“There’s no climb even close to this tough”: Phil Gaimon takes KOM on 90km Hawaii monster that climbs 4,000m; Is this cyclist right to blame themself for near-collision in busy traffic?; 100% legit Facebook bike… (apparently) + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
Is this cyclist right to blame themself for near-collision in busy traffic? Rider hopes footage will help others "learn from my mistakes"
“How I improved from my near accident. Learn from my mistakes. Stay safe.”
How I improved from my near accident
byu/ipflibbydibbydoo inlondoncycling
The first thing to note is that in the Highway Code priority is given to pedestrians or cyclists travelling straight on in situations like this, where a motorist is turning into a side road, so the motorist should give the rider priority and of course take care to ensure that cycle lane is clear before turning. As this motorist was turning right across traffic anyway, it would be the case regardless that any road users travelling straight on here have priority just, in this case, the stationary traffic (and presumably a flash or wave from the van driver) has made the motorist forget all about that cycle lane.
Rule 180 would tell the driver: “Wait until there is a safe gap between you and any oncoming vehicle. Watch out for cyclists, motorcyclists, pedestrians and other road users.”
In the real world, the reality of all the research suggests the Highway Code remains not particularly well-known. Various studies have repeatedly shown that plenty of drivers still don’t know the correct rule on cyclist/pedestrian priority when turning into side roads.
On the relevant advice for cyclists here, Rule 76 of the Highway Code addresses cycling straight on at junctions and states:
If you are going straight ahead at a junction, you have priority over traffic waiting to turn into or out of the side road, unless road signs or markings indicate otherwise (see Rule H3). Check that you can proceed safely, particularly when approaching junctions on the left alongside stationary or slow-moving traffic. Watch out for drivers intending to turn across your path. Remember the driver ahead may not be able to see you, so bear in mind your speed and position in the road.
Take great care when deciding whether it is safe to pass stationary or slow-moving lorries and other long vehicles, especially at the approach to junctions, as their drivers may not be able to see you. Remember that they may have to move over to the right before turning left, and that their rear wheels may then come very close to the kerb while turning
The rider involved in the footage did not need to look up the Highway Code’s advice to come to similar conclusions about what they could have done differently, explaining how they have changed their riding, learnt from any mistakes, and hope the footage can help others too.
“I posted the first clip on this a while back where I reflected on how I could’ve avoided the near miss,” they said. “I’ve since encountered similar situations where I’ve managed to put my reflections into practice. I’ve compiled these encounters into this video showing how I’ve improved. Hopefully my learning experience can help other people too.”
Their checklist of things they believe have improved their riding in similar situations included slowing down and making more effort to see around stationary traffic for anything turning.
The post got plenty of attention, one of the top comments agreeing: “My driving and cycling improved immeasurably when I started reviewing my own dash cam footage of stressful events; over time I realised that most things can be seen happening a mile off (and most idiots can be identified well before they involve you in their trouble).”
What’s your reaction to the footage and how would you have ridden these situations? Have you used camera footage to change the way your ride?
"Badly executed" cycle lane under fire after broken wrists and lacerated kidney among reported injuries
Blink twice if you need help, Tadej
Bizarre press release of the day is this announcement that Tadej Pogačar has partnered with cryptocurrency platform KuCoin. Ryan’s currently doing some digging because, well, KuCoin has had some interesting dealings with the authorities in recent years, but for now here’s ‘Tadej’s’ take on the partnership…
“At the highest level of cycling, trust is built through preparation, consistency, and a relentless focus on safety. You earn it over time, through performance and responsible decision-making under pressure. That mindset strongly resonates with how KuCoin approaches trust and security.”
It’s like he’s here with us now…
100% legit Facebook Marketplace bike... (apparently)
Well, 95% legit… accounting for the out-the-saddle spec…
"We can't sit still while this is going on": Surly Bikes responds to death of Alex Pretti
Surly Bikes has joined Salsa Cycles and Wolf Tooth in urging the cycling community to come together to remember Alex Pretti, the man killed by ICE in Minneapolis last weekend, the second person to be shot dead by federal agents in the city in the past few weeks.
