Disabled people's cycling organisation Wheels for Wellbeing has warned of "some of the most inexplicable cycle infrastructure we have ever seen" lurking in Cardiff...
The group's campaigns and policy manager Dr Kay Inckle was riding along the route when all of a sudden... she couldn't, the cycle lane dividing orcas and wands turning in on themselves, blocking off further forward travel and accompanied by a painted arrow diverting users towards the pavement at the pedestrian crossing.
Cardiff Cycle City responded to Wheels for Wellbeing's post, saying: "This has been on our radar for several years now, along with the boarded-up underpass with no adequate alternative route for cycling." They also asked Cardiff Council and the council's head transport figure if "there are plans to fix this?"
While for some cyclists this may fortunately just be an inconvenience, perhaps with a bit of danger sprinkled in, for those riders using adapted cycles, tricycles, cargo bikes or other larger models it could be much worse. The high kerbs as far as the eye can see, plus the route up onto the pavement at the crossing narrowed by the traffic light poles, could be problematic for some riders.
One cyclist, Roger Merriman concluded, "I'm not sure how your supposed to use that to be honest!" Another pointed out the irony of the construction site seemingly the cause of the dead end being a... "working in partnership with Transport for Wales" project...
Tom Pidcock's hands weren't in a great way post-Roubaix, the Ineos Grenadiers rider showing off these painful blisters on his Instagram. Well, they're not much better now, five days on and ahead of Amstel Gold Race...
"My hands are still sore," he said today. "I guess that's a lesson that you can't just drop into Paris-Roubaix, that you even need to prepare your hands. Normally I have no problems with these things, but I didn't ride my mountain bike or do any of the other cobbled classics so my hands are a bit softer nowadays."
"Amstel is a great race and I love racing there, so I hope to go one better this time. As for the Ardennes, these were a big goal of mine from the start of the year so I'm really looking forward to getting stuck in, together with the team. It's always a really nice time of the year."
In a career of astounding victories, Mathieu van der Poel's jaw-dropping 2019 Amstel Gold Race comeback remains right up there. The race looked gone, Julian Alaphilippe and Jakob Fuglsang surely heading for a two-up sprint, but Van der Poel had other ideas. Launching a one-man effort, the Dutchman led a train of top-level pros simply clinging on as he powered the final kilometres, never asking anyone for a turn, he reeled in the escapees, lead out the sprint... and, of course, won it. To this day, still one of the most ridiculous performances I can remember watching.
Well, he's back for another shot at the Dutch one day race... and he's pretty confident...
"Who I consider my main rivals? As you know, I'm not very concerned with that. Neither have I looked at the participants list yet. It may sound cliché, but I mainly go by my own strength and that of our team," he said today ahead of Sunday's race.
[Zac Williams/SWpix.com]
"My victory in 2019 is one I will never forget. The spectacular outcome still appeals to the imagination, besides it was also my first really big win on the road. Those are moments you cherish. That I finished fourth there in 2022 proves that the course in Dutch Limburg suits me particularly well. It's a bit like a mini Tour of Flanders, with lots of turns and steep hills, but without cobblestones.
"The past few weeks everything went exceptionally well, with wins in E3 Harelbeke, Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. It's great to win these monuments, especially in the rainbow jersey. It's now a matter of keeping up that high form for another ten days."
Hundreds are expected to take part in this Sunday's 30th anniversary event celebrating three decades of Critical Mass rides in London. Setting off from Southbank, under Waterloo Bridge at 12pm, the event will mirror many others seen in the English capital and around the world — cyclists riding in a large group, highlighting their equal right to the road and the fact we should all be able to use the road safely.
There's a feature in today's Guardian about the event, but as the Critical Mass website explains: "Critical Mass is not an organisation or group, but an idea or tactic, Critical Mass allows people to reclaim cities with their bikes, just by getting together and outnumbering the cars on the road."
road.cc Simon will be on the ground this Sunday, so look out for all the best photos and a blog piece in the near future...
Ineos Grenadiers owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has penned a letter to the UCI calling for "real action" after "yet another horrific crash" at a pro race. Comparing the sport's situation to Formula 1, where "the governing body set out to transform safety regulations" following the death of Ayrton Senna 30 years ago, Ratcliffe says "very few changes" have been made in cycling.
"As recently as last week, we had yet another horrific crash involving three of the world's top cyclists," Ratcliffe continued, referencing the crash that has put Jonas Vingegaard's Tour de France defence into question and also saw Remco Evenpoel and Primož Roglič injured.
"Even whilst training, top riders are at serious risk, indeed Ineos Grenadiers have had two horrendous accidents in recent years both involving Tour de France winners," Ratcliffe explained. "Chris Froome experienced a compound fracture of his femur on a recon ride and Egan Bernal broke his neck and many other bones on a training ride. Both were lucky to be able to even get back on a bike.
