Following this morning’s blog entry, one of the founders of the NFT and Blockchain-based Bike Club, Tyler Benedict, got in touch with road.cc to defend the project.
Benedict, who also founded the cycling tech blog Bikerumor, said that despite the criticisms directed at the project on social media, the launch of Bike Club is “a good thing for the cycling community”.
“There are a lot of NFT scams out there, for sure,” Tyler told road.cc.
“You don’t need to take my word for it, or Rich’s, or anyone else’s, but the four founders have put our real names and identities behind Bike Club, along with our combined 60+ years in the industry, so our reputations are on the line.
“This isn’t something we take lightly, nor is the responsibility to deliver on the promises we’re making.
“We believe we’re building something truly special here. I think we’re going to surprise a lot of people (in a very, very good way).”
Tyler and artist Rich Mitch will appear on an upcoming episode of the road.cc Podcast to discuss their plans for Bike Club, both fungible and non-fungible. So keep an eye on the blockchain for that...
Constant beeping too! I just overheard these two lovely chaps saying “don’t these drivers know about the changes to the Highway Code?” QUITE chaps! They are up for the evening from Plymouth and just asked if all of London is like this. 😥😥😥 2/3 pic.twitter.com/pzfQybV4iX
— Carla Francome (@carlafrancome) February 5, 2022
Here's a tale from the weekend from road.cc's own Simon MacMichael:
My mate Col got smacked in the ear by a wayward practice shot by one of the subs at half-time @DulwichHamletFC yesterday, he was a bit out of it for a few minutes.
Bit later on, he got his cycle helmet out of his bag and stuck it on, much to the amusement of The Rabble 🤣 pic.twitter.com/htlfjhnT9a— Simon MacMichael (@simonmacmichael) February 6, 2022
What this tweet doesn’t mention in just how fast the ball was travelling … curling and dipping, but missing the goal (which I presume was the intended target) and smacking my friend squarely on the right ear.
It was like a sucker punch and it’s fair to say he didn’t quite know where he was for a couple of minutes, and someone went and found a couple of paramedics who checked him over and made sure everything was okay.
A few minutes later, he said, “Hang on… ” and started rummaging around in his bag, pulled out his cycle helmet and stuck it on, which probably got the biggest cheer of the second half from the home crowd on an afternoon that ended in a 3-1 defeat.
As it turned out, lightning – or in this case, the football – didn’t strike twice and the helmet was not put to test.
Haven't seen anything as blatantly punishable as this all season. What's Van Alphen done to her to warrant this treatment I wonder? https://t.co/fT23DbU59i
— Katy M (@writebikerepeat) February 5, 2022
It’s that time of the year again, folks!
Remco Evenepoel’s late implosion on Friday’s stage of the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, and subsequent criticism of the race organisers for including a particular rough section of gravel road in the final kilometres of the stage, has provoked another of cycling’s endlessly enduring pub debates: Do gravels/cobbles/wet descents/extreme weather/ridiculously steep climbs [delete as appropriate] belong in road racing?
After losing the yellow jersey to Aleksandr Vlasov, Remco claimed that the gravel section, which saw Alejandro Valverde puncture while in the lead group, was “getting close to mountain biking” and that the race “was hard enough already”.
“Sometimes in the teams and in the bunch, there is frustration that we go on such small roads that are, I’m not going to say dangerous, but you cannot win something with it, but you can lose it. You can have a flat tyre so it’s always a risk,” the Belgian prodigy said.
Remco’s views were backed up UAE Team Emirate’s Matteo Trentin, who told Cyclingnews that gravel and cobbled sections shouldn’t be included in stage races and instead should be limited to their genre-specific classics, such as Strade Bianche and Paris-Roubaix respectively.
“I am not keen to see gravel in a stage race. I think we are going too far, to a spectacle we don’t need,” said Trentin.
“Maybe [Friday] was not mountain-biking, but for sure it was gravel racing. If you want to find gravel racing there are circuits for that.
“Strade Bianche is Strade Bianche, it’s a race that was born and developed that way. It’s also special because of the Tuscany roads which are not the same as all the other gravel roads you can find in Italy. Rather than try to replicate that, maybe it’s better to find something that is special to this race.
“It’s hard enough as it is and we saw in the past that a lot of GC contenders lost a lot in the cobbled sections. But there is a reason why there are Grand Tour riders and there are Classics riders. You cannot mix the two things.”
