an increasing number of people actually pulling into the second lane as they overtake despite the cycle lane. Always give them acknowledgement when that happens. Then again, on Monday in typical bimmer fashion a 3 series close passed with oncoming traffic as we came past a train station. I guess he really needed to get to that car park 10 seconds quicker! But then on Wednesdays commute I could hear something sporty behind me and was expected a MGIF manouvere approaching traffic islands, but he just followed. As an Alfa romeo owner, it was a pleasant surprise to see it was an Alfa 4C pulled up alongside me at the lights. Definitely got a thumbs up!
I’ve generally not phoned up
I’ve generally not phoned up after a good pass but I have told a firm when I’ve had cause to ring them anyway*. And I’m more likely to use a firm if they’ve been courteous on the road and boycot a firm if they have arsehole drivers. I find it bizarre that someone with their business plastered on their vehicle will drive like an arse but there we are.
I have emailed the local secondary when I’ve seen their kids do great on the bikes whilst navigating shitty driving. I reckon they get enough complaints from drivers who think they shouldn’t exist and thought positive feedback was needed.
*Hazell and Jeffrey’s. I won’t go anywhere else for a skip now.
It has to be said that the
It has to be said that the vast majority of overtaking I experience is absolutely fine, probably 75%, however I think that 20% is a case of you really could have tried a little harder, leaving 3% of them for a “way too close” moment and the final 2% are just dangerous.
Every excellent pass gets a thumbs up and if I catch up with them I’ll even have a pleasant natter.
Funnily enough a neighbour
Funnily enough a neighbour who cycles regularly said she feels that passing has got safer since the highway code changes.
I dont think its got better or worse, but on the whole the vast majority are fine. A minority pass me with plenty of space, but not safely in as much as there is an oncoming car or blind bend (I always feel bad for them as their hearts are in the right place). A small percentage are bad, and I’m sorry to say are more often than not Audi drivers.
I get why the post exists but
I get why the post exists but it’s a sad world where we have to ‘praise’ the minimum acceptable standard and being anymore more.
It’s peaks and troughs I
It’s peaks and troughs I think, some days you will be pleasantly surprised, other days you wonder if someone’s taken a contract out to kill you.
There seems no rhyme or reason to it, it just happens. I did 3 rides last week where I was in double figures each ride for close passes, some worse than others.
I think my tolerance also
I think my tolerance also varies. I had 2 very close passes on on one stretch of road this morning. I became very critical/sensitive to other passes that weren’t the full 1.5m, whereas on other occasions I might not have noticed.
I invested in a Garmin Varia
I invested in a Garmin Varia rear radar light last year. I have to say, unless it is extremely coincidental, I have noticed much safer overtakes since using it. Whereas I used to get regular close passes, they are now thankfully much rarer. If it is anything to do with the light, which flashes the light faster and brighter when it detects approaching traffic, then it was a very worthwhile investment.
Ref the banning of bikes on
Ref the banning of bikes on track walks… this makes zero sense to me whatsoever.. is the story missing something or is a complete load of old tosh?
If the track walk is open to
If the track walk is open to the public, as the photo suggests, I can understand FIA stance as there are a lot of people wandering all over the track possibly not expecting anything other than walkers (so don’t need to look where they’re going).
But I’m happy to be corrected.
They’re not usually open to
They’re not usually open to the public, Spa might be the exception there.
It will either be some issue around providing medical back up/track personnel in case someone had an accident, and F1 (note not the FIA) are worried about liability, or they think its an advantage to complete laps at more than walking pace.
I wonder if the running events (media & team personnel have a running non competitive kind of parkrun thing around all the circuits track) have been stopped as well ? Might be a clue as to the issue.
Close passes getting better ?
Close passes getting better ? Ymmv opinions definitely differ on that.
Are bike shelves empty ? Can
Are bike shelves empty ? Can’t say I’d noticed that. But I do enjoy a good lecture from someone who rides for a team owned by a billionaire, who is so bored with his money wants to buy a football team (old joke but its true whats the quickest way to become a millionaire, be a billionaire and buy a football team), whilst complaining about lack of funding for British teams and racing calendars which is squarely on British Cyclings shoulders, Tao youre hearts in the right place but maybe have a chat with Jim and the folks in Manchester about it.
Awavey wrote:
I’m really no fan of JimBrexitIneos but I don’t get your rant? He’s put his money into a British team in order to save it…maybe he could / should spend more on some lower level teams to save them too but not sure what Tao can do about it?
An english team, plus
An english team, plus Radcliffe is a brexit supporter who lives in Monaco
Awavey wrote:
He is lecturing nobody, you don’t have to read it. Having chosen to read it you then link his employers financial status and investment in a pro team to the decline in UK racing, a link I am struggling to see. Then by suggesting Tao has a word you imply he is part of the problem. I think you lost me at “are”.