It has since emerged that Pretti was a popular member of the city’s cycling community and Minnesota-based bike brand Surly took to Instagram, writing: “Our community is hurting”.
“Federal immigration officers have unlawfully detained, harassed, and even murdered our neighbours,” the post continued. “We can’t sit still while this is going on, so our team has been contributing to mutual aid, delivering groceries to neighbours, marching, and going on strike. That means this channel has been pretty quiet, but no more. We need your help.
“Surly has donated to the Immigrant Rapid Response Fund @womensfndnmn to help front-line organisations care for and protect immigrant and refugee families. Want to take action with us? We thought so. Call your reps at (202) 224-3121 and tell them what you think. Then check our bio for more ways you can get involved.
“And don’t forget: our bikes ground us, connect us, and keep us moving together through dark times. This weekend we’re supporting a Unity Ride for Alex Pretti on Saturday, January 31. Come ride with us, host a ride in your community, or simply ride in solidarity. Ride, resist, and rise up.”
Xavier Brice to step down as CEO of active travel charity Walk Wheel Cycle Trust
Walk Wheel Cycle Trust, the active travel charity which rebranded from Sustrans last year, has this morning announced that its CEO Xavier Brice will step down this spring after 10 years with the organisation.
Brice’s tenure oversaw the delivery of over 500 miles of new and improved routes on the National Cycle Network, launching the Walking and Cycling Index, and clocking nearly one billion walking, scooting and cycling school journeys as part of the annual Big Walk and Wheel challenge, the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust told us this morning.
“16-year-old me would be tickled-pink that I got the chance to lead such a wonderful team transforming how people get about, improving their health and wellbeing, and our world,” Brice said. “After 10 years leading this brilliant charity, and with a strong new brand and strategy for the future in place, now feels the right time to pass the baton on to somebody else.
“I joined as a supporter and leave an even bigger one. I’m proud of the diversity, passion and commitment of our employees, volunteers, supporters and partners and look forward to seeing Walk Wheel Cycle Trust continue to thrive and connect people with the things that matter to them.”
Harry Hayer will lead as interim-CEO from mid-April, with recruitment for a permanent CEO set to begin shortly.
"I blindly get on the bike every time and just hope I get home alive": Mayor says “car-centric” cycle lane cuts are impeding road safety plans and putting cyclists in danger
Parliament's Transport Committee to examine government's Road Safety Strategy
The Transport Committee is to examine the ambitions and potential effectiveness of the government’s new Road Safety Strategy. Published earlier this month, the new strategy aims to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on Britain’s roads and it is the first strategy of its kind for over a decade.
The committee will now examine the proposals and the consultations launched under the strategy, to determine if it shows the right level of ambition, and whether government departments will be capable of achieving the targets.
MPs will also consider evidence on wider issues raised by the strategy, including “speed limit management, road design, safety on rural roads, and lessons from international and UK practice”.
The Road Safety Strategy announcement included new consultations on minimum learning periods for learner drivers, eye tests for older drivers, and lowering the alcohol limit for driving to help prevent causes of collisions.
This could see the drink drive limit lowered for the first time since 1967, the government noting the UK’s is currently “the highest in Europe” and one in six road fatalities involved drink driving.
> Is Keir Starmer ignoring cycling? Labour’s Road Safety Strategy discussed
The consultation will also “explore the use of preventative technology, such as alcohol interlock devices, and new powers to suspend driving licences for those suspected of drink or drug driving offences”.
Elsewhere, the government “will consult on introducing a three or six-month minimum learning period, giving learner drivers more time to develop their skills in varied conditions such as night driving, adverse weather, and heavy traffic”. This, it is said, comes as drivers aged 17-24 represent just six per cent of licence holders but are involved in 24 per cent of fatal and serious collisions.
