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Police chiefs in the bicycle-dense Chinese city had been planning to lever bikes off the streets in order to fit in more cars but the Shanghai city government has now said it has no plans to limit cycling and is, in fact, planning to build cycle routes. But is this a ploy to ghettoise cyclists in the run-up to the World Expo, due to take place in Shanghai in 2010?

No, not marathon-biker John Kerry, he's still president-in-waiting. The Vetriolo time trial frameset, new from Hampsten Cycles, will be promoted at a US bike show by Dave Dederer, singer/guitarist for rock band The Presidents of the United States of America.

Shimano Europe presents an annual cycle-use stimulation award and there are two equal winners of the Shimano Cycling Concept Award this year, each to be awarded EUR7500 (about £5000/$9400).

Tomorrow is the official press launch-day for the Chopper and Raleigh is likely to garner a second raft of media coverage. In one of the business slots on BBC Breakfast there's to be coverage of the launch.

They join as Raleigh continues to ride a publicity wave, the 'official' press launch of the Vietnam-built Chopper takes place tomorrow. Neal Holdsworth of Tradewinds becomes Raleigh's sourcing director; 80s BMX champ Geth Shooter will be part of Raleigh's BMX design team. Another new appointment, albeit from within, is Geoff Giddings who takes the place of Loz Cox, the Chopper speccer who recently joined Dawes.