If you're having a long Wednesday console yourself by remembering that at least you aren't involved with two giant cycling retail websites that are down just days after a major rebrand...
We've contacted Wiggle to try to work out what's going on, if it's related to last week's revamp, and if there's an indication of when the sites will be back up. In the meantime disgruntled customers' screenshots of the websites are being shared on social media, one user said the revamp had been "much-needed" but has turned out to be a "disaster"...
New Energy…. Website offline 🤷. It’s getting worse. pic.twitter.com/CUz5bmcrTF
— jif (@jifdave) May 3, 2023
No word from Wiggle or CRC's social media accounts yet, one unanswered customer saying: "The website is currently out... any idea when it will be back up and working? My guess is your developers (or the company you have employed) is a bit stressed..."
Another added: "Hi I need to place an order today with next day delivery using my Wiggle+ but I keep getting an error page on the checkout saying 'we'll be back soon'. Can you please assist?"
This all comes a week on from the rebrand and revamped website, a move that certainly didn't go down well with everyone, something more than a few of you were keen to point out on last Wednesday's live blog...
We'll bring you more once we've got it...
Happy switch-out kit day to all who celebrate...
In a now annual tradition to avoid clashing with the maglia rosa leader's jersey, EF Education-EasyPost have revealed the eye-catching (or garish, depending who you ask) Rapha kit they'll be wearing for the month of May.
This year's edition is made from 72 per cent excess material to mark the launch of Rapha's new 'Rapha Excess' programme, an initiative turning surplus materials into new products to help minimise impact and reduce waste.
Launching an Excess collection of cyclewear, Rapha acknowledges that "as a clothing brand our business will never be totally sustainable". Including men's and women's Pro Team bib shorts, men's and women's Pro Team aero jersey, men's and women's Pro Team training jersey, t-shirts, socks and musette, Rapha says the collection saved approximately 2303m of excess fabric and 24kg of yarn in total, with excess zips, elastics and labels used where possible.
What do you think?
🏁Etapa 3 | Stage 3
🙋🏻♂️🏆 @marianne_vos - @JumboVismaWomen🏆#LaVueltaFemeninapic.twitter.com/LvXKyVerZ9
— La Vuelta Femenina by Carrefour.es (@LaVueltaFem) May 3, 2023
Marianne Vos has won the fastest ever stage of La Vuelta Femenina, yep, that's right, at 45.6km/h the women's peloton covered the 157.8km from Elche de la Sierra to La Roda in just 3:27:38. Well, that was Vos' time at least, some less fortunate riders suffered in the crosswinds and were shelled out the back, losing valuable seconds.
The legendary Dutch rider strengthened her grip on the red leader's jersey in the process and now holds a 13-second advantage over returning American star Chloe Dygert.
Of course this is a Grand Tour, with all the main climbing stages to come, so the likes of compatriots Annemiek van Vleuten and Demi Vollering will be looking to pressure Vos when the road tilts upwards. For now, with another lumpy sprint stage tomorrow, the Jumbo-Visma rider could well continue to strengthen her lead.
Obligatory midweek D&B on the Bike content... (tick it off your live blog bingo sheets)...
Some video of @domwhiting's Drum & Bass on the bike in Berlin last weekend.
Fantastic day for it! pic.twitter.com/fzTazpRBDC
— Kevin C (@transportkev) May 2, 2023
Riders of the Giro d'Italia, I have some bad news;
VeloViewer says that you'll have almost 3000 more metres of climbing to do than the official Giro website.
Oh, and you'll be doing a total of 111km in the neutralised zones.
Apart from that, it all looks straight forward.
— Daniel Lloyd? (@daniellloyd1) May 3, 2023
So yeah, that's the bad news. Oh, wait, yep, sorry, there's more...
First week of the Giro could be interesting pic.twitter.com/9gZOgXY8WQ
— Ned Boulting 🏳️⚧️ (@nedboulting) May 2, 2023
At least there's no big sprinters like... oh, I don't know... Mark Cavendish at the race... ah, right, yes, he is down for the race.
Hey, at least there should be at least two sprints in the first week... you're still thinking about the bad news, aren't you?
You might already be aware of Puffa Jones on social media, real name Mike, who takes deliveries of unused kids bikes and repairs and cleans them ready to be delivered to kids who haven't got a bike. Here he is making our, and these kids', week...
Every child should own a bike....#Freebikes4kids#freebikes4kids#community#cycling#bmx#mtb#charity#giving#KindnessMatters#MentalHealthMatters#newport#recycle#free#pedallingtheportpic.twitter.com/6b4HrDnOFL
— PuffaJones (@PuffaJones) May 3, 2023
The Freebikes4kids project has been running for three years with nearly 2,500 bikes repaired and rehomed in that time. The project has no government funding and Mike takes donations via Gofundme to continue to finance the work.
A dip into the road.cc mailbag for this one...
Pavement parking on Upper Pitt St is out of control.
