"Not since Rocky has someone looked so good running up steps": Superman Pidcock sends cycling world into meltdown; Rafa Nadal goes cycling...moments after winning 5hr epic Aussie Open final; Tenuous cycling content ft. Sid James + more on the live blog

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by ᵀᴼᴹ ᴾᴵᴰᶜᴼᶜᴷ (@tompidcock)

You'd have thought dancing on national television would be the most daunting thing going on in Nicolas Roche's life at the minute. But maybe travelling to the RTE dance show on two wheels via Dublin's roads is worse?

The 37-year-old has spent the last seventeen years of his life riding a bike for a living, racing some of the fastest, most technical descents in the world, and riding thousands of miles in a fast-moving peloton.

But Roche says even he has been surprised by cycling around his nation's capital since returning from Monaco for the show.

"It’s very difficult. It needs improvement," Roche told the Irish Mirror. "You’re risking your life when you cycle in the capital. I’ve been cycling in and out. We take all the Covid tests for the show in the city centre, and I’d rather cycle in than take the car.

"The roads are very narrow in Dublin, and some of them are very dangerous. It’s very hard to overtake someone and when you do, you’re risking your life."

It's not all bad though...

"To give a bit of encouragement, I think the bike lanes in Ireland have improved immensely over the past couple of years," he added.

A cyclist who makes me want to be a better runner. Go figure. https://t.co/w9UjWWo93r

— Orla Chennaoui (@SportsOrla) January 30, 2022

No, we're not talking about Chris Froome... 

via Gfycat

Calling all cyclists! 🚲

The Better Bankside Secure Cycle Park on Ewer Street is reopening on Monday 31 Jan with 82 spaces available.

Also, Dr Bike will be on Ewer St from 8.30am-12.30pm on Monday 31 Jan and 1pm - 5pm on Tuesday 1 Feb. https://t.co/n4z0LghlVs pic.twitter.com/wp3NM34AtR

— Better Bankside (@BetterBankside) January 26, 2022

Localised news for anyone who works in the Bankside area of London...

There's a new secure cycle park opening today which sounds pretty promising from the details available online. It will offer 24/7 contact-free access with a digital entry system, lockers and showers.

Oh, and from what we can tell, it appears to be free...

Based at Arch 58 Ewer Street, SE1 0NR – a secure arch along the Low Line in Bankside, next to the Crossfit Central London Gym, users gain access by an app having signed up on Better Bankside's website.

Full details here...

The Doncaster Free Press reports tools were stolen from a new bicycle repair station in the town, just hours after it was unveiled on Friday. The offender used bolt cutters to take the screwdrivers from the station in Sandall Park, but park bosses have promised the thieves "won't win".

Friends of Sandall Park chairman Sandra Crabtree, who runs the volunteer group which looks after the park said: "For those that like to say 'I told you so' you'll be pleased to know that all the tools have been bolt cropped off the tool station.

"This won't stop us from replacing the stolen tools – which as a matter of interest can be bought from the pound shop. It's a bit of a nuisance in that we've got to get on to the supplier to get the replacements but that is what we will do. The thieves will get fed up before we do.

"And how many £1 screwdrivers does a thief need? We will win in the end."

Nadal already on the bike doing recovery. 😅 pic.twitter.com/XZVdTcY0F8

— José Morgado (@josemorgado) January 30, 2022

After five hours 24 minutes, Rafa Nadal finally completed an improbable comeback to win yesterday's Australian Open men's singles final and become the first male tennis player to have won 21 major titles...

The tennis world was shocked to see footage of the Spaniard spinning away on an exercise bike having lifted the trophy and returned to his changing room. Now, I think we all know he was just loosely spinning the legs, not doing a HIIT session, but hey, at least it got people talking about cycling...

So, how long has it been (in a way us cycling fans will understand) since Nadal last won the opening Grand Slam of the year?

The previous time Rafael Nadal won the Australian Open, a Spanish rider triumphed at the Tour de France.

