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news
Traffic-calming speed bumps don't go down well with locals... who claim road safety measure could ruin brass band contest and "make a total mess of the historic high street"; Insane crash save at Tour of Britain + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
Whit Friday Brass Band Contest (Paul Anderson/Geograph)05 September 2024, 14:21
Traffic-calming speed bumps don't go down well with locals... who claim road safety measure could ruin brass band contest and "make a total mess of the historic high street"
A section of residents in one Greater Manchester village have objected to the council's proposal to boost road safety by decreasing traffic speeds (by introducing a permanent 20mph zone and installing 10 speed bumps along the high street). The objectors in Uppermill, near Oldham, claim the "pointless" speed bumps will "make a total mess of the historic high street" and... affect with an annual brass band contest...
[Paul Anderson/Geograph]
The Whit Friday Brass Band Contest dates back to 1884 and is held on the high street every year, the BBC reporting that some have spoken out about the "pointless" speed bumps apparently impacting participants' ability to perform while walking along the route.
Councillor Helen Bishop responded pointing out it's "important to get the message across to people to drive carefully and slowly through the village centre", saying she is especially concerned by dangerous driving in the evenings and late at night when other locals are leaving pubs and restaurants.
Councillor Chris Goodwin added that they had been "contacted by a number of people concerned about the speed vehicles are travelling at in parts of Uppermill".
"We've listened to them and that's why we are proposing a permanent 20mph speed limit and traffic calming measures," he said, explaining that a walking route for schoolchildren is also part of the plan.
However, not all are convinced, some residents claiming the speed bumps and ghost speed bumps (painted on the road to look like proper speed bumps, but that aren't actually raised) are unnecessary and would "make a total mess of the historic high street".
Others have suggested speed cameras would be a better option for enforcing the 20mph limit.
05 September 2024, 16:07
🤦
05 September 2024, 15:37
Kern Pharma hit the jackpot (again)
Three stage wins? Just one away from the Mark Corrigan Naan meme getting an airing, what more motivation could they need for number four before Sunday? It was the breakaway stage as promised, Ben O'Connor getting another day in red tomorrow, when the summit finish will decide if he still holds the race lead into the weekend.
05 September 2024, 15:12
Stevie Williams makes it two from two at Tour of Britain
A grim day out at the Tour of Britain today, the peloton getting welcomed to the late British summer in the most appropriate way — rain and a gale. Get the long sleeves and arm warmers back on, chaps, you're not in France/Spain/Italy/*insert warm country here* anymore.
Stevie Williams, from Aberystwyth, will be more than used to these conditions, and took his second stage win in a row, sprinting to victory on a punchy finish in Barnsley.
The victory all but secures his overall victory too. Perhaps slightly premature on our part, with the six-stage race only just at its halfway point, but all three stages remaining should be sprints and there are only two more categorised climbs left as the race heads to England's flatter parts. Let's just say that Williams would be devastated to lose his 16-second advantage from here.
05 September 2024, 12:51
ULEZ: Schoolchildren living in London's ultra-low emission zone nearly four times as likely to switch to walking and cycling after its introduction than those outside zone, research suggests
A population health researcher at the University of Cambridge, who is lead author of new research that suggests schoolchildren living in London's ULEZ zone are nearly four times as likely to switch to walking and cycling after its introduction compared with those outside the zone, has called the findings "important" and proof that the zone is an "effective policy measure".
Researchers surveyed 1,000 children across 44 schools in central London about how they travelled to school in 2018-19, prior to ULEZ's introduction, and then again in 2019-2020 after it was introduced, the BBC reports.
The same survey was repeated for children in Luton, a town picked due to is similar demographic structure and household income levels to central London but that sits outside the zone. While four in 10 children in central London who previously travelled to school by car are now walking, cycling or using public transport, in Luton just two in 10 had made the same switch.
'Children living in ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) Nearly four times as likely to switch to walking and cycling compared with those outside the zone.' Wowhttps://t.co/gOC8demP4g
— Chris Boardman CBE (@Chris_Boardman) September 5, 2024
"This study is important because it addresses multiple, interconnected health issues that children face today," said Dr Christina Xiao. "We know that [car and van] use negatively impacts children's health by reducing opportunities for physical activity and increasing exposure to air pollution, which can contribute to conditions like childhood asthma.
"The ULEZ is one effective policy measure, among other complementary initiatives, including providing more accessible public transport and providing safer walking and cycling infrastructure. So decisions to introduce similar policies should consider local context, such as existing air quality initiatives and transportation needs."
