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news
"Damned if you don't, nearly killed if you do": Impatient driver beeps 20mph cyclist for not using bike lane; Pro cyclist arm wrestling; MacA-skills; 30s cycleway or car park?; Formolo's wild boar training crash; Unique bike theft + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
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Cyclist beeped by impatient driver (CyclingInASkirt/Twitter)12 January 2022, 17:29
Remember May 2020?
Easy to forget, but in May 2020 people were giving me a hard time about cycling *on my own* for more than an hour (which was always 100% legal).
Turns out I could just have had a party.
— Stuart Helmer (@stuarthelmer) January 11, 2022
Working for a cycling website means it's easy to pop out for a spin and claim you thought it was a work event...
On that note I'm popping out for a spin. Look at me clocking up all that out-of-hours work...
12 January 2022, 16:58
Factor Bikes UK becomes Vires Velo (+ opens shiny Experience Centre for punters with deep pockets to pick up their dream bike)
Need a flash new bike? Want to buy it from an equally flashy outlet? Factor's UK partner has been renamed, and under the new banner of Vires Velo will sell Factor bikes from an 'Experience Centre' in Norfolk.
What's an Experience Centre? I hear you ask...
Well, it'll be a showroom, including an expanded workshop, coffee lounge and dedicated bike fitting studio. In essence, your one-stop new bike shop... if you're in the market for a Factor, that is. Vires Velo's showroom will have all the latest bikes and components from Factor and Black Inc, and managing director John Bailey promises to offer an "urivalled experience for cyclists in the UK".
He said: "We are excited that this new facility, along with investment in an advanced new bike fitting system and our continued exclusive partnership with Factor/Black Inc can provide an unrivalled experience for cyclists in the UK."
12 January 2022, 16:01
Wheelie Wednesday ft. Danny MacAskill
A little endurance training with this #WheelieWednesday from a while back! pic.twitter.com/VqPyc1NxmQ
— Danny MacAskill (@danny_macaskill) January 12, 2022
12 January 2022, 16:50
"Optimus Prime cosplay" FTW, claims our least fashionable reviewer George Hill...
12 January 2022, 15:09
Gang uses ladder to steal bike from balcony in early morning raid
We see a lot of bike thefts, some more unique than others. This one certainly falls into the more unique category, but when you think about it, it's probably not that surprising considering the amount of bikes you see stored on apartment block balconies.
Northants Telegraph reports three people are being sought in connection with an incident which saw thieves make off with a bicycle having used a ladder to access a first floor balcony on Wellingborough's Queen Street between 2.20am and 2.30am on Saturday 8 January.
A police statement said: "he description of the offenders is very limited. One is described as a white female and was wearing a pink or white coat. The second was a tall white male and the third was a black male wearing black coloured clothing and hat."
12 January 2022, 12:00
"Damned if you don't, nearly killed if you do": Impatient driver beeps 20mph cyclist for not using bike lane
I’m getting beeped at because I’m at the wrong side of the magic paint lane - which as you can see is little better than a farm track - doing 20mph downhill and have held this motorist up for a few seconds in their desperation to reach the traffic lights. #cycling in #Sheffield pic.twitter.com/7zQsEw3qBR
— CyclingInASkirt (@CyclingInASkirt) January 12, 2022
You can almost see the steam coming out of this driver's ears as the lights turn to yellow as they speed up in a last-ditch bid to avoid the life-changing misfortune of having to wait for 30 seconds at the lights. Even better when the cyclist you've just beeped for apparently holding you up then rolls smugly to the front of the line.
So why did they feel the need to beep? It seems likely the key to that is in this rider's decision to not use the 'cycle lane'. When I say cycle lane, maybe 'painted strip of rutted tarmac closest to the gutter' would be another angle...
It's a 'get out my way' beep, isn't it?
CyclingInASkirt regularly shares clips of cycling issues and poor driving from Sheffield. In this clip, using gravity and one of the Steel City's numerous bergs, they're descending at 20mph... hardly holding the traffic up, is it?
One such previous clip involved an incident on the same stretch of road, perhaps explaining why you would be more vigilant to hold primary position and be seen..."Same stretch of road - damned if you don't, nearly killed if you do...."
Please help me identify this reg & driver - had a VERY lucky escape yesterday (downhill, wet, good brakes saved me) next time, someone else might not be so lucky. #cycling in #Sheffield. I’d like to explain to them why my kids are terrified of me using a bike just to get to work. pic.twitter.com/dNIoVDj15l
— CyclingInASkirt (@CyclingInASkirt) April 30, 2020
12 January 2022, 14:18
Rohan Dennis kicks off Jumbo-Visma career with a win
🇦🇺 #RoadNats
Australian TT Champion🥇 Good start of the season! pic.twitter.com/TrnXtlmD6u
— Team Jumbo-Visma cycling (@JumboVismaRoad) January 12, 2022
What's this? It can't be...a bike race? Down in Oz it's summer and there's some high quality sporting entertainment to enjoy...and I don't just mean at the airport border checks. Rohan Dennis marked his first appearance in Jumbo Visma kit with a win, his sixth Australian National TT Championship.
