Can cyclists and pedestrians co-exist on towpaths?; Primoz Roglic wins thrilling summit finish at La Vuelta; Movistar rider shares crazy picture of veiny legs; Driver crashes £260k Ferrari – narrowly missing cyclist + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
Brutal summit finish on stage eight
Stage 8 sees the peloton take on another summit finish, with this looking the hardest of the race so far.
The final climb of Alto de Moncalvillo is officially 11.3km @ 7.6%, but most of the final 7km is above 9%.
A big day for the GC guys.
You're on camera
This great idea from cyclegaz lets all road users know in no uncertain terms that they’re being recorded.
Twitter in meltdown over Roglic's multicoloured kit
What a look… #LaVuelta20 (📸 Getty) pic.twitter.com/A45KSyeWqw
— Daniel Ostanek (@LVCKV) October 27, 2020
Poor Primoz Roglic isn’t having much luck with clothing at La Vuelta.
First it was losing time on stage six because he couldn’t put his rain jacket on and now he has united Twitter in horror at his stage seven green and yellow monstrosity.
The Slovenian’s green points jersey matched with yellow Jumbo-Visma kit has left fans, pundits and team managers shocked at it’s, well, brightness…
— Cycling out of context (@OutOfCycling) October 27, 2020
— Amy White (@akwca) October 27, 2020
Even manager of the EF Pro Cycling, Jonathan Vaughters, got involved suggesting humorously that the UCI should take action.
I mean…. Fine? Penalty? Anything? Hello @UCI_cycling !! This is a crime against all mankind!! And yet…it goes unpunished…. https://t.co/c84xVzZCm7
— Jonathan Vaughters (@Vaughters) October 27, 2020
EF Pro Cycling were fined by the UCI during the Giro d’Italia for failing to clear in advance their striking Rapha and Palace kit.
More Roglic laughs
it’s like these two had a baby together… pic.twitter.com/pHPoYX3hJQ
— Ruby (@ruby_roubaix) October 27, 2020
ummm 🤔 pic.twitter.com/DLpkIIbBlT
— Meera Devrahi Singh (@MeeraDevrahi) October 28, 2020
It seems Twitter isn’t finished with the Slovenian national champion just yet.
Worst cycling kits ever made
Primoz Roglic has got us thinking… we’ve had a trawl through the archives and found three other woeful cycling kits for your amusement.
First up, the Hairy Nude kit which comes with the promise to “get motorists looking twice”.
How about this Pirate Juice number…
Finally, this bizarre Giro Toscana kit which was described by one Twitter user as: “Worst designed garment of clothing in the history of the human race.”
Let us know, what’s the worst cycling kit you’ve seen?
Driver crashes £260,000 Ferrari into London bridge - narrowly missing cyclist
Footage shows a Ferrari crashing yesterday central London pic.twitter.com/jue74UwRsi
— London & UK Crime (@CrimeLdn) October 27, 2020
This shocking footage shows the moment a driver crashed the £260,000 supercar into Lambeth Bridge.
The driver can be seen accelerating sharply before losing control of the Ferrari as it ploughed into the wall on the side of the bridge.
A cyclist rides past the driver just seconds before the car veers to the right on the 20mph stretch of road.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed they are investigating the incident.
Tom Dumoulin abandons La Vuelta
We have decided that I will leave the Vuelta. Both our coaching staff and I think it is the best choice to get off the bike. At the start of the Vuelta I already felt tired and that feeling remained. It makes no sense for me to continue. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/w1yiw4U1Xx
— Tom Dumoulin (@tom_dumoulin) October 28, 2020
Driving on the Big Screen
Jardine Motors have crunched the numbers to find out just how bad the driving in our favourite films is.
And it turns out 007’s greatest villain could well be the humble speed camera.
James Bond would have lost his licence four times in just a two minute sequence in Skyfall had his driving been performed on the open road.
Richard Freeman latest
The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service hearing for former Team GB and Team Sky doctor continues in Manchester this week.
Yesterday Freeman was accused of attempting to have another doctor removed from Team Sky following a dispute over whether the team should change its policy on intravenous recovery methods.
Freeman insisted his issue with Dr David Hulse in fact stemmed from his care of Txema Gonzalez, the Team Sky staff member who died at the Vuelta a Espana in 2010 following a bacterial infection.
