Froome v Celebs Zwift race; US racer flags YouTuber’s response to Instagram post about race struggles; Costa offers bizarre excuse for refusing to serve people on bikes at drive-through; Police wrongly claim arresting bike thief would be entrapment + more
SUMMARY
Mental health nurse found her stolen bike for sale – police told her intervening would be entrapment
A mental health nurse whose bike was stolen has been told by police that it would be entrapment if they were to intervene after she found it for sale online.
Joey emerged from a 12-hour shift on Wednesday to find that her bike had been stolen. The theft was caught on CCTV.
She later found the bike for sale on Gumtree, but the police response has now left her feeling that she put, “too much work into it.”
Gumtree also refused to take the ad down.
Joey’s case has been taken up by Jeremy Vine, who says unless they review that decision, she will be left having to buy her own bike back.
My brilliant neighbour Joey is a mental health nurse.
Last night her bike was stolen.
It turned up on Gumtree – but when she gave police the name and address of the thief, they said they couldn’t help because her investigative work would make it entrapment.
This is NUTS. pic.twitter.com/AmyxsWGzWi— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) June 3, 2020
'Entrapment' argument is not right
The Met’s claim that approaching a bike thief selling on Gumtree would be entrapment (see below) is… not right.
It is not right at all.
It is not even nearly right, because of course no-one is being tricked into committing a crime – the crime has already been committed.
Surely if the crime has already been committed, there’s no issue of entrapment? https://t.co/8mB5MKBFYv
— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) June 3, 2020
The bike has already been stolen and the stolen goods are already for sale.
Met’s ‘entrapment’ argument – detective superintendent intervenes
Detective Superintendent Andy Cox, the Met’s head of road safety and transport policing, has got involved.
@theJeremyVine I am keen we resolve this for Joey and provide an appropriate level of service. Please can you send me the relevant details including reference numbers and I’ll make sure the matter is looked into. Thank you.
— Andy Cox (@SuptAndyCox) June 3, 2020
He’s not yet saying the force was definitely wrong with its ‘entrapment argument.
It seems he’s rather wisely reserving judgement until he’s heard the explanation first-hand.
It certainly appears so Lenny. Though sometimes face value understanding doesn’t always understand the full details. Though I’ll ensure we properly look into this now and take whatever action possible.
— Andy Cox (@SuptAndyCox) June 3, 2020
Only five cycle helmets available in the UK given 'recommended' status in new safety testing
Remember Michele Scarponi's macaw, Frankie, who joined him on training rides? She's back!
Frankie is a female blue and yellow macaw who would often ride along perched on Michele Scarponi’s shoulder or helmet during his training rides.
After Scarponi was killed in a road traffic collision in April 2017, his friend and fellow pro, Luis Angel Maté also went for a ride with her, at one point saying, “How much we miss our friend, eh?” before she flew off.
It seems she’s gone for a ride with Antonio Nibali this week.
Beautiful – Frankie is back. Riding with Antonio Nibali now. https://t.co/GEeXpIDQwx
— Ned Boulting (@nedboulting) June 4, 2020
Video: Leicester pop-up bike lanes and 'time to travel'
Chris Boardman makes a point about a small element of this; that it’s good to see how long a journey will take by bike, rather than how far it is.
Turkmenistan's president bloody loves cycling
Turkmenistan’s president loves cycling (“velosport”), he bloody loves it. Here he is walking around a giant monument erected to cycling as a song about cycling is performed in the background pic.twitter.com/3EjmaZgJz7
— Peter Leonard (@Peter__Leonard) June 3, 2020
In 2013, the Independent reported that Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow had ordered all citizens to buy bikes in preparation for a mass event.
Before you get any ideas about emigrating, we should probably add that human rights groups say Turkmenistan is one of the world’s most repressive regimes.
Here's a video of Turkmenistan's president shooting stuff while riding his bike
US racer highlights Durianrider’s reply to his Instagram post about race struggles – says Aussie YouTuber is ‘a joke’
If you ever watch cycling videos online (which you do), you’ll almost certainly have happened across Australian YouTuber, Durianrider, at some point.
Durianrider – real name Harley Johnstone – is known for having, shall we say, robust opinions on many things.
He’s been involved in several controversies. The last time we reported on him he said he’d been ‘ambushed’ and assaulted in public by someone known to him.
This week Cory and Justin Williams of the L39ION cycling team in Los Angeles have been speaking on Instagram about how race has affected their opportunities and about what they’re doing to effect change. (You can find Cory here and Justin here.)
Cory has published the following Durianrider reply to one of his posts.
We’ve heard that several recent posts on Durianrider’s own Instagram account have been reported by users. Some have been taken down, but he is still trying to engage with Williams despite having been blocked – even going so far as to ask him to appear on his podcast.