Yesterday, the outspoken powerhouse had some choice words about his former employer, saying Ineos "copy" Jumbo Visma, so he thought he might as well join the "better team"...blimey, tell us how you really feel, Rohan...
12 January 2022, 14:09
12 January 2022, 14:13
12 January 2022, 12:20
Pro cyclist arm wrestling: the sport we never knew we needed to see
Someone needs to read our strength training for cyclists feature, eh Phil?
Toms Skujiņš came out on top of this 'battle' with former pro Phil Gaimon, but which pro would be the best arm wrestler? In the retired category I reckon André Greipel and Marcel Kittel would be tough to beat. Of the current crop...Filippo Ganna or Alexander Kristoff? Although I'm saying Tim Declercq could lever his limbs to Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl's arm wrestling title...
At the other end of the scale: got to be Chris Froome and Nairo Quintana. Sorry chaps, don't think this is one for you.
12 January 2022, 14:07
12 January 2022, 11:26
Santander Cycles smash records: 10.9 million hires in 2021
Thanks for 10.9 million hires! 🎉 🚲
2021 was a record-breaking year for Santander Cycles all thanks to you.
Let’s continue cycling in 2022. Download the Santander Cycles app today to get pedalling ⤵️ https://t.co/26cDbiMa5g pic.twitter.com/I7K1S1bxOe
— Transport for London (@TfL) January 12, 2022
12 January 2022, 11:21
How the Dutch do infra...
Today I was very pleased with the maintenance of the bicycle path by @GemeenteUtrecht: the red asphalt was swept especially for me 😁👌🏼 #cycling pic.twitter.com/ZGXWLfzgnr
— De Filmende Fietser (@FilmendeFietser) January 11, 2022
Dutch cycle lanes get...swept clear? No leaves? No broken glass? It's a different world over there...and you can even catch a cheeky tow behind the sweeper...
Oh, and sometimes you can even listen to the news while you commute...
👋🏽Good morning to you 👋🏽
Dutch news from the cycle path - with bonus 🌳🐕🦺🐕🦺and🌅today 😊
🔐🦠👩🏽🎓🧑🏼🎓👨🎓🧠🏥💉#DNFTCP pic.twitter.com/QG4d9q0sI3
— anna holligan 🎙 (@annaholligan) January 12, 2022
12 January 2022, 14:13
12 January 2022, 10:38
Tadej Pogačar's UAE Team Emirates teammate Davide Formolo injures wrist in wild boar crash
Davide Formolo is making a pig's ear of off-season training...(I'll see myself out)...
That seems a bit harsh on the UAE Team Emirates rider who had nowhere to go when the baby boar ran across the road while the Italian was training at 60kph. Formolo injured his wrist in the crash, but hopes nothing is fractured.
"There are many small bones in the hands, and it takes 10 days to show any fractures," Formolo told Gazzetta dello Sport. "We are still working a lot on the right wrist, we are still afraid that there is some fracture. Nothing seems to be broken."
Formolo joked with his Instagram followers..."A wild boar wanted to eat me [...] the 53x11 makes speed to escape if you have legs like me 🤪😂"
Without a doubt our favourite of Formolo's 2021 achievements was his 'longest Hour Record'...rolling his way to a joint new world record of just 918m in...well, an hour...
That's our kind of distance challenge...
12 January 2022, 09:20
What does a 1930s cycleway look like? (Spoiler alert: it's a car park)
Today I ended up cycling down the remnants of the 1930s cycle way on Chester Road in Birmingham. It is a car park for residents, all but one of whom seem to have plenty of space on their drives. @carltonreid @badlyparkedbrum pic.twitter.com/kSQaws8v6j
— 2WG.Brum (@2wheelsgoodBrum) January 11, 2022
Why use the driveway when there's a perfectly good 1930s cycleway to dump your motor?
That's the questions 2 wheels good Brum was asking after weaving around this slalom course...we counted 12 (plus one on the pavement) during the 30-second clip.
And that's just the shorter version...here's the extended edition... (granted, not quite as fun, or long, as the Lord of the Rings extended edition, but fantastic all the same).
Giving some local knowledge, 2 wheels good Brum explained how the 'infra': "Was built in the 1930s and has had some new signage and white lines to create a two-way route for cyclists. It is terrible to ride even when empty, but it has become a car park for local residents, most of who seem to have sufficient parking space on their own property already."
So what did it look like in its heyday?
Here's the same stretch of cycleway, viewed from the other direction, (possibly) in the 1930s. People did cycle on it then. pic.twitter.com/DdZNna2NHq
— 2WG.Brum (@2wheelsgoodBrum) January 11, 2022
12 January 2022, 09:55
Here comes the sun! Morning commuting scenes...
