Tour de France stage winner beaten by 15-year-old “future Mathieu van der Poel”; Train user accused of “outrage signalling” after blasting cyclist with bike in priority area; Not Near Miss of the Day; Spain boss talks cyclocross + more on the live blog

The lack of space for bikes on trains in the UK is a subject we’ve covered frequently here at road.cc, from Cycling UK’s dismissal of London North Eastern Railway’s storage provision in October 2019 as “downright dangerous” to editor Jack Sexty’s rather blunt critique of GWR’s offering on a special edition of the live blog later that month.

Even LNER’s upgraded bike racks, unveiled earlier this year, aren’t to everyone’s tastes, with words like “problematic” and “rubbish” still being thrown about.

> Doctor thrown off train because he hadn't reserved space for bike - even though there were four available 

But, instead of banging on about the limited storage space for bikes, today we’re going to be exploring the other side of the debate...

Last week, one cyclist on board a train out of Liverpool Street station was accused of exercising his “privilege” – by keeping the priority seat beside him reserved for his folding bike:

This is what privilege looks like on a crowded train from Liverpool St to Chingford late tonight. This man was aware that quite a few of us were standing but actually felt that his bike deserved the priority seat instead of any of us (including a woman heading for her 70s). pic.twitter.com/XXbzSnRWEY

— Clair (@indieHackney) December 1, 2022

After being inundated with replies, the Twitter user who posted the image on Thursday night (and who describes herself as a cyclist) wrote: “It’s amazing how this one tweet has managed to grab the attention of so many.

“Is it because London has become so increasingly divided? Interesting range of responses. He definitely registered me standing. Unbeknownst to him, I was only going two stops. What it signifies upset me.”

As noted by the original poster, the photo proved the catalyst for a wide-ranging debate, featuring a host of ‘Why didn’t you tell him to move his bike?’ tweets to, naturally, sweeping generalisations about cyclists (it is the internet after all):

I know it’s not the done thing but I would have said something, if there’s something Brits hate is being embarrassed in public!

— FIDΞL (@FidelUK) December 2, 2022

Not sure this is fair. It might have been empty when he got on. Ideally people shouldn’t have to ask him to move it, but it’s only an issue if he was politely asked and refused to move it.

— Ryan Hockley 🇪🇺🇰🇷 (@rphockley) December 2, 2022

I don't understand why you would even have to ask. Any decent person would recognise the issue and make the seat available, even if it means standing yourself. Fit enough if you're a regular cyclist.

— Andy Firman (@AndyfFirman) December 2, 2022

Cyclists in a nutshell there

— Tony (@cabsfortheboys1) December 2, 2022

However, others claimed the train photographer was simply trying to stir up hatred against people on bikes, with one cyclist accusing her of “outrage signalling”:

Such a crowded train that there's nobody standing in the aisle, judging by the window reflection. Funny that you have taken a close-cropped shot rather than illustrating the overcrowding. How do you know the man was "aware", did you speak to him and he refused to move the bike?

— Rendel Harris (@Rendel_Harris) December 2, 2022

... and if you spoke with him, did you ascertain that he himself did not have a reason to need a priority seat?
not all disabilities are visible, not all disabilities preclude the use of a bicycle, and not all priorities are disability related.

— GMBasix (@BasixGM) December 2, 2022

Hi, I’ve recently had to use the metro a lot with my bike due to being too injured to do my regular cycling but too poor for taxis. The stares and comments I got for sitting in the priority area were awful and increased my anxiety.
Disabled people bike too
Bikes are mobility aids

— Mr.Rogers Gayborhood (@LostMyInhaler) December 3, 2022

Keyboard activist Clair would rather post on social media in an attempt to cause hatred towards cyclists.

Ps. From the reflections in the
windows, the train looks empty.

— Vélo Maurice (@VeloMaurice) December 2, 2022

And right back to our original point about bikes on trains: 

Try this - why don't train companies provide enough space for people...?

— CyclingInASkirt (@CyclingInASkirt) December 3, 2022

Because Claire isn't about that, she just wants a go at cyclists. That's why she didn't ask him to move it so she could sit, and why she doesn't share pictures of people with luggage on seats.

— TSk (@TheSenkari) December 3, 2022

Responding in today’s comments section to the saga of the “privileged” cyclist on the train, road.cc reader Oldfatgit, sharing his own experience of travelling with his bike on public transport, astutely noted the assumption at the heart of the photographer’s apparent ‘gotcha’ post:

One thing I really love about the commute is the look of confusion that obviously able-bodied people get on their faces when they point out that I’m in a disabled seat on the train, in cycle gear and that I should get up and let someone else have the seat. (By someone else, they mean them).

