Watch kid zoom up climb past adult roadies; Watts up! Laverack’s awesome power output wins UK Hill Climb Champs; Malaysian court acquits driver over killing of 8 cyclists; Crackdown on Newcastle Deliveroo riders + cool bikes & lots more on the Live blog

Companies whose approach to the ULEZ was to update their vans may have missed a trick... https://t.co/zf0FN0riU8

— Alex Ingram (@nuttyxander) October 28, 2019

Court clears motorist of killing eight teen cyclists on dark JB road two years ago #Malaysia@_rodahidup @1EinXnitta @billtay25 @kuabt @lowelsielow @malaysianalways @mary_soh @nonvitaltooth @raajkanthan @rtked @skumar176 @yvonneapy @zulnine09 https://t.co/X1r03oL7L2

— The Long Tweet (@tanjooilong) October 28, 2019

A controversial case in Malaysia has seen a 24-year-old woman released without charge after her car ploughed into a group of cyclists, killing eight of them. 

The tragic incident happened way back February 2017, when at 3.30am on a Saturday morning in the Middle Ring Road in the city of Johor Bahru, Sam Ke Ting's car hit a large group of male cyclists aged between 13 and 16. Six died at the scene, a further two died on the way to the hospital and several more were injured. Initial investigations revealed Ke Ting wasn't drunk and wasn't speeding, but failed to brake in time. Groups of youths were known to ride modified bikes on Johor Bahru's highways at night, because there were few cars around. 

Two and a half years on, and The Star report that Magistrate Siti Hajar Ali has ruled the prosecution failed to prove a case against Sam Ke Ting, with the police investigation incomplete and not comprehensive after reviewing statements from 46 witnesses. She also ordered that Ke Ting's suspended driving license and RM10,000 bail be returned immediately. 

Siti Hajar said in her judgment: "The accused could not be prosecuted based on the failure of the investigation officer to investigate the case properly.

"The accused had the rights to drive her car and had driven her vehicle within the speed limit, was not driving while using her phone, was not drunk and was using a car seat belt.

"It is impossible for the accused to have predicted the whereabouts of the group of teenagers behind the road hill at 3am in the morning.

"The victims had also failed to equip themselves with proper safety equipment such as a light reflection jacket and a bicycle helmet."

If Ke Ting had have been convicted of ramming the group, she could have faced up to ten years' imprisonment. 

Kicking off cycling indicator season this year on the first Monday after the clocks went back is Indik8a, a pair of straps with 275 lumen LED's that can be worn on bare hands or over gloves that vibrate while indicating so you know when they're on. They're USB rechargeable and you can get up to 330 indications out of one charge. 

An illuminated directional arrow is activated by a switch on each hand, with two adjustable adult sizes available and a version for kids coming soon. Indik8a say the product was made to make cyclists 'unmissable' when indicating: “As winter approaches, being safe and seen in the mornings and evenings is a top priority for those who rely on their bikes to get them to and from school or work every day.

"From children to adults, being seen by vehicles behind will give cyclists peace of mind on busy, car-congested roads, and may even save lives."

They're available to buy on Indik8a's website now for £35 a pair.  

The alleged issue of Deliveroo's cycle couriers posing a danger to pedestrians has once again reared its head in Newcastle upon Tyne, with transport bosses at Newcastle City Council saying they were being forced to speak with Deliveroo about the “behaviour of their staff and their use of the roads” after concerns were raised by pedestrians.

Chronicle Live reports that there has been allegations of Deliveroo riders ignoring weekend road closures in the Blackett Street shopping area, which is fuly pedestrianised on Saturday and Sunday. A council spokesperson said: “Members of the public have complained to us of the behaviour of a small number of Deliveroo workers, primarily those on bicycles.

“We have spoken with Deliveroo who as an organisation have been very helpful in engaging with us on this issue to find solutions and have subsequently reminded its riders of what is expected of them."

Responding to the accusations, Deliveroo delivered their pretty standard line that they have a zero tolerance approach to riders ignoring road safety: “Road safety is a priority for Deliveroo. Before riding with Deliveroo, every rider completes a programme of road safety guidance.

“This guidance includes information videos and content focused on vehicle road-worthiness and maintenance, road safety and what to do in the event of an accident on the road. This online safety guidance is available to all riders throughout their time riding with us and is accessible at any time.

..."If a rider is found to have broken the rules of the road, Deliveroo will not work with that rider."

You may remember us reporting on an art installation demo in our native Bath a few weeks ago - the decorated bike wheels aim to show how the area around George Street is one of the most polluted in the city. 

The artwork was then mysteriously removed, with its creator Alison Harper fearing it had been stolen. The police eventually got involved, and it was then discovered that it had been quietly removed by Bath & North East Council because of safety concerns: "An artwork featuring 69 red bicycle wheels, thought to have been stolen, is in safekeeping after Bath & North East Council tracked it down.

"The art work, which had been displayed on a temporary basis in Bath’s George Street, was created by local textile artist Alison Harper with the help of Transition Larkhall members. The wheels were attached to railings on the street to highlight concerns about air quality.

"However due to concerns the fixings could become easily detached, the wheels were taken down by a contractor working for the council and placed in safekeeping until they could be safely reinstalled."

Bloody 'elf and safety!

We're relieved to see the close-pass problem being taken seriously by the PSNI and the courts in Northern Ireland https://t.co/JGms8VygAD

Now let's see this happen across the rest of the UK! pic.twitter.com/NQ2hKYT236

— Cycling UK (@WeAreCyclingUK) October 28, 2019

Cycling UK have called for the rest of the UK to follow suit following the upholding of a dangerous driving conviction for a lorry driver who 'punishment passed' a group of cyclists earlier this month. Duncan Dollimore says: Cycling UK despairs at times when clearly dangerous driving is overlooked or minimised, with either no charge or merely the lesser charge of careless driving being brought."

 

 

 

 

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Track time of year again! And this is a special one as it marks 25 years since @chris_boardmanbikes took his UCI Track World Championship win for the individual pursuit. With that in mind, we've given our carbon TRK track bike a classic Boardman black and yellow paint scheme, a favourite of Chris', and have a certain Olympic Gold and World Championship winners signature sitting pride of place on the seat tube. . The TRK comes as a complete build and frameset option for anyone wanting to test themselves on the track. . #boardmanbikes #keepexploring #TRK #carbontrack #bicycle #bike #cycling #cyclinglife #cyclingphotos #fixie #singlespeed #sram #explore #fixedgear #instacycling #trackbike #velodrome #worldchamps #chrisboardman

A post shared by Boardman Bikes (@boardmanbikes) on Oct 24, 2019 at 1:13pm PDT

In Chris Boardman's favourite black and yellow paint scheme, this track bike mark 25 years since his UCI Track World Champs win in the individual pursuit. 

Back in my first race since my crash with @Eganbernal at the @saitamacrite Happy day #mondaymotivation #cycling #saitama #saitamacriterium @knob_twitt pic.twitter.com/EN5txhB7vV

— Chris Froome (@chrisfroome) October 28, 2019

Although Froome wasn't fit enough to race the individual Saitama Criterium event, he rode the team time trial accompanied by his Tour de France-winning teammate Egan Bernal. It will now be a battle for Froome to get back to full fitness for next year's Tour, and he'a still walking with a limp after the heavy fractures sustained in his horror crash back in June.