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"There is no way on earth I can ride up that": 36 per cent monster Britain's new steepest climb?; "What active travel looks like": Shared-use path van dodging; Celeb cycling chart; Readers' pro tales; Josh Quigley; Count the bikes + more on the live blog

It's the end of another hectic week on the live blog, join Dan Alexander for the Friday edition before we can all ride off into the weekend...
17 September 2021, 15:35
Mixed messages
17 September 2021, 14:51
Two of the world's best pro cyclists or an EDM duo checking in for Tomorrowland?

Sunday's when the next TT world champion will be crowned. The Belgians are looking good on and off the bike and have a great chance of a medal on home roads. Elsewhere, expect Filippo Ganna, Rohan Dennis and newly crowned double European champ Stefan Küng to be in the mix...

17 September 2021, 14:17
More details on Hampshire active travel surveys
Hampshire active travel plans

road.cc reader Tim let us know there are also residents' surveys for Eastleigh, Gosport, Fareham and Havant too...

Tim's comment has all the good stuff and links you need:

Hi @Road_cc

Re the "Southern Test Valleys LCWIP", there have actually been 5 released: Eastleigh, Gosport, Fareham, Havant and Southern Test Valley. The Gosport & Fareham LCWIP map is attached for example..

Full details are here:
https://hampshirelcwips.commonplace.is/

Currently working to combine this with the East Hants and Portsmouth LCWIP's to put together the full strategic network into a single map. We urge anyone local to get involved, and if possible, reach out to the following groups and offer your assistance!

Local Campaign Groups covering it:
Walk Ride Waterlooville (www.walkRideWaterlooville.org.uk)
Cycle Havant, (www.facebook.com/CycleHavant)
Cycle Hayling (http://www.cyclehayling.org.uk)
Cycle Gosport (www.facebook.com/CycleGosport)
Fareham - TBD
Eastleigh - TBD

Tim
Member, Cycle Hampshire.

17 September 2021, 14:05
Massive driveways but still choose to park on pavements...shared-use van dodging

One of our readers, Chris Rufus, ID'd this as Princes Road in Dartford, said it's always like that and nothing is done.

hirsute's main issue was with the DPD driver's reversing. Less must get in front, more must not wait for cyclist..."The thing about the cycle slalom video that annoyed me the most was the DPD van reversing on the pavement, then completely blocking it leaving the cyclist to come to a halt. At no point did the driver think he should stop and allow the cyclist past. Perish the thought the driver could reverse into a driveway and let the cyclist pass!"

DrG82 has noticed a return of pavement parking with the new school year..."Passing the school near me yesterday afternoon at kicking out time there were parents parked nose to tail around two corners, half on half off the pavement, there were people parked on the zig zags of the zebra crossing and even in the bus stop.

"It was a glorious day and yet none of the parents thought their little darlings could walk a few meters extra. Probably because all the bad parking makes it too dangerous. Where I used to live they had a camera car that would drive past and book anyone parking illegally." That sounds dangerous enough to ban kids cycling to school...

IanMK added: "Society need to change it's perception of poor parking, so that it's perceived as what it is; anti-social behaviour. The trouble is that it's sort of convenient for the majority and only really inconvenient for a minority."

17 September 2021, 09:47
"There is no way on earth I can ride up that. The goal posts are moved again": Simon Warren names Peak District's 36.5 per cent monster "THE steepest climb in Britain"

Simon Warren, author of the 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs series, has found another belter. Hidden away in the Peak District and maxing out at 36.5 per cent, Bamford Clough is "the steepest climb in Britain", according to the climbing connoisseur...

Strava has it as 500m of 21.7 per cent gradient, but a segment named 'The Clough - insane bit' picks out the toughest 300m averaging 26 per cent...the main question I'm taking from all of this is how did they manage to resurface it?

Simon went to check it out earlier in the week and admitted even he was defeated by its savage slopes: "Nope. Not happening. There is no way on earth I can ride up that. The goal posts are moved again. I give you the steepest climb in Britain. Again.

"Too steep. Harder then Afon Ddu. Wet, covered in leaves yet beautiful tarmac. Chain jumped off front ring somehow under pressure and that was it, foot down. Too hard to ride in saddle, too slippery to get out."

Usually climbs don't look quite so brutal in pictures, not this one...

