Attempted front derailleur adjustment for the first time, as wasn’t shifting into the big ring. What a faff that was, but I got there in the end. Persistence beats resistence.

Life’s certainties: Death, taxes and George getting his Velogames pricing spot on. The team I’m liking for the year’s first contest at the Tour Down Under. As always subject to late changes with any injuries replacements. Very glad it’s back. I welcome any league codes before it all gets started.

With Eagles whimpering out of the playoffs & A LOT to sort out in the offseason, can now fully switch focus to the forthcoming road cycling season. Begins with the yearly challenge of how much you can ruin your body clock with the Tour Down Under. Daily checks of @velogames.bsky.social have begun.

A lot of motorists struggle with this rule - Highway Code Rule 170 -Road Junctions. Often you’ll see a motorist pull out from a side road causing the vehicle behind to brake. One of the things I’m on high alert with when cycling, offending motorists either don’t see you or just don’t care.

This was the perfect time to finally watch Sisu and it really did not disappoint.

Video from @upride.bsky.social. Collusion caused by motorist showing zero regard to the cyclist’s safety. The even more damning part of the video occurs in the exchange afterwards. Classic abuser behaviour. Another driver posing a danger to others due to their ignorance. upride.cc/incident/dri...

Now there are no reasons left not to fire Patullo.

Just downloaded and setup MyWhoosh, which I didn’t even realise was free (but for how long?). As much as I despise the turbo, having not ridden for so long and with next week’s weather looking pretty bad, it’s necessary.

If you kill as a motorist, it‘s practically guaranteed you’ll be given more compassion than the victim. If that life you took was as a result of you choosing to break the law, then “Dangerous Driving” should be mandatory, with no prospect of that charge being reduced. metro.co.uk/2026/01/10/w...

Finding solace in these utterly insane times with the mastery of Orbit Culture. Those imposing their ills on the world will face their day of reckoning one way or another.

The Jeremy Vine school of engagement. “Should…?” “Would…?” Provokes whataboutery and reignites flickering flames in anything that could be deemed a culture war topic. Does a significant damage to the activity he claims to support (cycling) by breathing new life into tired anti-cycling ragebait.

Think I’ll wait for Jack Frost to clear before I next venture out on the bike. The turbo is trying to remind me it’s there, but I hate the damn thing.

Dogsh!t reporting, not a single mention of the driver (again). Basically dogsh!t is the standard for journalism these days. Hope the cyclist has a swift recovery, not the way you want to start the New Year. www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/2573614...

I would not be so forgiving, 10 months on and still in recovery. Shows the potential consequences of being distracted from the primary task of driving. Doesn’t need to be illegal phone use behind the wheel to still ruin someone’s life. uk.news.yahoo.com/cyclist-wish...

Finally got a response on this, having been redirected from First Leeds to correct Operator for the route (Transdev Blazefield - service run under Keighley Bus Company). Incident now being investigated with driver to be dealt with in accordance with company procedures. bsky.app/profile/djca...

It’s good riddance to 2025, a year where cruelty became normalised and the truth got hijacked by the world’s worst. The New Year is almost here and I hope it’s one of peace and prosperity for you all.

If you see a video of a cyclist being close passed on SM, see if you notice one particular demographic that stands out from all the negative comments, somehow criticising the cyclist(s). Strangely, this group also accounts for the vast majority of close passes I’ve been subjected to when cycling.

Accident and Emergency does not include (can’t believe I’m saying this): a cough, blocked noses, constipation, earache, headaches or other similar ailments. www.itv.com/news/2025-12...

A report that literally tells you nothing about the incident, so all you can do is wish the cyclist a swift recovery. www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater...

Minor mishap on the bike, went over a discarded frame of a roadsign at speed. Managed to keep it upright. And then one of many things that makes cycling so great. Female cyclist stopped to check I was ok as I was getting the chain back on. Had a lovely chat, then back on my way. Merry Christmas 🎄

Practically guaranteed that you’ll get people commenting on SM video where a cyclist is hit by motorist, asking what the cyclist was wearing. Why? Because the immediate thought process is not to show concern for the cyclist’s well-being, but to find ways to blame to the cyclist i.e. victim blame.

BBC News at 6 on Doctors Strikes: “Stuart (or Stewart) has been knocked down by a car“. No, Stuart (or Stewart) has been hit by a driver.

Fifth professional cyclist suffering injury after being hit by a driver in the last few months. Unfortunately, pleas to drivers change little to zero.

To the First Leeds Bus no. 60 driver who close passed me (0.5m) on Kirkstall Road this afternoon, you’re a f’ing coward and you aren’t fit to hold a driving licence, let alone drive as a profession.

