Welcome to Wednesday's live blog, with Jack Sexty, Simon MacMichael and the rest of the team.
03/04/2019, 17:53
'Trevor' certainly reminds us of someone ...
We’re having a new bathroom installed. This is Trevor, our Bora Hansgrohe plumber who is fitting the wet room. pic.twitter.com/8Lrc8cRPU2
— Duncs (@dunks517) April 3, 2019
03/04/2019, 16:09
SRAM Force eTap AXS is here
12 speed wireless shifting, for less money! The bikes are starting to drop from various brands online too... read our full story about the new tech here.
03/04/2019, 15:08
Fickaskåp launch new stylish 'adventure-proof' phone wallet, and it's crowdfunding on Kickstarter
Fickaskåp's new wallet is an update of the brand's original waterproof Phone and Valuables wallet launched last year, and promises more features and more capacity while retaining the functionality of the previous design.
It has a fold out design, with a separate weather-proof zipper pocket plus internal money and credit card slots. The touch-enabled phone pocket is 100% waterproof, and it's touted as "the perfect companion for longer day or multi-day adventures where efficiency is everything".
The crowdfunder has 51 days to go and has currently raised £1,874 of their £11,000 goal. With a £24 backing you can get a regular-sized wallet and the large size is £26, with an estimated delivery of August '19. Check it out on Kickstarter here.
03/04/2019, 14:43
Victor Campenaerts looking fast ahead of his hour record attempt later this month
Looking fast?
Final preparations underway for @VCampenaerts of @Lotto_Soudal ahead of his #UCIHourRecord attempt between April 16th-17th
Read more here https://t.co/Or9jTvG4oO
@LuisE_Lemuspic.twitter.com/dDgXFdeq2z— UCI (@UCI_cycling) April 3, 2019
The Belgian is hoping to surpass Bradley Wiggins' current mark of 54.526km when he makes his attempt at altitude on the Velodromo Bicentenario in Mexico between the 16th and 17th of April.
You can read more about the Campagnolo-equipped Ridley Arena track bike he'll be using for the attempt here.
03/04/2019, 14:38
"Why don't you use the cycle lane?" etc etc...
Here’s the “cycling/pedestrian” lane right in front of the Straiton retail park. I had to lift my bike so I didn’t puncture any tyres pic.twitter.com/ARu4x2OzL7
— antonia.geo (@antgeo5) April 2, 2019
Could it be the 'best' worst infra ever? This abomination of a cycle and pedestrian path in Midlothian would certainly take some beating...
03/04/2019, 13:51
Mark Beaumont to tour Around The World In 80 Days stage show next month
Mark Beaumont will stage his Around The World In 80 Days stage show, which follows his Guinness World Record breaking ride for the fastest circumnavigation of the globe by bicycle, throughout England and Wales next month.
The 17-date tour starts in Malvern on 1 May and finishes in Penrith on 30 May. In between, the show will visit Treorchy, Cheltenham, Truro, Exeter, Chesham, Horsham, Andover, Gateshead, Lancaster, Derby, Stafford, Newtown, Caernarfon, Sale and Leeds.
More details, including links to buy tickets, can be found here.
03/04/2019, 13:31
Cyclist injured as thieves try to steal bike
A cyclist in Yorkshire sustained what police described as minor head injuries when two men tried to steal his bike in Bridlington.
The incident happened on Friday 15 March close to the bowling green off Queensgate..
The victim sustained bruising but managed to get away from his assailants, together with his bike.
According to police, one suspect is described as white, 5’ 6” and has a shaven head. He was dressed in a black hooded top, black tracksuit bottoms and dark footwear, while the other was 5’ 8” with a dark blue tracksuit and dark footwear.
Anyone with information is requested to contact Humberside Police on 101 quoting reference number 16/39125/19.
03/04/2019, 11:56
Romain Bardet also robbed along with Dan Martin at Catalunya last week
Looks like someone didn’t left empty handed of our misfortunes. Same story for my power meter who was on my broken bike https://t.co/M6e3y8QJIg
— Romain Bardet (@romainbardet) April 2, 2019
Dan Martin had his Garmin stolen at the race, and now Bardet has also revealed his power meter was pinched at the roadside too. He was left with broken ribs after crashing on the final stage of the Volta a Catalunya, with teammate Tony Gallopin also caught up in the crash.
