"Ce randonneur à vélo"
Euh c'est juste Chris Froome qui a gagné 4 fois le Tour de France sur la même chaîne. @France2tvPoke @DansLaMusettepic.twitter.com/SVZS0mGEhv
— Johan Rouquet (@JohanRouquet) August 11, 2021
Poor Chris Froome. All it takes is a couple of bad years and now he's being mistaken for just a 'leisure cyclist' by a French TV report. Stopped by a marshall because of a risk of forest fires in the area near his Saint-Raphaël home on the Mediterranean coast, Froome was told he cannot pass in a clip caught on local news...the voiceover calls him "Ce randonneur à vélo", which we believe loosely translates to 'leisure rider'...
That randonneur has won four Tour de France titles, I'll have you know - all of which were broadcast on your TV channel. Perhaps it was the lack of Israel Start-Up Nation kit which threw France 2 off...or maybe the disc brakes...has Chris come round to the tech?
Froome did not seem too perturbed by the understandable road closure, giving a very French sounding "Okay". Earlier this week, French residents in at risk areas were warned to stay away from forests.
It's not the first time Froome has been mistaken for an amateur rider...back in 2018 at the Tour de France a policeman called the then Team Sky rider to a halt as he descended back down the summit finish at Col de Portet. Maybe Start-Up Nation should make him a special 'I've won the Tour de France four times' hi-vis jersey?
Lancashire-based Dolan Bikes have partnered with the Tour of Britain, Women's Tour and Tour Series to support the UK's biggest events in the domestic cycling calendar. As part of the deal, two fans will win a fully custom-built road bike worth £3,000 during the Tour of Britain (5-12 September) and Women's Tour (4-9 October). The lucky winners can choose between a Dolan Ares or Dolan Tuono with paint scheme overseen by Dolan Bikes' in-house team.
Dolan prides itself on offering bikes customised down to every component. The brand was founded in Liverpool in 1966 and supplied a series of pro teams, including ANC Halfords and Team Falcon Cycles who won six Kelogg's Tour and Milk Race events.
"Being a leading British bike brand and having supported our greatest on the road to success, we felt that supporting the biggest bikes races would celebrate the success of cycling in Britain," Terry Dolan, director of Dolan Bikes said.
Over on the forum Brooksby asked for help getting a sheared mudguard bolt out...our favourite helpful suggestion was, "buy a new bike". That's the answer to everything, isn't it.
As it turns out, a trip to the local bike shop and some cable ties were all that was required...
hirsuite remained unconvinced, preferring their new bike suggestion. Any other handy workshop uses for cable ties?
Legendary sprinter Mario Cippolini is 54 now, although you might not guess it looking at that bronzed physique...Cipo attracted amiring comments from his adoring fans on Instagram, including a certain Lance Armstrong. The look isn't really for us, we'll leave it to triathletes and good-looking Italians with 42 Giro stage wins...only a select few can pull that off.
Perhaps he's taken inspiration from Sir Bradley Wiggins' post-retirement modelling?
Look at this terrible behaviour, over 100 drivists driving two and three abreast, clearly impeding the faster road user. Why aren’t they pulling over to let me through? pic.twitter.com/2POpDOae3A
— Rendel Harris (@Rendel_Harris) August 10, 2021
I wonder what Angela Epstein would make of this? Presumably, based on yesterday's logic, these drivers should all pull over single file and allow the faster moving mode of transport to get to where they need to go...after all, what was it you said yesterday, Angela? Oh, that was it..."what gives them the right to block the road when there is a 30mph limit?"
Somehow I don't think we'll be hearing her thoughts on this one...
@willcarling let's hope these drivists do the polite thing & pull over to let faster road users past, eh?
— Simon (@BarryShawkins) August 10, 2021
Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster has eased of the cycling in recent times as he prepares for another shot at the Premier League. The Hornets begin their top-flight campaign against Aston Villa on Saturday and have been putting in the hard graft to be ready for the big kick-off.
Foster, who has built a following on YouTube as the Cycling GK and regularly documents his travels by bike, has said the bike hasn't received as much love as usual during the gruelling prep phase...
"[Pre-season training] has been brutal this year, absolutely brutal,” he told the Evening Standard. "It’s been double session after double session. I come back home and see my bike and say, ‘Sorry, babe, I can’t take you out tonight. I’ve got to get in bed because I am shattered’."
Back in March, Foster told us on Drink at Your Desk Live! that he wishes a pro cyclist could come into the training ground to show just how hard they train. Catch the full episode here, if you missed it...
Husband and wife duo Laura and Jason Kenny are set to become dame and knight after winning their record-breaking golds in Tokyo. According to the Independent, the pair are at the top of the list to receive honours. Laura became the first female British athlete to win gold at three different Olympic Games, while Jason became GB's most successful Olympian after winning his seventh gold with an audacious attack in Sunday's keirin.
A royal source at the Sun has said the pair absolute certainties to be at the top of the list come the end of the year. Arise, Sir Jason and Dame Laura...
I’m sad to say I was knocked off my bike cycling home from work by a car turning left who hadn’t seen me.
My helmet is cracked but at least it wasn’t my skull!
If I wasn’t wearing my helmet this could have been a very different story.
Please wear a helmet!! pic.twitter.com/nLa4GnIpa6— Storm Huntley (@StormHuntley) August 9, 2021
TV presenter Storm Huntley, who co-hosts Channel 5's Jeremy Vine show, was hit by a driver as she cycled home from work in London on Monday. Huntley told the programme on Tuesday that she hit her head on the pavement after the driver collided with her - cracking her helmet on impact. The driver reportedly cut across her to make a left turn.
