Tadej Pogačar isn’t winding down for Christmas… smashes 209km and 4,200m of climbing at 35km/h average speed on team camp ‘salad ride’; Raleigh owner’s financial situation “unsustainable” according to new report; eBay eek + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
Meanwhile in France...
Anyone recognise this route? Christmas cobbles… what a treat…
Mayor and cycling figure write to BBC over "inappropriately light-hearted" collision report
Tuesday’s ‘BBC News at Six’ show ended with the following report of CCTV footage from Birmingham which has gone viral this week, showing the shocking and horrendous incident in which a mum and daughter narrowly avoided a potentially catastrophic situation after a driver’s car flipped and smashed into a zebra crossing post…
If you want to understand how much, as a society, we’ve slowly normalised road danger, watch this clip from tonight’s BBC News at Six.
I personally don’t think horrific crashes like this should be in the light-hearted “and finally” section. pic.twitter.com/QXxp46LA2r
— Adam Tranter (@adamtranter) December 19, 2023
West Midlands Police has since confirmed that the incident is being investigated, the woman and child left “shaken but not physically injured” while a “woman in her 40s suffered cuts and was spoken to at the scene and is assisting with enquiries”.
Adam Tranter, the West Midlands’ walking and cycling commissioner, said the BBC report shows “how much, as a society, we’ve slowly normalised road danger”.
“I personally don’t think horrific crashes like this should be in the light-hearted ‘and finally’ section,” he added.
Tranter and West Midlands regional mayor Andy Street have now written to the BBC, stating: “This kind of reporting fails to acknowledge the trauma and long-lasting impact collisions have on victims, families and communities.”
“It is imperative for influential media outlets like the BBC to report on road collisions with the gravity and empathy they warrant,” Tranter concluded.
How Zwift can make your outdoor rides better
eBay eek of the week
I have no words…
Jo’s currently trying to convince us to shell out £300 just because… why not? It would make an interesting video for the YouTube channel, that’s for sure.
Wiggle making "considerable trading profit" with administrators "optimistic" over sale of business
> Wiggle making “considerable trading profit” with administrators “optimistic” over sale of business
Raleigh owner's financial situation "unsustainable", according to new report
Credit rating provider Fitch Ratings has downgraded Accell Group, Raleigh’s parent company, and has labelled its current financial situation as “unsustainable”. Bike Europe reports Accell Group responded to the news by saying the report “reflects the difficult market circumstances”.
The Fitch report states: “The downgrade reflects our expectation that Accell Group’s EBITDA margin or the operating profit as a percentage of the revenue, will drop to low single digits in 2023-2024. Excess inventory stock in the market and weaker consumer demand, which together with high competition will lead to a deeper discount environment for a longer period than we previously assumed.
“This translates into a high working-capital requirement at end-2023 leading to eroded liquidity headroom and negative free cash flow.”
Accell Group ‘Long-Term Issuer Default Rating’ and senior secured debt rating have been downgraded, the definition of its new rating CCC being “vulnerable to non-payment, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation”.
Last month Accell announced job cuts and restructuring at Raleigh as it deals with a “challenging market”. It was also announced that the bike manufacturer would be closing its Parts and Accesories division.
UCI drops Covid protocol, introduces 'High Temperature Protocol'
[Alex Broadway/SWpix.com]
The UCI has announced the Covid-19 Protocol has “been judged no longer necessary for the 2024 season”.
“The virus is still circulating today, and with the winter season, there has been a slight resumption of the epidemic,” a statement explains. “Thanks to extensive vaccination campaigns, however, forms of the disease remain relatively mild, including in susceptible individuals.
“Wearing a mask, hand hygiene and ventilating enclosed spaces – all effective measures during a pandemic – are still relevant. People who test positive are no longer obliged to isolate, but the continuation of barrier measures remains essential. These are the responsibility of team doctors as part of standard prevention against respiratory infectious diseases.”
