@GroenewegenD devance @ivan_cortina et @PhilippeGilbert sur la ligne et conserve son #MaillotJaune.

Dylan Groenewegen beats Ivan Garcia Cortina and Philippe Gilbert ans keeps the yellow jersey on his shoulders. pic.twitter.com/vnaUPq7U2Q

— Paris-Nice (@ParisNice) March 11, 2019

The Dutch Team Jumbo–Visma rider maintained his overall lead and made it back-to-back stage wins on the second day of Paris-Nice. 

A Bristol teenager whose bike was stolen when he was in Australia is reportedly on course new record for being the youngest person to cycle around the world solo and unassisted.

Charlie Condell, aged 18, decided to use his gap year to circumnavigate the globe on two wheels, setting off on 6 July last year.

The Guardian reports that he was due to return to his starting point – Bristol’s iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge – today after visiting 20 countries on his 18,000-mile journey.

“I’ve loved so many different aspects of this trip,” the Guardian reports him as saying. “From the beautiful mountains to the pristine beaches, the people, the culture and the food. I’ve loved growing as a person.”

He was 103 days into his journey when he discovered that his bike, camping equipment, passport and other kit had been stolen in Townsville, Queensland, but vowed to carry on and with the theft making headlines around the world was able to source a new bike and other gear.

Reflecting on his ride, he said: “I think that there are a few reasons why people cycle, There are certain special things that everyone can share in common. That ranges from reaching a summit, to simply just pushing a big gear down a piece of perfect road.

“When you can find one of these moments, with the perfect scenery, and bliss everywhere, that’s when one feels truly special. It reminds us why we first rode – not for the KOMs or any of that stuff, just simply for the pleasure of riding your bike.”

We've still got some FREE places left for the road.cc rideout on Friday 22nd March... join us for a chat, cake, beer, pizza... oh and a lovely scenic ride too. We've also got Stans NoTubes visiting to convert a lucky few volunteers to tubeless, tasty giveaways from Namedsport and the routes are provided by Komoot. See you there!

Just another new modal filter in Waltham Forest. Welcome to calm Capworth Street! @wfcycling@WeSupportWFMH@TwoWheelsGoodUK@Labourstonepic.twitter.com/2xfAwz4GCX

— Kee (@RouteW15) March 10, 2019

More of the same please!

While most of his top pro riders are in the thick of Paris-Nice, Team Sky's head honcho took to the white gravel in Tuscany, competing in the Gran Fondo Strade Bianche that took place the day after Julian Alaphilippe of Quick-Step won the pro race. It was another mightily impressive ride from Brailsford, who posted the evidence to Strava - according to Strava's power estimates (make of that what you will) he put out an average of 280 watts and rode at just under 21mph to complete the course in a little over four hours... that's with a puncture 9km out from the finish. He'll have no option but to sign himself up on the team at this rate!

Here's Julian Alaphilippe's Strada Bianche winning S-Works Tarmac Disc, covered in dust and in need of a good wash! 

He was riding the Tarmac, the all-round model in Specialized's range, with disc brakes and 50mm carbon fibre rims shod with 26mm wide tyres. 

View this post on Instagram

"Siri, show me the man of the day and his winning bike." @iamspecialized_road #tarmacdisc @alafpolak #StradeBianche

A post shared by Deceuninck - Quick-Step Team (@deceuninck_quickstepteam) on Mar 9, 2019 at 7:11am PST

The UCI is deeply saddened by the loss of three-time team pursuit UCI World Champion, Kelly Catlin. Our thoughts go out to her family, teammates, and friends. pic.twitter.com/OS551BLWeN

— UCI (@UCI_cycling) March 11, 2019

The impact this article has on me resonates strongly. I hope that we can find better resources for Olympians and athletes alike. Most are struggling to pursue something they’re passionate in but also something that’ll pay the bills.

https://t.co/uYrMaZuEoi

— Mirai Nagasu (@mirai_nagasu) March 11, 2019

This is tragic.
If you’re suffering from depression, reach out. There’s nothing harder than getting through that darkness. But you can, and when you do the world looks entirely different. All you need is the strength to ask for help.
tel:1-800-273-8255 https://t.co/n7RkybyxYc

— Ken Olin (@kenolin1) March 11, 2019

The U.S. cycling community suffered a devastating loss with the passing of Kelly Catlin, USA Cycling National Team member.

