You are reading a single comment by @Oliver Schick and its replies.
Click here to read the full conversation.
London Fixed Gear and Single-Speed is a community of predominantly fixed gear and single-speed cyclists in and around London, UK.
This site is supported almost exclusively by donations. Please consider donating a small amount regularly.
@Oliver Schick
Hey, that was a great ride. I had a lovely time! Some genuine surprises there, like revisiting the former seat of London government, which is a slightly better building than the current seat. Tron Square, where I'd been before during the daytime loads of times but never realised ... and being so dazzled going at about .5mph that I hit an invisible bench and stacked it. D'oh!
All in all, lovely company, very competent riding all round, some seriously impressive bike handling, nice whizzy fast bits and twisty turny slow bits. Many highlights--Christmas decorations, webby fairy lit trees, Regent Street, east and west connected (so I imagine everybody got to see things they hadn't seen in a while, for me that was west London), getting a sense of ownership of lots of public spaces, giggling a bit at the three Tron security blokes' 'this is a private estate, you will have to get off your bikes and walk', the cyclo cross sprint carrying the bikes up the stairs to Westferry Circus, clack clack clackety clack, the London Eye lights. Nice group photo location, too!
And great timing getting to Westminster Bridge and hearing Big Ben strike 3.
Concerning riding surfaces, this ride was a real variety show, with Thames path twistings and turnings, especially where the riverside has been privatised and you can't carry on in a straight line. I felt mounting anger at times at people's inability to lay decent cobblers and delight at finding some old ones that were a delight to ride over. (They don't make 'em like they used to.) It's probably a silly thing to get upset about but why not make an effort?
I couldn't believe how busy W1 was at this time of night (3-4am) with victims of motor dependence. It was just like daytime traffic. Some seriously unhappy people out there, so it was good that we brought a sliver of joy to their sad lives. ;) The idiots who don't realise that even if they race ahead in London causing road danger all that will happen will be that they get stuck in the nearest queue or at the next set of lights, which is duly what happened to the pushy Mercedes driver. Small matter. They should all go on a ride sometime and see the lights.
Sorry you actually did get hit by that Coke, fresh, at first I thought no-one had been hit and I was right behind but I clearly didn't see that properly.
And heal up very soon, Henry, I was so glad when you got up and walked, it looked much more serious at first! Glad your bike's OK, too, as a bonus. Good luck with any ongoing proceedings! There are some good lawyers in London who specialise in car-bike collisions, PM me if you still need any recommendations, but it sounds as if everything's already in good order.
Major props to Pajamas for pulling it all together! It was a great theme to the ride, lots of variety, sensible decision to limit numbers, went to very unusual places, avoiding some of the more obvious destinations but that really gave a sense of purpose. Loved it. Cycling is definitely the best fun you can have with your pajamas on.