Remember New York Cit-based videographer Casey Neistat, first featured here on road.cc with his Bike Lanes video back in 2011, which has now amassed more than 25 million views on YouTube?
Well, he’s back with a new video in which he showcases the world’s first ‘Tesla’ cyberbike and talks through how it was put together.
Okay, it’s not actually a Tesla, but with an outer body styled to resemble that of the Tesla cybertruck memorably unveiled by Elon Musk in November, it certainly turned heads when Neistat took it out on the streets, and the T-word was the one that sprung to many people’s lips when they saw it.
There was method in Neistat’s madness, however – beneath all that carboard, aluminium and plastic lurks a forthcoming model from e-bike brand Super 73 that he was asked to test, but which the company asked him to keep under wraps.
So, in the same vein that car manufacturers will often modify the bodies of new models during road testing to throw photographers trying to get spy shots for automotive publications off the scent, the ‘Tesla’ body here is designed to camouflage what’s really underneath.
It's a pity, though, that in so doing, it means that the bike is left with the turning circle of an oil tanker, but you can’t have everything.
Greipel's mother passed away after a long fight with Lou Gehrig's Disease (known as ALS in America) in 2017 after initially being diagnosed in 2013; and on 8th February at 5pm, Zwifters are invited to join the 'André Greipel Fight ALS Mega Ride'. Zwift are hoping it will be the biggest group ride on the platform ever, and they will also donate $1 for every rider that joins up to $10,000.
The event description says: “Gudrun was Andre's biggest supporter, and now it's up to us to help support him and her legacy by joining him in the fight against ALS. With this ride on February 8th, we’re raising awareness and money to accelerate the pace of ALS research. The donations go entirely to ALS researcher Professor Prudlo, currently conducting research at the DZNE, the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases.”
Lou Gehrig's Disease is thought to affect up to 450,000 people across the globe - much awareness was raised back in 2014 through the Ice Bucket Challenge, where participants filmed themselves pouring icy water over their heads and donating to a relevant charity.
You can side up for the André Greipel Fight ALS Mega Ride here. You'll also unlock in-game 'Fight ALS' kit by participating.
Campaigner Jasna Cizler says cycling in the Serbain capitial of Belgrade feels like “an extreme sport” at times because of the heavy traffic and high levels of pollution. She organises critical mass events promoting cycling once a month, and says two wheels are the key to cleaning up Serbia's dangerous air.
It's faster, lighter, stiffer and more integrated and all that jazz, and we'll have a full story with all the details on the site soon.
陽がさしてるけどハンパなく寒かった🥶
If I felt cold, I felt that the barn owl felt as cold🥶🍃 pic.twitter.com/ERzkvkYN0e
— Sonfha🌈 (@Hoshikazu123) November 30, 2019
Is it even cycling unless you take your owl with you?
Ferrari posted a statement in regards to allegations that he was working with Astana's Jakob Fuglsang on his 53x12 training website. Here it is:
“Once again I unfortunately find myself compelled to deny the latest media hoax that concerns me.
The following is my reply to the "Secret Report" mentioned by the newspaper POLITIKEN:
- I have not had any relationship with athletes from Team Astana for over 10 years
- I haven't been to Monaco/Nice for at least 12 years
- I have never been on a scooter/motorbike in my entire life, let alone motorpacing a cyclist
- I haven't been to the Vuelta Catalunya in 2019. I haven't physically been present at a single race since 1994
- The "Report" is based on false reports from probable interested parties
- I have no base in Lugano, a place where I have never been
- I have never been convicted of doping.”
Ferrari was mentioned 489 times in the US Anti-Doping Agency's Reasoned Decision document over the Lance Armstrong/US Postal scandal published in 2012, and as is evident above, still denies any wrongdoing.
Astana have also released a statement today on this most recent case, which you can read more about here.
Youtuber Mike Boyd - who makes videos specifically showing himself 'learning stuff quickly' - could have made things a whole lot easier for himself in his attempt to learn how to ride rollers. Placing a shagpile between the rollers and his perfectly suitable wooden floor probably wasn't the best place to start, and reverting to an e-bike that's already moving to get used to them before hopping on his own (very dirty) bike was a dodgy move too. We also witness Boyd hurting pretty much every part of his body other than his head, so perhaps some body armour rather than a helmet would have been more useful to him on this occasion.
If you want to see someone who has truly mastered the rollers, look no further than the very talented Ruby Isaac...
“A bicycle lane should be direct, fast and separated from pedestrians AND vehicles. Not cyclists shoved into pedestrian areas because the councils are too lazy to do it properly”, the video's protagonist said to road.cc as he sent us this 7 minute clip showing the perceived problems with Poole's shared bike/pedestrian paths.