Read full statement here: https://t.co/R5jltUh5KFpic.twitter.com/GJU6mlHGq0

— USA Cycling (@usacycling) March 10, 2019

Catlin's father Mark told VeloNews that the cause of her death on Friday night was suicide. We'll have a full story and obituary on the site later this morning.

Olympic champion track cyclist Kristina Vogel, who was left paralysed from the chest down after a training crash last June, has been honoured with a Barbie doll in her likeness for International Women’s Day. More here. 

Me when I bike race. #parisnicepic.twitter.com/UeHEmVvRnH

— daniel mcmahon (@cyclingreporter) March 12, 2019

500 days to go until @Tokyo2020

Check out the official Olympic sport pictograms for each cycling discipline! #Tokyo2020#500DaysToGopic.twitter.com/xusc7sSPKm

— UCI (@UCI_cycling) March 12, 2019

Putting it politely, we'd say feedback has been 'mixed' so far on social media...

The new line of Cambium saddles are lighter and replaces parts of the metal structure of the original Cambium with 'liquid wood' - a biopolymer made from surplus materials that is 100% biodegradable. Vulcanised natural rubber is used for padding with an organic cotton top. It's available now in numerous colours and sizes (C15, C17 and C19) on the Brooks England website, retailing at £120. 

Apart from being mildly disturbing, this Lynx advert raises some questions.

Firstly, do you shave those legs? And where do you stop?

Answers in the comments below. But please, no pictures....

Michael Kwiatkowski's Strava stats are insane.

After having a rear wheel puncture and getting back to the front of the race, making the front split and then sprinting to 5th, the Polish National Champion uploaded his ride to Strava and the average speed is incredible.

The riders were aided by a cross-tailwind all day and we've seen a few reports of riders spinning out a 55-11 gear! Kudos indeed.

The @pornpedallers cycling jersey is now available to buy online. £10 from every sale will be donated to Terrence Higgins Trust. Please support our fundraising efforts to promote HIV awareness and better sexual health for all @THTorguk@THTchampionshttps://t.co/nL5nq8Zp2Jpic.twitter.com/R2XAzU5FDn

— Porn Pedallers (@pornpedallers) March 12, 2019

The x-rated cycling club made international news last week when British Cycling revoked their affiliation with the governing body because their name breaches UCI rules; however British Cycling have since said they will work with them to find a solution as they acknowledge the "excellent work" the Porn Pedallers do for charity. That work has continued as their official jersey is now available to buy, with £10 from each sale going to the Terrence Higgins Trust HIV charity. They cost £60 with stock expected to land in April, and can be ordered here. 

A touch of wheels and a fall at #ParisNice leaves @UranRigoberto with a broken collarbone. He'll have surgery onWednesday.

Details: https://t.co/8F6NR1r8yVpic.twitter.com/uM0k4C4Cyq

— EF Education First Pro Cycling (@EFprocycling) March 11, 2019

There was a number of dropouts and injuries sustained on yesterday's brutal Paris-Nice stage 2, with Rigoberto Uran ending up with a broken collarbone following a clash of wheels, He'll have surgery tomorrow according t this Tweet from his EF First team. 

#ParisNice

Unfortunately both @LouisMeintjes& @MarkCavendish are out of @ParisNice.

"The racing was on & I went through a roundabout & I guess I misjudged it a bit. It’s pretty painful and I lost a bit of skin..." - Louis Meintjes

Details: https://t.co/b3YfNDAVY6pic.twitter.com/UUZD1jxgbw

— Team Dimension Data (@TeamDiData) March 11, 2019

Meanwhile Mark Cavendish has also pulled out along with Dimension Data teammate Louis Meintjes, with Cav now fully focussed on "working his way back to full fitness"according to this statement. Highlights reel of the stage below, which was won by Dylan Groenewegen. 