The UCI has however introduced a High Temperature Protocol, in addition to the Extreme Weather Protocol, which means that when necessary a “working group will be convened by the President of the Commissaires Panel at the request of the UCI, the teams, the riders or the organisers, to agree on an action plan to mitigate the risks to riders’ health and safety.
[Zac Williams/SWpix.com]
“Such recommendations could be, for example, moving start zones to shaded areas, supplying teams with cold drinks and crushed ice during the race, increasing the number of refueling motorbikes, altering the start time or potentially neutralising sections of the race. It should be understood that these measures will only be recommendations, depending on the severity of the climatic conditions, and their application will remain the responsibility of the working group.”
All systems go for Visma-Lease a Bike: New signings, new kit, contract extensions
Jumbo-Visma, soon-to-be Visma-Lease a Bike, have been busy at their team presentation today, with the new (particularly yellow) kit for 2024 unveiled…
That new kit 🤤#beyondvictory pic.twitter.com/wlHTOd5fa9
— Team Jumbo-Visma cycling (@JumboVismaRoad) December 21, 2023
Appearing at the presentation was Cian Uijtdebroeks, the Belgian GC prospect whose transfer saga from Bora-Hansgrohe has been one of the stories of the off-season. Bora still don’t recognise the transfer and want compensation for his services. For what it’s worth the UCI hasn’t acknowledged the transfer as having happened yet either.
But on stage at the presentation today was Uijtdebroeks, who it was revealed recently was the alleged victim of bullying suffered at the Vuelta with his former employers. The 20-year-old said he would ride the Giro in 2024 and told Sporza he is “not making a big soap opera out of it, but I wasn’t feeling well”.
“I really didn’t feel well. That’s why the contract with Bora was broken on December 1. I wanted to take this step,” he said. “Whether there was a Whatsapp group in the Vuelta (where teammates allegedly gossiped about Uijtdebroeks)? I will not go into detail. We know our arguments, the reasons why it was broken. These arguments are clear to anyone who needs to be informed. Was I bullied? I don’t give any details about what happened.”
Oh, and in a third bit of Visma-related news, Jonas Vingegaard and Sepp Kuss have reportedly signed contract extensions, Wielerflits saying both have extended their stay until the end of 2027.
I pulled the perfect cargo bike shift – here’s how it happened
> I pulled the perfect cargo bike shift – here’s how it happened
Tadej Pogačar isn't winding down for Christmas... smashes 209km and 4,200m of climbing at 35km/h average speed on team camp 'salad ride'
It might not surprise you to know I don’t think I, or anyone at road.cc, has ever undertaken a salad ride…
A ride to stop and get a salad on? A ride fuelled only on salad? Perhaps not considering the monstrous numbers on display from Pogačar and his UAE Team Emirates teammates, including new signing and chief workhorse Nils Politt. Just the 209.8km for Pog and the rest, the Slovenian who has signalled his intention to make his Giro d’Italia debut in 2024 clocking a minute over six hours on his Wahoo.
The most gifted mental mathematicians among you will know that means an average speed of 34.8km/h… not just for a few hundred metres on the flat with a nice tailwind… but for six hours while tackling as much elevation, 4,206m, as a Grand Tour mountain stage.
> Tadej Pogačar uploads Tour of Flanders win to Strava… gets flagged
Oh, and a casual top speed of 96.7km/h while descending back down to base just outside Benidorm… something tells me Tadej and the boys weren’t racing back to get on the fishbowls and shots from Irish pubs however… *tuts* salad ride…
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If I had purchased my special products division 650 back in '96, rather than obtaining it under a warranty replacement, I would apparently have received a signed picture of the fine Nottingham artisan that welded her. The 750 of that year won Barry Clarke another British xc cup, as I recall.
Yay! https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/26466698.speed-camera-catching-drivers-25mph-oxfordshire/
The fall of Raleigh happened long before this week. Just because somebody bought the name does not mean they were the same bikes. And if you care about the name so much, noone says it won't be purchased by another inverstor as Accell Group is liquidated!
