The story of our 'cycle network' in two acts:
1. Horrible muddy surface, no lighting
2. Poorly maintained signage, more rocky muddy surfaceOnly navigable on certain bikes in the best weather conditions. We cannot 'encourage' more people to cycle with routes like this. https://t.co/bFLNrm4wtQ
— Hannah 😈 🚲 (@theeyecollector) February 4, 2020
Unfortunately quite a few of the replies have noted the muddy signage and rather unkempt-looking surface, the latter of which doesn't exactly scream “ride me”.
In response to some of the criticisms, Trans Pennine Trail replied: “Thank you for your comments, this is something we're continually working on, lobbying for a better quality Trail. Many sections are being improved with funding and if you have any sections in particular you have issues with, please do get in contact with us we can report it!”
Respect to the charities and community groups who work hard on these routes with what little they have. But this shows the chronic under-funding and lack of action on the part of national and local government
— Hannah 😈 🚲 (@theeyecollector) February 4, 2020
Do you think Trans Pennine have been given a hard time, or does a lot more need to be done to make sure these routes are useable for all, not just those who are happy to get real muddy?
Northamptonshire Police are appealing for information after four women aged between 21 and 62 were touched inappropriately by a man who was cycling past them on a mountain bike.
The incidents all happened between 8.30am and 9.30 am on January 29th. A Police spokesman said: "In all cases the offender was cycling past on a mountain bike and is described as a white man aged between 25 and 30 with dark hair.
"A 25-year-old woman was walking towards the University of Northampton, as was a 34-year-old woman. In addition a 21-year old woman was walking along New South Bridge Road while the a 62-year-old woman was walking towards the town centre along London Road.
"If there is anyone with information or who may have witnessed these incidents, please call us on 101 quoting reference number 20000054336."
It’s the end of the trail 🇯🇵 I have taken the decision to resign from my position at Tokyo 2020. After much soul searching my health and well-being takes priority this time around. I leave behind an excellent team and the legacy of a beautiful course 🥇Thanks to all ❤️ pic.twitter.com/WhYWeHOFnB
— Paul Davis 🇬🇧🇯🇵 (@paul_davis67) February 3, 2020
Paul Davis has stepped down from his role in delivering and managing mountain biking at Tokyo 2020. Davis also worked at London 2012 and Rio 2016, and has stepped down from his latest role “after much soul-searching.”
Silca already launched their $30 reusable titanium straws in December, made because Silca realised they could fashion straws from the offcuts of titanium left over from making their Sicuro titanium bottle cages. They've now took things a step further with the Bourbon Titanium Kit, consisting of two bottle cages and two straws “inspired by Chris King” and anodised in a rich, bourbon colour.
The bourbon in the picture isn't included for your $175 and we're still unsure if these products will be sold from a UK distributor any time soon... but for this money you might as well whack some import fees on top and buy them directly from Silca's US online shop.
The ex-pro turned star of his own 'Worst Retirement Ever' YouTube series has made a Strava account for his faithful friend Nala. Her first upload was a 0.5km jaunt taken at a pace of just over 20 minutes per kilometre, with some discarded pizza crusts consumed to top up fuel along the way.
Lookin' good Filippo! If you want to look this dashing on your next ride, head over to the road.cc shop to get your jerseys, socks, tees and more.
Nine months after its launch last year, the Dogma F12 as ridden by Team Ineos is now available in Blue Steel (above), Sideral Grey and Venice Blue as part of their Spring 2020 collection. Each colourway is available in rim or disc brake versions and can be ordered as framesets or complete bikes.
It's always best not to be drinking tea or coffee when perusing a Pinarello price list, as there's a good chance you'll spit some out... this one is no different, with an F12 disc with Campagnolo Super Record EPS groupset and Bora wheels or SRAM Red e-Tap AXS with Zipp 303 wheels priced at £12,000. Deliveries can be expected at the end of March if you have the funds to splash out, see Pinarello's website for more info.
The competition aimed to reward those with particularly good stories about their experience of Santander Cycles, and the first prize has gone to Sakhr Al-Makhadhi.
Mr Al-Makhadhi, based in Harrow, says on the day the scheme launched on Friday 30th July 2010, he got up at 5.30am in an attempt to be the first person to hire one of the bikes: “I knew the scheme was launching at 6am so I went to the Dorset Square docking station and tried my key at 5.55am. It worked! I took a bike out. Within seconds, a taxi driver hooted at me and congratulated me for being the first one.”
His prize is a free annual membership to Santander Cycles, and a hire bike named in his honour. There are 11 more prize winners to be named and the competition is still open; if you reckon you've completed the most Santander Cycle journeys, have a good story to tell or hired bikes in their inaugural year, you can email cyclehire10 [at] tfl.gov.uk for a chance to win.
If you needed reminding of the state of Britain's pothole-laden roads, the BBC report that Shropshire Council have appointed a dedicated 'pothole consultant', charging £1,000 a day.
