Cyclists accused of “panting viruses” through Cambridgeshire village, + more locals imposing their own lockdown laws; UCI celebrates 120 years; British Cycling against exercise ban; Supermarket logos as bike jerseys + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
Bank holiday weekend catch-up
Got carried away on the turbo? Sudoku marathon get a bit out of hand? Here’s what you missed while your mind was occupied elsewhere…
Chris Froome on riding during lockdown – including need to maintain safe distance
Sunday Times names and shames cyclists racking up miles on Strava
Cyclist left with tree branch impaled in neck after quarry fall
Alberto Contador claims Lance Armstrong said, ‘Don’t f*ck me’ during 2009 Tour de France
“Numerous” cyclists ignoring Box Hill road closure, according to police
Madcap genius Colin Furze builds tall bike for social distancing
Tour de France heading towards inevitable postponement, as France bans festivals and large gatherings until mid-July
President Macron said that restrictions on public events and large gatherings would continue until mid-July in France due to the coronavirus pandemic, making it virtually impossible for Le Tour to happen as it usually does.
The Tour de France race organisers ASO are yet to comment.
Trek Madone valued at £8,500 recovered by Dover Police before it left UK
This stolen Trek cycle was recovered this evening before it left the UK. It is valued about £8500. The owner is overjoyed it’s been found.#portofdoverpolice#borderforce. IT pic.twitter.com/oqsvxbbSJx
— Port of Dover Police (@portdoverpolice) April 11, 2020
The Port of Dover Police smelt a rat just before the superbike left UK shores to be sold on the black market, with the owner “overjoyed” that his pride and joy was recovered; it just so happened to be a Trek Madone aero road machine with Ultegra Di2 and Bontrager deep rims, worth somewhere in the region of £8.5k.
Since posting the news, the owner met his bike’s saviours and collected it over the weekend…
One happy owner collecting his Trek Cycle, recovered yesterday.#portofdoverpolice#borderforce IT pic.twitter.com/SItcQo9Qrc
— Port of Dover Police (@portdoverpolice) April 12, 2020
The sign as a Haiku
Feel free to have a go yourself in the comments of course.
Sign in Cambridgeshire accuses cyclists of "panting viruses" through village
Went out for an easy ride, found the least welcoming village in Cambridgeshire… pic.twitter.com/ogAaRXyusv
— Gordon Hollingworth (@gsholling) April 13, 2020
Gordon Hollingworth was out getting his daily exercise yesterday, when he happened across the rather unwelcoming sign in the village of Coveney. In what could have made a nice little Haiku with some rearrangement, the sign says:
“Cyclists
“Stop panting viruses through our village
“Stay away”.
According to Cambridgeshire Live one person was responsible for the sign, and it was branded “the most ridiculous sign I have ever seen” by a person commenting on the Coveney village Facebook page. Their Parish Council chairman Councillor Barry Matthews said it was put up without permission on a public highway and would be removed; he said no one had come forward to claim ownership of the sign or ‘air’ their grievances with the council.
It appears this is a local village for local people, and non-local cyclists aren’t welcome according to this local sign made by a local person, which didn’t go unnoticed in the comments underneath Mr Hollingworth’s Twitter post…
Yes this sounds like my people pic.twitter.com/HLuc4ydClh
— Hannah 😈 🚲 (@theeyecollector) April 13, 2020
If you want some tips on how to ride responsibly during the pandemic and avoid spluttering deadly viruses all over quaint Cambridgeshire villages, check out our comprehensive guide.
British Cycling against ban on outdoor exercise, and reiterate that cyclists should stay 'at least' two metres apart
Despite numerous researchers and articles claiming that a greater distance should be left to cyclists around you – including an academic white paper widely shared on social media and our own investigation into the matter – British Cycling are recommending “at least 2m apart” in their latest social media posts. They also quote Professor John Edmunds of London School of Hygiene who says that banning outdoor exercise would do little to curve the pandemic, but would have “a marked impact on people’s health and wellbeing.”