The DfT also announced a consultation on mandatory eyesight testing for those over 70, as well as developing options for cognitive testing too. It also said new measures will “target the growing problem of illegal number plates, including ‘ghost’ plates designed to fool camera systems, while also cracking down on uninsured drivers and vehicles without a valid MOT”.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “Every life lost on our roads is a tragedy that devastates families and communities. For too long, progress on road safety has stalled. This strategy marks a turning point.
“We are taking decisive action to make our roads safer for everyone, from new drivers taking their first lessons to older motorists wanting to maintain their independence. The measures we are announcing today will save thousands of lives over the coming decade.”
"We continue to work constructively with the management team as they explore options to navigate the business through this market downturn"
The fortunes of the major bike company Accell Group, that owns Raleigh, Lapierre, Babboe and many others, look set to continue to be fairly bleak in 2026, the Financial Times having reported that Accell’s own owner KKR is braced for more losses. The FT described KKR’s purchase of Accell during the pandemic as “a disastrous investment”, the challenges facing the wider industry hitting the major bike business particularly hard.
In the past year there has been a debt restructuring and frantic work to get inventory under control, but the FT says Accell might need to undergo a second debt restructuring.
In a statement, KKR said it had been a “supportive and engaged shareholder” of Accell, “providing financial, commercial and deep operational support through an exceptionally challenging period for the entire European bike industry”.
“We continue to work constructively with the management team as they explore options to navigate the business through this market downturn,” KKR added.
Today in Daily Mail land... there's a "new CyclingMikey"
I can’t decide which January story from one particular Daily Mail writer should get a Pulitzer nomination. Help me out, should the award go to ‘Wayne Rooney’s FA Cup giant killer brother and his childhood sweetheart wife… who looks just like Coleen’… or this?
We’ll try to bring you more on this soon, including hopefully some input from “the new CyclingMikey” himself…
Remco Evenepoel wins on Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe debut
Some handy team time trial practice considering this summer’s opening stage of the Tour de France in Barcelona. Over at the AlUla Tour, Yannis Voisard of Tudor Pro Cycling pipped Afonso Eulálio and Sergio Higuita in a ding-dong summit finish. Oh, and overnight, Sam Welsford and Martina Fidanza took the Cadel Criterium in Aus, the circuit race a last-minute replacement for the Surf Classic which was cancelled due to 45°C temperatures and the threat of bush fires.
Controversial train station bike theft policy "sent the wrong message about whose journeys matter," cycling campaigners say as "common sense" U-turn hailed
"There's no climb even close to this tough": Phil Gaimon takes KOM on 90km Hawaii monster that climbs 4,000m
This will be a video worth watching when it drops…
YouTube hill-climbing king Phil Gaimon returned to Hawaii once again to reclaim a KOM that he reckons is in a league of its own.
“There’s no climb even close to this tough,” an exhausted Gaimon wrote afterwards. some 40th birthday party that was, the former WorldTour pro slogging up to Mauna Kea’s summit having left the seaside four-and-a-half hours earlier, this one deserves ‘epic’ status.
The full Waikoloa Beach to Mauna Kea summit segment is, brace yourselves, 89.4km long at an average gradient of 4.7 per cent. It takes in around the same amount of climbing as a mountain stage of a Grand Tour, just north of 4,000m, the worst gradients saved for the final gravel track to the summit.
The 11.89km gravel sector at the end itself averages 11.4 per cent, a brutal climb in anyone’s book, but that comes after nearly 80km of ascending and starts at elevation higher than the tallest climbs of the Tour de France. Gaimon averaged a quite insane 19.3km/h for the full ascent, his power data suggesting he averaged 271w to take the KOM by nine minutes.
Just 171 people have ever completed the full Strava segment, but Gaimon has reclaimed its crown. Here’s his video from the last time he took on the climb, another video on this effort coming soon too, I’m sure…
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Fine knowledge. I'm still running late 90s xtr and early to mid 90s xt.
"the speed limit does apply to them" Well, sort of. But they shouldn't be being ridden at all in the first place, at any speed. Exceeding the speed limit is just an additional offence on top.
