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Ghost bike for sale on Facebook Marketplace?; Elaine Paige deletes RideLondon “road tax” tweet; Chris Froome has “no recollection” of Dauphiné crash; Yellow Jumper; RideLondon 'short' short route; and much more on the live blog today

All today's news from the site and beyond.....
UPDATED Tue, Aug 06, 2019 02:22
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Ghost bike for sale on Facebook Marketplace?; Elaine Paige deletes RideLondon “road tax” tweet; Chris Froome has “no recollection” of Dauphiné crash; Yellow Jumper; RideLondon 'short' short route; and much more on the live blog todayGhost bike on Facebook Marketplace
05 August 2019, 19:29
A poll running at 48 vs 52 per cent? Sounds vaguely familiar ...
05 August 2019, 18:51
A ghost bike appears to be for sale on Facebook Marketplace

A man from the Wirral has put what appears to be a ghost bike up for sale on Facebook Marketplace.

The post was spotted by road.cc reader Josh Owen Morris, who shared a screengrab of it on Twitter with the consensus of the replies being that it did indeed seem to be a ghost bike.

The bike – a folder, branded Astra, with a listing price of £15 and the description "Old bike" – seems to have been spray-painted white, as are the ghost bikes often placed at locations where a cyclist has been killed as a memorial to the rider.

Josh queried the posting with the Facebook user who put the bike up for sale, and sent us screengrabs of his exchange with the poster's wife.

Ghost Bike conversation
Ghost bike 1

 

We’ve done a Google Image search for “ghost bike” on the Wirral and in nearby areas North Wales, Cheshire and Merseyside, but cannot find one similar to this.

If you happen to be aware of this bike having been placed as a tribute to a cyclist who lost their life, please let us know in the comments below.

05 August 2019, 15:23
Froome has "no recollection" of crash during Dauphine TT recce

Froome told ITV news he can only go off what people told him who saw it for themselves, as he doesn't remember the crash at all. 

05 August 2019, 15:13
Fizik releases Tempo Overcurve R4 road shoe

Fizik has announced the new Tempo Overcurve R4 performance road shoe, including two new iridescent options. The new model sits alongside the existing Tempo Overcurve R5 in the range.

39fcba00-2c95-463d-8dd0-d5d1cc467d67

"The unique asymmetrical Overcurve shape enabled Fizik’s designers to create a shoe that has a classic performance road shoe aesthetic, but based on a contemporary construction design and techniques," says Fizik.

"Fizik’s Overcurve construction features a staggered collar that wraps around the ankle, tracing the natural misalignment of the ankle’s two bony protrusions: the lateral and medial malleoli. This creates an asymmetrical shape, with the throat of the shoe curving over the foot from its outside to its inner side. 

The upper is made from a polyurethane laminated material combined with a comfortable, flexible, lightweight mesh. It uses a Boa-controlled closure system while the outsole is a medium-stiffness carbon blend (it's 15% carbon-fibre).

TEMPO-OVERCURVE-R4-IRIDESCENT-beetle-black_side

"The cleats are positioned slightly rear-wards compared to traditional settings, to optimise pedalling efficiency and reduce knee compression," says Fizik. "It is well suited to aggressive, forward aero positions."

The Tempo Overcurve R4 is available now in a choice of four colorways. The classic black/black and white/black are priced £194.99, while the iridescent bronze and iridescent green options are £209.99, either through dealers or direct from www.fizik.com. 

05 August 2019, 14:58
Mikel Landa switches to Bahrain-Merida

Mikel Landa is to join Bahrain-Merida for 2020 on a two year deal - a move that, with Vincenzo Nibali leaving the UCI WorldTour outfit, will see the Basque rider likely to be sole leader of the team at next year's Tour de France after a career largely spent in the service of others, fiirst at Euskaltel-Euskadi then Astana and Team Sky and finally Movistar.