Callum Skinner "can't confirm or deny" if he kept GB skinsuit from Olympics
I can’t confirm or deny if I and most of the rest of the team kept their games skin-suit despite being told to return it 😂
— Callum Skinner (@CallumSkinner) April 14, 2020
Spotting our article on Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish discussing their displeasure at being told to return their skinsuits and bikes from the Olympics, the 2016 team sprint gold medallist may be hinting that he might have a GB suit or two lying around in his draw too.
Still no turbo trainers for sale?
How about redo this one as “Best home trainers you can actually BUY in 2020″… Almost every smart trainer in the country sitting in a box next to excess bog roll somewhere…
— Big Foz (@FastFoz) April 14, 2020
It appears our buyer’s guide to the best home trainers needs a temporary headline edit. On another note, if anyone else has moved house recently and genuinely needed to buy a freezer for reasons that extend beyond stockpiling chicken dippers, you’ll feel this author’s pain…
Dame Sarah Story launches her own Black Circle Coffee blend
We missed this one last week, but Britain’s most successful Paralympian has teamed up with Black Circle Coffee for her own special blend:
“With cafe rides a thing of the past, we decided to team up with Black Circle Coffee so you could bring your coffee shop coffee to your house”, says Storey.
A 1kg pouch costs £34, which you can buy here.
In case you didn't spot it, the winner of our #FullKitRanker was...
The Piet Mondrian-inspired La Vie Claire jersey a worn by Bernard Hinault and Greg Lemond has been officially crowned road.cc readers’ greatest jersey of all time. We’ll be following up with an article paying homage to this classic maillot later in the week.
Francis Cade completes double everesting attempt
Cade took 27 hours to achieve the feat, climbing 17,696 virtual metres in 27 hours and 28 minutes and stopping only for two hours of sleep and some comfort breaks. Fellow cyclists Alex Hill also began the ride, but had to pull out after 11 hours wit injury. They raised £13,400 NHS Charities Together, which is providing support to staff and volunteers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cade commented at the end: “I’m really tired, a little sore, but feeling good. It’s weird, it hasn’t quite sunk in yet.
“I can’t believe how much we’ve managed to raise. I want to thank everyone who tuned in and donated, it just goes to show how much the National Health Service means to all of us and how valuable it is.
“I’m looking forward to having some recovery time now – having a shower, a long nap and maybe some pizza.”
If you have 27 hours to spare, you can relive it all on the live stream when it’s finished processing…
Reports that all three Grand Tours could take place between August and October
Marca claim that a new calendar has been decided by the organisers of the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España. They say that the Tour de France will take place from 2nd-25th August, the Vuelta will be in September and the Giro is set for October. The Giro’s race director Mauro Vegni is reported to have ‘confirmed’ there are no plans to shorten any of the Tours, with all three set to take place over three weeks as before.
Chances of this happening?
What if supermarket logos were turned into cycling jerseys?
Phill Brown Design has brought the idea to life, creating Aldi, Asda, Iceland, John Lewis, Morrisons, Tesco, Waitrose, Sainbury’s Co-Op and Lidl jerseys. We think we’ve seen the latter somewhere before…
Today's COVID-19 good deeds round-up
Yeah, sadly so much of this right now. We have already replaced stolen bikes for a doctor, a nurse, a supermarket worker, food distribution person, an HCA, all who have their bikes stolen at work in the last 2 weeks. Awful. But glad we could help. Ask her to contact us x https://t.co/ABXauWW95s
— GlosBikeProject (@GlosBikeProject) April 13, 2020
There’s been numerous reports of key workers having their bikes stolen since the pandemic began; and numerous brands, retailers and individuals from Chris Boardman, to Halfords to Luke Rowe have stepped in to provide replacements. The Gloucestershire Bike Project tell road.cc they’ve already gifted 50 bikes to key workers, sadly a number of those went to people who had theirs stolen – their crowdfunder to raise cash to give more bikes to key workers during the pandemic has already raised over £9,000 with a £50,000 target – you can donate here.
Meanwhile across the pond, Specialized are giving new bikes to essential workers either from recommendations or personal applications – they will be gathering submissions on 22nd April and giving out bikes on a first-come-first-served basis to successful applicants, find out more here.