Shimano started using 2mm hex for derailleur limit screws in 2015. Most of their groups now use those rather than JIS. This happened in the second generation 11sp road, so R7000/R8000 all use this, all the 12sp stuff as well, Tiagra from 4700 10sp, all GRX, CUES. Some lower end groups (Sora/Claris) do still have JIS screws and of course older stuff, I do still have bikes with them.
@ "Unfortunately the UK is covered with ill conceived cycle routes built in a rush with no real strategy. ..." That's no way to describe the Notional Cycle Network! Where abouts are you? "Covered" - there's certainly enough for eg. "(crap) cycling facility of the month" sure ... but you'll be saying that cyclists are "literally running the place" next! Unfortunately the Cycling Embassy of Great Britain's site and their "good cycle facility of the month" pages afloat to be no more ... but you can still enjoy the unbelievable infra of the Netherlands (but also banal - almost no people making a big deal) care of: https://bicycledutch.wordpress.com/
@TrainWalkWheel RE: "We need to sit down and think what we actually want and then plan where it can go." Are you straying into "nobody is swimming the river, we won't build a bridge" territory? (Or is it "not many are coaching from Brimingham to London, we won't build a railway"? Only for cycling it's many orders of magnitude cheaper...) Certainly councils have "ticked the boxes, got the funds" and "built it not where most needed but where *possible*" ( eg. where they'll only have complaints about wasting money on cyclists and not death threats from businesses and residents.) However in many (most? ) cases the "let's all agree" idea is problematic. Few people cycle, most places are seriously car-sick. And there are some very loud voices ready to steer things away from any change to the unsatisfactory status quo that doesn't involve more motor provision. (Occasional exception: small areas of pedestrianised streets - that people can drive to). Why bother then? We can ill afford the growing cost and side effects of growing motoring. Cycling for most would be enhanced walking - and most people walk. It can work together with public transport to genuinely replace car trips. Places like parts of London, Manchester etc have found that after the dust settles people's existences weren't ruined at all and they just get on with life. What would makes that work? Quantity and building networks. Along with some motor traffic reduction / displacement (alas - that's the harder part). But of course in most places - given the motoring push-back and "but costs" - piecemeal infra is all that seems possible.
Why are there no line breaks? Or are we going for the middle class niche, like the G?
The mismatch between the brifter hoods and the handlebar bend is hideous. An extra layer of tape underneath would have made such a difference!
Rome mate, you are giving us all a bad name... Was she fully loaded, were the kids screaming on the back?
To black cab drivers, and this one may not be one for much longer, why risk those years of doing the Knowledge and the massive investment in the vehicle for a few seconds of feeding that addiction. It just ain't worth it. He knew he was in the wrong, that's why he hot potatoed it, and Kate, they don't stop when they start moving, they are just easier to catch in their criminality while stationary. I think your naivety is showing there. This man had two licences, and the law breaking was still happening.
Hoey's comment heavily implies that it's OK for drivers to use their phone at a red light, or whenever else they determine, at their sole discretion, that it is safe to do so. Why did she not advance this position in her role as a law maker? As to her suggestion that such drivers will disengage from their phone the moment the situation changes - laughable!
26 thoughts on ““There’s no climb even close to this tough”: Phil Gaimon takes KOM on 90km Hawaii monster that climbs 4,000m; Is this cyclist right to blame themself for near-collision in busy traffic?; 100% legit Facebook bike… (apparently) + more on the live blog”
It’s great people are sharing
It’s great people are sharing videos like that of safety tips, but having seen that video bouncing around so much it really makes me worry that 1) cycling standards are pretty bad if that sort of thing isn’t completely obvious, that’s like bikeability 101 isn’t it? and 2) possibly people are amplifying that video because they like it when cyclists take the blame in situations where drivers are legally at fault.
Maybe the next video will be about how you can look through the cars windows to see what’s crossing even earlier. ?
sigirides wrote:
Indeed.
Or about how urban designers
Or about how urban designers can avoid confusing paint with infrastructure?