This tragic case serves to remind us how critical it is to devote your full attention to the primary task of driving. It is the minimum standard, along with compliance and competence in order to keep others safe. Anything less means you’re playing russian roulette with others’ lives.

Bitter out there today, overshoes were an absolute must. Gearing issues mid ride which were corrected and just good to get out for a bit. I’ll refrain from reeling off the driving misdemeanours today because I’m beginning to sound like a broken record, all as expected.

What a great final point by Zack, when will we see a Cost of Living QT special or a Climate Crisis QT special? Of no surprise was Fiona Brice immediately shutting that down. Then Zia Yusuf whining about not getting applause? 🤔 There may be a reason for that. Zia Yusuf, the best Reform has to offer.

Well I never, a whole Question Time Special on Immigration, because the BBC feel they’ve not given it enough focus. Thankfully at least Zack Polanski being on the panel makes it watchable.

As a motorist, in most situations you don’t actually need to know the Highway Code to do the right thing (keeping to date on it is a condition of licence). All you actually need is a basic level of care towards others. Drivers that fail to uphold a basic duty of care are sociopaths by nature.

Just back from a ride (first post flu). Had to fully reprimand a driver. Got close passed (about a foot from bar edge) on Cardigan Road. Caught up to him at traffic lights (as is always the case), a stern knock on his window which he reluctantly wound down after the second time of asking… 1/2

On a typical route on bike, around 50% is through inner city and other 50% in outer suburbs. Yet the vast majority (95%+) of times I’m endangered by motorists (close passes, right/left hooks/etc) occurs on inner city roads. So why is that, coincidence? 1/2

Been silent on the budget. It went as expected and does little to change the grim outlook for this country. Lifting of the 2 child benefit cap is welcomed, but look what it took to get there, on something that be an instant upon taking office. A reminder, the promise was transformative change 🤨

As we rattle towards Black Friday, my thoughts: “Cherish what you have, look after it and make it last.”

Read this late last night, the following quote from NI MP Claire Hanna really stood out. “People talk about the abuse politicians get. I get more abuse, week in, week out, on my bike than I do in my work”. Beyond unacceptable, for simply travelling to and from work. road.cc/content/news...

⚠️BE WARNED. Charter cities are coming to Brexit ravaged UK, this was the whole reason why the Tories' and Labour colluded on installing deregulated free zones across England, Scotland, and Wales. open.substack.com/pub/european...

Second pro cyclist to be hit by a driver over the last week. Unless there’s a justifiable reason for it, hitting a cyclist should result in an immediate driving ban, with the term decided upon according to the driver’s actions/failures in causing the collision. www.cyclingnews.com/pro-cycling/...

It was very interesting (though not surprising) to see Jeremy *unt stand against lifting the 2 child benefit cap on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg. His framing of child poverty being down to parents not being in work is also categorically wrong. cpag.org.uk/news/child-p...

When people either quit cycling or are put off taking it up altogether, it’s a complete failure of policy. There’s a vast chasm of difference between how you’re treated riding on the roads in the U.K. compared to many European countries. www.bikeradar.com/features/opi...

Noticed that I’ve had a few DM’s recently. Unfortunately I can’t see these as I refuse to age verify.

If I’m waiting to pull out of a side road and a motorist pulls right across blocking the exit, I will always respond to such a hostile act by staring a hole through the ignorant, selfish tw4ts, to make them as uncomfortable as possible.

Vehicles of all types parked fully obstructing segregated cycle lanes near where I live? Standard.

A piece written over 6 months ago that holds true today. The dark forces that Shabana Mahmood referred to earlier this week are not those Labour are looking to address, but those they’re led by, embolden and legitimise. Forces that will continue to break up Britain. reacpol.net/starmer-far-...

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I appreciate the efforts of the last remaining good MP’s left in the Labour Party, but whilst their efforts are admirable, trying to fight for change from within under this leadership is also futile. It’s time to cross the floor.

Seen a response from one of the remaining Labour loyalists In reference to the Shabana Mahmood immigration policy. Refers to those who fundamentally condemn it as “a few naive idiots”. Now there’s a bubble coated in irony.

This was from the weekend’s tabloid hysteria around road lane widths. Is Gregory haplessly unaware of average driving speeds in major cities and practically any urban environment? Perhaps he’s watched one too many car ads in his time.

Approaching a zebra crossing with a pedestrian starting to cross, oncoming driver just bolts straight through. Would have stood out more if it wasn’t so f’ing normalised.

In life you can’t please everyone. In government life the “changed“ Labour Party can’t please anyone (including the far right, who they’re bending over backwards for).

A confused or distracted motorist is a dangerous driver in-waiting. road.cc/content/news...

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