Parked in a bike lane? Might get one of these...
Some inconsiderate parking sticker action from this morning!
Stickers from @LondonSpokes on eBay pic.twitter.com/nkptIoTowH— James Bikelover (@Mad_1nventor) January 25, 2023
Or one of these...
Did you do this to the front, too? pic.twitter.com/dL19JPxTw3
— jasonlikesbikes (@jasonlikesbikes) January 25, 2023
We've seen plenty of similar public-spirited responses over the years, like these homemade parking tickets which... well, didn't go down very well with those who feel entitled to stop wherever works for them...
> Cyclist leaves homemade parking tickets on cars in the bike lane...gets told to f*&! off
Or how about the slightly more extreme approach of that self-professed vigilante over in France...
"Live to annoy the annoyers"
> Vigilante cyclist's graffiti attacks on cars blocking bike lanes
Or perhaps the inspiration was the now-famous YPLAC stickers? Yep, that's 'you park like a ... ' and yes, the 'c' is exactly what you're expecting...
Twelve drivers on their phones in #Edinburgh today, in about an hour of cycling time. That's 72 endorsement points and £2,400 of fines @PoliceScotland could issue if they'd delivered the fabled dashcam portal. Sadly I don't have two days to report them all the old-fashioned way. pic.twitter.com/moe2Bfvft8
— Deacon Thurston 🚴♂️ (@DeaconThurston) January 24, 2023
Nothing like the return of an old favourite...
...and now I've tagged them I discover I've caught one of these before, in almost exactly the same spot: https://t.co/xHMyD6dGiS
— Deacon Thurston 🚴♂️ (@DeaconThurston) January 24, 2023
As Deacon alludes to above, Police Scotland last year announced funding for a new National Dashcam Safety Portal, but the yet to be rolled-out scheme has since been under review and could be axed, prompting a campaign from Cycling UK to save it.
Submissions from Scotland presently should go through the time-consuming Police Scotland Online Reporting Form, full details of how to report can be found in our handy feature...
> Here's what to do if you capture a near miss, close pass or collision on camera while cycling
The very one!
— Deacon Thurston 🚴♂️ (@DeaconThurston) January 25, 2023
At least two hours of my time for each with archaic @PoliceScotland processes, sadly.
— Deacon Thurston 🚴♂️ (@DeaconThurston) January 25, 2023
On the topic of riders catching phone-using motorists, yesterday we shared the story of a road.cc reader who was assaulted and knocked off his bike on Christmas Eve 2021 after challenging a driver for their phone use...
> Driver assaulted cyclist for questioning mobile phone use
Akil James was sentenced at Westminster Magistrate's Court in November and received five penalty points on his driving licence, a £2,000 fine, £620 costs to the Crown Prosecution Service, £200 victim surcharge and £500 compensation to the cyclist (still unreceived).
In another of our, as always, accurate and representative polls (how big do you want your pinch of salt?) 70 per cent of you said you wouldn't be paying the new price for a Strava subscription...
With that we'll leave it there. Same place, same time tomorrow...
Does Rishi Sunak know Quintana's been raiding his wardrobe? https://t.co/DmiNGa6h7n
— Simon Warren (@100Climbs) January 25, 2023
Any questions?
"Sí, ¿Sabe Rishi Sunak que has estado asaltando su guardarropa?
(Feel free to correct that in the comments)
Full image uncropped...
Simpson Park in Harworth near Doncaster has been named to pay tribute to the British cycling legend Tom Simpson. The rider who paved the way for so many greats of the sport from our little island, Simpson wore the rainbow bands of World Champion in 1966 having won the title in San Sebastián a year earlier.
He also won three Monuments during his career (Tour of Flanders 1961, Milan-San Remo 1964, Il Lombardia 1965) but tragically died on the upper slopes of Mont Ventoux during a stage of the 1967 Tour de France.
The Doncaster Free Press today writes that Simpson's name will be given to the new development of 132 two to five bedroom "stylish, spacious homes".
I'm only a vice president, but otherwise the bike parking here is pretty great. Right by the entrance too 👍😉 pic.twitter.com/XeMqxLRQU9
— Dave McCraw (@david_mccraw) January 25, 2023
Well, that was a fun press conference. The announcement widely expected to be Nairo walking away from cycling for good turned into a remake of Leo as Jordan Belfort and that famous Wolf of Wall Street scene...
— I'M NOT FUCKING LEAVING (@NairoInGreen) January 25, 2023
"Today I want to tell you that I am in very good shape to continue (...) I do not give up and I continue forward"...
☀☕ “Hoy quiero decirles que estoy en muy buena forma para seguir (…) no me rindo y sigo hacia adelante”, Nairo Quintana ciclista colombiano#PrimerToquepic.twitter.com/aKPWJUIufK
— Win Sports TV (@WinSportsTV) January 25, 2023
Quintana thanked the domestic teams for their interest but stressed he wants to continue at the top level. Let's see if there's anyone keen with the budget and space for a diminutive enigmatic Colombian climber...
The BBC reports Maindy Park Velodrome, where Geraint Thomas first started cycling, is a step closer to demolition after an independent committee ruled a land swap can go ahead.
The land swap between Maindy Park and Caedelyn Park, Rhiwbina, would see the velodrome demolished to make way for an expansion to Cathays High School, and now just needs to be approved by the Charity Commission.
