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Dennis eat your heart out: Dutch cyclists battle monstrous headwind; Oakley Valentine's promo; Anti-cyclist/Brexit fan's immigration queue tweet; Cyclist's ruptured testicle update; Shapps forgets cycling in emoji-laden tweet + more on the live blog

Jack Sexty will be blogging you into the weekend, with the ocassional Alex Bowden-shaped contribution throughout the day
UPDATED Sat, Feb 15, 2020 04:56
39
14 February 2020, 17:08
That's not ideal!

Ever seen this before? Happened to tech ed Dave on his lunchtime ride. Check out this nifty bodge that got him home

14 February 2020, 16:17
Video shows Dutch cyclists battling unreal headwind

This clip could give the actual Dutch Headwind Championships a run for its money and perhaps even surpass it, as hardy Dutch commuters attempt to ride on despite facing winds that are so strong, numerous bikes appear to be blowing away from their owners. 

As The Cycling Professor says, what the Dutch lack in hills they more than make up for in gusts... 

14 February 2020, 14:53
Oakley launch strange Valentines-themed promotion for new retro shades
OakleyORIGINS_WHATSLOVE_2

"What is love?" Ask Oakley in their Valentine's marketing campaign that also celebrates the launch of their first shades in 1984... apparently it's the new Sutro Eyeshade (from £135 via Oakley's website) with absolutely massive vented lenses and Oakley's original logo that are modelled on the originals from the 80's. 

Oakley_oo9406-1437_sutro-eyeshade_celeste-black-prizm-black_001

The differences between new and old are mostly found in the Prizm lenses that improve colour vividness and clarity, and they're available in an array of loud colours: "The definition of eye-candy", boast Oakley. 

Oakley_ORIGINS_LOVEATFIRSTSIGHT

 

Was it love at first sight when you first saw Oakley's Sutro Eyeshades, or is this particular style best left consigned to history? Let us know in the comments... 

14 February 2020, 15:13
Brompton pop champers to toast 50,000 bikes sold in a year

Brompton have finally reached the milestone after selling 48,956 bikes to March 2019, and are now firmly established as Britain's biggest bicycle manufacturer. They were founded in June 1976 by Andrew Ritchie, with Butler-Adams taking up the post of CEO in 2008. 

14 February 2020, 13:11
Rower Hamish Bond wins New Zealand National Time Trial Championships

The 34-year-old 2012 and 2016 gold medallist in the coxless pairs beat Jumbo-Visma's Sam Bennet to clinch the title by a margin of 15 seconds, crossing the line in 46 mins 52 secs. 

Bond has always supplemented his rowing with cycling, and rode at elite level in 2009. He had his eye on cycling at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, but recently decided he would row again. 

14 February 2020, 13:31
University of Bristol Cycling Club plan 'carbon-neutral' bike tour
university of bristol cycling club - via uob.PNG

Epigram reports that the students will travel by Eurostar and French rail instead of flying back from their trip to the Alps, which UoBCC President Sam Tiller said will be similar in price to flights and could reduce overall emissions for the return journey from 255g/km to 6g/km.

32 students will embark on the trip in total, with a vegetarian-only menu on offer for the duration of the trip which Tiller said "proved popular" on their last excursion to Snowdonia in November.

14 February 2020, 11:56
“This is not the Brexit I voted for”: Prominent anti-cyclist tweeter gets Schiphol airport trending worldwide for complaining about immigration queue;

It's not been the best morning for Colin Browning (assuming he's a real person and not a 'bot', as some have suggested), who took to Twitter to complain about the immigration queue at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport last night: "This is not the Brexit I voted for", said Mr Browning. 

What does this have to do with cycling? Nothing at all, but we've had a peruse of Mr Browning's account and found the majority of his tweets don't have a lot of kind things to say about cycling, cyclists and anything with two wheels, so it seems. On a clip posted by broadcaster Jeremy Vine in which he is almost left-hooked by a van driver who failed to signal in time, Mr Browning replied: "You’re far to close to him, would he be able to see you in his mirrors? And to me it looks like you’re trying to undertake him. Yet again though like all cyclists it’s the big bad motorists that are in the wrong."

Alarmingly, in the tweet above Alan Stedman has suggested Mr Browning's political views and his anti-cycling rhetoric are related... what do you think? 

