Welcome to your Wednesday live blog, with Jack Sexty, Simon MacMichael and contributions from the rest of the road.cc team.
30/01/2019, 17:06
Check out this cool little cyclocross doc ahead of the world championships
The video follows Tomi Misser of the Orbea Factory Team before the big race this weekend in Bogense, Denmark.
30/01/2019, 16:48
Drop bars all round at Vuelta a San Juan ITT
Riders opted for an unusual choice of equipment to cope with the nuances of a tight, twisty yet pretty flat 12km course at the Argentinian race, with Peter Sagan opting for a Venge aero road bike with a rear disc wheel for aero gains but more control with the front end. Stage winner Julian Alaphilippe also did the same, his victory being one of the positives to take from a pretty controversial week for his Deceuninck–Quick-Step team (and one teammate in particular). Read more about that here if you haven't already.
30/01/2019, 16:15
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommend new and upgraded roads prioritise cyclists and pedestrians
The proposals suggest that pedestrians, cyclists and public transport should be prioritised over motorised vehicles when building or upgrading new roads. Sustrans CEO Xavier Brice commented:
'We welcome the proposal from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which puts the needs of our most vulnerable road users first. For too long roads in our towns and cities have been dominated by cars. A shift to people-prioritised streets will not only encourage more of the public to travel actively but also help to create safer environments for everyone to move around in.
'Involving local authorities and residents in the redesign of their neighbourhoods and streets is essential; it ensures a good design that targets the issues people experience locally every day, and we have seen positive uptake in active travel through this approach. However, more needs to be done across the UK to enable more people to choose walking and cycling as their primary mode of transport for local journeys.
'Cycling and walking for more journeys is part of the solution to many of the challenges we face, including road congestion, air pollution and high levels of inactivity. This proposal demonstrates how – with some practical design solutions – we can address these challenges, while also protecting people who cycle and walk.'
30/01/2019, 15:52
Croydon 'Zombie Knife' cyclist who was originally handed suspended sentence jailed following appeal
18-year-old Joshua Gardner, who was filmed slashing at a car window with a 'zombie knife' after the car nearly made contact with his bike, has now been given a three year jail sentence following an appeal, reports the BBC. Appeal judges said his original twelve month suspended sentence was too lenient, with Lord Justice Leveson commenting: "There can never be any excuse for carrying a weapon of the type this offender carried."
Gardner's initial lenient sentence was handed out because it emerged he had recently been kidnapped, which the judge said reduced his culpability. He'd been kidnapped and forced to sell drugs for ten days prior to the incident in Croydon, and his defence claimed his vulnerability led him to carry the knife for protection. London mayor Sadiq Kahn has praised the new sentence, saying: "I'm pleased the Court of Appeal has concluded that his sentence was unduly lenient and have sent him to prison."
30/01/2019, 13:38
Things go from bad to worse for Aussie cycle path driver - as it emerges the cyclists he swore at were off-duty policemen
Cop that: ‘F--king d---head’ cyclists were off-duty policemen https://t.co/H8toaJYLWb
— Illawarra Mercury (@illawarramerc) January 30, 2019
On Sunday we reported on a video showing a New South Wales man driving on a shared path, berating two cyclists for using the road when in his opinion, they should have been using the path. The video divided opinion on social media, however the driver later handed himself in to police after broadcasting himself to over 2 million people driving on a forbidden path and using a mobile phone while driving. If that wasn't enough, it's now emerged that the two cyclists were in fact off-duty policemen, reports the Illawara Mercury. Worryingly it's emerged that members of the Australian public who thought 27-year-old Thomas Harris was in the right have set up a crowdfunder to pay off his growing legal bills; however the Illawara Mercury has refreshingly posted an editorial opinion piece reminding drivers that they don't own the roads. Here it is:
"To all the drivers out there who think you own the road, you don’t.
If you are driving a car on our roads it is your obligation to understand you need to share the road with other vehicles such as trucks, buses and yes, even bikes. Cyclists have as much right to be on the roads as others. As a driver, when you sit behind the wheel, it is your duty to be aware and responsible for not only your own safety, but the safety of your passengers and the safety of other road users. Cyclists included. Suck it up. Under NSW legislation bikes are considered vehicles and are therefore entitled to the same rights you are as a driver of a vehicle. Some national media outlets have reported the cyclists in the footage of a motorist abusing riders at Jamberoo were in the wrong because they were not “using the bike lane”. Critically, it was not a bike lane. A bike lane is a part of the road.It was a shared pathway and therefore the cyclists are totally entitled to ride on the road just as the angry motorist should have been doing. Also under NSW law, bicycle riders are allowed to ride two abreast, but not more than 1.5 metres apart. Nothing lights up social media and anger in drivers than the age old debate about cyclists on the road. Well, people of the Illawarra, you best get used to respecting cyclists on our roads. This region has been awarded the privilege of hosting the world road cycling championships in 2022. We have been afforded that honour in part for the wonderful roads and environment cyclists in our region get to experience.