05 August 2019, 14:32
2021 Giant bikes get UCI approval

Giant has had new versions of its TCR Advanced approved by the UCI, and these are model year 2021 bikes!

UCI list Giant Aug 2019

The latest update to the UCI's List of Approved Models of Frames and Forks features new versions of the TCR Advanced, TCR Advanced SL and TCR Advanced Pro, each of them in rim brake and disc brake configurations.

Giant last announced an update to the TCR platform in 2015 (the bikes were model year 2016), so we're about due a redesign. 

Model year 2021, though? We're used to bikes breaking cover six months or so before the start of the relevant model year, but nearly a year and a half? That has to be some sort of record.

Giant says it is a long way from being able to launch anything but needed to get designs rubber stamped before taking development any further. The designs could still be changed and require re-approval before anything is launched, so don't expect to see the new Giant TCRs any time soon. 

05 August 2019, 12:29
Elaine Paige deletes RideLondon road tax tweets

They're now just a memory, but have been copied for reference by various Twitter users... 

05 August 2019, 12:02
Cheap groceries coming at the cost of famous bike mural at site of new Milton Keynes Aldi

The German discount supermarket chain are bulldozing over a derelict shopping centre in the Stantonbury area of Milton Keynes to make way for a new store, with no plans made to save a famous bike mural on one of the walls of the old building.

The MK Citizen reports that the wall was close to getting listed status but hasn't got this in time, which means Aldi will technically have no obligation to save the wall when the former shopping centre is knocked down. 

Aldi is proposing to lay the wall flat, and has rejected calls for it to be placed upright in a nearby location as it will cost them over £150,000. 

Aldi’s property director for the Milton Keynes area Dan Pannell said he viewed the future of the mural as important, but also said: “we do not consider the mural’s importance should be overstated". He says Aldi have already gone "above and beyond" to save it. 

05 August 2019, 11:59
On-bike footage from Viviani's RideLondon-Surrey Classic victory

Some top lead-out skills also from Michael Mørkøv as Viviani powers to victory. 

05 August 2019, 11:55
Ah, the famous Yellow Jumper...

Ned Boulting was thrilled to discover that his 'yellow jumper' gaffe from his first Tour de France commentary gig in 2003 is also one shared by a mid-80's version of Trivial Pursuit. Seems Ned was right all along...   

05 August 2019, 10:08
Gabriel Cullaigh to Movistar for 2020

The cycling transfer season is hotting up and Movistar have netted British sprinter Gabriel Cullaigh from Team Wiggins.

The U23 rider signs a two-year deal with the Spanish World Tour team after a couple of very good years with Team Wiggins where he won the 2018 Rutland - Melton Cicle Classic.

05 August 2019, 09:59
05 August 2019, 08:21
Prudential RideLondon 2019 picture Jed Leicester for Prudential RideLondon).JPG
West End warbler Elaine Paige dreams a dream in days gone by, calling for a return of a tax that was abolished in 1937...

Paige, best known this century for being mentioned by Susan Boyle during a 2008 talent show audition, thinks she pays 'road tax' (abolished in 1937) and wants RideLondon participants to pay it too because they are allegedly blocking her from driving to and from her home. 

It appears she also didn't know how to love the security steward that diverted her away from her usual route, accusing them of being 'rather rude'. It's safe to say her comments didn't go down too well on Twitter...

05 August 2019, 08:14
Alex Dowsett extremely proud to be king of the mountains

...so much so he's changed his name on Twitter in tribute. Dowsett bagged the hallowed king of the mountain award at the RideLondon-Surrey Classic, and also bagged quite a few Strava KOMs along the way. He also uploaded the ride to Strava, which shown Dowset put out a weighted average power of 339 watts over the 168km course. 

05 August 2019, 08:10
Tom Pidcock wins Tour Alsace

The Team Wiggins rider took the overall victory at the French six-day race, winning stage 2 along the way and eventually winning by just an 11 second margin over  Michal Schlegel of the Czech Republic. 