Wind, crashes, a stage for strong men, here is the best of the second stage. #ParisNicepic.twitter.com/SogZvTHaz9

— Paris-Nice (@ParisNice) March 11, 2019

3 seconds here, 2 seconds there... Call it Kwiato’s small savings plan Still a long way to make it really Nice.@ParisNice@TeamSky
@GettyImagespic.twitter.com/D3l51KkXbb

— Michał Kwiatkowski (@kwiato) March 13, 2019

There are five watches in the new collection, with the £1,399 MARQ Athlete being the most suitable for cycling - the ClimbPro ascent planner gives you real-time information on your current and upcoming climbs, including gradient, distance and elevation gain. If you fancy a break from cycling, there are also 41,000 pre-loaded golf courses within its mapping software. Belive it or not the Athlete is the 'cheapest' in the range - the MARQ Driver, aimed at motor racers, is a whopping £2,249. 

If you or any friends with bank accounts in Bermuda want to buy one you can pre-order now on Garmin's website. 

Gutted! Mike on the bike wins #bristolliveracepic.twitter.com/r2i8vK5KcT

— Emma Flanagan (@EmmaJFlanagan) March 12, 2019

What happens when you pitch a bloke on a folding bike against a car, a bus and a train in one of the most congested commutes in Europe? The bike wins, of course. These results will surprise no one, but at least it serves to show a wider audience just how inefficient private cars are in city centres (of course, the car lost). Read the story with live updates from yesterday's highly predictable race on the Bristol Live website here.  

British titanium flat bar specialist Snowdon is now offering its Paradox as a complete bike, costing from £3,999 with either Shimano Ultegra or SRAM Force groupsets. Alternatively, you can still buy a frameset for £1,999.

There’s a small running change to the frame since we tested it, tyre clearance has been increased, up to 32mm on the road bike and 40mm on the gravel bike, or 50mm if used with 650b wheels.

It’s also now offering a women’s bike but like the latest trend with big bike brands, the geometry is identical to the men’s bike and it’s the key touch points that are changed. The company says it has gotten a lot of interest from women looking for an “elite bike but do not want drop handebars”.

You can read our review of the Paradox here.

More info at www.snowdonbike.com

The first separated cycleway will start to be built on Senghennydd Road on March 18th.
This will be the first phase of five proposed separated cycleways in Cardiff, as part of the Council’s commitment to improving cycling infrastructure.
Read more here: https://t.co/agfY83IXgtpic.twitter.com/vuSTGg2L5z

— Cardiff Council (@cardiffcouncil) March 12, 2019

As part of the council's "commitment to improving cycling infrastructure", the Welsh capital will follow London by phasing in segregated cycleways, starting next week on Senghennydd Road. This is the first of five proposed routes, and if approved there could eventually be 13km of cycle routes in the city. The routes would be: 

St Andrew's Crescent through to Heath High Level
Dumfries Place to Broadway in Splott
Cardiff Bay to Smart Way
Sophia Gardens through to Llandaff Village
City Centre through to Ely Bridge

Each route will undergo a public consultation and feedback will be assessed and considered as part of the detailed design work prior to the route being built, say Cardiff Council. More details on their website here.   

"Everybody at British Cycling was deeply saddened by the news of Keith Butler’s passing on the morning of Wednesday 13 March.

"As the first man to win both the amateur and professional national road race titles, team manager for the Great Britain Cycling Team at the 1986 UCI Road World Championships in Colorado and latterly as a member of the Board, Keith will forever sit among the pantheon of greats who pioneered the sport on these shores and laid the foundations for those who followed.

"He was also a longstanding member of the Road Commission and South East Regional Board, and one of the inaugural inductees in the British Cycling Hall of Fame in recognition of his lasting contribution to our sport.

"We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to Keith for the tireless and unfailing contribution he made throughout his life, and his legacy lives on through the racing scene in Surrey and all of those who have been inspired and supported to ride through his endeavours.

"The thoughts of everybody, both at British Cycling and in the wider cycling community, are with Keith’s family and friends at this difficult time."

Full story here.

“It highlights how clueless police are about cycling and to me seems to be an attack on cyclists.”

