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news
Another motorist spotted with 'cyclist tally' decal; Traffic cops schooling ignorant road users...Highway Code edition; Cav: Biggest joy from 2021 was people saying 'thank you'; Guess Alex Dowsett's "irrational" cycling dislike? + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
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Cyclist tally (image supplied)27 January 2022, 17:27
"On a BMW? Who'd have guessed!": All the reaction to today's 'cyclist tally' reappearance
Be a shame if someone scratched them off and went right down to the metal.
— 🌱Carrie Purdom ignored you fine the first time. (@CarriePurdom) January 27, 2022
Over on our Facebook there's a lively discussion about the 'cyclist tally' sticker spotted in north London on...you guessed it...a BMW. It was that or an Audi, wasn't it?
Jake Underhill's wondering "Do they do a 'BMW wing mirror' version of this sticker? Asking for a friend."
Aaron Bennett wondered if it's encouraged to add to the tally with your keys?
Ian Weatherill reckons the bigger issue is why a child has clearly been mistakenly given a driving licence...very good.
Not everyone agreed though, Rollo Gillespie said: "You know what I doubt there is true malice behind it, live and let live. I would have laughed and gave them the thumbs up to be honest." Each to their own.
Here on the blog Captain Badger reckons a spray can of Hammerite could solve this issue pretty quick...the rest of you were too busy debating the pros and cons of carrot cake...which, for what is worth, is an elite cake in my book...
27 January 2022, 08:51
Another motorist spotted with 'cyclist tally' decal
Remember back in December when Capita apologised for an "offensive and inappropriate" decal snapped by a road.cc reader on the side of one of its highway maintenance vans?
Well, there's another one...this time noticed by a road.cc reader on a passing BMW in north London. The picture at the top of this live blog isn't entirely clear, but Paul tells us "you can just make out the bottom right bumper, its a tally sheet for cyclists, pedestrians, disabled persons and horse riders hit, killed or injured.
"I wouldn't want to encourage anything untoward but can you publish attached photo taken in green lanes north London? You never know they might see it and the error of their ways and remove it. Not sure I can describe the emotions I felt but it took great self control not to follow and remonstrate."
Last month, Capita confirmed a disciplinary process had been opened and the offending sticker, similar to the markings denoting enemy planes shot down that pilots would display on the side of their aircraft during World War Two, removed from their van.
27 January 2022, 16:40
Online harassment, misogyny and why none of us can ignore it
Cycling Weekly's tech editor Michelle Arthurs-Brennan has penned a blog post detailing the grim reality of her experiences as a woman in the world of cycling journalism. It is a pretty shocking read and well worth five minutes of your time...
In April 2020, YouTube shockjock Hambini posted a video attempting to discredit her, in which he called her a "feminist attention seeker", "girl" and included a sexually suggestive caption.
At the time Arthurs-Brennan tweeted this...and said the Hambini video ‘asks 44k people to comment on my vagina’.
"Why does the cycling industry find it SO hard to attract women in key positions?"
Ans: pic.twitter.com/m54W4ndwyy— Michelle Arthurs-Brennan (@RideWriteRepeat) April 15, 2020
The blog post is well worth a read, follow the link here.
27 January 2022, 15:38
27 January 2022, 15:25
Suffolk WW2 veteran celebrates 100th birthday — still cycling 100 miles per week
A very happy birthday to Norman Gregory - still cycling 100 miles a week at 100. His top tip for beginners? ‘For goodness sake, don’t overdo it!’
Take it from the man who has been cycling for almost a century.
If you don’t believe it (or if you do) tune into @itvnews now! pic.twitter.com/l8EJa6bnoc
— Chloe Keedy (@ChloeKeedyITV) January 26, 2022
War veteran and centenarian Norman Gregory marked his 100th birthday by doing what he does every day...riding 10 miles near Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk. He was greeted by cheering crowds of friends, and described his age as "just a number".