Movistar's next jersey to be fan-designed
Fans have to download the template on the Ale Cycling website, draw it out with whichever digital technique they prefer (no sponsors permitted) and then post the design to Instagram. A panel will then select a shortlist of six and decide the winneer from April 24th – more info on how to enter here.
Chris Froome's pre-bike workout
It’s not all just pedalling, as Froome lets us into his gym routine… of which he claims to have definitely done more than one rep of each exercise.
Locals impose their own lockdown laws: your views and observations
We’ve had a fair bit of reaction to the image posted on Gordon Hollingworth’s Twitter page this morning, telling cyclists to stop “panting viruses” through the village of Coveney… and it turns out locals elsewhere are also attempting to impose their own interpretation of the lockdown recommendations on others.
The photo above courtesy of sjplake in the comments is reportedly from Harrogate, rhetorically asking cyclists if they are 30 minutes from home with the obligatory “protect the NHS” underneath… presumably they’ve interpreted the government’s restrictions to mean that outdoor exercise has to be limited to one hour, when no such law or recommendation exists.
Members of the Bristol Cyclists Facebook page also claim that some residents in the village of Pill are threatening to blockade part of a route from Bristol to Portishead to stock cyclists from using the route.
kil0ran also spotted a sign saying ‘road closed’ with ‘residents only’ scrawled on with a sharpie pen; most likely an unofficial (therefore illegal) effort to keep cyclists away from the road.
In the comments section on this blog, we’re drawn to this concise summary of the matters in question from srchar:
“One of the many negative social aspects of lockdown is that it has given every curtain-twitching Walter Mitty type an excuse to vent their misplaced hatred for people who do things they just don’t like. It’s actually quite worrying how readily this has happened and how quick people in positions of authority have been to encourage it.
“…The common theme is that they just hate people who do something that they enjoy and which makes them happy.”
UCI celebrates 120th anniversary
120 years of cycling in 120 seconds ✨
Today is the 120th anniversary of the UCI but whilst it’s no time for celebration, we will overcome this crisis and continue to create unforgettable sporting memories. #CyclingUnited pic.twitter.com/3A0J4HOrz9
— UCI (@UCI_cycling) April 14, 2020
The organisation has been around since 1900, and has rounded up some highlights in the video above.
Geraint Thomas' 12 hour 'Zwift shifts' begin tomorrow
Tomorrow I’ll be starting my first of 3 12hrs turbo rides. Wales’ top try scorer @ShaneWilliams11 is joining me for all 3. Surely the 2 guys in joint 2nd would be keen as well😉@George_North @gareththomas14 https://t.co/V4yNaiULZY #GsNHSZwiftShifts
— Geraint Thomas (@GeraintThomas86) April 14, 2020
The Tour de France champ will be doing three 12 hour shifts on Zwift on three consecutive days to mirror typical NHS hospital shifts, and the ‘action’ will all be live streamed via his own and Team Ineos’ social media feeds. G’s NHS Zwift Shifts has already raised over £25,000 of the £100,000 target for the Association of NHS Charities on GoFundMe – you can donate and find out more here.
14 April 2020, 08:24
Ian Stones on Facebook suggests that Zwift create a "birthday suit" option so the ride can take place online...
London leg of World Naked Bike Ride cancelled, no new date proposed
Organisers plan to stage a ‘Not the World Naked Bike Ride’ on 13 June instead
14 April 2020, 08:24
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Latest Comments
@MaxiMinimalist Agreed. The big problem I see now is today's parents grew up being driven to their schools, and therefore, see private motor vehicles as the only viable form of transport. The vast majority of UK infant and primary schools have a catchment area that is within easy walking distance from home to school. Yet, the traffic caused by pupils being driven to/from school is astonishing. Banishing the "School Run" should be a priority for all schools.
When I was a kid (that was during the previous millenium when phones were connected to a plug in the wall), I rode my bicycle to school, music academy, sport grounds, parties even during the winter. The government didn't have to spend, correct that, didn't have to think of spending massive amounts of money to build cycling specific infrastructures. Over the past 3 or 4 decades, cars have grown bigger, taller, safer (for their drivers) and faster. Meanwhile, motorists have become abusive, aggressive, hypersensitive to people moving on two wheels, aka cyclists. Spending billions upon billions on new infrastructure won't address the crux of the matter. Sadly.