05 August 2019, 08:05
RideLondon: participants complain of short route being... short

The problem was reportedly with the cut-offs, as riders who hadn't made it to the 24th mile by 11.20am were diverted onto a shorter route, that made the course less than 40 miles as opposed to the 46 advertised. Tom Watson MP appeared to have completed the full 46, and raised plenty of money for charity for his efforts. 

05 August 2019, 08:02
One hell of a coincidence

Now that's a factoid for the ages - for those who weren't aware young whipersnapper Remco Evenepoel played international football at U15 and U16 level for Belgium, before switching to cycling in 2017. His father Patrick was a professional footballer. 

Jack Sexty

Jack has been writing about cycling and multisport for over a decade, arriving at road.cc via 220 Triathlon Magazine in 2017. He worked across all areas of the website including tech, news and video, and also contributed to eBikeTips before being named Editor of road.cc in 2021 (much to his surprise). Jack has been hooked on cycling since his student days, and currently has a Trek 1.2 for winter riding, a beloved Bickerton folding bike for getting around town and an extra beloved custom Ridley Helium SLX for fantasising about going fast in his stable. Jack has never won a bike race, but does have a master's degree in print journalism and two Guinness World Records for pogo sticking (it's a long story). 

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80 comments

Avatar
Mungecrundle | 5 years ago
1 like

It's a conspiracy I tells ya!

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ktache | 5 years ago
2 likes

But  "Not the younglings..." is always funny.

The thread went weird, both of the obvious are still on this and on other threads, something was said, and chunks just disappeared.

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brooksby replied to ktache | 5 years ago
1 like
ktache wrote:

But  "Not the younglings..." is always funny.

The thread went weird, both of the obvious are still on this and on other threads, something was said, and chunks just disappeared.

Agree it went weird.

Xena and their nutjob conspiracies (climate change denial etc) wound up a lot of people, myself included, and appeared to push BTBS over the edge (on a particular issue).

But, as you say, only certain posts have been filleted- neither user appears to have been actually banned, and their other posts remain up.

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Mungecrundle | 5 years ago
1 like

Did BTBS get taken down for the anti-semitic remark?

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Rich_cb replied to Mungecrundle | 5 years ago
3 likes
Mungecrundle wrote:

Did BTBS get taken down for the anti-semitic remark?

He's with Super Python now. RIP.

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Drinfinity | 5 years ago
2 likes

Thanks Xena, so that’s 1,2 and 3 on my list. Where do you stand on Chemtrails?

So far BTBS is ahead here, having ruled out only Lizards.

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ktache | 5 years ago
1 like

Not the younglings...

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brooksby replied to ktache | 5 years ago
2 likes
ktache wrote:

Not the younglings...

Unfortunately this comment looks a bit weird now, ktache: looks like my comment quoting BTBS and Obi-Wan got disappeared..,

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Rich_cb | 5 years ago
0 likes

Lol.

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Mungecrundle | 5 years ago
6 likes

The problem with conspiracy theories is that they are so much more exciting than rational interpretation of the facts available. Car keys gone missing: Space aliens? gremlins? supernatural vodoo or you just didn't look hard enough in the first place?

Then there is the one sided game of - I'll say something that sounds crazy, throw in a few links to other crazy people saying crazy stuff and challenge you to prove otherwise. Your counter argument becomes a carefully researched work worthy of a degree thesis at which point I will simply reject all your so called "facts", point blank refuse to recognise your interpretation of evidence, find some minor point that you didn't get round to answering as proof that my wacky hypothesis must be right, throw in a few strawman arguments and present my opinion based on some youtube videos as being equal to your recognised sources of authority.

Moon landing conspiracists are my personal favourite (no politics, no religious dogma). Every single one of their claims from shadow angles to radiation belts to faked photos to the flag pole flapping can be utterly debunked in phraseology that pretty much anyone can understand. Proven absurd and yet they still keep coming back with the same crap. Follow the money and you see how many of them make a tidy living from gulling the credulous.