"The eyes of the world will be on our region in the lead-up to and during that event. Sure, cyclists must obey the road rules too. No question. But motorists must understand cyclists have as much entitlement to the road as they do. And if you don’t like it, “on yer bike”. And if you are going to be aggressive in our roads and get caught well, you might just lose your license and guess what your only mode of transport will be?"
30/01/2019, 13:12
Valverde gets rainbow-themed shoes and saddle for the Mallorca Challenge
The world champion will wear new rainbow-infused Infinito R1 Iride shoes and ride a Antares 00 Iride saddle with a rainbow stripe in the middle for the first time at the Mallorca Challenge, which starts tomorrow. Neither will be available to the public, but you can see the regular versions of both products on Fizik's website.
30/01/2019, 12:58
Chris Boardman and Will Norman among speakers at All Party Cycling Report today
Both @Chris_Boardman and @willnorman talk about #walking as well as #cycling. Chris has a 'double buggy test' ie, can it get thru? Making space better used. pic.twitter.com/t2Ph7vRp82
— Jenny Jones (@GreenJennyJones) January 30, 2019
Boardman discussed numerous ideas during the meeting, and revealed Manchester is also working on a plan for a docked bike share scheme after the failure of its dockless Mobikes due to vandalism and theft. Here he explains his criteria for creating safe spaces for pedestrians and cyclists, outlining that if a double buggy can't get through the space isn't fit for purpose.
30/01/2019, 12:50
Careful out there today! How to ride in the ice and snow
We've had another road.cc staffer who will remain nameless not heeding the advice of our riding in the ice and snow feature and landing flat on his backside this morning (slipping on black ice on a main road kindly left ungritted admittedly)... so do as we say and not as we do and find out how you can stay upright here!
30/01/2019, 10:17
All or Nothing - Spanish MTB racer takes on a season of Cyclocross
The Spanish MTB star takes us inside the heart of a cyclocross season. Grab a cuppa, this is well worth a watch.
30/01/2019, 08:54
Sky presenter Adam Boulton tweets about Deliveroo couriers cycling on pavements in discussion about killer driver's sentence
Not to mention @Deliveroo bikers riding on the pavement, wrong way up roads, not stopping at crossings etc. All witnessed by me today. https://t.co/ZuYhvqLOxB
— Adam Boulton (@adamboultonSKY) 28 January 2019
Boulton has been described as "deeply sick" amongst other things by some on social media, as the tweet above was interpreted as an attempt to deflect from the news of a drunk driver who killed a three-year-old child when his car smashed into the car the child was sitting in.
A 3yr old child inside a Volvo, was killed by a drunk & speeding driver in an illegal vehicle, and THIS is your attempt at deflection?
You really are a deeply sick individual.— Simon (@muddydwarf) 28 January 2019
The inquest into the incident is currently taking place, with Cornwall Live reporting that Andrew Vass, 26, hit a bank when overtaking a lorry, after which his vehicle became airborne and smashed into the passenger side of the Volvo three-year-old Reuben Williams was sitting in. Vass was found to be over the drink drive limit, and it has since emerged that he previously served a five year sentence for the manslaughter of cyclist John Reeder in 2013. Mr. Reeder was chased and pushed off his bike, suffering fatal head injuries.
It's not known why Boulton thought the comparison was necessary, and he's yet to make any further comments on social media. He was widely criticised for penning an anti-cycling column in the Sunday Times back in 2017 (read more here).
30/01/2019, 08:39
Rajistan cycling team were sleeping 30 to a room on the floor at Indian National Champs, reveals Times of India
Cyclists given pathetic accommodation in bitter cold at Nationals in Jaipur
READ: https://t.co/vKHYoKcIgS#Cyclingpic.twitter.com/3tthe1aWlu
— Times of India (@timesofindia) 30 January 2019
Thought our cyclists have it tough compared to more lucrative sports? Spare a thought for those trying to carve out a pro cycling career in India, where it appears funding is seriously low if this story is anything to go by. Times of India reports that the 30-strong Rajasthan men's team were put up in a 30ft x 20ft hall behind the velodrome stands of the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, with just mattresses laid on the floor to sleep on in temperatures dipping into single figures, with no hot water. Riders are reportedly worried about speaking out through fear of their team selection is dropped, and the Rajasthan Cycling Association claimed this was all they could afford based on their measly budget.
30/01/2019, 08:34
Now this looks fun...
SNOW CYCLING: Cyclists took part in a four-day mountain bike festival held in the Swiss Alps. The race features a prologue and three stages, and takes place over 80 miles of snow-covered trails. https://t.co/G2edmGoirfpic.twitter.com/4jiD2DADKi
— ABC News (@ABC) 29 January 2019
30/01/2019, 08:29
The best snow-related tweet you'll see today...
Team Rwanda Cycling stop to touch some snow as it was the team's first time ever seeing it pic.twitter.com/ArjLwy5lZ1
— People of Earth (@peopIeofearth) 29 January 2019
...is this pic of the Rwandan cycling team stopping to touch the snow that they've never seen before!