"Isn't 8.5w/kg novice level on Zwift?": Reaction to THAT virtual cheating story; Is this the safest cycling route in the UK?; British Cycling CEO merry-go-round continues; FDJ join the dark side; Vine goes Partridge + more on the live blog

I've got a confession... whisper it quietly, but for the first time in a while I quite enjoyed delving into a Facebook comments section...

The online reaction comes after our report that Zwift racer Eddy Hoole has been banned for six months after being found to have pulled off a spectacular ride to earn a qualification spot at next year's world champs by... hacking a data stream.

Despite 6,000 people watching the live stream the South African hoped it might go unnoticed if he launched a four-minute 8.5w/kg 526w attack... unsurprisingly, we have to tell you — it didn't.

> Zwift racer banned for six months and sacked by team for hacking data during world championships qualifier

Anyway, the Facebook commenters were on form... (look away if you don't want to hear people saying mean things about virtual racing)...

Jamie Brown: "You mean people cheat on Zwift? I'm both shocked and appalled..."

Paul Medcalf: "8.5 W/kg is nothing on Zwift. See those numbers often (and higher)😂"

Chris Miller: "8.5w/kg? Isn't that just novice level on Zwift?"

Jeff Rey: "I don't even know why I bothered reading that. What a pointless sport." Cheers for your continued support, Jeff.

Steve Boston: "Why?! For the love of God why cheat? Especially on data driven site."

Ken Burk: "I saw a rider on Watopia today going 5.4w/kg consistently with no fluctuations at all, with over 250 miles rode. Must be the next Lance."

Paul Cooper: "Why do people take indoor riding so seriously? Get out and play bikes ffs."

This is worse than when that 2nd cat took EPO to race in the Surrey League.

— Simon Warren (@100Climbs) December 8, 2022

Apparently things on Rouvy aren't much better, someone sign this lad up ASAP...

@cybergibbons @MikeyCycling @theJeremyVine @carlafrancome @MetCycleCops @wandscycling @wandbc @thameswater
This is late in the day but maybe 1 or 2 will see it
A3 West Hill into A205 Upper Richmond Road was icy as heck this morning eastbound
Road glistening wet on way home at 6 pic.twitter.com/r1hpX2GAjq

— Tom Macdonald (@NottingTom) December 8, 2022

Given the cold weather alert over the next few days, we're appealing to cyclists to be safe and think about taking public transport or walking instead, just until the roads and cycleways are clear of ice https://t.co/RF6W4M3Ha5 pic.twitter.com/B06h3J3ms3

— Southwark Council (@lb_southwark) December 9, 2022

Cue the replies...

Perhaps you shouldn’t be so negligent as to allow such a dangerous hazard to exist… https://t.co/qt6RMQIeVS

— Rory McCarron (@CyclingLawLDN) December 9, 2022

Is this how you encourage active travel, or do you do it by prioritising clearing ice from the infrastructure active travel relies on?

— Ride Primary TVL (@NthrnCyclistTVL) December 9, 2022

There are significant bus strikes over the next few days… why not grit the cycleways? Or are you absolving yourselves if responsibility and liability? This is the most bizarre messaging.

— canadawatersafetynetwork (@canadawatersaf1) December 9, 2022

Research by Brunel University London, backed by the Road Safety Trust, suggests that children's on-road cycling safety and performance improves after video training. The study showed that kids communicate their next moves, better understand junction priority and make better observations after video training. To be fair using other people's behaviour on the road alone could lead you to some fairly questionable conclusions...

Sport & Exercise Psychologist Dr Dan Bishop said the difference was "so dramatic that I would say that, as a parent, I would feel more confident in my young children’s ability to cycle safely on roads if they had completed this training."

Researchers tracked 33 10-12 year-olds who had done Bikeability Level 2 training. They were split into two groups and one group tried a new virtual training course. The children pedalled a static bike in a lab while watching immersive real-world footage shot from a cyclist's viewpoint. They rode five virtual routes on main and minor roads, all passing a school. 

Researchers tracked the children's head and eye movements, and when they pressed the brake. The researchers also asked questions to check the children's observational skills and understanding, such as when they can turn and who has priority. Both groups then took video-based tests and were assessed when riding on real roads, by qualified instructors.

"The effects we saw are profound," Dr Bishop continued. "And while the training only focussed on two of the four Core Functions in the National Standard for Cycle Training (observation and communication) — we saw pronounced effects on the other two Core Functions: positioning and awareness of road user priorities. This suggests that some implicit learning of related behaviours also occurred."

Thoughts?

Cycling YouTuber Francis Cade is a month into his challenge alongside ride companion Justin, with the pair aiming to cycle and handcycle across the US, from Florida to Los Angeles.

Currently battling across Texas' vastness the pair are raising money for Get Kids Going! a charity which provides funds to help with the costs of the bespoke equipment needed to take part in sport.

The entire journey is being documented on Francis' YouTube channel with daily videos, yesterday's is below...

Incredibly, the fundraising bar keeps getting raised due to the flood of donations to the JustGiving page, with just over £80,000 having been donated at the time of writing. I'm sure that number will be much higher by the time some of you read this!

Find out more about the challenge and donate here...

Tenuous cycling content of the day. I say 'tenuous', it's got nothing to do with cycling other than involving Jeremy Vine who starred on yesterday's live blog...

> Jeremy Vine highlights grim reality of gridlocked London route where cycle lane was ripped out... as council due in court over early removal

#AccidentalPartridge pic.twitter.com/pWyzf2XdDt

— Accidental Partridge (@AccidentalP) December 8, 2022

Any excuse to get Partridge content on the blog... 

To add a bit of balance to the 'tragic roundabout' debacle from earlier in the week Harry sent us some footage of the entire Manchester route, from the city through Salford and Trafford, and as you can see there's way more to it than just one dodgy roundabout...

Is this the safest 11km of continuous cycle lanes in the UK?

I've filmed the entire 35 minute route across Manchester, Salford and Trafford on YouTube - linked below. pic.twitter.com/yHavPBUBVr

— Harry Gray (@HarryHamishGray) December 8, 2022

Now, considering I don't think I've ever ridden anywhere in the UK where you can enjoy 11km in a major city (or elsewhere, for that matter) through continuous, mostly segregated cycle lanes, I'm going to have to leave it to you lot to offer suggestions of infra that can compete for the title...

Of course, it's not perfect, but it's a hell of a lot better than most lanes we all see on a daily basis up and down the country. It's probably also worth noting the aim here is safe and accessible active travel, not race training and Strava segments, so if you're looking at this and thinking you'd rather use the road, it's probably not designed for you. But, how many more people would be encouraged to pick up cycling for their urban journeys if they had this route on their doorstep?