Family demands council "gets serious" about promoting cycling as bike shed planning breach saga continues; Cyclist reunited with good samaritan; Bikes at polling stations; Giro kit poll; Extreme bike rack; Active travel dispute + more on the live blog

These are not to my liking at all, no doubt I’ll own a pair in two to three years time.

— #Kris (@LLCool_K) May 6, 2021

Oakley launched its new Kato glasses today and they have received a mixed reception over on our Twitter. A few shouts of "too expensive" and a few people not liking the design. On Twitter, Pedro left it short and not-so-sweet...

Hideous.

— Pedro (@pedro118118) May 6, 2021

Not much love from Veloist either...

Minging

— veloist (@veloman8) May 6, 2021

Are they that bad? Or is it the £231 price tag clouding people's judgement? Let us know your thoughts.

Caroline Hunter suffered a fractured wrist and leg injuries after hitting a pothole and coming off her bike on Slateford Road in Edinburgh on Friday 23 April. Edinburgh Live reports a mystery good samaritan stopped, used her car to prevent oncoming traffic posing a threat and provided first-aid help. 

In a weird twist, the good samaritan turned out to be a friend of a friend. Caroline Nicolson explained how she found out the injured cyclist wanted to thank her in properly.

"It's totally bizarre. It turns out she's a friend of a friend," Nicolson said. "I received a phone call from another friend who says they saw the article and asked 'is that you?'. I think they recognised me from the red car, and my big first-aid bag. We've exchanged a few text messages. It was really nice of her to get in touch. It was then we realised we had some of the same friends.

"It was just common sense really. I stuck my hazards on and stopped the car so traffic had to go round us. I've always got a big first-aid bag in my boot so I was able to bandage her up and help get the shock under control. I would've taken her to hospital but she just wanted her husband to pick her up."

Cllr Joanna Wright claims the reason she is no longer a part of Liberal Democrat Kevin Guy's new cabinet is because she refused to "dump" walking and cycling plans. Wright says Guy asked her to bin the active travel plans, despite "massive" public support. 

Somerset Live reports Wright feels she was a victim of "slow motion sabotage" by colleagues wanting re-election more than tackling the climate crisis. She had led the Lib Dems' manifesto promise to deliver more low traffic neighbourhoods and active travel schemes. "Our new leader Cllr Kevin Guy sent me an email on that [dumping active travel plans], which is probably one of the reasons why I’m no longer in the cabinet," she said.

Cllr Guy disagreed with Wright's assessment and said his administration was "collegiate" and not "hell-bent on ideology".

Height order, as every lineup should be. New kit for the @giroditalia. Fantini Wines special 👌 pic.twitter.com/kzyRDatwZt

— Alex Dowsett (@alexdowsett) May 6, 2021

We have the official word on the colour of Alex Dowsett and Dan Martin's new kit...dark red. That is nowhere near as pretentious as I was expecting. It is apparently inspired by the dark red of team sponsor Vini Fantini's wines, something the riders will be hoping to sample after a stage win or two. The team's Italian sponsor got the nod for the biggest race of the year in their home country and the kit has been designed by Israeli clothing company Jinga.

Rider Patrick Bevin is happy with how it turned out..."I like this one. I think it’s a really cool design. It’s a nice gesture to change the kit for our Italian sponsor Vini Fantini while racing the Giro. I really think it looks great!"

"We thank Sylvan [Adams, co-owner], Ron [Baron, co-owner] and the whole team for this beautiful gift," Valentino Sciotti, president of Fantini Group said. "It’s a tremendous opportunity for us to be under the spotlight in the most important race in Italy. We will live this moment with immense joy and as a further incentive to love this sport even more."

The first Grand Tour of the year is just around the corner but we have some news about the final Grand Tour in the calendar too. Santini revealed these new eco-friendly jerseys for the race leaders which are made from recycled materials. The famous red jersey for the overall race leader is sponsored by Carrefour. Škoda, Feníe Energía and Loterías y Apuestas del Estado sponsor the green points jersey, white jersey for best young rider and polka dot mountains jersey respectively.

"The partnership between ourselves and the prestigious Spanish race, which has endured for five years now, is something we are particularly proud of because it confirms our unwavering commitment to pro cycling and dressing great champions," Santini's marketing manager Paola Santini commented.

Please vote. #bikesatpollingstations pic.twitter.com/8IsMKQeJ92

— Adam Tranter (@adamtranter) May 6, 2021

Granted, dogs at polling stations is our favourite election day content, but bikes at polling stations can be a close second. Coventry Bicycle Mayor Adam Tranter got in early....on Tuesday he persuaded the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat candidates for the West Midlands mayoral election to agree to five key active travel pledges. 

More election day bikes...

🗳It’s Election Day!! 🗳

Early ride to vote for @hsigreens lead candidate @ArianeBurgessHI#VoteGreen to make tackling the climate and ecological emergency a priority. #VoteGreen for a more inclusive, fairer, greener Scotland.#BikeToBallotBox #bikesatpollingstations pic.twitter.com/FF6ArcBGjo

— Allan (@AllansGray) May 6, 2021

I’m a candidate in #Evesham #Worcestershire and have done a tour of polling stations! #Cycling #bikesatpollingstations #Elections2021 pic.twitter.com/FelKr9KLNh

— Helen Russell (@helengoth) May 6, 2021

What do you think? 😍
____
🇮🇹 #Giro pic.twitter.com/uyeiiyIhD0

— Israel Start-Up Nation / Israel Cycling Academy (@TeamIsraelSUN) May 6, 2021

Alex Dowsett and Dan Martin have got a fresh new kit for the Giro. Our latest Drink at Your Desk Live! guest can leave the blue and white stuff at home as Israel Start-Up Nation have gone for a mishmash of colour. I actually quite like it, to be fair...

Since yesterday's main live blog story about the Leicester family told to remove their homemade eco bike shed as it is not in keeping with the Victorian character of the area, we have had plenty of comments of disbelief and frustration. Kavi Pujara and Labour councillor Lindsay Broadwell urged people to send comments of support to the family's cause on Leicester City Council's planning portal.

These screenshots from Google Street View sum up most of the frustration at the story...cars parked everywhere, front gardens converted into space for multiple vehicles and a car park are all seemingly part of the 'Victorian' character of the street...

On Twitter, Oli suggested that to make it a truly Victorian place to live the council "better get rid of all those cars on the street, the electrically powered street lighting, the uPVC doors and windows, double glazing and any plastic wheelie bins."

Wait till the council finds out the Victorians had wooden bike sheds, they are going to be shocked I tell you. They will demand every house has one to be historically accurate pic.twitter.com/DBaJ56wMY1

— Richard Parker (@velohistorian) May 6, 2021

Farcical https://t.co/ElgSTBdppe

— London Cycling Campaign (@London_Cycling) May 5, 2021