Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Back to news
news

Sticky bumper cyclist hanging onto back of bus by his feet divides internet; Britain’s worst bike path? Cyclist reports neglected cycle route; Josh Tarling goes wrong way at roundabout during time trial – and still beats Evenepoel + more on the live blog

It’s Monday, and that means only one thing – another week on the live blog! Ryan Mallon is here to blow away the cobwebs and kickstart the week with all your essential cycling new and views
Mon, Oct 16, 2023 09:59
37

SUMMARY

No Live Blog item found.

Sticky bumper cyclist hanging onto back of bus by his feet divides internet; Britain’s worst bike path? Cyclist reports neglected cycle route; Josh Tarling goes wrong way at roundabout during time trial – and still beats Evenepoel + more on the live blogCyclist in Brazil hangs onto back of bus with feet (curitibamilgraus, Instagram)
16 October 2023, 15:31
Cyclist in Brazil hangs onto back of bus with feet (curitibamilgraus, Instagram)
“It’s incredibly dangerous, but that’s the whole point!” ‘Sticky bumper’ cyclist hitches ride by hanging onto the back of a bus by his feet… and divides the internet

This morning on the live blog we posted a video of a cyclist enjoying an, ahem, unusual commute to work – by hanging off the back of a bus using just their feet – and it’s safe to say that the internet (usually such a serene, agreeable place) is divided over this unique method of transport.

The jaw dropping clip was posted on Instagram yesterday by a food blogger (obviously) and shows a cyclist in the Brazilian city of Curitiba, the capital of the southern state of Paraná, perching himself on the front of his bike while hooking his feet to the rear bumper of a bus, letting the vehicle tow him along as his back wheel occasionally leaves the road.

That wasn’t the only time the stunt has been attempted, however. The Curitiba Mil Graus account also posted a series of three videos on their Instagram Stories, which appear to show the same cyclist again employing the ‘sticky bumper’ method – in all weather conditions and often showboating with one arm raised.

Cyclist in Brazil hangs onto back of bus with feet (curitibamilgraus, Instagram)

Needless to say, the risky stunts have produced a mixed response online.

While some social media accounts called for Movistar to sign the daring cyclist, others were scathing of the “dangerous” manoeuvre.

“What could possibly go wrong?” asked on X/Twitter user, while another noted that the cyclist was in “Darwin Award territory”.

“If he dies, they’ll still blame it on the bus,” wrote Adalberto.

Cyclist in Brazil hangs onto back of bus with feet (curitibamilgraus, Instagram)

“How good are their reactions?” asked road.cc reader brooksby in today’s comments section. “Will they be able to quickly move out and away if (when) that bus suddenly pulls over and stops?”

However, one reader noted that cyclist was taking advantage of Curitiba’s vaunted bus network – where long orange buses glide along segregated lanes, separate from other motor traffic, stopping only at designated stations situated on outward-folding ramps. So, in theory, unlike if he tried the same trick in the UK, the cyclist would have had a decent idea of when the bus he was clinging onto was going to stop.

“It’s incredibly dangerous, but that’s the whole point, they’re an adrenaline junkie!” said Neil MG. “But the bus is unlikely to stop suddenly and doesn’t need to ‘pull over’ as it is in the Curitiba dedicated mass transit system. I assume the crazy rider knows where it has to stop or slow down.”

> Lorry-drafting Brazilian cyclist hits 168 kilometres an hour in latest film

Of course, Curitiba’s bus bumper clinger isn’t the first cyclist from Brazil we’ve encountered with a fondness for taking a draft.

Because our feet-first rider has a long way to go before he matches the exploits of Evandro Portela, the Brazilian cyclist who has filmed himself on numerous occasions hitting crazy speeds – including an astonishing 168kph – while drafting right behind a lorry.

Now seriously, don’t try this at home…

16 October 2023, 08:05
Cycle route 63, Peterborough (Des@CambsCustomCycles)
Is this Britain’s worst bike path? Cyclist reports “unacceptable” neglected cycle route, featuring cracks “you could fit a full-size MTB wheel in”

The bumpy, and often dangerous, issue of terrible or poorly maintained roads and bike paths for cyclists came into focus over the weekend, as we reported on two stories that highlighted the hazards of riding a bike on neglected routes.