Jose Joaquin Rojas' legs
We all know how hard professional cycling is but Movistar rider Jose Joaquin Rojas has provided another reminder with this Instagram post.
The picture was taken after stage seven of the Vuelta on the day Rojas’ teammate Alejando Valverde finished third on the stage and moved back into the top ten of the overall classification.
After Pawel Poljanski posted a similar picture at the 2016 Tour de France we did some digging to answer the question of why pro cyclist’s legs are so veiny?
Obstruction in the bike lane...
Road crossing 🙀 pic.twitter.com/EnKuM4uIsx
— José Been (@TourDeJose) October 28, 2020
Giro d'Italia street art
12 tele a cielo aperto firmate da 9 diversi #StreetArtist lungo il percorso del #Giro103. E’ Cabine in Rosa, l’iniziativa di Street Art di @edistribuzione che ha colorato il percorso del #Giro 103.
Scopri tutte le #CabineInRosa di #EDistribuzione in questo video 👇 pic.twitter.com/T8J6pocKxd— Giro d’Italia (@giroditalia) October 28, 2020
It’s often said the Giro d’Italia is the most beautiful of the Grand Tours and Italian electricity provider e-distribuzione have continued that legacy with these sub-stations decorated to celebrate the race route.
Former world champion in the break at La Vuelta
🏁Etapa 8 – Stage 8 | #LaVuelta20
🚴🚴🚴 Cavagna, Costa, Madrazo, Simon, Stannard, Dewulf, Dyball
⏱️ + 4’46
🚴🚴🚴🚴🚴🚴 Pelotón | GC Group👉https://t.co/zqaO4Bw62K pic.twitter.com/mELN8MvJfR
— La Vuelta (@lavuelta) October 28, 2020
Rui Costa is up the road on stage eight of La Vuelta. He’s accompanied by six other riders including Remi Cavagna and stage winner in last year’s edition Angel Madrazo.
Department for Transport reject calls for road closures, ‘school streets’ and new cycle lanes to be scrapped
.@transportgovuk‘s response to a petition calling for the removal of all active travel schemes in the country is all kinds of brilliant. pic.twitter.com/ziTqUcmNcL
— Sarah 🍓 (@SarahJ_Berry) October 28, 2020
The Department for Transport has rejected calls to reverse temporary traffic measures, such as road closures and new bike lanes, brought in during lockdown to reduce crowding.
The petition claims: “Although well intentioned, the experiment has failed. Government guidance supporting such measures, and funds for them, should be withdrawn immediately.”
Thankfully the Department for Transport’s reply was strong in its support for these schemes and offered a comprehensive explanation for why such measures should remain.
It said: “Evidence also shows that investment in cycling and walking is supported by the majority of people in local communities. Although some schemes have attracted negative attention, this is still only a small minority of the people living in those areas.”
“The more people that cycle and walk, the more road space is freed up for those who really need to drive. Encouraging more cycling and walking is a key part of the Government’s efforts to reduce harmful emissions from transport, as well as to help make people healthier.”
Wales and Northern Ireland top the pile for search data research into interest in cycling
Research by Leisure Lakes Bikes into search data suggested that Wales was the area of the UK where cycling is most popular.
“Across the UK we’ve seen huge increases in bike sales as people seek out outdoor activities to support their mental health through lockdown. The search data for the various terms has highlighted that Welsh people really enjoy cycling,” Ben Mercer of Leisure Lakes Bikes explained.
Northern Ireland was close behind in second for total searches per 100 thousand people, with Scotland third.
In England the south east and east of the country had the highest proportion of searches – however London had the poorest number of searches per 100 thousand people
Another day, another laptop
For those keeping score of laptops in the Freeman case… we’ve a mention of a 5th! The first was stolen in Greece. The 2nd was damaged with a blunt instrument. Freeman could not get data off a third, a PC. A 4th, Freeman’s own Apple one, could’t be charged the other day. Now …
— Sean Ingle (@seaningle) October 28, 2020
British Cycling have introduced a fifth laptop to proceedings at Dr Richard Freeman’s medical hearing in Manchester.
As per Sean Ingle, the fifth laptop has “uploaded material from the server” and has been brought forward for Freeman to look at.
The whereabouts and condition of laptops has become a running theme of the hearing with Freeman claiming he had one stolen in Greece and destroyed a second device over fears about hackers accessing data.