Once approved the velodrome will be relocated to Cardiff Bay's International Sports Village. Speaking at the meeting Ian Vincent, on behalf of the Cardiff Civic Society, opposed the move.
"Caedelyn Park, the proposed substitute, is already a public recreation area and the proposed land swap offers no gains whatsoever for residents," he argued.
You might have seen Ryan's story by now. DCS Andy Cox had this to say...
We need individuals, as well as the wider system, to stop victim blaming. Instead, let’s relentlessly target the cause of road harm, while supporting crash victims. This will ultimately lead to a safer travel environment for all. https://t.co/nIDasC0kDM
— Andy Cox (@AndyCoxDCS) January 25, 2023
Full story here: Cyclist hit by truck driver has compensation cut after judge says lack of helmet contributed to injuries
A little update from the racing over in Argentina yesterday...
On repeat 🔁 #VueltaSJ2023pic.twitter.com/Q8WnD81cLi
— Trek-Segafredo (@TrekSegafredo) January 24, 2023
Trek-Segafredo's Quinn Simmons getting his first win of the year, holding off a surging bunch led home by Max Richeze and Sam Bennett. Today, things tilt upwards, the peloton taking on a bizarre stage, climbing to 2,221m up a fairly easy climb for the pros, topping out with 112km of descent and gentle uphill to the finish...
Stage 4 @vueltasanjuanok
The day that covers the most climbing this week but due to rather low gradients there might still be a chance for the fast men 👊🏼📍 Villicum ➡️ Barreal
🚩 Start 14:36 local / 18:36 CET
🏁 Finish ca. 19:30 local / 23:30 CET
🛣️ 196km pic.twitter.com/IUWWI86t8L— BORA – hansgrohe (@BORAhansgrohe) January 25, 2023
Plenty of comments on Strava to round up. A real mixed bag, many pointing to the annual price rise being equivalent to 58p per month, but for others this seems to be the straw-va that broke the camel's back...
OnYerBike: " I'd happily apply Hanlon's razor in this case. Strava have always had a complicated relationship with subscriptions. I think the fundamental issue is that the success of Strava is built on the fact the 'everyone is on it' which relies on a good, free option. And yet they rely on people paying for the premium option to bring in revenue.
"Take away the free option, or take away too many features, and you lose that 'community'. But the better the free option is, the less motivation people have to upgrade to premium.
"And of course there is constant competition and innovation. A particular limitation of Strava is it only captures 'workouts', where as more and more people have devices on 24/7 recording things like heart rate and steps, and want that information to be integrated too (as done by e.g. Garmin Connect)."
Off the back: "Its fair to say that most people who subscribe to Strava ride regularly and probably spend a fortune on all manner of bike related things. The cost of £2 a month more is less than I pay for a coffee on a longish ride of which I probably do more than 3-4 times a in that time frame. I doubt many will notice that much of a change for what you get.
"I still maintain that Strava needs to streamline a lot of its service. Its database must be enormous now and that's probably costing them more to maintain and keep running. They could do a lot to keep costs down ie remove all rides from over five years (or so) keeping KOM records only. Get rid of the pointless local legend. it serves zero purpose. They could also do more to improve the AI on dodgy KOMs removal and flagging any obviously done in vehicles or on e-bikes. If Strava is anything, its a leaderboard for egos. If that single USP data isn't reliable in that area than what is Strava for?"
S13SFC: "I've concluded that I don't really need premium as all the data I really need is on Garmin Connect anyway. I really only used it for route planning and RWGPS does that just as well for free."
On Facebook, of 32 comments, more than a few said they'd cancelled their subscription or would be soon. However, there were almost as many comments to the same effect as Gary Bradbury's... "When we put percentages on it, it can sound like a huge rise. My annual subscription hasn't changed since about 2014. It's now going up from £48 to £55. It's hardly worth getting your knickers in a twist about. It's gone up £7. Many of us happily pay £2.70-£3.50 for a cup of coffee, or £6-£7 for a pint of beer. My subscription has gone up from 92p to £1.05 per week. For me, it’s still quite a cheap product that I like using."
Strava, Strava, Strava...
The app which conquered the cycling world faced something of a backlash to start 2023 after fairly substantial subscriber price hikes were communicated to users, not by the company directly but through media reports, something Strava apologised for yesterday...
> "Our intention was not to hide these changes": Strava apologises for price hike controversy
But with the price now £8.99 per month for a monthly subscription or £54.99 annually (plus the sickener of not being told) we thought we'd ask you lot if you'll be keeping your subscription...
Has it gone up? From when? Had no idea. Yes they should have communicated it then! 😡
— ncook (@NatnattyNcook) January 24, 2023
Can’t ever remember an increase before . Still the best free fitness app there is . I am happy to pay the £7 per year increase especially if it allows Strava to keep the basic service free for others 🚴♂️
— Marcus_velo_plus🚴 (@mtarbard) January 25, 2023
People can indicate their discontent by cancelling. Personally I won’t be as still think it represents good value for money. Paid annually it works out at less than £5 a month. Not bad at all for the premium features included, in my opinion
— Dave Blackwell (@DaveBla01480618) January 24, 2023
Canceled mine. I think you guys told me.
— Porto Pablo (@Pablo_OBeefy) January 24, 2023