While one cyclist criticised the council in Kent for signing off on an off-road cycle route that, just six months after its completion, is already littered with cracks and crumbling surfaces, another local authority came under scrutiny for failing to properly inspect a rural road where an 84-year-old cyclist was tragically killed after his wheel got caught in a huge pothole, just months after the lane was assessed by council workers – seemingly intent on only identifying dangers for motorists – twice.

> “Car-centric” council missed massive pothole that killed 84-year-old cyclist because “primary focus” was to identify “dangers to cars”, not bikes

In response to these stories from over the weekend, a cyclist on social media shared images of what is surely a contender for the prestigious, and hard-fought, title of Britain’s Worst Cycle Path…

The path, which forms part of National Cycle Route 63, is located on the North Bank of the River Nene near Peterborough and, judging by cyclist Des’ photos, features a series of massive cracks, a rollercoaster surface, and plenty of mid-lane vegetation.

Des says he reported the poorly maintained surface to the local council in July, and that “full resurfacing works” it will take place “sometime” in the future, which is reassuring.

“But for now it’s being left like this,” Des says. “Is this really acceptable on a popular walking and cycling route?”

Cycle route 63, Peterborough (Des@CambsCustomCycles)

Meanwhile, another local cyclist noted that the council seems to “be happy to resurface areas that don’t really need it. That stretch isn’t just crappy, it’s really dangerous too.”

“That’s awful, you could fit a full size MTB wheel in that,” one social media user added, prompting Des to reply: “You could, and it’s not lit so when the clocks go back, commuting will be ‘interesting’ riding along there.”

Cycle route 63, Peterborough (Des@CambsCustomCycles)

Let’s just hope that the council pull their finger out over the next few weeks, then.

Does Peterborough’s North Bank have a strong claim to being Britain’s worst cycle path? Or is your local route even worse? Let us know in the comments…

16 October 2023, 09:28
Josh Tarling wins Chrono des Nations 2023
Josh Tarling storms to massive time trial win over world champion Remco Evenepoel… despite going the wrong way at a roundabout

Josh Tarling really is quite the bike rider, isn’t he?

The 19-year-old from Aberaeron has enjoyed the neo-pro year dreams are made of, impressing throughout the year against the clock before taking his first senior British time trial championship, a feat he followed up with a bronze medal at the worlds TT in Stirling, a maiden WorldTour win at the Renewi Tour, and then last month’s jaw dropping European championships victory.

And yesterday, at the Chrono des Nations (the descendant of the fabled Grand Prix des Nations), Tarling – racing in the Euro champs jersey for the first time – put the icing on the cake of his scintillating 2023 by beating none other than world champion Remco Evenepoel by 13 seconds over the flat 45.4km course in Les Herbiers.

To put Tarling’s performance – which came just 12 months after his win at the junior Chrono des Nations – into perspective, nobody else, including TT specialists Stefan Bissegger, Rémi Cavagna, and Mikkel Bjerg, got within a minute of the European and world champions, while Bjerg finished over two minutes down in fifth.

And, rather incredibly, Tarling’s margin of victory over Evenepoel may have been even wider had the young Welshman not gone the wrong way at a roundabout near the end of his ride, a classic British TT mishap revealed by his father Michael on social media after the race.

Finally, I have something in common with Josh Tarling – we’ve both guilty of having taken the wrong roundabout exit during time trials (albeit mine was during the Ulster 25 mile TT championships, not against Remco Evenepoel. And I didn’t win). Though that still means we’re basically the same, doesn’t it?

It turned out to be a super day for the Tarling clan in Les Herbiers, as Josh’s 17-year-old younger brother Finlay secured second place in the junior TT, losing by just a second to Italian Davide Donati, while promising Irish rider Adam Rafferty (another younger sibling, with older brother Darren joining EF Education next year) in third.

The Tarling family are going to dominate time trials for the next decade, aren’t they?

16 October 2023, 14:56
“100 miles became 115”: Readers share their own harrowing ‘wrong turn during a time trial’ stories

Don’t worry, Josh Tarling, you’re not alone.

While the British time trial phenom managed to hang onto the win – ahead of Remco Freakin’ Evenepoel – at yesterday’s Chrono des Nations, despite taking a wrong turn at a roundabout, Tarling’s mild embarrassment at his mid-race mishap can certainly be assuaged by learning that he’s now part of a proud yet humble tradition of direction-challenged time trialists.