Obree had some actual talent in his legs though, in addition to his bike/aero engineering talent.
Малко като опит за доказване е излязло... Никой няма нужда от толкова голям въртящ момент и мощност на шосеен велосипед с тънки гуми, които дори трудно ще предават тази мощност върху пътя. А ако има и ограничение от 25 км/час е още по-безмислено.
Not sure how informative that is. I imagine for all most of us know it could be Europe's only 'volumetric modular building'. 🤷♂️
Yes, but they're copying the adults of today...
Indeed - but alas I think this is an effective argument for very few folks indeed. As for push-back, what else could we expect *? I think there are ways of selling this but we're far more likely to see headlines about the problems, while the successes are relegated to footnotes, because at that point it just works and there's nothing to see... * Given that this time there aren't politicians being persuaded to overlook thousands of deaths and the demolition of property by the billions from the motoring trades (and the excitement of being able to drive out with the bright things for a party at a roadhouse). Nor are we as tolerant of "accidents". (And noting that publicity about the cases of a handful of people killed by cyclists continues to reach the media; deaths related to motor vehicles not so much).
That rather ignores that the children of today are the adults of tomorrow.
@belugabob Arguably it's easier this way - we don't actually need to do anything to the streets except stop drivers driving down every scrap of tarmac. Where I live, a few well-placed bollards would make walking/cycling/scooting the quicker option and safer, while maintaining 100% vehicular access - just not allowing through routes in every direction.
Sweet dreams from Bike@bedtime! Thank you for featuring this classic beaut.
40 thoughts on “Cyclists accused of “panting viruses” through Cambridgeshire village, + more locals imposing their own lockdown laws; UCI celebrates 120 years; British Cycling against exercise ban; Supermarket logos as bike jerseys + more on the live blog”
I’m surprised the fuckwit
I’m surprised the fuckwit responsible is able to write a sign. They’re clearly not literate enough to read the official government advice.
What if their paper boy rides a bike? How will they get their billionaire approved daily hate? That’d surely make their head explode sending a whole load of fuck all into the air.
That was actually version 2
That was actually version 2 of the sign, the previous one was at the other end of the village and the text simpler. Version 1 did not have the eyes either!
The village in question does not have any shops so the residents have to travel to the nearest town which is where most of the cyclists will be coming from.
The majority of residents haven’t got a problem with cyclists coming through and are really friendly.
Ride report: both signs gone.
Ride report: both signs gone. Saw one other cyclist through Coveney, three people mowing their lawns and a woman posting a letter / walking a dog. Oh and a potato lorry.
Safety fans will be pleased to hear that the dodgy ladder has gone from the side of the house ?
Surely they’ve been reading
Surely they’ve been reading the comments of the North Yorkshire PCC.
One of the many negative
One of the many negative social aspects of lockdown is that it has given every curtain-twitching Walter Mitty type an excuse to vent their misplaced hatred for people who do things they just don’t like. It’s actually quite worrying how readily this has happened and how quick people in positions of authority have been to encourage it. On my local Facebook group, the whinge-about-everything crowd have stopped hating buggy-pushers (“breeders”) and started to hate runners instead. Obviously, they’ve always hated cyclists, but the language has been ratcheted up a notch now that we are literally killing people.
The common theme is that they just hate people who do something that they enjoy and which makes them happy.
Spot on a great country with
Spot on a great country with a propensity to do two things, 1. Become a do good vigilante and 2 find scapegoats for all known cock-ups. Hence the phrase of the month, “We are following the scientific advice” , those scientists are ****ed when the chickens come home to roost!
Spotted this one in Weeton,
Spotted this one in Weeton, Harrogate, North Yorkshire yesterday. Says CYCLISTS. ARE YOU YOU 30 MINUTES FROM HOME? PROTECT THE NHS.
Now, was the person who put
Now, was the person who put up that sign making an “essential” journey with a “reasonable excuse” as defined in the emergency legislation?
sjplake wrote:
Don’t take exercise, vegetate at home – Protect the NHS.