The 100-year-old has already racked up 350 miles in 2022 and last year covered 5,350 miles, the equivalent distance from his home village of Cockfield to San Francisco.
"By the time I was 16, I joined the West Suffolk Wheelers and quite frequently I was cycling 100 miles at the weekend with the cycling club," he told ITV.
Norman was met by a camera crew from the broadcaster who recorded a news story as he was presented a birthday cake and his card from the Queen.
27 January 2022, 14:54
27 January 2022, 14:27
Tom Pidcock ready for opportunity of a generation at CX world champs
Tom Pidcock was 14 the last time the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championship was won by someone other than Wout van Aert or Mathieu van der Poel. Come Sunday a new name will pull on the rainbow bands, as both miss out through prioritising the road season and injury respectively.
Pidcock told the media in Fayeteville how not having his two great 'cross rivals on the startline is both a blessing and a curse.
"They are the two best CX riders in the world," he said. "So, I certainly think there's more opportunity this year. Of course, it's an opportunity to take. But then again, you know, there's always going to be that cloud if you like that they aren't there.
"But I think, if I can win this year, then I'm world champion and then I can focus on beating them in another year. So, it is kind of the blessing and sort of – it's not good at the same time."
Pidcock also caused headlines when his interview with BBC Sport went live. The 22-year-old said he thinks it's now too dangerous for pro riders to train on time trial bikes because of the riding position. The comments come days after teammate Egan Bernal underwent multiple surgeries following a TT bike crash into a parked bus while training in Colombia. Pidcock too crashed last year while training on his Pinarello TT bike.
27 January 2022, 13:35
😬
We know @MayorofGM has a lot on his plate right now & is down a Transport Commissioner - but his ill-judged & sadly ill-informed comments on the new Highway Code on @BBCRadioManc today - incl. suggesting the changes are paused - show why he needs a right-hand replacement ASAP.. pic.twitter.com/h5XPrB9wXu
— WalkRideGM (@WalkRideGM) January 27, 2022
Hmmmm we'll have more on this shortly but not a great look. If only he had a colleague with an expertise in active travel and road safety. I don't know, a now-interim commissioner of Active Travel England perhaps...
27 January 2022, 12:37
Before vs after
Rebalancing road space pic.twitter.com/X9hcF5sEsm
— Infrastructure CGIs (@InfraCGI) January 27, 2022
27 January 2022, 12:30
27 January 2022, 11:46
Glasgow World Championships expected to bring in £67 million
Next year Glasgow will host the first ever UCI Cycling World Championships where all 13 disciplines are decided at the same event. The event is expected to boost the Scottish economy by £67 million and attract one million spectators to the city.
GlasgowLive reports the city's council is now ready to approve a £15 million contribution to the event, which will welcome 2,600 elite cyclists from 120 countries, competing in road, track, mountain biking and BMX.
A Gran Fondo will also allow 8,000 amateur riders to take part in the celebration of cycling.
27 January 2022, 11:33
If you missed it...what a story this is...
27 January 2022, 11:29
Insult a MAMIL, deal with herd
Apparently one of these guys loves cycling, so we're happy to have a laugh at our own expense...
Although to be honest, I'm more concerned about the wear on those cleats tap dancing about like that.
27 January 2022, 11:24
Thoughts?
27 January 2022, 11:11
Traffic cops schooling ignorant road users...Highway Code edition
Imagine how that would look in a coroners court…now think how it would look in a criminal court.
— Roads Policing Unit (RPU) - Surrey Police - UK (@SurreyRoadCops) January 26, 2022
Go on, have some Surrey traffic cops entertainment to brighten up your Thursday...
With the Highway Code changes getting a spotlight in the media this week (sometimes incorrectly), there has been plenty of social media discussion, debate, diatribe about what it all means...
As per, it means there have been more than enough falsehoods, complaints and attacks for the Surrey Roads Policing Unit to get its teeth into...including some old favourites...
Statistically, car drivers would meee the first, then car passengers, then cyclists, then pedestrians.
