Backlash over triathlete’s 200 mile ride during lockdown; “Absolutely amazing”: Transport Sec’s active travel admission; No Hope as track bike creators suspend production; Halfords offer free bike servicing for NHS workers + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
Dafne Fixed making the most of life in isolation
Eating breakfast…
Working from home, cycling and ironing simultaneously…
And turbo + pringles is all in a day’s work for the internet’s foremost fixed gear stunt team.
"Now more than ever the NHS and emergency workers need our help and support": Halfords offer free servicing
While some were questioning if Halfords was an ‘essential retailer’ earlier this week (there was even a petition demanding they stay closed) they’ve backed up their stance by offering free bike servicing and ten point car checks to all NHS and emergency workers during the coronavirus pandemic.
The free bike service offered is usually worth £30, and workers will be able to claim it at ‘most’ Halfords stores starting form today. The Halfords Bronze Bike Service includes brake and gear adjustment/alignment and drivetrain lubrication.
Halfords CEO Graham Stapleton said: “Now more than ever the NHS and emergency workers need our help and support. Our research shows how vital their cars and bikes are in getting to and from work, so we want to do our bit and help the extraordinary people who are doing an incredibly trying job at the most difficult of times.”
All NHS and emergency staff have to do to redeem the offer is show their staff ID card to a Halfords employee.
Breaking: Boris Johnson tests positive for coronavirus
The PM is experiencing ‘mild symptoms’ and has tested positive, according to the BBC.
No Hope: Hope Technologies suspend operations
On their Twitter account, the brains behind the Hope/Lotus track bike that would have been used by Team GB at the 2020 Olympics say they’ve temporarily suspended production on safety grounds. The closure will initially be for three weeks, and Hope won’t be taking any new orders during that time.
Breaking: Richmond Park BANS cyclists
Breaking: cycling will be banned in Richmond Park from tomorrow due to the huge volume of cyclists and the failure to observe social distancing, @theroyalparks has announced. Police and stewards will be posted at park gates. NHS staff can still ride through the park. pic.twitter.com/ywTyXFqtUX
— Ross Lydall (@RossLydall) March 27, 2020
After concerns cyclists weren’t paying enough attention to social distancing guidelines, the Royal Parks have now issued a statement saying that all cycling will be banned in Richmond Park from tomorrow. Full story to follow.
David Millar hits back at 'unseemly punting you wares' comment
Unless you’re giving free hats to key workers it seems incredibly unseemly to be punting out your wares at this moment.
— two20 (@two20) March 27, 2020
The ex-pro and founder of the Chpt3 cycling apparel brand was accused of being ‘unseemly’ in promoting caps on his Twitter account during the pandemic; but hit back by saying that he’s just trying to keep business going “like every other business out there.”
Chpt3 have also made a podcast called Chttr3 for our entertainment, and if you want one of the caps you can buy it here.
Halfords keep spreading the love
Thank you @Halfords_uk for still managing next day delivery despite everything that’s going on in the UK/world. It has made my little girl’s 3rd birthday special even after we’ve had to postpone her birthday party and can’t see any of her extended family or friends. pic.twitter.com/LpSJpYgBcn
— Becky Green (@BeckyGr96127220) March 27, 2020
After announcing free services for NHS staff and emergency workers earlier today, Halfords are still staying on top of their deliveries to cheer up their customers. There’s another large bike shop chain owned by an even larger sportswear chain who could perhaps take note…
For more examples of local bike shops and businesses doing great things during the pandemic, see our growing pinned Facebook thread giving shout-outs to cycling businesses and our supporting article.
