Welcome to your midweek live blog, with Simon MacMichael, Jack Sexty and the rest of the team.
13/03/2019, 17:03
"Inches from death"
This is the fastest close pass we've seen to date - with the cyclist who filmed posting it to YouTube under the heading "inches from death."
In the description to the video, Farnborough Cyclist said: "Having 2 tons on metal flash past you at 80mph with about 70cm to spare is a frightening experience - hence the expletive."
13/03/2019, 16:43
Some invstment advice from Michal Kwiatkowski after taking lead at Paris-Nice
3 seconds here, 2 seconds there... Call it Kwiato’s small savings plan Still a long way to make it really Nice.@ParisNice@TeamSky
@GettyImagespic.twitter.com/D3l51KkXbb— Michał Kwiatkowski (@kwiato) March 13, 2019
13/03/2019, 16:34
Urban transport expert says dockless bike share “a joke”
An urban transport expert has said that dockless bike share schemes are “a joke.”
Park Byung Joon, an associate professor at the Singapore University of Social Science, was speaking following the announcement that China’s Mobike was pulling out of the country.
Domestic operator oBike went out of business last year, while Ofo – which recently closed its UK operation – could lose its licence in Singapore if it fails to clear its bikes from public spaces by today.
Professor Park said: "If you look at bicycle-sharing, no one is making any money anywhere in the world.
“From a business point of view, this is a joke. They really don't have any viable business plan. The good times are over. Now we have to pay."
13/03/2019, 14:04
How much?? Garmin launch new MARQ collection GPS watches, and they ain't cheap
There are five watches in the new collection, with the £1,399 MARQ Athlete being the most suitable for cycling - the ClimbPro ascent planner gives you real-time information on your current and upcoming climbs, including gradient, distance and elevation gain. If you fancy a break from cycling, there are also 41,000 pre-loaded golf courses within its mapping software. Belive it or not the Athlete is the 'cheapest' in the range - the MARQ Driver, aimed at motor racers, is a whopping £2,249.
If you or any friends with bank accounts in Bermuda want to buy one you can pre-order now on Garmin's website.
13/03/2019, 11:59
New Cervelo P5 TT bike with disc brakes
Somebody has got a brand new disc-equipped time trial bike. Yup, it's a brand new Cervelo P5 and yes it has disc brakes. Looks fast don't it?
Lined up and ready to go at today's TTT at #TirrenoAdriatico.
— Team Sunweb (@TeamSunweb) March 13, 2019
15:45 (local) start time. pic.twitter.com/BdvjLGFycq
13/03/2019, 11:09
The Bristol Post did a car vs bike vs bus vs train thing, with predictably predictable results
Gutted! Mike on the bike wins #bristolliveracepic.twitter.com/r2i8vK5KcT
— Emma Flanagan (@EmmaJFlanagan) March 12, 2019
What happens when you pitch a bloke on a folding bike against a car, a bus and a train in one of the most congested commutes in Europe? The bike wins, of course. These results will surprise no one, but at least it serves to show a wider audience just how inefficient private cars are in city centres (of course, the car lost). Read the story with live updates from yesterday's highly predictable race on the Bristol Live website here.
13/03/2019, 10:42
All in a day's work for Ed on his 34th birthday
34 today!
6am dope test, cleaned some bikes, flew to Derbados and loved their track league!
Thanks for the messages!
Cycling has had a recent reminder that getting old is a privilege denied to many. Enjoy the ride x @VitusProCycling@JLTGroup@derby_arena@simon_reavillpic.twitter.com/TjYuIHRJEU— Ed Clancy (@Ed_Clancy) March 13, 2019
Nice to see Mr. Clancy is adopting the 'Derbados' moniker for the cycling metropolis that is Derby, first coined by Dan Bingham and his all-conquering Huub Wattbike track team we believe. Also, check the top reply to Ed's post!
13/03/2019, 09:39
Snowdon Paradox flat bar titanium road bike now available in complete build
British titanium flat bar specialist Snowdon is now offering its Paradox as a complete bike, costing from £3,999 with either Shimano Ultegra or SRAM Force groupsets. Alternatively, you can still buy a frameset for £1,999.
There’s a small running change to the frame since we tested it, tyre clearance has been increased, up to 32mm on the road bike and 40mm on the gravel bike, or 50mm if used with 650b wheels.
It’s also now offering a women’s bike but like the latest trend with big bike brands, the geometry is identical to the men’s bike and it’s the key touch points that are changed. The company says it has gotten a lot of interest from women looking for an “elite bike but do not want drop handebars”.
You can read our review of the Paradox here.
More info at www.snowdonbike.com
13/03/2019, 08:44
Check out Toms Skujiņš Trek Emonda from Strade Bianche
Low weight and wide gear range were the order of the day for Toms Skujiņš at last weekend's Strade Bianche.
The team's technical director @TrekTeamMatt talks about the bike ridden by @Tomashuuns in #StradeBianche.
— Trek-Segafredo (@TrekSegafredo) March 11, 2019
(Our apologies for the noise in the audio - it's a little windy in Italy!)
- 6,8kg
- 28mm tires (width)
- @SRAMroad 12 speed (50x37/28x10)
- @Bontrager XXX carbon aero HB pic.twitter.com/wUGsMjwSgU
At the opening classics weekend, the Latvian Trek-Segafredo rider was using a Trek Emonda with a 1x version of SRAM’s brand new Red eTap AXS groupset. But at Strade Bianche last weekend he instead opted for a rather more conventional 2x setup, though the SRAM groupset is anything but conventional.
The 12-speed groupset he raced comprised a 50/37t chainset coupled to a 10-28t cassette. We don’t know the reason for his decision to switch but we’re guessing it’s likely down to the sheer amount of climbing and very steep climbs that make the Strade Bianche course as tough as it is beautiful.
He was on Trek’s Emonda, opting for low weight over the aerodynamics of the Madone, to give him every advantage on the climbs. He was rolling on 28mm tyres, wider than the 25mm he would regularly run and providing a bit more cushioning and traction on the loose dusty surface of the iconic white roads.
Claimed weight for the bike was bang on the UCI’s 6.8kg weight limit. There was a nod to aero with the Bontrager XXX Carbon Aero handlebar.
12/03/2019, 23:51
Building of Cardiff's first separate cycleway on Senghennydd Road to begin on 18th March
The first separated cycleway will start to be built on Senghennydd Road on March 18th.
This will be the first phase of five proposed separated cycleways in Cardiff, as part of the Council’s commitment to improving cycling infrastructure.
Read more here: https://t.co/agfY83IXgtpic.twitter.com/vuSTGg2L5z— Cardiff Council (@cardiffcouncil) March 12, 2019
As part of the council's "commitment to improving cycling infrastructure", the Welsh capital will follow London by phasing in segregated cycleways, starting next week on Senghennydd Road. This is the first of five proposed routes, and if approved there could eventually be 13km of cycle routes in the city. The routes would be:
St Andrew's Crescent through to Heath High Level
Dumfries Place to Broadway in Splott
Cardiff Bay to Smart Way
Sophia Gardens through to Llandaff Village
City Centre through to Ely Bridge
Each route will undergo a public consultation and feedback will be assessed and considered as part of the detailed design work prior to the route being built, say Cardiff Council. More details on their website here.
12/03/2019, 23:28
Dangerous driving in 20mph zones all too common according to Bristol cyclist
The footage was captured in St Augustine's Parade in the city, after a taxi driver had performed a dangerous overtake on the cyclist who said he was already travelling 20mph. Avon and Somerset Police say they are reviewing the footage.