Fancy a driving helmet?
— Roads Policing Unit (RPU) - Surrey Police - UK (@SurreyRoadCops) January 25, 2022
They’re teaching us the legislation, which hasn’t changed at all in this area.
— Roads Policing Unit (RPU) - Surrey Police - UK (@SurreyRoadCops) January 26, 2022
That sound was the mic hitting the floor. Anyway, they still had time for the day job...
Responded to reports of a single vehicle collision this morning in Worplesdon.
The driver was detained and placed on the naughty step for being milk drunk. pic.twitter.com/7sF3zBDgn9
— Roads Policing Unit (RPU) - Surrey Police - UK (@SurreyRoadCops) January 27, 2022
27 January 2022, 10:39
Three-hour rides: Alex Dowsett's "intense and irrational" cycling dislike...
I have an intense and irrational dislike for 3hr rides, they’re not short, not long, you can blow your doors but also don’t need to eat the house down
They’re like a cross or gravel bike, or a Porsche Panamera, it’s got no idea what it is.
— Alex Dowsett (@alexdowsett) January 26, 2022
Don't all shoot Alex down at once...
The case for the defence?
Three-hour rides are the absolute best, and for exactly the reasons you give. You're right about the other things though, to which I'll add carrot cake.
— Michael Hutchinson (@Doctor_Hutch) January 26, 2022
That was going great until the unnecessary carrot cake slander...
Personally, a three-hour ride sounds lovely. In winter it seems like a proper day out, and in summer you can push the pace with your new-found fitness and even squeeze one in on a weekday evening. Also, unsurprisingly, nobody at road.cc can comment on Dowsett's Porsche Panamera claim...journalism money, and all that...
Gravel bikes, though, that's more up our street. Valued member of your bicycle family or a little bit pointless? I'm sure off-road.cc will have something to say...this could get tasty...
27 January 2022, 10:03
27 January 2022, 09:46
"The biggest joy from 2021 was people saying 'thank you'. Before I would get 'well done' or 'congratulations'. It's touching": Cav reflects on 2021
Ahead of the start of the 2022 season, Mark Cavendish sat down with BBC Sport reporter Matt Warwick from Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl's training camp in Calpe to reflect on the year that was...
We all know the story now: Cav won (a lot) and was back on top of the sport as the Manx Missile we all knew before. But more than wins, the green jersey and the congratulations, it was the gratitude of his fans that connected with the 36-year-old the most.
"It was the first time that… as a sportsperson you're disassociated from a human point a lot of the time. It was the most connected I felt in my whole career, to the fans," Cavendish said.
"They're not watching you do something - they're living it with you. All I can say is the biggest joy I got from 2021 was people saying 'thank you'. I haven't really heard that before - I would get 'well done' or 'congratulations'. But I got 'thank you for the joy and hope you give us'. It's touching, you know.
"I've had some hard years, but a lot of people have had worse years. I hope I can give hope that… if you push hard enough anyone can come back and stand on the top step or whatever you want to."
Speaking to team boss Patrick Lefevere, Warwick was told: "When he won [his] first stage, I think that was one of the biggest emotions I ever saw in 20 years of my team, with everybody. And then the miracle happened; one stage became four and then the green jersey."
A great clip to show students; Mark Cavendish showing an injection of power in his sprint finish following Tour de France 2021, stage four: Redon to Fougères (150.4km)pic.twitter.com/PLt5yrBtwn
— Paul Smith (@MrPJSmithPE) June 29, 2021
Dan is the road.cc news editor and joined in 2020 having previously written about nearly every other sport under the sun for the Express, and the weird and wonderful world of non-league football for The Non-League Paper. Dan has been at road.cc for four years and mainly writes news and tech articles as well as the occasional feature. He has hopefully kept you entertained on the live blog too.
Never fast enough to take things on the bike too seriously, when he's not working you'll find him exploring the south of England by two wheels at a leisurely weekend pace, or enjoying his favourite Scottish roads when visiting family. Sometimes he'll even load up the bags and ride up the whole way, he's a bit strange like that.