Full story here.

Following yesterday’s shock announcement that the ISO 5775 and ETRTO guidelines governing rim and tyre dimensions are due to be updated this year after lengthy industry discussions, finally bringing about one universal tubeless standard, Challenge Tires has issued a safety bulletin advising against using its tyres with Enve SES carbon rims.

We don’t yet know the exact details of the new standards but Challenge reveals the update to the guidelines stipulates a minimum 0.7mm rounded radius on all hooked rims.

Challenge claims that Enve SES carbon rims do not comply with this updated standard, having “two sharp 0.2mm radii in their hooks that leave parallel cuts above the bead”. For this reason, Challenge does not recommend using its tyres on Enve rims.

Here’s the important bit from the press release:

Challenge has noted failures of its clincher tires, communicated by consumers and athletes, caused by the sharp edges on the ENVE SES hooks. This international design standard violation has been communicated back to the affected consumers, shops, endorsed teams, ENVE and their parent company, as Challenge has been made aware of problems. ENVE, however, continues to produce and promote usage of the said SES models, as part of their line.
Challenge has consequently been forced to list the specific ENVE SES rims as not compatible with any Challenge clincher tire models, on the website. Challenge asks that consumers do not mount ENVE SES wheels with any model of Challenge clincher tire whatsoever.
Failure to follow this warning could cause the ENVE SES wheel to cut Challenge’s quality casings resulting in explosive air loss from the tire and/or inner tube, potentially causing a crash and injury to the rider.

This bulletin also aims at providing the technical clarification, that only a precisely defined 622.0mm+-0.5mm bead seat diameter, specifically defined wall height and center channel, as described in the new above standards, will safely and easily allow proper tire and rim fit and function. Challenge has regularly been attending standards meetings and being involved for the past three years in confronting the market’s accelerated changes, such as the implementation of progressively wider rims, carbon fiber clinchers rims and tubeless and tubeless ready tire technologies. Challenge has invested time, knowledge and energy together with other elite bicycle industry companies to address and update tire & wheel fit issues with the ETRTO and ISO.

Challenge handmade tires have been produced for close to 20 years using the same handmade processes that have been proven over the past 50 years at the highest levels of racing without significant failures - if the rims and wheels comply with internationally accepted design standards. And this applies for both aluminum and carbon fiber rims.

Regarding carbon fiber rims, there had also been other periodic problems in the past with some carbon rims that had cut our (and other tire manufacturers’) tire casings just above the beads. These tire cuts were however normally caused by less than optimal QC at the factory, resulting in quality issues of improper finishing at the tire hook during production. Normally roughness at the hook was due to failure to completely remove resin flashings created while molding the rim. Proper finishing leaves the required 0.7mm min. radiused rim hook smooth, without roughness, thus eliminating a potential tire failure.

In the above cases, Challenge has routinely and successfully worked with the wheel suppliers (including ENVE) to fix the problems or replace these wheels to the consumer. However, specifically with ENVE’s SES model wheels, it is the first time that Challenge has known of a rim hook design that does not meet the above recognized design criteria, reason for which Challenge feels compelled to follow up with the release of this informative bulletin to protect its customers

Campagnolo have now flipped the switch on their Super Record 12 speed groupset, with the launch of the EPS version. The prices have raised a few eyebrows already, as have the looks, as have the inevitable comparisons with other component brands. Jimmy Walnuts says itr far better than us... (you can read all about the new gruppo here)

it had no Tax. #Eunit#Walsall back to work after rest days. Officers were doing their paperwork in the car and this was parked by them. It is now on the back of a truck. What a Fab job.

Don't be flakey...pay your Road tax. pic.twitter.com/uL22uCmg92

— Force Response (@ResponseWMP) March 13, 2019

We understand this happened on a Sundae. The fine was hundreds and thousands, and the area has been coned off for the time being...   

It's a crisp day at #ParisNice, where a key ITT will be contested in Barbentane later on Thursday. Here are our @canyon_bikes Speedmax weapons for the stage, complete with @campagnolosrl components pic.twitter.com/q2CPmuWu6Y

— Movistar Team (@Movistar_Team) March 14, 2019

Dressed in Campagnolo's finest. Check back for more Campag info later today, we may have a surprise for you!