"Cyclists are always going to push things to the limit as they are elite sportsmen and that is why action is so important. In June, the UCI announced the formation of SafeR, a specialist entity to oversee all aspects of cycling safety. For the first time, the sport will have a dedicated safety body whose sole concern is to make the sport safer, reducing risks to riders and spectators whilst losing none of the thrill of racing. This is what Formula 1 has done so well over the past 30 years and I would hope that we now see the same in cycling.
"I applaud the UCI for taking the issues on board and agreeing to support the establishment of SafeR. We now need to see real action to ensure the safety of the sport."
This bike lane's a bit too Grand National for our liking... but I guess it gives you somewhere to lock your bike while you wait for an ambulance...
This is rather terrifying in Causewayside. At least there’s a cone now. The day before it was just a metal death trap in the cycle lane. Why doesn’t the cycle path go all the way from Summerhall to Kings Buildings? @law_cycle@LivingStreetsEd@Edinburgh_CC@edi_dot_bikepic.twitter.com/u2Xm8kGU9S
— Lincoln Rozelle (@LincolnRozelle) April 12, 2024
It's fair to say it's not getting great reviews, the specialist personal injury service for cyclists, Cycle Law Scotland, calling it "unforgivable".
I complained about this when it was first put in. I was told either swerve out into the road or on and off the pavement. Why they need to block the end of the lane off is a mystery.
— StDavid (@david350501) April 12, 2024
wycombewheeler: "Diverted onto the pavement which is narrow exactly at the point where pedestrians will be waiting to cross. And for what? So the construction traffic can pull out without looking, how they are being allowed to use the pedestrian crossing as their access is beyond me."
LeadenSkies: "From what I can see, it appears they have closed the underpass that was the continuation of the route for pedestrians/ cyclists to allow for construction work but haven't provided / signed up any alternative route so now you just hit an effective dead end?"
Mr Hoopdriver: "The paint on the road says 'afterthought'."
Evans Cycles and bike insurance provider Sundays have announced that customers getting an in-store service or buying a bicycle from the cycling retailer will now get 30 days complimentary insurance. As always, have a read of the T&Cs, but Sundays says it will offer Evans customers accidental damage cover, malicious damage cover, replacement bicycle hire reimbursement and theft cover.
Kyle Baird, UK Head of Distribution at Sundays, said: "The Sundays team is immensely excited to be partnering with one of the longest standing and most iconic names in the cycling industry. By offering a period of free insurance, we're able to provide peace of mind for their new bike customers and help riders get back on their bikes as quickly as possible after an incident.
"Our partnership with Evans Cycles represents a significant step forwards in our commitment to providing comprehensive protection and support to cyclists nationwide."
One cyclist in Galway has a pretty unique excuse for not getting out on their bike at the minute — a family of starlings have borrowed their bike basket for nesting purposes. The Irish Mirror went to find out more, reporter Darragh Mc Donagh posting this video on social media...
— Darragh Mc Donagh (@darraghmcdonagh) April 10, 2024
Several residents have been keeping an eye on the starlings' progress, Áine Ní Fhaoláin telling the newspaper they seem to be "happy" with their bicycle basket base.
"The mum is on them a little bit more now. The first time I saw them, they were without the mum. They're lovely little things – they're tiny, absolutely tiny," she said. "The thing I was a little bit concerned about is that there are a lot of seagulls around. But I don't think there's anything we can do about it. We can't move the nest, so we just have to let nature take its course. Luckily, there are no cats around, which would have been a much greater threat.
"I have a feeling people have been leaving their bikes alone to let the birds have some peace. And whoever owns the bike that they've nested in hasn't moved it. It could be an abandoned bike, but someone has put a note above it that says 'Nest in basket, please do not touch'."
The starlings run Hatch-inson tyres and a Camp-egg-nolo groupset presumably? They're apparently big Lotte Ko-peck-y fans... and Andrew Feather supporters come hill climb season too...
[Zac Williams/SWpix]
Julian Alaphilippe has revealed that he completed his classics campaign with a fracture in his left knee. Speaking to Le Parisien, the two-time world champion said he hadn't spoken about it publicly sooner because he's "tired of people talking about me through problems".
The injury was sustained in a crash at Strade Bianche in March, Alaphilippe going on to complete Tirreno-Adriatico, finish ninth at Milan-San Remo, and race E3 Saxo Classic, Dwars door Vlaanderen and the Tour of Flanders.
The Frenchman has been omitted from Soudal Quick-Step's Amstel Gold Race line-up.
"I should have taken care of myself," he said. "I didn't want to say it because I didn't want people to think I was making something up. I suffered a lot from that fall in Strade Bianche. My morale was damaged because I had good legs before and because it is a competition that I really enjoy. This fall was a big blow to me, and I had pain in my left knee."