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No action for dangerous overtake...but cyclist cautioned for swearing; Hi-Vis Baby: Indie-rockers Bakers Eddy release single about life on two wheels; Mamnick edgy PR continues; Movistar doc returns; Gold Dogma; Free bike hire + more on the live blog

Dan Alexander is back for another day in the live blog saddle, bringing you all the important, strange and hopefully entertaining news from around the cycling world
20 January 2022, 17:34
Could the Vatican Cycling team make the 2024 Olympics?

There's a new team on the block. The Vatican Cycling team was accepted as a member of the UCI in the autumn, with president David Lappartient travelling to Rome to give Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi a cycling jersey for Pope Francis.

Egan Bernal and Pope Francis (picture courtesy Vatican Media)

Now, we're pretty sure Pope Francis himself won't be donning the Lycra for a bid at road race glory...so what is the team's goal?

The dream of the Vatican team is apparently to qualify for the 2024 Olympics in Paris, but for now team officials say team spirit and spreading Pope Francis' love of cycling will be enough.

NCR reports Ravasi told attendees that although Leonardo da Vinci did not invent the bicycle, his 16th-century sketches helped intuit what would become today's bikes.

In June, Egan Bernal presented Pope Francis with a Pinarello Dogma F12 and Maglia Rosa from his Giro d'Italia win.

20 January 2022, 16:08
Enough to get you home?

Apparently the bonk doesn't exist when you're a pro rider...

 

20 January 2022, 16:00
Electric! Could this be the best 2022 kit design?
L39ION kit Rapha 2022

L39ION of Los Angeles has revealed its 2022 kit that’s inspired by night racing and designed in collaboration with Rapha. It’s stunning, isn’t it? 

Warped traces of light and a fast paced graphic style fill the jersey. The design is intended to symbolise “Legion’s attitude towards warping people’s perceptions of them and the sport”, all in a colour palette that mirrors their natural habitat: nocturnal crit races.

L39ION kit Rapha 2022

The team kit will be available to buy on rapha.cc, with a portion of the profits being reinvested back into the team to help fund their development.

20 January 2022, 15:22
Better than Tadej Pogačar? UAE Team Emirates has a new star...and he's not short of confidence
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Juan Ayuso (@juann_ayuso)

Juan Ayuso enjoyed 2021, winning three stages of the Giro Ciclistico d'Italia, the baby Giro d'Italia, winning the GC by almost three minutes, before signing for UAE Team Emirates.

And at 19, born in 2002, he almost makes new teammate Tadej Pogačar look old...

Speaking to El País, Ayuso's coach said the Spaniard has lofty ambitions to be as good, if not better, than his esteemed colleague. "He thinks that Tadej is not his ceiling - but that his ceiling is to be better than Tadej," Iñigo San Millán said.

At a recent training camp Ayuso showed his promise, finishing 14 seconds slower than Pogačar as the two-time Tour de France winner smashed the KOM on Coll de Rates.

"I put both of them together at the same time [on the climb] so that they would get itchy, so that Tadej could see that he couldn’t relax because Ayuso is so strong. And also so that Ayuso can see that he is getting closer to Tadej.

"On the Coll de Rates, the intensity was similar to that of a Tour stage. If Ayuso does this in a race which Tadej isn’t…He dreams big. Why is it going to be possible to beat Tadej?"

20 January 2022, 15:05
Glasgow commuter spotted cycling across M8 Kingston Bridge during rush hour
Kingston Bridge Glasgow (William Shields/Twitter)

A Glasgow commuter (hopefully not behind the wheel at the time) snapped this shot of a cyclist riding along the ten-lane M8 road bridge on Tuesday morning. Glasgow Live speculated they must have crossed the Clyde by taking the slip road up from Waterloo Street in the city centre or Newton Street after being spotted heading towards the Tradeston exit.

The bridge is regarded as one of Europe's busiest, seeing more than 150,000 vehicles a day. It's not the first time a rider has taken the wrong turn. In 2017, a cyclist was "fearful and in tears" after ending up on the bridge.

20 January 2022, 15:01
Why pros flock to baaaalmy southern Europe for winter training...
20 January 2022, 12:51
Chris Froome suffers another setback — out until mid-March at the earliest
Chris Froome Volta Ciclista Catalunya - 1.jpeg

Chris Froome will not race until mid-March and, "It is difficult to estimate what we can expect [...] but we are trying to get the most out of it." That's the verdict of Team Israel - Premier Tech sporting manager Rik Verbrugghe who today told Het Nieuwsblad that the 36-year-old is still suffering from a knee injury which had hampered his winter preparation.