What better way is there to start the day than an early walk along the Lee River Section of the Capital Ring?
Going for a walk is a great way of keeping active and healthy when having to work from home. #CapitalRing #WalkThisWay #FakeCommute pic.twitter.com/V1Xg62EIq1
— Will Norman (@willnorman) January 12, 2022
The sun may not be out for very long here in the UK at the minute, but at least it looks pretty as it comes and goes...Walking and Cycling Commissioner Will Norman went for a sunrise walk, prompting others to share their morning commute snaps. Of course, we were more interested in those on two wheels...
Another beautiful sky photo I took this morning on my way to work!
What a view..😍#sunrise #sunrisephotography #beautifulview #cloud #cycling #cyclingtowork #beautifulsunrise #tooting #beautifulsky #clouds #london pic.twitter.com/3rFZ8CAsrb— Miss Omar (@Auntiekay28) January 11, 2022
Sunsets are alright too...
Reasons why cycling is better: you can stop to take a picture of the sunset. pic.twitter.com/26pqla6P0T
— Mark Wagenbuur (@BicycleDutch) January 11, 2022
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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63 comments
The highway code is changing and cyclists get even more priority over drivers
The Telegraph may think that, but the police think it's business as usual. This is Mokka WV16 JDK, and there has been no response from Lancashire Constabulary's fabulous new OpSnap Lancs, which is just as crap and evil as the parent body
stonojnr
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2 years ago
1 like
Whilst not as bad as the Birmingham example, you can get similar parking along the Main Rd, Kesgrave, 1930s cycleway too. https://goo.gl/maps/EmDwZmcfBaGwgeTg8
Worse it's not unusual if the road is congested for residents to treat it as a shortcut service road to one of the many side roads. And you get absolute dogs abuse off motorists if you dare not to use it to cycle on.
The local council though think it's a marvellous piece of cycling infrastructure and exactly the kind of thing that they want more of, so are basing all their future cycling way plans in the area on similar.
Secret_squirrel
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2 years ago
5 likes
It actually is "reinstated" as a cycle lane if you look at the floor markings in sections. Just not an enforced one and most of the official signs for the road have it as a shared path. Sometimes the council themselves have not helped thought with safety.
it is only a small stretch of Chester Road that was dual carriageway that had it though which was 40mph, hence why I always thought it was parking because of the 40mph parking regs. It might also have been a slightly rich area judging by the size of a lot of the same era buildings and was before the war but it doesn't really go anywhere really.
Article doesn't show it but there is a lane on both sides of the road, not just one.
chrisonabike
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2 years ago
0 likes
For those interested - the Chester route is on Carlton Reid's mapping of these things:
More info here: http://www.bikeboom.info/cycletracks1930s/
AlsoSomniloquism
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2 years ago
2 likes
My nan lived on an estate accessible from the end of that route. It has been a car park since the mid 70's. The difference is as household got more cars, more went on it. I actually always thought it was parking for the big houses.
I do love that the sections they tried to stop off-street parking on still has them as this BMW (natch) shows.
At the time I was more intimidated by the head on this island.
And later on it took me about 5 years of constant passing before I realised what this (very obvious) sculpture was.
I do love that the sections they tried to stop off-street parking on still has them as this BMW (natch) shows.
Yeah, fat lot of good those bollards are doing!
And later on it took me about 5 years of constant passing before I realised what this (very obvious) sculpture was.
Looks like three creatures from a Studio Ghibli film?
And later on it took me about 5 years of constant passing before I realised what this (very obvious) sculpture was.
Looks like three creatures from a Studio Ghibli film?
Historical context is important in identifying it. There is a "brilliant" book on the subject of traffic island decoration.
Unfortunately my favourite has now gone
The new "installation" includes a cyclist. Dressed in grey with no lights. It's a wonder he hasn't been knocked off!
This guy will take care of that for you.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/driver-banned-dukes-of-h...
My nan lived on an estate accessible from the end of that route. It has been a car park since the mid 70's. The difference is as household got more cars, more went on it. I actually always thought it was parking for the big houses.
I do love that the sections they tried to stop off-street parking on still has them as this BMW (natch) shows.
You mean the powers that be expected the householders to actually manouevre their vehicles carefully so as to park them on their private land instead of just dumping them easily on the public highway? Bl00dy nanny state, innit? 
Bought an offroad vehicle? It can't help itself! Just like the adverts suggest. Oh, wait, that one isn't. Well as long as no-one ever drives it, no crime committed.
.... The difference is as household got more cars, more went on it.
This is one of the biggest mistakes we have made as a society, allowing storage of personal property on the public highway.
From day one the rule should have been no overnight parking on the roads. So parking to deliver, visit or carry out work would be possible but every vehicle would have a home somewhere on private land.
There would be much less pressure on parking and probably no need for pavement parking if vehicles were not stored long term on the road. But now the genie is out of the bottle and there are too many cars with nowhere else to be.
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