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Ha, Simon, cheeky. Of course, those who live by the Sheldonian Bible have their own creed as to what's real. I would have you know that there are always a few geared bikes along, too, including mine, as I couldn't do a hilly ride like this fixed.
Let us know what reaction you get to your communications. I did ask one of the police whether there was anywhere that we could ring ahead, but he didn't really know. Well, let's see what comes of it. I suppose it could have hit your ride, too. How many did you have you with you on the last FNRttC to Brighton when you stopped at Gatwick?
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Hey what exactly happened at Gatwick? I've read the thread but can't quite work it out.
Were you inside the airport eating, or outside and never got in?
And someone got charged with loitering? What's with that - did they refuse to leave or something?
Was there anything different about your group to anyone else visting the airport?
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We were stopped by several armed policemen while in the entrance and polietly asked to use the facilities on offer in the airport.
So All 30+ of us had our names and details taken and checked
Then told to leave immediately or face arrest or presumably death if the first two options weren't of our liking.
we chose to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune and took the first option.
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I don't get how you got charged with Loitering Paul. Was it an actual charge? Or just a reason for taking details? Mine said "No Offense" or something in that category. I thought they were simply able to stop and take information on anyone in the airport.
It went down basically as Tommy described it. On our cycle into Gatwick we were stopped by police. When we explained what we were doing they said they'd call it in and possibly meet us in the airport. When we got to the top of the elevator we were met by about 10 airport security/police officers who said we would not be allowed to use the facillities.
When we said, "okay, we'll leave" they said that we would not be able to leave until they had taken everyone's details. This took about 30 minutes of standing around waiting for them to get information on everyone. The whole process was absurd. The girls wanted to use the toilet and they refused to be reasonable. Fred decided to argue with an officer for a laugh (it was pretty funny).
Apparently they thought we could have been eco-terrorists. If they let the girls run to the toilet then they'd be exposing the airport to a threat. Escorts were not an option...
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Its not a criminal charge i don't think - i'll soon find out though, criminal checks at my office are as tight as you can get.
The whole bi-law line was bullshit, he couldn't even give me its name when I requested it only a "take my word for it sonny jim"
If your only allowed in Gatwick to travel, then all of the airport staff and the very police themselves are in continual violation.
Hence why im not surprised the offence of 'loitering' as appeared. But I know when im beaten, so lets drop it guys.
I don't get how you got charged with Loitering Paul. Was it an actual charge? Or just a reason for taking details? Mine said "No Offense" or something in that category. I thought they were simply able to stop and take information on anyone in the airport.
It went down basically as Tommy described it. On our cycle into Gatwick we were stopped by police. When we explained what we were doing they said they'd call it in and possibly meet us in the airport. When we got to the top of the elevator we were met by about 10 airport security/police officers who said we would not be allowed to use the facillities.
When we said, "okay, we'll leave" they said that we would not be able to leave until they had taken everyone's details. This took about 30 minutes of standing around waiting for them to get information on everyone. The whole process was absurd. The girls wanted to use the toilet and they refused to be reasonable. Fred decided to argue with an officer for a laugh (it was pretty funny).
Apparently they thought we could have been eco-terrorists. If they let the girls run to the toilet then they'd be exposing the airport to a threat. Escorts were not an option...
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Why don't you organise one? ;)
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I was thinking of organising one, but noone would follow me and me awesome navigationary skills.
Although I claim to have an imbuilt GPS, I realised the battery goes flat when I leave a 5 mile radius from my house
Seriously, If anyone wants to do a joint organisation with me, I do kinda know the way and have ridden there on my own before. I'm thinking late March or April
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I was thinking of organising one, but noone would follow me and me awesome navigationary skills.
Although I claim to have an imbuilt GPS, I realised the battery goes flat when I leave a 5 mile radius from my house
Seriously, If anyone want to do a joint organisation with me, I do kinda know the was and have ridden there on my own before. I'm thinking late March or April
Is that the GPS that took you from the Grayhound to Camberwell via richmond park?
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fixed
How do you pick a dry day?
At closing time leave pub, hold hand out in-front of you, if it remains dry start cycling to Brighton.
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Friday night, please....
Joe, we tried Friday night at first (there's a thread somewhere with a failed attempt to organise a Brighton ride on a Friday night in December 2008), but it just isn't anywhere near as popular as Saturday. But if you're after a smaller ride, it could be just the ticket.
I'll organise two Brighton overnighters this year, and they'll both be on Saturdays. I'm thinking of one in March and one in June or July. I won't be able to go on as many forum rides this year, as I'll have more of an Audax programme, which will keep me busy.
I'll be more than happy to help anyone who wants to organise their own rides, overnight or not. It's really not difficult--pretty much all you need to do is go on a recce beforehand and find out which method of navigating suits you best. You'll also need a couple of other experienced riders if it's a larger group, including a backstop, who's always last (wo)man on the road.
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So the next dry Wednesday we'll do it then? Awesome!
;)
Like you ever come to Easts. ;)
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About
2009-08-29 Sat 10pm - Overnight to Brighton Take 3
Posted by
@Oliver Schick
well, so I've caught up with the reprobates that have been using my rides list........
I've spoken to the police. They say they'll get back to me and I'm sure they will. I said that while they might not be too worried about a small band of cycling perverts, pedalling, pedalling, always pedalling around the country with far too few cogs, the CTC has a history of 130 years and 60,000 members, with 20,000 of those members in London and the Southeast. I said that the Cheam and Morden CTC intend to visit Gatwick in the early hours of the 28th November. I want to know if we can visit Costa Coffee and Caffe Nero, and, if we can't, why we can't. I've suggested that it would be as well to come back with a response that can't be satirised.
As luck would have it the Gaurdian are about to do another piece on the FNRttC (yeah, Schick, you're mixing it with the Rides Daddy here) so perhaps, if this gets silly, we can look to them, and the Mirror, for a bit of coverage. And, if it does get silly we'll probably repair to the Horley Scout hut. You're welcome to join us.
Now, if any of you have *real *bikes, we're going to Southend on October 2nd. And Whitstable on October 30th. And Brighton on November 27th. And next year we'll go to all of those places plus Bognor, Harwich, Dieppe and Cleethorpes. How much fun could a person possibly want...?