I’m fairness to the driver,
I’m fairness to the driver, they couldn’t possibly have seen the cyclist any earlier without getting out of their vehicle and peering around the van. They proceeded carefully and I can’t see how else they could have dealt with the situation. The issue is poor design.
Dan wrote:
Are they blaming themself? The “mistake” is one of roadcraft, not Highway Code or liability. It’s an opportunity to learn wisdom through non-fatal experience.
Yes, although I think there is still more momentum in the car than I would like to think I would carry, camera lens perspective aside. I would be assuming there’s a cyclist in the cycle lane and moving forward very slowly, not just slowly enough to stop in the cycle lane.
There is also the villainy of the van driver unnecessarily encroaching on the cycle lane.
GMBasix wrote:
Are they blaming themself? The “mistake” is one of roadcraft, not Highway Code or liability. It’s an opportunity to learn wisdom through non-fatal experience.
Yes, although I think there is still more momentum in the car than I would like to think I would carry, camera lens perspective aside. I would be assuming there’s a cyclist in the cycle lane and moving forward very slowly, not just slowly enough to stop in the cycle lane.
There is also the villainy of the van driver unnecessarily encroaching on the cycle lane.— Dan
I agree, I don’t think they are saying they are at fault as such. I’ve seen cyslists ploughing on through at full speed so many times lately in situations like this, so yes it is good to share this experince. I defiintely think the car driver was carrying too much momentum. Compare to the van driver who was being much more cautious.
Yeah, “wait until there aren
Yeah, “wait until there aren’t any vans in the queue before proceeding” isn’t a reasonable request. All the driver can really do is creep slowly; they won’t have line of sight up the “cycle lane” until their front bumper is well over the line.
What we can’t see (or at least what I can’t see on this screen) is whether the van driver has left a gap and then flashed the turning driver through without checking their mirrors.
The design is poor, but weirdly has a bit of a self-correcting feature in that any vehicle large enough to obstruct the view of the turning traffic seems to be forced to encroach into the bike lane and slow any cyclists down.
I’ve been in a similar
I’ve been in a similar situation to the car turning right on my bike into my driveway. HGV in traffic left me a gap to turn in, which I did slowly and almost collided with 2 other cyclists speeding down the inside of the HGV, one on the road and one on the pavement. Completely obscured until we were within a couple of metres of each other.
I tend to cycle down the middle so I can see what’s going on.
anotherflat wrote:
So do I. Didn’t help when someone decided to emerge from a mews through a gap in the traffic, straight over my front wheel, though…
anotherflat wrote:
Same – but yesterday nearly collided with a pedestrian crossing in front of a stopped car, and looking the other way … couldn’t see her til she was almost stepping in front of me ?
Yelled “watch out” as soon as I saw her. She nearly jumped out of her skin but did stop in time. I felt a bit bad, but really unclear what else I could have done. I wasn’t belting along, in fact wasn’t even pedalling at the time, and she had her head turned completely the other way to look for a gap in the oncoming traffic.
riding in London it is clear
riding in London it is clear that many users of pavements, roads and cycle lanes have very limited situational awareness or ability to predict what might happen. I’ve learnt at lot of this over years of riding but happy to see that there are people sharing advice – I’ve got shouted down before for suggesting to another rider how to stay safe ( I teach so its difficult not to). always expect the unexpected, always be ready to stop.
Yes cyclists have to take
Yes cyclists have to take some responsibility for their own safety. That doesn’t mean its their fault when they don’t and a driver does something they shouldn’t. The blame always lies with the person who is responsible for breaking the rules.
As mentioned though, this is just a lighting rod for drivers to have a whinge about cyclists and for a sub-set of cyclists to have a smug “Of course this is what you do here” moment.
Anyone else looking to avoid
Anyone else looking to avoid commuting due to this?
I’m glad they’ve given us warning of when to stay away.
“Driverless taxis set to launch in UK as soon as September“
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czej9n578k9o
Anyone else looking to avoid
Anyone else looking to avoid commuting due to this?