Chancellor Philip Hammond's Spring Statement featured £10m of funding for improvements to cycleways and bus routes across the North East.

More than half the funding is for cycling, with new route connections to areas such as South Tyneside’s International Advanced Manufacturing Park and Sunderland’s Nissan plant.

Our old friend Transport Secretary Chris Grayling commented: "Great public transport is key to unlocking the huge economic potential of the Northern Powerhouse. These proposals will help ensure the towns and cities of the North East have the transport systems they need to deliver a prosperous future for residents and businesses."

(Via the Sunderland Echo.)

Look has unveiled its new Keo Blade Carbon Ceramic pedals which Romain Bardet will use for the first time on Stage 7 of Paris-Nice tomorrow.

The new model, made in France, sees ceramic bearings used for the first time in a production pedal, according to Look. Ceramic bearings are designed to reduce friction and increase power transfer and reliability. 

Look claims an 18% reduction in friction on the bearing, and a bearing life that's four to six times longer than that of steel bearings.

The Look Keo Blade Carbon Ceramic is fitted with a chromoly axle and weighs a claimed 110g. The RRP is €189.90. We've asked for a UK price.

www.lookcycle.com

It's actually Adam in the lead. Simon's riding Paris-Nice.

La Maglia Azzurra @SimonYatess#TirrenoAdriatico@NamedSportpic.twitter.com/EbJmzg0HWG

— Tirreno Adriatico (@TirrenAdriatico) March 15, 2019

Greg Van Avermaet is riding this new bike at the ​Tirreno Adriatico and it's fair to say we're just a bit jealous!

It's a custom painted Giant Propel Advanced SL with the gold colour obviously in honour of his Olympic success. 

Great to see that Team Sky Pro Cycling Team’s new sponsors Ineos are already well ahead in one GC (general contest)!!! They’ve got the best CO2 Max Test results in Britain!!!! Chateau!!! pic.twitter.com/BkFJfViXOr

— UK Cycling Expert (@ukcyclingexpert) March 15, 2019

Glorious work by UK Cycling Expert, although this time not in any way a parody unfortunately...

Full story here.

Irish custom carbon bike brand FiftyOne has revealed it will be supplying bikes to Cycling Ireland for the next two seasons, and we reckon they’ll be the envy of the peloton with these beautifully painted bikes.

The colour scheme is very much a celebration of Ireland with the lovely green to white fade and shamrocks decorating the colour-matched stem and rear stays. And if anyone needs reminding, Ireland is printed big and bold on the inside of the fork blades.

They’ll have a choice of rim or disc brake bikes and be equipped with SRAM Red eTap groupsets with Enve wheels.

Ineos, the chemicals group founded by Britain's richest man, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, is set to be officially named as Team Sky's new sponsor from 2020 onwards.

With broadcaster Sky announcing in December that it was ending its decade-long association with the team, which has won six of the last seven editions of the Tour de France, Sir Dave Brailsford has been looking for a new backer, and in recent weeks the country's largest privately-owned company has emerged as the frontrunner.

Today, BBC Sport's Dan Roan tweeted that confirmation is expected within the next 48 hours, with a subsequent report on its website stating that from next year onwards, it will race as Team Ineos.

The Blackpool Gazette reports that 44-year-old Craig Lomax of Oxford Road, Blackpool had drunk 18 cans of super strength lager before embarking on a bike ride through the town. 

Lomax was lucky not to cause a serious accident after narrowly missing a collision with an electric disabled buggy. He eventually came to a stop by crashing into a large tree and a metal street post on Whitegate Drive, then as he staggered along the footpath Lomax removed his trousers and started exposing himself to passers-by. The previous day Lomax, who was said to have turned to alcohol due to family issues, also bared his buttocks at a passing car driver.  

He was sentenced at Blackpool Magistrates court this morning, receiving a six week jail term suspended for a year. He was also ordered to complete twenty days rehabilitation, and was placed on the sex offenders register for five years. 