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127 comments
Oi! Re: decals.
This is the UK, we have transfers and stickers. I very much doubt that that egregious sign is a transfer (decalcomania for left pondians).
Forty-odd years ago when I was making model aeroplane kits the various RAF roundels, flight numbers etc were always described as "decals" and if it's good enough for 1970s Airfix it's good enough for me! It's certainly not just an Americanism - the etymology is French I think.
As far as I've always thought of it a sticker is a one-piece design where one just removes the backing and slaps it on, a decal is usually a collection of elements, e.g. vinyl-cut letters, held together on a top sheet, so one removes the backing, smoothes it onto the surface and then peels off the top sheet. That's just an assumption though...
Oi! Re: decals.
This is the UK, we have transfers and stickers. I very much doubt that that egregious sign is a transfer (decalcomania for left pondians).
Forty-odd years ago when I was making model aeroplane kits the various RAF roundels, flight numbers etc were always described as "decals" and if it's good enough for 1970s Airfix it's good enough for me! It's certainly not just an Americanism - the etymology is French I think.
I was also transported instantly back in time to the 70s to cementing (it was cement, iirc) my fingers to the dining room table.
As far as I've always thought of it a sticker is a one-piece design where one just removes the backing and slaps it on, a decal is usually a collection of elements, e.g. vinyl-cut letters, held together on a top sheet, so one removes the backing, smoothes it onto the surface and then peels off the top sheet. That's just an assumption though...
Do you remember the old Letraset graphics and lettering? (for the young people here, this was what we did if we wanted to do posh graphics and lettering, in the days before word processing and CAD).
As far as I've always thought of it a sticker is a one-piece design where one just removes the backing and slaps it on, a decal is usually a collection of elements, e.g. vinyl-cut letters, held together on a top sheet, so one removes the backing, smoothes it onto the surface and then peels off the top sheet. That's just an assumption though...
Do you remember the old Letraset graphics and lettering? (for the young people here, this was what we did if we wanted to do posh graphics and lettering, in the days before word processing and CAD).
Or for the less fancy, one of these:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Printer-Lettering-Machine-Embossing-Typewriter/...
As far as I've always thought of it a sticker is a one-piece design where one just removes the backing and slaps it on, a decal is usually a collection of elements, e.g. vinyl-cut letters, held together on a top sheet, so one removes the backing, smoothes it onto the surface and then peels off the top sheet. That's just an assumption though...
Do you remember the old Letraset graphics and lettering? (for the young people here, this was what we did if we wanted to do posh graphics and lettering, in the days before word processing and CAD).
Ahhh! Letraset, never enough vowels so it was a self generating chain of demand 
Carrot cake is just wrong, imo. If you're going to have cake, have cake. Don't pretend its healthy by putting carrot in it, when all that does is ruin it.
That is so not why carrot cake has carrot in it.
well it can't be for the flavour, as just about every other type of cake is tastier. I mean carrot cake may come in ahead of sludge cake, but not by a great margin, and only one of those is intended for eating.
You're going to be so upset when you find out about banana bread...
Fruit in cake is great - banana bread; lemon cake; (my personal favourite) Dorset apple cake etc... It's vegetables in cake that are wrong.
Where do you stand on courgettes, pumpkins (and other squash), or tomatoes? Technically they're fruit...
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I don't know if it was just on my computer but I got a virus warning when opening the comments on this piece. My machine is tied down harder then a...
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Have lost all faith in active cyclists. What a bullshit comment by Jonas. And Tadej saying they forgot the second part of the test - ha ha ha. The...
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But it's got PNS on ? Honestly. You just don't get fashion.
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There is now a development of uncertain veracity on this Nissan, with a photo somebody has sent me suggesting it's stolen....
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Yes, it does seem reasonable - but not in the motonormativity world, where people just don't want to admit where the problem lies.
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