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British Cycling mercilessly slammed for eight-year Shell deal; "Cyclists should be banned on environmental grounds"... car obsessive's mad mental arithmetic; Jeremy Vine's near miss compilation; New Forest NIMBYs + more on the live blog

Happy Monday! With our regular news team taking a well-earned rest Jack Sexty is blogging you through the start of the week
Mon, Oct 10, 2022 09:29
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British Cycling mercilessly slammed for eight-year Shell deal; "Cyclists should be banned on environmental grounds"... car obsessive's mad mental arithmetic; Jeremy Vine's near miss compilation; New Forest NIMBYs + more on the live blogshell british cycling - via British Cycling
10 October 2022, 15:40
Have a lovely evening folks

It was all so quiet until about an hour ago, minding our own business blogging about naughty cyclists going a bit off course in the New Forest. This is probably not the last on this, so until tomorrow folks... 

10 October 2022, 15:41
Full story on British Cycling hearts Shell...
10 October 2022, 15:27
Breaking: 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships to be shown in full on BBC
2022 Zoe Backstedt UCI Road World Championships © SWpix.com (t-a Photography Hub Ltd) - 1 (1).jpeg

We'll break off from British Cycling's whoopsie to tell you that the 2023 Worlds in Glasgow – that for the first time will bring together all cycling disciplines in one mega-event – will be shown in full on the BBC after it secured full broadcasting rights. That'll be all 13 events including road, mountain bike, BMX and velodrome action, all live on the telly between 3-13 August next year. 

The BBC's Director of Sport, Barbara Slater, said: “We are delighted to have such comprehensive coverage of a sport that continues to grow in popularity. Glasgow and the whole of Scotland are going to be a hub for cycling fans next August and we are proud to be the broadcast partner of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championship and to showcase the event across the BBC.”

10 October 2022, 14:54
British Cycling and Shell partnership: how about Facebook?
British cycling Shell facebook comments screenshot

Nope still pretty scathing, although there are some less scathing comments to be found in the 300 or so left under British Cycling's post at the time of writing. 

One said: "Shell are big into alternative energy sources as well as fossil fuel, seems to be alot of fossils on this page"

Another added: "So all these people moaning about the new sponsorship do not use fossil fuels (or materials made using fossil fuels) as part of their everyday life (and all bike components). They must ride locally sourced wooden bike frames, willow wheels with twine as brake cables... Shell (whilst not perfect) like other fossil fuel companies are investing heavily in renewables and alternatives."

Of course this isn't the first time Shell have partnered with a cycling brand or organisation; for a time their logo was on the sleeves of that very famous Peugeot Michelin jersey worn by the likes of Stephen Roche, voted our second-favourite of all time, with BP and Esso also sponsoring the team before Shell did in the eighties. 

As promised already, our own Simon MacMichael will be publishing a full story soon with a little more context and possible explanation for British Cycling's decision... 

10 October 2022, 14:24
Just in: British Cycling signs eight-year deal with Shell (yep that Shell, and it's going, erm, great so far)

The good thing about British Cycling's announcement is that does appear to have united its members... but it's looking like it might not be massively good for British Cycling. In fact, initial impressions are that it's going down absolutely, massively bad... 

We've had a look for positive comments and couldn't find any, so we'll leave it to David Bunch, Shell UK Country Chair, who said this in the presser BC bashed out an hour ago: 
 
“We’re very proud to become an Official Partner to British Cycling. The partnership reflects the shared ambitions of Shell UK and British Cycling to get to net zero in the UK as well as encouraging low and zero-carbon forms of transport such as cycling and electric vehicles.
 
“Working together we can deliver real change for people right across the country, from different walks of life, and also apply Shell’s world-leading lubricant technology to support the Great Britain Cycling Team in their quest for gold at the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games.” 

And we'll leave the rest to you. Full story and probably a fair bit more reaction coming soon! 

10 October 2022, 14:06
Paracycling world TT champion and triathlete George Peasgood suffers sever injuries during bike ride
George Peasgood - SWPix
SWPix

The 27-year-old – who is a multiple paracycling and paratriathlon world champion – suffered serious injuries in a "freak accident" during a ride with his partner Frankie Hall, and is currently undergoing treatment. 

Hall said in an Instagram post: "As many people already know, last Saturday on our ride, George suffered a freak accident on the bike [no other parties involved]. He has suffered severe injuries specifically a diffuse axonal injury, and is currently undergoing treatment in a neuro critical care unit.