*Since we posted this update, 'Colin' is now also trending worldwide and Mr Browning has become the subject of a debate on James O'Brien's LBC radio show. 

14 February 2020, 11:50
Dib Sports launch 2-in-1 hydration and storage bottle
14 February 2020, 10:28
Pro cyclist who ruptured testicle posts health update
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

It's now been six weeks since my little accident, initially this is how long I was expected to be off the bike. To speed up the healing process of my spuds, I decided to do the most manly thing I could think of. Rip the motor out of my car, pull it apart, and put it back together in the hope to make it a little faster, leak less oil and drop phat skids. I succeeded. And in the process I did in fact heal much quicker than everyone thought. I've been properly training for about a month now, and will be racing again in about a week and a half! I'm back off to Europe today, despite having to sit out all the racing it's been a bloody good summer. Gave me a lot more time at home with the family, and Hank, some extra time to travel with @ivonreijers and got to see @brettmaherrr and @ashlinfitzgerald tie the knot. See you all when I'm lookin at ya ✌

A post shared by Chris Hamilton (@chrishamo_) on

If you've been eagerly awaiting some more ruptured testicle news from Team Sunweb's Chris Hamilton, fear not as he's recently posted an update on the state of his 'spuds'. 

Hamilton posted on Instagram: "To speed up the healing process of my spuds, I decided to do the most manly thing I could think of. Rip the motor out of my car, pull it apart, and put it back together in the hope to make it a little faster, leak less oil and drop phat skids. I succeeded. And in the process I did in fact heal much quicker than everyone thought. I've been properly training for about a month now, and will be racing again in about a week and a half!"

Hamilton's unfortunate balls-up happened in late December due to a 'small crash' on a bike path while out training in Australia, and although he's missed out on racing during their summer, it's given the 24-year-old more time to spend with his family. 

14 February 2020, 09:48
The best pothole pic ever?

This might just be local newspaper nirvana, although the ever-reliable Angry People in Local Newspapers were quick to offer some healthy competition... 

To read more about the problem blighting Britain's roads for cyclists and motorists alike, check out our interview with Mr Pothole to mark National Pothole Day from last month. 

14 February 2020, 09:42
A genre of bike "designed to ride on the boring fire-road-type tracks that mountain bikers avoid"

The ultimate in gravel pessimism...

14 February 2020, 08:41
Transport Secretary celebrates staying in his job by tweeting stream of vehicular emojis... and forgets cycling and walking

Trains, planes, automobiles and, erm... rockets. First spotted by Chris Boardman yesterday evening, Grant Shapps' tweet to announce his continuation in the role as Transport Secretary has been met with disbelief that he managed to pepper his post with emojis featuring pretty much every mode of widely-used transport known to man... except for cycling and walking. 

Some believe it sends out the wrong message when the environment and the climate crisis is such a hot topic; and if anyone should be at the forefront of promoting sustainable transport, you'd hope Britain's Transport Secretary would be one of them. 

Shapps was also criticised last week for tweeting in support of the expansion of Bikeability cycle training for children, when there is supposedly little evidence that the government is backing this up with investing in safe places to ride. 

Do you think the offending tweet was simply a case of Shapps missing a couple of keystrokes in his excitement at not suffering the fame fate as some of his (now ex) cabinet colleagues yesterday, or do you find it more worrying/sinister? Do let us know your thoughts in the comments as always... 

14 February 2020, 09:30
Fundraiser for Derbyshire cyclist killed in crash passes £3,000
josephine gilbert - via Derbyshire police.PNG

25-year-old Josephine Gilbert died in a collision with a lorry on the A52 near Marketon Island on January 21st, and a JustGiving page has been set up in her memory to raise funds for the mental health charity Mind; so far, £3,165 has been raised. 

It says: "Instead of flowers, we are asking for donations to be made on Jose's behalf to Mind. Jose was not only an impressive sportswoman but a huge advocate of the benefits and importance of sport for the mind."

If you want to donate, click here. 

14 February 2020, 08:35
Trek's accessory brand Bontrager launch new performance road pedals
Bontrager Elite road pedals.PNG

The Elite Road Pedal is brand new from Bontrager, compatible with Look Keo cleats and featuring a carbon composite body for a claimed weight of 250g per pair. They have sealed cartridge bearings on the underside to keep things clean, and a fully adjustable tension-release bolt lets you dial in or out for optimal ride feel. They cost £84.99 a pair and are available to buy on Trek's UK website now, and you can read our full story here. 

