I’m getting beeped at because I’m at the wrong side of the magic paint lane - which as you can see is little better than a farm track - doing 20mph downhill and have held this motorist up for a few seconds in their desperation to reach the traffic lights. #cycling in #Sheffieldpic.twitter.com/7zQsEw3qBR
— CyclingInASkirt (@CyclingInASkirt) January 12, 2022
You can almost see the steam coming out of this driver's ears as the lights turn to yellow as they speed up in a last-ditch bid to avoid the life-changing misfortune of having to wait for 30 seconds at the lights. Even better when the cyclist you've just beeped for apparently holding you up then rolls smugly to the front of the line.
So why did they feel the need to beep? It seems likely the key to that is in this rider's decision to not use the 'cycle lane'. When I say cycle lane, maybe 'painted strip of rutted tarmac closest to the gutter' would be another angle...
It's a 'get out my way' beep, isn't it?
CyclingInASkirt regularly shares clips of cycling issues and poor driving from Sheffield. In this clip, using gravity and one of the Steel City's numerous bergs, they're descending at 20mph... hardly holding the traffic up, is it?
One such previous clip involved an incident on the same stretch of road, perhaps explaining why you would be more vigilant to hold primary position and be seen..."Same stretch of road - damned if you don't, nearly killed if you do...."
Please help me identify this reg & driver - had a VERY lucky escape yesterday (downhill, wet, good brakes saved me) next time, someone else might not be so lucky. #cycling in #Sheffield. I’d like to explain to them why my kids are terrified of me using a bike just to get to work. pic.twitter.com/dNIoVDj15l
— CyclingInASkirt (@CyclingInASkirt) April 30, 2020
Someone needs to read our strength training for cyclists feature, eh Phil?
Toms Skujiņš came out on top of this 'battle' with former pro Phil Gaimon, but which pro would be the best arm wrestler? In the retired category I reckon André Greipel and Marcel Kittel would be tough to beat. Of the current crop...Filippo Ganna or Alexander Kristoff? Although I'm saying Tim Declercq could lever his limbs to Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl's arm wrestling title...
At the other end of the scale: got to be Chris Froome and Nairo Quintana. Sorry chaps, don't think this is one for you.
Thanks for 10.9 million hires! 🎉 🚲
2021 was a record-breaking year for Santander Cycles all thanks to you.
Let’s continue cycling in 2022. Download the Santander Cycles app today to get pedalling ⤵️ https://t.co/26cDbiMa5gpic.twitter.com/I7K1S1bxOe
— Transport for London (@TfL) January 12, 2022
Today I was very pleased with the maintenance of the bicycle path by @GemeenteUtrecht: the red asphalt was swept especially for me 😁👌🏼 #cyclingpic.twitter.com/ZGXWLfzgnr
— De Filmende Fietser (@FilmendeFietser) January 11, 2022
Dutch cycle lanes get...swept clear? No leaves? No broken glass? It's a different world over there...and you can even catch a cheeky tow behind the sweeper...
Oh, and sometimes you can even listen to the news while you commute...
👋🏽Good morning to you 👋🏽
Dutch news from the cycle path - with bonus 🌳🐕🦺🐕🦺and🌅today 😊
🔐🦠👩🏽🎓🧑🏼🎓👨🎓🧠🏥💉#DNFTCPpic.twitter.com/QG4d9q0sI3
— anna holligan 🎙 (@annaholligan) January 12, 2022
Davide Formolo is making a pig's ear of off-season training...(I'll see myself out)...
That seems a bit harsh on the UAE Team Emirates rider who had nowhere to go when the baby boar ran across the road while the Italian was training at 60kph. Formolo injured his wrist in the crash, but hopes nothing is fractured.
"There are many small bones in the hands, and it takes 10 days to show any fractures," Formolo told Gazzetta dello Sport. "We are still working a lot on the right wrist, we are still afraid that there is some fracture. Nothing seems to be broken."
Formolo joked with his Instagram followers..."A wild boar wanted to eat me [...] the 53x11 makes speed to escape if you have legs like me 🤪😂"
Without a doubt our favourite of Formolo's 2021 achievements was his 'longest Hour Record'...rolling his way to a joint new world record of just 918m in...well, an hour...
That's our kind of distance challenge...
Today I ended up cycling down the remnants of the 1930s cycle way on Chester Road in Birmingham. It is a car park for residents, all but one of whom seem to have plenty of space on their drives. @carltonreid@badlyparkedbrumpic.twitter.com/kSQaws8v6j
— 2WG.Brum (@2wheelsgoodBrum) January 11, 2022
Why use the driveway when there's a perfectly good 1930s cycleway to dump your motor?
That's the questions 2 wheels good Brum was asking after weaving around this slalom course...we counted 12 (plus one on the pavement) during the 30-second clip.
And that's just the shorter version...here's the extended edition... (granted, not quite as fun, or long, as the Lord of the Rings extended edition, but fantastic all the same).
Giving some local knowledge, 2 wheels good Brum explained how the 'infra': "Was built in the 1930s and has had some new signage and white lines to create a two-way route for cyclists. It is terrible to ride even when empty, but it has become a car park for local residents, most of who seem to have sufficient parking space on their own property already."
So what did it look like in its heyday?
Here's the same stretch of cycleway, viewed from the other direction, (possibly) in the 1930s. People did cycle on it then. pic.twitter.com/DdZNna2NHq
— 2WG.Brum (@2wheelsgoodBrum) January 11, 2022
What better way is there to start the day than an early walk along the Lee River Section of the Capital Ring?
Going for a walk is a great way of keeping active and healthy when having to work from home. #CapitalRing#WalkThisWay#FakeCommutepic.twitter.com/V1Xg62EIq1
— Will Norman (@willnorman) January 12, 2022
The sun may not be out for very long here in the UK at the minute, but at least it looks pretty as it comes and goes...Walking and Cycling Commissioner Will Norman went for a sunrise walk, prompting others to share their morning commute snaps. Of course, we were more interested in those on two wheels...
Another beautiful sky photo I took this morning on my way to work!
What a view..😍#sunrise#sunrisephotography#beautifulview#cloud#cycling#cyclingtowork#beautifulsunrise#tooting#beautifulsky#clouds#londonpic.twitter.com/3rFZ8CAsrb— Miss Omar (@Auntiekay28) January 11, 2022
Sunsets are alright too...
Reasons why cycling is better: you can stop to take a picture of the sunset. pic.twitter.com/26pqla6P0T
— Mark Wagenbuur (@BicycleDutch) January 11, 2022