Following on from our discussion about ‘murder strips’ yesterday, some of you have been pointing out instances where cycle lanes – while technically segregated from cars – may as well not be there.
Tim Holman sent us this particularly galling example, with the caption “one for the hall of shame”. It’s not like the cycle lane was clearly marked near where the car was parked or anything…
Here’s another one, this time from Twitter, which led one user to sigh (I’m employing poetic license here, obviously they were typing and I have no way to tell what else they were doing): “Ah, the old extra parking space cycle lane. I know them well.”
But why don't cyclists use the cycle lanes?@graveshambcpic.twitter.com/wwLqKjn113
— Gazza Biker (@gazzabiker) January 11, 2022
Have you got any other examples of might-as-well-be-invisible bike lanes?
My favourite actor, Gene Hackman, 91, with his new bike! Cycling, the secret to a long and happy life! #keeptappingitoutpic.twitter.com/U0JO9XasVr
— Michael Smiley (@mrmichaelsmiley) January 10, 2022
While he may be famous for starring in one of the most iconic and dangerous car chases in cinema history, it turns out Gene Hackman is a big fan of two wheels.
Yesterday Northern Irish comedian and actor Michael Smiley shared a photo of the French Connection and Unforgiven star, who turns 92 at the end of the month, when he bought his new Trek e-bike a few years ago.
Hackman has been a keen cyclist for many years. In 2012 he was struck by a driver in a pickup truck when cycling in the Florida Keys, an incident which fortunately has not dented his enthusiasm for riding his bike.
For anyone who has doubts about the place of e-bikes in the cycling world, Smiley had a simple response:
When people ask me if riding an ebike is cheating. Here is my answer, Gene Hackman rides an ebike! So stick it up yer tail pipe! https://t.co/SWHPe1kXze
— Michael Smiley (@mrmichaelsmiley) January 10, 2022
Meanwhile, in the good ol’ US of A…
In this next clip, it was the texting motorist who was given quite the scare in Auld Reekie:
Take me to the Rue de Rivoli now, please...
Freedom 🚲
🎥 @EmmanuelSPV
pic.twitter.com/ZucFq6egWh— Jonathan Berk (@berkie1) January 11, 2022
British Cycling announced yesterday that the national track championships, due to be held in Newport at the end of January, have been postponed.
Covid restrictions, especially concerning sporting events, are currently much tighter in Wales than they are in England (Scotland and Northern Ireland also have put similar rules in place since Christmas). According to the Welsh government’s current guidelines, a maximum of 50 people can attend a sporting event outdoors, and only 30 can gather inside.
In a statement British Cycling said, “the current restrictions – which are now expected to remain in place for the foreseeable future – mean that delivering the event would have required strict controls on rider movements and significant changes to the event schedule, severely diminishing the event experience for all.”
The championships have been rescheduled for the first weekend in March. Everything will be better then, surely?
Whoever knew wool could be so divisive? We were just minding our business yesterday when we realised that quite a lengthy debate had started over on a review of the Albion Winter Socks published over the weekend. The thread is now at 71 comments and counting...
One of those comments was from our Community Editor Simon, noting that we're currently cooking up a feature on the use of Merino wool in the bike industry, whether it's sustainable and what brands are doing to mitigate their carbon footprint while producing Merino clothing. What do you think? Don't be sheepish...
Your Street ➡️ Our Beat
One of the concerns our residents mention is speeding and our specialist teams are on the case. Their duties are wide and varied but catching people doing 51 in a 30 is always worth it.#CommunitySpeedWatch
Speed Awareness - https://t.co/Ibg0GLuB4fpic.twitter.com/9OsCxVTn9s— Merton Police (@MPSMerton) January 10, 2022
While the sentiment behind this scheme must be commended, surely one of them realised where they were standing?
According to Garmin, and anyone who has been paying attention, we’re gravel riding more than ever before.
The tech company released its 2021 Fitness report which reveals that gravel riding massively grew in Western Europe last year, with 59.86% more gravel cycling rides logged in 2021. This trend was mirrored across the globe, but at a slightly lower rate, with all regions across the world reporting at least a 29% increase in logged gravel rides.
While adventure riding is on the rise, so is not leaving the house apparently. The number of indoor activities logged by Garmin users interestingly increased by twice as much as outdoor activities year over year.
Fitness sessions that took place indoors also rose considerably, by 20.54% in 2021 over 2020, with Pilates and yoga leading the way with a 108.30% and 45.55% year-over-year percentage increase respectively.
Speaking of the 'Essex Express' Cav (that's his nickname isn't it?):
#AccidentalPartridgehttps://t.co/cZMIx1sgzZ
— Accidental Partridge (@AccidentalP) January 11, 2022
This of course has reminded me of the greatest ever actual Partridge moment, when he reviewed the 1994 Tour de France…
“You join me in the helicopter now as we look down on these cyclists who look somehow like cattle in a mad way. But cattle on bikes.”
Great stage win by Klaus Bin, by the way. It's such a pity injuries ruined his career.
Waiting for Sue Grey is like Cofidis waiting for the final climb of the day.
Bit niche that one, but gets me back to cycling.
Have a great Tuesday folks, and watch out for a new Never Strays Far to drop later on...@Millarmind will be rounding up all the very latest cycling.
— Ned Boulting (@nedboulting) January 11, 2022
In that case, Boris Johnson must be the Haimar Zubeldia of lockdown parties. Everyone knows he was there, but nobody can remember seeing him…
This is one of the new jerseys we are introducing to the AW21 CC.Mamnick range of cycling kit. Expect the first few pieces to be available tomorrow. Produced in very small numbers, the most exclusive kit in the world today and proven at UCI World Tour level 🌍 #keepyompinpic.twitter.com/7WyuBQPZlP
— Mamnick™ (@Mamnick) October 25, 2021
Anyone remember this, shall we say, interesting advertisement from Sheffield-based cycling clothing firm Mamnick?
In case you missed it, in October Mamnick released a new range of jerseys which were accompanied by a controversy-courting, gun-featuring Twitter ad.
(Of course, drawing parallels between bike riding and military combat is hardly a novel idea – just listen to any cycling commentator.)
When the complaints inevitably started flooding in, the brand attempted to keep up the edgelord vibe with a series of un-PC, “damn the consequences” replies.
They also kill bad guys like Osama Bin Laden, so it’s not all bad news.
— Mamnick™ (@Mamnick) October 25, 2021
Sorry to disappoint you, Joanna.
We will decide what is appropriate when it comes to marketing and taking marketing risks. We will deal with the consequences (if there are any) of doing so.
Will we also not cower or by summoned by the Twitter-mobs of the eternally offended.
— Mamnick™ (@Mamnick) October 26, 2021
Well, it turns out there are consequences. The Advertising Standards Authority got in touch, informing Mamnick’s owner Thom Barnett that the ad breached UK advertising code.
According to the letter, Barnett has until 17 January to withdraw the ad. Predictably enough, Mamnick posted the confidential letter on their Twitter account, along with the offending promotional photo (I bet American teen sitcom characters from the eighties think this guy’s the coolest).
The latest from ASA regarding the attached image for those interested ... pic.twitter.com/jdjaxFZ7T3
— Mamnick™ (@Mamnick) January 10, 2022
While it appears that this is exactly what the clothing company wanted to happen when it published the original ad, I wonder if they will be maintain their ‘edgy’ persona when the sanctions start rolling in.
Or maybe they’ll change tack completely and claim that it was biathlon jersey all along…