Sky Sports London Freewheel 2008

Last year's 'Hovis' London freewheel was - for me at least - a bit average, a few roads closed off for an afternoon and the chance to cycle slowly in a crowd, but what the hell it was a start, perhaps, of something better (other cities around the globe give over the whole city - once a month - to cyclists) - I was hoping this year they would extend the area - as they said they would - but it seems to be pretty much the same, they might have gone half a mile further East from what I remember, but this is hardly a radical expansion.

Anyhow, here's this years route, I will probably go along anyhow, any promotion of cycling is good to me + I love a good pile up.

http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/1488/picture1il6.png

it clashes with the track day!

I know people who are boycotting it because of the sky sports sponsorship.....

Bring back Hovis

I know people who are boycotting it because of the sky sports sponsorship.....

That would be me too.

I was a little shocked at the way it had been re-badged, and I have such loathing for the Murdoch empire.

So instead I'm off to Stockholm to hire some bikes and ride around there for the weekend.

No free sarnies :(

That would be me too.

I was a little shocked at the way it had been re-badged, and I have such loathing for the Murdoch empire.

If we end up with a Sky Sports sponsored GB TDF team it's going to be worse.

It's so irrational though.

Why is this:
http://londonfreewheelregistrations.com/images/logo_fw.jpg

So much more offensive to me than this:
http://bp3.blogger.com/_VV1HowKhfuU/RrG8f2DBQYI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/M8DW4xjg31c/s1600-h/hovis-freewheel.gif

I bloody hate Murdoch.

What's the problem with Sky?

My gf loved this event last year. It was the most she's cycled in London and a great confidence booster (she hates riding in traffic).

yep. fuck murdoch.

Why?

'cos he's sexy?

Hmm...

(other cities around the globe give over the whole city - once a month - to cyclists)

Ah, sunny memories of high altitude Sundays cycling in Bogota...

I'll be going... didn't go on the hovis one... although I've got to admit to also having an irrational disliking of murdoch... although the above picture is pretty sexy.

Anyway, they sent out a survey to me (and I assume everyone else) about what we thought of Sky/setana/etc... so if you really hate them, sign up and tell them how crap they are!

Anyway, WTF is the sky sports and london cycling zone?!
(well the key says zones, but I can only see one?!)

"irrational disliking of murdoch" seems key here. Someone fill me in please. I don't read papers or watch news. I get my entire world view from cycling forums. Need the info. Throw me a frickin' bone here.

OK, here goes. Many people feel that he has too much power and influence and is actively setting the news agenda rather than merely reporting upon it.
In short, think of him as an even-more powerful Montgomery Burns - (you are aware of The Simpsons, I take it?).
There, that's my bone. Doubtless others will follow...

The stock purchase of a country's print and broadcast media to the extent of monopolising the market, and bringing massive political clout due to the market share he's got.

Have you ever seen a bad review of a Sky programme in the Sun / Sunday Times? Sort of like Berlusconi without the laughs. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV4w9i7u4jA

You think I would

1. Read the Sun/Sunday Times?
   
2. Read a review of a Sky program?
   
   

Okay so he monopolises the media market. I can see why that annoys some people.
But, why not get your news from other sources, independent sources?

LFGSS, the new BBC. :)

well .. that's probably what they do.

Al Jazeera is pretty good..

Murdoch is a bible bashing porn hating self loving high preaching morale guardian... in his own house! But uses the very smut and gossip he hates to make his millions and rot the brains of nations... but let’s be fair if it wasn’t him it would be someone else. These red top reading/name and shame em lowest common denominators would gravitate to some other vacuous mind fill.

I wouldn't go as far as calling it news, its populist sound bites with a fk off legal team in “the defence”

As for bread!! 99% of all criminals have eaten bread before committing hideous crimes! No way I am letting that get pushed on to the kids..

hehe.. thanks for clearing that up Greaseball.
Rep Fail.

and, Hippy, Murdoch is so proud of being Australian he's now an American citizen

He was an Aussie, then a Septic, but I believe he's currently a Brit. Probably awaiting a knighthood if Cameron gets in...

There is a very Montgomery Burns-eque painting of him above the waterfall/stairs at the entrance to his Wapping Palace. Or at least there was, 8 years ago when I went for a job and got warned I might find that the newsroom swore too much for me. True story.