Ironman triathlete Joe Skipper heavily criticised on social media for clocking 200 mile ride outside during lockdown
Skipper took to Strava last night to tell his followers of a 325km (202 mile) ride around Norfolk, that took him 9hrs 30 mins to complete; but some of his followers on Strava and social media were not amused. We’ve also had an email in at road.cc from a follower who wanted to flag the ride “to highlight the issue of personal and social responsibility in these unprecedented times.” Skipper has now started responding on Twitter to his critics…
As I’ve said numerous times. Currently there is no ban. I took precautions and seemed advice off medical professionals that have said it’s fine to do what I’ve been doing. As long as it’s within government guidelines which it was. Stop causing trouble and worry about yourself.
— Joe Skipper (@Noaveragejoe88) March 27, 2020
Because I’m not doing anything wrong at the moment. Government guidelines state you can exercise once a day, there’s no time limit on it. Strava is very toxic at the moment and my account was mostly private anyway. If they put a total ban on outside exercise I’ll adhere to it,
— Joe Skipper (@Noaveragejoe88) March 27, 2020
As a 12 hour time trial specialist and one of the Britain’s leading Ironman triathletes, Skipper knows a thing or two about riding solo. In response to a comment highlighting the risk of mechanical failures and the need to stop for supplies, Skipper claims he “took precautions” and only needed one stop for water. He also says his girlfriend is a doctor and she believes he isn’t doing anything wrong.
Sticking to government guidelines, if they say we go into a complete lockdown I’ll adhere to that. My gf is actually a doctor and thinks it’s fine. Last I comment on this, we will just have to agree to disagree.
— Joe Skipper (@Noaveragejoe88) March 26, 2020
Technically Skipper is not breaking any emergency laws, as the government guidelines as outlined by Michael Gove state one ‘form’ of exercise per day is permitted; no actual time limit has been applied, although police forces are saying that driving to a location to exercise isn’t permitted.
To our knowledge, Skipper’s once public Strava account now has extra privacy settings. You can read our updated advice on riding responsibly during a pandemic here, and how much distance you should leave when passing other cyclists here.
L'Eroica organisers commit to assisting Santini with producing face masks at their Bergamo factory
Santini will begin to make protective face masks in the next few days after their factory announced they were switching production last week; and the organisers of the famous vintage bike race L’Eroica – who carry Santini as a headline sponsor – are launching a fundraising campaign to help finance the move.
L’Eroica’s founder Giancarlo Brocci said: “As you all know, my mode of communication is very down to earth, familiar, in the style of Berruti (another foundind father of L’Eroica) and with his kind of passion.
“The first time I went to the Santini factory – they were already partners of Eroica – I remember how the owners, Monica and Paola, were delighted to introduce me to their father and founder of the business, Pietro. And I remember the pride with which they insisted on keeping the old knitting machines, the ones that were there when they started their quality work, along their fortunate entrepreneurial path.
“Santini is a partner of Eroica, and the factory started recreating those amazing wool jerseys that can now be found all over the world. Today, in the middle of this national emergency, the company has decided to start producing the masks that are increasingly difficult to find. What a heroic way to lend a hand and keep the light of passion and pride alive, in that proud heart of Italy that resists and will bounce back stronger and more conscientious than ever.”
L’Eroica’s campaign to raise funds is called ‘STOPCORONA’, with crowdfunding pages and links coming soon. Numerous bike brands have altered production in order to manufacture goods to help combat the spread of coronavirus – read off.road.cc’s round-up here.
"Public transport and active travel will be the natural first choice for our daily activities": Shapp's new comments on active travel labelled 'gobsmacking' and 'absolutely amazing'
As noted by the BBC, the De-Carbonising Transport consultation was quietly published by the government this week; and active travel campaigners are astounded at the tone of voice and apparent change of tact from the top.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps says: “Public transport and active travel will be the natural first choice for our daily activities. We will use our cars less and be able to rely on a convenient, cost-effective and coherent public transport network.”
Stephen Joseph of Hertfordshire University said the document was “utterly gob-smacking”, while Cycling UK’s Roger Geffen told the BBC: “It’s absolutely amazing.
“This makes Grant Shapps the first government minister in the UK to talk about traffic reduction since John Prescott tried (and failed) to achieve this aim in the late 1990s.