— CafeRoubaix (@CafeRoubaix) January 30, 2022

Enric Mas and Mikel Landa...your time has come...

In the lead-up to Christmas we reported on the limited availability of children’s bikes with leading brands such as Islabikes already largely out of stock at the beginning of December, with bikes only available on pre-order for delivery by 31st January 2022. 

"Supply chain disruption impacted Islabikes in a big way for the second half of 2021, causing much of their children’s bike range to be out of stock for months," Islabikes notes.

"There was a time when a two-week shipping delay felt like a disaster, now, only a two-month delay is a relief. I hope such delays are behind us, as we are seeing early signs of the bicycle supply chain recovering from COVID induced shutdowns."

Now Islabikes has most of its kids bikes back in stock, with delivery time currently at seven working days. 

Swiss Side has updated the Hadron2 Ultimate rim brake wheels with DT Swiss Aerolite II spokes now being specced, which are claimed to reduce aero drag by 1W compared to the previous models. 

New 2022 graphics also appear across the entire range and more colour decal pack options have been added to give greater scope for customisiation. Free packs are currently being given away with wheel orders until March at swissside.com...

What’d you think of the new looks available? 

The boy’s an absolute star pic.twitter.com/sORXofXyNV

— The TT Podcast 🚴‍♂️ (@ttpdcst) January 30, 2022

Super Tom Pidcock 🦸‍♂️

He becomes Britain’s first 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 elite Cyclo-Cross World Champion in Fayetteville 🇬🇧🌈@Tompid | @BritishCycling pic.twitter.com/CdyRp5Wo65

— Eurosport (@eurosport) January 30, 2022

It's Tom Pidcock's world, we're all just living in it...

The prodigiously talented multi-disciplinarian last night added a cyclocross world championship to his mountain bike Olympic gold and growing list of road race wins. The 22-year-old soloed to victory, making the steep steps look effortless, widening the gap on a pack of chasing Belgians before crossing the line in full Superman pose atop his Pinarello...

> Tom Pidcock’s world championship-winning Pinarello Crossista 2022 Cyclocross Race Bike

And boy were we all impressed...

Tom Pidcock. Not since Rocky has someone looked so good running up steps.

— Matt Lawton (@Lawton_Times) January 30, 2022

That was unless you're a regular cycle/rail commuter, for whom the site of someone sprinting up steps with a bike over the shoulder probably brought back flashbacks to all those platform-crossing commutes...

road.cc editor Jack still sees Bristol Temple Meads' stairs when he closes his eyes...

When you take your bike on the train but it's on the other platform and leaves in two minutes and the doors close 30 seconds before pic.twitter.com/nYsM6Z9ggx

— PJ (@pj_bof) January 30, 2022

Dan Lloyd won the comedy prize for the evening...

Pidcock is running at 13 minute 5k pace UP THE STEPS!

— Daniel Lloyd (@daniellloyd1) January 30, 2022

Maybe Tom was telling the truth after all...

> Jury's out over Tom Pidcock's near British record 5km time 

Strength over numbers from Tom Pidcock. This is the cycling equivalent of the Mike Tyson quote "everyone has a plan till they get punched in the face"

— Andy McGrath (@Andymcgra) January 30, 2022

Others shared anecdotes of having their legs ripped off by the new world champ back when he was young(er)... 

I had a notion of doing the Leeds chaingang a couple of years back. A local warned me off with the words, ‘There might be a lot too much Pidcock for comfort.’ #Fayetteville2022

— Michael Hutchinson (@Doctor_Hutch) January 30, 2022

I think it was a Brownlee that told me.

— Michael Hutchinson (@Doctor_Hutch) January 30, 2022

Many years ago he was a proper scamp round here. He tried joining in with the Ilkley Crit 234 race when he was 14, they had to pull him out!

— Félicien (@mountain_belge) January 30, 2022

Presumably to stop him winning, ruining the race for everyone else...