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Blind downhill mountain biker hoping to turn pro; Have you watched the latest Lance Armstrong documentary?; Tel Aviv builds bike lane overnight; Crappy tech solution to dooring; Why hill climbers shouldn't print their own numbers + more

Today's live blog with Alex Bowden (daytime) and Simon MacMichael (evening)...
UPDATED Thu, Sep 24, 2020 16:02
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Blind downhill mountain biker hoping to turn pro; Have you watched the latest Lance Armstrong documentary?; Tel Aviv builds bike lane overnight; Crappy tech solution to dooring; Why hill climbers shouldn't print their own numbers + moreXavier Hopkins (via YouTube)
24 September 2020, 16:11
Aussie close pass
Aussie cyclist who was almost run off the road by motorist charged for not riding closer to the kerb

A New South Wales cyclist who was almost run off the road by an impatient driver in Macmasters Beach said he took the footage to police but ended up getting booked himself for not riding as near to left of the road as possible.

“Descending down an unguttered road with blind driveways at 50km/h, and I was as close to the left of the road that was safe in the circumstances,” they said.

You can see the footage on Facebook.

24 September 2020, 15:37
Blind downhill mountain biker hoping to turn pro

Xavier Hopkins was born with albinism which means his eyes let in too much light. This is compounded by a second eye condition called nystagmus, which causes his eyes to shake uncontrollably, leaving him without depth perception and blurred vision.

iNews reports that he is looking to turn pro as a downhill mountain biker.

You’ve doubtless got a few questions.

This will answer some of them, but it’ll probably also give rise to a few more…

24 September 2020, 15:02
Chloe Dygert is conscious and talking. Full story up now, including footage.
24 September 2020, 14:36
Defending champion crashes out of World Championships time trial

Looked nasty. She went over a roadside barrier. She was way ahead based on the intermediate timings as well.

We'll have more for you on this in a bit. We're still awaiting news on her condition.

24 September 2020, 14:35
Tel Aviv built a 300m protected cycle lane overnight
24 September 2020, 14:31
Geraint Thomas has a new book out next month

Mountains According to G is about various different climbs and Thomas’s experiences on them – “not all necessarily good,” he says in a video that arguably warranted a second take.

Unless that was the second take.

It’s out on October 29.

24 September 2020, 14:13
24 September 2020, 14:06
UK cycling policy in a single image

This is quite magnificent.

24 September 2020, 13:51
Women's road race route
World Championships road race course is "perfect" for Lizzie Deignan says team-mate Lizzy Banks

The women’s road race is on Saturday on a course that Lizzy Banks says is “perfect” for Lizzie Deignan.

You can find info about the circuit and climbs here. The women’s route is 143km with 2,750m of climbing.

"It's exciting, we've got such a strong team," Banks told BBC Sport. "Lizzie Deignan is on great form and this is a perfect course for her, she'll really relish riding it."

Banks is riding the women's time trial today. (It’s on the Beeb right now, in fact.)

Speaking about her training this year, she said: "We had a tough period where we lost a really close friend to coronavirus so that was really difficult.

"Not being able to see your friends during that time was devastating and that really fuelled my anxieties about going back to work.

"I used cycling as a release and sometimes it was difficult to get outside – the hardest thing was always leaving the front door but you always feel better once you get outside."

Long term, she is targeting the 2024 Olympics time trial despite having only taken up cycling in 2015 and not yet done any aero testing on her position.

“It's something I'm going to look into this winter.”

24 September 2020, 13:30
24 September 2020, 11:40
Lance documentary (iPlayer)
A smattering of semi-recommendations for 'Lance' on the iPlayer

We asked you whether the latest Lance Armstrong documentary is worth a watch if you're a person who isn't already dead against the mere idea of Lance Armstrong documentaries.

The consensus down in the comments section seems to be: 'Yes, probably, if you can't immediately think of something else to watch'.