20 January 2022, 12:37
Forget yesterday's LADbible readers...some people are excited about the Highway Code changes
20 January 2022, 12:23
VAMOS! Movistar documentary returns for a third season
20 January 2022, 12:09
Prague makes bike-sharing project free for all *T&Cs apply
prague_cc_licensed_by_roman_boed_via_flickr.jpg

People in Czech capital Prague will have free access to short-term bike-sharing after a pilot project was made permanent. The Lítačka public transport pass will now give users up to 15 minutes free use of hire bikes, four times a day.

Canadian Cycling Magazine reports the scheme was initially implemented to alleviate the city's congestion by offering an alternative to bus or car journeys.

Having begun in October the three-month pilot has now been made permanent. The stats from the pilot showed the majority of journeys lasted around five minutes, most likely as people commuted or popped to the shops.

20 January 2022, 10:42
No action for dangerous overtake...but cyclist cautioned for swearing

Here's a lesson you should apparently consider: don't swear if you're put in danger on the roads...

 @CyclingForMind found out the hard way after reporting this driver for a dangerous overtake ahead of a blind bend, only to receive a caution and see no action against the motorist. The manoeuvre came moments before this later footage and "out of fright at being overtaken so close to a blind bend I ended up swearing," the rider explained.

"I could see the look of anger on the driver's face as he overtook. Five minutes later I passed the same driver in a car park. He appeared to be checking his phone. I shook my head at the fact he had time to stop to check his phone but not to wait until it was safe to overtake."

That's where we join the footage...with the driver chasing after to have a few words...

"I was inches away from being forced onto the gravel," they continued. "If I crashed I could have hit the stone wall to my left or gone underneath the van."

In the following 'debate', "he came out with such gems as 'you're swearing in front of my fucking young lad'.

"At no point did I swear at the driver while he was out of the van or make threats against him. Not proud of myself for the language I used in front of the kid but I did not expect a kid to be in a work van when he first overtook.

"I think most people would react the same. When you fear that you are about to be killed you don't have time to consider your words. It was a primal reaction to the most primal fear."

When the incident was reported to the Garda, the inspector cautioned the cyclist for their language, and cautioned the driver for their language also, but "no action in regards to overtaking towards a blind bend".

Despite repeated requests for updates and an appeal the original decision stood. "What message are the Garda sending out here? If a driver causes you such fear that you swear don’t report them or you will end up in court."

20 January 2022, 11:54
Olympic champ's Pinarello build

There's something very therapeutic about bike build vids. It's like ASMR for cyclists...

Thankfully Richard Carapaz avoided smashing up his new Pinarello, but only just. I say Carapaz almost smashed his bike...an impatient driver almost smashed his gold Dogma is definitely more accurate...check out Near Miss of the Day 700, Ineos Grenadiers training camp edition if you missed that one...

20 January 2022, 10:22
Mamnick continues to fight all comers over edgy gun ad

Remember this? 

Mamnick gun ad (via Twitter)

How could you forget...The brand got a fair bit of heat for it when it first dropped, and then got the official telling off from the Advertising Standards Authority, informing Mamnick’s owner Thom Barnett that the ad breached UK advertising code.

However, the company isn't ready to go down easily, and is still popping back at the critics...

20 January 2022, 08:46
Hi-Vis Baby: Indie-rockers Bakers Eddy release single about life on two wheels

You might have heard of Bakers Eddy if you're big into your music...the New Zealand-based band has supported acts like Highly Suspect and The Rubens, and has a new track out called...*drumroll please*...Hi-Vis Baby.

And yes, it's about life as a cyclist. "I could go forever, distance is nothing. I think i feel better because my heart is pumping. If you're in a four-wheel drive you can fuck off because i am not your problem 'cause I am on a journey don't concern you." Catchy.

There are hints of their punk-inspired past, and the band describes its sound as "loud, fast and dirty" which incidently is how I describe my bike (although more often than not loud, slow and dirty would be more accurate).

So where would this chart in our 2016 People's Choice: your favourite songs about bikes and cycling?

Tour de France by Kraftwerk came out on top in that, Bicycle Race by Queen second and Half Man Half Biscuit's See that my bike's kept clean was in third. Any danger of Hi-Vis Baby cracking the podium?

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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66 comments

Avatar
VIPcyclist | 2 years ago
0 likes

Remember that by accepting a caution you are admitting to having committed an offence. You don't have to accept a caution, you can go to court instead.