“There are some holes in the document, but it suggests that the government really does seem to be taking climate change seriously.”
Are the government really taking taking this climate thing by the scruff of the neck now? We’ll wait and see…
Regent's Park bans cyclists: a thread
A brief thread on @theroyalparks decision to close Richmond Park to cycling.
Keeping your distance from someone is absolutely crucial at the moment, so the parks are understandably worried. But let’s read the statement:
1/nhttps://t.co/n4qJUDxoR5 pic.twitter.com/GZx72TycVn— Tim Lennon (@lucullus) March 27, 2020
In which the author says by banning cyclists and closing gates, people are forced to crowd on pavements and a plan for general access hasn’t been considered.
Read our full story here.
Debate continues over Joe Skipper's nine hour, 200 mile ride during strict pandemic measures
BC guidance is “only ride on routes you know well, that are close to home and that are well within your ability level – this is a time for calm recreation, not for challenging yourself.” Also 10 hours on the bike like this will suppress the immune system putting you at more risk.
— Elisabeth Anderson (@velobetty) March 26, 2020
Skipper says that he is following government guidelines and has got advice from his partner – who is a doctor – that his long ride is permissible; however the triathlete is continuing to be criticised for allegedly stretching the limits of the latest government guidelines that state one ‘form’ of exercise per day is allowed. Others have defended Skipper, while also bemoaning Norfolk’s apparent lack of decent elevation…
2700 feet of climb is not a challenge.
— Pompey Cyclist (@PompeyCyclist) March 27, 2020
High tide complicates matters even further for Richmond cyclists
It seems like everyone’s got it in for cyclists in Richmond right now, with Mother Nature ganging up with the Moon and Old Father Thames to make the towpath unrideable…
"How can I prepare for the Tour?" Steven Kruijswijk rubbishes idea of behind-closed-doors Tour de France
The Dutch Jumbo-Visma rider said in response to the suggestion of a Tour behind closed doors as suggested by the French Minister for Sports:
” Is that a solution that justifies going on a tour? Call your shot… At least we’ll have something to show on television, but is it realistic?”
“Then everything must be safe and there must be no more health risks. Then it would be possible. But even then there shouldn’t be a risk that we, as a Tour, will be able to get the distribution going again. Because without a crowd you’re still talking about a travelling circus of more than 1000 people. And that’s still a lot of people together.”
Kruijswijk has been training exlusively indoors on Zwift – which he is said to dislike – and last rode outside on 17th March. He continued: “I now realise even better how hard it is for my wife to give the children enough attention when I’m away. The kids now don’t even understand why they can’t go outside. That doesn’t alter the fact that I can enjoy all those moments together, but I would have preferred to do it under different circumstances.”
"If it’s ok to go out for an hour then it’s ok to go out for 5/6": Joe Skipper on 'that' bike ride during UK lockdown
It’s the little bike ride everyone has an opinion on, and pro triathlete Joe Skipper has remained defiant that he was justified in heading out for over nine hours while the country is in lockdown, replying to a critic on Twitter: “If it’s ok to go out for an hour then it’s ok to go out for 5/6. If it’s not ok to go out then there will be a ban, it’s either one or the other and doesn’t have anything to do with duration. We will just have to agree to disagree.”
Considering his lifestyle and particular expertise in riding these kind of distances, what do you think?
27 March 2020, 09:17
Here's our full story on the ban in Richmond Park
Cyclists banned from Richmond Park due to “congestion”
Royal Parks says decision has been taken to protect public safety and “to keep this vital green space open for everyone”
27 March 2020, 09:17
Derbyshire Police force says it really meant group riding after riders in matching club gear were spotted on the Snake Pass
Derbyshire Police criticised for suggesting 'lycra clad cycling' is currently unacceptable
Force clarifies it really meant group riding after riders in matching club gear were spotted on the Snake Pass
27 March 2020, 09:17
Test your cycling knowledge in today's quiz!
road.cc Quiz Corner - What do these World Tour sponsors actually make?