No, it’s still likely to be safer for cyclists than human taxi drivers (or pretty much any Audi, BMW etc. driver) in an area where the police condone any cyclist-hostile offence
https://upride.cc/incident/nj69xha_taxi_closepass/
https://upride.cc/incident/nu62myh_blackburntaxi_closepass/
Yes, he did continue through the red light
Whilst I appreciate that we
Whilst I appreciate that we can think a computer controlled vehicle should be safer than a human driver, we clearly are not there yet going by the KSIs experienced during testing in various locations.
I would also think that they are only good enough right now on straight easy road systems, which simply does not apply to our roads here in the UK.
And thats before applying anything else such as temporary traffic restrictions etc.
The best case scenario is the trial simply grinds motor traffic to a halt because the computers can’t cope and is quickly stopped.
Watch how quickly they try to
Watch how quickly they try to remove the extraneous variables that prevent the automomous vehicles from expediting their uninterrupted passage.
What does “extranenous variable” mean? Frivolities such as pedestrians and cyclists who don’t act in accordance with the AV’s current programming.
Nope, I’m still hoping for a
Nope, I’m still hoping for a Raspberry Pi over the average Lancashire driver!
https://upride.cc/incident/bd18kzt_transitlorry_closepass/
https://upride.cc/incident/kx66ufn_audi_closepass/
https://upride.cc/incident/ky17gvw_sprinter_closepass/
https://upride.cc/incident/bf18vlm_infinitiq30_closepass/
https://upride.cc/incident/w2agw_barbarian_closepass/
https://upride.cc/incident/cd10wer_audiq7_closerpass/
The ideal is of of course a
The ideal is of course a computer so inept that it can’t find the keys. My old speccy could manage that.
That’s maybe the reason round
That’s maybe the reason round here why they’ve suddenly become the best drivers around me in Pottyboro, they are all robots! TBH I reckon they’ve got a new commisioner for the area (or whatever their title is) who has drummed it into them the importance of behaving appropriately around cyclists. I doubt its anything to do with the legal system but I could be wrong
“Blink twice if you need help
“Blink twice if you need help” is appropriate. He’s loaded, right? What could they possibly be paying him to make it worth becoming a grifter.
All digital coins are eventually going to move to their intrinsic value.
The gap next to that van is a
The gap next to that van is a bit narrow. I’d be tempted to go round it on the right.
Heidi Alexander wrote:
What about all those in between? The ones who paid passing lip service aged 17 to the Highway Code, then usually have no regard for it or its subsequent revisions for 53 years unless caught out committing a serious offence.
Where’s the ongoing training? Where’s the continuous assessment?
Not wanting to click on
Not wanting to click on anything related to the daily fail…
I assume this is the “New Cycling Mikey”:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572989049783
https://www.youtube.com/@DorsetSaferRoads
Interesting that the
Interesting that the campaigner has been told by Dorset Police that they’re not interested unless the vehicle passes the stop line 1.1 seconds after it turns red. Such an attempt at precision requires them to define which part of the vehicle is the ‘datum’- which I bet they haven’t done. I can anticipate loads of police dodges here to prevent any real action against the driver.
It’s nice the cyclist wants
It’s nice the cyclist wants to share some insight on situational awareness here, but he needed to cast some shade on the driver of the van whose positioning narrowed the sightlines for both the cyclist and the driver trying to turn. Note the difference in views between the van and the later lorry described as “blocking the view.” The view is a whole lot better there, not to mention the more responsible behavior of the turning driver who actually might have been able to see the cyclists coming. Drivers incapable of keeping their vehicle between the white lines probably should be restricted to driving narrower vehicles. Admittedly, the way some of them drive, this might force a few down to something the width of a motorcyle, but that wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing now would it?
Meh, I’ve done 3000m/130km
Meh, I’ve done 3000m/130km climbing over Scottish Highlands with a a 40kg+ touring bike (I weigh 60kg) as a part time alcoholic, I don’t consider that particularly notable.