London Walking and Cycling Commissioner Will Norman added: "The Mayor and I are delighted that this study shows our decisive action is having an impact. The decision to introduce the Ultra Low Emission Zone was a major step forward in our work to tackle London's toxic air. It was a difficult decision, but necessary to save lives."
Neil Garratt, member of the London Assembly and leader of the city's Conservative Group, said: "This study confirms what we have been saying all along, which is the benefits of the ULEZ in central London, which the study is looking at, are large and the costs are quite small."
05 September 2024, 13:10
The bell feature on Garmin's new Edge 1050 is impressively bell-y
Garmin might have raised a few eyebrows with the price of its new flagship GPS bike computer, but at least we can be sure the bell function works as promised. Look out for our full review landing on the site this weekend.
05 September 2024, 12:47
HGV driver who left cyclist with "permanent and irreversible" injuries after hitting him and causing bike to "fire off" road handed four-month suspended prison sentence and banned from driving for a year
05 September 2024, 12:43
Welcome to Britain...
🌪 It's blowing a gale and kicking off!
Soudal Quick-Step split the race in the crosswinds and race leader Stevie Williams is under pressure!
Follow the race with our live text coverage: https://t.co/FGavw1vtXy#TourOfBritain | @LloydsBank pic.twitter.com/6Ybkl4hYh0
— Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain (@TourofBritain) September 5, 2024
60km to go and frantic action everywhere as riders attack, are brought back, someone else goes etc. etc. someone will win this stage. Not sure anyone knows who that'll be though...
There are similar scenes in Spain at La Vuelta where a 43-strong break has gone up the road on what is expected to be a day for the escapees. Let's see how the next few hours plays out.
05 September 2024, 12:40
Pensioner cyclist "punched in face" by lorry driver after dangerous overtake which forced him onto pavement says investigation was dropped because police "are not interested"
05 September 2024, 10:57
20 years of Rapha: Brand to host week-long London exhibition to celebrate milestone
It's 20 years since Rapha launched with its Kings of Pain exhibition at the Truman Brewery. 20 years?! I know...
To mark the milestone the brand is returning to the Brick Lane venue for Past Forward: The Exhibition from 14 to 22 September, to "look at the moments and ideas that defined Rapha, and looking forward to what the future of cycling could hold".
There'll also be a pop-up shop featuring limited edition Rapha20 products, as well as a series of other rides and events throughout the week, so be sure to check out the full schedule on Rapha's website where free tickets can be booked.
"As well as celebrating the innovation and disruption of the last two decades, the exhibition will cast an eye into the future, and explore how cycling will continue to change lives, transform cities and be a radical force for social and environmental progress," the brand says.
"Continuing Rapha's long history of working with top talent in the creative industries, the brand has enlisted a roster of design studios and artists to bring the dynamic world of cycling to life in unexpected ways."
20 years of Rapha eh? Time flies... favourite bits of kit from the past two decades?
05 September 2024, 10:33
Bling wheels from Enve, Merida magic and a top quality kids bike: road.cc Recommends updated with ten top cycling products
05 September 2024, 09:51
Italian football legend Fabio Cannavaro's new bike day
Former Juventus and Real Madrid defender Fabio Cannavaro, the Azzurri legend who captained his nation to World Cup glory in 2006 and became only the third defender in history to win the Ballon d'Or that same year, keeps fit on the bike post-retirement, his Strava page showing his enviable post-football life riding in Naples and Ibiza.
> Footballers who cycle XI — the Premier League stars who love life on two wheels
This Trek Madone in Lidl-Trek team colours is his latest steed, Cannavaro taking it for a spin this morning...
05 September 2024, 08:53
Glasgow scheme to see free bikes offered to people who can't afford public transport
Five cycling projects in Glasgow are to share funding of £774,818 from the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) People and Place Programme, the Glasgow Times reports.
One project, the 'Bikes for All' scheme, is being run by Nextbike in partnership with Bike for Good and will see free annual hire of bicycles available for residents "living in the most deprived areas of Glasgow" to save on public transport costs.
£126,218 is going to the Play Together on Pedals project to ensure pre-school kids have access to bikes, while the majority of the funding will go to Bike for Good's work, running a range of programmes including long-term bike rentals, maintenance training, and provision of refurbished bikes.
"The fund will allow GCC to continue to support community groups and third sector organisations who deliver key services to Glasgow residents of all ages and abilities," the council's report states.