Freeman also claimed he could not get data off a third laptop, while the fourth device brought into proceedings was not charged.
Yesterday Freeman was accused of attempting to have another doctor removed from Team Sky following a dispute over whether the team should change its policy on intravenous recovery methods.
Freeman insisted his issue with Dr David Hulse in fact stemmed from his care of Txema Gonzalez, the Team Sky staff member who died at the Vuelta a Espana in 2010 following a bacterial infection.
Can cyclists and pedestrians co-exist on towpaths?
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The news that Henley Town Council have reversed the ban on cyclists riding the towpath through Mill and Marsh Meadows in the Oxfordshire town has reignited debate over whether cyclists and pedestrians can safely co-exist on such narrow routes.
The town council introduced a ban on cyclists during the summer but have decided to allow bikes access again, with warnings that those doing so should ride responsibly and give pedestrians right of way.
Councillor Laurence Plant said: “I’m a really keen cyclist and I think the two groups can co-exist apart from a few who are ill-mannered and lacking respect for others.”
“There’s the odd issue but most of the time things flow seamlessly. We don’t want to explicitly encourage people to come and cycle here but we should encourage good behaviour in those who do.”
It is understood the ban on cycling was introduced following an altercation between a cyclist and member of the parks services team.
What do you think? Can cyclists and pedestrians co-exist safely on towpaths?
Carthy and Kuss lead with 3km to go
🏁 -3,5 km | Etapa 8 – Stage 8 | #LaVuelta20
🇪🇸 ¡Hugh Carthy y @seppkuss cogen unos metros!
🇬🇧 Carthy and Kuss are now leading the race!👉https://t.co/zqaO4Bw62K pic.twitter.com/VZoaDOXRY4
— La Vuelta (@lavuelta) October 28, 2020
Primoz Roglic wins stage eight but Richard Carapaz keeps race lead
🏁Etapa 8 | Stage 8
🙋🏻♂️🏆 PRIMOZ ROGLIC @rogla 🏆#LaVuelta20 pic.twitter.com/64RTuigDfZ
— La Vuelta (@lavuelta) October 28, 2020
Primoz Roglic won a thrilling summit finish on stage eight of La Vuelta a Espana, beating race leader Richard Carapaz by 13 seconds with Irishman Dan Martin in third, 19 seconds back.
On the steep slopes of the final climb, Roglic and Carapaz exchanged attacks having caught lone attacker Alexandr Vlasov within the final two kilometres.
Carapaz kept the red jersey but has seen his advantage to Roglic slashed to just 13 seconds.
More on the towpath debate
I won’t cycle on a towpath again. Too much hassle for people out walking, especially if they’ve got bairns. Let them enjoy it 😊
— Jock Spiers (@StSpiersy) October 28, 2020
The reason there is conflict on towpaths is because cyclists and walkers have been squeezed out of everywhere else by pollution and threatening traffic. If we didn’t have canals and abandoned railway lines, there would be almost no traffic free routes at all!
— Roland Rat Run (@TFacists) October 28, 2020
Why would I want to ride on a poor surface inches from frigid filthy water?
— Firswood cyclist (@JonesGregoire) October 28, 2020
28 October 2020, 08:28
28 October 2020, 08:28
28 October 2020, 08:28
28 October 2020, 08:28
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22 Comments
Latest Comments
@robgodd The poor guy himself suffered a traumatic brain injury and his skull was so badly shattered a significant portion of it had to be removed - do me a favour, have a look around cycling helmet manufacturers and see if any of them claim the foam hats they produce will protect against or even mitigate that level of injury. I'll wait if you like, but I can save us both the time and tell you what you'll find: none of them. Not a single one of them will. Because they don't, and they *can't* based on simple physics. Once the point of failure in a material is reached all(or as near as makes no odds) of the additional force beyond that necessary threshhold transfers through to the object beneath. Since bicycle helmets are rated for forces roughly equivalent to being dropped straight down from a stationary start 1.5m above a hard surface. Now, I'm not an expert in vehicle crash investigation, but I'm *fairly* sure that any impact or series of impacts powerful enough to render a quarder of your skull into gravel, put you in a weeks-long coma, give you massive amnesia, and leave you with ongoing symptoms of traumatic brain injury are a little bit, a teeny-weeny amount, a little smidgeon-widgeon more than what bike helmets are rated for. That's why none of the companies that make them claim they will help in such circumstances: because they know it would be a lie, and that unlike uninformed punters, carbrained journalists, or "medical professionals" who think wearing a helmet would save you from a broken arm(an actual scenario encountered by a mate, who's nurse at the A&E tutted and harrumphed her way through his whole treatment due to his lack of helmet despite his bonce having come through *being hit by a car* - another scenario bike helmets are worthless in - completely unscathed), the lawyers for those companies know their business and understand that if you lie in advertising you will get sued into the ground.