"If I wasn't wearing that, that crack wouldn't be on my helmet, it would be on my skull, so I would not be here this morning," Huntley said. "The driver was shaken, there was no aggression, there was nobody being competitive on the road, it was an accident. Accidents happen, please put your helmets on, and even if you think you're a good driver, double check."
The broadcaster said her partner has encouraged her to give up cycling after seeing the damage to her bike and helmet. Huntley's co-host Jeremy Vine said people should not be put off cycling, adding the motorist is "a shocking driver" who "shouldn't be on the road."
In a tweet, Huntley urged others to wear a helmet: "I’m sad to say I was knocked off my bike cycling home from work by a car turning left who hadn’t seen me. My helmet is cracked but at least it wasn’t my skull! If I wasn’t wearing my helmet this could have been a very different story. Please wear a helmet!"
Thank you so much for all your kind messages. I am absolutely fine, just a bit sore this morning.
I simply can’t reiterate enough the importance of a helmet. 💋— Storm Huntley (@StormHuntley) August 10, 2021
Some have questioned the presenter's helmet comments...Pompey Cyclist said: "Very unlikely that your skull would crack from an impact that merely did that to your helmet. Your skull is around 10 times stronger than a polystyrene hat. It’s a bit like wrapping a brick in a tissue to protect it. People like you stating anecdote as if it’s fact is dangerous."
No it's not but wearing a helmet to prevent head injury is just common sense. If you wanted to wear one whilst walking then I don't think anyone would object to that. Just do you....
— Joe Broadway (@Joebroadway85) August 10, 2021
I post a photo of cyclists in the countryside.
Response: "They are going too slow and are too far across the lane.”
Next I post footage of a pedestrian stepping out without warning as I cycled.
Response: “You are going too fast and are too close to the pavement.”
Can't win pic.twitter.com/svxZh4Oen5
— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) August 11, 2021
📢 TEAM LINE-UP @lavuelta
We go stage hunting at #LaVuelta21
🇧🇪 @SteffCras
🇧🇪 @FrisonFrederik
🇬🇧 @MatthewHolmes51
🇩🇰 @andreaskron98
🇧🇪 @sylvainmoniquet
🇧🇪 @Maximvangils
🇧🇪 @Harm_VH
🇧🇪 @FlorianVermeersVamos! 💪 pic.twitter.com/AJ0js3YwY8
— Lotto Soudal (@Lotto_Soudal) August 10, 2021
We're up to five Brits at the Vuelta a España now: Tom Pidcock and Adam Yates for Ineos Grenadiers, Scott Thwaites with Grand Tour newbies Alpecin-Fenix, James Knox for Deceuninck-Quick-Step and now Matt Holmes with Lotto Soudal. Add Hugh Carthy to the list once EF Education-Nippo announce their line up and we should have six home riders to cheer on over the next three weeks.
What odds a Yates/Carthy one-two and a couple of stage wins between the rest? Let a man dream...
Just got back from shopping. If anyone tries to tell you it's not about infrastructure - they're wrong. ANYONE can cycle here... and it's a joy.
Thanks @Sustrans@ibikebrightonpic.twitter.com/JzfIs2fzdV
— Si Mcfarlane 🌍 🚴♂️ (@BikeBishopstone) August 10, 2021
I was just waiting for the lane to come to an abrupt halt, chucking riders out into the path of oncoming traffic...
Thought experiment. Split city in half. A side has no parking restrictions, no speed limits, a free for all. B side has 20mph, LTNs, vision zero fully implemented, school and play streets, bus priority, 20 min neighbourhoods etc. How long before folk in A desperate to live in B?
— Kirsty Lewin (@KirstyLewin) August 10, 2021
Kirsty could be on to something here, surely Netflix will soon be on the phone for a three-part utopia/dystopia Black Mirror-esque drama. Jeremy Vine's poor 360-degree camera wouldn't be able to keep up with the action as he rides through B-side...the live blog would be on fire for weeks...and CyclingMikey, presumably living on A-side, would have nobody to catch.
The ‘border’ on SIDE A will be managed through personal responsibility/no enforcement. Drivers can decide whether or not to obey restrictions left over from the old days. They will not be able to enter SIDE B with own vehicle unless they have blue badge or are otherwise exempt.
— Kirsty Lewin (@KirstyLewin) August 10, 2021
Reports of a metaphor sighting in downtown Denver pic.twitter.com/Gtl6gTzDly
— Chase Woodruff (@dcwoodruff) August 9, 2021
What do we have here? Vigilante cyclists setting light to bike lane blockers? Or was the flaming SUV moved into the cycle lane to get it 'out of the way'? Or, was it already there when it caught fire another way? The cyclists of Denver, Colorado, have been speculating if they have a vigilante arsonist in their midst. One dubbed it "justice via flames"...
And while of course we can't recommend setting vehicles alight, regardless of where they're parked, the visual karma is strong in this one. Denver Bike Lanes, a page supporting cycle infrastructure in the city, replied to reporter Chase Woodruff's video calling it "SUV-towing-SUVs-parked-in-bike lane karma". While an LA-based photographer went for "The Beginnings of the Bike Lane Uprising".
Viva la revolución! https://t.co/PhdxyM10P9
— avid motorist (@cargobk) August 10, 2021
I support setting cars on fire that park on bike infrastructure. 🔥 https://t.co/Osx9ZJUaEq
— Brandon Lust (@AmericanFietser) August 10, 2021
This is what you get for parking in a bike lane 🤷♂️ https://t.co/KWPDZzayhD
— Indy Bike Lane Defense (@IndyBikeLanes) August 10, 2021