A number of residents are parking their vehicles on the pavement in our neighbourhood. This is causing significant problems for pedestrians, particularly those who are elderly, disabled, or with young children.
The pavement is meant to be a safe and accessible space for all members of the community to walk on, and it is unacceptable that it has become obstructed by cars. This is particularly concerning because it forces pedestrians to walk onto the road, which can be dangerous and puts their safety at risk.
I have noticed that this problem has been getting worse over time, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to navigate the pavements. It is especially concerning that emergency services vehicles would be unable to access certain areas because of the cars parked on the pavement.
Photos taken 30th April.
[SWpix.com/Zac Williams]
Greg Van Avermaet has announced his intention to retire from pro racing at the end of the season. The Belgian classics star, who won the Olympic Games road race, Paris-Roubaix, Gent-Wevelgem, two Omloop Het Nieuwsblad titles, E3 Harelbeke and two stages of the Tour de France during his best mid-2010s years, but has failed to reach the same heights in recent seasons.
"A great adventure is ending and I'm a little sad. This decision was very difficult to make, but when I look in the rear view mirror, I am extremely proud of my achievements," Van Avermaet said.
"I gave the best of myself every day, simply so I would have no regrets. Not only did I enjoy my victories, but also the path leading up to them. I thank everyone who believed in me and helped me throughout my career. I am grateful to my fans who always supported me, even in difficult times.
[SWpix.com/Zac Williams]
"It is now time to devote myself to my wife and children, and to have a new direction in my life. I am hoping to find the same passion in this new phase. I would like to thank the AG2R Citroën team for its confidence and for the team spirit in which I have evolved over three seasons. Until the end of the season, I will give my best to the team as I have done since the day I started cycling. I hope to achieve some good results."
Van Avermaet's finals classics campaign rarely saw him trouble the favourites, a 26th place at Amstel Gold Race the highlight of a fairly anonymous spring. Turning 38 in a couple of weeks, Van Avermaet is expected to ride his tenth Tour de France in July, a race at which he has worn the yellow jersey for 11 stages.
I think we can all agree that David Byrne is the coolest guy in the room pic.twitter.com/w12ooGJarA
— Race Radio (@TheRaceRadio) May 2, 2023
Death, taxes and horrendously boring helmet talk...
Yep, this is the follow-up to yesterday's live blog where we shared the photos of David Byrne arriving at the Met Gala (some event where a load of celebrities rock up in a room for "fashion's biggest night"... no wonder it's never been on my radar).
Anyway, eye-rolling aside, in our eyes Byrne's bike is clearly the best thing to come from the night, even if the thought of that white brushing the drivetrain is slightly stress-inducing.
> Cycling celebrities — famous folk who love to ride their bikes
But that's not why you're here... on with the helmet talk...
Only the British media could take something as joyous as a famous musician turning up to a gala on a beautiful bicycle and drain any positivity from it. pic.twitter.com/Dj249mz8jw
— 𝐉𝐢𝐦 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐬 (@thatjimdavis) May 2, 2023
Props to the BBC for making this all about personal protective equipment... you know what they say about the red carpet — it's a notoriously dangerous spot for crashes and head injuries.
This entire paragraph perfectly describes the attitude toward cycling in the UK. Alien language for a Dutch resident such as myself. pic.twitter.com/eI0jdDczcT
— Jeremy Lockley (@Jeremylockley) May 2, 2023
That paragraph...
Despite being famous for hits such as Lazy, singer David Byrne was possibly the only guest who turned up looking ready to do some exercise.
The Scottish-born star brought his bicycle with him - but wisely decided to walk it up the red carpet, which we imagine was a relief to the Met's health and safety team.
Byrne wore an all-white outfit - which must have got muddy when he presumably had to cycle home - with some brightly-coloured trainers.
You may recognise the monochromatic suit, as it's the same one Byrne wore when he performed the theme song to Everything Everywhere All At Once at the Oscars in March.
World time trial champion Tobias Foss and experienced campaigner Robert Gesink will not be on the startline for the Giro d'Italia's opening time trial this Saturday, Covid positives ripping out a third of Primož Roglič's first-choice support crew for his GC challenge.
Such is the strength of Jumbo-Visma's squad, Rohan Dennis and Jos van Emden have been given the last-minute call to join the team in Abruzzo. Podium finisher in 2020 Wilco Kelderman was also meant to have been part of Roglič's support but crashed out of Tirreno-Adriatico in March.
🇮🇹 #Giro
Unfortunately, covid strikes again. 🦠 Besides Wilco Kelderman, also Tobias Foss and Robert Gesink will be replaced in the Giro d’Italia. Jos van Emden and Rohan Dennis are their substitutes. pic.twitter.com/FiYQdEXcTG
— Team Jumbo-Visma cycling (@JumboVismaRoad) May 2, 2023
On Sunday it was reported that Italian hopeful Giulio Ciccone would miss out on the Grand Tour starting in his home region after also testing positive for Covid, raising concerns that it was spreading through the peloton once again.