17 September 2021, 13:18
Let's have a Friday game of count the cyclists...

I got 21 heading left and 10 going right? 

17 September 2021, 11:58
Test Valley residents asked for views on walking and cycling ahead of active travel investment
oxon travel cycle lane picture - via twitter.PNG

Residents are being asked to submit their views on cycling and walking, as plans for new active travel infrastructure are being drawn up, the Daily Echo reports. Hampshire County Council has launched a survey on its new Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan for the Southern Test Valley, covering Romsey, North Baddesley, Chilworth and Nursling.

The survey was released on September 6 and will run for eight weeks on the county council website. Councillor Russell Oppenheimer said: "Since the pandemic began, we have seen more people walking and cycling as their preferred means of travel to work and for leisure.

"We would like to improve walking and cycling facilities and networks to encourage this continuing trend both for the health and wellbeing advantages and for the clear environmental benefits in reducing the number of cars on the road."

17 September 2021, 11:24
North Coast - A cycling film by Restrap follows five friends around the NC500

Restrap followed five friends as they took on Scotland's famous NC500, creating this film - North Coast. The original plan was to head over to Europe, but plans had to change because of Covid restrictions, and a week later a new destination and route was set.

The film follows their NC500 journey, including the realities of touring through harsh conditions, changeable weather and the challenges of crossing a country emerging from a pandemic lockdown. 

Warning: the incredible scenery will likely induce strong travel envy and, by the end of the film, the NC500 might be right at the top of your riding bucket list...

17 September 2021, 10:33
Josh Quigley update: No weekend rest as seven-day record attempt nears an end

The weekend may be close for the rest of us, but poor Josh Quigley's got two more full days of his seven-day cycling distance record attempt to go. Another 273 miles yesterday means he's 58 per cent of the way there...

17 September 2021, 09:28
Jo's going to need a bigger chart! Celebrity Cycling Champion Chart...Clarkson to the left, Vine on the right

Presumably Jeremey Clarkson is so far to the left he disappeared off the paper... 

17 September 2021, 08:43
Another reader's "full kit wan..oh it's..." story, this time starring Luke Rowe
Mark Cavendish (Roy Badical/Twitter)

Cav popping up in London, surprising riders in the capital, was our main live blog story yesterday...

We had a few tales from readers who'd bumped into pro riders out on the roads...descending with Vincenzo Nibali, jumping away from the lights with Sir Chris Hoy, waving to G etc...

Rendel Harris has another: "Riding through the Brecons a few years back, saw a guy at the traffic lights going the other way in full Sky kit. Me: 'Would you look at that sad bugger, full Sky replica kit, he looks like an OK rider but I mean Jesus, oh my God look he's even got a Dogma in Sky colours, get a life!' Mrs H: 'Isn't that Luke Rowe?' Me: 'Oh. Yeah. Suppose I'll allow it this once then.'"

17 September 2021, 07:50
"What active travel looks like": Go van dodging on this shared-use path

Ah yes, the joys of the 'shared-use path'. Or in this case...shared-use car park.

Just the four cars and vans in the first couple of hundred metre section, and then another car, plus a rolling roadblock DPD van in the second further along. It was nice of them to coordinate a slalom formation to add extra inconvenience. Plenty of reaction about the entitlement of people who park like this...

Chris Cox said, "The UK needs to make it illegal to park on the pavement. End of story. Honestly, I don't care what excuses people make about 'needing to park somewhere', it's just obscenely arrogant and entitled to deny people to be able to walk or cycle."

Others pointed out the irony of people saying "share the road", when this is the reality of many cycle lanes and shared-use paths...

 And it's not just in Kent (although, I'm pretty sure you knew that already)...

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

Avatar
Hirsute | 3 years ago
1 like

Just seen Tom Sorensen has died after being hit by a driver

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/58612748

Avatar
PpPete | 3 years ago
3 likes

So "Test Valley" "would like to improve walking and cycling facilities and networks"

Instead of an expensive public consulation, how about a bit of maintenance on your existing facilities? A rather inadequate 1 metre wide shared use path alongside Rownhams Late, is now less than 30cm wide due to encroaching vegetation.  Meet a pedestrian or pass another cyclist and you are both in the stinging nettles.

Avatar
mdavidford | 3 years ago
2 likes

Re. mixed messages - it's perfectly simple - you're only allowed to ride tiny bicycles to the right, and not to the left.