Awavey said: “I thought it was a good documentary, as all the 30 for 30 series have been. Even if you don’t follow cycling as a sport, you learn something about the human characters involved, and Lance's ex teammates especially I think in this one reveal a lot more than they did in that earlier doc – though obviously a lot of the same ground gets covered. But I'd recommend watching it.”

joules1975 said: “I'm glad I watched it, and felt I did learn some new things. There were a few moments where you saw the mask/act crack, which was interesting, particularly the section where Lance discussed Ulrich.”

kt26 said: “I myself enjoyed the documentary, mostly for informing me a bit better about some of the details of the time but also because if offered multiple perspectives on the time with interviews with many different players. Probably best gone into if your relativily opened minded on the subject - otherwise its very long.”

peted76 was a bit more effusive: "I finished the new 'Lance' documentary the other night. It is hands down the best Lord Voldemort documentary I've seen.

"Everyone knows the story of course, but this is a truly fascinating insight into the whole saga. Warts and all. I must admit it 'hit me in the feels' a couple of times too. Chapeau to the filmakers IMHO they've done a great job of it."

24 September 2020, 11:26
Warning: Cyclists may be knocked off by someone with a baseball bat

The Press reports that a sign apparently suggesting that cyclists could be lamped with a baseball bat was recently spotted on a bridge near York.

Hagg Bridge, on the B1228 road between Sutton upon Derwent and Melbourne has been closed to motor vehicles since March while repair work is being carried out.

Cyclists and pedestrians are still permitted to cross - although cyclists must dismount.

The sign was put up by Direct Traffic Management, who have since removed it.

The firm's managing director, Simon Chadwick, said the image was on the back of the sign.

"We suspect the sign has been vandalised whilst out on site but still apologies for any offence caused."

24 September 2020, 11:03
Got €100,000 burning a hole in your pocket?

A NEW Pinarello Espada.

Listing here.

24 September 2020, 10:08
Lance documentary (iPlayer)
Have you watched the latest Lance Armstrong documentary?

We know, we know, *another* Lance Armstrong documentary. How many can the world possibly need? There's a whole different n+1 thing going on in this particular field, it seems.

ESPN’s somewhat bluntly titled two-part documentary, Lance, made it onto the iPlayer at the weekend.

Chances are you're either (a) rolling your eyes and consciously avoiding it or (b) not immediately interested because you're 95% certain that there's nothing in there you don't already know.

But then what if there is something interesting in there? It's quite long. There must be something, right?

So have you seen it? Perhaps you could give the somewhat jaded cycling fan who isn't in any kind of rush to watch 'Lance' a bit of a steer.

Is it worth a look? Pretty much a complete waste of time? What do you reckon?

 

 

24 September 2020, 09:44
A reminder that the World Championships are happening

Time trials are happening.

The World Championships, no less.

You can watch.

We did a thing about the various courses the other day. The road race one has got a couple of steep bits in it.

24 September 2020, 08:06
Why hill climbers shouldn't print their own numbers
24 September 2020, 07:59
Crappy tech solution to doorings

Cyclists getting clattered off their bikes by people opening car doors into them?

Maybe they could wear a helmet with a heads-up display notifying them of potential door openings up ahead. That seems like the simplest way to tackle the problem...

Alex Bowden

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

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45 comments

Avatar
eburtthebike | 4 years ago
15 likes

Like most "safety" devices for cyclists, this is conceived and designed entirely from the point of view of the driver.  As to whether it would work or not, I have extreme doubts.  Any cyclist riding in town traffic would get so many warnings that the device would be ignored and ditched.

Still, nice to know that those designers are thinking of us.

Avatar
Sriracha replied to eburtthebike | 4 years ago
5 likes

But they are not thinking of us, for the reason you give. The system is designed from the perspective of "how can we make cyclists keep motorists safe when they open their doors without looking?"

Avatar
Captain Badger replied to eburtthebike | 4 years ago
10 likes

Indeed. This is about shifting the burden of responsibility to the victim." well if you'd invested in one of those helmet thingies"

Expecting our resident fol-de-rols to turn up any minute. "Anything that I unsupportedly assert makes you cyclists, er I mean us cyclists, safer. If it saves just one life ™!"

Avatar
brooksby replied to eburtthebike | 4 years ago
3 likes

Wasn't there a proposed gadget a couple of years ago, where cyclists would carry some sort of RFID style gizmo which would alert high-end or self-driving cars that there was a cyclists there.  And then someone asked what would happen to all the cyclists who weren't carrying this gadget...