I used to argue with them... now I just point to the walking stick that’s strapped to my crossbar, point to the sign advising priority seating and say, ‘feel free to get the guard’.

Tends to shut them down quite quickly.

It’s not understood by many able-bodied people that it’s perfectly possible – and in many cases recommended – to be able to ride a bike while being unable to walk very far. It seems to be beyond comprehension to some that this is possible.

It is, and without my e-bike I’d be pretty much housebound and not able to get in to work.

Brooksby also described the photo as “equivalent to someone putting their bag on a seat so nobody can sit next to them.  Does this woman post photos and snarky comments about them?

“And – my own opinion – wouldn’t the folded bike, rucksack and helmet take up far more room on the train if he blocked the aisle with it?”

A big holler to the @ToolesTransport driver for this patient and expert Most Excellent Overtake from last week. I gave them the big thumb, and I got a friendly toot back. If you can track down the driver and pass on my thanks it would be appreciated. @WMerciaRoads #MEO 🙂👍🚲❤️ pic.twitter.com/LmxbzDl5g3

— SHIFT (@goSHIFTscheme) December 5, 2022

Onto the wide passing lorry driver now, who seems to have divided opinion. A1white says that the cyclist “shouldn’t really have posted that video on social media (especially tagging the police and the company), as technically [the lorry driver] broke the law with the overtake.

“You said thanks to him, for giving you lots of room and he acknowledged it, that should be the end of it.”

Steve K, however, wrote: “I’m generally quite relaxed about motorists going over solid white lines to overtake me on my bike, provided they can see it’s clear. 

“I’d much rather they did that than try and squeeze past me, or, even, be stuck behind me for some way. My assumption is that solid white lines are put in when, say, it would take too long to overtake safely with a 10mph differential in speed. But chances are overtaking me the speed differential is going to be much higher, so the overtake time and distance will be much less.

“The proviso, though, is that the motorist can clearly see it is safe.”

Meanwhile, JustTryingToGetFromAtoB shared his own pleasant driver story:

I had a nice one yesterday. Short road with cars parked both sides. I’m usually prepped to hug in before I get flattened by a motorist pulling what I now refer to as ‘the slam it at a school kid’ dick move.

People carrier turned in as I was heading up. It paused at the top before the parked cars. I had ear-marked my pull in space, but the driver motioned for me to continue before they moved.

Good man! Not my usual experience of people carriers and not my usual experience of that road.

And finally, Grahamd had a few questions about Colin Turner’s, ahem, interesting Strava art:

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Rapha (@rapha)

It’s that time of the year, when the temperatures plummet by the day, the lights go up, capitalism runs rampant, and everyone looks forward to that one week where we can all get together and celebrate what really matters.

Yep, that’s right, it’s almost time for the Rapha Festive 500!

Now 12-years-old, the Festive 500 challenges riders to complete 500km between Christmas Eve and New Year, and it’s a great incentive to head outside into the wintery bittering to get in some solid base kilometres or completely fry your legs (delete as appropriate).

This year, you can join the fun on Strava (or else it didn’t happen, right?) for a chance to win a brand new Open U.P. bike while, as usual, lots more prizes are up for grabs in Rapha’s annual Spirit of the Festive 500 awards.

So, if you fancy taking on everyone’s favourite yuletide challenge for the first time this Christmas, check out our 15 tips to complete the Rapha Festive 500 and knock off the kilometres with ease, while also having a nosy at five cool things you may need (or at least tell yourself that you need) to see you through the long, cold miles…

Nothing like an early Christmas present to yourself, eh?

What was that earlier about capitalism…

The writing may have been on the wall for a few weeks concerning the future of the team hitherto known as B&B Hôtels-KTM, but the message was certainly underlined at the weekend, after team boss Jérôme Pineau informed riders and staff that they should looking for new employers for 2023.

> Mark Cavendish’s future uncertain after team boss tells riders to look elsewhere

With the French team – the victim, it seems, of Pineau’s overly ambitious plans to elevate the squad to the WorldTour via a significant funding boost, which have since collapsed like a house of cards – now seemingly destined to spend next year as a reduced, third-tier Continental outfit, two of their contracted riders have been on the ball and have already announced deals for 2023.

