Live blog: Taxpayers' Alliance think speeding fines are a tax (and 20mph makes "no difference" to road safety); Skoda unveil concept car for cyclists; Porn Pedallers hosting new kit launch event in London; £125k Paul Smith x Rapha jersey on eBay +more

Another day, another tax. Nice one @SadiqKhan#NoMoreTaxespic.twitter.com/8d1VffZNk3

— TaxPayers' Alliance (@the_tpa) June 9, 2019

You may have heard of the TaxPayers' Alliance, which claims to be a "non-partisan grassroots campaign for lower taxes and government transparency" but in reality is a right-wing lobby group that has received hundreds of thousands of pounds in funding from the US; it is often wheeled out on BBC News to provide [checks notes] balance on stories about increased public psending - such as on cycle lanes.

Today, it has attracted criticism by describing fines for motorists breaking new 20mph limits in London as a 'tax' - while also suggesting there is no evidence that lower speed limits save lives (spoiler - they do, and there is a wealth of studies to back that up). Cue the rightfully cutting and sarcastic stream of replies ...

I’ve literally never been hit with a speeding fine. Not once, in over twenty years. Am I a tax evader?

— Ned Boulting (@nedboulting) June 10, 2019

Perhaps you should rename yourselves FinePayers' Alliance.

— Richard Hallett (@hallettrichard) June 9, 2019

It isn’t a tax you buffoons. Don’t want to pay it, don’t exceed the speed limit. I’m a taxpayer and you do not speak for me.

— Dan Jarvis (@worldcupdan) June 9, 2019

Looking at the TaxPayer's Alliance website they appear to be a legitimate operation with an 18-strong team, although we're not too sure who's funding them. Most of their tweets and blog posts seem to read like something from a Jacob Rees-Mogg manifesto, if such a thing existed, with one praising Donald Trump's lowering of taxes for big businesses in the US and another claiming that cutting taxes for corporations like Amazon would lead to economic growth in the UK. 

Bit of Monday morning news for you, from this week's "Active Travel Group" meeting at @LBRUT ...

Kew Road is likely to get full protected cycling. #NotACarParkpic.twitter.com/fpKky8r9CW

— Richmond Cycling (@RichmondCycling) June 10, 2019

It  was announced in a Richmond council meeting today that the busy road is set for a full protected cycle lane, which will hopefully make scenes like the one in the image above a thing of the past...

Long story short, it has a roof rack and a drinks cooler.

But what else makes a car a "cyclist's car"? Well, according to Skoda, you'll need to fit it out with a pressure washer for cleaning off some amazingly muddy road bikes.

Then obviously, you'll want to strip off in a car park and do your laundry before you get home to your washing machine. So you'll be needing a washing machine in the boot. They don't specify how you'll dry the kit, but we're sure it'll be fine tied to the aerial...

Who needs seats anyway? You'll obviously want to leave one of your children at home so that your bike can ride along in the car. Then be sure to take your other two bikes on the roof rack. 

But oh gosh! A mechanical has befallen you en route. Not to worry! You've got a specific place for a toolbox. You could never just put that in the boot. 

If you're still thinking 'wow! This is the car for me', then, unfortunately, it's just a concept car. So sad, but don't worry, you can still have "a KAROQ Velo inspired accessory package, which includes a ŠKODA Multi-tool, ŠKODA Bicycle tyre pump and bracket and ŠKODA Bicycle Lights". Available to order from local ŠKODA Retailers.

Have Skoda not heard of simply riding from home?

Today I’m announcing my retirement from professional cycling. Not many athletes get to end their career as current National champion, fit, healthy & still loving their sport, but that’s how i’de like to end mine Please read more here https://t.co/ZO1L9g4ieb

— Nikki Brammeier (@NikkiBrammeier) June 10, 2019

The 32-year-old current national cyclocross champion said she wanted 'to end on a high', calling time on her career shortly after announcing she is expecting her first child with husband Matt Brammeier, himself a former pro and now a cycling coach. 

Monday feeling

@therussellellispic.twitter.com/C3bLTuRqmP

— Elia Viviani (@eliaviviani) June 10, 2019

What goes on at a kit launch party for a cycling team made up of "a ramshackle bunch of cycling enthusiasts who happen to work in or around the UK adult entertainment industry"? Who knows, but if you're lucky enough to be on the guest list you can find out at Look Mum No Hands! on 20th June for the Porn Pedallers' new kit launch party. It's been made by Le Col, and Porn Pedallers also donate £10 of each sale of their branded kit to the Terrence Higgins Trust. While the event is by invitation only, anyone can go along to the after-party at Platinum Lace strip club on Leicester Square from 10.30pm onwards - info above. 

...here's a load of mountain bikes in South Wales spotted flaunting their Bike Balls. They're available from a selection of retailers with a puerile sense of humour nationwide...