He also seems to have been replying using his girlfriend’s account after being blocked.
Costa Coffee offers bizarre excuse for refusing to serve people on bikes at drive-through (then backtracks, but you still can't get coffee)
The road worthy, taxed and insured comment seems odd
Are they going to check the car and drivers documents defore it enters the drive through. pic.twitter.com/lN2OsBJbL3
— Bike Rogers (@bike_rogers) June 4, 2020
Hey Victoria, this is correct. Due to strict health and safety guidelines, our teams will not serve any customer that is not in a vehicle when passing through one of our Drive-Thru lanes. Apologies for any disappointment caused. – Sam
— Costa Coffee (@CostaCoffee) May 28, 2020
You’re not taxed or insured to be on the road ^Adam
— Costa Coffee (@CostaCoffee) May 28, 2020
I was incorrect on the tax and insurance piece. Apologies – our policy still doesn’t allow bikes in the drive thru lane ^Adam
— Costa Coffee (@CostaCoffee) June 4, 2020
Costa update: Adam refuses to put down the spade
I thought it was to do with the bikes not being insured/taxed – I assumed that and was incorrect. For health and safety we don’t allow pedestrians or bikes in case of accidents ^Adam
— Costa Coffee (@CostaCoffee) June 4, 2020
Sheffield City Region announces plans for 1,000km of walking and cycling routes
The Sheffield City Region is planning over 620 miles of accessible walking and cycling routes by 2040.
Plans include a high-quality segregated cycle route along the A6178 to connect Rotherham, Meadowhall and Sheffield.
The network will also feature nearly 200 square miles of low traffic neighbourhoods.
Today @SCR_Mayor & @DameSarahStorey reveal #ActiveTravel plans for South #Yorkshire. Developed with local authorities & 4000+ public comments, the plan includes:
🚲1000km of routes
🚶♂️ 800 safe crossings
👨🦽 320km2 of low traffic neighbourhoods
https://t.co/RQ6SDdo2fV pic.twitter.com/Z0vXZzhrz3— Sheffield City Region (@SheffCityRegion) June 4, 2020
Mayor Dan Jarvis said: “Active travel has always been at the heart of my transport vision for South Yorkshire. The benefits walking and cycling bring to all aspects of our lives are great and I am proud of how quickly we have developed this plan alongside our local authorities. Active travel is good for our health, good for the planet and good for the economy.
“We are in the midst of one the largest public health crisis in a generation and as we recover from coronavirus, we have an opportunity to change
“No one wants to return to gridlocked roads and polluted town centres, and this landmark strategy sets out how we can build back better. The aim should not be to go back to the status quo, it should be to make this a moment of fundamental change for our region and our country.
“Active travel should be part of an even wider strategy – a green new deal to transform our economy, create millions of new jobs, and counter the economic damage the pandemic has caused.
“I am pleased that the Government is allocating emergency funds to enable us to make space for pedestrians and cyclists in the age of social distancing, but this money must be released promptly.
“In the short term, we need to take the pressure off a stretched public transport system which is running at a fraction of its normal capacity, and prevent the gridlock which will be caused by people turning to their car. In the long term, we need sustained funding for active travel to enable us to deliver a green new deal for South Yorkshire.”
Dame Sarah Storey, Active Travel Commissioner, said: “During the first year of my appointment there has been an unwavering commitment to create this plan and I am delighted we can now publish it for all to see.
“Our local authorities have risen to the challenge to create an ambitious plan and are committed to redistributing road space and enabling active travel in a way that hasn’t been seen before. Our plan gives a clear goal – a network of routes linking up low traffic neighbourhoods.
“During the coronavirus pandemic we have seen an even greater demand for safe space for walking and cycling, as social distancing reduces public transport capacity and people look to maintain new exercise habits that were formed at the height of the lockdown.
“Creating space for active travel is creating space for everyone. It means that not having access to a car will no longer be a barrier to getting around. From safe streets for children to get to school, to pavements free from inconsiderately parked vehicles that block the way for people in wheelchairs and parents with pushchairs, walking and cycling provision ensures everyone can enjoy they place they live and travel safely and easily to the places they want to go.
“I was pleased to see the response from Government to the letter written by Mayor Jarvis and I about prioritising active travel in the recovery from the coronavirus pandemic but we need this money now so we can begin to make our roads more pleasant places to be for those on foot or on bikes.”
PedalMe now cheaper than Uber
PedalMe, the pedal-powered passenger and cargo service operating in London, says it’s cheaper than Uber after dropping its prices.
..to help people use us.
We’re now cheaper than Uber for any passenger journey over 2 miles – and a whole lot more hygienic and better for the city.