"Since the accident and for the foreseeable future, I shall be based around the hospital and the rest of George’s family to help with the long recovery journey.

"We do not have any further information at this stage, we will know more once he regains consciousness, but we appreciate your respect and privacy at this time." 

Everyone at road.cc wishes George a speedy recovery. 

10 October 2022, 13:08
Use your noggin and light up your life with our latest competition! Well it will light up your life if you win anyway and you might not but ah well worth a shot...
10 October 2022, 13:08
10 October 2022, 10:29
New Forest unmarked cycle route row continues as Forestry England promises a review into "wayward cyclists"
komoot new forest 4

The popular New Forest national park has once again found itself in the middle of a squabble, as Friends of the New Forest claims its survey found 700 incidents of cyclists not sticking to designated routes in the beauty spot. 

This comes after the New Forest Association said that it had recorded 550 incidents of cyclists riding off designated tracks back in January of this year, blaming them for causing damage to wildlife in the New Forest. 

But are these cyclists doing anything wrong? David Orme, the chairman of Christchurch Cycling Club, told the Advertiser and Times that there was no evidence cyclists were disturbing animals or eroding the flora and fauna in the area, adding: "Whilst the current waymarked cycle tracks in the Forest could do with better signage, there are more important aspects to consider. Firstly, the existing ‘permitted’ cycle ‘network’ is wholly inadequate: it is not joined up, it doesn’t work as a network connecting centres of habitation, there are few safe crossing points of major roads (none for the A35) and it’s not logical as to which tracks are allowed or why.

“There are many miles of gravel tracks, used by motorised vehicles (FE and land owners) and also ancient rights of way which are not ‘permitted’. These points are acknowledged by the NPA and Forestry England.”

A Forestry England spokesperson commented: “We value local stakeholders’ opinions on this and are looking at how we can add to this and the best way to provide additional information and effective signage of our waymarked network of tracks.

“There are over 100 miles of waymarked cycle routes in the New Forest. Information about these is shared directly on our website, and in a cycle map available at key information points and cycle hire destinations right across the area.”

10 October 2022, 10:55
Now updated following the Italian's mind-boggling new Hour Record
10 October 2022, 09:10
The rim brake's not dead... it's good enough for the new Ironman World Champion

Another race with some cycling in it going on this past week has been the Ironman World Championships, and the men's winner Gustav Iden did the 112 mile bike leg on a Giant Trinity with... rim brakes!

Although triathlon was among the slowest cyclesports to adopt disc brakes, the rim brake is an increasingly rare sight at the top of the pro ranks as most of the latest top-of-the-range triathlon superbikes have all been revamped with discs. Iden hinted that he would be sticking with the humble rim brake for the big race in Hawaii back in July... 

Still, the fastest split of the day and new bike course record went to Sam Laidlow (on a disc brake-equipped Trek Speed Concept), who posted a blazing fast 4:04:36 for the 112 miles (180km), finishing second overall after the marathon run. In the women's race on Thursday, world championship debutant Chelsea Sodaro was the surprise winner with Briton Lucy Charles-Barclay finishing second, with Anne Haug in third. 

10 October 2022, 08:58
One ride, three appalling near misses for Jeremy Vine

The production values on Vine's videos of his bike rides in London continue to get better, and the quality of the driving he encounters appears to be getting worse. 

Many people commenting under the footage urge Vine to report the incidents, particularly the third "lunging" driver. Have you ever had a commute this bad? 

10 October 2022, 08:41
Pauline Ferrand-PrévÎt wins Roc d'Azur mountain bike race... the day after winning the gravel world champs, after a six-hour drive through the night
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Roc d'Azur (@rocdazur)

Of all the cycling achievements that happened over the weekend, this one might be the most impressive of the lot. As mentioned in our article yesterday, Ferrand-PrĂ©vĂŽt travelled through the night to arrive on the start line for Roc d'Azur, winning it just hours after bagging her fourth world title of the season at the inaugural Gravel World Championships. She'll be running out of space on her jersey to add any more rainbow stripes... 

10 October 2022, 08:31
Cycling in the UK

ITV's foremost cycling commentator is also a big active travel advocate (check out the Streets Ahead podcast with Ned, Laura Laker and Adam Tranter) and happened across this gem of a 10 metre-long cycle lane in the South West. And in a classic case of active travel juxtaposition, it's very close to the excellent Drake's Trail in West Devon. 