The debate inevitably spilled over to social media, where everyone’s favourite DS Johan Bruyneel weighed in, arguing that “road cycling is not a circus”:
Tour de France 1936 —-> Vuelta Valencia 2022… Come on, people! Road cycling is not a circus. AND TO ALL PRO-CYCLISTS: you are not a circus animal, so don’t allow anyone to treat you like one… Stuff like this makes no sense. I’m sure that those in the know will agree. pic.twitter.com/M3Fa0Z65pZ
— Johan Bruyneel (@JohanBruyneel) February 5, 2022
Not agree. There was already a very steep good road next to the gravel. The winner would be the same. And the section was sand and stones, not a stade bianchi section. And it does not belong in a first season stage race, there was no danger but it had no value also.
— Yves Lampaert (@yveslampaert) February 5, 2022
I don't think it's the end of the world if some stage races use some 'gravel' sectors, as long as they are rideable for road bikes though. Just don't overuse them and transform your race into a lottery circus. And remember: MTB, gravel, cyclocross racing exist too. Separately.
— Mihai Simion (@faustocoppi60) February 6, 2022
A 10% climb in gravel road is not dangerous. Unmarked road furniture is exposed barrier feet are, technical and/or downhill sprint finishes are, excess of motorbikes is.
Do not fall into the trap of thinking that what happened yesterday is what needs to change. https://t.co/qTo3u8mFzj
— Rúben Silva (@EchelonsHub) February 5, 2022
What do you think? Does gravel belong in professional road racing? Or should we be more concerned about other elements of race safety? Let us know!
An interesting debate started on Twitter yesterday concerning the language we as cyclists use to promote our favourite activity, mode of transport, sport, or hobby, especially when it comes to disability.
The debate began when disabled activist Charli Clement tweeted a photo of a sign in the Library of Birmingham which instructed visitors to “burn calories, not electricity” by using the stairs:
tw // calories
This is so grim from @LibraryofBham. Disabled people shouldn’t feel ashamed for needing to use a lift that uses electricity, and many others will be triggered by talk of calories and exercise. There’s no need for this in a public library. pic.twitter.com/lqGdgmxGxk
— Charli Clement (@charliclement_) February 5, 2022
One Twitter user, who we featured on the blog last week, questioned whether there was anything wrong with the sign, saying: “It seems like the same argument as saying that we shouldn't encourage people to ride bikes because not everyone is able to ride a bike.
“Also, if people who don't need it don't use it, the people who DO need it won't have to wait so long for it to arrive.”
Judy’s reply prompted further discussion – led by Scottish historian and disability campaigner Dr Michael Riordan – on how cycling, as an activity, promotes and presents itself:
Which doesn’t mean I am anti-cycling (I’m not), or that we should try to make cycling accessible to more disabled people (we should), but claims cycling is a virtuous activity can exclude many from the virtuous elite, so cycling promotion needs to be more careful with language
— Dr. Michael B. Riordan (@michael_riordan) February 6, 2022
Protected cycle lanes are actually about providing options for people who don't currently cycle (because they feel it's unsafe). Children, elderly, etc are in those groups. It's not about fit people getting anywhere faster.
— Sarah Harbour (@LwtEmmaBird) February 6, 2022
for many elderly/disabled people cycling not going to be viable form of transport (mode use stats show this). Disabled folk weren’t inc’d in cycle-first strategies like London’s. Believe in good infrastructure, but presenting cycling as virtuous risks alienating those who can’t
— Dr. Michael B. Riordan (@michael_riordan) February 6, 2022
I want a walk/roll first policy.
That's nearly everyone.
Cyclists are next on the list. Not first.
— dee harvey (@deeharvey) February 6, 2022
What do you think? Should we be more careful with the language we use to promote cycling? And is it true that we should we try to avoid presenting cycling and cyclists as part of an exclusive and “virtuous elite”?
For some reason, cyclists aren't using the new protected bike lane. pic.twitter.com/4179YUxZCD
— Peter Flax (@Pflax1) February 6, 2022
If you’re one of those riders who enjoys consistently telling the club run that you could hang on during a pro race, then you’re in luck.
Elite is bringing out a new monthly race series on Zwift called the Elite Pro Series, giving amateur riders the unique opportunity to line up on the same start line as professional cyclists.