Get involved: https://t.co/sOrVdsqlkr
— Pedal Me (@pedalmeapp) June 4, 2020
Dr Ian Walker is planning a big ride (without going far)
Dr Ian Walker, the environmental psychologist who features semi-regularly on this website in one capacity or another – most recently for becoming the Guinness World Record holder for the fastest crossing of Europe – has a bit of time on his hands fairly imminently.
His plans seem fairly self-explanatory.
I’ve decided to do something silly next week #screwyoucovid pic.twitter.com/u2BkxdpkkN
— Ian Walker (@ianwalker) June 4, 2020
A stolen bike 'entrapment' question
Further to the story we kicked things off with this morning where police refused to address a stolen bike being sold on Gumtree, arguing it was ‘entrapment’ (8.20am).
Bikercub makes a great point in the comments:
Froome to take on various celebrities in televised charity Zwift race
Chris Froome is to take on a host of celebrities in a live Zwift race on Sunday night.
The charity event has been organised with former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen to raise money for Wheels for Heroes.
The aim is to raise enough for 1,000 bikes for NHS staff.
“Kevin actually made the suggestion to do a charity event on Zwift back in April, so I’m really glad we have managed to get this off the ground,” said Froome.
“Our NHS workers have been truly inspiring, but with travel restrictions, it’s still difficult for them to travel to and from their place of work. These new bikes will truly make a difference and provide a safe means for our NHS workers to travel safely during COVID-19.”
‘The Race’ will see Froome take on Pietersen and other celebrity guests on Zwift’s Volcano circuit.
Participants will be gridded at the start with riders setting off at intervals dictated by the results of their FTP tests.
Those taking part will include Mel C, Olly Murs, Ryan Giggs, Andrew Flintoff, Lee Westwood, Maro Itoje, Steph Houghton, Darren Gough and Kirsty Gallacher.
The Race will be broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event, Arena and Mix, as well as Zwift’s YouTube channel at 7.30pm.
It will be hosted by Laura Woods, Romesh Ranganathan and Matt Stephens.
Can’t wait to see Froome hopping out of the way of 90mph bouncers in the return leg.
Froome v Celebs update: Flintoff a potential DNS
Not sure I’m in contention on Sunday not been on the thing yet and probably won’t do now . Can’t change my peddle 🤦🏼♂️ @DGoughie @WestwoodLee pic.twitter.com/bPHtMY06rD
— Andrew Flintoff (@flintoff11) June 4, 2020
Can’t spell it either.
Wondering about Kevin Pietersen's cycling credentials?
Not exactly in Froome’s class, but decent.
If I race you now, @chrisfroome, I’d win the downhills! 🤣 pic.twitter.com/Q5BhOBf8q7
— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) May 14, 2020
If you’re thinking in W/kg, it’s worth pointing out that KP’s a big guy (6ft4in, 1.93m).
As for the other cricketers, Flintoff often rides around Cheshire and in 2014 took on a 1,200km ride along the Trans-Amazonian Highway.
He was also credited with saving the life of a fellow cyclist on a 2012 charity ride. Hopefully such actions won’t be necessary on this occasion (not least because social distancing measures mean he won’t actually be anywhere near any of the competitors).
Darren Gough took to cycling for the 2016 Channel 5 series, Tour de Celeb.
The most significant cyclist-cricketer of recent times is probably Matt Prior, who set up the One Pro cycling team. However, he and Pietersen are not what you’d call ‘great mates’ after falling out during an Ashes tour.
AA president says government should introduce “road miles” pricing system for drivers
AA president Edmund King says the government should introduce a “road miles” pricing system for drivers, reports the Guardian.
He’s advocated this before. In 2017, he and his wife Deirdre – a former economist at the British Road Federation – saw it shortlisted for the 2017 Wolfson Economics Prize.
Speaking at the time, he said: “We set up a system where every driver in the UK gets at least 3,000 road miles free – so it’s free access to the road network – but then after that, there is then a small charge.”
They said that financial modelling projected total revenue above current Government revenue by an average of 3.4 per cent per annum over a decade.
Speaking at a virtual conference organised by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit this week, King said of the idea: “It makes you think about the trip and if you have a cleaner greener vehicle you can pay less … We need some radical thinking and perhaps now the time is right for the Treasury and others to address these bigger issues that politically they have been quite wary of addressing before.”
He is also hopeful that lockdown will have changed at least some people’s ideas about how to get about.
“I am optimistic that this lockdown is beginning to change the attitudes of drivers … If local authorities can put in well planned infrastructure to walk and to cycle – and public transport when that returns – I do feel that can have a credible difference,” he said.
