Total guff from the Beeb

il_principe
il_principe Posts: 9,155
edited July 2012 in Commuting chat
Amazing guff from the BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18675874
Approximately two million people in Britain cycle at least once a week, and there are more than 80,000 members of cycling clubs. The ability to ride comfortably and safely in a bunch of riders is perhaps the essential skill of road racing.
It has a strong club-based culture, so a great place to start is by joining a club which regularly runs training rides on public roads.
Before taking to the course, it is essential to wear safety equipment such as a helmet, cycling gloves and elbow and knee pads. If you are riding on public roads, it is important to wear high visibility gear.

Some clubs allow members to hire bikes and helmets. A decent starter bike costs around £100-£300, and it is important to buy a road bike as mountain and hybrid BMX bikes are ill-suited to ride on for long distances.

Where the f*ck do they find these 'journalists'?

Comments

  • Kieran_Burns
    Kieran_Burns Posts: 9,757
    It gets no better:
    Hugh Porter, BBC Sport

    "The beauty of the road race is that the sprint finish on The Mall and climb on Box Hill will give you memories you will never forget. All British hopes will be pinned on super-sprinter Mark Cavendish, who has won green jerseys at the Tour de France.

    Little thing like the WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP??? Green Jerseys?
    Chunky Cyclists need your love too! :-)
    2009 Specialized Tricross Sport
    2011 Trek Madone 4.5
    2012 Felt F65X
    Proud CX Pervert and quiet roadie. 12 mile commuter
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,660
    Kieran_Burns wrote:
    It gets no better:
    Hugh Porter, BBC Sport

    "The beauty of the road race is that the sprint finish on The Mall and climb on Box Hill will give you memories you will never forget. All British hopes will be pinned on super-sprinter Mark Cavendish, who has won green jerseys at the Tour de France.

    Little thing like the WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP??? Green Jerseys?

    Hugh Porter knows nothing of road cycling. It's embarrassing.

    He's all about track cycling.
    _
  • petemadoc
    petemadoc Posts: 2,331
    Yeah who would spend that much on a bike? You can get one in Tesco for £80.

    Hmmm, I don't wear elbow pads currently but if the BBC say I should then maybe I'll get some. Can anyone recommend a god pair?
  • SickAsAParrot
    SickAsAParrot Posts: 212
    What does a hybrid BMX bike look like? does it even have brakes?
  • il_principe
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    "The road race course, which includes a 15.9km circuit of Box Hill in Surrey, begins and ends in The Mall."

    Really? Just the one circuit then?
  • veronese68
    veronese68 Posts: 27,895
    SickAsAParrot wrote:
    What does a hybrid BMX bike look like? does it even have brakes?
    It's a hybrid powered BMX. Electric assistance innit.
    Kinesis Pro6
    Marin Nail Trail
    Cotic Solaris
  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    edited July 2012
    Kieran_Burns wrote:
    It gets no better:
    Hugh Porter, BBC Sport

    "The beauty of the road race is that the sprint finish on The Mall and climb on Box Hill will give you memories you will never forget. All British hopes will be pinned on super-sprinter Mark Cavendish, who has won green jerseys at the Tour de France.

    Little thing like the WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP??? Green Jerseys?

    Technically (I think!), he has won Green Jerseys in the plural - a jersey for each stage he has completed in green and one for the Tour as a whole. But yes, rotten journalism by people who can't be bothered to make an effort.
    Faster than a tent.......
  • pangolin
    pangolin Posts: 6,666
    Il Principe wrote:
    "The road race course, which includes a 15.9km circuit of Box Hill in Surrey, begins and ends in The Mall."

    Really? Just the one circuit then?

    Keep reading
    The men will compete nine loops of Box Hill, and the women two loops, before the riders head north through Leatherhead, Esher, Kingston-upon-Thames, Richmond Park and back to The Mall for the finish.

    It is an awful article though.
    - Genesis Croix de Fer
    - Dolan Tuono
  • kelsen
    kelsen Posts: 2,003
    Biking does not only have to be done as a sport. A study by the International Bicycle Fund found commuters who begin to ride their bicycles to and from work instead of driving lose an average of 13 pounds during their first year of biking.
    What planet is this guy from? I've lost hundreds of pounds on unnecessary kit!
  • gbsahne001
    gbsahne001 Posts: 1,974
    kelsen wrote:
    Biking does not only have to be done as a sport. A study by the International Bicycle Fund found commuters who begin to ride their bicycles to and from work instead of driving lose an average of 13 pounds during their first year of biking.

    Nope, put on 5lbs
    Winter Hack
    Everyday Commuter
  • twist83
    twist83 Posts: 761
    I feel safety is Important so have taken it one step further and will be wearing my one piece motorbike leathers, gloves and helmet.

    Can you imagine scalping someone while wearing that
  • TheEnglishman
    TheEnglishman Posts: 587
    twist83 wrote:
    .... will be wearing my one piece motorbike leathers, gloves and helmet.

    Can you imagine scalping someone while wearing that

    In this weather? Go on, I dare you! With pics, please :lol:
    Please click here to sponsor me on a 100 mile charity bike ride in aid of the MS Society
  • Paul E
    Paul E Posts: 2,052
    You would loose pounds in that outfit
  • bigmat
    bigmat Posts: 5,134
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    Kieran_Burns wrote:
    It gets no better:
    Hugh Porter, BBC Sport

    "The beauty of the road race is that the sprint finish on The Mall and climb on Box Hill will give you memories you will never forget. All British hopes will be pinned on super-sprinter Mark Cavendish, who has won green jerseys at the Tour de France.

    Little thing like the WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP??? Green Jerseys?

    Hugh Porter knows nothing of road cycling. It's embarrassing.

    He's all about track cycling.