“I was once diverted off a 25 course by triathlon marshals. I got suspicious when overtaking loads of cyclists in narrower lanes. Added a couple of miles, still wasn’t last,” wrote Exeter Wheelers vice-president under our Twitter story.

Ian’s mid-25 detour was soon usurped by Howard Waller, who wrote: “In my first ‘proper’ TT year, I was fast but unseeded in a 100. Got well ahead of the field and took a marshal by surprise. In panic he directed me down the wrong turning. 100 miles became 115. I didn’t win.”

Ouch.

Even your resident live blogger isn’t immune to the perils of navigating time trial signage (I’m sure you’re all shocked).

Way back when at the Ulster junior 25 championships, I became disorientated while trying to ride the entire way around what in fairness was an absolutely massive roundabout.

Like a child stumbling off a merry-go-round, and forced into guessing what exit was the correct one, I rode in the wrong direction for a minute or so, before finally realising and swinging the bike around in the vague direction of the finish line.

Well, at least I had a decent excuse for why I was so off the pace – not that I needed one of course…

16 October 2023, 14:32
93,304 signatures… 93,304…
16 October 2023, 13:48
Oxford County Council set to make decision on future of LTNs, after report finds that the schemes boosted cycling numbers by 20 percent, while car-usage dropped by 10 percent

The future of Oxford’s Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, schemes blighted by what some proponents of hyperbole have described as a “civil war” in the city since their implementation in 2021, will be decided tomorrow night at a meeting of Oxford County Council.

The council has been recommended to approve the Traffic Regulation Orders for the three East Oxford LTNs, located in the Divinity Road, St Clement’s, and St Mary’s areas, though tensions remain high concerning traffic-calming measures that have been the subject of protests, vandalism, and arson attacks, as well as a BBC Panorama episode.

Anti-LTN vandal sets bollard alight (credit - Oxford Liveable Streets)

> Active travel campaigners release footage of anti-LTN vandals setting bollards alight

A report into the LTNs in East Oxford found that the schemes have led to an increase in cycling numbers by 20 percent, with one boundary road even seeing the percentage of cyclists increasing by 51 percent, while car use is down by 10 percent.

While air quality has improved for the most part, the report also found that congestion has increased overall, with bus journey times towards the city centre rising.

“I would say they have been a massive success. We have seen a massive drop in air pollution,” Zuhura Plummer from Oxford Liveable Streets told ITV today.

“We have seen a big drop in accidents and collision inside the LTNs. Businesses are still thriving and we have data that shows the number of businesses that open and close in the Cowley Road is below the average.”

16 October 2023, 13:11
Cian Uijtdebroeks 2023 (Zac Williams/SWpix.com)
“It would be nice if my bikes were in order”: Cian Uijtdebroeks says Bora-Hansgrohe “really needs to improve” after issue-packed time trial

Cian Uijtdebroeks’ performances on the road this year may have cemented his place as one of cycling’s hottest GC prospects, but his increasingly frequent outbursts to the media have also earned him a reputation as one of the peloton’s most outspoken members.

After publicly complaining about Bora-Hansgrohe teammate Alexandr Vlasov’s tactics at the Vuelta, when it seemed as if both riders were fighting each other over seventh place, the 20-year-old Belgian – who has since been linked with a move to Lidl-Trek or the Ineos Grenadiers – has now aimed his wrath at the German squad’s attention to detail when it comes to equipment and aerodynamics.

After an issue-laden time trial at the Chrono des Nations yesterday, Uijtdebroeks declared that “it would be nice if my bikes were in order” and that the team “really needs to improve” – even hinting that he may have to leave Bora if they cannot make him “competitive in Grand Tours”.

Dave Brailsford’s ears just pricked up…

Read more: > Pro rider quick to slam Bora-Hansgrohe for “out of order” Specialized TT bikes

16 October 2023, 12:32
10 amazing bikes to brighten up your Monday
2023 Bespoked highlights - 1

> Check out 10 stunning bikes from Bespoked 2023

16 October 2023, 11:57
Sepp Kuss and Jonas Vingegaard celebrate after stage 20 of the 2023 Vuelta a España (Tommaso Pelagalli/SprintCyclingAgency)
Catchy… Jumbo-Visma set to become Visma-Lease a Bike in 2024

Cycling commentators, take notes, as after what seemed like an eternity of endless but ultimately fruitless merger talks with Soudal Quick-Step, and speculation about Amazon coming on board, Jumbo-Visma have finally secured a replacement for the outgoing Dutch supermarket chain, and will be known as Visma-Lease a Bike in 2024.