“The time is right at the moment because people are out there and they themselves had seen the benefits of walking and cycling and running … it is a real opportunity.”
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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.
19 thoughts on “Froome v Celebs Zwift race; US racer flags YouTuber’s response to Instagram post about race struggles; Costa offers bizarre excuse for refusing to serve people on bikes at drive-through; Police wrongly claim arresting bike thief would be entrapment + more”
Can we have more police like
Can we have more police like Andy Cox.
Good to know that those hard
Good to know that those hard working citizens diligently earning a living by fencing stolen goods have the full backing of the platforms they advertise on and protection from the constabulary against self entitled owners wanting their property back.
I’m off to break a pensioner
I’m off to break a pensioner’s jaw, steal their stuff and sell it on right now! Gosh, the opportunities afforded to an entreprenuerially-minded bod in this day and age.
If Joey had to buy her own
If Joey had to buy her own bike back, wouldn’t she then be “receiving stolen goods”? Which is also a crime… that she’s been forced into… which is entrapment…
On the Costa Coffee drive
On the Costa Coffee drive through thing: Given some of the statistics I’ve read, I don’t imagine they’ll have very many customers if they’re going to check that every motor vehicle is “road worthy”, taxed, and insured…
(They are going to actively check, aren’t they? Cos otherwise what they’re saying sounds like a load of horlicks…).
brooksby wrote:
I’m absolutely sure that Costa have a link to DVLA in every shop and check the reg, insurance, mot and VED details of every car, as well as inspecting the tyres of each vehicle to ensure that they aren’t below the wear limits.
I wonder what would happen if you turned up on a bike but wearing a nurse’s uniform?
The best thing Costa could do
The best thing Costa could do for Health and Safety is not serve food and drink to drivers at a drive thru. You’re basically facilitating distracted & one-handed driving by serving them. And typically on a motorway. I’m amazed they’re licensed to do it.
The story reminds me of some
The story reminds me of some mates who tried to visit McDonalds after a night at the pub. Were told they couldn’t walk through the drive thru, so they got their bikes. Were told it had to be a motorised vehicle.
So they went round again, going “Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrm”. Still weren’t served.
Genuine questions here as I’m
Genuine questions here as I’m not that bright.
If Costa are suggesting all vehicles using their drive thrus are road worthy, taxed & insured, does that mean the drive thru is classed as a highway & would your vehicle insurance cover you for an accident whilst driving through a drive thru?
Presumably they also have
Presumably they also have anpr cameras, someway of turning away uninsured vehicles and that they report all such vehicles to the rozzers. Nope, thought not
They do,but that’s to record
They do,but that’s to record how long you park in their carpark so they can send you a fine for overstaying
They do,but that’s to record
They do,but that’s to record how long you park in their carpark so they can send you a fine for overstaying
Generally such public
Generally such public accessible spaces are covered by the RTAs. Your insurance should cover you in private property too – otherwise you’d be in the shit if you hit someone on their driveway (unless you are pc box of course)
Costa Coffee
Costa Coffee
It is dangerous for me to be in a stationary/slow moving queue but going 20mph on the road overtaken by 40-50 mph vehicles is safe?
What exactly is the danger ?
The danger could be from
The danger could be from queuing behind upmteen exhaust pipes breathing it all in for 10-20 minutes. But the real reason, I guess, is that some cyclists would filter to the front of the queue, maybe not blatantly straight to the kiosk, but doubtless past the first however many cars, leaving some poor gig “employee” to arbitrate and deal with the fallout.
But to be honest, the idea of collecting a hot coffee for consumption at the wheel is bad enough. Consuming it at the handlebar seems even more unnecessary. I’d rather that they had secure, safe and convenient cycle parking.
Durianrider; possibly right.
Durianrider; possibly right.
There is NO objective evidence that the racer’s colour has anything to do with his place on teams, racing etc.
He’s jumping on the Lloyd George etc bandwagon ;-(
Durianrider is a notorious
Durianrider is a notorious publicity seeking troll…with plenty of nasty accusations against him on the internet (no idea what is or isn’t true)
Justin Williams has proven himself in the us cycling scene over and over…with little success in getting picked for the important stuff so I’m inclined to side with him. He also comes across as a decent guy unlike durianrider.
Lloyd George bandwagon? I
Lloyd George bandwagon? I didn’t realise there was a ‘bandwagon’ for a 19th – early 20th Century Liberal UK Primeminister. What’s that all about and how does one join? Does one need to agitate for Irish Home Rule or something? Does one need to wear tails whilst cycling?
Watching the Jeremy Vine show
Watching the Jeremy Vine show on Five, they may have been some police movement in the case, but and here is the reason for the post, Jeremy said that “Secretly, I have fitted a tracker to my bike”
Doh!