Yeah! Super happy to announce I will be part of @AlpecinDCK the next 2 years! #2023 #2024 pic.twitter.com/o5Elqz0VNa

— Ramon Sinkeldam (@RSinkeldam) December 5, 2022

33-year-old Dutchman Ramon Sinkeldam, who was only set to join Pineau’s project from Groupama-FDJ next year, was the first to announce yesterday that he had boarded a lifeboat courtesy of Alpecin-Deceuninck, while mountain biker Victor Koretzky, a relative latecomer to the road having only turned pro with B&B this year, has been snapped up by Bora-Hansgrohe.

📢 NEW RIDER SIGNING 📢

BORA - hansgrohe secures late transfer, as @KORETZKYVictor completes the squad for 2023.

Read more here 👉🏼 https://t.co/14C6Ydbfgd
📸: @sprintcycling pic.twitter.com/dJVAAY5HFk

— BORA – hansgrohe (@BORAhansgrohe) December 6, 2022

Meanwhile, riders still struggling to fill the ever-diminishing spots on leading teams – or, to retain their place on B&B’s hastily reduced line-up – have criticised the lack of communication from Pineau, as well as the former pro’s last-minute announcement that the required funding was not forthcoming.

Speaking to Het Nieuwsblad, Jens Debusschere and Eliot Lietaer also confirmed that Mark Cavendish was present at the October meeting where Pineau outlined his plans for the year ahead.

“Somehow I was glad that I heard the whole story for once, but at the same time you have to say: not telling everyone until December that 24 riders are suddenly free, that is actually not done,” former Belgian champion Debusschere said.

Lietaer, who noted that there was still hope within the squad that it can continue on, at least at Conti level, added: “In any case, the team will not continue in the form he had foreseen… I didn't see it coming at all.

“Pineau has been a racer himself. I thought he must have a plan B somewhere, something he kept in reserve. Apparently not.”

“I also hope that Mark Cavendish, for example, finds a solution for next year. That he can at least go for that record victory in the Tour,” Debusschere, speaking for Cav fans everywhere, concluded.

Plans for a Bike Park in Bath have been abandoned due to concerns over rising costs after a funding bid failed.

The park, a proposed 30-acre facility situated on the grounds of the city’s former Entry Hill golf course, was set to feature five kilometres of purpose-built mountain bike trails, a pump track, skills and learn to ride areas, a bike shop and coaching services, as well as free-to-access walking, running and family cycling paths.

The plans had received widespread support from residents, though local golfers had previously led a campaign to save the two loss-making golf courses at Entry Hill after Bath and North East Somerset Council revealed that each round played cost taxpayers £8.

One golfer complained that the first public consultation on the future of the site was taken over by a ‘cycling lobby on steroids’ after 78 percent of respondents expressed support for turning it into a cycling centre.

Despite this (relatively benign) opposition, final draft designs – by Bristol-based cycling group Pedal Progression, who last year won the tender process to create the bike park – were completed at the end of June.

The Bike Park was originally due to open by the end of 2022, but due to various challenges this was pushed back to Spring/Summer 2023.

> Final designs for Bath Bike Park, which will replace a golf course, set to be completed this month

However, Bath and North East Somerset Council revealed last week that the plans have been abandoned altogether and that the site would remain as it is “for the short term”.

Councillor Mark Roper, the cabinet member for economic development, regeneration and growth, told Somerset Live: “The council’s intention for this project was to fund it through capital and a mix of external funding, as is common for these types of schemes. However, as costs have risen and external funding has proved difficult to attract, the council has made the decision not to progress the planning application.

“The site will remain as it is for the short term. Valuable work has been undertaken on ecology, ground condition and heritage value which will inform the council on its future sustainable use.

“Mindful of both the climate and ecological emergencies a range of outdoor leisure activities including walking, running and adventurous play, as well as a Forest School, remain possible.

“The council will pause work on any schemes for the site until later in 2023/4 when economic conditions and financing will hopefully become clearer. Any further proposals for the Entry Hill site will be developed in consultation with users and residents.”

"This project has been close to our hearts for nearly four years, and a dream for much longer,” added Pedal Progression’s founder Matt George.

“We are disappointed that it’s not been possible to deliver what would have been an incredible recreational asset for the people of Bath and North East Somerset but we understand the reasons behind the decision that has been taken.

“Thank you to those who showed such incredible support and enthusiasm for the project over the last few years and we look forward to working with the council on projects in the future.”