(Normal sized bicycles are presumably fine in either direction.)

Avatar
mdavidford | 3 years ago
2 likes

Quote:

Court of Appeal pulls apart High Court judge’s rejection of London’s Streetspace programme and other active travel measures

Which is nice. But why are you flagging up a six-week-old article?

Has something been updated on it? Or did you maybe mean to link to this one?

https://road.cc/content/news/cycling-uk-secures-judicial-review-over-w-s...

Avatar
Organon | 3 years ago
0 likes

Went past some students in my full red Saeco 2002 kit (Mario C) and one shouted out 'Yes, Bradley Wiggins!' I didn't stop to correct him. Perhaps he thought it was a Cofidis kit.

Avatar
TallestTim | 3 years ago
4 likes

Hi @Road_cc

Re the "Southern Test Valleys LCWIP", there have actually been 5 released:

Eastliegh
Gosport
Fareham
Havant 
Southern Test Valley

The Gosport & Fareham LCWIP map is attached for example..

Full details are here:
https://hampshirelcwips.commonplace.is/

Currently working to combine this with the East Hants and Portsmouth LCWIP's to put together the full strategic network into a single map.

We urge anyone local to get involved, and if possible, reach out to the following groups and offer your assistance!

Local Campaign Groups covering it:
Walk Ride Waterlooville (www.walkRideWaterlooville.org.uk)
Cycle Havant, (www.facebook.com/CycleHavant)
Cycle Hayling (www.cyclehayling.org.uk)
Cycle Gosport (www.facebook.com/CycleGosport)
Fareham - TBD
Eastleigh - TBD

Tim
Member, Cycle Hampshire.

Avatar
brooksby | 3 years ago
0 likes

That Bamford Clough climb looks like you'd be leaning soooo far forward just to make sure your front wheel stayed on the road surface... 

Avatar
Kendalred replied to brooksby | 3 years ago
2 likes

brooksby wrote:

That Bamford Clough climb looks like you'd be leaning soooo far forward just to make sure your front wheel stayed on the road surface... 

Yeah, so much so that your back wheel would have very little traction!

Avatar
chrisonabike replied to brooksby | 3 years ago
4 likes

Whack on a Brompton-sized wheel at the front, problem solved!  Saddle might need a bit of tweaking though.

Avatar
Miller replied to brooksby | 3 years ago
1 like

Too steep to cycle, "not suitable for motor vehicles" - who *is* meant to use it? 

Avatar
mdavidford replied to Miller | 3 years ago
3 likes

Miller wrote:

Too steep to cycle, "not suitable for motor vehicles" - who *is* meant to use it? 

Mules.

Avatar
Steve K replied to Miller | 3 years ago
2 likes

Miller wrote:

Too steep to cycle, "not suitable for motor vehicles" - who *is* meant to use it? 

Leaving aside the question of how the tarmac was laid initially (let's just assume mdavidford is right) the lack of motor vehicles would explain why it's in such good condition.

Avatar
OnTheRopes replied to brooksby | 3 years ago
4 likes

A friend rode up this last Thursday he was on an MTB but clearly it is rideable with low enough gears.

Avatar
Steve K replied to OnTheRopes | 3 years ago
4 likes

OnTheRopes wrote:

A friend rode up this last Thursday he was on an MTB but clearly it is rideable with low enough gears.

Do you happen to know what gear he rode it in (and don't say baggy shorts and a t-shirt  1 )

Avatar
OnTheRopes replied to Steve K | 3 years ago
1 like

Steve K wrote:

OnTheRopes wrote:

A friend rode up this last Thursday he was on an MTB but clearly it is rideable with low enough gears.

Do you happen to know what gear he rode it in (and don't say baggy shorts and a t-shirt  1 )

Ha ha, I don't but if you really want to know I will be riding with him tomorrow (not up Bamford Clough) and I can ask him if you wish?

Avatar
Steve K replied to OnTheRopes | 3 years ago
0 likes

It would be interesting to know.

Avatar
OnTheRopes replied to Steve K | 3 years ago
0 likes

I'll try and remember to ask today, not sure how I will find you again if this thread dissapears but I'll give it a go.

Avatar
OnTheRopes replied to Steve K | 3 years ago
1 like

Steve K wrote:

It would be interesting to know.