10 October 2022, 08:18
The "Stupid shit people say on Facebook about cycling" account might have just peaked

Unfortunately this person did not show their working, so we're just left with this incredible take on how motor vehicles pollute. There are various theories on how this wise statsmaster worked it out, we reckon this is probably the best guess so far... 

Jack Sexty

Jack has been writing about cycling and multisport for over a decade, arriving at road.cc via 220 Triathlon Magazine in 2017. He worked across all areas of the website including tech, news and video, and also contributed to eBikeTips before being named Editor of road.cc in 2021 (much to his surprise). Jack has been hooked on cycling since his student days, and currently has a Trek 1.2 for winter riding, a beloved Bickerton folding bike for getting around town and an extra beloved custom Ridley Helium SLX for fantasising about going fast in his stable. Jack has never won a bike race, but does have a master's degree in print journalism and two Guinness World Records for pogo sticking (it's a long story). 

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68 comments

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hawkinspeter replied to IanMK | 2 years ago
1 like

IanMK wrote:

This comes up all the time. Is the answer that the force that degrades the road is NOT compressive but shear? Or is it just that car/lorry tyres run much hotter and soften the surface? Long time since I did physics!

Just want to make sure I have my retort correct next time it comes up.

I think it must be the shear forces. Bus stops typically have damaged road surfaces where the bus is stopping and starting and you can sometimes see similar damage near traffic lights, but traffic lights will have heavy vehicles stopping and starting at different places over time.

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ktache replied to hawkinspeter | 2 years ago
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There was a short section of sharp downhill, coming out of church crookham towards back end of Farnborough, toward a give way at a t junction, resonance in traction upon braking had caused proper corrugations in the tarmac. Probably not bicycles, though. Very regular, 2 lines. Could have been primary and secondary???

There's proper ruts near me at a bus stop, just up from caversham on the ncn4. Weight of the bus and nothing else, not wear. Smooth dips, my big tyres behave weirdly. And centre of reading, mostly buses, taxis and large delivery vehicle has roads that deteriorate faster than any other I have experienced. Full suss MTBs are more required than skinny tyred hybrids.

Avatar
ktache replied to ktache | 2 years ago
1 like

First busstop on hemdean road as you come up from church street in caversham, you can almost see the waves in the tarmac on street view. Lots of past images too. Tablet I'm using at the moment doesn't do pics like I really want to post.

The corrugations I believe was on the Aldershot road where it hits the Fleet road, the junction has become a lot larger than I remember it, and the road.

Avatar
JustTryingToGet... replied to ktache | 2 years ago
1 like
ktache wrote:

First busstop on hemdean road as you come up from church street in caversham, you can almost see the waves in the tarmac on street view. Lots of past images too. Tablet I'm using at the moment doesn't do pics like I really want to post.

The corrugations I believe was on the Aldershot road where it hits the Fleet road, the junction has become a lot larger than I remember it, and the road.

I'll see if I can get a pic of that stop! I'll probably be down in the next week of so. It's always a good day when you can get the word 'undulates' in before 9:00 and that is a perfect word for that piece of tarmac!

As an aside, I tend to rage on that road at MGIF motorists that speed past me and then slam the brakes on right in front of me when they discover why speeding in the middle of the road* into the blind bend at Hemdean House school is an incredibly stupid move.

*for once, not lane.

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ktache replied to JustTryingToGetFromAtoB | 2 years ago
0 likes

Would that be through the "20s plenty" section?

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JustTryingToGet... replied to ktache | 2 years ago
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ktache wrote:

Would that be through the "20s plenty" section?

Not sure the pic does it justice

Avatar
JustTryingToGet... replied to ktache | 2 years ago
0 likes
ktache wrote:

Would that be through the "20s plenty" section?

I was referring to the bend as you come away from Caversham just before the 20 section. Though the whole road has shite driving.

I've never understood why the posh kids don't get a 20, and the slightly less posh kids about 100 metres away do. Not that it matters, no one adheres to it and I have it in my head it's not enforceable anyway. Could be wrong on that (in so much not enforceable is slightly different to not enforced )

Avatar
Hirsute replied to IanMK | 2 years ago
1 like

They are really describing a static pressure but this is not relevant to the dynamic situation of rotational forces from all that torque. Hence all the worn road areas where you see constant acceleration and deceleration.

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