Tour de France stage winner and former British champion Sean Yates will be appearing live on YouTube this evening, where he will be discussing his career and decades-long association with frame builder Mark Reilly.

Expect plenty of chat from ‘Seen Yah-tes’ about life in the peloton and guiding Bradley Wiggins during his annus mirabilis of 2012 (though probably less about certain aspects of his spells at Motorola and Discovery Channel, if we’re honest).

And, if you can make it down to TrainSharp Cycling in Lewes by 7pm tonight, you can even catch the conversation live by contacting the team on WhatsApp.

Cut through the romantic hubris about it being inspired by highland camping trips and I think the real design inspiration was "how can we design a car that's as dangerous as possible for any pedestrian who is unfortunate enough to be hit by it". pic.twitter.com/88uvnmoYB6

— Andy Arthur - threadinburgh.scot (@cocteautriplets) December 6, 2022

But it's electric...

— Real Gaz on a proper bike: gazza_d [at] toot.bike (@gazza_d) December 6, 2022

Wout van Aert's NFTs are still owned by the people who originally bought them.

These people paid roughly 18 000 USD in ETH each.

Current value? Fuck-all. 😅

— Benji Naesen (@BenjiNaesen) December 5, 2022

> Wout van Aert is selling his three biggest wins – as NFT digital assets

 Alright, hands up – who owns Wout van Aert’s 2020 Strade Bianche win as an NFT?

Meanwhile, over at RCS Sport:

La Maglia Rosa del Giro d'Italia 2023 in NFT 👉 disponibile come pezzo unico all’asta, è arricchito da una serie di benefit straordinari, come la possibilità di seguire la tappa finale di Roma a bordo di un'auto ufficiale Giro Club 👉 https://t.co/AFdZlKzZDF@ItaliaNFT_art #Giro pic.twitter.com/ahe6szDQcs

— Giro d'Italia (@giroditalia) December 5, 2022

Some people will never learn, eh?

its not 2020 anymore guys

— Arnim (@ArnimKraus) December 5, 2022

As our Near Miss of the Day series rumbles on, hopefully hitting its aim of holding the authorities to account when they fail to protect vulnerable road users, sometimes it’s important to highlight the kind of driving that we hope will someday make that particular collection of close passes and scares a thing of the past.

So, this morning on the live blog, we thought we’d mix things up a bit with the latest instalment of NMOTD’s more wholesome, friendlier younger brother: the very originally titled ‘Not Near Miss of the Day’!

Today’s NNMOTD (I’m sure it will catch on) features a safe, wide passing lorry driver and a nice friendly exchange between two road users. Ah, bliss:

A big holler to the @ToolesTransport driver for this patient and expert Most Excellent Overtake from last week. I gave them the big thumb, and I got a friendly toot back. If you can track down the driver and pass on my thanks it would be appreciated. @WMerciaRoads #MEO 🙂👍🚲❤️ pic.twitter.com/LmxbzDl5g3

— SHIFT (@goSHIFTscheme) December 5, 2022

Cracking stuff - a bit of harmony and love on the roads. It’s not all bad out there! (ignoring any marginal technicality)😉, I get some great passes and mutual appreciation, unfortunately it’s the rarer inconsiderate stuff that tends to stick in the head…for a bit

— Mark (@Markstevel78) December 5, 2022

However, just like the last time we featured a Not Near Miss of the Day on the live blog, some Twitter users were keen to split hairs over the driver’s decision to overtake just before the end of the solid white lines.

Good pass, but totally wrong side of a solid white line at 4 seconds into the video.

— Simon Rhodes ADI (@sr_drivinschool) December 5, 2022

According to the Highway Code, “you may cross the line if necessary, provided the road is clear, to pass a stationary vehicle, or overtake a pedal cycle, horse or road maintenance vehicle, if they are travelling at 10 mph (16 km/h) or less.”

Might have been a couple of seconds early but the dashed lines appeared so he was marginally out but he drove to the conditions of the road and used professional judgement. Passes of that quality and few and far between so credit where credit is due.

— Leigh Robinson (@NaturesEyeMusic) December 6, 2022

Lots of others have. They kept me safe, visibility was good and road was clear. They’d been waiting behind me for several hundred metres.

— SHIFT (@goSHIFTscheme) December 6, 2022

What do you think? Was our lorry driver committing an illegal overtake or exhibiting the kind of safe, considerate, and patient driving we always say we want to see more of?