Welcome to Thursday's Live Blog with Liam Cahill, Alex Bowden and the rest of the road.cc team
26/09/2019, 16:26
Peloton raises… One. Billion. Dollars…
Sticking with pedalling indoors, it was announced this week that Peloton – the virtual spin class startup – has raised over a billion dollars in its initial public offering (IPO).
A billion.
With a B.
Peloton Interactive Inc. was founded in 2012. It produces a £2,000 home exercise bike that enables users to take part in virtual spinning classes for a further £40 a month.
As well as its bike and classes, Peloton also sells a treadmill and streams yoga, meditation and bootcamp classes.
The firm hasn’t turned a profit for at least the past three years.
Reuters reports that it priced its IPO at $29 per share, which was at the top end of its target range.
26/09/2019, 16:12
There’s going to be a Zwift World Championships in 2020
Zwift and the UCI have agreed to host the first ever UCI Cycling Esports World Championships in 2020.
The idea was floated last year and British Cycling held eRacing national championships in March.
“We have been looking at the emergence of esports for some time with Zwift,” said UCI president David Lappartient.
“As the governing body for the sport, we need to remain open to technical innovations and change, and to remain relevant to all audiences. Zwift is a platform that is enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities.”
Lappartient said there was “a particularly exciting opportunity” to attract a younger audience to cycling through esports.
“Together we have an opportunity to support a fitter youth, through the creation of a new sustainable sport.”
Zwift are pretty happy about the development, as you might imagine.
“The beauty of creating a new cycling discipline is that we have a blank slate and no limitations,” said Zwift Esports CEO Craig Edmondson.
“Parity is incredibly important to us at Zwift and together with the UCI we will be working to create equal competition for both men and women. This means the same number of races, the same coverage for races, and of course, equal prize money. We will set the standard for fair play and equality.”
26/09/2019, 16:08
26/09/2019, 16:05
What's the Austrian for OUCH!?
Riding a bike may be safer than walking* but clearly no-one’s told Austrian stunt rider Fabio Wilmer who’s just released a video of the out takes from his last actual vid (we're assuming they're the outtakes). All we can say is the man must be made of rubber.
*maybe
26/09/2019, 15:57
Quinn Simmons of the United States is junior road race world champion
2019 UCI Road World Championships Junior Men Road Race WORLD CHAMPION! #Yorkshire2019pic.twitter.com/BN8dF580sb
— UCI (@UCI_cycling) September 26, 2019
Alessio Martinelli of Italy came second, followed by another American - the quite magnificently named Magnus Sheffield.
26/09/2019, 16:00
Latest UK road casualty stats reveal cycling is safer per mile than walking
“Statistically speaking you would have to ride round the world 35 times before you’d run the risk of being killed or seriously injured.”
26/09/2019, 15:26
Geraint Thomas apparently pining for the balmy dry climate of Wales
26/09/2019, 15:19
Orro unveils updated Gold STC and new Venturi Tri bikes
British brand Orro has revealed a completely redesigned Gold STC gran fondo bike along with triathlon-friendly versions of the Venturi STC and Venturi STC Evo aero road bikes.
26/09/2019, 12:43
Trees in cycle lanes
A new segregated cycle lane being built in Norwich has trees planted in the middle of it.
Trees appear to be quite a common feature of cycle lanes. We've been sent a few others from around the country.
Feel free to send us more examples. We can feel a Top 10 coming...
It's a tried and tested design. pic.twitter.com/FK4X4MgyNT
— Gary Outram (@KentRangerGaz) September 24, 2019
Ah, there's nothing like a quality car park for creating horrendous infrastructure. This gem is from Dartford where, presumably, they've never thought of giving cycles priority over cars.
To fix this one, all they'd have to do would be to move the give way markings on the road back, allowing the cycle lane to flow uninterrupted.
That would make one stop per lane, instead of multiple stops in one lane.
London says "hang about"! pic.twitter.com/egQ9FYyLvr
— Åñƌﻷ ṔԻӗϵċę (@andy_fab) September 24, 2019
We're just going to suggest that the left lane of the cycle path could have gone around the tree? Revolutionary.
Having riders switch into the opposite lane before a blind corner isn't going to end well.
Clearly been looking to Bristol for inspiration! pic.twitter.com/yrlCXLX6rd
— Rick Hurst (@rickhurst) September 24, 2019
No excuses, Bristol council, the tree has obviously been there for quite a few years. If you can't go through it, under it, or over it, then surely they could have gone around this one?
Jitensha flagged this gem.
At least the surface around the trees have been covered with cobbles.
26/09/2019, 11:54
There's a two-wheeled answer to this
This is why I don't feel any need to be excited about electric cars. So the engines will get cleaner - sure as night follows day, as digital cameras replace 35mm film. But as far as space usage goes - if we don't rethink our streets, this is what we will get. pic.twitter.com/ti5fpu1xxz
— Lego Road Safety & Planning (@PlasticPlanners) September 25, 2019
26/09/2019, 11:52
Uh oh...
TEAM UPDATE @Yorkshire2019
Unfortunately, the Junior Men's Squad won't be racing today @NYorksPolice have arrested the team for their excessive speed which may effect the chances of other riders getting a result #NYPatwork#Yorkshire2019pic.twitter.com/JXLykO3w33
— British Cycling (@BritishCycling) September 26, 2019
Bet the French reported them for having illegally-round wheels.
Good luck to the GB lads racing today!
26/09/2019, 11:51
Gee, this looks safe...
A newly painted cycle facility in @CityWestminster .... outside A school.
The electric car stored on the left taking the space that would offer a child a protected route. pic.twitter.com/ryR31sziWj
— Chris Kenyon (@BoxbikeLondon) September 25, 2019
26/09/2019, 11:39
Red light jumping motorist who blamed cyclist for collision jailed
Walsall motorist accelerated when he saw lights change to amber.
26/09/2019, 10:26
Meet the Backstedts
The Telegraph's got an interview with Elynor Backstedt, who won bronze in the junior time trial this week.
The main thing we learned was that pretty much everyone in (or even tangentially connected with) the family appears to be a cyclist.
It's almost a surprise that the dogs aren't on bikes.
Now there’s a picture for the Backstedt family album! @GentWevelgem winners podium #BestVersionOfYoupic.twitter.com/MfxteglQv7
— Storey Racing (@StoreyRT) March 31, 2019
26/09/2019, 09:14
Swiss Road Worlds course revealved
2020 Martigny Worlds RR route unveiled yesterday. (original profile from @laflammerouge16) pic.twitter.com/UcOKaE2Uqo
— Daniel Friebe (@friebos) September 26, 2019
Someone had to do it...
26/09/2019, 09:12
Heading towards the weekend like...
— David.AR.Tri (@DavidARTri1) September 25, 2019
We're probably supposed to tell you not to try this at home
26/09/2019, 09:04
What's wrong with this photo?
Embarrassing, fear-lingering FB post by NSW Road Safety getting some great responses. pic.twitter.com/WPzxr8vZhu
— Stephen B (@BicycleAdagio) September 26, 2019
New South Wales has a law that states that all road riders must wear an approved cycle helmet.
But the NSW Gov page should have been more specific as, instead of the answer they were looking for, they instead got some artistic critique from amateur photographers
Damn that background light source resulting in high noise levels...
26/09/2019, 09:00
Are you this guy?