Are you having a bad day?
the Qataris have bid 4.5
the Qataris have bid 4.5 billion pounds to buy Man Utd, Jim Ratcliffe will have to at least match that bid if not exceed it just to buy the club, then he probably has to invest as much again, the stadium really needs to be modernised, buy and sell alot of players, sure he’ll probably leverage debt against the club like the Glazers did. But no one ever really gets rich owning football clubs, they are money pits that you simply burn money investing in.
and yet for only 1% of that 4.5billion pounds, which is almost an accounting error or currency fluctuation, its loose change when you are dealing with sums of money that large Jim Ratcliffe could solve alot of the problems with sponsorship for other British teams and races in Britain in the blink of an eye
but he doesnt, theres no Team Ineos women’s team,and no Ineos sponsored races, and never likely to be, has Tao ever asked Jim or Dave why not when he clearly has the money ?
the reality is its because it comes down to as thisismyusername says its a better business investment to spend 4.5billion pounds on a football club than put just a fraction of that money into pro cycling
and thats because as Jonathan Vaughters endlessly reminds people every year the financial model for pro cycling is fundamentally broken, the only people who make any money out of it are people like the ASO, everybody else loses.
fix that problem, and fix a governing body who dont really care about road racing, and things might improve.
His money, his choice.
His money, his choice.
Lower Mortlake Road is not a
Lower Mortlake Road is not a great place to be. Two lanes each way, with speed cameras (which of course are there for a reason – as sudden braking, acceleration and lane change markers). On the other side of the road from the esteemed councilors and police, there is a cycle path of sorts – one of those ones that’s really a pavement, but with a bit of faded paint and beset by side roads. Until of course it gets to the ‘fuckit point’, which is where cycling infrastructure and a greater need for it collide, and the former disappears.
I would have been more
I would have been more impressed to see a picture of our intrepid councillors leading by example and cycling along Lwr. Mortlake Road. (…not in the useless stop-start cycle lane over the road.)
Formula 1 drivers banned from
Formula 1 drivers banned from cycling the ‘track walk’
Well of course: they don’t have a flame-proof suit, F1 helmet or fire extinguishers, so cycling around would be extremely dangerous. And don’t start me on the risk to pedestrians.
I don’t know if people have
I don’t know if people have noticed but Brexit and the current Government have totally ****ed this country and the economy. Cycling Teams have always been on flakey financial footings, so to lose so many should not be a shock…. still Blue Passports eh……
Legin wrote:
Even that ‘benefit’ is going to be a bit flakey; passport office are going on strike for FIVE WEEKS!: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-64981979
Northern Ireland is doing OK.
Northern Ireland is doing OK. – even your PM admits to the unique and privileged position NI is in with unrestricted access to the EU Single Market.
BIRMINGHAMisaDUMP wrote:
He’s not my PM, I don’t vote for fascist governments. As for Northern Ireland I do care about maintaining the peace, I’m ****ing outraged that to do so one part of the UK is given patently preferential treatment above the rest. It’s a bit like a government only interested in feathering the nest of 1% of the population.
Councillors call in the cops
Councillors call in the cops to “assist” with cyclists ignoring dismount signs
I hope some kind soul has pointed out to the police that the round “No Cycling” sign isn’t legal because it doesn’t have a diagonal red line through it?
Or maybe that’s why they weren’t enforcing it?
eburtthebike wrote:
It doesn’t need a diagonal line, the red circle means prohibited.
mark1a wrote:
Welcome to satire. What did you think the grinning emoji meant?
eburtthebike wrote:
Is this a good use of police time?
We’re told that budgets have been cut, resources are stretched and it takes too much effort to prosecute illegal smartphone use, speeding, vehicles reported with no tax or MoT etc etc… but CYCLISTS causing some bother madam? We’ll be down right away and teach them little bastards a lesson!
I wonder whether they asked why some people might choose to cycle along the pavement instead of on the A316.
Simon E wrote:
Of course it is! I have it on good authority, well, from some other posters on this site, that cyclists mow down and kill thousands of people every year, so the first call on police time should be controlling them. Definitely not wasting it on stopping drivers for tiny, insignificant infractions like knocking off cyclists.
There is light in the sky
There is light in the sky when I have to get up for work, must be time for the clocks to change soon, a week away, hour colder in the morning, hour warmer in the evening. More clothes to carry. Equinox on Monday.
I think I saw magnolia flowers out on a small bush on my morning commute today, and the first cloud of gnats on my way home. Remembered to close my mouth this time, must start to breath through my nose again…
Manx Motorists: “hello police
Manx Motorists: “hello police I’ve been driving in thick fog while unable to see the vehicle infront”
Manx Police: “ok we’ll track down the person you endangered and shift the blame onto them”
?
Just seen my first Deliveroo
Just seen my first Deliveroo branded ebike. in that colour. Claims to have a tracker on board.