14 February 2020, 08:20
Man cycles 600km across India to meet his favourite film star Salman Khan

If you thought celebrity culture was a little obsessive in the west, it's got nothing on the lengths 52-year-old Bhupen Likson went to in order to meet his hero Salman Khan. 

According to Hindustan Times, Mr Likson began his journey in his home town of Tinsukia on February 8th, and after roughly 600km in the saddle reached Guwahati on February 13th, where Mr Khan was attending the Filmfare Awards. 

If you thought that sounded tough and/or obsessive, Likson has form for extraordinary cycling feats; it's also claimed he cycled an astonishing 48 kilometres in one hour without touching the handlebars for an Indian record, although as far as we can tell this is unverified; the Guinness World Record for cycling with no hands for one hour is 37 kilometres and 417 metres, achieved by Erik Skramstad of the USA in 2009. 

13 February 2020, 22:09
Just a young Paul McCartney cycling

It appears Sir Paul was quite the day tripper on his bike back in his younger days. 

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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39 comments

Avatar
Glov Zaroff | 4 years ago
0 likes

Colin Browning is 100% a parody account. 

Avatar
Rome73 replied to Glov Zaroff | 4 years ago
1 like

Parody or not you have to laugh at a brexthicker complaining about the inconvenience of NOT having freedom of movement. 

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AlsoSomniloquism replied to Glov Zaroff | 4 years ago
0 likes

Are you sure? He is parodying a cyclist hating, Brexit loving, Misogynistic homophobe so well that he has turned into all of the above. Scroll down his timeline and he is even cheering on the footage of someone pushing an old lady cyclist into the hedge.

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pasley69 | 4 years ago
0 likes

Chris Hamilton has demonstrated again the value of engine oil and degreaser as a healing agent.

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NZ Vegan Rider | 4 years ago
0 likes

Chris Hamilton V8 ute to do burnouts in ;-(  Let's hope he mangles the engine before it goes back in.

 

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ktache | 4 years ago
0 likes

I had always wondered if plastic folding money was as effective as paper folding, wouldn't really want to be risking a £20.

 

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David Arthur @d... replied to ktache | 4 years ago
3 likes

Yup can confirm it works. And the £10 note was still in perfect condition when I got thankfully! Best to carry a proper tyre boot really, but if you forget, this is a neat solution. 

Avatar
kil0ran | 4 years ago
0 likes

Bond is a complete beast. Rowed against a relative of mine for years. Undefeated for something like 8 years, never really got close to them - seconds behind in 2nd when races are usually decided by fractions. 

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NZ Vegan Rider replied to kil0ran | 4 years ago
0 likes

Agreed. Look at him compared with Bennett. He has

the watts and the VOmax in spades!

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mdavidford replied to NZ Vegan Rider | 4 years ago
2 likes
NZ Vegan Rider wrote:

Agreed. Look at him compared with Bennett. He has the watts and the VOmax in spades!

In oars, surely?

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Organon replied to kil0ran | 4 years ago
0 likes

Definitely needs to be investigated for sockdoping; all of them.

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Simon E replied to kil0ran | 4 years ago
0 likes

When he switched from rowing a couple of years ago he rode some UK time trials for Aerocoach and set some very impressive times. Anyone who could put 2 minutes into Josh Williams' 49-minute record for one of our local 25 mile courses, and do 17:55 in only his second ever 10 mile time trial, is right up there. His focus is apparently on rowing at the Tokyo Olympics.

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onthebummel48 | 4 years ago
1 like

Definitely seen a nicer stem cap - the ones from Isen Workshop are gorgeous! https://www.isenworkshop.com/bikes

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AlsoSomniloquism | 4 years ago
1 like

On a slight devils advocate to Colin, as all the politicians for leave pointed out that most of the current status quo would be the same and it would only bring benefits to the UK, he probably has a point it wasn't the Brexit he voted for. 

However I imagine from other posts on the timeline, he just saw we will stop foreigners coming over here and voted for that. 

Avatar
brooksby replied to AlsoSomniloquism | 4 years ago
4 likes
AlsoSomniloquism wrote:

On a slight devils advocate to Colin, as all the politicians for leave pointed out that most of the current status quo would be the same and it would only bring benefits to the UK, he probably has a point it wasn't the Brexit he voted for. 