05 September 2024, 08:45
We're looking for riders for the Zwift Racing League!
Are you wanting to race on Zwift, and looking for a team? We're hoping to put one together for the Winter season. There's almost certainly going to be a team of ordinary choppers in the C category, as that's what many of us are! But if you're interested in another category of racing, stick your name in the form and we'll see where we are...
Oh and for all the latest on what's new for this season, check out Dave's feature on all the things you need to know about the virtual-riding platform as it turns 10.
05 September 2024, 08:38
"A very clear spike": Halfords sees bike demand soar during Olympics
Halfords has told PA News Agency that demand for bikes soared during the Olympic Games in Paris, with its website receiving half a million visits during the fortnight of competition, up 12 per cent on pre-Olympic levels. Likewise, searches for BMX bikes reportedly saw a "very clear spike", while interest in women's bikes rose by 25 per cent.
"It's clear the increase was down to the games, as the categories we saw the largest rises in were those prominently featured in television coverage over the period," Katie Begley, the head of cycling at Halfords suggested.
05 September 2024, 07:58
Tour of Britain cyclist's insane save to avoid high-speed crash on fast descent
We'd love to see poor Callum Ormiston's heart rate when this happened...(video will go straight to the incident, don't worry, no need to skip through highlights of the bunch rolling out of Darlington and forming a breakaway)...
The Global 6 United rider uploaded his opening day ride to Strava, but not this one, we'll be back later on to see if that heart rate data's available, Callum. Anyway, not an ideal situation when flying down a North Yorkshire descent — getting too close to your teammate in front, clipping his rear wheel, sending you jolting off to the side with both wheels off the ground for a brief moment.
Thankfully for Ormiston and Ineos Grenadiers rider Connor Swift behind (seen giving a disapproving shake of the head at the South African rider's descending antics), he managed to keep it upright. Regardless, Ormiston did not make it to the finish, abandoning during the stage, presumably in a much better state than had he not pulled off the quite incredible save earlier in the day.
Global 6's head sports director, who's not at the race due to Covid, got in blog comments and explained he "spoke to Callum last night" and wanted to highlight that "if you watch the video, the British Cycling car is in the peloton, it dabs its brakes and everyone else starts to dab on".
"Callum was coming back with more speed than the peloton, so had to scrub off quickly, leading his rear wheel to lock up. That is the puff of smoke you see. Thankfully our tyres this season are excellent with grip (Hutchinson Blackbirds) and he was able to regain control. His heart rate won't indicate much as he was forced to retire from the race, due to his heart rate being erratic, spiking to over 200 at one point while making minimal effort. We think he's ill."
Get well soon Callum and sports director!
Less fortunate were the Uno-X rider, mechanic and Israel-PremierTech pro involved in this grimace-inducing incident later in the day...
O que poderia dar de errado nessa troca de roda?#TourOfBritain pic.twitter.com/XlxlI2CRw2
— O País Do Ciclismo (@opaisdociclismo) September 4, 2024
Elsewhere in the bits that might have been missed during yesterday's frantic stage, this did make us chuckle...
Yes, we get the ads are sold months in advance and are just the usual fare for ITV's afternoon audience, but that's little consolation when your Tour de France or Tour of Britain viewing is interrupted by yet another appeal for you to donate money to a donkey charity or go on "an over 60s death march cruise"... as Mark so eloquently puts it...
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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34 comments
I saw one of those new Trek Madones in Chelsea last night and was chatting to the owner at the traffic lights. He really like if. But I was quicker away from the lights on my Brompton. Until he got clipped in...
I've said it before and I'll say it again. Cyclists have more in common with Professional Footballs and Racing Drivers than any owners of Twitter accounts with a picture of a football team or car in the profile picture.
What if your twitter picture is of you with your bike and a football team? Asking for a friend.
I've been to the Whit Friday brass band thing - as featured in the Pete Postlethwaite/Ewan McGregor film "Brassed Off". The film is pretty accurate in its depiction. The Whit Friday contest, and the film, are both very highly recommended.
Frankly, how some speed bumps would disrupt people walking whilst playing brass band instruments is not quite clear to me.
I wonder how smooth the High Street was in 1884, presumably the brass bands coped fine with whatever lumps and bumps were present back then.
I've also been to several Whit Friday competitions on both circuits (Saddleworth and Oldham) and my son plays in one of the bands that take part.