Of course, all conspiracy theories are created by 'THEM' to keep our attention directed away from the real truth.

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ktache | 5 years ago
0 likes

It is worth a watch, I have seen all/some of it whenever it has been on.

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ktache | 5 years ago
2 likes

YouTube videos don't really have references, well written science does, my bedtime reading has 50 pages of references in its Notes, in tiny writing.  While I may not believe some of the opinions given, I can at least look up the original work on which those opinions are based.

Wikipedia has references, YouTube less.  Which to believe?

Or maybe Wiki is MSM and part of the conspiracy too.

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Tom_77 | 5 years ago
5 likes

https://xkcd.com/966/

 

Avatar
ktache | 5 years ago
1 like

I might not have gone quite that far HP, they have been showing their excellent history of Raleigh on BBC4 recently.

Though that does miss out the excellent Barry Clarke and his mountain bike winning ways, one year on a Ti hardtail, a version of which is still my good bike.

Oh, and I understand ball bearings were developed for the bicycle, as reducing friction on a human powered vehicle is so much more important than chemically propelled.

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brooksby replied to ktache | 5 years ago
0 likes
ktache wrote:

... they have been showing their excellent history of Raleigh on BBC4 recently.

Was that any good / worth watching on iPlayer?  I noticed it was on, about half way through... 

Avatar
ktache | 5 years ago
3 likes

Whilst I do like Jim Al-Khalili, enjoy his work with the BBC and am interested in his research on quantum biology, I did object to the lack of mention of the bicycle in the development of the motor car.  The creation of good roads, pneumatic tyres, brake blocks and drivechains, were all I believe part of the evolution of the bicycle.  It encouraged movement between villages, may have led to the elimination of "the village idiot" and greatly encouraged female emancipation.  The bicycle has always been much more affordable than the motor car, with the motorcycle being in there as well, and was a much greater form of personal transport well into the mid to late 20th century.

The bicycle was mentioned in a previous episode, mainly due to the wright brothers being bicycle manufactures and retailers, and for them testing aerofoil design on a bicycle as a portable "wind tunnel"

But as it was all on the BBC it must have all been lies.

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to ktache | 5 years ago
1 like
ktache wrote:

Whilst I do like Jim Al-Khalili, enjoy his work with the BBC and am interested in his research on quantum biology, I did object to the lack of mention of the bicycle in the development of the motor car.  The creation of good roads, brake blocks and drivechains, were all I believe part of the evolution of the bicycle.  It encouraged movement between villages, may have led to the elimination of "the village idiot" and greatly encouraged female emancipation.  The bicycle has always been much more affordable than the motor car, with the motorcycle being in there as well, and was a much greater form of personal transport well into the mid to late 20th century.

The bicycle was mentioned in a previous episode, mainly due to the wright brothers being bicycle manufactures and retailers, and for them testing aerofoil design on a bicycle as a portable "wind tunnel"

But as it was all on the BBC it must have all been lies.

The BBC do seem to hate bicycles, don't they? (Downloading the first 3 episodes of that now)

I remember something about Adolf Hitler changing the wheels on a monument to the first automobile as it had bicycle wheels and Adolf hated bikes since his WW1 days as a bicycle courier (probably from https://roadswerenotbuiltforcars.com/ ).

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ConcordeCX replied to hawkinspeter | 5 years ago
2 likes
hawkinspeter wrote:

The BBC do seem to hate bicycles, don't they? (Downloading the first 3 episodes of that now)

I remember something about Adolf Hitler changing the wheels on a monument to the first automobile as it had bicycle wheels and Adolf hated bikes since his WW1 days as a bicycle courier (probably from https://roadswerenotbuiltforcars.com/ ).

that probably explains the increasing size and aggressive design of the modern motor car, driven by anti-cycling Nazis, as it evolves towards becoming a Panzer.

