North Shields cyclist Martyn Edwards has thanked the passers by who rushed to help after he was hit by a driver at a roundabout on Thursday. An off-duty policeman and off-duty nurse were amongst the crowd who helped, providing medical attention while waiting for paramedics to arrive.
A neighbour provided a blanket to keep him warm, while another went to tell Martyn's wife. "I feel so lucky," he told the Newcastle Chronicle. "I couldn't believe how many people stopped to help. I have no idea who they are but I would just like to thank everyone for being there."
Martyn's wife Jo added: "He couldn't have asked for any better care than he got from the people who were there.
"People say society has changed and people aren't so kind and thoughtful anymore, but this just brings it home that when something like that happens people will take the time to help."
Is there a VAR in cyclocross? 🙈 pic.twitter.com/qCMxltPrd2
— Cyclocross24.com (@cyclocross24) January 4, 2022
Play on! He got the ball...
The most annoying bicycle maintenance task is installing and removing bottle cages. Boneheadedly simple yet takes way more time than it deserves. Think about it and you'll agree.
— Bike Snob NYC (@bikesnobnyc) January 4, 2022
Shout-out to my 3T stem with the bolts facing towards the saddle, meaning tightening and loosening with a multi-tool makes you want to lob your bike in a hedge...but yes, I agree, bottle cages are another frustrating one. Honourable mention to forcing a tight tyre over the rim, especially when it's January, pissing down and you last felt your fingers two hours ago...
Which maintenance jobs really grind your gears?
Any idea who installs these crap not-fit-for-purpose bike stands around Mayfair? @CityWestminster@Westminster_LCC@WestminsterStspic.twitter.com/JeBU8e8USH
— RossiBike (@RossiTheBossi) January 3, 2022
If Carlsberg did bike parking solutions, they'd be a hell of a lot better than this...
Women's UCI-level team Bizkaia-Durango have expressed disappointment at the sport's governing body's decision to reject their pink kit due to a clash with the UCI Women's WorldTour leader's jersey. Bizkaia said the decision was particularly disappointing considering it has been their kit for the last six seasons, and that the UCI have rejected two different designs.
Last month, Andy Schleck-CP NVST-Immo Losch (try saying that after a few lagers) were also told to ditch their kit design over a clash with three WorldTour teams who had also gone for an orange, purple and pink colour scheme. The team's rejected (but already manufactured) kit soon appeared up for sale online...
Le Col has backed up its passion for women's cycling by investing in the development of female riders via the pro team formerly known as Drops—Le Col. Now, Drops has been...well, dropped, and the team will continue under the Le Col Wahoo banner for at least two more years.
"Our commitment goes beyond the kit," Le Col founder Yanto Barker said. "With the Le Col Wahoo team we have a collective set of matched goals, values and ideas to work on. This is an incredibly exciting team, with some of the strongest young bike racers. It’s been an honour to work with the team for the past few seasons, and we are looking forward to that relationship continuing as Le Col pledge to triple our investment with title sponsorship."
Bike-sharing alla milanese pic.twitter.com/UogBIZRrOP
— Simon MacMichael (@simonmacmichael) December 26, 2021
I'm guessing not many of you took a dip onto the Express' website this morning, but if you have you might have seen this 'personal finance' story...
It centres around Dragons' Den's Peter Jones taking issue with John Readman's cycling pitch for Ride25, a trip allowing riders to cycle from the UK to Australia in 25 individual chunks. The article highlighted Jones' issues with the £1,250 trip, which includes food, accommodation and any medical expenses. The problem? The pitch was from 2015...
We're not really sure why it's been dug up now...someone must have been watching repeats over Christmas. However, the Express shared Jones' views on the trip...which turned into a rant about cyclists more generally..."I find it difficult enough living out in the country as it is.
"When I see and go through groups of like 50 going down the road, it drives me up the wall. You could have a stream of eight hours long worth of cyclists travelling from here to Amsterdam. I think that’s bloody annoying."
So what did we learn about personal finance? Not much.
British Hour Record holder Dan Bigham has joined Ineos Grenadiers...but not as a rider. The 30-year-old broke Sir Bradley Wiggins' distance in October and worked with the Danish track cycling team at the Olympics, sharing his aerodynamic expertise.
> Dan Bigham breaks Sir Bradley Wiggins' British Hour Record
The WorldTour giants have appointed Bigham to the intriguing role of 'race engineer'.
"His work in the pursuit of time trial and aerodynamic excellence makes Dan Bigham one of the most respected engineers in the cycling world," a team statement explained.