However I imagine from other posts on the timeline, he just saw we will stop foreigners coming over here and voted for that. 

Is that like all the pro-Brexit tabloids who got all worked up when the EU suggested that following Brexit, Britons would need a visa etc to go on holiday to the Med?  (I mean: the very thought of it!)

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kt26 replied to AlsoSomniloquism | 4 years ago
3 likes

Surely all he can argue it wasn't the Brexit he thought he was voting for. Given this is the result of the leave vote winning, this is the Brexit every leave voter voted for whether they realised it at the time or not.

Only people who can complain about not getting what they voted for are the losers (in this case remain voters).

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kil0ran | 4 years ago
1 like

That Fairlight top cap is mega. Always looking to add weight to my Faran and it will look great atop the gold Hope headset.

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ktache | 4 years ago
1 like

So I went on the pothole Twitter thread and I found this one which tickled me.

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Cyclolotl replied to ktache | 4 years ago
2 likes

After seeing a few of the ones that have developed on our club routes I've started wondering, at what point do you stop calling "hole" and start shouting "crater"?

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eburtthebike replied to Cyclolotl | 4 years ago
1 like
Cyclolotl wrote:

After seeing a few of the ones that have developed on our club routes I've started wondering, at what point do you stop calling "hole" and start shouting "crater"?

Just shallow depressions.  You know it's really deep when you get an echo.

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Philh68 replied to ktache | 4 years ago
2 likes

On the subject of potholes, what happened to that fella who called himself Wanksy, painting potholes as  a gentleman’s sausage to encourage council to fix them?

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ktache replied to Philh68 | 4 years ago
3 likes

Others have taken up "the baton"

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Philh68 replied to ktache | 4 years ago
2 likes

So are council coming on time and filling the holes?

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Cyclolotl | 4 years ago
0 likes

Are those Bontrager pedals really 250g each? That seems awfully heavy, pretty sure my Assioma Duos are only a little more than that for the pair...

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Jack Sexty replied to Cyclolotl | 4 years ago
3 likes

250g *per pair, apologies. Full story by Mat who isn't a buffoon here... https://road.cc/content/tech-news/271173-bontrager-unveils-elite-road-pe...

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hawkinspeter | 4 years ago
2 likes

Paul McCartney? https://lailasnews.com/my-dead-wife-appeared-to-me-as-a-squirrel-paul-mccartney/

Did you know that Linda, his dead wife only ate plants though I expect you've heard of herbivore.

 

Avatar
hawkinspeter | 4 years ago
2 likes

One of those headlines is a bit fishy...

I did hear that Khan had a mild form of Tourette's when he was younger though my wife tried to correct me and told me that he actually had some unusual form of epilepsy that people often grow out of. Either way, it wasn't worth arguing over Salman ticks.

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Awavey | 4 years ago
1 like

So people are getting upset about how many "correct" emojis a politician uses in a tweet, because that's the really important part of his new job isnt it ? Not delivering or promoting better transport schemes for the country but how to emote properly on social media to his 88,000 followers 🙄 and we wonder why noone treats politics seriously anymore.

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RobD replied to Awavey | 4 years ago
10 likes

I think people are getting upset because it very neatly sums up the lack of prioritisation that the government (and local governments) give to walking and cycling, despite all the positive evidence with regards to investment, they still seem to see transport as cars buses and trains and little else.

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Awavey replied to RobD | 4 years ago
1 like

I hadnt realised government policy was determined thesedays by which 32x32pixel art ministers left in or out of tweets. No doubt had he included a bike emoji 🚴‍♂️ people would then be arguing over the ordering,he has trains ahead of busses after all in his tweet,clearly an indication he must favour HS2 I guess instead of bus routes.

Imo it all neatly sums up where people who get excised about this stuff real priorities lie,if they used half the energy they spend getting worked up on this kind of trivial nonsense,literally people are just complaining about pixels that only exist electronically, directed on tackling real decisions about delivering better transport solutions,promoting sustainable travel,and helping inform politicians to understand those choices better, maybe things would be a whole lot better all around

But there you go Shapps now knows some social media groups care far more about which tweet emojis he uses,rather than what his dept does with 1 billion pounds.

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