Well, week one so far has been amazing especially now project 35 is completed. Will we see 36, 37 or more? Who knows but congratulations to Sir Mark Cavendish to an amazing accomplishment. It is going to be a very long time until someone manages to beat this, perhaps it will never be beaten. Cav has had his up and downs but no one can deny the sheer size of this achievement in what has been a long and amazing career.

Typically I would have been watching the last hour of each stage on GCN+ but the sad loss of the + bit means I will need to subscribe to Discovery+ or Eurosport which is not the same thing really. GCN did announce they are going independent and are offering a new subscription model. They stated on the last weekly show the sign ups have been great but I don’t think I’ll be joining. The approx 3 Euro monthly means custom icons and “loyalty badges”… not convinced. The next level is about 13 Euro and gives access to 50 of the GCN movies, that will rotate. Now many of the GCN movies have been superb but prior access was half the price and included the racing I am missing… So it’s not for me. I appreciate they likely need more funding to generate more documentaries and films but the price difference is too much especially when you see what others are doing for free. (I do appreciate nothing is free but come on…).

Case in point CADE Media. With a lack of longer viewing of the TDF I gave the CADE daily TDF pod cast with Jimmy and Emily. It is superb and gives lots of great post stage insights after each stage. Watching Chris Hall get very emotional about Cav and 35 was wonderful, I think we all felt that way a bit. I have been enjoying their Wild Ones podcast on some boring Zwift base sessions so give it a god. Francis has also been posting 4K versions of some of his bike epics. I just rewatched the trip to Switzerland and the family joined in! Click the link below for the episode on Cav’s historic win and find a link to the CADE media channel here.

Vive la France

Openly, not a lot to say other than WOW! Bardet in his final tour gets the stage one yellow due to brilliant team work with Frank van den Broek. Bardet has been (is) an amazing French rider and as an ex pat in France I was so happy to see him achieve this. I could not have asked for a better start to the tour. WOW, just WOW! Bardet showed absolute class crossing the finishing line by not doing to normal logo point but instead acknowledging Broek. The picture below epitomizes cycling’s team element aspect, how many finish lines see such acknowledgement of a team mate? Ladies and gentlemen, saddle up, the greatest sporting event in the world has started again!

Work has been hectic… really hectic. My annual milage is way off and I have a huge ride next weekend. I have just had COVID and feel like I am in excuse city. It’s obviously meant I have been off the page sadly but I did write an article on noise trouble shooting but didn’t save it properly! So I have started it again and am pushing the latest version here (click the “here” – need to sort the link fonts on this blog!!). It’s not finished so if and when you see I miss something do say! Apologies for typos…

A couple of weeks back I wrote about the excitement of L’Enfer Du Nord and how a wet race can be so risky for the riders. We know “risky” racing makes for such great viewing but none of want to see riders wipe out and get hurt. We have seen enough of that already this years with multiple seasons ended cornering on a dry road.

Well, that would be the normal logic, yes? Who would want to go to a race and see someone hurt? Matthieu Van Der Poel has already had a difficult year due to rowdy supporters resulting in him spitting at them. It’s sad that matters seem to have come to the point where an incredibly talented pro does something like spit at a crowd. MVDP was back in the press having won Paris-Roubaix, where he made a superb solo effort at the end to dominate the race. It was during this breakaway that the completely uncomprehendable occurred. If you have not already seen the video then please see below.

Apologies for the slightly crappy footage but it’s enough to see a cap seemingly thrown at MVDP as he barrels along the pave at 45 kph. The pave is dangerous enough but what the heck! The incident was bought to the UCI who have stated that local jurisdiction will have to investigate. It seems that the woman in the video, who “throws” the cap, had been in a VIP area but I have not managed to confirm that online. After the Belgian woman had been identified, she apparently claimed that no mal intent was intended and that drink was a factor. Further she has claimed she is indeed a fan of Matthieu and hence could never have meant harm. The footage above is pretty damning but further footage has now appeared and it paints a very clear picture.

I’ll let you decide if this was simply an over jubilant supporter OR something that should never be seen again at a sporting event. I will however make a couple of observations…..