Avatar
Crazyhorse | 4 years ago
10 likes

Re: Doorings. Wow - this is an academic conference and the authors are paid University researchers. Their paper abstract reaches the staggering conclusion that:
"We expect that awareness of the possible danger will let cyclists feel safer and help to prevent accidents"
For their info, cyclists are already aware of the danger. They are cars, with doors, operated by hominids. Therefore, they could open at any time when stationary. You do not need a PhD to reach this startling conclusion, of course. However, legal responsibility, as ever, rests with the operator...

Avatar
Sriracha replied to Crazyhorse | 4 years ago
18 likes

Disregarding the mindbending idiocy of this "solution", it shows just how ingrained is the idea that the victim is responsible. Why did they not pursue a system that automatically locks the car door whenever a cyclist is approaching, and punches the carist in the face if they attempt to open the door regardless?

Avatar
eburtthebike replied to Sriracha | 4 years ago
9 likes

Sriracha wrote:

Disregarding the mindbending idiocy of this "solution", it shows just how ingrained is the idea that the victim is responsible. Why did they not pursue a system that automatically locks the car door whenever a cyclist is approaching, and punches the carist in the face if they attempt to open the door regardless?

A rather extreme punishment; a simple electric shock would be much more effective and leave no bruises.

Avatar
HoarseMann replied to Sriracha | 4 years ago
5 likes

Sriracha wrote:

Why did they not pursue a system that automatically locks the car door whenever a cyclist is approaching, and punches the carist in the face if they attempt to open the door regardless?

A top end Audi can do this...

https://youtu.be/-fwyPvCJuKU

Well, except the punching. They now need to work on making safe other aspects of their customers' driving behaviour.

Avatar
Sriracha replied to HoarseMann | 4 years ago
3 likes

Great link! I was actually thinking it should be possible, what with blind-spot sensors and central locking already on-board. Never dreamed it had already been done. And using the parking sensors too, so presumably it could work in both directions (although what happens when you are already parked close to the car behind and the sensors are already maxed out for proximity - which is the general situation?)

The face punch bit - OK, tongue in cheek - but as always the trouble with an automated safety system is the user devolves responsibility to the system, so when it fails it's the car's fault that they just killed a cyclist, etc.

Maybe eburt's electric shock is a better idea, or even an unpleasant alarm sound - anything to make the driver want to actually check first for themselves rather than just offloading responsibility for their actions.

Avatar
Captain Badger replied to HoarseMann | 4 years ago
4 likes

Install a large boxing glove on a spring where the airbag is in the steering wheel, and wire it up. 

I personally would have no problem with that being made mandatory on all cars, and anybody who would is clearly a climate denier. Or something.....

Avatar
Rome73 replied to Sriracha | 4 years ago
2 likes

The 'victim is responsible' is ingrained from an early age too. A friend of mine teaches Pedestrian Skills to young children in London. These young children are taken out onto local streets  by two instructors and told all about the dangers of the road / pavement / crossings. I think it is valid work but it's shameful that children have to be taught to be victims from an early age. Unfortunately I don't see an alternative - other than to tame the roads. But that is taking forever. 

Avatar
stueymcc replied to Rome73 | 4 years ago
2 likes

It smacks of the "well she was asking for it dressed like that" defence. Absolute nonsense. I am going to end up dressed like robocop on a bike just to make sure I am not culpable. Got hit by a car last year in a TT, signs everywhere, marshalls on the roundabout, bright yellow clothes, flashing rear light. No police action as an ambulance did not get called. Move along sir, asking for it dressed like that. pffft!!

Avatar
I love my bike replied to Sriracha | 4 years ago
4 likes

It also shows that simple solutions are often overlooked in favour of electronics and apps.

Fitting a cheap gas damper strut to all of the doors could slow the opening of doors, so cyclists would see the slowly opening door, even if the driver/passenger didn't look out for traffic. I'm sure the closing could be undamped, so they could still slam the door closed.

Avatar
brooksby | 4 years ago
3 likes

Crappy tech solution to doorings - oh, good grief...  <face-palm>

Avatar
Mungecrundle replied to brooksby | 4 years ago
1 like
brooksby wrote:

Crappy tech solution to doorings - oh, good grief...  <face-palm>

There have certainly been dafter proposals put forward on this very forum in recent weeks. At least this one addresses an actual problem, misguided as the 'solution' is.

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