Monbiot was debating with former UKIP Deputy Chair Suzanne Evans, who said "it's all very well virtue-signalling" regarding the latest climate change protests in London. He says Evans' comments suggests she has "no concept of what is important and what is not" and says a massive reduction in car travel, replaced by electric mass-transit and bicycles, is need to rapidly reduce pollution.

Nigel Farage didn’t start today’s stage of the Sunderland to London so I hope the commissars don’t allow him to rejoin the peleton for the final ceremonial leg into the capital! That’s against the rules of stage racing!!!

— UK Cycling Expert (@ukcyclingexpert) 17 March 2019

UK Cycling Expert at the forefront of current affairs once more!

A Chiswick councillor campaigning against CS9 has been given an education by police via Twitter after taking issue with cyclists “whizzing” past cars in moving traffic. Full story here. 

A cyclist caught riding through a pedestrian zone in Gravesend, Kent, has been fined £440 for breaching a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO). Article here. 

Selected postal workers across London, Cambridge and Birmingham were today supplied with specially-designed e-trikes with a huge load capacity to deliver their mail. More over on eBiketips. 

Ahead of today’s expected announcement that Ineos will sponsor Team Sky from next year, the petrochemicals business and its founder and controlling shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe have been accused of a “blatant attempt at greenwashing” by environmental campaigners.

At last year’s Tour de France, the team’s jerseys promoted the Sky Ocean Rescue campaign, which aims to clear plastic pollution from the seas, and when the broadcaster announced last December that it was ending its sponsorship after this season, one of the reasons given was that it wanted focus on that initiative.

In recent days as it has become clear that the Ineos deal is all but finalised, it hasn’t gone unnoticed on social media that the new sponsor, Britain’s biggest private company, is a major manufacturer of plastics.

Today, Tony Bosworth, fossil free campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said: “Taking over Team Sky is the latest blatant attempt at greenwashing by Ineos.

“It’s a harsh change of tone that may see Sky’s Ocean Rescue campaign to clear plastic pollution from our oceans ditched from the team jersey in favour of Ineos – one of the biggest plastic producers in Europe.

"This is also a company that wants to frack large swathes of northern England and the East Midlands. Ineos has also been lobbying hard for the government to relax safety rules so fracking companies can trigger larger earthquakes before having to down tools,” he added.

“Cycling is one the UK’s most successful and popular sports, but do the likes of Geraint Thomas and Chris Froome really want to be associated with a planet-wrecking company like Ineos?”

#TirrenoAdriatico
Quando la salita è troppo ripida!!@brescio_ non deve essere sensazione piacevole addosso il peso di una moto. Come stai? pic.twitter.com/rXSgnTPf6v

— CyclingTime (@Cyclingtimenews) March 18, 2019

We're not totally sure if this was a mechanical or not at the Tirreno Adriatico that started the madness that eventually followed... 

If the price of the new SRAM AXS 12 speed groupset isn't enough for you, luckily you can now accessorise it with CeramicSpeed's £332 SRAM DUB-compatible bottom bracket. It's built on a 28.99mm spindle which CeramicSpeed say allows for a more contamination-resistant design while retaining the efficiency the brand's bearings are renowned for. There are also options for Italian threaded BB's, which will please rich Pinarello owners. Head over to CeramicSpeed's website for buying options after you've remortgaged.  

The Wabash is a ground-up design effort from Yamaha, and looks to be US-only at the moment. More on this later via eBikeTips. 

Building cycling infrastructure in “Building cycling infrastructure gets more people cycling” shock https://t.co/XfINuAHcNA

— Mark Treasure (@AsEasyAsRiding) March 20, 2019

Hopefully no drivers will take issue with 2018's world's strongest man Eddie Hall commandeering the road either, they will most likely come off worse! Hall was an elite swimmer before he started competing in strongman, but looks like he now turns to cycling when he needs to shift some pounds. 

Yesterday, campaigners from Cycle Islington and Active Travel Now formed a people protected bike lane on London's Old Street calling for it to be made safer for cyclists - with Islington Council confirming only on Monday its plans to reduce the danger posed by motor vehicles, but work not beginning until 2021.