03/04/2019, 11:48
This again...
A simple idea for cyclists to voluntary state they're careful, consensus and insured road users by wearing HiVis vests with an unique registration number. @transportgovuk@THINKgovuk Good cyclists will wear it. pic.twitter.com/p090IJOVaS
— Stop Leftist Hate (@StopLeftistHate) April 2, 2019
We think this has done the rounds before, but the could-be-a-parody account 'Stop Leftist Hate' is at it again with the bizarre idea to make cyclists wear high-vis bibs with registration plates. The account holder, with a profile pic of Winston Churchill who abolished road tax in 1937 and the hashtag #iamtommyrobinson in his bio, also calls for cyclists to pay road tax in the comments with seemingly no hint of irony.
03/04/2019, 08:53
New survey of 21,000 drivers by the AA Charitable Trust finds 66% think cyclists are "inconsiderate"
The results weren't all bad, however, with a huge 95% agreeing that cyclists are vulnerable road users and should be given more space, reports motor1.com. Of those who thought that cyclists lacked consideration, the over 65's were most likely to hold the opinion (69%), with 57% of 18-24's agreeing.
93% of respondents said they always look out for cyclists, which is an increase on the 89% who said so from a survey five years ago. Director of the AA Charitable Trust Edmund King said of the findings: “Our new research shows there is still some way to go in terms of ensuring everyone on the road looks out for each other.
"On the roads it should never be a case of drivers versus cyclists or motorcyclists. Everyone is on the road to get somewhere and by looking out for each other we can ensure we do so safely. It is disappointing that two-thirds of drivers feel cyclists are inconsiderate and this shows that more needs to be done by drivers and cyclists to co-exist safely and peacefully. The irony is that most cyclists are drivers and many drivers are cyclists.”
Perceived conflict between drivers and cyclists has been a hot topic recently, with Piers Morgan sticking his oar in on Good Morning Britain earlier this week and renewed calls for a new Dutch-style word to distinguish cycle commuters and racing cyclists.
03/04/2019, 08:41
Track legend Hugh Porter reveals he has £20 on Wolves to lift the FA Cup
The Express and Star report that former track champion and now commentator Hugh Porter (pictured above with Chris Hoy) has put down a £20 bet on his boyhood team to win the FA Cup. Porter said: "If we (Wolves) won the competition it would be special and mean so much to the city.
"Winning the FA Cup would be special."
While it might be a desperate angle for this Wolves-supporting writer to mention the Old Gold on a cycling website, I reckon it's just about fair game...
03/04/2019, 08:38
Bradley Wiggins gets all nostalgic about Flanders in cool new video
Cycling at it's best, thank you Belgium @cyclingflanderspic.twitter.com/DzKjAwQTKj
— Brad Wiggins (@SirWiggo) April 2, 2019
Wiggins calls the Tour of Flanders "an absolute celebration of cycling" in this rousing short video, as he rides around the legendary roads and takes on some cobbles. Just in case you didn't know, the 2019 edition of the Tour of Flanders takes place this Sunday.
03/04/2019, 08:32
03/04/2019, 08:31
Silky skills from Ivan Cortina
Football with cleats? @ivan_cortina from @Bahrain_Merida demonstrates! pic.twitter.com/oR15gDx7QU
— UCI (@UCI_cycling) April 2, 2019
03/04/2019, 08:13
Cycling cats... the next must-have accessory?
Need to get a cycling cat. Reckon @Wiggle_Sport sell them? https://t.co/ltIyv49ivi
— Darren Willsher (@darrenwillsher) April 2, 2019
The story of Dean Nicholson, who was cycling around the world before a cat decided to follow him and wouldn't leave his side, has resonated far and wide - good news stories are hard to come by nowadays. Wiggle appear open to the idea of selling feline companions, judging by the reply to this enquiry...
Read more about Dean's story on yesterday's live blog.