Movistar and Équipe Cycliste Groupama-FDJ pros are confirmed for the first round, as well as riders from the men’s and women’s Movistar eTeam.
Courses will vary from month to month so everyone gets a chance to race on a course that suits their strengths.
Kicking off on 17 February at 6.30pm GMT, the first event will be held on the Magnificent 8 course, in Zwift’s main map, Watopia.
The length of the course is 28.6km (17.8 miles) and has minimal elevation gain (131m, 430 ft) - it’s one of the flatter routes, with the only climb being the reverse Hilly KOM. So suitable for those who have, shall we say, neglected the turbo trainer over the winter…
The six pros that are competing are: Matteo Jorgenson (Movistar Team), Alicia González (Movistar Team), Tobias Ludvigsson (Groupama-FDJ), Lewis Askey (Groupama-FDJ), Vidar Mehl (Movistar eTeam) and Steph Clutterbuck (Movistar eTeam).
If you think you can hang with the pros, you can register on Zwift’s website.
To be honest, I’m still banging on about the time I rode up the Oude Kwaremont with Johan Museeuw on RGT…
Fancy a ride? 🚲✨ pic.twitter.com/Zd1yOI4rou
— Eurovision Song Contest (@Eurovision) February 6, 2022
For cycling followers, Sanremo is synonymous with La Primavera, La Classicissima, the place where the first monument winner of the season is crowned.
But for fans of Eurovision, the Ligurian coastal town is the home of the Festival di Sanremo, the longest-running annual TV music competition in the world.
This year, one act decided to combine the city’s two most famous exports by wheeling diamond BMX bikes on to the stage for their performance.
Anyone who was hoping that the bikes were a tribute to cycling’s longest classic (like Queen’s Bicycle Race was inspired by the Tour de France) will be disappointed to hear that Mahmood, a former Eurovision entrant for Italy and one half of the winning duo at this year’s festival, admitted that the bikes “have no meaning at all” and that he’s just “a bit loony”.
Ah well, perhaps we’ll be treated to an homage to the sport’s oldest classic, Milano-Torino, when BMX bandits Mahmood and Blanco represent Italy during May’s Eurovision Song Contest in Turin. Maybe Graham Norton will put in a word…
Het was een van de zwaarste edities tot nu toe. Wind, regen, zand, alles werd tegen de deelnemers aangegooid met snelheden tot 90 km/u. Fietspetje af voor iedereen die de Kering heeft getrotseerd op een fiets zonder versnelling maar met hoog stuur 🙌💪⚡️🌨💨🚴🏼 #nktegenwindfietsenpic.twitter.com/corir7Zy9d
— NK Tegenwindfietsen (@NKTegenwind) February 6, 2022
Forget Valenciana, forget Bessèges, and definitely forget the Saudi Tour – the real racing this weekend was to be found on a nine-kilometre dam by the North Sea.
The Dutch Headwind Cycling Championship is an annual time trial event which takes place on the Oosterscheldekering barrier during stormy weather.
Participants have to ride the time trial on a high bar, single speed bike provided by the organisers. As extremely windy conditions – of Wind Force 7 or higher – are necessary to stage the event, the race has no fixed date on the calendar. Riders have to be prepared at any time to race and are warned by the organisers three days before a storm is due.
This year, the 200 entrants faced one of the hardest editions to date – with wind speeds of up to 57mph, along with rain and sand thrown in for good measure.
Jurjun van der Velde won the men’s event, covering the 8.5 kilometre course in 20 minutes 23 seconds, while Lisa Scheenaard, an Olympic medallist in the double sculls, won the women’s race with a time of 22 minutes 53 seconds.
Not sure what the UCI’s extreme weather protocol makes of the whole thing…
The Dutch National Headwind Championship combines two of the nation’s greatest annoyances: cycling and weather. #FunFact There is not a single Dutch person on the planet who has not used either or both of these things as an excuse for being late. https://t.co/ceRIgSE84L
— Richard de Nooy (@RicharddeNooy) February 6, 2022
Dutch Headwind Championship today. Nutters. https://t.co/KcV6U8SfkD
— Ned Boulting (@nedboulting) February 6, 2022
Matt Stephens may have been commentating on the Tour of Valencia for GCN over the weekend, but it wasn’t just his astute observations about sprint finishes and – bizarrely – beekeeping that have caused a stir on Twitter.
