2010-09-05 - Skyride!

They were slow because there's so many 'STOP/GO' traffic icon that create a bicycle version of a traffic jam.

after Buckingham, it end up going in a comfortable pact.

Well, I was quite impressed by it all. Though I would like to know what difference it makes to the numbers cycling . My ride seemed to have quite a few people who would like to ride more but lack the confidence. They now know they can ride into central London and back. I also saw a women in a NIquab on a brompton

Hi Ed, good to see you,
we met in the highly exclusive marshalls' tent

Hi Ed, good to see you,
we met in the highly exclusive marshalls' tent

highly exclusive is putting it mildly, they have biscuit!

Good meeting you, sorry I couldn't quite understood you then.

My ride seemed to have quite a few people who would like to ride more but lack the confidence.

Mine's exactly the same, spoken to quite a lots of riders who were very keen, but underestimate themselves hugely, especially when they've been told that they done 20 miles round trip when they don't think they can even do 3 miles, the sheer notion of having done 20 miles still left them gobsmacked.

Lovely to see so many people wanting to ride home, especially the kids who were pretty knackered but still found energy to do it.

Yes , we did find it a bit hard to communicate. I am a terrible mumbler and I had an eclair in mouth at the time ; I was also high as a kite on Gatorade.

Looks like I might now be organising some saturday afternoon rides for people who brought their bikes on Cycle to Work and have ridden them once in the year since the brought them.

Chapeau to the the 3 children in our party , all under 10 , who did the ride from Chingford. You are dangerously close to Essex in Chingford..

BTW , epic moaning about it all on YACF...

Bumped into a feeder ride in Surrey Quays whilst running some errands earlier. I swear they weren't going faster than 6mph. Hundreds of beflouroed grannies blocking the streets - a terrifying vision of the future of cycling. Like a geriatric critical mass

Yes, well, we have a whole 'lost generation' in this country who were deprived of the delights of cycling. It is of course hugely positive to see people on bikes whom you wouldn't necessarily expect to get on a bike and have fun, but then you already knew that.

BTW , epic moaning about it all on YACF...

As I said earlier, the course was too restricted--numbers are really rising by all accounts--even with a cloud cover, the turnout seemed much higher than last year, but the streets that TfL seem prepared to allocate to the Freewheel aren't keeping pace. Here's to next year and a greatly expanded course!

I got stuck behind a couple of groups of sky riders today. It fucking sucked, they were going so slow I thought I would fall off.
It really confused me where there were signs telling them to get off their bikes and use ped crossings. Surely that defeates the point of cycling in london.

There were just too many riders for the limited course that had been set out. Where were bits where people were asked to get off? I didn't see any. Do you mean on the run-in to the various areas along the course?

It was on the along the bit on jamaica road, towards greenwich, some A road.

Oh, I see. On the route from Southwark Park. I think I overheard that we had a few criticisms of some things to do with the rides in.

sorry I couldn't quite understood you then.

deja vu?

I don't know if it was a ride in or out, but they had sign posts saying where to go and a ride leader with them. I havn't checked the sky ride route so I don't know where it went apart from what I saw south of Tower Bridge.
There was crazy traffic everywhere central today as well, I didn't realise the sky ride would cause that much disruption.

Sorry?

Oh, I see. On the route from Southwark Park. I think I overheard that we had a few criticisms of some things to do with the rides in.

Most I heard is simply Skyride itself, their organisation skill and the lack of space for the cyclists to go around.

However the LCC guided route got some praised from certain route, some enjoyed it more than the Skyride event itself.

One of the templates for the Skyride is the Berlin "Sternfahrt", whose main feature is the rides in. When he came over on a visit, the Berlin cycling officer at the time actually really enjoyed the fact that there was the circular route with something to do on the London version.

Ah what fun, a day to avoid the roads. Saw some of the most special, as in fucking I can not believe you have no clue, riding ever in my life.

Was amazed by the patience and care of some drivers whilst the couple that I saw with bikes on the roof and hi viz in the car were just comical.

PS the road is empty so why ride on the pavement causing hassle to pedestrians. May be the police should better enforce the highway code with in the area. Am reall tempted to write to boris and see what answes I get.

Also commenting on other boards is pointless

It's true; I did see one person on a Boris bike who prob. only got on it facing right way round by accident an not by design. But knowing that the biggest threat to my good health an good looks was an erant, erratic 9 year old is just so much more plesant than the usual millie.

So how do we get London shut from Shepherds Bush to Stratford, Hampstead to Brixton?

There were just too many riders for the limited course that had been set out.

incidentally it's also a good example how 'traffic light' (those lollypop men and women) cause more congestion to an already uninspiring start.

So how do we get London shut from Shepherds Bush to Stratford, Hampstead to Brixton?

What's the fun in that?

I'd love it if they actually closed a square miles (or two) rather than a little pathetic loop.

It's true; I did see one person on a Boris bike who prob. only got on it facing right way round by accident an not by design. But knowing that the biggest threat to my good health an good looks was an erant, erratic 9 year old is just so much more plesant than the usual millie.

So how do we get London shut from Shepherds Bush to Stratford, Hampstead to Brixton?

The 9 year olds weren't an issue in my opinion it was the resposible adults.

Saw one poor kid below four who had such an overgeared bike that he was really red faced trying to keep u with his folks, or maybe the parents should have waited.

Yeah lynx! this little kid stacked it right infront of me (still on stabolisers) just dodged him, mini pile up behind...parents just mossey on forwards forgetting their kid, extream parenting skills right there!
Any one see the tandom with the attachable tandom with the kiddies bike hitched on the back and a dog in trailor? Was jokes

Did any one have any issues with the marshals, i got stoped 5 times for "speeding" behind a fold up bike and my bike repeatably being reported as being ILLIGAL.

Illigal?

were you riding brakeless/front brake only singlespeed?

Did any one have any issues with the marshals, i got stoped 5 times for "speeding" behind a fold up bike and my bike repeatably being reported as being ILLIGAL.

why illegal? why speeding? A little bit of power goes to some peoples heads.