Our news editor Simon MacMichael went along yesterday and rode through the people protected bike lane, together with miniature schnauzer Elodie in the basket of their Elephant Bike - the sight of all that hi-vis making her a little bit excited, as you can hear.

Make the lane - #MakeTheLanepic.twitter.com/1jFPT2qXiZ

— filter more streets (@iambrianjones) March 20, 2019

And here's what it looked like from their point of view - thanks to Sean Howes of Cycle Islington for the action camera loan.

Spare a thought for the designers at @CastelliCycling today. They've come up with the best Sky kit since the team was launched 9 years ago... and it's not going to worn outside Richmond Park from 1 May.

— Felix Lowe (@saddleblaze) March 19, 2019

Hexo Helmets came into the office a few weeks ago to scan Liam's head for one of their new 3D printed helmets which is coming in for testing.

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liam donning this fine piece of headwear to get measured up for a @hexohelmets 3D-printed custom lid! #cycling #hexo #bikes #cycling #lookingood #hexohelmets #3d #custom

A post shared by road.cc (@road.cc) on Mar 2, 2019 at 8:47am PST

The results are in and his head has a volume of 4,928 Skittles (that's 308 fun-sized bags), a weight of 5.421kg (full of good ideas) and a roundness index of 1.2, whatever that means.

You can find out more here - hexohelmets.com

This is the best news professional cycling could have right now - if they’d shut down it would’ve been back to the dark ages - and chapeau on losing the biggest sponsor in professional cycling and replacing it with the biggest sponsor in professional cycling @franmillar et al https://t.co/efqVMjzq0W

— David Millar (@millarmind) March 19, 2019

Millar says cycling would "return to the dark ages" if its biggest team ceased to exist, and congratulated them for scooping such a big sponsorship deal; however many commentators on social media can't get over the irony of the team being backed by a chemicals company, especially as Team Sky back the Ocean Rescue movement that advocates a reduction in plastic waste. What do you think? 

So Team Sky becomes Team Ineos now. Changing bad publicity to worse publicity, the controversial team is now financially supported by a petrochemical company owned by a Brexiteer, living in Monaco. You can't script this. https://t.co/UjdqYpWbuS

— Roy (@RoyagonInfinity) March 19, 2019

BBC News - @TeamSky set to name new sponsor as (fracking company) #Ineos owned by Sir Jim Ratcliffe

This is such a bad decision

They really haven't thought this through, have they?!https://t.co/Xz4yaf7OUc

— Craig Bennett (@CraigBennett3) March 18, 2019

“Fossil fuel pollution=largest killer of people cycling”

It’s hard to imagine a less appropriate owner of a cycling team than @INEOS. Air pollution, a lorry fleet. It’s like Katie Hopkins sponsoring the Refugee World Cup. https://t.co/wbXtYCpVMJ

— Simon Whitmore (@betterberunning) March 19, 2019

We’re working with industry to reduce road danger, congestion and air pollution whilst keeping goods moving in London

A pioneering trial of zero emission e-trikes by @RoyalMail could reduce the number of vans on London’s streets and help to clean up the capital’s toxic air pic.twitter.com/vSTMLI0KC0

— Transport for London (@TfL) March 19, 2019

Eight have been deployed across three cities, and if successful Royal Mail will extend the scheme. Read more on eBikeTips.

Electric bikeshare expands in London! @limebike is operating in LB Islington as of this week. Several pedelec bike groups spotted on the Cally Road [N.B. Earlier tweeted that was available in W/minster too but this is a bug in the app - it’s actually a new do-not-finish zone] pic.twitter.com/4DXLKmZEto

— Oliver O'Brien (@oobr) March 21, 2019

A 70-year-old grandfather from Taiwan who became an online celebrity after hooking up 11 smartphones to his bike to play Pokemon Go has landed a gig as brand ambassador for Asus.

When the tech brand heard about Chen San-yuan's exploits, they decided to make him the brand ambassador for their Asus ZenFone range, reports Mashable.