On Saturday, the former pro turned broadcaster announced (in a very PR, copy-and-paste kind of way) that he was joining a “new, exciting project” – Bike Club, “the first blockchain based cycling club”.
Loving my new avatar designed by @rich_mitch🤩 It’s part of a new, exciting project; @bikeclubnft which is the the first blockchain based cycling club. There’s some cool plans afoot and I’ll be chatting at 17.30 GMT on their @discord so join me! Invite 👉🏼 https://t.co/SesLSNMbRCpic.twitter.com/1gB06kzd3b
— Matt Stephens (@RealStephens) February 5, 2022
Okay, Matt, we’ll bite. So what’s Bike Club? Well, Bike Club is a project co-founded at the end of last year by the cycling artist Rich Mitch (real name Richard Mitchelson) which allows members to claim one of 10,000 unique avatars in the form of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) that he has designed, serving as proof of membership. Bike Club claims it is "the first-ever blockchain-based cycling club and NFT project built for the global cycling community."
Ah, NFTs. I’ve heard of them (though I can’t admit that I fully understand them – does anyone?). From what I gather, and bear with me if you’re taking notes at the back, you can purchase an NFT of an avatar of yourself from Bike Club, designed by Rich Mitch.
That NFT doesn’t actually exist in the real world, but a digital proof of ownership (which proves, however many times somebody right clicks your image, that you’re the true owner of it) is stored in a big internet safe known as the Blockchain, which requires so much energy that it costs a considerable chunk of the Amazon rainforest to run. So far, so good?
NFTs have been heavily criticised in recent months, with some claiming that they form part of financial scams, exploit art creators, and help destroy the planet.
It’s all a bit strange at the moment, made even stranger by the number of celebrities and sportspeople rushing to endorse this new digital craze. Last month, Chelsea’s former captain-leader-legend John Terry announced that he had become an ambassador (or ‘head coach’) for the Ape Kids Club FC, a football-based NFT project marketed at children. And try watching this Jimmy Fallon segment on NFTs with Paris Hilton without dying of second-hand cringe.
Bike Club isn’t the first NFT-based cycling scheme, however. In November 2021 Wout van Aert sold three of his biggest wins as NFTs, while an NFT image of a Colnago bicycle sold for a staggering $8,600 earlier in the year.
Oh, and if that wasn’t enough – the most trustworthy cyclist of all time, Big Tex himself, has jumped aboard the NFT train (I wonder if it’s more nuclear powered than his old US Postal train?).
In Bike Club’s defence, there do seem to be some tangible – or should that be fungible? – benefits associated with membership, including the promise of exclusive previews of new products from partner brands or the chance to ride with pros. The group also claims that a portion of the proceeds will go to cycling charities.
Nevertheless, Stephens’ announcement ensured that the former British national champion came in for some flak on Twitter, with many criticising the environmental impact of NFTs and the lack of transparency surrounding them.
Cycling writer Simon Warren tweeted that the project was “catastrophic for the environment”, while another user said that NFTs were “terrible for the environment at worst, and a scam at best”.
Not happy that this creates as much carbon as driving a large car 500 miles. I hope very few of these are created.
Literally nothing we need.#ClimateCrisis#environment
— Donwahn (@donnyb473) February 6, 2022
You forgot the #ad, Matt.
— Benji Naesen (@BenjiNaesen) February 5, 2022
Speaking of LA, does this meme win the internet for today?
I mean, we've been here before, right? pic.twitter.com/7JQMolqfFL
— How The Race Was Won® (@Cyclocosm) February 7, 2022
Rich Mitch, who has illustrated covers for cycling magazines like Rouleur, defended the project from some of the accusations, writing: “I can guarantee you this isn't a scam”.
He also addressed the environmental cost of NFTs and how this could potentially be rectified in the future:
Well Benji, (nice to chat to you btw) I can't guarantee that, as I don't work for Etherium 😁 I guess I'm kinda hoping, like really hoping. And we're looking at other coins with better green credentials and lower gas fees all the time. It's what we talk about a lot before we mint
— Rich Mitch (@rich_mitch) February 5, 2022
So what do you think? Are NFTs the future of cycling fandom or merely the latest in a long line of online snake oil? Or are you still not fully sure what on earth we’re on about?