    To give Hugh the benefit of the doubt, he has won several green jerseys, and the overall points classification once. Given that the points classification is widely regarded as the sprinters' jersey, it is perhaps of more direct relevance to the "sprint finish on the Mall" than his world champion status.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/41991871@N ... otostream/
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,660
    BigMat wrote:
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    Kieran_Burns wrote:
    It gets no better:
    Hugh Porter, BBC Sport

    "The beauty of the road race is that the sprint finish on The Mall and climb on Box Hill will give you memories you will never forget. All British hopes will be pinned on super-sprinter Mark Cavendish, who has won green jerseys at the Tour de France.

    Little thing like the WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP??? Green Jerseys?

    Hugh Porter knows nothing of road cycling. It's embarrassing.

    He's all about track cycling.

    To give Hugh the benefit of the doubt, he has won several green jerseys, and the overall points classification once. Given that the points classification is widely regarded as the sprinters' jersey, it is perhaps of more direct relevance to the "sprint finish on the Mall" than his world champion status.

    Other than the fact that, like the Worlds, the Olympics is a one day race, and, like the Worlds, is done in nation teams.
    _
  • msmancunia
    msmancunia Posts: 1,415
    I'm actually ashamed to admit I'm employed by these people. Can I apologise by proxy on their behalf?
    Commute: Chadderton - Sportcity
  • Yukirin
    Yukirin Posts: 231
    Of course you can get a perfectly good starter road bike between £100-£300, it just wont be new or carbon, and probably wont have sti but downtube shifters, but will still be a perfectly adequate starter road bike! I only paid £180 for mine 2nd hand from a bike shop.

    However, regarding the other points? yep crap journalism.
  • twist83
    twist83 Posts: 761
    edited July 2012
    TheEnglishman wrote:
    twist83 wrote:
    .... will be wearing my one piece motorbike leathers, gloves and helmet.

    Can you imagine scalping someone while wearing that

    In this weather? Go on, I dare you! With pics, please :lol:

    Sounds like a Challenge to me. Better go tinted Visor to stop the sun getting in my eyes!!!
  • twist83
    twist83 Posts: 761
    Yukirin wrote:
    Of course you can get a perfectly good starter road bike between £100-£300, it just wont be new or carbon, and probably wont have sti but downtube shifters, but will still be a perfectly adequate starter road bike! I only paid £180 for mine 2nd hand from a bike shop.

    However, regarding the other points? yep crap journalism.

    You can indeed second hand! However the average Joe will see this wander into Halfords with £100-150 in his pocket or open the Argos catalogue and porbably end up with a BOS.
  • il_principe
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    Yukirin wrote:
    Of course you can get a perfectly good starter road bike between £100-£300, it just wont be new or carbon, and probably wont have sti but downtube shifters, but will still be a perfectly adequate starter road bike! I only paid £180 for mine 2nd hand from a bike shop.

    However, regarding the other points? yep crap journalism.

    You sure about that? There's 'adequate' and then there's 'decent.' £300 wouldn't even buy you a road bike from Asda: http://t.co/y9lNc0oF
  • bails87
    bails87 Posts: 12,998
    To be fair: http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-3-id_8167038.html
    £299.99 with an alu frame, carbon fork and shimano groupset.
    MTB/CX

    "As I said last time, it won't happen again."
  • Yukirin
    Yukirin Posts: 231
    twist83 wrote:
    Yukirin wrote:
    Of course you can get a perfectly good starter road bike between £100-£300, it just wont be new or carbon, and probably wont have sti but downtube shifters, but will still be a perfectly adequate starter road bike! I only paid £180 for mine 2nd hand from a bike shop.

    However, regarding the other points? yep crap journalism.

    You can indeed second hand! However the average Joe will see this wander into Halfords with £100-150 in his pocket or open the Argos catalogue and porbably end up with a BOS.

    fools. Still, props up the economy. Keep 'em spending.
  • Headhuunter
    Headhuunter Posts: 6,494
    bails87 wrote:
    To be fair: http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-3-id_8167038.html
    £299.99 with an alu frame, carbon fork and shimano groupset.

    Amusingly at my new employer a lot of websites are blocked (unlike my last employer which didn't care if we watched hardcore porn on the net) and the net filtering thing classifies any bike web page from Decathlon as "weapons" therefore I can't access it... Similarly I tried to access the My Protein website but was informed it was "drugs"...
    Do not write below this line. Office use only.
  • Yukirin
    Yukirin Posts: 231
    Il Principe wrote:
    Yukirin wrote:
    Of course you can get a perfectly good starter road bike between £100-£300, it just wont be new or carbon, and probably wont have sti but downtube shifters, but will still be a perfectly adequate starter road bike! I only paid £180 for mine 2nd hand from a bike shop.

    However, regarding the other points? yep crap journalism.

    You sure about that? There's 'adequate' and then there's 'decent.' £300 wouldn't even buy you a road bike from Asda: http://t.co/y9lNc0oF

    very sure. Like I said, not new though.

    12042012495.jpg

    with the px wheels added on it still comes in £30 less than the asda special
  • daviesee
    daviesee Posts: 6,386
    "It was an age when thousands cycled to work and almost as many rode for leisure at the weekends. "

    Thousands? Is that all :?:

    From here

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18976133
    None of the above should be taken seriously, and certainly not personally.
  • DavidBelcher
    DavidBelcher Posts: 2,684
    twist83 wrote:
    You can indeed second hand! However the average Joe will see this wander into Halfords with £100-150 in his pocket or open the Argos catalogue and porbably end up with a BOS.

    I can't decide whether that's a typo for BSO or if it implies Bag Of....erm, yes, anyway, moving on.... ;)

    David
    "It is not enough merely to win; others must lose." - Gore Vidal

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