Catchy.

While Jumbo were originally set to pull out of sports sponsorship at the end of 2024 in the wake of police raids and money laundering and fraud accusations, it seems like the supermarket’s involvement will now end a year early, with WielerFlits reporting that Lease a Bike – a subsidiary of existing sponsor Pon, a Dutch transport multinational and bike distributor – will step up to the role of co-title sponsor alongside Visma.

Lease a Bike, a cycle to work scheme based in Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands, already appears on Jumbo-Visma’s jerseys, and several sources have confirmed to WielerFlits that their investment in the team is set to increase next year. The overall budget, however, currently remains unclear, with the website speculating it to be around the €25-30 million mark.

Jonas Vingegaard wins the 2023 Tour de France (Zac Williams/SWpix.com)

[Zac Williams/SWpix.com]

The squad will also be on the lookout for additional investment over the next year or so, with Betcity set to step aside when the Netherlands bans sports sponsorship by online gambling companies in July 2025.

Sources are also in the dark over whether Visma and Lease a Bike would be eager to step aside if a larger sponsor such as Amazon – who recently pulled out of a smaller deal with the Dutch team at the last minute – became interested in backing the team.

Nevertheless, Visma director Anne-Grethe Thomle Karlsen reiterated the business software company’s long-term support for the team as it prepares to take over first-name sponsorship rights.

“As far as the future is concerned, we entered into this sponsorship in 2019 with a long-term perspective. As long as both parties see common value in this collaboration, that will not change,” she said.

16 October 2023, 11:42
‘There are loads of kids wheelie-ing about, causing a nuisance. I know what we should do – ban all cyclists!’

Police in one Warwickshire town have asked the council to introduce a no cycle zone to cut out “really dangerous” cycling and “anti-social behaviour” in the shopping area, saying that “we get a lot of kids wheelie-ing through and it sets the wrong tone”.

Inspector Kris Shore of Nuneaton’s police force told a council scrutiny meeting that officers want more power to stop anti-social cycling, with “kids wheelie-ing around” and cyclists apparently “just rifling through the town”.

Nuneaton town centre (Google Maps)

Read more: > “We get a lot of kids wheelie-ing through”: Police claim danger of “anti-social behaviour” should be tackled with town centre cycling ban

16 October 2023, 11:26
Cyclocross is back, baby! Thibau Nys and Fem van Empel win as World Cup returns in the USA

Ah, the temperatures are dropping, the nights are closing in, and another cyclist has been booted out of Strictly – it’s that time of the year again, folks, the cyclocross season is back!

The World Cup of mud, fun, and stupidly steep mounds kicked off yesterday all the way over in Waterloo, Wisconsin, as world champion Fem Van Empel resumed right where she left off, capitalising on eternal rival Puck Pieterse’s early mistakes to take an impressive win.

Meanwhile, in the men’s race, a new star was born as Lidl-Trek’s Thibau Nys – son of ‘cross legend Sven – beat Eli Iserbyt to secure the first senior World Cup of his young career, demonstrating some silky bike handling skills and monstrous power in the process:

Oof…

16 October 2023, 10:59
Cycle route 63, Peterborough (Des@CambsCustomCycles)
“Like walking on a treadmill full of Lego”: More reviews are in for Peterborough’s “dangerous” bike path

It appears that Cycle Route 63 in Peterborough isn’t just a source of frustration and worry for local cyclists – its horrid, rollercoaster surface is also feared by those running on it.

“Not only is that a bad cycle route, it’s a bad route for running,” Gary Woodward says on Facebook. “I’ve been using it for training and it’s horrible. Not expecting anything perfectly smooth but this is like walking on a treadmill full of Lego!”