With Bigham's aero skills and the world champion's monstrous power, will anyone able to beat Top Ganna in 2022?
Mark Hodson of the Central Motorway Police Group channelled his inner Surrey traffic cop to educate one unhappy replier claiming Vine should have been in the painted cycle lane.
That's a murder strip not a cycle lane, all it's fit for is collecting debris... I wouldn't use or expect any one else to, I'd be in the "prime" position all the way through that pinch point, @theJeremyVine cycling was excellent, the driver is an incompetent buffoon 👍
— Mark Hodson (@markandcharlie) January 3, 2022
Retired police cycling instructor Anthony Hunt added to Hodson's point, "Jeremy Vine was correct to take that position to protect his daughter from cars or maybe a truck trying to squeeze through and take his daughter out for the sake of five seconds progress. It’s a no-brainer really."
When cycling is life pic.twitter.com/81Trswk1GN
— Cycling Memes (@Cycling_Memes1) January 3, 2022
Cyclo-cross fans might take issue with me saying racing needs to start again. For what it's worth, wrestling control of the telly for the Boxing Day WVA v MVDP v Pidcock battle was well worth it. "They're not even riding their bikes," was heard muttered as the field lugged their machines up the stairs...
With the Australian races cancelled it looked as though Argentina's Vuelta a San Juan would be the season curtain-raiser on the road. Alas, that has now been cancelled too...
New Year, New Job! I’m very excited that tomorrow will be my first official day as a news writer @roadcc. I’ve dreamt of being a cycling journalist since I was 14, so it’s all a bit surreal at the moment! I can’t wait to get started on what will be a fantastic new challenge.
— Ryan Mallon (@ryanmallon92) January 3, 2022
We have a new face to introduce...Ryan has joined the road.cc team. Good news: you won't have to put up with me live blogging every day. Bad news: there isn't any...Happy 2022!
My attempt to convince my daughter that "it's safe to cycle three miles to Chelsea on a Sunday afternoon, don't worry" was always doomed to failure.
Bear in mind — official advice is to move into the centre of the lane as you approach a pinch point, so this driving is bizarre: pic.twitter.com/xyYIXetOjr— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) January 3, 2022
Not even 10am on our first day back and Jeremy Vine has delivered the goods. A "safe" three-mile cycle across town on a Sunday afternoon interrupted by a driver taking issue with the presenter riding in the middle of the lane and not in the painted cycle lane in the door zone.
Needless to say the new year hasn't brought a change in attitudes on social media...
No, that's a negligently designed cycle lane - you should never ride at the edge through a road narrowing. Paint is not protection. Someone with cycle instructor training like me would tell you to ignore that lane as it's showing the most dangerous bit of that road to ride on.
— CyclingMikey tired of road crime. 🇪🇺🇳🇱🇿🇼 (@MikeyCycling) January 3, 2022
Col, this is urgent now. YOU MUST STOP DRIVING UNTIL YOU HAVE RETAKEN YOUR TEST.
— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) January 4, 2022
use the cycle lane-that's what they are for and proving a point by putting your child at risk is madness. the driver was giving the recomended space you drove into their space
— BAC (@BAC64) January 3, 2022
Le départ du cyclisme est capital dans une épreuve de triathlon. La preuve en image.
🎥 fb Médéric Pion pic.twitter.com/6kuDhHUa4T
— David Guénel (@davidguenel) January 2, 2022
Was it really worth clipping your shoes to the pedals to save a few seconds if you're then going spend the next minute faffing about trying to get your feet in?
In fairness, I think we can all sympathise with the clip-in struggle, we've all cocked it up at some point or other. Thankfully there's never normally someone with a camera at a big event ready to capture your crisis and share it to thousands online...
This MUST be a joke…? The camera work is a national treasure.
— Certain (@MatthewCertain) January 3, 2022
Rider 101 got off to a strong start, head of the pack, looking good for a quick exit...unfortunately that pre-clipped in strategy didn't quite go to plan, and soon saw him heading back the way he came. At least 77 was quickly on hand to distract the camera..
Back with 101 and the slow start continued, will someone please help him...oh, here comes 158 running past, going for the moving mount and...he's on the deck. Way to make 101 feel better about life.
Just when you think the shennanigans are complete 11 and 59 keep the party rolling (or perhaps not rolling is a better description)...and then the crowning glory...bike upturned with the chain being put back on. How many of these will just put their shoes on before clipping in next time?