Morons!
And, why “cyclists”? What does it add to this person’s already distorted logic? Walkers, joggers, motorists – no, only cyclists are somehow a threat to the NHS by virtue of being 30 minutes from home. Bizarre
Depends how fast I cycle! Or
Depends how fast I cycle! Or if you’re measuring in a direct line.
Yes, I could be home in 30 minutes but actually I’m going to go along this road, up that ridge over there, down the track, around the reservoir then maybe over a second climb before heading home. Thanks for asking!
I am front line NHS (comuntiy
I am front line NHS (comuntiy care) and this easter weekend I took one for the the team, I can confirm Covid-19 is a evil monster as I tested postive on Sat. It you get a good dose as I seem to have then you will need all the fitness that you have to get over this. So do not veg at home keep fit protect the NHS, yes do not overdo it as you can immunized suppres yourself so be sensibile. Ingnore the bigots, as soon as I get my lungs back I will be out and on my bike enjoying the sun. We will beat this keep well and strong!!!!
Nice one! keep strong, get
Nice one 60! keep strong, get better, see you when you’re back.
Thanks from all of us for putting yourself in harm’s way to help us
60kg lean keen climbing
Good luck with the recovery and a big thank you from everyone!
Nice one 60kg. This is what I
Nice one 60kg. This is what I’ve been telling people when they tell me not to go on my bike. Without a gym and cycling my only hard physical outlet I’ve found my mental health taking a hit. I just don’t know how some people can sit in day after day doing nothing. Probably the kind of people that do that no matter if there’s a pandemic on or not.
I wonder just how many of these idiots putting these signs up or agreeing with them are smokers, drinkers or don’t do any form of exercise at all.
Can’t you do a bit of DIY gym
Can’t you do a bit of DIY gym stuff?
I noticed the outdoor gym near me isn’t roped off, but I’m not sure I’d want to use it – I haven’t got many disposal gloves left.
I’ve got a home gym but
I’ve got a home gym but before I could buy some big weights everything just WENT. The downside of actually being one of the “essential workers”. I like lifting heavy too. My body responds better to it. I’m adapting and doing lots of reps, a case of having to rather than wanting too.
I can’t believe the prices being charged for gym stuff. Same as what’s happened to trainers I guess.
Well said 60kg and I hope you
Well said 60kg and I hope you are back to full health soon !
That’s disappointing from the
That’s disappointing from the Good Burghers of Weeton. They are seizing the opportunity to have a go at some -ists they already hate.
So sayeth the Tory voting,
So sayeth the Tory voting, self appointed ‘protectors of the NHS’ of Weeton.
How can someone who voted
How can someone who voted Conservative at the last election say that they want to save the NHS? They do understand what the Tories want (wanted?) to do to the NHS??
They boy who cried;
They boy who cried;
“We have 24 hours to save the NHS!”.
Classic.
Similar thing going on around
Similar thing going on around Bristol. The Bristol Cyclists FB group at
https://en-gb.facebook.com/groups/bristolcyclists/
reckons that the good burghers of Pill are threatening blockades to stop cyclists using the NCN route from Bristol to Portishead.
That would be the riverside path which is barely wide enough for anyone to safely pass even when there isn’t a global viral pandemic…
Blockaded NCN routes are
Blockaded NCN routes are already being reported – there was some old Farmer Palmer who had done it according to this very esteemed organ (sorry, couldn’t find the page), and the Police were “negotiating”(? FFS!) to get it reopened
That was
That was
https://road.cc/content/news/farmer-blocks-cornish-cycle-trail-stop-coronavirus-272641
I pay £30 a kilo for coffee at the local grocer (but I’m happy to pay a bit more becasue of the all the things he stocks). He also has some at £150 a kilo ! (not sure I could taste the premium in the small sample I got once).
Spotted something similar
Spotted something similar this morning on a road that’s effectively a dead-end heading out on to forest tracks. Yellow “Road Closed” rectangular sign with sharpied “Residents Only” addendum. Clearly not an official sign and illegally closing a road that’s part of the public highway. Unfortunately I was out on the road bike so couldn’t take the red rag to a bull approach and ride past it. It’s right by an equestrian centre and I guarantee it won’t apply to Tabitha hacking around on Dobbin.