Ouch…

Meanwhile, nominees for Britain’s Worst Cycle Path are beginning to pour in:

I reckon the awards committee might be here for a while…

16 October 2023, 10:28
Paralympic cycling legend Jody Cundy bows out of Strictly Come Dancing in week four after salsa ‘dance disaster’

Five Paralympic track cycling gold medals, 20 rainbow jerseys on the track, a host of gold medals in the swimming pool, and a week four exit on Strictly Come Dancing – Jody Cundy really has done it all.

Unfortunately, like many of his cycling-turned-shoddily dancing forebears, the 45-year-old’s stint on the Strictly ballroom – which, remember, began just weeks after he won his 14th world kilo title in Glasgow in August – came to an early, if rather inevitable, end last night.

> From the peloton to the ballroom: cycling’s dancing sensations

After finishing bottom of the leaderboard with a rather shaky, hesitant salsa (hey, the live blog can also contain some dance analysis too, you know), the nerves appeared to get the better of Jody in the dance-off, where even pro dancer – and last year’s Strictly winner – Jowita Przystał fell to pieces following a few botched lifts, with the judges electing unanimously to save comedian Eddie Kadi.

He may have made Nico Roche look like John Travolta, but you can’t say Cundy – chest waxed, shirt open, and dealing with a series of injuries – didn’t give it a right go dancing on national TV, anyway. And there’s always Paris and another crack at Paralympic success to act as a consolation prize, right?

16 October 2023, 10:04
Sticky bumper

You’ve heard of drafting behind vehicles, and you’ve definitely heard of a sticky bottle – but what if we combined the two to ensure an easy – if not necessarily relaxing – commute to work? (Just don’t tell Vincenzo Nibali…)

Oh, and before anyone complains in the comments or in the Daily Mail, don’t try this at home, kids…

16 October 2023, 09:00
Weekend round-up: History-making hours, NIMBY car parkers, and bonkers bike sculptures

From post-crit punch-ups between pros in Japan and barnstorming, groundbreaking rides in the velodrome, to classic NIMBYism and an, ahem, intriguing bike-themed sculpture that doubles up as a safety campaign aiming to protect vulnerable road users, here are all the cycling stories you may have missed while out enjoying the autumnal sunshine over the weekend…

Unique traffic-calming device in Temse, Belgium (Hilaire Smet, Facebook)

> Striking bike crash sculpture is making motorists “drive noticeably slower,” says artist

> Business owners blast “totally crazy, ridiculous” plans to remove two car parking spaces – to make way for eight hire bikes

> Cycling campaigners slammed for organising “deeply distasteful” protest demanding safer streets following two fatal collisions

Asda bike theft (aliqaragol, TikTok)

> Britain’s bike theft scourge continues: Brazen thief attempts to steal bike outside Asda in broad daylight – as bystander withdraws cash – and moped muggers target club ride

> “Car-centric” council missed massive pothole that killed 84-year-old cyclist because “primary focus” was to identify “dangers to cars”, not bikes

Vittoria Bussi sets new Hour Record of 50.267km (Tania Marquez)

> Flying Vittoria Bussi becomes first woman to break 50km barrier as she reclaims UCI Hour Record

> New cycle path branded “waste of taxpayers’ money” as cyclist counts 233 “huge” cracks in surface – six months after it was built

Maxim Van Gils punches Georgios Bouglas during Japan Cup Criterium

> Lotto Dstny pro apologises for hitting rider after reacting to “dangerous behaviour” during sprint

> Free new kit: check out the app that lets you earn rewards by riding your bike – plus more tech news from Rapha, POC, Rouvy, Koo, Apidura…

> The coolest custom road bike? Lina Bo's meticulously hand-painted Myway Pinarello Dogma F

> "It's a bit of a mess": A solicitor's take on Shimano crankgate + the history of road.cc on our latest Podcast

Ryan Mallon

After obtaining a PhD, lecturing, and hosting a history podcast at Queen’s University Belfast, Ryan joined road.cc in December 2021 and since then has kept the site’s readers and listeners informed and enthralled (well at least occasionally) on news, the live blog, and the road.cc Podcast. After boarding a wrong bus at the world championships and ruining a good pair of jeans at the cyclocross, he now serves as road.cc’s senior news writer. Before his foray into cycling journalism, he wallowed in the equally pitiless world of academia, where he wrote a book about Victorian politics and droned on about cycling and bikes to classes of bored students (while taking every chance he could get to talk about cycling in print or on the radio). He can be found riding his bike very slowly around the narrow, scenic country lanes of Co. Down.

