Danish pro breaks leg on dancefloor; Great hack to check bike path smoothness; Xmas goodwill suggestion; Deliveroo cyclist filmed colliding with pedestrian; 5-year-olds verbally abused for cycling in park; Muc-Off tubeless launch + more on the live blog

It also gives rise to a pertinent question at this time of year ... do you have any unwanted (or outgrown) kids' bikes or adult ones you could donate to a similar charity in your area?

It is the season of goodwill after all, and you could set someone up for a lifetime of cycling.

Here comes a peloton of kids bikes donated from @NNLS_Masorti! Thank you for your generosity #cycling#refugeeswelcomepic.twitter.com/bRiqTPpgqd

— The Bike Project (@The_BikeProject) November 29, 2019

Talentvolle Niklas Larsen breekt been tijdens teamfeest https://t.co/KopTCOzYBS

— Sander_RVS (@Sander_RVS) November 29, 2019

The 22-year-old multiple Track World Cup medallist and road racer didn't look so good on the dance floor after the unfortunate incident - according to Skive Folkeblad, Larsen broke his leg at the ColoQuick end-of-season party at the Zwei Grosse Bier Bar in Skive last Saturday. He said: "I was just dancing, then twisted my foot and could feel something was completely wrong."

Larsen says he will have to wear a boot for six weeks before he can start training again. 

We captured some amazing on-bike footage at races like #TDF2019, #ParisRoubaix, @tds and @HammerSeries this year. Huge thanks to the riders for carrying the cameras. Watch the best bits now pic.twitter.com/qXOxDAweFd

— Velon CC (@VelonCC) November 29, 2019

There's been some cracking racing this year of course, and Velon's cameras have captured plenty of the action as you will see above. 

#Cyclists at it again. #ubereats#delivery#ThursdayMotivation#thursdayvibes#ThursdayThoughtspic.twitter.com/1UcMlBSEXt

— wearenotnumbers (@mrwhite321) November 28, 2019

Many in the comments are suggesting the woman who was hit was in the wrong for stepping out into traffic...

I’m no fan of these guys, but that was her fault.

— A.j. Stranger #UTAG (@AStrangerJ) November 28, 2019

Not the biggest cyclist fan but did she just walk out in the road without looking.?

— Russ Sopp (@RussSopp) November 28, 2019

...but is that relevant? Rule 170 of The Highway Code says: "Watch out for pedestrians crossing a road into which you are turning. If they have started to cross they have priority, so give way" - and although strict liability (the more powerful vehicle is default to blame) isn't often enforced criminally in the UK, it has come up in civil cases.

In June, cyclist Robert Hazeldean was found partially liable for colliding with Gemma Brushett, with Brushett receiving compensation even though it was found she was looking at her mobile phone while crossing the road leading up to the collision. The judge ruled that bike riders “must be prepared at all times for people to behave in unexpected ways.”​ A crowdfunder was launched to pay for Hazeldean's legal fees in the days after the verdict. 

Should the cyclist in this instance have taken more care? 

Fire evacuation down 15 flights of stairs in cleated shoes. How's your Friday going?

— peerq (@peerq) November 29, 2019

Last week our cycle bus had an unpleasant encounter. We use a local park because roads nearby are not safe for children. We're hoping @Warwick_DC will respond to Councillors' request for an urgent exemption of the park's antiquated "no cycling" bylaw.https://t.co/06QjQKL5DV

— Adam Tranter (@adamtranter) November 27, 2019

The Cycle Bus group founder Adam Tranter - who also runs the specialist cycling PR firm Fusion Media - told the Kenilworth Weekly News that the group was shouted at by an angry resident in Abbey Fields for cycling through the park. A by-law technically prevents cycling in Abbey Fields, but Tranter has called for it to be lifted every Friday during term time so children can cycle safely to school with the cycle bus group. 

Mr Tranter said: “Unfortunately, on Friday morning (last Friday on November 22) we were verbally abused by another park user. This person took issue with our cycling in the park without being able to see the positive we're doing. When we asked 'Do you think it would be safe to take children on the roads outside?', they said 'I don't care'.

At the time it ruined our day but we're not going to let it get us down in the long-term. Since the confrontation, we've been flooded with support by the community and had well-wishing messages from all over the world, even as far as Australia."

