Glasgow, Edinburgh looking at temporary cycle lanes – but not just yet; TT champ breaks women’s Zwift everesting record (without planning to); Indian cops puncturing tyres of lockdown rule breakers; Milan reallocates space to cyclists + more on live blog

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Staying at home has made a few riders get a bit more creative when it comes to housework…

📹Thund3r bolt pic.twitter.com/O6YA2bftPr

— Cycling Australia (@CyclingAus) April 20, 2020

Does it come in a gravel version?

Yorkshireman Ryan Anderton has already completed the 5,000 mile route around England, Scotland and Wales, and as soon as the UK comes out of lockdown he aims to become one of a select few who have cycled around Britain both clockwise and anti-clockwise.  

Mr Anderton hopes to complete the journey in 40 days and is welcoming other cyclists to join him for as much or as little as they can, while fundraising for five charities including Mind and NHS Charities Together. You can find out more and follow for updates on Mr Anderton’s Facebook page, and donate via his Virgin Money Giving Page. 

Here’s the very moment @ChrisCuomo emerged from his basement, where he’s been riding out coronavirus for the last several weeks. pic.twitter.com/tugkXCGZD7

— Cuomo Prime Time (@CuomoPrimeTime) April 21, 2020

The American TV presenter – brother of the current Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo – was scolded by a 65-year-old cyclist last week who spotted Cuomo ‘hanging out’ with his wife, three children and another woman outside his house in East Hampton, when he was supposed to be in quarantine due to contracting coronavirus according to the New York Post. 

“I just looked and said, ‘Is that Chris Cuomo? Isn’t he supposed to be quarantined?”, the cyclist told the NYP, before Cuomo reportedly launched into an angry tirade against the cyclist. 

Cuomo appeared on a radio show last week and described the man as a “jackass, loser, fat-tire biker”, while the cyclist claims he has filed a police report about Cuomo’s behaviour. Some are describing the above video as ‘fake news’ if the cyclist’s account is to be believed. 

New: Bold plans from Italy. Milan seeks to prevent post-crisis return of traffic pollutionhttps://t.co/46k88knc4X

— Laura Laker (@laura_laker) April 21, 2020

The Guardian reports that Milan’s Strade Aperte plan will transform 35km of streets into cycling and walking infrastructure, which also includes new and widened pavements, 30kph speed limits and priority for cyclists and pedestrians. 

Described as one of the most ambitious cycling and walking schemes in Europe, Milan is keen to prevent a return to the dangerous levels of pollution it was choking in pre-coronavirus; under the lockdown congestion from motor traffic has dropped  by 30-75% and air pollution has fallen, according to The Guardian. 

Deputy Mayor of Milan Marco Granelli said: “We worked for years to reduce car use. If everybody drives a car, there is no space for people, there is no space to move, there is no space for commercial activities outside the shops.​

“Of course, we want to reopen the economy, but we think we should do it on a different basis from before.

“We think we have to reimagine Milan in the new situation. We have to get ready; that’s why it’s so important to defend even a part of the economy, to support bars, artisans and restaurants. When it is over, the cities that still have this kind of economy will have an advantage, and Milan wants to be in that category.”

Last week it was announced Brighton had become the first UK city to restrict road access to cars to aid safe cycling and walking during the pandemic; as of yesterday Madeira Drive along the Brighton seafront was closed to motor traffic from 8am-8pm.  ​

Mind boggling. Mahesh Jena, 20, cycled 1700 kms from Sangli Maharashtra to his home in Odisha. #lockdown2 We must name and individualise as many of these incredible journeys as we can. Not call them simply “migrant workers”. https://t.co/6ApomUMyIR

— Sagarika Ghose (@sagarikaghose) April 18, 2020

The Hindustan Times reports that 20-year-old Mahesh Jena made the mammoth 1,700km trip from Sangli to the village of Bhanra in Jajpur on his battered 22 inch frame bike and a backpack full of supplies, completing the journey in seven days. Mr Jena had no maps or phone, and just carried a blanket, quilt, a change of clothes, some biscuits, water and 3,000 rupees (about £31) in cash. He said that he had ‘no fear and little doubt’ and was prepare to walk if the bike was rendered unusable along the way; his other opton was to stay in Sangli’s industrial quarter where his factory job was likely to be suspended for up to five months, meaning he would have no income to pay for food or rent. 

After an average of 272km a day and numerous punctures, Mr Jena ​made it to Jajpur town 5km away from his home, where he is still in quarantine waiting to be declared fit to go back to his family. 