He rode it on a road bike but with a 34 front x 32 rear sprocket, he held on to a fence post at one point but did ride it all, you need to sit down on the steep section or else the back wheel will just spin and there are a few cobbled gulleys crossing the road.

We rode there for a look today, I went as far as I could actually see the steep bit and its a bit strewn with leaves and sticks I was on 36x28 and there was no way I was going up it, another lad had 36x32 and had a recce and he would have got to the top but put his foot down and no way to get going again.

Definitely rideable with gears that allow you to sit down all the way

Avatar
Steve K replied to OnTheRopes | 3 years ago
0 likes

Cheers. That doesn't seem particularly low gearing to me.

Avatar
mdavidford | 3 years ago
7 likes

Quote:

the main question I'm taking from all of this is how did they manage to resurface it?

Pour the tarmac at the top and let it run down?

Avatar
Secret_squirrel | 3 years ago
1 like

One the Ilikedyourbike tweet.  TravelSomerset have clarified that their account had technical issues and they were blocked from posting for 24hrs.  Everyone was blocked just @Ilikedyourbike

 

 

Avatar
Hirsute | 3 years ago
8 likes

The thing about the cycle slalom video that annoyed me the most was the dpd van reversing on the pavement, then completely blocking it leaving the cyclist to come to a halt. At no point did the driver think he should stop and allow the cyclist past. Perish the thought the driver could reverse into a driveway and let the cyclist pass!

Avatar
Gimpl replied to Hirsute | 3 years ago
5 likes

Really annoying. 

Does anyone else wish that when they are confonted by vehicles blocking the way they had Danny MacAskill/Peter Sagan skills so they could just go up and over the car? Imagine the indignant outrage!

Avatar
andystow replied to Gimpl | 3 years ago
2 likes

I more often wish I had Hulk strength so I could walk along and casually roll them all upside-down into the road.

Avatar
Mungecrundle replied to Gimpl | 3 years ago
6 likes

This looks like a handy tool for clearing cars and small vans off the pavement.

Avatar
bobbinogs replied to Hirsute | 3 years ago
5 likes

I get the impression that one thing to come out of the pandemic is the massive increase in van traffic due to home deliveries and that many of those van drivers now think that, as a "key worker", they can park/drive any way they want.  In fact, one would think that the vans should now be fitted with blue lights just so that we can all see them, get out of their way and then cheer them as they go, saving the planet with emergency deliveries of Tigger onesies and matching big slippers.

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to bobbinogs | 3 years ago
1 like

bobbinogs wrote:

I get the impression that one thing to come out of the pandemic is the massive increase in van traffic due to home deliveries and that many of those van drivers now think that, as a "key worker", they can park/drive any way they want.  In fact, one would think that the vans should now be fitted with blue lights just so that we can all see them, get out of their way and then cheer them as they go, saving the planet with emergency deliveries of Tigger onesies and matching big slippers.

Where I live, the road is fairly narrow (1890s mining terraces) so there's cars and vans parked on both sides with a bit of pavement parking (though reasonably considerate to be fair) and almost zero chance of delivery vans being able to find a space. They just stop in the street, deliver the parcel(s) and hop back in after a minute or so - doesn't really hold anyone up, well no-one important, anyway.

Avatar
brooksby replied to bobbinogs | 3 years ago
10 likes

Its a bit off topic, but I was reading an article about delivery cyclists in the US. 

During their recent bit of rain in New York City, a video went viral (apparently - I missed it) of some poor deliveroo rider going through two feet of water and it was all taken as "Wow - key worker going above and beyond...".  

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez then tweeted about it, saying "If its too dangerous because of the weather and you're advised not to leave your home, why do you think its a good idea to get Deliveroo to bring food to you?"

Avatar
TheBillder replied to bobbinogs | 3 years ago
5 likes
bobbinogs wrote:

In fact, one would think that the vans should now be fitted with blue lights

You should phone Nicola Sturgeon, that's the solution for the Scottish Ambulance service. Mind you, I'd rather be delivered to A&E by a paramedic than thrown over next door's garden gate and have DPD put a card in A&E's letterbox saying I'd been left in a safe place.

Avatar
eburtthebike | 3 years ago
13 likes

I bet every one of the drivers of those parked vehicles thinks that they are a good driver, and that they are so much better than those lawless cyclists.

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