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capedcrusader | 2 years ago
1 like

I love the way the Mamnick head of social media has triggered so many peoples' anger and bile.

Witty if intended (or even if it was unintended). 

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peted76 | 2 years ago
1 like

And this weeks winner of 'PR Of the Week' who has single handidly justified the cost of our annual subscription to theasaurus.com... is..... Claire who's been working on the Rapha account and came up with this gem..    Warped traces of light and a fast paced graphic style fill the jersey. The design is intended to symbolise “Legion’s attitude towards warping people’s perceptions of them and the sport”, all in a colour palette that mirrors their natural habitat: nocturnal crit races.    Well done Claire, we're very proud of you, in celebration we've refilled the office fruit basket. 

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AlsoSomniloquism | 2 years ago
0 likes

Those goats didn't seem to be very happy with Jakob at the end. Maybe commenting on a cyclist with TT bars.

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mdavidford replied to AlsoSomniloquism | 2 years ago
4 likes

Sheep.

Also, didn't we do this on Tuesday (or should that be t-ewe-sday)?

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Steve K replied to mdavidford | 2 years ago
0 likes

You can tell by the tails - sheep hang down; goats stick up.

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The _Kaner | 2 years ago
12 likes

I'm presuming WVM was also cautioned for his use of swearing/offensive language against the cyclist.

You can't use that against the cyclist if you do not use it against the driver...irrespective of any presumed or alleged provocation provocation.

Rural Ireland is awash with such drivers (so are the urbanized areas)...

Once had a WVM pull alongside myself and and another cyclists (two abreast...heaven forbid)...on a quiet road with no other traffic and then begin to lecture us on why we shouldn't be riding two abreast...to which I told him he shouldn't be driving on the wrong side of the road having a conversation with cyclists...

I offered for him to pull over and I would show him the rules of the road (.pdf copy) where it clearly stated we were entitled to ride two abreast and told him to be on his way, otherwise I'd submit my camera footage to the Gardai.

So, he had actually delayed himself by presuming to lecture us, when in fact we were not even posing any delay to his 'necessary' journey in the first place.

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mdavidford replied to The _Kaner | 2 years ago
1 like

The _Kaner wrote:

I'm presuming WVM was also cautioned for his use of swearing/offensive language against the cyclist.

road.cc wrote:

 the inspector cautioned the cyclist for their language, and cautioned the driver for their language also

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AlsoSomniloquism replied to mdavidford | 2 years ago
4 likes

And apparently WVM was very accepting at that caution compared to anything more serious like driving offences. Cyclist was understandably more upset and complained about both decisions. 

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mpdouglas | 2 years ago
6 likes

It would seem that Mamnick employ a seven year old as their head of social media, as well as their head of marketing!

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Secret_squirrel replied to mpdouglas | 2 years ago
11 likes

What are the odds of Mamnick being a one-man-band run by an arse?

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Slartibartfast replied to mpdouglas | 2 years ago
11 likes

He has a long history of general twattery, some of which is documented over the 53 (!) pages here https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/326079/

He's no worse than any other common or garden little England bigot or teenager on xbox live, and best ignored. I bet he'd like to think he's being censored by the 'woke brigade' for 'speaking the truth' as it gives him ammunition in the culture war, but in reality people just think he's a bit of a tit. 

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brooksby replied to Slartibartfast | 2 years ago
4 likes

Just had a quick look at that thread

"The Mamnick Thread"

First post (three years ago):

Quote:

There isn't a dedicated thread yet, is there?

Having cowardly left the Kingdom post referendum a couple of years ago, I had no idea who Mamnick were up until very recently. I thought we should we could perhaps declutter the Rapha thread and continue the conversation here.

The brand seems aimed towards hip, fashion conscious folks who like the outdoors and Farage but don't want to wear corduroy trousers. The social media output is a mix of "top bantz", politics and stolen pictures and designs. They have been called out on their rip-off of the The Rough Stuff Fellowship logo, but argued it was a "homage". If I understand correctly they also use pictures of the RSF, without mention or credit.

What I find interesting if they seem to have among their friends and "influencers" some very decent people which I find really surprising. Are they that cool that people choose to look the other way?

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SimoninSpalding replied to brooksby | 2 years ago
5 likes

I read probably too far into the thread, but basically it seems that this ad is the very best we can expect from him, it appears he retweets Tommy Robinson quoting Hitler!

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AlsoSomniloquism replied to SimoninSpalding | 2 years ago
4 likes

And abuse aimed at a female black labour MP. Not sure if I got further then you but noticeable he was banned and had posts deleted from that site and his personal twitter they linked to has also been banned.