The council say this is “comparable with usual consultancy costs”, and say they hope the appointment will improve their current “unproductive” strategy and speed up repair of the 3,500 reported road defects in the county. Steve Davenport of Shropshire Council claims even though the consultant will earn £130,000 working five days a week over the six month contract, they will actually save millions in the long run by “getting the right people on the ground doing a better job." Pothole repair in Shropshire is currently outsourced to construction and infrastructure company Keir, who the council say have been “allowed to mark their own homework” for too long.
We're not sure if the consultant's role is more hands-on or strategic, but a grand a day to ride around looking for potholes doesn't sound like a bad living to us so long as we don't end up in one...
The BBC reports that the government have just announced that petrol, diesel and hybrid car sales will be banned by 2035 at the latest, not 2040 as previously stated.
The change has come about because experts warned it would be too late for the UK to achieve its net zero carbon emissions target by 2050 if the ban didn't come into force until 2050. Speaking ahead of the launch of the COP26 climate change event in Glasgow, Boris Johnson said 2020 would be a "defining year of climate action".
Banning sale of petrol & diesel by 2035 is better than 2040, but still too late to meet emissions targets
🚘It needs to be 2030 to deliver carbon budget
🚍Cover vans too & rule out hybrids
🚌 Include major investment in public transport https://t.co/Z6Zyjo2eq5— Caroline Lucas (@CarolineLucas) February 4, 2020
Extinction Rebellion have set up outside the Science Museum where Boris Johnson is due to speak this morning, launching COP26, the UN’s climate change talks.
The PM will call this a year of “climate action across the UK” but XR say the Govt’s goals are too little too late. @LBCpic.twitter.com/2MFPJh5GRA
— Rachael Venables (@rachaelvenables) February 4, 2020
Some environmental campaigners believe it's still too little too late, with Green Party MP Caroline Lucas saying the ban needs to come in earlier, and it needs to be backed up by public transport investment. Extinction Rebellion have also set up outside the Glasgow Science Museum where Boris Johnson is delivering his plans, handing out flyers saying it's 'too little too late' and calling for the scrapping of HS2.
would you want your kids to cycle in this bike lane? pic.twitter.com/vZTBuADCN3
— Alan D (@AlanDub13) February 3, 2020
The answer to our protagonist's question would probably be a resounding “no” for most parents, as he attempts to ride on a Dublin bike lane segregated only by some broken white lines. There is barely a moment in the 15 second clip where a car isn't either fully inside the 'lane' or seriously encroaching, the reason many cycle campaigners believe these advisory cycle lanes should be consigned to history (there's a decent article from the Cambridge Cycling Campaign explaining the difference between mandatory and advisory lanes here).
Do you think there's ever a use case for a cycle lane with broken white lines? Let us know in the comments as always...
Photos from @snappersk show the scene in Darlaston where a cyclist was hit by a car and then beaten up on the street last night.
Police are investigating and the cyclist remains seriously injured in hospital
Full story here: https://t.co/2OrzSkjfxYpic.twitter.com/1QuEoASqLN
— Express & Star (@ExpressandStar) February 3, 2020
The Express and Star reports that a 24-year-old man is still in hospital after he was hit by a car in Darlaston at around 7pm on Sunday night. The occupants of the car are then believed to have got out and beat him up, leaving the man with serious injuries. He was treated by paramedics and taken to hospital, where he remains in a serious condition.
The attackers fled the scene, and it's not known if the victim was targeted deliberately. A cordon was put up where the attack happened, with debris scattered across the road next to the victim's mangled bike.
Police have confirmed and are investigating after "a 24 year old man is believed to have been hit by a car before being attacked". #CookStreet#Wednesbury#WestMidlands#BlackCountry All Image Rights Reserved #SnapperSKpic.twitter.com/5WaG1EHHdf
— SnapperSK OFFICIAL (@snappersk) February 3, 2020
ICYMI: #OnThisDay 1978: The British public were not impressed at the prospect of switching from miles to kilometres. pic.twitter.com/nMZ4EUClAZ
— BBC Archive (@BBCArchive) February 3, 2020
There were some strong opinions on the subject back in 1978...
There seems to be a slit in the road.cc office.
Cav has gone old school and put on a proper set of classic bars. That's an extra 5 watts. pic.twitter.com/HediH641rz
— Adam Blythe (@AdamBlythe89) February 4, 2020
Being aero might save you some watts. But having classic bend bars saves more. Because science.
Tyrex Sneaker
— Balenciaga (@BALENCIAGA) February 2, 2020
For when you have a Tour de France at 12:00 and a rave at 17:00
— Matt (@ChelseaCF7) February 3, 2020
Bemused fashion fans are accusing Balenciaga of making these weird new trainers look like cycling shoes; although to be fair, we've never actually seen a pair of bike shoes this ugly. Back to the drawing board folks...
If Dr. Ferrari is back on the scene I don't see why the Oasis shouldn't be
— Ginevra (@ginevragarga) February 4, 2020
But absolutely Ginevra, if cycling's most prominent (alleged) doping doctor is back in the news then why not music's most argumentative brothers? We're feeling all nostalgic...