He now has an array of no fewer than 22 of them on his bike, with the partnership aimed at highlighting the device's battery and GPS capabilities.

台湾のポケモンマスターの進化はとどまるところを知らない pic.twitter.com/byrXqJWcke

— 阿雞 (@SCMcrocodile) March 9, 2019

Another day another driver endangering cyclists in #regentspark@RPcyclists@metpoliceukpic.twitter.com/JWOkTcXvM4

— Merv Charles (@mervcharles) March 20, 2019

According to commenters under the video this has become a common problem in the area -  as traffic builds up heavily due to a pedestrian junction ahead, cars move into the other lane to attempt to cut the queue, and in this instance the culprit was apparently close to hitting four cyclists on the correct side of the road. Do you ride this road on your commute, and what do you think could/should be done to stop it from happening?

What to do when someone uses a trolley to block the bike path each day? Put in on board and take it far, far away. #cargobikepic.twitter.com/en39Cw4l0r

— Fiona Campbell (@FionaBike) March 20, 2019

The first monument of the year is upon us... we are looking forward to this weekend's @Milano_Sanremo!

Details: https://t.co/PqsqnI26Wvpic.twitter.com/ycp0HTO0N9

— Team Dimension Data (@TeamDiData) March 21, 2019

Team Dimension Data have today revealed their team for Saturday's Milan San Remo. It's notable for one admission, 2009 winner Mark Cavendish not included in the seven-man squad.
The Manx rider has been struggling to find form after recently discovering that he's been suffering from an Epstein Barr virus for the last two years.
Dimension Data will instead hope that Italian sprinter Giacomo Nizzolo can survive the Poggio for a chance on the Via Rome finish.

Catch up with a crash-filled edition of the Belgian semi-Classic

Hello kitty! Dean was cycling around the world when he came across an abandoned cat - and now they're completing the trip together.

[Tap to expand] pic.twitter.com/KVMjxbt3rw

— STV News (@STVNews) March 20, 2019

While riding through Bosnia in late December Dean was chased by a cat on a hill desperate to be fed, and since then Nala hasn't left his side. The pair are currently rolling through eastern Europe, and he's now raising funds for animal welfare charities. If you want to donate Dean's JustGiving page is here. 

David Millar’s design house CHPT3 has collaborated with long-term partner Castelli to produce a collection of cycling kit inspired by Milan-Sanremo, just prior to this year's editions (it takes place tomorrow).

The MSR Jersey (£120) is made with a fabric previously exclusive to Castelli’s Maglia Rosa jersey, so it is a race weight, aerodynamic and high-wicking. 

CHPT3 designers have softened the race jersey it is based on by including a touch of elastane and employing a less constrictive cut. 

"The colours of the MSR Jersey reflect the muted, industrial portion of the race, inferring what’s to come with flashes of Mediterranean colour woven in," says CHPT3. "Meanwhile, the rear pockets show the chevrons of the Turchino Pass – the turning point in the race."

The MSR Base Layer (£70) is made from a lightweight mesh fabric originally chosen by Castelli to make a super-lightweight climber’s jersey for the Tour de France. 

"MSR embodies so much of the madness inherent in our sport: a 300km race where everything happens in the final 30km," says David Millar. "Racers will always split races into sections. MSR is two halves, the tunnel of the Turchino Pass is the spiritual halfway point. The moment we exit the tunnel we descend to the coast and enter a brave new world – one where we’re more at home. 

"With the MSR collection, we’ve taken this racing mindstate of compartmentalising everything and created a beautiful design, splitting the race up by the visual impression it leaves."

The MSR collection, which also includes a cycling cap (£25) and socks (£18), is available now from CHPT3.com and selected retailers.

Full story here.

No real details yet, but a proposal to bring forward a Greater Manchester bike hire scheme will be considered by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority on March 29.

Further details will be announced in the Spring, apparently.

This is easily solved by putting one person in a WaveCel helmet and one person in a MIPS helmet and having them charge at each other at full speed joust-style with heads bowed.https://t.co/bHC4dTRuY3

— Bike Snob NYC (@bikesnobnyc) March 21, 2019

References this.