@Destroyer666 I totally see your point. The good news is there are indeed BBs which use industry-standard bearings. Take Neco, for example - they offer exactly what you want. Maybe the bearings in the set are not perfect, but you can replace them with SKFs later.
@chrisonabike I was just reading that myself, it seems a bizarre kneejerk reaction before poor Finlay's cause of death has even been fully investigated. What does Mr.Hansen think has been going on, have the manufacturers had the means to make safer, more robust helmets that are just as light and well ventilated but haven't bothered releasing them? Or does he want the peleton racing in motorcycle helmets, because that's the only way there's going to be a chance of meaningful protection in 100 kmh crashes?
I'm pretty sure that wouldn't work: AFAICS anti-social consequences are inherent in the business model. Models which seem to work better: advertising (Santander cycles), using bikes to make using another service which is more profitable (or less unprofitable) easier (Dutch OV Fiets). After that it's "local authority subsidises it" and then you're down to "flogging customer data"...
Back in the day square taper bb's rolled on bearings that were considerably larger than inside these Maxhit ones. The ball bearings in these fully serviceable models cost a couple of euros. Don't get me wrong, they had their issues, like poor sealing. But those days, servicing bearings was the norm. The current state seems to be something of an attempt at non-serviceability, where efforts made at making products that you DO NOT have to service are accompanied with products that you CANNOT service. And those two things are mixed in different ways. For example with this Maxhit bearing you pay a crazy amount of money for supposed durability - that you are nonetheless expected to service once a year. And once these bearings wear enough, there is no way to service them anymore - no cups, cones, ball bearings to replace, unlike with the old bb's (sure, it was not THAT easy even with them to e.g. find just cups in bike shop). I guess my point is that while I applaud e.g. Enduro for making "bike specific" bearings, I nonetheless long for products that are just easy to service - that is the key to durability. And that does not have to mean it costs a lot. To prove my point: There is absolutely no reason why Shimano could not manufacture it's ubiquitous 20eur BB-MT501 with easily replaceable industrial standard 6805 bearings (where SKF quality bearings cost about 20eur), for the same cost they manufacture the BB in it's current form. They just chose not to. And I would choose that over crazy expensive bb's with marketing schpiel and small print regarding warranty any day.
He's wildly over the top / backwards about what is a risk to the hard-pressed motorist and local places: those are "other motorists" and "mass motoring" respectively. He's almost right though in that many places - even in the UK - are gradually realising that a great way to save themselves money, improve their places and aid their chances of hitting targets on health, obesity, climate etc. is indeed to slow down motorists, restrict parking and deter (not prevent...) much *private motor* travel.
RIP. According to the president of the Cyclistes Professionnels Associes the first thing they need to look at is ... helmets? https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/articles/czxqqlpnx98o Of course this could make perfect sense for a professional sport, perhaps standards haven't kept pace etc. It's certainly a rarefied extremely fast and hazard-rich environment, compared with my experience of normally <20mph utility-and-leisure cycling. But since the main factor seems to have been an uninvolved vehicle on the course this does sound like a convergence with the standard "cycling safety" narrative? ("Can't fix anything else, so what we *can* do is...")
@jaymack Praxis bottom brackets have Enduro steel bearings fitted through most of the range.
23 thoughts on “Tadej Pogačar isn’t winding down for Christmas… smashes 209km and 4,200m of climbing at 35km/h average speed on team camp ‘salad ride’; Raleigh owner’s financial situation “unsustainable” according to new report; eBay eek + more on the live blog”
Unreal Pog!
Unreal Pog!
Pog’s and my definition of
Pog’s and my definition of salad rides differ. Mine is honking like a wet lettuce.