It's a great day out, some top quality bands e.g. Brighouse & Rastrick, Fodens, Black Dyke and Grimethorpe (who were the Grimley band in the Brassed Off) as well as crowd pleasers such as Chav Brass - see below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8seLqFrwtNM
I *can* see how a bump in the road may cause some issues whilst marching down a street with your view obscured by your instrument & sheet music in a lyre especially as the day goes on and more alcohol is consumed by both bands and spectators, *however* I don't think its a massive problem and it's really just an excuse by local carbrained nimbys.
"Won't they think of the
childrenEb bass player!"Actually, my son will also be performing as one of the Grimley band members (not cast) in the Brassed Off stage production that is opening tonight at Bolton Octagon and running all month
https://octagonbolton.co.uk/events/brassed-off
I don't think sitting on top of the Rush Cart would be much fun anymore either!
Have to agree though, speed bumps are the work of the devil and would spoil Uppermill High Street. Far too many irresponsible idiots about in motor vehicles though. Even had them driving through the Whit Parade this year with kids walking down the road at the time....
I dont think any speed bump/ table has been built on a public road in the last 20 years thats steep enough to upset (trip) anyone walking
They don't need to: see (or not) Keynsham High Street, in the Somerset what trouble paint can cause!
It only took an entire week, but the BBC finally pulled their fingers out of their arse to make corrections to the article about the tragic deaths of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau.
Hi, thanks for posting this and putting that to them. We'll follow this up shortly. Thanks
Brilliant. Well done.
Now if only Tom Edwards (BBC correspondent), would unblock me on Twitter along with the BBC London Facebook page admins.
Or at least admit he is wrong about the way he, the BBC and most other news media write/talk about collisions involving drivers.
(I didn't troll/abuse him. I just pointed out the errors in language and said to use the http://rc-rg.com guidelines.)
For context, the body of my complaint was so:
Very restrained, well done.
Very well written.
As the head sports director for Global 6, I spoke to Callum last night, sadly I'm not at ToB because of Covid. If you watch the video, the British Cycling car is in the peleton, it dabs its brakes and everyone else's starts to dab on, Callum was coming back with more speed than the peleton, so had to scrub off quickly, leading his rear wheel to lock up. That is the puff of smoke you see. Thankfully our tyres this season are excellent with grip (Hutchinson Blackbirds) and he was able to regain control. His heart rate won't indicate much as he was forced to retire from the race, due to his heart rate being erratic, spiking to over 200 at one point while making minimal effort. We think he's ill.
Thanks for the info!
GWS Callum
GWS both of you
GWS anyone else who might be ill.
Anyone know what happened to Eurosport's ToB coverage?
I watched Stage 1 on Discovery Plus, but Stage 2 wasn't on there and Stage 1 has vanished.
I tried to catch up via ITVX, but you can't rewind the live feed, so it's either restart from km0, or watch live.
Likewise
That's a ridiculously annoying feature of ITVX, particularly during the Six Nations: if you miss the start of a game by 10 minutes, instead of just clicking back to the kickoff you have to start from the beginning of the programme and endure an hour of vacuous punditry before seeing any play. I have actually emailed them asking if they could include a watch anywhere on the timeline feature, as offered by every other sports broadcaster as far as I'm aware, but no reply.
During the tour Disco+ updated the timeline with climbs, attacks, crashes etc in real time so even if you switched to the live feed you could still skip back to interesting bits. Such a brilliant feature and it annoys me that not everyone does this (looking at you iPlayer during the Olympics).
Re ITV ToB coverage, there was an excellent tweet a couple of years ago from somebody (not me though I would have been proud to have thought of it) that summed it up: "I'm off to watch the Tour of Britain roadside this afternoon but I think I'll miss the ITV coverage, so could somebody please send me advertisements for walk-in baths, pictures of abused donkeys and reminders to sort my will out every 10 minutes, please?"
Chapeau to ITV for showing it at all! I can't imagine its a great earner for them.
Re Callum Ormiston's descent. Ridden that road loads of times (not for the last couple of years due to ill health) but yes it's fast and yes it's STEEP but it's Yorkshire and them sheep just don't care where they do it.
The end of the climb through Commondale, turning left (instead of right as the tour did) you have almost 8 miles of downhill into Saltburn. I used to be able to average over 30mph with ease over the whole 8 miles, I'm struggling to ride two miles on the flat now.
And Saltburn Bank - those b*stards go up it quicker than I go down it
It looks like ULEZ may have intended consequences https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpw8envvv0do
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