*A cap accidentally launched in an excited moment does not get spun like a frisbee.

*Accidentally loosing control of something might be more plausible if the moments up to it are frantic, as opposed to standing stationary by the side of the road.

*If I had done something like that “by accident” I would not be grinning like I was so happy, rather I would be completely horrified as to what I might have just caused.

I do hope this makes it to the french courts. If this was intentional (!) then such action have to come with some very serious consequences. That said the idiot with the “Allez Opi-Omi” sign was only fined approx 1700 euros. Such ****** stupid actions can end a career with injury. If this stupidity doesn’t stop, the pros are not going to be keen with crowds so close to them, destroying the joy of going to a race and watching it. Pro cycling is dangerous enough without so called “supporters” being ****** morons. Leave a comment with what you think (see link at start if this post for comments)….

Tomorrow is the men’s Paris Roubaix with Les Femmes having riden today. Well done to Lotte Kopecky for some tactical riding in the last 20km to produce an excellent sprint in the velodrome. Did you notice she was wearing no gloves? The only reason I wear them is in case I go down and have some protection for my palms as I hit the deck. The one race where you think you would need them would be L’Enfer Du Nord… The women’s race is a great proof point of how women’s racing is super exciting and how tough they are. Who can forget Lizzy Deignan’s bloody hands from just gripping the bars during her win?

This race is justified in its name as the hell of the North. The pave elements bring a completely different aspect to a day race and it is truly brutal. Today looked reasonably dry and hence was a great deal safer but, despite being careful what I say here, no where near as exciting as a wet race. In a week where we have already seen to many riders say goodbye to their season due to crashes (Tour Du Basque) we don’t need to see anyone hurt. That said some of the bike handling skills we see on a wet Paris Roubaix truly are amazing and this is one race where you can definitely watch from start to end with your heart in your mouth. Credit goes the Les amis du Paris Roubaix for the work they do to maintain the pave sections. See more in the video below.

The chicane introduced for the Foret D’Arenberg is an interesting addition (joke per MVDP) but I guess an attempt to bring more safety. Let’s wait for a better more permanent solution.

I am not going to discuss my favourites to win tomorrow (because he won last year!) but I am looking forward to a truly exciting race. This is really the most exciting day race for me and right now it is looking like it could be wet…… Be safe everyone and Bon Courage.

As some might know (one of my four readers perhaps) I have been taking the SurLeRivet on business trips to Malaysia and enjoying some of the rides there. One ride is here for those interested :https://www.strava.com/activities/8662047182

Malaysia is a truly incredible place to visit. A real melting pot of cultures (Malay, Chinese and Indian) and every time I go I find something new. The food is simply superb and a visit to Jalan Alor in Bukit Bintang has the senses assailed from every direction. I have learned to sit down and order one dish at a time to be able to savour all the flavours individually. Ordering all at once sees you bombarded with so many dishes if you are trying to attempt a wide selection of small plates.

When I first rode there I was worried about the traffic but within 30 minutes realised it was the same as Paris. Yes, lots of vehicles but that same awareness from most drivers of Moto scooters feeding the traffic lanes causing everyone to have 360 degree awareness makes it not so bad. The climate is interesting due to the humid, hot conditions and I have been wondering what it would be like to bike pack there. Well, I might be about to find out and tonight I’ll sit now with some homemade Laksa and watch Francis Cade ride through Malaysia, from George Town down to KL. He is sponsored by Decathlon, Kask and Tailfin for the this adventure and Decathlon have provided him with the bike, a Triban GRVK 520 equiped with SRAM Apex and 650 tubeless, 47mm tires. He has made some mods, all of which make sense. Triban bikes are excellent value for money and I bought both kiddos a GRVL 120. Are they any good? Well I just rode one down to the Catovian here in Chatou for a beer and to write this article. They ride great and the microshift gearing is superb. I cannot fault them for the price tag they come at, being seriously and other brand trying to be at this price point. These are perfect bikes for beginners because they are so well set up they will serve 90% of riders with some simple upgrades. If I did not already have my Cannonade SLATE I would definitely be looking at one. I haven’t watched his vlogs from Malaysia as yet but here is a video of him explaining the Triban set up and mods. Apologies to just posting about a vlog but I have been on the road for two weeks for work, and yes the bike did come. Some great rides in Texas! So jet lagged right now but it’s wonderful to be back home after a great trip.