“… a mum and daughter
“… a mum and daughter narrowly avoided a potentially catastrophic situation after a driver’s car (my emphasis) flipped and smashed into a zebra crossing post…”
Again. Language matters.
http://rc-rg.com
Please don’t follow the BBC’s (and most other media outlets) example of bad reporting.
Or this on on the Bristol
Or this on on the Bristol Post website
https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/m5-closed-12-hours-after-8989715
I am presuming that the person who reportedly suffered minor injuries was the driver, who was supposed to be in control of their vehicle, but the Post clearly doesn’t have much interest in letting its readers know…
brooksby wrote:
For mash, have crash?
For mash, have crash?
Is it not fair under the
Is it not fair under the guidelines to describe the incident as the “driver’s car” collided with the post, in this case, with “driver’s” used to acknowledge that a human being was driving it at the time and not avoiding the human element of vehicle collisions?
Genuinely interested on different thoughts as we covered the guidelines when they were first published and have referenced them numerous times since and aim to follow them at all times. Sorry if it was a bit clumsy but not quite the ‘car crash’ or ‘car collided with’ you might hear elsewhere.
The guidelines suggest
The guidelines suggest replacing ‘car’ with ‘driver’, rather than supplementing it. I sympathise with copywriters though, as following the guidelines can lead to some tortuous sentences. E.g. in this case, “the driver flipped and collided with a lampost” is unclear, while “the driver flipped their car and crashed it into a lampost” risks attributing blame when the circumstances aren’t clear in the video (could have been dangerous driving, could have been caused by someone else’s dangerous driving, could have been a medical episode etc). Horrendous video to watch though. I still don’t understand how they weren’t hit.
The chief reporter of my
The chief reporter of my local rag has an annoying click-bait habit. It goes like this: a few days after any noteworthy local incendiary, there comes a follow-up piece headlined, “Fire chief reveals cause of [factory etc] blaze”. Who can’t resist clicking on that? After wading through a rehash of the original article interspersed with ads, the reader is rewarded with the knowledge that the fire chief has determined the fire was accidental.
quiff wrote:
How about “the driver lost control of their car which then flipped and crashed into a lamppost”?
“Tuesday’s ‘BBC News at Six’
“Tuesday’s ‘BBC News at Six’ show ended with the following report of CCTV footage from Birmingham which has gone viral this week, showing the shocking and horrendous incident in which a mum and daughter narrowly avoided a potentially catastrophic situation after a driver lost control of their car which then flipped and smashed into a zebra crossing post”
Fragment, consider revising! But yes, it can be done, I just think sometimes it makes for an unwieldy sentence for dubious benefit.
quiff wrote:
You might think it’s a dubious benefit, but the car industry put a fair amount of time and effort into controlling the narrative of car crashes, so they certainly think that the words matter a lot.
I am generally of the view
I am generally of the view that words absolutely do matter (I can usually be found here quibbling language or punning, rather than engaging with substance!)
I’m just not convinced that in reality when people read “car hits cyclist” they think it has happened without human agency. In fact arguably if the car industry wanted to control the narrative of car crashes, they should be delighted with guidelines which suggest replacing ‘car’ with ‘driver’. Anyway, not dying on this hill, I gues I’m just ambivalent.
I think it’s more that those
I think it’s more that those who approve of the status quo just need to keep the usual … usual, and the rest takes care of itself. People naturally don’t want to engage in effortful thinking / resist changes to well-worn mind-groves.
I don’t believe in magic (or even majick) BUT … adverts and salesmen and political activists get paid (often lots) by someone. Maybe changing the words alone isn’t enough to change the status quo – but changes in language always seems to accompany that.
I appreciate Your effort to
I appreciate Your effort to avoid the usual “A car hit…” wording but using “driver’s car collided” still leaves some implication that it was the car at fault (ie self driving, without indication of the actions of the driver/losing control).
I appreciate the driver probably didn’t intend that to happen intentionally, so hence it was an accident, and the cause is yet to be determined.