 

Avatar
ktache | 5 years ago
1 like

If facts are so important to you, could you please tell me how many people died of smallpox last year?

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Organon | 5 years ago
2 likes

If it isn't too late to put in my contribution. I was coming down Leith Hill by 9:30 and there was one guy injured (not seriously) at the end of the gorge. It is a spot I've seen delays at before, it is easy for anyone to get up to immense speeds (I hit 75kph again there this year) and get into trouble. There is a point to say that the climbing and descending is a challenge some people do take on more then they can handle. Not that this is a problem, apart from the fact they need to clear the road for the Pro-race. Leith Hill by the wall is very steep and very narrow people walking can cause a major bottleneck. I do wonder how much the organisers try to mix peoples abilities, sometimes leading to very keen riders getting boxed in and making bad moves.  I was on a dual carriage way section and a small club group came passed and each one cut across me to get to the left (no need on a closed road) narrowly passing my handlebars 3-4 times. It's often said 'it's not a race' but it is a mass timetrail, a timed event, akin to the London Marathon. It might not have team cars or a 'winner' but the people doing it in 4 hours are in a very different event from those doing it in 9.

Having said that it was a smashing event, and I was really pleased with the weather. Found myself coasting up an incline 500/600m long at 55kph that previously had to pedal along at about 35. Dry makes a big different. Did it in 05:07:07, but had to stop twice to pee and feed and once for a splash of water, 5h road time, but the watch doesn't lie. Will just have to go again and hope my bike and body and the weather all align.

Thanks to the RAF for a massive tow from Blackwall to Richmond Park [lesson learned, don't let gaps appear.] 

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wycombewheeler | 5 years ago
3 likes

I think we need to get automation into the dictionary

Definition : dispute between a driver and someone who is right.

Looking forward to suggestions runners should be paying road tax at next years marathon.

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Special_K148 | 5 years ago
1 like

Leith was busy when I go there, I had to walk part of it as my blood glucose (diabetic) was going through the floor so 'meh' to the walking whinger who posted earlier.  I did read there was a nasty accident at the end of the Leith descent.  

On Box there was also an accident on the descent that saw us corralled onto the other side of the road whilst first aid was being administered.  Quite a difficult descent with brakes on and the volume of cyclists funnelled into one side.  Not as free flowing as it should have been but hope those who were injured all make a speedy recovery

Avatar
d10brp replied to Special_K148 | 5 years ago
0 likes
Special_K148 wrote:

Leith was busy when I go there, I had to walk part of it as my blood glucose (diabetic) was going through the floor so 'meh' to the walking whinger who posted earlier.  I did read there was a nasty accident at the end of the Leith descent.  

On Box there was also an accident on the descent that saw us corralled onto the other side of the road whilst first aid was being administered.  Quite a difficult descent with brakes on and the volume of cyclists funnelled into one side.  Not as free flowing as it should have been but hope those who were injured all make a speedy recovery

Special_K148 my comments were not aimed at those trying and struggling due to medical or other issues. Apologies if it came across that way.

Avatar
Jetmans Dad replied to d10brp | 5 years ago
0 likes
Special_K148 wrote:

On Box there was also an accident on the descent that saw us corralled onto the other side of the road whilst first aid was being administered.  Quite a difficult descent with brakes on and the volume of cyclists funnelled into one side.  Not as free flowing as it should have been but hope those who were injured all make a speedy recovery

 

That would explain it. As I say I was among quite a large group as we approached the roundabout and we were about 20-30 minutes inside the time cut-off, so if there had been an accident affecting the flow of riders on the descent it would make perfect sense to close the hill at that point rather than waiting until the cut-off ... there were plenty more coming behind us so it could have been mayhem on there.

Just a pity it made it the RideLondon 94 rather than 100. 

Thoughts obviously with those involved in any accident, as with the young woman who went down on the plateau halfway down the Leith Hill descent not long before we came down there. That one looked pretty nasty. 