Last week I posted about absurd helmets that made me uncomfortable! It is wonderful to post something truly absurd this week that hopefully anyone can appreciate. In a world of carbon this and carbon that it is so wonderful to see this bike that made a few headlines recently. No I have not been luckily enough to actually see it, so I am relaying on what I have seen online to make any form of comment. So if you have not seen it I am posting a great little video from Bikeradar to give you the low down…

One a completely different note last week end I was at an antique fair when I can across a pretty 3 speed Alberty Cycles 3 speed vintage bike. On examination it wouldn’t have taken a huge effort for a basic restoration and I was tempted… til I heard the price.. 1200 euros.. The dealer said he bought it as an object d’art and he was right in that it was so super pretty but who is going to spend that much for something largely unfunctional unless you put the work in? The 3 speed fascinated me.. perhaps an article later on the evolution of bike gears is in order? Let me know in the comments. Needless a couple of nice shots…

The internet blew up this week with the arrival of the new Giro Aerohead 2.0 TT helmet worn by team Visma-LeaseABike at the opening stage time-trial of Tirreno Adriatico.  Cade media covered it, GCN covered it, Bkerumor covered it, Cycling News covered it… You get the message.  TT helmets were already getting a bit out there but this really moved things to the next level. I mean just look at it! 

Something deep down tells me it’s just wrong, an  abomination, indeed criminal.  It violates the essence of  the cycling aesthetic, in a sport of absolute beauty.  The UCI has us comply with so much on the pro circuit.  Even socks cannot be too long and then this thing arrives.  Despite all this I find somehow a weird attraction to this monstrosity.  No, I would never wear one because frankly I’d be taking the p**s because an aero front profile is the last of the speed  gains I should be making.  Loosing some weight would be a far better  gain.  Researching online  I have  not  found much with regard to how much aero gain it brings which is undoubtably the reason for the extreme profile.  However there is praise for it  increasing the riders field of vision compared to some other helmets which has to be a good thing.  Made from an EPS foam base with a thin plastic cover there are grooves in the foam seen in some pictures speculated to act as a crumple one as opposed to venting.  The helmet  is the  result of a collaboration between the team and Giro.  So what the heck, if it’s within the rules then game on!  I would not want to see this in the regular peloton but on TT day,  what the heck! Innovation is cool, we have avoided the ugly extreme traithlon TT bikes but perhaps this is one area we can have.  OK this is full of contradiction, simply said I cannot explain why I am OK with this… perhaps because the farce is  with us?

A great perspective on getting out and watching a race physically rather then perhaps just staying at home. Which is really better? Let’s be honest, going often takes quite some effort and you might only see the peloton flyby… Read Laurent’s article for more perspective. He just came back from day one of Paris-Nice which we are lucky enough to have in our backyard. Sad the weather was so poor the day before that we could not explore the stage ourselves (openly we have ridden most of the route before but there is something special before an event. So sad we cannot do that for the last stage of the Tour with it being in Nice this year).

Just a quick post but the UCI has launched an investigation into hookless rims. Look like this topic continues to heat up and perhaps with good cause. A little more detail as a know now he had a 28mm-wide Vittoria Corsa Pro TLR road tyre blowing off a Zipp 353 NSW wheel. What’s a little scary is Vittoria stating that a rock impact caused the rim the break! Wow.. Here is what the UCI has stated:

“In light of a series of recent incidents involving the use of hookless rims and tubeless tyres (a combination commonly referred to as hookless) in professional road cycling, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has decided to study the situation as a matter of urgency with a view to taking a rapid decision in the interest of rider safety.

These measures will be communicated as soon as possible.

The UCI shall continue to work closely with the stakeholders of cycling and equipment manufacturers to ensure that appropriate measures are taken both in the short and long term. This review and the decisions that will follow are part of the UCI’s policy to promote rider safety, one of its major concerns”.

Read the article here