"We are a volunteer and parent-led group who help young children cycle to school safely. These by-laws are stopping children and other vulnerable road users from cycling safely. There is no other alternative route for anybody who needs to get from one side of town to the other.

Mr Tranter said the Cycle Bus takes about 20 cars off the road each week with the organised school run, and pedestrians are always given priority when they ride on shared use paths. He also notes that the infant cyclists struggle to ride faster than about 5mph, "so really there is no confrontation unless somebody chooses for there to be.”

Local councillor Andrew Milton commented: “I was deeply disappointed to hear about the problems experienced by the Cycle Bus last week.

“I understand the sensitivities around cycling in Abbey Fields but I think some perspective is urgently needed here.

"Our town council and district council have both declared climate emergencies this year and in an emergency we need to take action quickly. The initiative that Adam and Aurelie have started along with other parents is exactly the type of thing we need to see more of and it has my full support. I'll do all within my power to make sure that the Cycle Bus can continue safely and unhindered.”

If your business is the UK's largest cycle to work scheme provider, it's probably only right you provide adequate provisions to encourage your employees to cycle to work - and Bath-based Cyclescheme have indeed being awarded gold accreditation as a Cycle Friendly Employer.

The Cycle Friendly Employer Scheme is about helping more people cycle to work, with bronze, silver and gold accreditations given out. Cyclescheme shown it’s an exemplary employer by providing showers, individual lockers, private cycle parking and a washing machine and tumbler to go the extra mile and get gold status. 

Cyclescheme's Lucy Anderson-Roberts explains how she was encouraged to start cycling after starting work for them: “Before joining the company, like many people I know, I was put off by the perceived drawbacks of cycling, like the cold weather and the practicalities of showering and changing at the office.

"Cyclescheme has made getting on a bike a simple and desirable option for me, and their approach is accessible to all, with resources and advice to support any experience level."

Obviously you've bought loads already, but just a reminder that all road.cc t-shirts, cycling jerseys and shorts are 30% off today with the code BF30. Head over to the road.cc shop here to buy lots and lots of stuff. 

The German bike behemoths have announced they will no longer be a headline sponsor of the Bahrain team for 2020, but will still continue to provide them with "the best material possible" as their official bicycle supplier and technical partner. No particular reason has been given in the press release (Rohan Dennis, anyone?) but Merida's marketing director Andreas Rottler said: "We are immensely proud of the last three years and what we have achieved. Being part of the team from its very beginning and securing two Grand Tour podiums in the first season gives us a great sense of accomplishment and an eagerness to stay involved with the Bahrain World Tour team. It is a great honour as well as a responsibility to continue with one of the most successful teams in the peloton, and we are looking forward to our new role."

The York Press reports than Colin Marron, 51, died in a "tragic and very unusual" incident according to the Coroner. A North Yorkshire Police collision investigator claimed that a peaked baseball cap Mr Marron was wearing may have obscured his view of the parked BMW he crashed into, and that the dropped handlebar bike "encouraged riders to look down rather than up." ​

The coroner said highways officials had investigated whether the proximity of a cycle lane to a residents’ parking bay where the BMW was parked had been a factor in the accident; they also noted that Mr Marron had been cycling without a helmet, on a bike borrowed from a friend and was "travelling neither quickly nor slowly" before he crashed. He was taken to Leeds General Infirmary where it was confirmed that he had suffered a severe head injury, and died the following day. 

While this is hardly groundbreaking news, it's interesting to see a recently-retired pro throw themselves into the world of work so keenly. Blythe is going to be a busy lad having took on a sales and marketing role at David Millar's Chpt3 brand, and alongside that the former British road champion will be working as an ambassador for Genesis in 2020. He'll also work with Genesis' parent company Madison, who distribute Shimano, Lazer and 100% amongst other brands in the UK.

Blythe commented: “I can’t wait to start working with Genesis and Madison as a whole. There’s a lot of fun stuff that we have planned with a lot of cool collaborations as well which I think is going to be great.
“I also can’t wait to repay Madison, they always stood by me through my career – even though I was in a different team they’ve always helped me as much as they could. I really can’t wait to just start working with them and show everyone what we can achieve together.”

Blythe is set to take on "some incredible challenges" across the country on Genesis bikes, and we're told to expect wide tyres and bumpy roads rather than marginal gains...