The Battle of Ypres April 1915. The German infantry division advanced using das Brumptstadt Fahrarden. The slow speed kept them behind the cloud of chlorine gas as it drifted towards the Commonwealth trenches. The offensive cleaved a two mile gap in the Western Front. The use of cycles was copied by the Japanese as they invaded Singapore and Burmah. By then war technology had embraced wider low pressure tyres, carbon frames and hydration gels. The German forces decided not to incorporate cycling as part of Operation Session, as bike theft in London and the South East was rife and would have caused huge casualties. Ironically superior advancement of tyre technology led to a British victory at El Alamein. This technology played a key part in the US Marines victory at Iwo Jima.
The appropriate response to Google pissing on your cereal is not a fancy new sugar that removes the taste of urine. Stop using Google products where you can. Firefox browser and DuckDuckGo search engine have had noticeable upticks in market share by explicitly NOT pushing AI.
my thoughts exactly...I wonder how that approach is working, with motor vehicle drivers...🤔
I do not wish to diminish the personal tragedy, but one never hear calls for pedestrians or even hikers to wear clothing with integrated lightening rods.
RE Andy Burnam / Heidi Alexander - this is the best thing in many ways - set an example (even if currently it leads to lots of online name-calling). And imagine some of the political alternatives! The folks in the apparently second-placed party seem incredibly unlikely to be doing so. And even the current "new Greens" seem less interested in ... y'know, environmental things. OTOH I wish Heidi could be bolder. And I fear that like anyone ambitious enough to get to the top (exception B Johnson - well, I guess there was the Corbyn bicycle...) Burnam will be trimming his transport policy sails to fit the wind (should that be "bunker-fuel-burning engines"?)
@mattsccm Bull bars aren't banned, they just have to conform to regulations so they are deformable or have plates that allow crumple give on contact, rather than rigid steel bars that can smash into pedestrians and cyclists with no give at all, catch them and drag them under the wheels. If you think that's a problem, do one. Why should who is responsible for a collision remove the responsibility of people driving a tonne of machinery on the road from having safety features to at least mitigate some of the effects of a collision?
I'd be willing to bet that's lazy use of stock photography rather than deliberate misinformation, but the result is still the same.
@smallbeer You obviously don't realise how many bulls there are wandering around Chelsea, in and out of the china shops, that he needs to protect his Range Rover from.
I agree, it's bloody 'elf and safety overreach, can't help some people, I put some meat, sorry, neat decoration on the front of mine and the polis were round poking their noses in like that (mind you, that was a mistake...) (etc)
22 thoughts on “Can cyclists and pedestrians co-exist on towpaths?; Primoz Roglic wins thrilling summit finish at La Vuelta; Movistar rider shares crazy picture of veiny legs; Driver crashes £260k Ferrari – narrowly missing cyclist + more on the live blog”
Be interesting to see if
Be interesting to see if cyclegaz finds that makes an impact, seeing as the overwhelming evidence from experience is that drivers dont see cyclists at all…except when it’s dark & they have no lights or jump red lights.
That’s an interesting idea
That’s an interesting idea Cyclegaz has there. I’ve seen him around town a few times.
The video of the Ferrari driver on Lambeth Bridge is worrying. My wife cycles across there regularly to get to work. The roundabout is notoriously dangerous and I’ve asked her to use a different route, but it’s the one she likes. That the Ferrari driver can’t even control the car in a straight line in a 20mph limit shows just how inadequate the person’s driving skills are.
I suspect – and hope I’m
I suspect – and hope I’m wrong – that the most notable impact will be even more drivers punishment passing him.