Test your cycling knowledge in today's quiz
27 March 2020, 09:17
British Cycling is advising people to ride “for calm recreation” and not to challenge themselves
Daily exercise rules: current cycling dos and don'ts
British Cycling is advising people to ride “for calm recreation” and not to challenge themselves
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@chrisonabike True, things went back to normal once the pandemic was over. In this case, however the problems are still ongoing, and aren't likely to be resolved in the near future. If anything, they're going to get worse. Food shortages are predicted because of the effect that the heatwave has had on crops. This is bound to push prices up. The Straits of Hormuz aren't likely to reopen anytime soon and the strategic oil reserves are running low. Russia is having to import petrol because its own refineries have been badly hit, so that's even more competition for an even more scarce resource. I think that more and more people are going to see cycling as a way of cutting household bills.
I think if "grown up" cyclists * are quibbling about ASLs we've very much missed the road safety point anyway. (Not to mention the wider "better transport choices" picture). ASLs are poor-to-useless "cycling infra", even for their design intent. If the idea is "for less confident cyclists" then a design that requires that you re-position in front of the motor traffic - waiting to accelerate - seems unhelpful. Of course they're only designed to help when traffic is stopped, and you can reach the front in time and if vehicles aren't already occupying them. As we're noting here drivers frequently ignore them - whether that be deliberate, a lack of road craft, because they were concentrating on following the vehicle in front, or because the paint has rubbed off. * Aside: shouldn't cycling also be safe and accessible for kids? Or should they only be allowed to do this when accompanied by sufficient qualified adults? Or be limited to parks and otherwise being driven around by their carers? Perhaps there is another way...?
Hi Bungle, I saw you follow-up comment. I can't imaging there's a tolerance of 4 seconds on camera enforced lights, seems an odd decision - an offence is committed if a vehicle starts crossing on a red, any tolerance is discretionary. There does seem to be some odd thinking about 'advanced stop lines' where the rules relating to them are identical to a regular stop line, as explained correctly elsewhere in the Highway Code. It does seem a regular offence. Where I live it doesn't help that some of them are very faint and disappear in rain.
@ktache Not sure he's totally ruled out of the worlds yet (though I think it would be best if he doesn't), normal recovery time is about eight weeks but surgery can halve that...depending on the nature of the break he could be just about fit to ride by the time of the elite men's race, but he'll have missed a lot of training. Hopefully his managers and team will persuade him to wait until Lombardia, if not just to knock it off for the rest of the year.
@Bungle_52 The Met told me a couple of years ago when rejecting a submission that they needed a clear three seconds of red visible before they would consider it for an RLJ prosecution. I pointed out to them that this meant that at 30 mph a driver could see a light change to red from 40 metres away and still get through without sanction, or 55 m if they accelerated to 40 as most do. They just replied "them's our rules..."
@Ben Graham I have just checked the footage from my report. The driver crosses the 1st stop line 4 seconds after the light turns red. All on camera from behind the vehicle. No further action. So I assume the margin is at least 4 seconds.
Oh, and active travel funding per head (in England at least) is laughable compared to other places. Plus it is delivered intermittently. It's more like a Blue Peter contest...
Yup, I see those opportunities being missed all the time in Edinburgh. When it gets really bad, dig it all up and put it back down again how it was. Contrast with what seems to happen in NL - when things are dug up the whole thing seems to get a "let's redo this according to the current standards" treatment. They even coordinate with the utilities, so that after a refurb the street isn't immediately dug up again because of leaking pipes / we suddenly realised the new estate being planned for round the corner will want broadband etc. Pros and cons of course - you may wait longer there for changes as smaller changes may be deferred until a major redo is due. (Though in the UK case you likely wouldn't get them at all...) It seems we "can't have nice things" in the UK in part because a) we have greater motor traffic speeds/volumes spead across "streets" / within urban areas b) the funding and organisational responsibility differs. Are we in the "Sam Vimes boots" territory (being too poor to afford better products which not only save money over time but actually work)? There is long term money pressure on LAs and it seems that due to poor construction and maintenance we have to regularly pour money into (pot-)holes in the road. And it seems there's no budget to check up on or enforce adequate standards from utilities work or even private building.