At the beginning of the video one of the captions reads: ”Whoever thinks cycling at 20-30mph in the same space as pedestrians needs their head examining. Bicycles and pedestrians DO NOT MIX!”
We're then shown various sections of the shared path that are far slower to get around on by bike compared to using the road, and another section where the narrator claims there is a 'cyclists dismount' sign.
In the second half of the video our man appears to be on a motorbike, and rides a route with heavy traffic. He suggests this much faster route should simply have a clear, marked cycle lane to allow for all modes of transport to get to where they want to go safely and efficiently.
What's the solution? Is fully separated infrastructure like they do in the Netherlands a pipe dream in our densely populated nation that relies on the car, or does shared infrastructure need ripping up so we can start again? Let us know your thoughts in the comments of course...
In the statement relating to yesterday's story about Fuglsang's alleged involvement with Dr Michele Ferrari, the team say: “Astana Pro team has taken note of the press article by Danish and Norwegian media relating to the existence of an alleged confidential report by CADF suspecting some riders of the team to have been in contact with banned Dr Michele Ferrari.
“...for the time being, no procedure has been initiated against any rider affiliated to the team. The Astana Pro Team trusts that if the CADF had any evidence of wrongdoing by any rider of the team, disciplinary proceedings would have been immediately initiated in accordance with anti-doping regulations and the World Anti-doping Code.”
Full story to follow.
Malaysian National Cycling Federation president Abu Samah Abdul Wahab has been accused of giving contracts to his family, and has been detained for four days for investigations on abuse of power - he was arrested at his home last week according to local media.
Malaysia's youth and sports minister told the Malay Mail that we “wasn't sure” why Wahab was arrested, but was confident the Federation would conduct their investigations in a “fair and transparent manner.”
Storey's success story continued at the UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships in Milton, Canada at the weekend as she scooped gold in the WC5 individual pursuit, the omnium and the scratch race. It means she's now won 38 titles in total across 20 world championships across swimming and cycling.
There were also victories in the tandem sprint events for Team GB, with duos Sophie Thornhill and Helen Scott and Neil Fachie and Matt Rotherham winning gold medals.
With a rogue dog, an rogue idiotic spectator and a sexism scandal taking centre stage away from the main event, the prodigious 20-year-old Belgian provided the entertainment in it by becoming the youngest rider to win in the race's 38 year history. He commented modestly: ““I always try to be in good shape and give my absolute best, I am always motivated and ready for a new challenge. This is who I am. I am fortunate to have an extraordinary team around me and I want to stay with my feet on the ground and be the same Remco you know.”
Cancel the Super Bowl, this wins best ad already. And the Jeep is badass to boot. pic.twitter.com/VFTLGYrVu0
— Quoth the Raven (@QTRResearch) February 2, 2020
The Superbowl was its usual OTT self last night, with the Kansas City Chiefs' victory over the San Francisco 49ers sometimes appearing like a sideshow to what the whole thing is truly about... grandiose entertainment and rampant commercialism.
When the game was in timeout and when Shakira and Jennifer Lopez weren't doing their thing, the relentless advertisements rolled; and with tens of millions changing hands for a few seconds of exposure, any ads to do with transport were inevitably on behalf of giant motor producers such as Jeep and Hyundai... admittedly the Jeep commercial (above) was pretty good.
Having made a number of car ads for the #SuperBowl in a past life, thought I would make one for what we really need in our community. #SafeStreetspic.twitter.com/T4RNG6XxbJ
— Tom Flood (@tomflood1) February 2, 2020
Enter Tom Flood. He claims to have produced car commercials in a past life and is now an advocate of active travel, so made the charming video above to promote safe infrastructure for cycling to school. In reference to the car ads' emphasis on vehicle safety, the text reads: “We don't need bigger vehicles or more technology to protect our kids going to school... we just need safe routes for them to get there.
”Brought to you by the humble bicycle.”
Touché and chapeau, Mr Flood!
El preciso momento de la caída de Egan. #Nacionales2020pic.twitter.com/dTDrv2ncSz
— 🕳️ fander (@JeSuisFander) February 2, 2020
The Tour de France champ somehow managed to finish second despite this very nasty fall on a descent, leaving him with some serious flesh wounds...
Egan Bernal is pretty banged up and in pain after a crash at high speed...there is a deep wound on his leg. 😢 #Nacionales2020pic.twitter.com/WmyJHQtgJo
— Mihai Simion (@faustocoppi60) February 2, 2020
Ineos teammate Ivan Sosa crashed out, with EF Pro Cycling’s Sergio Higuita of EF First claiming the victory - Bernal rolled in 1min 15secs behind the winner.
If you've missed your weekend dose of road.cc for whatever reason, here's your lowdown...
Strava encourages obsessive tendencies
Cycling group have given safety training to over 50,000 children
UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships: van der Poel dominates men’s elite, Pidcock second (+ videos)