What’s needed is a similar
What’s needed is a police backed scheme similar to ‘Neighbourhood Watch’, maybe ‘Road Watch’ with a sticker/sign to put on bike/car that shows other road users that you’re keeping ’em peeled for wrong’uns behind the wheel (or handlebars – but mostly wheel).
I wouldn’t be surprised if
I wouldn’t be surprised if many drivers know that many police forces do nothing even if you have evidence, and will thus drive no differently.
Ferrari + Dickhead = trouble.
Ferrari + Dickhead = trouble.
I’m just glad he didn’t hit the pedestrian on the left or the cyclist on the right. I hope the car was seriously damaged and the police prosecute for exceeding the speed limit and dangerous driving.
eburtthebike wrote:
And I hope that I find a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. I know which I think is more likely…
My question is how did that
My question is how did that video get out?
Because someone stupid enough
Because someone stupid enough to crash a car for no apparent reason in a straight line is also stupid enough to post a video of it on social media. Why would you disable the traction control on a car like that in a city…
I just hope the airbag gave him a good smack in the mouth.
Ferrari driver obviously
Ferrari driver obviously deserves massive respect for skillfully avoiding both ped and the cyclist in an otherwise uncontrollable situation.
Mungecrundle wrote:
That was nothing but luck. He had zero control over where the car went. If he knew what he was doing he could have recovered it.
1 – Pretty sure Munge was
1 – Pretty sure Munge was being sarcastic
2 – If the driver knew what he was doing, he wouldn’t have been driving like a massive cockwomble in the first place.
For the avoidance of doubt, I
For the avoidance of doubt, I was engaging in the lowest form of wit.
If he knew what he was doing,
If he knew what he was doing, he wouldn’t have lost control in the first place.
It seems that it wasn’t that
It seems that it wasn’t that the Ferrari driver accelerated that much, it looks like he had the throttle down somewhat in a highish gear, asked the car to downshift but didn’t lift off at all. If electronic driver aids are off and you try such a mechanically unsympathetic action, driven wheels experience massive change in torque and will break traction.
It’s like starting a max effort on the bike and then shifting down on the front derailleur….
It’s the usual case of
It’s the usual case of imbecile with plenty of money and no skill or respect for the car. I used to work for a renowned supercar dealer and drove Ferraris, Bugattis, Porsches etc every day. These cars demand great respect. To put your foot down in them requires a great deal of skill and fast reactions. The 812 is a ferociously quick car, the driver put it into a sport mode which accentuates the exhaust note but switches off the traction control.
I belive police is going to
I belive police is going to “talk to the driver”. There will be some “some recommendations” and the driver probably will be fined. Up to 250 quid + taxes.
Court? I doubt this. Even so, it’ll be something like “a month of self-isolation”.
I see drivers who race like this every. single. day.
I am going to say it: I don’t
I am going to say it: I don’t care about Dr Freeman. Why are we still hearing about this? Report when there is a verdict and leave it at that.
And as for Rog’s kit, it’s fine; it is red and green that should never be seen.
Mother be quick – I’m gonna
Mother be quick – I’m gonna be sick
And lay me down to die
https://www.mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=5016
“We don’t want to explicitly
“We don’t want to explicitly encourage people to come and cycle here but we should encourage good behaviour in those who do.”
Feck me, and people wonder why cycle infrastructure is in such a shit state in this country.
Dont’ forget that the Canal
Dont’ forget that the Canal and Rivers Trust, who run Britain’s waterways, and thus their towpaths, are perfectly happy to take millions of pounds each year in taxpayers money for the creation of cycle routes.
They like the money from cyclists, but they don’t want cyclists on the towpaths.
Here in West Yorkshire, Canal and Rivers Trust has taken about £10 million in taxpayers money in the last 6 years to ‘upgrade’ towpaths as part of funds to boost cycling. This has been spent on installing barriers narrower than the width of a set of handlebars, building speedbumps (which has resulted in several incidents of broken limbs from cyclists), and coating the towpath in loose flint chippings. The council are happy because they can say they are providing funding for cycling, without actually questioning whether it is fit for purpose.
Can cyclists and pedestrians
Can cyclists and pedestrians share a towpath? Well, most can. A few people of all locomotions suffer from arrested development and never learned to share at primary school.
But this makes zero sense:
Would they ban all people wearing parkas if the dick in question happened to be wearing a parka? Why punish people due to the infractions of another, based on how they travel (or what they wear)?