Shame about the world champs defence. Speedy recovery. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/aug/30/tadej-pogacar-vuelta-a-espana-cycling-crash-hospital-stage-nine
I believe the accepted form for this kind of argument is "I know you are, you said you were, but what am I?".
13 thoughts on “Backlash over triathlete’s 200 mile ride during lockdown; “Absolutely amazing”: Transport Sec’s active travel admission; No Hope as track bike creators suspend production; Halfords offer free bike servicing for NHS workers + more on the live blog”
I have nothing against people
I have nothing against people doing a 200m ride. But doing over 300km with only 822m altitude gain is embarrasing. Even in Norfolk. He’d probably have done more swimming that far.
tbf whilst it maybe flat
tbf whilst it maybe flat around Norfolk, theres been a near constant 15-20mph (gusting to 25mph) wind for the past week plus the roads are near always chippings covered, it feels pretty brutal on the legs and alot like climbing after a while just constantly hammering into that wind on those roads, and theres no where to hide from it.
however whilst its technically activity not banned (yet), its perhaps not the smartest thing to be doing at the moment
I ccyeld from kings lynn
I cycled from kings lynn station to hunstanton with a load and a north wind. That was not fun and it was only 18 miles !
Living on the SW coast of
Living on the SW coast of Ireland I know a little about wind, bad roads and no shelter. But at least we are lucky enough to have lots of hills. I also lived in Cambridgeshire for a while.
As for safety, should he stay at home and do some DIY? Probably statistically more dangerous than cycling. I tried to find some statistics on this but failed.
Awavey wrote:
It’s not great because it’s a bit selfish when other athletes are genuinely confining themselves to barracks having been asked not to risk causing the NHS a call out. Granted, nothing happened, but it’s grist to the mill of those who’d prefer cycling to stop as well. He really didn’t need to do it.
Couldn’t agree more. Ironman
Couldn’t agree more. Ironman and Challenge are extremely unlikely to be running any races in the Northern Hemisphere summer. He’s only just back in the UK having destroyed the Ironman New Zealand course record (he’d finished before I got out of T2!) and stamped his ticket for Kona in October.
His actions might be legal but they’re going to be viewed as irresponsible and you’ve got to wonder how his sponsors are going to react.
45 South wrote:
Exactly.
Decisions on our ability to carry on riding outside will be made by politicians who have no particular affiliation with competitive cycling. These types of rides will only get the hackles up of these politicians.
As many are saying, follow the spirit of the law or it will be changed to no riding outside at all.
All the recent social media
All the recent social media comments I’ve seen on Richmond park are saying the same thing – people have been sensible and social distancing?
Anyone have first hand knowledge here?
They were probably just
They were probably just waiting for something that they could claim as an excuse.
EddyBerckx wrote:
We’re compiling some first-hand experience now for a full story, our news editor Simon was filming there on Monday and saw nothing untoward.
I read some tweets that the
I read some tweets that the issue isn’t in the park but at the gates. By restricting access through the pedestrian gates they are causing a log jam and people can’t distance safely.
It sounds like it’s a problem created by the parks not cyclists.
Those Richmond Park stewards
Those Richmond Park stewards will need good eyesight, to check an NHS pass from at least two metres away…
the thing about the exercise
the thing about the exercise rule is in the spirit of the law rather than the letter, the chaps route along the main coast road in norfolk is up to him, but the emphasis of the rule is avoiding risk, whil things may not be against the “letter of the law” a tiny bit of commomn sense would not got amiss