Add new comment

37 comments

Avatar
Cugel replied to chrisonabike | 1 year ago
5 likes

chrisonatrike wrote:

You shouldn't forget that despite its origins (Bristol Cyclebag was it - cycle path / environmentalist group anyway?) for time Sustrans have positioned themselves as "cycling AND walking" group.  Possibly this was tactical AND strategic (avoid just being associated with those awful, aggressive, entitled, lycra-wearing cyclists, bigger potential pool of funding and influence).

...anyway, while they do have an improving story around transport on bikes I suspect lots of their coverage was exactly this - "active travel in the sense of 'recreation' and definitely with a view to those who can also walk".  So "mostly navigable by bike.  For people who are able and prepared to walk.  And maybe navigate some tricky gates.  Possibly the odd style / fence.  And have wellies.  Or sometimes waders."

In this case an alliance with those with disabilities benefits everyone.  For example "if you can't tackle it on a road bike likely most wheelchair users won't find it pleasant either".

As one will discover by attempting some, do-gooding can backfire. Sad but true. Sustrans undoubtedly seeks to do good but those dang unintended consequences keep blowing in from somewhere.

Still, sitting about like a permanently asleep stoic is no good either. And anyay, we humans can't help but "try". But, as you know .....

The road (and even the cycle path) to hell is paved with good intentions. The intent to provide special facilities for cyclists, even walkers, to save them all from traffic seems to have provided motorised traffic contituents with the nod that they can continue their lunatic antics ....  whilst the special facilities for cyclists consist of degraded, dangerous and generally useless junk-route along with shouts from drivists to use it anyway so as to GET OUT OF MY WAY.

Avatar
chrisonabike replied to Cugel | 1 year ago
0 likes

Cugel wrote:

Still, sitting about like a permanently asleep stoic is no good either. And anyay, we humans can't help but "try". But, as you know .....

Perhaps try this strategy whenever someone says "it would be better if..." or "why don't we..." then?

Cugel wrote:

The road (and even the cycle path) to hell is paved with good intentions. The intent to provide special facilities for cyclists, even walkers, to save them all from traffic seems to have provided motorised traffic contituents with the nod that they can continue their lunatic antics ....  whilst the special facilities for cyclists consist of degraded, dangerous and generally useless junk-route along with shouts from drivists to use it anyway so as to GET OUT OF MY WAY.

Again I have some general sympathy for your outlook (not being 18 any more) BUT "...seems to have provided motorised traffic contituents with the nod that they can continue their lunatic antics..." - pretty sure this has been happening for the last x decades regardless of cycling OR walking infra!  Thing is ... the number of cars has grown and continues to increase.  Although driving patterns have changed and since e.g. 2000 the average car mileage has decreased.  (Aside - not entirely sure why - this seems to be communting declining slightly but business mileage + other driving dropping quite a bit)

As for hell - the paving is looking pretty good from here (albeit I'm also a seeker of less populated places):

Countryside hell
Countryside recreational hell
Hell is other people - arguing about paving paradise - sorry, hell
Hell in the city
Keeping the way to hell smoothly paved

Avatar
chrisonabike replied to Cugel | 1 year ago
1 like

Ah yes, this was the remedy I was going to suggest you apply.

Airplane - fight scene.

Avatar
stonojnr replied to the little onion | 1 year ago
2 likes

NC51 is like that, it takes you across a ploughed field, via a bridleway, which is just mud in winter, and sand with giant rocks in summer.

Avatar
Ihatepigeons replied to stonojnr | 1 year ago
0 likes

The section approaching Grafham water?

Avatar
stonojnr replied to Ihatepigeons | 1 year ago
0 likes

No between Claydon & Needham Market, assuming you survive crossing the A140 to get to it

Avatar
SimoninSpalding replied to the little onion | 1 year ago
3 likes

Perhaps it's a Peterborough thing? My cycle commute uses part of NCR 12 and in order to be able to use it (and hence avoid the A16 which was newly built just over a decade ago as single carriageway with no cycle or pedestrian provision) I had to buy a gravel bike due to the variously gravelly, muddy and cratered surfaces in a 2km stretch.

Pages

Latest Comments