"I went too far": Pimlico Plumbers founder Charlie Mullins apologises for tweet saying "someone should kill" Sadiq Khan over ULEZ; Unleashed domestique Sepp Kuss keeps hydrated... by chugging A LOT of champagne on Vuelta podium + more on the live blog

Hardly surprising that Pimlico Plumbers founder Charlie Mullins plumbs the depths.  It's where he lives.

One to bookmark from Inspector Kev, sometime of this parish

https://twitter.com/insp_kevinsmith/status/1697622170296332675

Many is the person I’ve had in the back of a squad car that’s told me “you’ve ruined my life. I’m going to lose my job” after failing a breath test. Actually, no I didn’t make you break the law. That one’s on you. People need to realise breaking the law has consequences

Surely fake news !

"Spotted on the morning dog walk today. Cargo bikes for trade are really taking off and it’s brilliant to see. So much more gentle on the neighbourhood and really encourages social interaction."

https://twitter.com/waxwellmilson/status/1697513734967644313

Seems the car brains are ok with direct protest action when it is for a cause they agree with. Interesting to see the difference in the response compared to the usual twooters on JSO etc. 

https://twitter.com/BBCNews/status/1697584401301799183

Fun one on my way back to work just now. 

"There's a cycle lane back there mate!" yelled from the window of (what else) a giant SUV by (who else) a bald middle aged fat man. 

The cycle lane in question? A pavement with a bike painted onto it that was, at that time, home to two mums who each had three children under 5, one each in a pram and four running about at full speed. 

A polite middle finger in response seemed to shock him but encouraging me to put toddler's lives at risk was reasonable?

Lucky escape lunchtime.
Going just under 35 in a 60 downhill, taking the lane.
Just ahead as the uphill starts, bus is at a stop with 4 or 5 vehicles in a queue. Bloke behind decides it's a great time to overtake with the oncoming traffic.
I think the combo of the driver the other way putting their lights on full and me sticking my arm out in a stop gesture got them to abandon.
I don't have a rear camera but that driver needs immediate retraining or a ban.

Yes to ULEZ.
Although no scope in leafy Essex where everyone is polite and considerate.
There must be a scooter/moped meet in the area judging by the number coming the other way. But the fumes were absolutely disgusting.
Are they mot exempt or something?

Anyone else notice the irony (hipocrisy?) of Mullins' comments about cyclists (/cycle lanes) slowing down his employees/vehicles?
Him, standing next to that behemoth of a car, and all the others driving oversized vehicles are a far bigger contributor to the traffic gridlock in London.

Charlie makes me chuckle. If more people who could replace a car with a bike and used bike lanes, there would be less cars on the road and it would be easier for his vans to get to jobs. He should be encouraging it really.

People complaining over the price of the new 105 amuse me.

The 11 speed disc brake version used to RRP at £899, so about £100 less than the new version. Take into account inflation since 2018 (when R7000 was introduced) that's not that wide of the mark. And as for the #savetherimbrake it makes no sense why they would even attempt to do so. Rim brakes were completely phased out of new complete bikes at mid-range halfway during the last iteration. They are only available as high end custom framesets (which you would put the best of the best components on - Dura Ace and Ultegra are both available aftermarket as rim brake options - components only) or on entry level bikes which are still currently cheaper to produce. Yes, upgrades on older frames are nice and all, but a lot of standards have evolved in that time too.

Also we have yet to see what Shimano does with the remaining road groupset tiers. The simultaneous release of GRX 820 and 610 12 speed (no news on what's happening to rx400) might hold a clue, as neither Campagnolo nor SRAM offer dedicated groupsets at 11 speed or below anymore (spares are still available) it stands to reason that Tiagra and below could be replaced by a road version of the CUES system, which there are meant to be road-going additions to the range announced next year. There are rim brake options in the current CUES system for hybrid bikes but these are only available at the cheapest options.

It looks like Shimano are splitting their road and MTB groupsets into performance and affordable catergories instead of trying to blur the lines in the mid-tier. Despite having by far the largest market share its current business model is not sustainable with the threat of budget componentry from China and the performance competition from SRAM. The mid range market has shrunk because if you want an entry point, Tiagra equipped bikes are too expensive, so Sora or Claris are better options. If you are an enthusiast who wants performance, you want 105 at a minimum and you don't want a groupset that lags behind. After the release of 12sp road equipment, 11sp  105 began to look very dated in comparison. Making the budget groupsets more robust and less performance orientated makes sense.

"I went too far" - the unusually understated Charlie Mullins OBEFN

"Sepp Kuss keeps hydrated by chugging A LOT of champagne"

Technically, and legally, not a champagne. A sparkling wine, most likely a cava. But not Champagne made to Champagne methods using grapes from Champagne. 

This kind of distinction keeps lawyers happy, but it is also a fantastic way of winding up the french. 

I know it won't happen, but it would be quite funny if, after the whole "who is the leader, Primoz or Jonas" thing, Kuss won the GC.