Although it is noticeable that recently racists claim they haven't been banned, just asked the site admins to delete all trace of them instead. So maybe that was the case on Twitter and on that thread.

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TriTaxMan | 2 years ago
27 likes

When he comes, and he will..... to make some comment about how yet again he has been proved right that cyclists who swear at drivers for threatening their lives with motor vehicles are fully deserivng of a caution against them (or some iteration of how he doesn't respond to bad driving).  Don't feed his response.

I have made the decision that I will not engage with him because he has repeatedly made things up and views his opinion as fact when it can be demonstrated that his opinion is false

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Captain Badger replied to TriTaxMan | 2 years ago
15 likes

TriTaxMan wrote:

....

I have made the decision that I will not engage with him because he has repeatedly made things up and views his opinion as fact when it can be demonstrated that his opinion is false

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wycombewheeler replied to TriTaxMan | 2 years ago
11 likes

TriTaxMan wrote:

When he comes, and he will..... to make some comment about how yet again he has been proved right that cyclists who swear at drivers for threatening their lives with motor vehicles are fully deserivng of a caution against them (or some iteration of how he doesn't respond to bad driving).  Don't feed his response.

I have made the decision that I will not engage with him because he has repeatedly made things up and views his opinion as fact when it can be demonstrated that his opinion is false

that's been my policy, until the ridiculous statement about wheels being discovered - you know, just lying around in the woods waiting for people to put them to use.

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Captain Badger replied to wycombewheeler | 2 years ago
5 likes

wycombewheeler wrote:

....

that's been my policy, until the ridiculous statement about wheels being discovered - you know, just lying around in the woods waiting for people to put them to use.

I certainly would not be surprised to discover (ahem) that they eschew Darwinian evolution for Intelligent [sic] Design

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wycombewheeler replied to Captain Badger | 2 years ago
7 likes

Captain Badger wrote:

wycombewheeler wrote:

....

that's been my policy, until the ridiculous statement about wheels being discovered - you know, just lying around in the woods waiting for people to put them to use.

I certainly would not be surprised to discover (ahem) that they eschew Darwinian evolution for Intelligent [sic] Design

ironically he may be along soon to tell you that statement is an invention 

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Captain Badger replied to wycombewheeler | 2 years ago
4 likes

wycombewheeler wrote:

..

ironically he may be along soon to tell you that statement is an invention 

It certainly would be ironic - they like to respond to my posts to let me know that they no longer respond to my posts. The irony is further compounded by the fact that I haven't interacted with their bigoted nincompoopery for weeks....

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TriTaxMan replied to wycombewheeler | 2 years ago
7 likes

wycombewheeler wrote:

that's been my policy, until the ridiculous statement about wheels being discovered - you know, just lying around in the woods waiting for people to put them to use.

Further evidence to support my thoughts that he is a habitual liar

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IanMK replied to TriTaxMan | 2 years ago
5 likes

Perhaps I can just leave this here.

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giff77 replied to Lance ꜱtrongarm | 2 years ago
5 likes

Ahh this is the fine *Gaeilge. A beautiful language interspersed and corrupted  with the occasional English profanity. The offence occurred in the depths of Cork where even English tends to be unintelligible. So even if they were speaking English you'd be none the wiser. 
*bloody thumbs spelt it wrong should be Gaelige 😄☘️

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Hirsute replied to giff77 | 2 years ago
0 likes
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giff77 replied to Hirsute | 2 years ago
0 likes

Love it. Try this one. Young lad from the hinterlands of Derry. I personally know folk from across the country whose accents are even thicker and all you do is nod in agreement and hope for the best. 
should have added the link.. Covid messing with my head! 

https://youtu.be/PLMrHRuhxO4

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AlsoSomniloquism replied to giff77 | 2 years ago
2 likes

Quote:

I personally know folk from across the country whose accents are even thicker and all you do is nod in agreement and hope for the best.

I've had that in the Black Country and I was only 5 miles from where I was born and bred. 

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Hirsute replied to giff77 | 2 years ago
1 like

Derrygirls is the only programme both of us at home require the subtitles on for !

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AlsoSomniloquism replied to giff77 | 2 years ago
0 likes

Someone on Twitter asked the OP if it was Gaelic.......

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Rendel Harris replied to AlsoSomniloquism | 2 years ago
0 likes

It is! Apart from the occasional "fookin'", "van" and "overtake"...

Actually now I'm not so sure, but I think it is...

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