34 quid a kilo……..or have
34 quid a kilo….
….or have i been living in yorkshire too long. £9 at saino’s for 1 kg, plus that’s a large looking kg bag she’s holding
Certainly seen cheaper coffee
Certainly seen cheaper coffee but that price is correct I believe! To be fair the bag of beans I bought for £2.50 from a German supermarket that I’ll refrain from naming aren’t really doing it, but you get what you pay for…
That’s not a bad price for
That’s not a bad price for speciality coffee, although for that money I’d be tempted to shop around for a single-origin. It’s odd they don’t offer a smaller quantity. I wouldn’t risk buying a kilo, even with Dame Sarah’s imprimatur. For anyone interested in sourcing quality coffee online, there’s a list of roasters here, including discount codes.
Note that Black Circle also offer other blends.
captain_slog wrote:
Yep I was on Grumpy Mule Guatemalan before which I think is about £5.50 for 200g, which I shall be going back to after this pouch.
Hope Mr hawkinspeter is aware of that other blend!
Jack Sexty wrote:
Well, I am now!
I normally buy green beans, so I don’t think I’ll be getting any of that. I usually get my beans from hasbean.co.uk and their most expensive blend is *only* £24.70 for a kilo (they do smaller sizes too). I got my last supply from https://www.pennineteaandcoffee.co.uk/ – they’ve got a good range of green beans at reasonable prices.
As a slow coach who missed
As a slow coach who missed out on buying a turbo, is there any news on when retailers will likely get new stock in? I’d rather wait for new stock, than join in the fight for overpriced second hand stuff on eBay.
Thanks!
I think this chap said it
I think this chap said it best and this was a long time ago!
I have just seen three
I have just seen three professionally printed signs in a road in Highgate, North London from the Fitzroy Resident’s Association telling cyclist to – ride in singe file, ride two metres apart, do not go above 10 mph, no spitting. This is to protect other road users and the NHS. If you don’t like it, the sign continued, go elsewhere. I was fuckin shocked. I can’t believe the animosity and hatred. I had cycled up the steep hill on a fully laden cargo bike (I have just been in my central London workshop servicing bikes for the NHS) and seen three children and their mum cycling plus dozens of pedestrian walking two and three abreast. And then these large, hideous signs inferring that people on bikes are a threat to the NHS. I feel very sad and angry by this.
Chris Froome home weight
Chris Froome home weight training; good on him but STOP
doing the leg extensions!!
They kill the knee joint and cyclists don’t use that action so (apparently) strengthening it doesn’t help.
Haven’t seen any such signs
Haven’t seen any such signs in my neck of the woods, but if there were they’re having no effect. Was in Newcastle (AUS) this morning and I’ve never seen so many people out riding, easily 3x the number on a normal weekend no doubt helped by the glorious autumn weather (28°C) but considering the social distancing restrictions and being unable to stop anywhere, it was amazing to see so many out just enjoying a ride let alone mid morning on a workday.
More people trying to force
More people trying to force rules that don’t exist onto people. https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/18380007.letter-editor-stop-cyclists-fine-rule-breakers/
The burk can’t spell – but I
The burk can’t spell – but I think could be on to something with the “duel carriageway”. I guess that is where cyclists are put to the sword.
Ha ha ha! Pot, kettle? It’s
Ha ha ha! Pot, kettle? It’s berk!
I think the problem is people
I think the problem is people are scared, they can’t do anything about most of the stuff they’re sdcared about, so they fixate on something that they think they can do something about.
Problem is, half the time it seems people (and I include the police in this) are basing it all on their own personal interpretation of “common sense” or on some random thing that a junior minister said in an interview rather than what the law actually says.
(Edit) Also, there seem to be a lot of people out there who think that just by looking at someone they can tell how far they’ve travelled or whether they have a valid excuse for being out, or whether a group of people form a single household, etc.
The voice of reason !
The voice of reason !