As I’ve often said to other media sources: it would never be written the same if a bike was involved: ie “… a bike collided/hit…”.
It is ALWAYS “… a cyclist hit…”
And this is always when the incident is first reported, before investigations have even begun.
(Applied to this incident, would the wording be
“… a cyclist’s bicycle collided with…”
… ?
Which sounds ridiculous.)
But with the strive towards keeping reporting as concise as possible (for brevity), this is still leading to over simplification of the language used.
For everyone’s benefit and to ensure that dangerous/careless driving is not excluded as a cause, I would strongly request using a few more words or an extra sentence to explain the current situation (with the cause unknown whilst it is investigated).
ie (I know I’m not a journalist so this is my humble attempt.)
“… a mum and daughter narrowly avoided a potentially catastrophic situation. The driver of a [car type, ie SUV in this case] ended up on the wrong side of the road, hitting a lampost at a pedestrian crossing and nearly colliding with the parent and child. The cause of the incident is still being investigated. Footage can be seen here…”
More wordy, yes.
But indicates what happened whilst also keeping it in mind that it isn’t just a car fault.
Lets not forget that if the cause of even a small number of crashes was car design/faults then there would be uproar against the manufacturers.
But it is usually careless/dangerous driving (ie speeding/not to the conditions) and as it happens so much, is thought of as almost something we have to just live with.
I put this in ‘Drivers and
I put this in ‘Drivers and their problems’ on the forum, but still:
When you didn’t realise that London was a part of the North:
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/dec/20/disbelief-at-plan-to-fix-london-potholes-as-part-of-network-north-project
And this one:
And this one:
You passed your driving test but didn’t realise that meant you were joining an eternal police line-up…
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/dec/20/police-to-be-able-to-run-face-recognition-searches-on-50m-driving-licence-holders
brooksby wrote:
That’s such a bad idea and I blame all those people who voted for Sunak.
eBay Eeek of the week:
eBay Eeek of the week:
Eben Weiss did several posts about the Softride over the summer:
I thought there were some
I thought there were some excellent arguements, facts and figues here against “Road Tax” for cyclists and if most motorist watched this I would hope that they could finally understand what a waste of time it is to even mention the T word for cyclists. (despite being Canadian it is relatable for blighty and beyond)
https://youtu.be/Wjv8WQu92c0?si=zhGVyIFCC3Q3l_lU
Decided to try a cycle route
Decided to try a cycle route today as I had lots of time.
Gave up after 40m of NCN 1
Utterly appalling – there are better routes in dutch small towns.
Meanwhile, we spunk away 1 BILLION on a road to save up to 10 minutes, until in 5 years time there will be no time saving.
Yeah. What kind of bugs me
Yeah. What kind of bugs me is not so much that “cycling” still mostly equates to “recreation” for the powers that be (when they think of it at all). It’s that even that “recreation” is qualified – can’t give them as much as (walking / cycling etc.). So it’s “narrow footpath down a muddy track / round the garages at the back of a chocolate-and-glitter-path estate”*.
I know that this is the Notional Cycle Network (being charitable here – an amazing effort to somehow stitch together some kind of continuous routes across the UK). I know that “but nobody cycles”. It’s the vicious cycle we have to break out of (for any change) – somehow…
Meanwhile other countries not only have a network for actually getting around everywhere – just like the roads. They also have much better-quality “narrow paths in the countryside” for recreation also! Heck – they signpost these with the intention that people will ride to the ride!
(Of course you could also use the effective public transport that we in the UK mostly haven’t got…)!
* Actually needs one of those word clouds – perhaps Jeremy Clarkson / Nigel whatsischops could supply one? “sporty”, “lycra”, “yoof”, “dangerous”, “MAMIL”, “wobbling”, “thief”, “trouser clips”, “irritating”…
NCN4 aka Kennet canal towpath
NCN4 aka Kennet canal towpath looks just like that, and worse, with the added amusement of threatening you with an unguarded deep cold canal.