Cyclist walking her bike along the shoulder of the M57 taking her daily exercise. Safely taken off network and reported for the offence. TX15. pic.twitter.com/a4hInruun6

— North West Motorway Police (@NWmwaypolice) April 18, 2020

This time it’s the M57 we’re adding to our ‘cyclists on the motorway’ archive, after a woman told North West Motorway Police that she was taking her daily exercise walking her bike along it. 

Late last month a man was warned “this does not constitute your daily exercise” after he was caught cycling along the M60 in Cheshire; police reported that the man was unaware of what the problem was when they tried to offer advice. 

#Kanpur -Lessons taught by the police to the passers-by who do not follow the #lockdown.Police made them do Yoga at the crossroads.
Read-https://t.co/NeIimMw70T pic.twitter.com/lmnLdv0xKP

— Newsroom Post (@NewsroomPostCom) April 20, 2020

A video has emerged of some hardline punishments being dished out to lockdown violators in the Indian city of Kanpur; rule breakers on foot were being forced to do socially distanced yoga and cyclists are shown getting whipped with a lathi (a large piece of bamboo) and having their tyres punctured, leaving them no option but to carry their bikes home on their shoulders… time to switch to solid tyres? 

India’s lockdown rules are stricter than the UK’s with citizens only allowed out to buy essential items, therefore ‘joy walking’ as it is called by Newsroom Post isn’t currently permitted. 

 

 

 

 

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Everyday is a good day to workout! @odlo

A post shared by Sven Nys (@svennys) on Apr 21, 2020 at 1:31am PDT

The two-time cyclocross world champ shows us his unusual locked down workout routine in (presumably his own) gym… can anyone identify this contraption he’s pedalling?

When we think of a craze, BMX, Pokemon cards and yo-yo’s spring to mind… but apparently just good old cycling itself is now a ‘craze’ in locked down Britain according to the York Press; based off the testimony of bike shop Cycle Heaven, who are are flat our repairing cycles so locals can get their daily exercise on two wheels: 

“It’s really hard work at the moment, but we want to carry on,” boss Andy Shrimpton told York Press

“We feel we are offering a really valuable service.”

Cycle Heaven say they have cut their opening hours and provide safety products such as sanitiser to staff. Mr Shrimpton says he hopes there will be a permanent increase in cycling when the pandemic ends, and the shop is also renting out free hire bikes to key workers. 

Making lemonade 🍋👊 pic.twitter.com/Kg8k6ztz8t

— Chris Froome (@chrisfroome) April 21, 2020

that would be my wife 💖

— Chris Froome (@chrisfroome) April 21, 2020

Froome’s other half is responsible for taking the steady stream of photos we’ve seen from him in the last few weeks so he says. If you’re down with the kids, he’s also worth a follow on Tik Tok. 

Cycle Republic – which is owned by Halfords – will close 11 other stores permanently by 2021, but 85 staff members from the 11 stores being rescued by Pure Electric will have their future employment secured. Full story over on eBikeTips. 

As part of Kingston Wheelers Cycling Club’s effort to raise money for Kingston Hospital by tackling a virtual elevation challenge, the CTT 100 mile time trial record holder Alice Lethbridge became the fastest female to complete a virtual everesting on Zwift around the ‘Alpe du Zwift’ course… and reveals that she hadn’t even planned to before starting out for the day on her trainer. 

Lethbridge – who also toppled Beryl Burton’s legendary 12 hour TT record in 2017 by riding 286.65 miles – explained: “I’ve only been on Zwift just under a month and knew nothing about virtual Everests until my clubmate Harry started nudging me with the idea last week. I’d read the Everest rules on Thursday in case I felt ok to carry on past 5,000 metres, but I didn’t make the call until my sixth ascent of the Alpe.

“I could see I was on pace to break the women’s  virtual Everest record and when my coach gave me the go ahead, that was enough. My third wind came and I went into 12 TT hour mode topping 8,848 metres in just under 9 hours and 24 minutes. I’m so pleased with how much we’ve raised for Kingston hospital and with how many members got involved. The event was great fun – at times it was like being on a club ride, one of the things I’ve missed the most during lockdown.”

Collectively the team climbed 206,996 metres between 61 members and raised £13,000 over a week of fundraising, with Gregg Ball and Harry Bunnell also completing virtual everesting rides totalling more than 8,864 metres climbed – you can donate here. 

Glasgow and Edinburgh are looking at introducing temporary cycle lanes by taking space away from motor vehicles to allow people on bike or on foot to stay socially distant from each other.

Both Scotland’s largest city as well as the country’s capital are said to be in discussions with the Scottish Government’s Transport Agency, as well as the sustainable Transport charity Sustrans over the move.

However, the Scotsman says that reallocating road space is planned once lockdown restrictions are eased – which under current legislation cannot happen for more than a fortnight at the very earliest.

More on this story on road.cc tomorrow.