Avatar
srchar replied to d10brp | 5 years ago
1 like
d10brp wrote:
Special_K148 wrote:

Leith was busy when I go there, I had to walk part of it as my blood glucose (diabetic) was going through the floor so 'meh' to the walking whinger who posted earlier.  I did read there was a nasty accident at the end of the Leith descent.  

On Box there was also an accident on the descent that saw us corralled onto the other side of the road whilst first aid was being administered.  Quite a difficult descent with brakes on and the volume of cyclists funnelled into one side.  Not as free flowing as it should have been but hope those who were injured all make a speedy recovery

Special_K148 my comments were not aimed at those trying and struggling due to medical or other issues. Apologies if it came across that way.

My comments didn't assume your intimate knowledge of the medical histories of everyone you saw pushing a bike up a hill. Apologies if it came across that way.

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to srchar | 5 years ago
1 like
srchar wrote:
d10brp wrote:
Special_K148 wrote:

Leith was busy when I go there, I had to walk part of it as my blood glucose (diabetic) was going through the floor so 'meh' to the walking whinger who posted earlier.  I did read there was a nasty accident at the end of the Leith descent.  

On Box there was also an accident on the descent that saw us corralled onto the other side of the road whilst first aid was being administered.  Quite a difficult descent with brakes on and the volume of cyclists funnelled into one side.  Not as free flowing as it should have been but hope those who were injured all make a speedy recovery

Special_K148 my comments were not aimed at those trying and struggling due to medical or other issues. Apologies if it came across that way.

My comments didn't assume your intimate knowledge of the medical histories of everyone you saw pushing a bike up a hill. Apologies if it came across that way.

I think he was more intending to have a pop at those people starting out unfit/out-of-shape and wanting to do something about it.

Avatar
AlsoSomniloquism | 5 years ago
5 likes

Surprised there are no comments on the Sellers response when confronted over a Ghost Bike. 

"It got that colour from having furniture spray painted next to it". They must have used a shit ton of paint to colour the whole bike both sides a consistent layer of white.

But I think the worst one is : "Do you think it is worth more if it is a ghost bike" ??????? What the fuck ??????

Avatar
brooksby replied to AlsoSomniloquism | 5 years ago
1 like
AlsoSomniloquism wrote:

Surprised there are no comments on the Sellers response when confronted over a Ghost Bike. 

"It got that colour from having furniture spray painted next to it". They must have used a shit ton of paint to colour the whole bike both sides a consistent layer of white.

But I think the worst one is : "Do you think it is worth more if it is a ghost bike" ??????? What the fuck ??????

Lots of people might not know what a ghost bike was: first time I heard the expression I had to google it.

That said, if that's the state the bike was in because someone was painting furniture nearby then I really wouldn't want them decorating anywhere near my house!

Nope - maybe the seller didn't take it themselves, but someone further down the chain has (IMO) definitely seen a ghost bike and taken it away with them...surprise

Avatar
Jetmans Dad | 5 years ago
0 likes

Little aside, but still on RideLondon ... anyone know what happened to Box Hill in early afternoon? I was in one of the last waves to set off, and there were a few holdups along the way but the (large) group I was in arrived at the roundabout just before Box to find it had just been closed inspite of us being well before the time cut off.

Avatar
Kendalred replied to Jetmans Dad | 5 years ago
1 like
Jetmans Dad wrote:

Little aside, but still on RideLondon ... anyone know what happened to Box Hill in early afternoon? I was in one of the last waves to set off, and there were a few holdups along the way but the (large) group I was in arrived at the roundabout just before Box to find it had just been closed inspite of us being well before the time cut off.

Not sure about Box Hill, but a couple who I know did the 100 and were diverted away from Leith Hill due to 'congestion' apparently.  This may have been the issue with Box Hill, and perhaps the reason for differing distances that people are reporting?

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